Moviefone Editorial

Tag: Alexis Louder

  • Apple TV+’s ‘The Changeling’ Directors Interview

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    Currently airing on Apple TV+ is the new horror fantasy series ‘The Changeling,’ which was created by Kelly Marcel (‘Venom’) and based on the novel of the same name by Victor LaValle.

    The series was directed by Melina Matsoukas, Michael Francis Williams, Jonathan Van Tulleken, Dana Gonzales, and Slick Naim, and will premiere its final episode of the first season on October 13th.

    What is the plot of ‘The Changeling’?

    A man (LaKeith Stanfield) goes in search of his wife after she (Clark Backo) does something horrific in the aftermath of the birth of their first child.

    Who is in the cast of ‘The Changeling’?

    LaKeith Stanfield in 'The Changeling,' now streaming on Apple TV+.
    LaKeith Stanfield in ‘The Changeling,’ now streaming on Apple TV+.

    Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with directors Michael Francis Williams and Jonathan Van Tulleken about their work on ‘The Changeling,’ series creator Kelly Marcel’s original pitch, working with LaKeith Stanfield, and shooting the penultimate episode, ‘Stormy Weather.’

    'The Changeling' directors Michael Francis Williams and Jonathan Van Tulleken.
    ‘The Changeling’ directors Michael Francis Williams and Jonathan Van Tulleken.

    You can read the full interview below or click on the video player above to watch our interviews.

    Moviefone: To begin with, when you both came on board as directors, what was the original pitch that series creator Kelly Marcel gave you about the show?

    Jonathan van Tulleken: I came on it having read the novel, and thinking the novel’s brilliant, and obviously was this wonderful piece of sophisticated genre that dealt with really interesting issues and was set in this world that you really don’t normally see. Kelly really took it and expanded it. She really brought the idea of motherhood into it, and the perspective of a woman into it. Which, by Victor’s own admittance, the book was much more father centric, because that was Victor’s experience. So Kelly really expanded the world, and really necessarily, I think, for the TV side of it. She also just wrote these incredibly bold personal episodes, and brought a lot of her own personal experience into it. The episode Michael did, it’s this incredible bottle episode that is really fantastic and full of magical realism. So she definitely pitched it to me as something bold, unusual, beautiful and haunting, it was all of those things.

    Michael Francis Williams: Like Jonathan just mentioned, I read the whole series, but the episode I got to work on, I would be pitching at Kelly to direct that. It’s such a phenomenal piece of writing and a phenomenal piece of bold TV, as is the whole series. So it was explained as a kind of adult fairytale that swept in magic realism, horror, suspense, and New York, and then you’re looking at the range of caliber of talent attached to it as well. It’s a really rare opportunity to do something elevated, premium and challenging, which, as a black director, we get rare opportunities to work at this level, sometimes in TV. So I was super excited to come on board and do it.

    Related Article: ‘Venom’ Co-writer/producer Kelly Marcel to Direct ‘Venom 3’

    LaKeith Stanfield in 'The Changeling,' now streaming on Apple TV+.
    LaKeith Stanfield in ‘The Changeling,’ now streaming on Apple TV+.

    MF: Jonathan, can you talk about working with actor LaKeith Stanfield? What was he like to collaborate with on set?

    JVT: He was fantastically involved. Certainly he was involved when I came aboard, and he was involved in all the pre-production. It is really rare, I would say, especially in TV, to see someone who is so immersed in the project, who is so absolutely part of it. It’s really hard to bring yourself every day to a role. LaKeith absolutely did that. It was through pre-production, production and post-production, bringing his own experiences, his own thoughts to it, and just every day, a level of commitment that was sort of astounding. I would say it was also supported as well by all the other cast. Clark absolutely did as well, and Adina and Sam, and especially someone like Sam who had not acted before. LaKeith was incredible and took him under his wing, and they really worked together beautifully. Like I said, it is very rare to meet an actor who brings that level of thought and commitment, and also sensitivity. Just a real team player, and he really wanted to get the best out of everyone and the best out of the project.

    Adina Porter in 'The Changeling,' now streaming on Apple TV+.
    Adina Porter in ‘The Changeling,’ now streaming on Apple TV+.

    MF: Finally, without giving anything away, episode 7 – ‘Stormy Weather’ is very different than the previous episodes. Michael, can you talk about the challenges of crafting and directing the penultimate episode?

    MFW: Yeah, it’s a wild ride out of the brain of Kelly, courtesy of Victor. An amazing thing to read as a director and to get to shoot. For me, I wanted to examine Lillian’s life in one episode, and so I wanted to take the audience on a journey into that interiority, and into her emotion. So we’re making visual choices based on, how can I get an audience to feel where she’s at emotionally? Not just cut to a flashback, not just do conventional TV things, but we pulled from theater and music videos and all sorts of tools and tricks to get an audience to feel where she’s at. Kelly was such an amazing collaborator and showrunner to say yes to some crazy things that I suggested, and she supported that, and the studio as well, to just help me realize how we could elevate this. I think our producer at one point scribbled on his script in a table read, “The bottle episode has become a magnum.” I stand on the shoulders of all the other directors, from Jonathan, Melina, Slick, everyone who’s created the tone and the performances of the show that I got to then tinker and play with to take us on an extra special moment towards the end of the season.

    Clark Backo and LaKeith Stanfield in 'The Changeling,' now streaming on Apple TV+.
    (L to R) Clark Backo and LaKeith Stanfield in ‘The Changeling,’ now streaming on Apple TV+.

    Movies Featuring LaKeith Stanfield:

    Buy LaKeith Stanfield Movies On Amazon

  • Movie Review: ‘Violent Night’

    Leah Brady, and David Harbour in 'Violent Night.'
    (L to R) Leah Brady, and David Harbour in ‘Violent Night.’ © Universal Studios.

    Punching into theaters on December 2nd, ‘Violent Night’ represents the sort of Christmas movie that is certainly not festive fun for the whole family. But for those whose tastes run more towards the more brutally entertaining likes of ‘Atomic Blonde’ or ‘Bullet Train’, it’s got some fun lurking in Santa’s sack.

    Father Christmas in this case is played by ‘Stranger Things’ David Harbour as a grizzled, jaded sort introduced drowning his sorrows at a pub in England between “shifts” delivering presents to the ungrateful spawn of the world. A Nordic warrior who has been handing out presents for more than 1100 years now, he’s seen it all.

    And as the world has moved on from more traditional Christmases towards cash gifts, Amazon deliveries and video games, he’s become increasingly disillusioned, ranting about kids who “want, crave and consume”. The movie’s cynically playful tone is set early on when the barkeep, concerned that the sozzled Santa has headed to the roof, is overjoyed to discover him flying away on the traditional reindeer-pulled sleigh, only to be drenched in vomit by the overindulging Claus.

    So what can help Santa regain the joy and belief in himself if fewer and fewer are believing in him? Tommy Wirkola’s new film, written by ‘Sonic the Hedgehog’ script duo Pat Casey and Josh Miller, posits that what he needs is a ferocious encounter with thieves who are looking to rob a wealthy family.

    Stephanie Sy, John Leguizamo, and André Eriksen in 'Violent Night,' directed by Tommy Wirkola.
    (L to R) Stephanie Sy, John Leguizamo, and André Eriksen in ‘Violent Night,’ directed by Tommy Wirkola. © Universal Studios.

    Led by John Leguizamo’s Scrooge – his code name – this bunch of Naughty List-dwelling robbers have finagled their way into the swanky, well-defended Lightstone compound posing as caterers and entertainers. Before long, the squabbling brood overseen by Beverly D’Angelo’s Gertrude Lightstone (who is much more a female Logan Roy from ‘Succession’ than ‘National Lampoon’s sweet Ellen Griswold) are being held at gunpoint while the gang look to raid their vault.

    Of course, Santa shows up to deliver gifts (and sample some expensive whiskey) and has to help save these largely irredeemable types from the even nastier threat that has invaded their home. His real motivation, though, is young Trudy Lightstone (Leah Brady), a sweet-natured girl who just wants her parents Jason (Alex Hassell) and Linda (Alexis Louder) to reconcile.

    It’s a set up that promises plenty of opportunities, but the movie tends to squander them with first-draft family dynamics and mugging from some of the cast (though others, such as ‘The Righteous Gemstones’ Edi Patterson grab the chance to be despicable and run with it).

    When the saccharine stuff eventually creeps in, it’s largely manageable and not too sickly, largely balanced by the violence that has been perpetrated before.

    Director Tommy Wirkola and David Harbour on the set of 'Violent Night.'
    (L to R) Director Tommy Wirkola and David Harbour on the set of ‘Violent Night.’ © Universal Studios.

    While the story can’t quite hold everything together, the set-pieces have much more value. Which is perhaps not surprising given both director Wirkola’s past movies such as ‘Dead Snow’ and ‘Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters’ and the team from 87North.

    Spawned from the stunt training facility co-founded by David Leitch (who produces here) and Chad Stahelski after their days working on the original ‘Matrix’ trilogy, it has since become one of the go-to destinations for actors looking to whip themselves into fighting shape. And to design memorable action moments for both the founders and other filmmakers.

    Here, the focus is on inventive ways to off nameless (or codenamed) goons with different takes on Christmas staples or other items. So Harbour’s Santa battles armed thieves with a stocking full of pool balls, festive decorations and, in one particularly stabby/slashy moment, an ice skate.

    And there is the most inventive, splashy use of Santa’s chimney transport trick to murder someone that we’ve seen in the cinema. Which shouldn’t be surprising, as Santas outside of the odd horror movie don’t generally go on killing sprees.

    Alexis Louder, and David Harbour in 'Violent Night.' © Universal Studios.
    (L to R) Alexis Louder, and David Harbour in ‘Violent Night.’ © Universal Studios.

    Harbour absolutely commits to the role of a Santa Claus who used to spend his days smashing heads with a hammer, and despite being tired from years of Christmas duty, still relishes the chance to punish the naughty with more than just coal. Cue lots of spins on Christmas song lyrics turned into catchphrases.

    ‘Violent Night’ also tips its hat early on to its big influences – ‘Die Hard’, obviously, with Harbour’s character having more than a little John McClane about him – world-weary protagonist dropped into a tough situation who often has to stitch himself up. And then there’s Trudy trying out some ‘Home Alone’ booby traps against the baddies with less cartoony results than Kevin McCallister ever dreamed of.

    Forced to do a lot of the heavy lifting, the fight scenes don’t always balance out the fact that the plot is thin and the characters less than stimulating. The baddies are mostly just stock criminals waiting for Santa to kill them off. There are times when it all feels like a video game as Harbour ploughs through the different level of challenges, which is somehow fitting given the writers’ ‘Sonic’ experience.

    Yet even Leguizamo, bringing a welcome cocktail of rage and humor to the main villain, can’t quite make it all hang together, leaving the story to droop like an old Christmas tree.

    Mitra Suri and John Leguizamo in 'Violent Night,' directed by Tommy Wirkola.
    (L to R) Mitra Suri and John Leguizamo in ‘Violent Night,’ directed by Tommy Wirkola. © Universal Studios.

    Plus the twists and turns are entirely predictable, leaving Santa as the main reason to keep watching. Wirkola has some fun with the situation, and the needle drops feature some more eclectic choices alongside the standards, it’s just disappointing that the movie doesn’t do more with what it has.

    Yet like a slightly overdone gingerbread cookie, it still has its pleasures, mostly whenever Harbour is on screen. Or when a nativity scene is utilized to take out some villains in a way that would probably give the Pope a conniption fit.

    It could certainly benefit from a little more of the Christmas magic that Santa keeps talking about, but ‘Violent Night’ is worth unwrapping at the cinema if you ever wondered what ‘John Wick’ at Yule would look like.

    ‘Violent Night receives 3.5 out of 5 stars.

    David Harbour in 'Violent Night,' directed by Tommy Wirkola.
    David Harbour in ‘Violent Night,’ directed by Tommy Wirkola.
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  • ‘Violent Night’ Interview: David Harbour

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    Opening in theaters on December 2nd is the new Christmas action/comedy film entitled ‘Violent Night,’ which was directed by Tommy Wirkola (‘Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters’).

    The new movie is basically Santa Claus in ‘Die Hard’ with elements of ‘Home Alone’ and ‘Bad Santa’ thrown in for good measure.

    On Christmas Eve, when a wealthy family is held hostage in their home by mercenaries led by Mr. Scrooge (John Leguizamo), the real Santa Claus (David Harbour), who has lost the Christmas spirit must summon his strength to defeat the bad guys and save the family including a young girl named Trudy (Leah Brady), who still believes in the magic of Christmas and Santa Claus.

    In addition to Harbour, Leguizamo, and Brady, the cast also includes Cam Gigandet, Alex Hassell, Alexis Louder, Edi Patterson, Andre Eriksen, and Beverly D’Angelo (‘National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation’).

    Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with David Harbour about his work on ‘Violent Night,’ the unusual screenplay, his version of Santa Clause, and shooting the incredible action sequences.

    Alexis Louder, and David Harbour in 'Violent Night.' © Universal Studios.
    (L to R) Alexis Louder, and David Harbour in ‘Violent Night.’ © Universal Studios.

    You can read our full interview with David Harbour below or click on the video player above to watch our interviews with Harbour, John Leguizamo, and director Tommy Wirkola.

    Moviefone: To begin with, what was your first reaction this screenplay and it’s “Santa Claus in ‘Die Hard’” concept?

    David Harbour: I mean, before they even gave me the script, they sort of pitched me the idea and I was initially like, “This is insane, no thank you.” They were like, “No, no, no. The director and the producer would really like to talk to you about it, and we’d really like to send you the script,” and they did.

    Tommy, the director, is this kind of childlike, Norwegian elfish weirdo who just loves Christmas, and David Leitch has done incredible action movies. They sent me this script and it had such a unique blend of this ‘John Wick’ action, which I love and have always wanted to do.

    I saw Charlize Theron in ‘Atomic Blonde’ and I was like, “Oh, I want to be doing that. I want to be the guy doing the choreography.” On top of that, it’s like ‘Miracle on 34th Street,’ where it really does have a Christmas heart beating at the center of it, about a little girl who wants to believe in Santa Claus. The fact that those two things were together, it was such a unique thing. I’d never seen it before, and I got really excited about it.

    MF: What was your approach to playing this exaggerated version of Santa Claus?

    DH: I mean, what I was curious about is we have this mythological figure that we lie to our kids about. We say he’s real and he’s delivering presents to you, which by the way, I think is fantastic. It’s hilarious that we all just lie to children, I think it’s great. But we don’t really know much about him, except he’s a big fat guy in a red suit who delivers presents to nice, and not to naughty kids.

    So, I wanted to have the image of the “Coca-Cola Santa” in the beginning with the little glasses and the curly white beard, but then as the movie goes on, I wanted to see who’s underneath that mask?

    Jason (Alex Hassell), Gertrude (Beverly D’Angelo), Alva (Edi Patterson), Linda (Alexis Louder), Trudy (Leah Brady) and Santa (David Harbour) in 'Violent Night.'
    (L to R) Jason (Alex Hassell), Gertrude (Beverly D’Angelo), Alva (Edi Patterson), Linda (Alexis Louder), Trudy (Leah Brady) and Santa (David Harbour) in ‘Violent Night,’ directed by Tommy Wirkola.

    10,000 years ago, there was a guy in Christian mythology called St. Nicholas, who he’s based on. There’s other traditions, Germany has a guy called Weihnachtsmann, and different cultures have different versions of this guy. So, my interest was, who really is this guy? I think as the movie goes on, we sort of peel back that he wasn’t always such a jolly, fat guy, that there’s some complexity there, and that really interested me in going deep into who that guy was specifically.

    MF: Finally, can you talk about your preparation for the action sequences and what it was like shooting those scenes?

    DH: It was brutal and great. I mean, I have gotten into a little bit of the fight world through ‘Stranger Things,’ and through the Marvel series (‘Black Widow’ and the upcoming ‘Thunderbolts’), but I’d never done anything as intense as this.

    The guys who did this are the stunt guys that do the ‘John Wick’ movies, which are known for their incredible action sequences. They trained me for a couple months in Jujutsu, and Greco-Roman wrestling, and I was working with a couple stunt guys who I got to know their rhythm very well.

    But that choreography, it’s just a lot of training. You’re just training and tired all day long, but it’s so exciting to be able to represent what that can be. It was a lot of fun, but it’s really hard work. I mean, watching those fights on UFC and stuff, I have a newfound respect for the guys that do that discipline. It really is exhausting.

    David Harbour stars as Santa Claus in Universal Pictures' 'Violent Night.'
    David Harbour stars as Santa Claus in Universal Pictures’ ‘Violent Night.’
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  • ‘Violent Night’ Trailer Features Santa Vs. Baddies

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    As the song goes, “You better watch out. You better not cry. You better not pout…” We’re telling you why – Santa Claus is not just coming to town. He’s going to town battling baddies who decide to take hostage and rob a wealthy family.

    That’s the basic concept for ‘Violent Night’, the new film from ‘Dead Snow’ and ‘Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters’ director Tommy Wirkola.

    ‘Stranger Things’ David Harbour stars here as Father Christmas, who when we first meet him in the trailer, is drowning his sorrows. He’s the OG Santa, and has been at this game a long time, starting to lose some self-belief.

    What could restore his Christmas spirit? Try showing up at the home of young Trudy Lightstone (Leah Brady), whose wealthy family have gathered at their remote compound to celebrate the season.

    Jason (Alex Hassell), Gertrude (Beverly D’Angelo), Alva (Edi Patterson), Linda (Alexis Louder), Trudy (Leah Brady) and Santa (David Harbour) in 'Violent Night.'
    (L to R) Jason (Alex Hassell), Gertrude (Beverly D’Angelo), Alva (Edi Patterson), Linda (Alexis Louder), Trudy (Leah Brady) and Santa (David Harbour) in ‘Violent Night,’ directed by Tommy Wirkola.

    Yet when their party is rudely interrupted by a group of mercenaries led by John Leguizamo’s Ben – a gang who want to rob the family of the $300 million sitting in their vault – Santa will have to dish out some season’s beatings.

    Expect a lot of Christmas puns in this one, which comes across as ‘Die Hard’ meets ‘Bad Santa’. While Harbour’s take on the character isn’t as badly behaved as Billy Bob Thornton’s, he’s certainly not your average, jolly Kris Kringle. This Santa knows how to fight.

    With David Leitch – who became friends with Wirkola after running second unit and stunts for him on ‘Hansel & Gretel’ – producing alongside his partner Kelly McCormick and their 87North company, you know the combat scenes are going to be intense and inventive.

    Boasting a host of Christmas decorations around to use as weapons, Santa will be dishing out rough justice to all those the naughty list, and even swapping out the usual lump of coal for a grenade down someone’s pants. Christmas lights, decorations and candy canes are all utilized to take out the baddies.

    David Harbour in 'Violent Night,' directed by Tommy Wirkola.
    David Harbour in ‘Violent Night,’ directed by Tommy Wirkola.

    The cast for ‘Violent Night’ also includes Cam Gigandet, Alex Hassell, Alexis Louder, Edi Patterson, and, because Wirkola is a big fan of ‘National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation’, Beverly D’Angelo, here playing a much frostier character than her beloved, easygoing Ellen Griswold.

    Expect a load of references and Easter Eggs – though perhaps that should be Christmas baubles – to other festive films here, including ‘Home Alone’ and as mentioned above, ‘Die Hard’.

    The tone is silly fun with a side order of furious chaos; after all, how many other films have Santa beating someone up with a sock filled with pool balls and then a joke about stepping in reindeer poop? You know what you did, Prancer.

    With a script by ‘Sonic The Hedgehog’ franchise veterans Pat Casey and Josh Miller, ‘Violent Night’ will be in theaters on December 2nd. Always bet on red…

    David Harbour and director Tommy Wirkola on the set of 'Violent Night.'
    (L to R) David Harbour and director Tommy Wirkola on the set of ‘Violent Night.’
    David Harbour and John Leguizamo on the set of 'Violent Night.'
    (L to R) David Harbour and John Leguizamo on the set of ‘Violent Night.’
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  • Gerard Butler, Alexis Louder talk ‘Copshop’

    Gerard Butler, Alexis Louder talk ‘Copshop’

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    ‘Copshop’ tells the story of Teddy Muretto (Frank Grillo) who is on the run from ruthless hitman Bob Viddick (Gerard Butler). Muretto punches rookie police officer Valerie Young (Alexis Louder) so he’ll be arrested and put into police custody, but Viddick gets himself locked up in the same jail, and it’s up to Young to keep the peace. Gerard Butler and Alexis Louder spoke to Moviefone about their new action thriller.

    Gerard Butler in 'Copshop'
    Gerard Butler in ‘Copshop’

    Moviefone: Gerard, this is a role that we’re not used to seeing you in. I’m used to seeing you in roles where you are the moral compass. You’re pointing north. This character is certainly not like that. So what was the preparation like for this, and was it challenging for you?

    Gerard Butler: I guess every role is challenging in different ways. So yeah, it was challenging because it is a character I’m not used to playing, so I had to stretch different muscles and be creative in a different way. But it was also super fun to get my teeth into something that I can have examine that darkness, and that intensity, and that willpower. That ruthlessness. But then try and get some other colors in there, and not have him just as a killer. So yeah, it was fun preparing for it, and it was definitely fun performing it.

    Moviefone: Is it bad that I really liked him, still? What does that say?

    Butler: I don’t know if that just says I’m a likable guy, or just that I’m not a convincing bad guy.

    Alexis Louder: No. Shame on you! Shame! You should not like Viddick.

    Moviefone: I don’t know, I think it’s Gerard. I just feel like there’s still something about… Even though he’s playing this bad guy, I still felt like he was a good guy in the end. I don’t know.

    Butler: By the way, it was the same in Law Abiding Citizen. I killed everybody, even innocent people, and people were still, “I didn’t want you to die at the end. I liked you so much.” I’m like, “Is that a good thing? I don’t know.”

    Moviefone: Alexis, if you had to write a biography for Valerie Young, what would it say?

    Louder: It would say that Valerie Young probably grew up in this town, and she has a connection to it and wants to stay there. But she would, as a police officer, she definitely would want to be in one of the bigger, larger markets, where there’s more happening. She’d be taking out drug lords, and kingpins, and different things like that. But the trouble finds her when Viddick and Murretto come into her station and create all this mayhem. Where she has to figure out how to restore law and order in all this chaos. She has an insatiable thirst for justice, she knows the difference between right and wrong, and she feels like it’s mostly black and white. And she’s there to keep the bad guys in jail, where they’re supposed to be.

    ‘Copshop‘ is now in theaters.

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