Moviefone Editorial

Tag: based-on-true-story

  • Movie Review: ‘H Is For Hawk’

    Claire Foy in 'H Is for Hawk'. Photo: Courtesy of Roadside Attractions.
    Claire Foy in ‘H Is for Hawk’. Photo: Courtesy of Roadside Attractions.

    Opening in theaters on January 23rd is the new biographical drama ‘H Is for Hawk’, directed by Philippa Lowthorpe and starring Claire Foy, Denise Gough, Lindsay Duncan, and Oscar nominee Brendan Gleeson.

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    Related Article: ‘The Crown’s Claire Foy Added to Danny Boyle’s UK Newspaper Drama ‘Ink’

    Initial Thoughts

    Claire Foy in 'H Is for Hawk'. Photo: Courtesy of Roadside Attractions.
    Claire Foy in ‘H Is for Hawk’. Photo: Courtesy of Roadside Attractions.

    Based on a memoir of the same name by Helen Macdonald, ‘H Is For Hawk’ tells the story of a woman whose devastating grief over the death of her father is channeled through her training of a goshawk, a predatory bird that’s notoriously difficult to wrangle – with the bird becoming a metaphor for the woman’s own struggles with anguish and depression.

    While the film has simplified the book’s narrative, ‘H Is For Hawk’ is both unsentimental and moving as it charts a journey that takes Helen down some dark paths. Claire Foy (‘The Crown’) is excellent in the lead role, and her interactions with her hawk, named Mabel (and played by two real-life Goshawks), are the most captivating sequences in a quietly powerful story of finding oneself again.

    Story and Direction

    Philippa Lowthorpe behind the scenes of 'H Is for Hawk'. Photo: Courtesy of Roadside Attractions.
    Philippa Lowthorpe behind the scenes of ‘H Is for Hawk’. Photo: Courtesy of Roadside Attractions.

    Helen Macdonald is a research scholar and teacher at Cambridge’s Jesus College who’s shattered by the news that her beloved father – renowned photojournalist Alisdair Macdonald (Brendan Gleeson,  ‘The Banshees of Inisherin’) – has suddenly passed away. Endlessly curious about the world and always seeking knowledge, Helen’s dad has been a guiding light for her. Trying to contain her grief, Helen decides to again take up falconry – which she practiced for years when she was younger – and train one of the most difficult birds to master, a European Goshawk.

    After purchasing a Goshawk from a Scottish breeder, Helen devotes all of her time and life to training the bird, which she names Mabel. Their relationship is difficult at first, but even as she successfully earns the hawk’s trust and trains it, Helen’s own life falls into deep disrepair: she grows distant from her family and friends, her house – which she’s expected to leave when her current term with Cambridge ends – becomes unkempt and untidy, and she ignores her work and even the writing of a eulogy for her father’s memorial service.

    'H Is for Hawk' director Philippa Lowthorpe.
    ‘H Is for Hawk’ director Philippa Lowthorpe.

    With a screenplay co-written by director Philippa Lowthorpe and novelist Emma Donoghue (‘Room’), ‘H Is For Hawk’ focuses on the central narrative of Macdonald and Mabel while stripping out elements like a biographical look at author T.H. White’s own Goshawk experience as well as Macdonald’s insights into nature. Some of the latter is retained through the sequences of Helen and Mabel getting to know each other and the bird’s first attempts at hunting and flying – which are fascinating in their own right and directed by Lowthorpe with a kind of restrained mystery and grandeur (not to mention gorgeous work from cinematographer Charlotte Bruus Christensen).

    Those scenes are part of the larger narrative of Helen’s grappling with not just her loss but her own sense of identity and self-worth in the wake of her father’s passing. Her bond with Mabel leads her to become more feral herself, threatening to overwhelm the rest of her life. Her eventual reclamation is not overly melodramatic, and if anything, the film’s final scenes resolve the protagonist’s main conflict perhaps a little too quickly. But at the same time, ‘H Is For Hawk’ is a deeply affecting look at the texture of grief and memory, the mystery of nature, and the finality of death itself.

    Cast and Performances

    (L to R) Claire Foy and Brendan Gleeson in 'H Is for Hawk'. Photo: Courtesy of Roadside Attractions.
    (L to R) Claire Foy and Brendan Gleeson in ‘H Is for Hawk’. Photo: Courtesy of Roadside Attractions.

    Best known for playing the young Queen Elizabeth II in ‘The Crown,’ Claire Foy is excellent here as the headstrong, initially outgoing Helen (the real person is non-binary, while the film’s Helen uses ‘she/her’), portraying both the character’s strength and vulnerability with subtlety and empathy. She’s extraordinary in her interaction with the two birds playing Mabel, who themselves are a fantastic presence onscreen. Foy is wholly believable as a person who is experienced with falconry yet is relearning it through one of its most difficult subjects, projecting both confidence and anxiety.

    The supporting cast – including the Mabels – is noteworthy as well, with living legend Brendan Gleeson providing Alisdair with a twinkle in the eye, plenty of good humor, and a rich sense of openness to the world around him in his too-brief flashback scenes. Denise Gough is strong and sensitive as well, as Helen’s best friend Christina, and Lindsay Duncan effectively portrays both the sadness and growing concern of Helen’s mum.

    Final Thoughts

    Brendan Gleeson in 'H Is for Hawk'. Photo: Courtesy of Roadside Attractions.
    Brendan Gleeson in ‘H Is for Hawk’. Photo: Courtesy of Roadside Attractions.

    Gently told even in its scenes of the Goshawk hunting and Helen at one point sleeping on the floor of her filthy home like an animal herself, ‘H Is For Hawk’ is a captivating film that draws you in with Foy and Gleeson’s remarkably humane performances and the arresting presence of Mabel herself, whose indifferent face mirrors the unemotional state that Helen craves but cannot truly achieve.

    As an adaptation of a book that relies heavily on interior monologue and exposition, ‘H Is For Hawk’ may not completely capture the source material’s complexity. But as a look at the power of love and memory — and the denial of sorrow when the former is taken away and leaves only the latter — the film truly takes flight.

    ‘H Is For Hawk’ receives a score of 85 out of 100.

    (L to R) Lindsay Duncan and Claire Foy in 'H Is for Hawk'. Photo: Courtesy of Roadside Attractions.
    (L to R) Lindsay Duncan and Claire Foy in ‘H Is for Hawk’. Photo: Courtesy of Roadside Attractions.

    What is the plot of ‘H Is for Hawk’?

    After losing her beloved father (Brendan Gleeson), Helen (Claire Foy) finds herself saved by an unlikely friendship with a stubborn hawk named Mabel. Through the bond, Helen rediscovers the beauty of being alive.

    Who is in the cast of ‘H Is for Hawk’?

    'H Is for Hawk' opens in theaters on January 23rd.
    ‘H Is for Hawk’ opens in theaters on January 23rd.

    List of Movies & TV Shows Featuring Claire Foy:

    Buy Tickets: ‘H Is for Hawk’ Movie Showtimes

    Buy Claire Foy Movies and TV on Amazon

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  • Movie Review: ‘Dead Man’s Wire’

    (L to R): Dacre Montgomery and Bill Skarsgard in 'Dead Man's Wire.' Photo: Row K Entertainment.
    (L to R): Dacre Montgomery and Bill Skarsgard in ‘Dead Man’s Wire.’ Photo: Row K Entertainment.

    In theaters on limited release from December 9 (expanding on December 16) is ‘Dead Man’s Wire’ a strange-but-true crime story from director Gus Van Sant (‘Drugstore Cowboy’).

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    The cast is led by Bill Skarsgård (‘It’), Dacre Montgomery (‘Elvis’) and Cary Elwes (‘The Princess Bride’).

    Related Article: TV Review: ‘IT: Welcome to Derry’

    Initial Thoughts

    Colman Domingo in 'Dead Man's Wire.' Photo: Row K Entertainment.
    Colman Domingo in ‘Dead Man’s Wire.’ Photo: Row K Entertainment.

    For his first feature in six years, director Gus Van Sant has picked a familiar pattern –– a true-life tale. And ‘Dead Man’s Wire’ certainly boasts a compelling hook. A kidnapping case that was locally infamous in Indiana that briefly attracted national attention in the late 1970s.

    But with some odd tonal choices, the movie doesn’t always do justice to what is a fascinating tale of desperation and candor.

    Script and Direction

    (L to R) Al Pacino and director Gus Van Sant attend Row K’s 'Dead Man’s Wire' Los Angeles Premiere at The Grove AMC on January 7, 2026 in Los Angeles.
    (L to R) Al Pacino and director Gus Van Sant attend Row K’s ‘Dead Man’s Wire’ Los Angeles Premiere at The Grove AMC on January 7, 2026 in Los Angeles.

    The script from Austin Kolodney (a filmmaker behind various shorts and who has worked in a number of roles on different movies) takes a mostly real-time approach to the story of Tony Kiritsis and his grudge against a local mortgage company.

    It’s a solid foundation for an entertaining movie, and one that director Gus Van Sant knows how to make well. Yet the issue is with some of the stylistic tricks and the occasional shifts in tone that don’t always work with the plot itself and undercut the power.

    Cast and Performances

    Cary Elwes in 'Dead Man's Wire.' Photo: Row K Entertainment.
    Cary Elwes in ‘Dead Man’s Wire.’ Photo: Row K Entertainment.

    The cast is the definite highlight of the movie, with Skarsgård, for once not buried beneath a mountain of prosthetics, giving a memorable, charismatic performance as the desperate, but perhaps misguided central figure.

    Dacre Montgomery also has a chance to shine as the victim of the kidnapping, a man whose rich family is only to willing to throw him under the bus when it comes to negotiating with his captor.

    Outside of the main pair, Cary Elwes is excellent as a detective, Al Pacino steals a couple of scenes as Montgomery’s character’s father, and Myha’la gets some good moments as a reporter who is first to report on the developing situation.

    Final Thoughts

    Bill Skarsgård as Tony Kiritsis in 'Dead Man's Wire'. Photo: Row K Entertainment.
    Bill Skarsgård as Tony Kiritsis in ‘Dead Man’s Wire’. Photo: Row K Entertainment.

    Despite its occasional overreliance on stylistic tics, ‘Dead Man’s Wire’ is a compelling treatment of a real-life case, one that has resonances even today.

    ‘Dead Man’s Wire’ receives 70 out of 100.

    (L to R): Dacre Montgomery and Bill Skarsgard in 'Dead Man's Wire.' Photo: Row K Entertainment.
    (L to R): Dacre Montgomery and Bill Skarsgard in ‘Dead Man’s Wire.’ Photo: Row K Entertainment.

    What is the plot of ‘Dead Man’s Wire’?

    The film is inspired by the 1977 Indianapolis hostage standoff involving Tony Kiritsis (Bill Skarsgård) and centers on the escalation of a public confrontation shaped by negotiation, media attention, and law enforcement response.

    Who is in the cast of ‘Dead Man’s Wire’?

    • Bill Skarsgård as Tony Kiritsis
    • Dacre Montgomery as Richard Hall
    • Cary Elwes as Detective Michael Grable
    • Myha’la as Linda Page
    • Colman Domingo as Fred Temple
    • Al Pacino as M.L. Hall
    • John Robinson as John the Cameraman
    • Kelly Lynch as Mabel Hall
    'Dead Man's Wire' opens in theaters on January 16th. Photo: Row K Entertainment.
    ‘Dead Man’s Wire’ opens in theaters on January 16th. Photo: Row K Entertainment.

    List of Movies Directed by Gus Van Sant:

    Buy Tickets: ‘Dead Man’s Wire’ Movie Showtimes

    Buy Gus Van Sant movies and TV on Amazon

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  • ‘Dead Man’s Wire’ Press Conference With Gus Van Sant

    (L to R) Kelly Lynch, director Gus Van Sant, Al Pacino and Colman Domingo attend Row K’s 'Dead Man’s Wire' Los Angeles Premiere at The Grove AMC on January 7, 2026 in Los Angeles.
    (L to R) Kelly Lynch, director Gus Van Sant, Al Pacino and Colman Domingo attend Row K’s ‘Dead Man’s Wire’ Los Angeles Premiere at The Grove AMC on January 7, 2026 in Los Angeles.

    Set in 1977 and based on a true story,  ‘Dead Man’s Wire‘ follows Tony Kiritsis, a former real estate developer who puts a dead man’s switch on himself and the mortgage banker who did him wrong, while demanding $5 million and a personal apology.

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    Moviefone was in attendance at a recent press conference, in which director Gus Van Sant and writer Austin Kolodney shared behind-the-scenes details and discuss adapting a true story for the screen.

    Related Article: Director Gus Van Sant Talks New Crime Thriller ‘Dead Man’s Wire’

    1) Gus Van Sant Was Interested In ‘Dead Man’s Wire’ Because It Was Going To Be Filmed Almost Immediately

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    (L to R) Dacre Montgomery as Richard ‘Dick’ Hall and Bill Skarsgård as Tony Kiritsis in ‘Dead Man’s Wire’. Photo: Row K Entertainment

    When asked about what drew him to the project, Gus Van Sant shockingly explains that it mostly had to do with the shooting timeline.

    Gus Van Sant: I joined on with the knowledge that it was shooting in Louisville, Kentucky. And it was shooting very quickly. This was September of last year, and Cassian Elwes, the producer, was planning to shoot in November. I was intrigued by the whole situation of having to do something right away and not even knowing what it was about. Kind of… I didn’t really say yes. I did read the script before I said yes.

    2) Austin Kolodney First Heard About Tony Karitsis On A Podcast

    Bill Skarsgård as Tony Kiritsis in 'Dead Man's Wire'. Photo: Row K Entertainment.
    Bill Skarsgård as Tony Kiritsis in ‘Dead Man’s Wire’. Photo: Row K Entertainment.

    Writer Austin Kolodney first heard about this true story on a podcast and wondered to himself why it wasn’t a movie. So he wrote a script.

    Austin Kolodney: I first heard it mentioned on a podcast. A producer, Jamie Vernon, had mentioned the name and the crime, and I had my antenna up. This is the height of COVID in 2020, during that summer. And I was actively looking for something to write. I had written a couple other features, like smaller indie things that I would want to direct, but I was like, I need to try and get something made soon to pay off credit card debt, get the career started, I can’t just keep Lyft driving. So, I was actively looking for something that I think would be a movie, and when I heard about Tony, went down this rabbit hole, some podcasts, there’s a great dollop episode about him, and then there’s this one YouTube video that I used as a hyperlink, because it had this 5-minute summation of this really grainy texture, archival footage shot, highlight reel ofTony slipping on the ice, and cracking jokes at the cops, and laughing at them, and getting them to laugh with him, and then asking for water, and having to hold the gun and drink it like a baby bird, and for some reason that crystallized the movie for me. I’m like, how has this not been made into a movie? So I started developing it as a movie.

    3) Austin Kolodney Included Hyperlinks To Videos In His Initial Script

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    (L to R) Dacre Montgomery as Richard ‘Dick’ Hall and Bill Skarsgård as Tony Kiritsis in ‘Dead Man’s Wire’. Photo: Row K Entertainment

    Gus Van Sant says that Austin Kolodney’s inclusion of hyperlinks in the script helped him to understand who Tony Karitsis really was.

    Gus Van Sant: You could see very clearly the guy, Tony Karitsis’ personality, partly due to the hyperlinks that were connected in the script to his actual voice. You could hear the real guy, who was very intriguing, and so within just a few moments, I don’t know that I wasn’t conscious of I guess it was obvious that he was a desperate underdog character that resembled other characters that I’d done before.

    4) Austin Kolodney Is Drawn To True Crime, But He Doesn’t Want To Be Pigeonholed In That Genre

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    Cary Elwes as Michael Grable in ‘Dead Man’s Wire’. Photo: Row K Entertainment

    When asked about what it was that truly interested him about this story, Austin Kolodney admits that he loves true crime, but that he also has the ability to write other genres.

    Austin Kolodney: I’d be lying if I said that I didn’t like a good crime movie. A lot of great American films are crime movies, and I don’t know if true crime is necessarily how I want to corner myself as a storyteller. I’ve had a couple other scripts written prior to this one that aren’t at all in this realm. I continue to see, I guess, any article or book or footage of a true event that has a character that is very rich and very textured and feels like someone that I would want to see on the screen for an hour and a half, two hours. That’s what draws me to it. It’s more the person, the criminal, I guess, not necessarily the act of crime, it’s the personality and the three-dimensionality of the person that’s at the center of it, is what draws me to a story.

    5) Bill Skarsgård Almost Wasn’t The Lead Of ‘Dead Man’s Wire’

    (L to R) Dacre Montgomery and Bill Skarsgard in 'Dead Man's Wire.' Photo: Row K Entertainment.
    (L to R) Dacre Montgomery and Bill Skarsgard in ‘Dead Man’s Wire.’ Photo: Row K Entertainment.

    Director Gus Van Sant admits that he thought Bill Skarsgård was great for the lead role of ‘Dead Man’s Wire’, but details how he almost didn’t take the role.

    Gus Van Sant: I had tried to get Bill in another film that was simultaneous. It was canceled right about the same time that I was joining onto ‘Dead Man’s Wire’, and I had asked him to play a smaller part, and he said it would be interesting if he wasn’t playing a lead somewhere else. So I was thinking of him for a while, just working with him, and putting him into things where he wasn’t even the lead character. I hadn’t worked with him. In this case, he seemed to work for the lead character. So I turned around and said, oh, there’s a lead character on this one. He was busy. So he was fitting it in between projects. But yeah, he seemed to be game. I mean, partly, maybe because I worked with his dad, Stellan (Skarsgård) in ‘Good Will Hunting‘. He had actually come to the set, but he was like 7 years old. There’s a picture I have of him and the big family that was visiting Stellan.

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    Al Pacino as M/L/ Hall in ‘Dead Man’s Wire’. Photo: Row K Entertainment

    What is the plot of ‘Dead Man’s Wire’?

    The film is inspired by the 1977 Indianapolis hostage standoff involving Tony Kiritsis (Bill Skarsgård) and centers on the escalation of a public confrontation shaped by negotiation, media attention, and law enforcement response.

    Who is in the cast of ‘Dead Man’s Wire’?

    'Dead Man's Wire' opens in theaters on January 16th. Photo: Row K Entertainment.
    ‘Dead Man’s Wire’ opens in theaters on January 16th. Photo: Row K Entertainment.

    List of Movies Directed by Gus Van Sant:

    Buy Tickets: ‘Dead Man’s Wire’ Movie Showtimes

    Buy Gus Van Sant movies and TV on Amazon

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  • ‘Not Without Hope’ Interview: Zachary Levi and More

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    Opening in theaters on December 12th is the new survival thriller ‘Not Without Hope‘, which is directed by Joe Carnahan (‘Shadow Force’) and based on an incredible true story.

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    The film stars Zachary Levi (‘Shazam!’), Josh Duhamel (‘London Calling’), Quentin Plair (‘Dirty Grandpa’), Terrence Terrell (‘Batwoman’), Marshall Cook (‘Copshop‘), and JoBeth Williams (‘Poltergeist’).

    (L to R) Zachary Levi, Terrence Terrell, Quentin Plair and Marshall Cook in 'Not Without Hope'. Photo: Inaugural Entertainment.
    (L to R) Zachary Levi, Terrence Terrell, Quentin Plair and Marshall Cook in ‘Not Without Hope’. Photo: Inaugural Entertainment.

    Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with Zachary Levi, Quentin Plair, Terrence Terrell and Marshall Cook about their work on ‘Not Without Hope’, their first reaction to the true story it is based on, their research, creating the friendship between the characters, filming in the water, survivor’s guilt, and working with director Joe Carnahan.

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

    Related Article: Zachary Levi Talks ‘Shazam! Fury of the Gods’ and Playing a Superhero

    Zachary Levi in 'Not Without Hope'. Photo: Inaugural Entertainment.
    Zachary Levi in ‘Not Without Hope’. Photo: Inaugural Entertainment.

    MF: To begin with, Zachary, were you aware of the true story that the film is based on and what was your first reaction to the screenplay?

    Zachary Levi: So, I was familiar with the story in that I remember it being on the news in 2009, kind of in the background. It was one of the mini stories that’s on the news and I was thinking to myself, “Wow, that is so sad that these guys went out for a fishing trip and three of the four didn’t come back.” I didn’t know any of the details. I don’t even know that the details were available at that time. Then the script came across my desk, and I read it. I mean, honestly, the first thing that hits me, and it hits me watching the movie, is that all these lives were so insanely impacted and lost. Three of these gentleman’s lives lost all over an anchor. As I’m reading the script, I’m like, “Just cut it. Just cut it.” As if somehow, I could bring them back into existence, if I could change what had already happened. But that, also, I think, leads to investing you in the story and seeing how it ultimately plays out, and how they’re able to survive. Ultimately, Nick is rescued at the last second, I believe that the Coast Guard said he was 45 minutes away from dying himself. But that last shred of hope, that against all odds, I will hold on, I will believe that something will change in this course of events, and it did. I’m grateful that he lived to write the book, and for us to go make this movie, for us to honor Marquis, Corey and Will because they’re not here. So, I think all of that affected me as I was reading the script and, ultimately, wanted me to sign on.

    (L to R) Quentin Plair, errence Terrell, Zachary Levi and Marshall Cook in 'Not Without Hope'. Photo: Inaugural Entertainment.
    (L to R) Quentin Plair, errence Terrell, Zachary Levi and Marshall Cook in ‘Not Without Hope’. Photo: Inaugural Entertainment.

    MF: Quentin, can you talk about the friendship that these four men had together and what it was like for you creating that on screen with your fellow actors?

    Quentin Plair: Well, Marshall and I live very close to each other. So, we were in the same gym and this guy just walks up to me and he’s like, “Hey, are you Quentin Plair?” I’m like, “Yeah, who are you?” He’s like, “Hey, I shouldn’t say this, but I just got this ‘Not Without Hope’ and I know you got it as well.” I was like, “Oh man, that’s awesome.” So, during the prep process, I think that was probably maybe two months or so before we were going to film. The two of us exchanged information, and we pushed each other because we were swimming and working out in preparation for it. Then we get out there and the way that we did the shooting, we did the water stuff before we did the out of the water stuff. So, all of us were just going through this thing together. To be a survival movie, it’s an intimate look at it. It’s a up close and personal look at it. You kind of feel like you’re out there with us. There were so many times, where Zach had to literally pull me onto the boat, pull me through the water, lift me up himself, hold me, and cradle me in his arms. I’m dead weight at that point because I’m being overtaken by hypothermia. What I call my last present moments are just his eyes looking down at me, my eyes looking back at him, and just having this intense, organic, genuine connection through all these tough external things, the water, the wind machines, the rain, the cold of the water, the waves, and just the relentless night after night of these night shoots. Then we get on land and it’s kind of like, we just get to have fun. We just get to have this connection. We get to joke around, and we get to laugh. That felt like such a relief that like, “Oh, no, we don’t have to go through this pain”. We’re on a regular sleep cycle. We’re on all these things, and we had built such a bond through going through that, that once we got to those scenes, I think it was just palpable. People that watched it, I think, saw that and I saw it myself and it just really all worked out.

    (L to R) Zachary Levi and Marshall Cook in 'Not Without Hope'. Photo: Inaugural Entertainment.
    (L to R) Zachary Levi and Marshall Cook in ‘Not Without Hope’. Photo: Inaugural Entertainment.

    MF: Marshall, can you talk about the challenges of shooting in water and acting in those harsh conditions?

    Marshall Cook: Well, there’s two different ways of looking at it. I mean, the one challenge is, obviously, you can’t really plan anything because you’re just constantly off balance. I mean, it was hard to just stay on the boat. There’s a lot that you don’t expect that Joe is doing behind the scenes. He’s queuing water cannons to go off when you’re not expecting them and there’s just a lot of chaos. So, there’s no real rhythm and you must do more reacting, which is the other way of looking at it is that you can just kind of be, and it requires less acting sometimes. So, I think not overthinking it and just saying, “Am I this person in this scenario? Is that convincing to the audience?” You can just kind of let go, and there’s certain beats and things you must do in a scene, but you get away from overthinking or pre-planning. I mean, to me, I think it was a gift. I think the biggest challenge was just navigating the cold.

    Director Joe Carnahan on the set of 'Shadow Force'. Photo: Courtesy of Lionsgate.
    Director Joe Carnahan on the set of ‘Shadow Force’. Photo: Courtesy of Lionsgate.

    MF: Terrence, what was your experience like working with director Joe Carnahan on this project?

    Terrence Terrell: Joe has so much energy and so many surprises. He’ll say the tank’s going to go off just twice, and it went off 15 times just to get you. Then the other cool thing about it was freezing in that water. I remember a couple of times; Joe went in the water with us. So, he was on the side with no wetsuit on or anything, with the camera and in the water with us. So, that was cool to let us know that not only was he directing us in this chaos, but he also didn’t mind jumping in the chaos with us. So, I love Joe. He’s so cool.

    Zachary Levi in 'Not Without Hope'. Photo: Inaugural Entertainment.
    Zachary Levi in ‘Not Without Hope’. Photo: Inaugural Entertainment.

    MF: Finally, Zachary, can you talk about the research you did for this role and how it helped inform your performance? Also, did Nick have “survivor’s guilt” and how did he overcome that?

    ZL: I mean, I talked to Nick quite a few times just trying to get into his head and understand his journey through all of this. As you can imagine, it was quite a traumatic experience. With trauma, a lot of memory can get repressed. But I know that Nick is a strong man, and he continues to live his life. It’s like when Tom Hanks looks at Matt Damon in ‘Saving Private Ryan’. He says, “Earn it.” Because all these guys, this whole platoon, basically, lost their lives for you to go and be with your family and live a life beyond this. I think that Nick really does step up to live his life to be an honorable man and to honor these friends of his that were lost. Survivor’s guilt is real. We nod at that in the end of the film. Nick’s still having these images of his friends and their experience together. I think we try to layer as much of that in there without being too heavy-handed. I mean, there’s so much that you could unpack in all of it psychologically. But I think Joe did a really good job of telling the story that needed to be told, honoring the gentlemen in that story, and that’s what we’ve got. That’s what’s on the screen.

    'Not Without Hope' opens in theaters on December 12th.
    ‘Not Without Hope’ opens in theaters on December 12th.

    What is the plot of ‘Not Without Hope’?

    A group of friends’ fishing boat capsizes off the coast of Mexico and they’re left alone stranded at sea and struggling for survival.

    Who is in the cast of ‘Not Without Hope’?

    • Zachary Levi as Nick Schuyler
    • Josh Duhamel as Timothy Close
    • JoBeth Williams as Marcia
    • Quentin Plair as Marquis Cooper
    • Terrence Terrell as Corey Smith
    • Marshall Cook as Will Bleakley
    • Floriana Lima as Paula
    • Jessica Blackmore as Rebekah Cooper
    • Priya Jain as Lieutenant
    Zachary Levi in 'Not Without Hope'. Photo: Inaugural Entertainment.
    Zachary Levi in ‘Not Without Hope’. Photo: Inaugural Entertainment.

    List of Zachary Levi Movies and TV Shows:

    Buy Zachary Levi Movies on Amazon

  • ‘Murdaugh: Death in the Family’ Cast Interviews

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    Premiering on Hulu October 15th is the new miniseries ‘Murdaugh: Death in the Family‘, which is based on the true story that was featured in Mandy Matney’s ‘Murdaugh Murders Podcast’.

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    Matney serves as executive producer along with series creators Michael D. Fuller and Erin Lee Carr. The cast includes Oscar winner Patricia Arquette (‘Boyhood’), Jason Clarke (‘The Last Frontier’), Johnny Berchtold (‘Broke’), Will Harrison (‘A Complete Unknown’), Noah Emmerich (‘The Americans’), Gerald McRaney (‘Focus’), and Brittany Snow (‘John Tucker Must Die’).

    (L to R) Patricia Arquette and Jason Clarke star in 'Murdaugh: Death in the Family'.
    (L to R) Patricia Arquette and Jason Clarke star in ‘Murdaugh: Death in the Family’.

    Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with Patricia Arquette and Jason Clarke about their work on ‘Murdaugh: Death in the Family’, the true story it is based on, their research into their characters, and their first reactions to the screenplays.

    You can read the full interview below or click on the video player above to watch our interviews with Arquette and Clarke, Brittany Snow, Johnny Berchtold, Will Harrison, Mandy Matney, Michael D. Fuller and Erin Lee Carr.

    Related Article: Jason Clarke Talks Apple TV+’s New Thriller Series ‘The Last Frontier’

    Patricia Arquette in 'Murdaugh: Death in the Family'. Photo: Disney/Daniel Delgado Jr.
    Patricia Arquette in ‘Murdaugh: Death in the Family’. Photo: Disney/Daniel Delgado Jr.

    Moviefone: To begin with, Patricia, what was your first reaction to the screenplays for the series and the true story that it is based on, and what were some of the aspects of Maggie’s character that you were excited to explore on screen and bring to light?

    Patricia Arquette: I was excited about this story just because it was such a nightmare, your family’s supposed to keep you safe. Here’s this guy who was this bastion of the community and this legal family with all this history and to see it reveal itself and to watch him lie. Then I started doing a lot of research and he lied about this, he lied about that, he stole this, he betrayed this way, he did that. Then looking up personality disorders, pathological people, eternal victims, charming people, I just thought that the other side is the codependent. The other side is the person who’s supporting everybody. “I support my husband. I support my kids. That’s what I do”. That’s a very dangerous personality trait, because you can get taken by somebody like this. But also, I liked in it that it was a family story, and you could feel their love, their history together. Jason, you know, he’s got to drive this whole thing. He’s this hustler who is constantly covering everything and he came in ready to go.

    Jason Clarke in 'Murdaugh: Death in the Family'. Photo: Disney/Daniel Delgado Jr.
    Jason Clarke in ‘Murdaugh: Death in the Family’. Photo: Disney/Daniel Delgado Jr.

    MF: Jason, were you aware of the true story the series is based on before you were cast, and how did you research into the case help inform your approach to playing Alex?

    Jason Clarke: Well, it’s everything. It’s all you’ve got, isn’t it, really? It’s everything and you either pick it up or you don’t. I read everything. I listened to everything. The Audible books, I listened to it a lot before I watched it. I started eating to put on the weight as I’m playing a 265-pound redheaded man from South Carolina who loves the Gamecocks. So, I watch the Gamecocks! You know, I did a lot. I tried to do as much as I could, but it was terrifying. You know, everybody from Australia to France, the places that I was in between, and America, knew this thing, if not back to front, and were obsessed with it, or knew of it and were horrified by it or intrigued by it, or couldn’t help leaning into it. It was a massive undertaking, but what I felt interesting was that this man had deceived so many people. Hindsight was easy where you go, “Oh, he’s a bad man.” But to pull the wool over so many decent, lovely people’s eyes in a community, he had to be gregarious and fun, loving and generous, and that was what I was interested in showing. Because for me, on the human side of it, that just shows how much destruction and pain he wrought, if you could show everything that he had in his hands that he decided to destroy.

    (L to R) Patricia Arquette and Jason Clarke in 'Murdaugh: Death in the Family'. Photo: Disney/Daniel Delgado Jr.
    (L to R) Patricia Arquette and Jason Clarke in ‘Murdaugh: Death in the Family’. Photo: Disney/Daniel Delgado Jr.

    MF: Finally, Patricia, was there anything you learned from your research into the Murdaugh family that helped you to understand these characters and their actions?

    PA: It’s weird because on one hand, these people know what they’re doing, and sometimes they delight in getting away with things. But on the other hand, there is almost a part of themselves that really doesn’t admit to themselves they’re doing any of this. Like, “Well, I just invested your money. I was going to pay you back and you were going to get interest. You were going to make more money, man. You don’t know anything about that”. So, it’s like they’re conning themselves at the same time they’re conning you, which is just so confusing, honestly.

    (L to R) Mina Sundwall, Will Harrison, Jason Clarke, Patricia Arquette, and Will Harrison in 'Murdaugh: Death in the Family'. Photo: Disney/Daniel Delgado Jr.
    (L to R) Mina Sundwall, Will Harrison, Jason Clarke, Patricia Arquette, and Will Harrison in ‘Murdaugh: Death in the Family’. Photo: Disney/Daniel Delgado Jr.

    What is the story of ‘Murdaugh: Death in the Family’?

    Maggie (Patricia Arquette) and Alex (Jason Clarke) enjoy a lavish life of privilege as members of one of South Carolina’s most powerful legal dynasties. But when their son Paul (Johnny Berchtold) is involved in a deadly boat crash, the family is faced with a test unlike any they’ve ever encountered. As details come to light and new challenges emerge, the family’s connections to several mysterious deaths raise questions which threaten everything Maggie and Alex hold dear.

    Who is in the cast of ‘Murdaugh: Death in the Family’?

    'Murdaugh: Death in the Family' premieres on Hulu October 15th.
    ‘Murdaugh: Death in the Family’ premieres on Hulu October 15th.

    List of Jason Clarke Movies and TV Shows:

    Buy Jason Clarke Movies on Amazon

    Buy Patricia Arquette Movies on Amazon

  • Movie Review: ‘Roofman’

    Channing Tatum stars in Paramount Pictures 'Roofman'.
    Channing Tatum stars in Paramount Pictures ‘Roofman’.

    In theaters on October 10 via Paramount Pictures is ‘Roofman’, which is inspired by the odd true story of Jeff Manchester, who got the titular nickname by breaking into McDonald’s restaurants through their roofs and created a hideout inside a Toys “R” Us store.

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    Co-written and directed by Derek Cianfrance (‘The Place Beyond the Pines’), the movie stars Channing Tatum (‘21 Jump Street’), Kirsten Dunst (‘Spider-Man’), Uzo Aduba (‘Orange is the New Black’), Emory Cohen (‘Brooklyn’), Ben Mendelsohn (‘Rogue One: A Star Wars Story’) and Peter Dinklage (‘Game of Thrones’).

    Related Article: Channing Tatum and Kirsten Dunst are Starring in Derek Cianfrance’s ‘Roofman’

    Initial Thoughts

    Channing Tatum stars in Paramount Pictures 'Roofman'.
    Channing Tatum stars in Paramount Pictures ‘Roofman’.

    When you consider his past work –– doomed romance ‘Blue Valentine’ and tension-filled crime thriller ‘The Place Beyond the Pines’ –– Derek Cianfrance might not seem like the first choice for a true story that, on the face of it, could come across as goofy. And yet, in the director’s hands, it has become something warm and surprisingly sweet.

    Script and Direction

    (L to R) Channing Tatum and Kirsten Dunst star in Paramount Pictures' 'Roofman'.
    (L to R) Channing Tatum and Kirsten Dunst star in Paramount Pictures’ ‘Roofman’.

    Cianfrance wrote the script with Kirt Gunn (‘Sound of Metal’), a former advertising executive who hired the director years ago to work on a campaign.

    Together, they have wrangled Jeff Manchester’s story –– albeit changing a few of the details into something that, while it doesn’t let him off the hook for his actions, does at least try to understand why he turned to robbery and burglary.

    Cast and Performances

    Peter Dinklage stars in Paramount Pictures' 'Roofman'.
    Peter Dinklage stars in Paramount Pictures’ ‘Roofman’.

    Channing Tatum is the beating heart of the movie –– it utilizes the full power of his charisma but also gives him a chance to explore some deeper, darker sides.

    And his chemistry with Kirsten Dunst, who plays the single mother for whom Manchester falls, makes for a romantic, sweet side to the film, even if their love story doesn’t have happiest ending.

    Final Thoughts

    (L to R) Juno Temple, LaKeith Stanfield and Channing Tatum star in Paramount Pictures' 'Roofman'.
    (L to R) Juno Temple, LaKeith Stanfield and Channing Tatum star in Paramount Pictures’ ‘Roofman’.

    Cianfrance infuses the story with more meaning, but doesn’t forget to keep it entertaining and heartfelt.

    ‘Roofman’ receives 80 out of 100.

    (L to R) Channing Tatum and Kirsten Dunst star in Paramount Pictures' 'Roofman'.
    (L to R) Channing Tatum and Kirsten Dunst star in Paramount Pictures’ ‘Roofman’.

    What’s the story of ‘Roofman’?

    Based on an unbelievable true story, ‘Roofman’ follows Jeffrey Manchester (Channing Tatum), a former Army Ranger and struggling father who turns to robbing McDonald’s restaurants by cutting holes in their roofs, earning him the nickname: Roofman.

    After escaping prison, he secretly lives inside a Toys “R” Us for six months, surviving undetected while planning his next move. But when he falls for Leigh (Kirsten Dunst), a divorced mom drawn to his undeniable charm, his double life begins to unravel, setting off a compelling and suspenseful game of cat and mouse as his past closes in.

    Who is in the cast of ‘Roofman’?

    • Channing Tatum as Jeffrey Manchester
    • Kirsten Dunst as Leigh Wainscott
    • Ben Mendelsohn as Ron Smith
    • Peter Dinklage as Mitch
    • Uzo Aduba as Eileen
    • Juno Temple as Michelle
    • Emory Cohen as Otis
    • LaKeith Stanfield as Steve
    Theatrical one-sheet for Paramount Pictures' 'Roofman'.
    Theatrical one-sheet for Paramount Pictures’ ‘Roofman’.

    Selected Movies Featuring Channing Tatum:

    Buy Tickets: ‘Roofman’ Movie Showtimes

    Buy Channing Tatum Movies on Amazon

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  • Anne Hathaway and Adam Driver Starring in ‘Alone at Dawn’

    (Left) Adam Driver stars in director Michael Mann's 'Ferrari.' (Center) Anne Hathaway for Apple TV+'s 'WeCrashed.' (Right) 'Eden' director Ron Howard.
    (Left) Adam Driver stars in director Michael Mann’s ‘Ferrari.’ (Center) Anne Hathaway for Apple TV+’s ‘WeCrashed.’ (Right) ‘Eden’ director Ron Howard.

    Preview:

    • Anne Hathaway and Adam Driver are starring in ‘Alone at Dawn’.
    • Ron Howard is in the director’s chair.
    • It’s based on a true story.

    Director Ron Howard is no stranger to based-on-truth moviemaking –– the likes of ‘Apollo 13’ and ‘Thirteen Lives’ speak to that. He’s reuniting with Amazon MGM Studios (which produced the latter) for a new film that tackles an incredible true story called ‘Alone at Dawn’.

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    And Deadline brings word that for the new movie about heroism and struggle, he’s recruited quite the leading duo, as Anne Hathaway and Adam Driver are both aboard to star.

    Related Article: Zendaya and Anne Hathaway the Latest Additions to Christopher Nolan’s Next Film

    What’s the story of ‘Alone at Dawn’?

    Adam Driver in 'Star Wars: The Last Jedi'. Photo: Lucasfilm.
    Adam Driver in ‘Star Wars: The Last Jedi’. Photo: Lucasfilm.

    The new movie is based on the book of the same name by Dan Schilling and Lori Longfritz and is inspired by an incredible true story.

    Years after Air Force Combat Controller John Chapman fought to the death to save his fellow soldiers, an intelligence officer strives to prove his valor — leading an investigation that would ultimately secure him the Medal of Honor. Schilling is a military consultant on the movie and, like Chapman, was also a Combat Control Technician. Longfritz, full name Lori Chapman Longfritz, is Chapman’s sister.

    Thruline Entertainment brought the manuscript of the book to The Hideaway Entertainment who optioned it in a heated bidding war before it became a New York Times bestseller.

    Hideaway hired Michael Russell Gunn (‘Designated Survivor’) to write the script, which has also seen work by Erin Cressida Wilson (‘The Girl on the Train’) and Amy Herzog (‘Scenes from a Marriage’). And that, in turn caught Howard’s attention when the screenplay arrived at Imagine Entertainment.

    Driver, meanwhile, jumped aboard as a former Marine who has long wanted to appear in a military-focused project with the right message.

    He and Howard then approach Hathaway, who agreed to play the intelligence officer.

    Where else can we see Anne Hathaway and Adam Driver?

    Anne Hathaway in 'The Devil Wears Prada'.
    Anne Hathaway in ‘The Devil Wears Prada’. Photo: 20th Century Fox.

    Most recently seen in ‘Mother’s Instinct’ and ‘The Idea of You’, Hathaway is currently shooting ‘The Devil Wears Prada 2’ and has also completed filming on Christopher Nolan’s ‘The Odyssey’.

    Driver will next be seen in Jim Jarmusch’s new film ‘Father Mother Sister Brother’, and James Gray’s ‘Paper Tiger’.

    When will ‘Alone at Dawn’ be on screens?

    With the project still at an early stage, we don’t yet know when it might hit screens, and in true Amazon fashion, it could land in theaters or debut on Prime Video.

    Ron Howard on the set of 'Eden'. Photo: Jasin Boland.
    Ron Howard on the set of ‘Eden’. Photo: Jasin Boland.

    List of Ron Howard Movies and TV Shows:

    Buy Ron Howard Movies on Amazon

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  • Movie Review: ‘Eden’

    Sydney Sweeney stars in 'Eden'. Photo: Vertical.
    Sydney Sweeney stars in ‘Eden’. Photo: Vertical.

    Opening in theaters August 22 is ‘Eden,’ directed by Ron Howard and starring Jude Law, Sydney Sweeney, Ana de Armas, Vanessa Kirby, Daniel Brühl, Richard Roxburgh, Toby Wallace, and Felix Kammerer.

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    Related Article: Director Ron Howard Talks ‘Eden’ and Working with his All-Star Cast

    Initial Thoughts

    (L to R) Jude Law and Vanessa Kirby on the set of 'Eden'. Photo: Jasin Boland.
    (L to R) Jude Law and Vanessa Kirby on the set of ‘Eden’. Photo: Jasin Boland.

    We can’t say that ‘Eden’ is a very good movie, but we will say it’s a pretty entertaining one. Based on a true story, the latest from veteran director Ron Howard (‘Thirteen Lives’) is perhaps the most un-Ron Howard-like film of his career – a dark, sometimes brooding, sometimes over-the-top exploration of human beings giving into their worst impulses instead of coming together to help each other.

    Noah Pink’s screenplay offers a cynical view of what happens when people try to disconnect from the rest of the world, and the movie’s ultimate insights are not exactly news. It also suffers from uneven pacing and tonal issues. But its intermittently gripping story and solid performances from its topline cast – especially Sydney Sweeney and Ana de Armas – make it fascinating to watch.

    Story and Direction

    Ron Howard on the set of 'Eden'. Photo: Jasin Boland.
    Ron Howard on the set of ‘Eden’. Photo: Jasin Boland.

    In 1929, German doctor Friedrich Ritter (Jude Law) and his partner Dore Strauch (Vanessa Kirby) settle on a remote atoll in the Galapagos Islands called Floreana, where Ritter aims to create a simpler life away from the brutal post-World War I environment that is fostering fascism around the world. Three years later, having read about Ritter’s exploits – which have made him famous back home – Heinz Wittmer (Daniel Brühl) and his pregnant new wife Margret (Sydney Sweeney), along with Heinz’s son Harry (Jonathan Tittel), arrive on Floreana to follow in Ritter’s footsteps and create their own homestead.

    But Ritter and Dore, who are nothing if not world-class misanthropes, are not pleased at the intrusion. “Nothing about our life here is magic,” Ritter warns the idealistic Heinz, adding that “failure is inevitable” for the couple, who make a fairly successful go at it despite Ritter’s admonishments. Yet Ritter, Dore, and the Wittmers are all unhappy at the arrival of the Baroness Eloise Bosquet de Wagner Wehrhorn (Ana de Armas), a debauched denizen of European high society who shows up with her two male lovers and the intent of building an exclusive resort on Floreana.

    While the Wittmers, Ritter, and Strauch are all accustomed to the rigors of life on the island, the Baroness is not, and she soon sets a chain of events in motion that find all three groups – Ritter and Strauch, the Wittmers, and the Baroness and her entourage – constantly shifting allegiances and ultimately turning on each other. It’s a scenario that’s not unexpected, and Pink’s screenplay often forces the characters into situations and decisions to drive the intended narrative, rather than let it flow out of the characters organically. The result is a story that moves in fits and starts and often has the characters acting mainly get the story from one pre-determined point to the next.

    (L to R) Felix Kammerer, Ana de Armas and Toby Wallace in 'Eden'. Photo: Vertical.
    (L to R) Felix Kammerer, Ana de Armas and Toby Wallace in ‘Eden’. Photo: Vertical.

    This leads to a lack of urgency in the proceedings, with only a wild scene in which Margret gives birth by herself – as she is attacked by wild dogs all while the Baroness’ lovers raid the Wittmers’ food supplies – approaching levels of tension and outright horror that suggests the ghastliness of the overall situation. Other events play out largely as one might expect, and the tone veers from one of grim reality to outright camp (as in a late dinner party scene that made us think of a similar sequence in ‘The Rocky Horror Picture Show’ – albeit without the latter’s shocking reveal of what was on the menu).

    Howard is more than confident on a technical and visual level (the Australian location shoot makes the isolation of Floreana feel real), but doesn’t seem as sure-footed in handling the tonal shifts or the overall darker nature of the material. The result is a movie in which you know what’s going to happen in the end – but you still want to keep looking to see if the film completely collapses or not (which it almost does in the third act).

    Cast and Performances

    (L to R) Felix Kammerer, Ana de Armas and Toby Wallace in 'Eden'. Photo: Jasin Boland.
    (L to R) Felix Kammerer, Ana de Armas and Toby Wallace in ‘Eden’. Photo: Jasin Boland.

    Everyone’s German accents waver throughout the film (except for Daniel Brühl’s, of course), but the performances are on solid footing for the most part. Sydney Sweeney does the best work overall, downplaying her physical attributes while effectively and subtly charting Margret’s journey from innocence and fear to strength and even a kind of ruthlessness. At the other end of the scale, de Armas is wildly flamboyant and outlandish but far more entertaining than her bland turn in ‘Ballerina’ earlier this year.

    Law also gives quite a complicated and over-the-top performance, with his steel chompers (Ritter has his originals removed to prevent infection) and un-self-conscious full frontal nudity, and while Kirby is quite good at portraying Dore’s smirking distaste for others (“They’re clearly suffering…shall we f**k?” she inquires to Ritter at one point, evidently turned on by others’ misery), she doesn’t get nearly enough to do as she should, and is mostly left standing around reacting to the others.

    Final Thoughts

    (L to R) Daniel Brühl and Jude Law star in 'Eden'. Photo: Vertical.
    (L to R) Daniel Brühl and Jude Law star in ‘Eden’. Photo: Vertical.

    A film about people separating into their own camps and battling each other while the rest of civilization burns certainly has its relevance in our current situation, although it’s rich coming from the director who introduced the world by and large to JD Vance. And as with that woeful film, there’s a kind of lack of substance underneath the hood of ‘Eden’ that makes it ultimately a shallow exercise.

    But nevertheless, it’s neither the complete disaster some folks have made it out to be, nor is it anywhere near a high point on Howard’s filmography. It works as misery porn about good-looking actors getting nasty, deceitful and violent with each other, although that may not be the result its director intended.

    ‘Eden’ receives a score of 55 out of 100.

    Vanessa Kirby stars in 'Eden'. Photo: Vertical.
    Vanessa Kirby stars in ‘Eden’. Photo: Vertical.

    What is the plot of ‘Eden’?

    A group of disillusioned outsiders abandon modern society in search of a new beginning, settling on a remote, uninhabited island. But their utopian dream quickly unravels as tensions spiral, desperation takes hold, and a twisted power struggle leads to betrayal, violence, and death.

    Who is in the cast of ‘Eden’?

    • Jude Law as Dr. Friedrich Ritter
    • Vanessa Kirby as Dora Strauch
    • Daniel Brühl as Heinz Wittmer
    • Sydney Sweeney as Margret Wittmer
    • Ana de Armas as Baroness Eloise Bosquet de Wagner Wehrhorn
    • Jonathan Tittel as Harry Wittmer
    • Richard Roxburgh as Allan Hancock
    • Toby Wallace as Robert Phillipson
    • Felix Kammerer as Rudolph Lorenz
    'Eden' opens in theaters on August 22nd. Photo: Vertical.
    ‘Eden’ opens in theaters on August 22nd. Photo: Vertical.

    List of Ron Howard Movies and TV Shows:

    Buy Tickets: ‘Eden’ Movie Showtimes

    Buy Ron Howard Movies on Amazon

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  • ‘Words of War’ Interview: Jason Isaacs and Maxine Peake

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    Opening in theaters on May 2nd is the new biographical drama ‘Words of War’, which tells the true story of late Russian journalist Anna Politkovskaya and was directed by James Strong (‘Torchwood’).

    Executive produced by two-time Oscar winner Sean Penn (‘Mystic River’ and ‘Milk’), the film stars Maxine Peake (‘The Theory of Everything’) as Anna Politkovskaya, Jason Isaacs (‘The White Lotus’) as Alexander Politkovsky, and Ciarán Hinds (‘Belfast’) as Dmitry Muratov.

    Related Article: Jason Isaacs and Dyan Cannon Talk Cary Grant TV Series ‘Archie’

    (L to R) Jason Isaacs and Maxine Peake in 'Words of War'. Photo: Decal.
    (L to R) Jason Isaacs and Maxine Peake in ‘Words of War’. Photo: Decal.

    Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with Maxine Peake and Jason Isaacs about their work on ‘Words of War’, Peake’s first reaction to the screenplay and Politkovskaya’s true story, her approach to playing the character, Anna and Alexander’s relationship, Isaacs’ experience working with Peake, and what it was like for Peake to collaborate with director James Strong on set.

    You can read our full interview below or click on the video player above to watch our interviews with Peake and Isaacs, as well as director James Strong, and producer Mark Maxey.

    Maxine Peake in 'Words of War'. Photo: Decal.
    Maxine Peake in ‘Words of War’. Photo: Decal.

    Moviefone: To begin with, Maxine, what was your first reaction to the screenplay and learning of Anna Politkovskaya’s true story, and how did you approach playing her in this film?

    Maxine Peake: The first reaction, initially, even before the script came in, I was told the script was coming and it was about Anna Politkovskaya. That straight away felt like a no-brainer. Plus, the script is going to have to be bad for me to say no. Then I read Eric’s (Poppen) script, and I thought it was fabulous. I just loved the way it told a domestic life as well as a professional journalistic life. I thought the balance was fabulous. For me, what really struck home was what was happening at home, what was happening in her life with her husband, with her children, and that impact, because I don’t think we see that a lot. We see the intrepid journalist now but what is happening back on home soil for her? It was interesting because it’s set in Russia. We’re playing real-life people. But that for me initially was like, “How’s this going to work?” But I think it’s the right thing to do that we kept our own voices. We were playing as English. I think if we’d have done the accents, it would’ve maybe tilt it into something very different. But I think for me, that was quite an interesting dynamic of creating this character who wasn’t from where I’m from, but was in many ways who I am.

    MF: Jason, can you talk about Anna and Alexander’s marriage, how he felt about her work and how that affected both of their lives?

    Jason Isaacs: My version of Alexander, because he didn’t tell me these things, but there are some things that are very well-documented. Like he lost his job. He was a shining star in this political chat program, but he was also enjoying the benefits. They might’ve been violently against this newly elected president, (Vladimir) Putin, but nonetheless, he was a popular TV star, and he was not when his wife became infamous. When she really challenged the regime, that was the beginning of his career taking a real downturn. So, I played what my instincts told me must have happened. He was both loving her, respecting her, and jealous of her, and resentful of her and all those things together. It’s not that I played anything because I was opposite a magnificent actress, and I just wanted her to say or do the things I wanted her to do. Acting is never actually about the thing you are doing. It’s about what you want the other person to do. I wanted her to value me. I wanted her to stop doing it. I wanted her not to endanger the family, but maybe it was really my ego. I wanted all those things. I wanted stuff from her. I think something like this happened, but we’re not trying to recreate it as a documentary. We’re trying to tell a dramatic story. So, my version is he had a very troubled time and he had great difficulty with what happened to his wife.

    Jason Isaacs in 'Words of War'. Photo: Decal.
    Jason Isaacs in ‘Words of War’. Photo: Decal.

    MF: Jason, what was your experience like working with Maxine to create that relationship on screen?

    JI: She is a brilliant actress, and the fact is, you do a bunch of research, you do whatever you can. If people are alive, you talk to them. If not, you talk to people who knew them. You read it. Then you look at the script and you just follow your human instincts. Instincts that have been honed over decades and decades of creating human beings that seem in the round. Then James says, “Action.” He let us off the leash a lot to improvise, to try and create a healthy dynamic. You try and make something real, emotional, and truthful happen in the moment, and that’s what it is. He’s an award-winning director for a reason.

    MF: Finally, Maxine, what was it like collaborating with director James Strong on set?

    MP: It was great because he did let us off the leash, didn’t he? He let us improvise. We just had a freedom. He trusted us to, what Jason said before, do those scenes and they’ve got to feel in the moment, and you’ve got to feel real, and that people are connecting. We didn’t stray a million miles away from the script, but just being able to play that in the moment, and like Jason says, to affect each other, which is the most important thing. Not knowing what was coming next from each other. You have the skeleton of the scene, but just to have different bouncing off points. It’s like a dance. The film looks beautiful as well. You know what I mean? But yeah, it’s the trust. He had trust in us, which you don’t always get.

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    What is the plot of ‘Words of War’?

    Anna Politkovskaya (Maxine Peake) was a journalist and human rights activist who persisted with reporting on the conflict in Chechnya despite considerable danger to herself and tried to expose corruption within Russia under the governance of Vladimir Putin. She continued in the face of poisoning, intimidation and violence before being the victim of a contract killing in the elevator of her house on October 7, 2006.

    Who is in the cast of ‘Words of War’?

    Maxine Peake in 'Words of War'. Photo: Decal.
    Maxine Peake in ‘Words of War’. Photo: Decal.

    List of Maxine Peake Movies and TV Shows:

    Buy Tickets: ‘Words of War’ Movie Showtimes

    Buy Maxine Peake Movies On Amazon

     

  • Movie Review: ‘The Luckiest Man in America’

    Paul Walter Hauser in Samir Oliveros’ 'The Luckiest Man in America'. Photo Credit: Courtesy of IFC Films. An IFC Films Release.
    Paul Walter Hauser in Samir Oliveros’ ‘The Luckiest Man in America’. Photo Credit: Courtesy of IFC Films. An IFC Films Release.

    ‘The Luckiest Man in America’ receives 6.5 out of 10 stars.

    Opening in theaters on April 4th, ‘The Luckiest Man in America’ takes a real-life event as the basis for a comedy drama about a quiz show champ whose winning ways come into question during one fraught day filming ‘Press Your Luck.’

    Paul Walter Hauser leads a considerable cast for the new movie, directed by Samir Oliveros from a script he wrote with Maggie Briggs.

    Related Article: Paul Walter Hauser Joins Major League Wrestling’s Battle Riot VI

    Does ‘The Luckiest Man in America’ avoid the whammy?

    Walton Goggins in Samir Oliveros’ 'The Luckiest Man in America'. Photo Credit: Courtesy of IFC Films. An IFC Films Release.
    Walton Goggins in Samir Oliveros’ ‘The Luckiest Man in America’. Photo Credit: Courtesy of IFC Films. An IFC Films Release.

    While younger (well, younger-ish, the figures for the likes of Gen Z and Gen Alpha watching a legacy game show are probably not healthy) audiences know ‘Press Your Luck’ as the quiz show hosted by Elizabeth Banks, that version does sometimes call back to the history of the series, which stretches back to 1983.

    This new movie charts a real-life event that happened during a taping on the show, when the most unlikely player somehow managed to get on to set as a contestant. It’s certainly a strange story, and Samir Oliveros’ take on does include some invention wrapped around the basic facts. He only had the actual episode recording to go on (which is on YouTube), so there are scenes set in the control room and before Michael Larson gets on the set that are entirely fabricated.

    Yet the whole does hang together decently, the tone pretty much consistent and the ticking clock quality of the day on set giving the movie as a whole a propulsive quality. Yet it’s also burdened with a story that doesn’t quite work and despite some impressive work from a talented cast, not everything functions as it should.

    Script and Direction

    (L to R) Brian Geraghty and Paul Walter Hauser in Samir Oliveros’ 'The Luckiest Man in America'. Photo Credit: Courtesy of IFC Films. An IFC Films Release.
    (L to R) Brian Geraghty and Paul Walter Hauser in Samir Oliveros’ ‘The Luckiest Man in America’. Photo Credit: Courtesy of IFC Films. An IFC Films Release.

    Director Oliveros and his co-writer Briggs (who came up with the story –– at least the fictional chunks), have put plenty of work into figuring out the chaos that must have erupted between executives and other staff when Larson’s winning streak really got moving and the bosses started to suspect that he might have figured out the patterns of the board to make sure he kept winning and not land on the show’s famous “Whammy” characters, the little red cartoons who gleefully take any winnings (and ultimately banish a player from the show if they hit more than four).

    All of that is clearly conveyed in the script, and while Michael Larson was obviously a real person, it’s impressive how much detail the writers have filled in about him and those who are both on stage and off it. The issue comes when the story starts to run out of steam and little and even Larson isn’t well served.

    Oliveros’ directing style does well mimicking the look of the series back in the day, and segues effectively between an authentic 1980s style and the feel of the behind-the-scenes areas.

    Cast and Performances

    (L to R) Brian Geraghty, Paul Walter Hauser, and Patti Harrison in Samir Oliveros’ 'The Luckiest Man in America'. Photo Credit: Courtesy of IFC Films. An IFC Films Release.
    (L to R) Brian Geraghty, Paul Walter Hauser, and Patti Harrison in Samir Oliveros’ ‘The Luckiest Man in America’. Photo Credit: Courtesy of IFC Films. An IFC Films Release.

    Paul Walter Hauser is a big part of why the movie succeeds at all. As Larson, he’s a complicated mix of quirky loner and desperate grifter. And he’s excellent as both sides of the character –– at once loveable and weird, but always believable.

    It’s a pretty perfect match for the actor’s skillset, since Hauser has bringing people like these to screens for years now, and he’s also had some experience walking the fine line when playing characters based on real-world personalities.

    You’ll completely buy him as this oddball, ice cream truck-driving obsessive, whose past life is littered with money making schemes and a marriage that is seriously on the rocks.

    Twitchy and nervous when it starts to appear that his appearance on the show might just be his latest scheme, Hauser is great portraying Larson.

    He’s matched by David Strathairn (no stranger to a based-on-truth story himself), the veteran actor playing egotistical, calculating executive producer Bill Carruthers. He’s all strutting peacock-disguised-as-homey-man-of-the-people, who makes the decision to override his casting team to invite Larson onto the show after the potential contestant takes someone else’s audition spot.

    David Strathairn in Samir Oliveros’ 'The Luckiest Man in America'. Photo Credit: Courtesy of IFC Films. An IFC Films Release.
    David Strathairn in Samir Oliveros’ ‘The Luckiest Man in America’. Photo Credit: Courtesy of IFC Films. An IFC Films Release.

    Strathairn is also great at portraying Carruthers’ flop sweat as Larson’s winning ways continue as he’s forced to justify the decision to those who write his paychecks.

    Walton Goggins makes an impact as Peter Tomarken, the host of the show, who becomes increasingly worried for his own job and starts to improvise as Larson’s earnings rack up. Playing one of the few well-known people in the story, he brings his own flair to it, but doesn’t deviate so far from the recognizable version of Tomarken.

    Shamier Anderson plays Chuck, the head of casting for the show, who buts heads with Carruthers’ over Larson’s last-minute selection. Anderson does excellent work as the character, fully channeling his frustration while keeping him relatable.

    In smaller roles, we have ‘Game of Thrones’ veteran Maisie Williams as Sylvia, a fresh-faced production assistant on the show who wrangles the talent and conducts tours. She’s fine in a more limited scope. Likewise Brian Geraghty and Patti Harrison as Larson’s fellow contestants.

    Finally, Haley Bennett doesn’t have too much to do as Larson’s wife, but she brings some healthy, genuine emotion to the proceedings.

    Final Thoughts

    Johnny Knoxville in Samir Oliveros’ 'The Luckiest Man in America'. Photo Credit: Courtesy of IFC Films. An IFC Films Release.
    Johnny Knoxville in Samir Oliveros’ ‘The Luckiest Man in America’. Photo Credit: Courtesy of IFC Films. An IFC Films Release.

    Given how fascinating the real-life story of the movie is, it’s frustrating at times that it rarely feels like ‘The Luckiest Man in America’ takes full advantage of it.

    Yet it’s still a well-considered take on a particular piece of quiz show history.

    What is the plot of ‘The Luckiest Man in America’?

    1984, Michael Larson (Paul Walter Hauser), an unemployed ice-cream truck driver from Ohio, steps onto the game show “Press Your Luck” harboring a secret: the key to endless amounts of money. But his winning streak gets threatened when the executives in the control room start to uncover his real motivations.

    Who is in the cast of ‘The Luckiest Man in America’?

    'The Luckiest Man in America' opens in theaters on April 4th. Photo Credit: Courtesy of IFC Films. An IFC Films Release.
    ‘The Luckiest Man in America’ opens in theaters on April 4th. Photo Credit: Courtesy of IFC Films. An IFC Films Release.

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