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  • ‘Lorne’ Exclusive Interview: Director Morgan Neville

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    Opening in theaters on April 17th is the new documentary from Oscar winning filmmaker Morgan Neville (‘Man on the Run’) called ‘Lorne’, which chronicles the life and career of ‘Saturday Night Live’ creator Lorne Michaels.

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    'Lorne' director Morgan Neville.
    ‘Lorne’ director Morgan Neville.

    Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with director Morgan Neville about his work on ‘Lorne’, the style of the documentary, making it funny, his unprecedented access to ‘Saturday Night Live’, the show’s darkest period, conducting the interviews, what he learned about Lorne from making the movie, and the future of the long running show.

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

    Related Article: Morgan Neville Talks Paul McCartney Documentary ‘Man on the Run’

    Lorne Michaels stars in director Morgan Neville's documentary 'Lorne', a Focus Features release. Credit: Courtesy of Focus Features. © 2026 All Rights Reserved.
    Lorne Michaels stars in director Morgan Neville’s documentary ‘Lorne’, a Focus Features release. Credit: Courtesy of Focus Features. © 2026 All Rights Reserved.

    Moviefone: To begin with, the film plays almost like an ‘SNL’ parody of a celebrity biopic with animated sequences and Chris Parnell’s narration. Was that what you set out to do from the beginning or did you have to pivot when you realized you might not get what you need from Lorne Michaels himself?

    Morgan Neville: I think my intent in the beginning was, I want this to be funny. I didn’t know how exactly. But beyond that, I don’t entirely have a plan about what the film is going to be. I know it had all these great ingredients. I know Lorne’s story is interesting. He’s a fascinating character who rarely does interviews or shows people into his life. I know the show is fascinating. I knew there were lots of interesting things, but I didn’t know how it would fit together. When we started shooting, what you see in the beginning of the film is my first day of shooting, where the cameras come out, and then Lorne vanishes. I felt like one of the themes of the film is basically the theme of me making the film. You go from somebody who really doesn’t seem like he wants a film made about him to somebody who has made his peace with it and is willing to give us a glimpse inside. That was my experience of making the film. So, the idea of bringing Chris Parnell in is a way of channeling ‘SNL’, but also the ‘TV Funhouse’. I mean, it’s also something that I’ve done with a lot of my films. I want the subject of the film to help me decide how to tell the story, so it feels like the telling of it is related to the subject. So, I just kept thinking, well, what is the ‘SNL’ version of a documentary about Lorne? Not to say that because it’s funny that there’s no substance there. Because one thing I’m also proud of is how the emotion sneaks into the film quietly, in a way you’re not expecting. Lorne, in the beginning, is like, “Why is this guy even here? Why is he torturing this poor crew?” But then you understand a lot more about what makes him tick and he opens in that way.

    MF: The movie is very funny. Can you set out to make a funny documentary, or is that a result of the subject you are focusing on?

    MN: I think humor is one of the great under discussed things in documentary film. I think some of my favorite documentaries are funny in different ways. That could be anything from the films that inspired me to make documentaries, like ‘Sherman’s March’, ‘Roger & Me’, and ‘The Atomic Cafe’. I mean, all the documentaries that got me excited, that are funny in different ways. Even in films I’ve made, like, ‘Best of Enemies’ or ‘Won’t you be my Neighbor?’ There are some big laughs in those films, too. But I think humor is such a great way of letting the audience exhale and open themselves up in a way if they’re laughing. They’re way more receptive to what you might want to share with them. So, I love that, and why can’t documentaries be comedies sometimes? So, this was me intentionally in the beginning saying, “I do want this to be a funny film.” Because it’s a film, most people who are going to watch it are comedy fans. I’ve seen a lot of documentaries about comedy that are really depressing. There are a lot of dark stories in comedy. But I always wanted to remember the comedy part of it, too. ‘Steve! (Martin) A Documentary in 2 Pieces’ was the first comedy documentary I did that was purely comedy, and this is the second. With both, I tried to balance the funny with some weight or gravitas at the same time.

    (L to R) Erik Kenward, Steve Higgins and Lorne Michaels in director Morgan Neville's documentary 'Lorne', a Focus Features release. Credit: Courtesy of Focus Features. © 2026 All rights reserved.
    (L to R) Erik Kenward, Steve Higgins and Lorne Michaels in director Morgan Neville’s documentary ‘Lorne’, a Focus Features release. Credit: Courtesy of Focus Features. © 2026 All rights reserved.

    MF: Can you talk about the unprecedented access that you had to Lorne and ‘Saturday Night Live’ and what did you learn about him as a person from your access?

    MN: I think people think of Lorne as sitting on a throne, deciding who makes it in comedy and who doesn’t make it, and that he is just sitting there, flipping his finger, and deciding the fate of people. I think Lorne sees himself as beleaguered, in the trenches, and worrying about next week’s show and making 100 phone calls to sponsors, network people, affiliates, agents, studios, and cast members to just keep all the plates in the air. So, it’s funny that everybody thinks Lorne is just sitting pretty. I think Lorne feels like he’s just barely making it, because I asked everybody in the film, “At what point do you think Saturday Night Live became a show that was not going to disappear?” Some people said, “Well, when the show reinvented itself after 1995 with Will Ferrell and that amazing cast, or maybe after 9/11, when it became a place where people came together and mourned and laughed together for the first time.” I asked Lorne that question, and he said, “Maybe this year.” You know, fifty years in! So, I think Lorne’s the last person to pat himself on the back and feel like, job well done, we don’t have to worry anymore. I think Lorne is thinking about, “When this cast gels, where’s it going to be in two years?” He’s thinking about things like that. “Oh, this writer I have who might want to leave, maybe I can get him to work on a TV show, and I can get him a development deal.” He’s constantly pulling levers to keep everything kind of bubbling along and that’s something, People don’t see him sweat, but I think he feels like he’s in the thick of it. I think it’s maybe part of why he made the film, is for people to understand that producing is a real job. It’s not just sitting back and collecting checks. It’s a lot of invisible things that people just don’t understand.

    MF: You mention in the film that the closest Lorne came to losing control of the show was in the mid- ‘90s, which culminated in the firing of Norm MacDonald. In discussing it with Lorne, did he express any regret in how that went down and being unable to protect Norm in the same way he has protected so many ‘SNL’ performers before and after?

    MN: I don’t think so. I love Norm’s comedy. But, let’s face it, Norm was asking for it and in the funniest way possible. Norm was warned again and again and again. So, I think Norm enjoyed poking the bear, and I don’t think Norm felt like Lorne was to blame for any of that. I think the other person in that equation was Jim Downey, the legendary writer who started in season two, and was on and off the show for decades, who I interviewed in the documentary. Jim, at that time, was running ‘Weekend Update’ with Norm, and the two of them were thick as thieves, and they were the ones who were enjoying poking the bear. When Norm got fired, Jim got fired too, but Lorne quietly got Jim back the next year. I think Lorne both felt a loyalty to Jim, and really wanted to protect Jim. Norm was going to be fine. Lorne told the bosses, “Okay, I’ll let them go,” and then quietly rehired Jim, and helped Norm land his next thing. Again, it’s something that made Lorne incredibly unhappy to have to go through, but he is the king of the long game. You may lose the battles, but he always wins the war.

    John Mulaney in 'John Mulaney: Baby J' Photo: Netflix.
    John Mulaney in ‘John Mulaney: Baby J’ Photo: Netflix.

    MF: Of all the interviews you conducted, who had the most insight into Lorne and was there anyone you wanted to interview but were unable to?

    MN: I mean, the only person I really wanted to interview who said no was Dan Aykroyd, and he had said he was just talked out from doing documentary interviews, which is fine. I get it. But at the same time, for a film like this, you could interview so many people, and I interviewed even more than I normally like to. I normally don’t like to interview a ton of people for a film because I want there to be a smaller chorus of voices. But even here, I could have interviewed another fifty people for this film easily. So, I wanted people from different chapters of his life, people like Howard Shore, who he met at camp as a 14-year-old to Rosie Shuster, his first wife he met in high school who became one of the original writers on ‘Saturday Night Live’. But one of my favorites was John Mulaney because he is both, such a great talker, but also a real student of Lorne’s. They’re friends, but I think John has studied Lorne, and I think when they’re together, John constantly peppers Lorne with questions, and he’s collecting as much information about Lorne as he can. So, I think he was ready to talk. I think he loved talking about Lorne. I think we did, like, a two-hour interview, and I said, “Well, I think that’s good,” and he was like, “Well, let’s keep going.” So we went for another hour, and then when we did the round table, he said, “Oh, I want to do that.” So, I got him together with Bill Hader, Andy Samberg, and Fred Armisen. But I think Mulaney was probably the MVP of talking about Lorne.

    MF: Finally, I get the sense from the film that Lorne Michaels is ‘Saturday Night Live’ and ‘Saturday Night Live’ is Lorne Michaels, and that there is no retiring for him. He’ll leave the show when he must and it may go on for a while, but that will be the end of the show as we currently know it. What is your sense of the future of the series and how long do you think it will go on without Lorne Michaels at the helm?

    MN: I think Lorne is not going to run the show for another fifty years, but he wants it to continue, and I think it will continue, just because, for no other reason, the IP of ‘SNL’ is very valuable, and people still watch and will continue to watch. It’s one of the last places where we come together to watch things. You know, it’s like sports and ‘Saturday Night Live’. There aren’t a lot of places where we all come together to watch things. So, I think there are a lot of reasons why it will continue. I just don’t think it’ll be the same, because, in part, Lorne’s not doing it, but also because I can’t imagine it continuing to be as wasteful as it is. I mean, Lorne says that in the film. It’s made wastefully, but that’s because by being wasteful, you get to discover more things. He’s producing way more than he needs for a week. So, if you’re able to throw out a third of all your work every week and just pick the best two thirds, it makes it better. But it’s also kind of crazy to know you’re going to throw out a third of all your work every week. I also don’t think there’s one person to fill Lorne’s shoes, which are impossible to fill. But I think the thing about Lorne is he’s managing two different ways. He’s managing down, which is him with the writers and the cast, and all of that, which he’s great at. You hear all those stories of how he works with cast members. But the other part of his job is he’s managing up. So, dealing with the network people, and the sponsors, and affiliates, and studios, and all of that, in a way that is invisible, and is a very different skill than dealing with writers. So, you know, part of me feels like it would take at least two people to do his job.

    Lorne Michaels stars in director Morgan Neville's documentary 'Lorne', a Focus Features release. Credit: Courtesy of Focus Features. © 2026 All Rights Reserved.
    Lorne Michaels stars in director Morgan Neville’s documentary ‘Lorne’, a Focus Features release. Credit: Courtesy of Focus Features. © 2026 All Rights Reserved.

    What is the story of ‘Lorne’?

    ‘Lorne’ is an unprecedented, behind-the-scenes glimpse at the man who built the inimitable empire of comedy, shaping television and culture for generations. The documentary features exclusive footage, archival treasures, and candid interviews with the show’s most iconic cast members and writers.

    Who appears in ‘Lorne’?

    'Lorne' opens in theaters on April 17th.
    ‘Lorne’ opens in theaters on April 17th.

    List of Morgan Neville Movies and TV Shows:

    Buy Tickets: ‘Lorne’ Movie Showtimes

    Buy Morgan Neville Movies on Amazon

     

  • Movie Review: ‘Lorne’

    Lorne Michaels stars in director Morgan Neville's documentary 'Lorne', a Focus Features release. Credit: Courtesy of Focus Features. © 2026 All Rights Reserved.
    Lorne Michaels stars in director Morgan Neville’s documentary ‘Lorne’, a Focus Features release. Credit: Courtesy of Focus Features. © 2026 All Rights Reserved.

    Opening in theaters on April 17th is the new documentary ‘Lorne’, which was directed by Morgan Neville (‘Man on the Run’) and chronicles the life and career of ‘Saturday Night Live’ creator Lorne Michaels.

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    Related Article: Morgan Neville Talks Paul McCartney Documentary ‘Man on the Run’

    Initial Thoughts

    (L to R) Erik Kenward, Steve Higgins and Lorne Michaels in director Morgan Neville's documentary 'Lorne', a Focus Features release. Credit: Courtesy of Focus Features. © 2026 All rights reserved.
    (L to R) Erik Kenward, Steve Higgins and Lorne Michaels in director Morgan Neville’s documentary ‘Lorne’, a Focus Features release. Credit: Courtesy of Focus Features. © 2026 All rights reserved.

    Acclaimed documentary filmmaker Morgan Neville accomplishes the near impossible by capturing the illusive Lorne Michaels in the new film ‘Lorne’. The documentary, which is very funny, is almost an ‘SNL’ parody of celebrity biopics with pitch perfect narration from alum Chris Parnell and TV Funhouse style animation.

    Neville was given unprecedented behind the scenes access to Michaels and ‘Saturday Night Live’ and lifts the curtain to show how the sausage is really made. With interviews from ‘SNL’ alum like Tina Fey, John Mulaney, Kristen Wiig and Mike Myers, the movie explores Michaels’ career, the history of the show, and how ‘SNL’ is really made.

    Story and Direction

    'Saturday Night Live's Studio 8H.
    ‘Saturday Night Live’s Studio 8H. Photo: NBC.

    Director Morgan Neville is no stranger to documenting famous people, as his last film, ‘Man on the Run’ was centered on Paul McCartney. But the opening scene of ‘Lorne’ makes one think that Neville has finally met his match in Lorne Michaels. The ‘SNL’ creator seems surprised and annoyed that he even agreed to having a documentary crew follow him around, and virtually disappears once the movie begins.

    This forces Neville to pivot quickly and results in a movie that is closer to an ‘SNL’ parody of a documentary, which makes for a very funny movie. Some of the techniques that Neville uses to offset the loss of his subject include focusing on interviews with ‘SNL’ cast and alum instead and incorporating cartoons and narration. Those choices, whether out of desperation or not, transform the film from a standard celebrity documentary to a truly funny and entertaining experience on its own terms.

    But despite his best efforts, the film eventually does breakdown Michaels’ defenses and gives an honest and in-depth look behind the curtain at the man that created a comedic industry. In fact, Neville’s access to ‘Saturday Night Live’ was astounding and gives a rare never-before-seen look at exactly how the show is really made with glimpses into the writer’s room, pitch meetings, guest meetings, rehearsals, and finally choosing the sketches for that episode.

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    In addition to chronicling how the show is made week to week, the film also goes through Michaels’ personal history, the beginnings of his career, how he created the show, ‘SNL’s ups and downs including his exit in 1980, his return in 1985, almost losing the show in the 90s, and the various cast changes, as well as his film career, which includes writing ‘Three Amigos’ and producing ‘Wayne’s World’.

    Morgan Neville is the best documentarian working today and has made some of the finest documentaries in recent years including the Oscar winning ‘20 Feet from Stardom’, ‘Won’t You Be My Neighbor?’, and ‘Man on the Run’. But ‘Lorne’ might be his best work yet, cracking the code on one of the most important figures in entertainment history.

    Celebrity Interviews

    John Mulaney and Tina Fey at Netflix's Next on Netflix event. Photo: Netflix.
    John Mulaney and Tina Fey at Netflix’s Next on Netflix event. Photo: Netflix.

    While reluctant at first, Lorne Michaels does eventually sit down for several interviews and is surprisingly open, despite his reputation for being guarded. However, his insight into his past and the inner workings of the show are delivered cryptically and in a very Lorne Michaels way. But we do get a rare look at his lakeside hideaway retreat in an undisclosed area of Maine, as well as his rigorous late-night schedule.

    You really come to understand that Michaels is a creature of habit, basically living the same schedule for fifty years, even eating at the same handful of New York restaurants and ordering the same meals for decades. People often wonder why ‘SNL’ has such a strange schedule, working late into the night and into the early morning most days. It’s because of Lorne, that’s his schedule, the show just adopted it.

    Neville assembles a fantastic group of Lorne’s friends and former ‘SNL’ cast members including Steve Martin, Paul Simon, John Mulaney, Tina Fey, Conan O’Brien, Seth Meyers, Maya Rudolph, Kristen Wiig, Bill Hader, Chris Rock, Jimmy Fallon, and Mike Myers.

    John Mulaney had the most insight about Lorne, while Tina Fey acted like she didn’t really know him at all. But the most fascinating exchange was watching an intimate dinner between Michaels and friend Steve Martin.

    My one critique is I do wish Neville had interviewed more of the earlier cast members, as there seemed to be a focus on only cast members from the last 25 years. Where was Chevy Chase and Bill Murray? Where was Dana Carvey and Adam Sandler? What about Will Ferrell? But this may just be a result of who was available and not by design.

    Final Thoughts

    Lorne Michaels stars in director Morgan Neville's documentary 'Lorne', a Focus Features release. Credit: Courtesy of Focus Features. © 2026 All Rights Reserved.
    Lorne Michaels stars in director Morgan Neville’s documentary ‘Lorne’, a Focus Features release. Credit: Courtesy of Focus Features. © 2026 All Rights Reserved.

    ‘Lorne’ is a brilliant documentary that delivers a rare look at an almost mythic figure in popular culture and gives true insight without damaging the myth. At the same time, for fans of ‘Saturday Night Live’ or comedy in general, the movie is a must see that really dissects how the series became an institution and why it is still going strong after fifty years.

    ‘Lorne’ receives a score of 90 out of 100.

    'Lorne' opens in theaters on April 17th.
    ‘Lorne’ opens in theaters on April 17th.

    What is the story of ‘Lorne’?

    ‘Lorne’ is an unprecedented, behind-the-scenes glimpse at the man who built the inimitable empire of comedy, shaping television and culture for generations. The documentary features exclusive footage, archival treasures, and candid interviews with the show’s most iconic cast members and writers.

    Who appears in ‘Lorne’?

    • Lorne Michaels as Himself
    • Tina Fey as Herself
    • Maya Rudolph as Herself
    • John Mulaney as Himself
    • Andy Samberg as Himself
    • Bill Hader as Himself
    • Fred Armisen as Himself
    • Conan O’Brien as Himself
    • Chris Rock as Himself
    • Jimmy Fallon as Himself
    • Seth Meyers as Himself
    • Kristen Wiig as Herself
    • Mike Myers as Himself
    • Steve Martin as Himself
    • Paul Simon as Himself
    'Lorne' director Morgan Neville.
    ‘Lorne’ director Morgan Neville.

    List of Morgan Neville Movies and TV Shows:

    Buy Tickets: ‘Lorne’ Movie Showtimes

    Buy Morgan Neville Movies on Amazon

     

  • ‘Dogma’ 25th Anniversary Interview: Director Kevin Smith

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    ‘Dogma,’ which Kevin Smith made and released back in 1999, is back in theaters on June 5th.

    Written and directed by Smith (‘Clerks’), the film stars Ben Affleck (‘The Accountant’), Matt Damon (‘The Martian’), Linda Fiorentino (‘The Last Seduction’), Alan Rickman (‘Die Hard’), Jason Lee (‘Almost Famous’), George Carlin (‘Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure’), Salma Hayek Pinault (‘Frida’), Chris Rock (‘Top Five’), Jason Mewes (‘Clerks’) and Alanis Morissette (‘Curb Your Enthusiasm’).

    Kevin Smith Says He’s Started Developing a Sequel to 1999 Religious Comedy ‘Dogma’

    Director Kevin Smith talks 'Dogma' 25th Anniversary rerelease.
    Director Kevin Smith talks ‘Dogma’ 25th Anniversary rerelease.

    Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with Kevin Smith about reclaiming ‘Dogma’ from the hands of the Weinstein brothers (the film has been unavailable for theatrical or streaming release for two decades), how he’s changed as a filmmaker and the reaction to the once-controversial movie this time around.

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

    (Lto R) Salma Hayek Pinault, Alan Rickman and Chris Rock in 'Dogma.' Photo: Triple Media Film.
    (Lto R) Salma Hayek Pinault, Alan Rickman and Chris Rock in ‘Dogma.’ Photo: Triple Media Film.

    Moviefone: To begin with, what does getting ‘Dogma’ back mean to you?

    Kevin Smith: It comes at the right time in my career because right about now people are like, “No, he sucks.” So it’s nice to be able to bring out an old movie where it’s, “Well, he didn’t suck then, there was hope!” Generally when I bring out a new movie it’s like I’ve got to convince people, “No, really I should still be doing this,” and they’re, “you should have stopped a long f****n’ time ago!” Coming out with this old movie that they liked back in the day and still like today is like going out there with a shield.

    (L to R) Matt Damon and Ben Affleck in 'Dogma.' Photo: Triple Media Film.
    (L to R) Matt Damon and Ben Affleck in ‘Dogma.’ Photo: Triple Media Film.

    MF: How do you view it now through the lens of who you are today?

    KS: We’ve been touring it for 20 cities, then we just also played at Cannes. Every night I’ve been watching the movie and interacting with a vision of a young Kevin Smith. The kid who made that movie, believed in everything that’s up there. He’s not talking about Christian mythology, he’s not raising a hairy eyebrow or coming out with sharp teeth and claws the way Monty Python would on ‘Life of Brian.’ He believes in everything, so it’s been charming to sit back and watch the movie and be, “Aw, young Kevin Smith is so adorable.” I don’t have those same beliefs anymore so it’s like we say in the movie, beliefs are tricky to get around because once you have a belief you’re mired in it, but it’s more important to have good ideas, and now I think I have good ideas.

    (L to R) Jason Mewes, Kevin Smith and Matt Damon in 'Dogma.' Photo: Triple Media Film.
    (L to R) Jason Mewes, Kevin Smith and Matt Damon in ‘Dogma.’ Photo: Triple Media Film.

    MF: ‘Dogma’ was protested upon its release. Do you think the reactions would be the same today?

    KS: What an interesting question. I think if we would have done it for the first time now and it was a streaming series I don’t think people would bump into it that hard. I mean, look, last year ‘Heretic’ came out and granted it went through the prism of the Latter-Day Saints, the Church of Mormon, and the Book of Mormon, so it wasn’t as big a polemic perhaps in the Mormon community. But that was a movie where watching it, I was leaning forward going, “Oh, a kindred spirit, of sorts.” The movie came and was respected and nobody got in trouble or nearly got killed.

    Alan Rickman in 'Dogma.' Photo: Triple Media Film.
    Alan Rickman in ‘Dogma.’ Photo: Triple Media Film.

    MF: Have you seen any protests at all this time around?

    KS: I’ve only seen one or two protests, one of which was as I was driving into the AMC movie theater in Dallas where we were doing our screenings. So I’m going to pull into the mall and I’m at the light. I look over at the median and there’s a kid, 18, 19 years old and he’s holding a placard, like big white cardboard, has the current ‘Dogma’ poster in the middle of it and it says, “AMC blasphemes” or something like that. So I was, “Oh my God, how adorable.” So I laid on the horn, give support and the kid is so excited and he looks around and he sees me, and then he sees who I am and he looks away. He f****n’ shunned me! So that’s as bad as the protest has been this time around. I’ll take that, that’s fine.

    (L to R) Linda Fiorentino, Jason Mewes, Salma Hayek and Chris Rock in 'Dogma.' Photo: Triple Media Film.
    (L to R) Linda Fiorentino, Jason Mewes, Salma Hayek and Chris Rock in ‘Dogma.’ Photo: Triple Media Film.

    MF: Finally, how else has the rerelease reaction been different compared to the original release?

    KS: Last time the protests were loud and vicious because people hadn’t seen the movie so the people who were making hay over it did so without anyone seeing what the movie is. Once people saw the movie, they’re, “this doesn’t go after the faith, this movie’s so reverent it’s crazy.” I now know years later, people may have heard about, “oh, you guys went through it.” But I’m seeing current reviews, people going, “can you believe that this movie took s**t back in the day and almost got people killed?” It seems to have aged better and plays way better now although, oddly enough, it feels like there’s less freedom in 2025, religious or otherwise, than there was in 1999.

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    What is the plot of ‘Dogma’?

    An abortion clinic worker with a special heritage is called upon to save the existence of humanity from being negated by two renegade angels trying to exploit a loophole and re-enter Heaven.

    Who is in the cast of ‘Dogma’?

    • Ben Affleck as Bartleby
    • Matt Damon as Loki
    • Linda Fiorentino as Bethany
    • Alan Rickman as Metatron
    • Jason Lee as Azrael
    • George Carlin as Cardinal Glick
    • Salma Hayek Pinault as Serendipity
    • Chris Rock as Rufus
    • Jason Mewes as Jay
    • Kevin Smith as Silent Bob
    • Alanis Morissette as God
    (L to R) Chris Rock, Kevin Smith, Jason Mewes and Linda Fiorentino in 'Dogma'. Photo: Lionsgate Films.
    (L to R) Chris Rock, Kevin Smith, Jason Mewes and Linda Fiorentino in ‘Dogma’. Photo: Lionsgate Films.

    List of Kevin Smith Movies:

    Buy Tickets: ‘Dogma’ Movie Showtimes

    Buy Kevin Smith Movies on Amazon

  • Marc Maron Announces End of ‘WTF’ Podcast

    Marc Maron as Sweeney in director Michael Morris' 'To Leslie.'
    Marc Maron as Sweeney in director Michael Morris’ ‘To Leslie.’

    Preview:

    • Marc Maron is to end his ‘WTF with Marc Maron’ podcast.
    • He reveals he’s burned out on hosting the show, but “utterly satisfied.”
    • Past guests have included Leonardo DiCaprio,  Brad Pitt, Keith Richards and Barack Obama. 

    One of the early adopters of the celebrity podcast interview format, comedian and actor Marc Maron, is hanging up his headphones.

    Maron, who in addition to his standup and other work has been in movies such as ‘To Leslie’ and animated effort ‘The Bad Guys’ (where he voices Snake), launched ‘WTF with Marc Maron’ in September 2009. And via a story in Deadline, he’s announced that the show will come to a close –– at least, its regular twice-weekly version, this coming fall.

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    Maron had this to say about the decision on a recent episode:

    “Sixteen years we’ve been doing this, and we’ve decided that we had a great run. Now, basically, it’s time, folks. It’s time. ‘WTF’ is coming to an end. It’s our decision. We’ll have our final episode sometime in the fall.”

    Related Article: Marc Maron Talks ‘To Leslie’ and What He’s Learned from Hosting ‘WTF’

    What’s the history of ‘WTF with Marc Maron’?

    Marc Maron in 'Stick,' premiering June 4, 2025 on Apple TV+. Photo: Apple TV+.
    Marc Maron in ‘Stick,’ premiering June 4, 2025 on Apple TV+. Photo: Apple TV+.

    A slow-burn success since its launch, the podcast has had 1.1 billion downloads, listens and impressions since its launch with 1,645 episodes as well as more than 300 bonus episodes for premium subscribers.

    Maron has interviewed comedy greats, A-list actors and even Presidents. His June 2015 interview with President Barack Obama broke the record for ‘WTF’s hosting service, Libsyn, for most downloads in a 24-hour period by more than double the previous record. President Obama travelled to Maron’s garage in Highland Park, California to discuss race relations and gun violence.

    Other standout episodes include Todd Glass coming out in 2012 and a 2010 episode with Robin Williams, which was selected by the Library of Congress for preservation in the United States National Recording Registry in 2022.

    Maron, whose first ever guest was Jeff Ross, has also interviewed the likes of Sir Paul McCartney, Jerry Seinfeld, Chris Rock, Leonardo DiCaprio and Brad Pitt as well as SNL creator Lorne Michaels, who was one of Maron’s white whales, the most discussed person on the podcast and the man who Maron needed closure from after a meeting that haunted him in the 1990s.

    Maron and his producer Brendan McDonald were the recipients of the first-ever Governors Award by the Podcast Academy for Excellence in Audio at The Ambies in 2021.

    Marc Maron talks more about the end of ‘WTF’

    Marc Maron stars in 'To Leslie,' which opens in theaters and on VOD October 7th.
    Marc Maron stars in ‘To Leslie,’ which opens in theaters and on VOD October 7th.

    Here’s Maron discussing why he chose to end the show now:

    “It really comes down to the fact that we’ve put up a new show every Monday and Thursday for almost sixteen years and we’re tired. We’re burnt out. And we are utterly satisfied with the work we’ve done. We’ve done great work. This doesn’t mean I’m never going to do something like this again. Doesn’t mean I’ll never have talks like I do here, or some kind of podcast at some point in time. But for now, we’re just wrapping things up. It’s okay. It’s okay to end things. It’s okay to try to start some other chapter in your life.”

    And on his other reasons:

    “It’s nice to be able to end things on our terms. We’ve always had that power to do that and that’s what we’re going to do. We started the show on our terms, we grew it on our terms, and we’ll end it on our terms.”

    Where else have we seen Marc Maron?

    (from left) Mr. Snake (Marc Maron), Mr. Shark (Craig Robinson), Mr. Wolf (Sam Rockwell), Mr. Piranha (Anthony Ramos) and Ms. Tarantula (Awkwafina) in DreamWorks Animation’s 'The Bad Guys 2', directed by Pierre Perifel. Photo: Universal Pictures.
    (from left) Mr. Snake (Marc Maron), Mr. Shark (Craig Robinson), Mr. Wolf (Sam Rockwell), Mr. Piranha (Anthony Ramos) and Ms. Tarantula (Awkwafina) in DreamWorks Animation’s ‘The Bad Guys 2’, directed by Pierre Perifel. Photo: Universal Pictures.

    Maron initially came to prominence through his stand-up and has had several specials.

    Outside of that and ‘WTF’, stand-up comedian and podcast host.

    He’s hosted ‘The Marc Maron Show,’ and been co-host of both ‘Morning Sedition’ and ‘Breakroom Live,’ all politically-oriented shows, produced under the auspices of Air America Media.

    He was also the host of Comedy Central’s ‘Short Attention Span Theater’ for a year, replacing Jon Stewart.

    Maron has been a frequent guest on the ‘Late Show with David Letterman’ and made 44 appearances on ‘Late Night with Conan O’Brien,’ more than any other stand-up performer.

    He was also a regular guest on ‘Tough Crowd with Colin Quinn’ and hosted the short-lived American version of the British game show ‘Never Mind the Buzzcocks’ on VH1.

    Aside from hosting and comedy work, he’s built an impressive acting career on screens big and small, including movies such as ‘The Order,’ ‘Joker,’ ‘Sleepwalk with Me,’ ‘Almost Famous’ and ‘Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates.’

    TV acting-wise, his credits include ‘Reservation Dogs,’ ‘GLOW,’ ‘Maron’ and ‘Roadies.’

    Where will we find Marc Maron next?

    Coming up, he’s starring in Rob Burnett’s movie ‘In Memoriam’ alongside Judy Greer, Sharon Stone and Regina Hall, and is playing Bruce Springsteen’s producer Chuck Plotkin in Scott Cooper’s Jeremy Allen White-led biopic about The Boss, ‘Deliver Me From Nowhere.’

    On the TV side, this week will see him appear alongside Owen Wilson in Apple TV+ golf comedy series ‘Stick.’

    (L to R) Marc Maron and Owen Wilson in 'Stick,' premiering June 4, 2025 on Apple TV+. Photo: Apple TV+.
    (L to R) Marc Maron and Owen Wilson in ‘Stick,’ premiering June 4, 2025 on Apple TV+. Photo: Apple TV+.

    List of Other Movies and TV Shows Featuring Marc Maron:

    Buy Marc Maron Movies and TV On Amazon

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  • New Remake of ‘The Longest Yard’ Planned

    Burt Reynolds in 2005's 'The Longest Yard.'
    (Center) Burt Reynolds in 2005’s ‘The Longest Yard.’ Photo: Paramount Pictures.

    Preview:

    • A new movie of ‘The Longest Yard’ is in the works.
    • The film finds a former star quarterback sent to prison, who builds a team there.
    • Burt Reynolds and Adam Sandler starred in previous versions.

    What do Burt Reynolds and Adam Sandler have in common? It’s certainly not comedy songs about Hannukah.

    No, the two actors have both starred in a version of prison-set sports comedy drama ‘The Longest Yard’, with Reynolds anchoring the 1974 (and showing up for a decent role in the 2005 Sandler variant).

    And now the plan is to make yet another version of the story. At this rate, there will be remakes so far in the future the sport featured will be Rollerball, not football.

    What’s the story of ‘The Longest Yard’?

    Burt Reynolds in 1974's 'The Longest Yard.'
    Burt Reynolds in 1974’s ‘The Longest Yard.’ Photo: Paramount Pictures.

    The 1974 original was based on a story by Al Ruddy, directed by Robert Aldrich and written by Tracy Keenan Wynn. It starred Reynolds as Paul “Wrecking” Crewe, a former star quarterback who is sentenced to 18 months in Citrus State Prison, where he puts together the Mean Machine team to play the guards’ team.

    It was remade in 2005 by director Peter Segal and written by Sheldon Turner. Sandler led the cast as the washed-up quarterback, who puts together a team in prison in exchange for a reduced sentence. Chris Rock, James Cromwell, Nelly and William Fichtner also starred, as did Reynolds.

    Given his death in 2018, Reynolds obviously won’t be appearing in this one (though we’d be shocked if there wasn’t some small reference to him), so perhaps Sandler will be willing to take on the baton and show up for at least a cameo?

    Related Article: HBO’s ‘Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty’ Surprisingly Cancelled As Season 2 Ends

    Who is behind the new take on ‘The Longest Yard’?

    Delante Desouza as Michael Cooper, Quentin A. Shropshire as James Worthy, Quincy Isaiah as Magic Johnson, Solomon Hughes as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Joel Allen as Kurt Rambis in HBO's 'Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty.'
    (L to R) Delante Desouza as Michael Cooper, Quentin A. Shropshire as James Worthy, Quincy Isaiah as Magic Johnson, Solomon Hughes as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Joel Allen as Kurt Rambis in HBO’s ‘Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty.’ Photograph by Warrick Page/HBO.

    According to Deadline, Paramount Pictures, which produced both previous movies, is backing this one, hoping to secure a new audience.

    The studio is working with production company Gunpowder & Sky, whose whose CEO Van Toffler was an executive producer on the 2005 version when he worked at Viacom.

    On the writing front, Rodney Barnes, who was an executive producer and writer on recently cancelled HBO series ‘Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty’, is crafting the script.

    There is no director or star attached yet –– as mentioned, the studio might try to tempt Sandler to come back for a cameo, but it’s still early days.

    And given that the actors’ strike remains in full effect (there appears to have been some progress, but it’s far from over yet), casting will also have to wait. Yet Paramount will want to get this one moving, since it’s a new take on a recognizable title and features and evergreen subject matter in its sports theme.

    Where can I see the previous movies?

    Burt Reynolds in 1974's 'The Longest Yard.'
    (Right) Burt Reynolds in 1974’s ‘The Longest Yard.’ Photo: Paramount Pictures.

    Both the 1974 and 2005 versions are streaming on Paramount+ and are available for rental or purchase at other digital outlets.

    Here’s the trailer for the 1974 Burt Reynolds film:

    And the trailer for the 2005 Adam Sandler movie:

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    The cast of 2005's 'The Longest Yard.'
    The cast of 2005’s ‘The Longest Yard.’ Photo: Paramount Pictures.

    Other Movies Similar to ‘The Longest Yard:’

    Buy Burt Reynolds Movies On Amazon

  • Jimmy Kimmel to Host the 95th Oscars

    Jimmy Kimmel to Host the 95th Oscars.
    Jimmy Kimmel to Host the 95th Oscars. Photo: ABC/Jeff Lipsky.

    Given that the first time Jimmy Kimmel hosted the Oscars, we got the memorable ‘La La Land’/’Moonlight’ Best Picture mix-up, you might think he’d be wary of coming back.

    But that was in 2017, and Kimmel actually came back in 2018 for a less dramatic ceremony. Now, after five years away, he will once more lead the show for the 95th Oscars, which will be held next year.

    The announcement was made by Glenn Weiss and Ricky Kirshner, the executive producers and showrunners for the next show.

    Kimmel, who hosts popular late-night show ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’ joins a three-peat club that also includes Jerry Lewis, Steve Martin, Conrad Nagel and David Niven. He has some way to go, however, to compete with the likes of Billy Crystal, who has wrangled the show nine times and Bob Hope, who hosted 11 times in his career.

    “Being invited to host the Oscars for a third time is either a great honor or a trap,” Kimmel says in a statement. “Either way, I am grateful to the Academy for asking me so quickly after everyone good said no.”

    “We’re super thrilled to have Jimmy score his hat trick on this global stage,” Weiss and Kirshner said in a joint statement. “We know he will be funny and ready for anything.”

    “Jimmy is the perfect host to help us recognize the incredible artists and films of our 95th Oscars,” Academy CEO Bill Kramer and Academy president Janet Yang enthuse. “His love of movies, live TV expertise, and ability to connect with our global audiences will create an unforgettable experience for our millions of viewers worldwide.”

    Chris Rock at the Oscars
    Chris Rock presents the Oscar® for Documentary Feature during the live ABC telecast of the 94th Oscars® at the Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood in Los Angeles, CA, on Sunday, March 27, 2022. Photo Credit: Blaine Ohigashi / A.M.P.A.S.

    Naturally, neither the Academy nor the producers are speaking as to whether anyone was asked before Kimmel, though there had been speculation that producers reached out to Chris Rock in the wake of last year’s Will Smith slap incident.

    The Academy and those running the show have struggled with plummeting ratings and finding the right hosts in recent years. In 2020, the show relied on a variety of hosts after first choice Kevin Hart left the gig under fire for problematic attitudes on social media.

    In 2021, the pandemic forced the ceremony out of its usual Dolby Theatre home and once again employed a changing roster of presenters instead of the traditional host for a muted ceremony. This year represented a return to a more normal ceremony, albeit with three hosts – Amy Schumer, Regina Hall and Wanda Sykes.

    Bringing Kimmel back points to all involved hoping that a familiar face will draw people back in, and that popular big movies with Oscar buzz such as ‘Top Gun Maverick’ and, potentially, ‘Avatar: The Way of Water’ and ‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’.

    The 95th Oscar nominations will be announced on January 24th, 2023, with the ceremony to be held on March 12th.

    Will Smith accepts the Oscar
    Will Smith accepts the Oscar® for Actor in a Leading Role during the live ABC telecast of the 94th Oscars® at the Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood in Los Angeles, CA, on Sunday, March 27, 2022. Photo Credit: Kyusung Gong / A.M.P.A.S.
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  • Movie Review: ‘Amsterdam’

    Christian Bale, Margot Robbie and John David Washington in director David O. Russell's 'Amsterdam.'
    (L to R) Christian Bale, Margot Robbie and John David Washington in director David O. Russell’s ‘Amsterdam.’ Photo courtesy of Walt Disney Studios.

    Opening in theaters on October 7th, ‘Amsterdam’ reveals David O. Russell’s talent for attracting quality actors, but also comes across as his weakest script and resulting movie in quite some time.

    ‘Amsterdam’ certainly doesn’t lack for either star power or quality character actors: around a central trio of Christian Bale, Margot Robbie and John David Washington, Russell has built an ensemble that includes Robert De Niro, Andrea Riseborough, Anya Taylor-Joy, Chris Rock, Mike Myers, Michael Shannon, Timothy Olyphant, Zoe Saldana, Rami Malek, Ed Begley Jr. and Taylor Swift.

    It’s the sort of cast that most filmmakers would sell their grandmothers to acquire, but unfortunately it’s a lot of impressive people in service of an underbaked narrative that is more about quirks and screwball comedy – until it isn’t.

    Bale plays Burt Berendsen, an idiosyncratic doctor with a glass eye and a complicated back brace who works to help World War I veterans like himself to feel whole again with prosthetics and other techniques.

    Christian Bale, John David Washington, and Margot Robbie in 20th Century Studios' 'Amsterdam.'
    (L-R): Christian Bale, John David Washington, and Margot Robbie in 20th Century Studios’ ‘Amsterdam.’ Photo courtesy of 20th Century Studios. All Rights Reserved.

    John David Washington is Harold, Burt’s lawyer, but also his old war friend, who served with him in an integrated unit commanded by Ed Begley Jr. Immediately following the conflict Harold and Burt spent a few years in a bohemian throuple with a nurse named Valerie (Robbie), who also happened to be a rebellious trust fund hipster.

    The three spent their time in an artists’ loft in Amsterdam, living, loving and, in Valerie’s case, making art. But it didn’t last once they returned home.

    When Begley Jr.’s general dies – suspiciously, according to his daughter, played by Swift (who, yes, has the chance to sing briefly) – Burt and Harold are thrown into investigating what really happened to the military man. And that, in turn, brings them into contact with the likes of Saldana’s heroic nurse and a much wider conspiracy and fully reconnects them with Valerie.

    Before too long, Burt and Harold are framed for a crime themselves, and must work to clear their own names. That mission leads to them meeting De Niro’s hero general, a friend of Begley Jr.’s. He’s the pawn in the bigger plot, but comes to play a much important part, even if it is late in the film.

    Robert De Niro in 20th Century Studios' 'Amsterdam.'
    Robert De Niro in 20th Century Studios’ ‘Amsterdam.’ Photo courtesy of 20th Century Studios. © 2022 20th Century Studios. All Rights Reserved.

    With a seemingly compelling set-up, you might think that the movie would roll along merrily, bringing opportunities for slapstick humor, twists and turns. And it does – but there’s very little that is merry about this mess.

    A big problem is one of clashing tones, even within the main cast. While Bale (never one to pass up the chance to throw himself into an odd character, shed some weight and adopt a make-up prosthetic) and Robbie go full tilt with their quirky personas, Washington appears to have been dropped in from another film all together. He puts the “dead” into “deadpan”.

    Yes, people are not one type, yes, different personalities can work when portrayed on screen, but here it simply doesn’t blend, the oil/water combo leading to an awkward, distracting experience that clouds any possible benefit from the story.

    It’s such a frustrating experience, putting weirdness and silliness before narrative.

    As he weaves his mystery story, Russell loads up the movie with more and more side characters and only barely manages to make them all connect.

    Christian Bale and John David Washington in 20th Century Studios' 'Amsterdam.'
    (L-R): Christian Bale and John David Washington in 20th Century Studios’ ‘Amsterdam.’ Photo courtesy of 20th Century Studios. All Rights Reserved.

    Though the writer/director clearly has a lot on his mind – personal freedom vs. responsibility, the joy of expression through art, life in the interwar period and the necessity of standing up to fascism – but it’s all mashed together into an ungainly stew of messages and madness.

    That final topic, the seemingly endless struggle against the forces of racist totalitarianism and power-hungry elites, is so watered down by everything that has come before that it lacks any real punch. It’s not so much a well-crafted allegory for life than it is a lesson driven home with all the subtlety of a carpenter using the world’s heaviest hammer.

    The cast does their best to keep it all afloat – Bale commits, of course, and Robbie brings her considerable charm to bear on the role of Valerie. All that really serves to do, though, is push Washington further into the background, a waste of his own considerable (if straight arrow) charisma.

    Others, such as Malik and Taylor-Joy barely get a chance to register, though there are a few who push through the noise, such as Alessandro Nivola as the confused, angry Detective Hiltz or Rock, who finds the funny in every line he’s given (his reaction upon discovering that Bale and Washington are looking to move a dead body is a fine example). Many are less real human beings and more collections of tics, such as Myers and Shannon as government agents.

    Rami Malek, Anya Taylor-Joy, and Margot Robbie in 20th Century Studios' 'Amsterdam.'
    (L-R): Rami Malek, Anya Taylor-Joy, and Margot Robbie in 20th Century Studios’ ‘Amsterdam.’ Photo courtesy of 20th Century Studios. © 2022 20th Century Studios. All Rights Reserved.

    In the movie’s defense, there are some typically superb examples of production and costume design, while cinematographer Emmanuel Lubezki brings light and life to the whole thing. Russell and his editor Jay Cassidy try to keep the whole thing together, but the whole is most certainly less than the sum of its parts.

    But if Russell was intending to blend farce with fact (a title card at the start announces that “some of this actually happened, which feels more like a lazy stab at meaning than a commitment to anything real), he’s way off with this one.

    Coming from the director of ‘Silver Linings Playbook’, ‘Three Kings’ and ‘The Fighter’, it has the feeling of a filmmaker who never wants to be pigeonholed into one particular style or genre, but has this time settled for madcap and serious all at once. It doesn’t work.

    ‘Amsterdam’ is proof that even the highest wattage of star power can’t always supply the energy that a film needs. Especially once as poorly conceived and structured as this one.

    ‘Amsterdam’ receives 2.5 out of 5 stars.

    Christian Bale, Margot Robbie, and John David Washington in 20th Century Studios' 'Amsterdam.'
    (L-R): Christian Bale, Margot Robbie, and John David Washington in 20th Century Studios’ ‘Amsterdam.’ Photo courtesy of 20th Century Studios. All Rights Reserved.
    6fZEdMCJsSQ9roGiF1JN84

  • Apple Debuts ‘Emancipation’ Teaser Trailer

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    Apple probably thought it was on to a stone-cold awards contender with Antoine Fuqua’s latest, ‘Emancipation’.

    With Will Smith starring in the stirring based-on-truth story of Peter, a man who escapes from slavery, relying on his wits, unwavering faith and deep love for his family to evade cold-blooded hunters and the unforgiving swamps of Louisiana on his quest for freedom, it looked like it could be Oscar bait.

    But then came Oscar night back in March. And the “slap heard around the world”. You might have heard of it.

    For anyone who has been living under a rock, it all went down when Chris Rock took the stage at the Academy Awards to present Best Documentary. He made a number of jokes, including one directed at Jada Pinkett-Smith that referred to her bald head.

    Given that Pinkett-Smith has alopecia, the joke was seen in poor taste and Smith, after initially chuckling, then took the stage and slapped Rock. Upon his return to his seat, he shouted, “keep my wife’s mouth out of your f*****g mouth” more than once.

    It shocked the audience, and the wider watching world, and Smith returned to the stage later in the evening to collect Best Actor for ‘King Richard’. Yet the ramifications continued well after the night itself.

    Smith issued apologies, while Rock mostly talked about it during stand-up shows in the months following. The Academy went the disciplinary route, banning Smith from its events for a decade, but letting him keep his award.

    Will Smith stars in Apple's 'Emancipation,' directed by Antoine Fuqua.
    Will Smith stars in Apple’s ‘Emancipation,’ directed by Antoine Fuqua.

    Which brings us back to ‘Emancipation’, which was announced back in 2020 and quickly snapped up by Apple.

    The historical story and triumph of the human spirit must’ve been a big appeal to Apple – and the presence of Smith, especially when he was Oscar-nominated for ‘King Richard’, just added to that.

    Yet now the company faces the uphill struggle of releasing the movie in the wake of the Academy Awards incident, with a star who couldn’t collect his Oscar even if he’s nominated or wins.

    Still, there is a lot that is compelling about this one: When Peter showed his bare back during an Army medical examination, photos were taken of the scars from a whipping delivered by an overseer on the plantation owned by John and Bridget Lyons that nearly killed the slave. When the photo known as “the scourged back” was published by the Independent in May 1863 and then ‘Harper’s Weekly’s July 4 issue, it became indisputable proof of the cruelty and barbarity of slavery in America. The photo reached around the world, and legend has it that it made countries like France refuse to buy cotton from the South. It solidified the cause of abolitionists and prompted many free blacks to join the Union Army.

    “It was the first viral image of the brutality of slavery that the world saw,” Fuqua told Deadline when the movie was originally confirmed. “Which is interesting, when you put it into perspective with today and social media and what the world is seeing, again. You can’t fix the past, but you can remind people of the past and I think we have to, in an accurate, real way. We all have to look for a brighter future for us all, for everyone. That’s one of the most important reasons to do things right now, is show our history. We have to face our truth before we can move forward.”

    Facing some hard truths will reach beyond the movie’s narrative.

    With Ben Foster, Charmaine Bingwa, Gilbert Owuor, Mustafa Shakir, Steven Ogg, Grant Harvey, Ronnie Gene Bivens, Jayson Warner Smith also in the cast, the movie will be in theaters on December 2nd and lands on Apple TV+ on December 9th.

    Will Smith stars in Apple's 'Emancipation,' directed by Antoine Fuqua.
    Will Smith stars in Apple’s ‘Emancipation,’ directed by Antoine Fuqua.
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  • ‘Amsterdam’ Interview: Christian Bale Talks New Movie

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    Opening in theaters on October 7th is the third movie from Oscar-nominated director David O. Russell and Oscar-winning actor Christian Bale following ‘The Fighter’ and ‘American Hustle,’ entitled ‘Amsterdam.’

    Set in the 1930’s, the new movie stars Bale as Burt Berendsen, a doctor with a prosthetic eye, who along with his friends Harold Woodsman (John David Washington), a lawyer, and Valerie Voze (Margot Robbie), a nurse, become the prime suspects in the murder of US Senator Bill Meekins (Ed Begley Jr.).

    In addition to Bale, Robbie, and Washington, the movie also features an all-star cast that includes Chris Rock, Anya Taylor-Joy, Zoe Saldana, Mike Myers, Michael Shannon, Timothy Olyphant, Andrea Riseborough, Matthias Schoenaerts, Alessandro Nivola, Rami Malek, Taylor Swift, and Robert De Niro.

    Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with Christian Bale about his work on ‘Amsterdam,’ why he likes collaborating with filmmaker David O. Russell, how he creates a character, and what ‘Amsterdam’ means to him.

    Christian Bale and his wife, Sibi Blažić ​at the Los Angeles premiere of director David O. Russell's 'Amsterdam.'
    (L to R) Christian Bale and his wife, Sibi Blažić ​at the Los Angeles premiere of director David O. Russell’s ‘Amsterdam.’

    You can read the full interview below or click on the player above to watch a video of our interview with Christian Bale about ‘Amsterdam.’

    Moviefone: To begin with, this is your third film with director David O. Russell, what is it about working with David that brings out the best in your performances?

    Christian Bale: He’s a real circular thinker and I love the way that he does think. He doesn’t forget a thing. He’s very passionate about what he does. We just have a good dynamic. I think it’s a good yin and yang. We complement each other. On this one we decided to get much more involved than any other previous project. We started putting this together, it was five, six years ago, and just building it right from nothing. I just enjoy working with him so much, and it’s always fun.

    You never know exactly what’s going to happen on the day. I wouldn’t call it improvisation so much, as he just likes you to know the character so much that he can chuck out different ideas. Sometimes I’d riff, but most of the time he’s chucking out lines or kicking me in the leg or something. It’s just something that creates a very lively, colorful, beautiful but unpolished look at humanity. He loves people. He loves people and characters and so do I, so telling stories with him is just a joy.

    Christian Bale, Margot Robbie, and John David Washington in 20th Century Studios' 'Amsterdam.'
    (L-R): Christian Bale, Margot Robbie, and John David Washington in 20th Century Studios’ ‘Amsterdam.’ Photo courtesy of 20th Century Studios. All Rights Reserved.

    MF: Where does the creation of a character begin for you? Is it in the voice? Is it the hair, the facial hair, the accent? What is it?

    CB: I don’t know what I do. I don’t have any particular way of doing it. I make it up each time with every job. I begin each job going, “Oh my God, someone hired me again.” I don’t even know what I’m doing. I never really trained, so I don’t really have a particular technique. People often say, “Oh, Bale, he’s a method actor.” I’m not a method actor. I would’ve had to train to do that. I just do whatever is necessary for each and every day.

    But gradually all the bits and pieces come together. I don’t have a particular order. But, of course you’ve got the history, the mannerisms, the voice, the body language and the walk, and when you prep something as much as David and I did on this, that was what was great. David would suggest storylines and then ask me, “What do you think Burt would do with that?” I knew it well enough by that point that I’d be able to help him out. It really gives you a nice sense of freedom, of total ownership when you’re making the film.

    Christian Bale, Margot Robbie, and John David Washington in 20th Century Studios' 'Amsterdam.'
    (L-R): Christian Bale, Margot Robbie, and John David Washington in 20th Century Studios’ ‘Amsterdam.’ Photo courtesy of 20th Century Studios. All Rights Reserved.

    MF: Finally, in the movie, Amsterdam is a very important place for the characters. Where is your Amsterdam?

    CB: Well, I mean, obviously in the film, Amsterdam is the halcyon days for these people, when life is as it is meant to be, and how they dreamed it to be, and what they’re striving for life to become like. For me it’s any moment when you’re totally dedicated to what you’re doing.

    That’s when you’re so absorbed in what you’re doing that you can’t think of anything else. I get that kick out of acting. When I was allowed to before accidents, I used to get that out of motorcycles and racing them and stuff. I get that kick out of my family as well.

    Christian Bale stars in director David O. Russell's 'Amsterdam.'
    Christian Bale stars in director David O. Russell’s ‘Amsterdam.’
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  • Will Smith Posts Video About the Oscar Slap

    The “slap heard about the world” continues to resonate with repercussions.

    Months after March 27th’s Academy Awards, people are still talking about the incident between comedian/actor Chris Rock and movie star Will Smith.

    While the Oscars had been proceeding normally – the first full, in-person ceremony since the pandemic began – events took a turn when Chris Rock arrived on stage to present Best Documentary and in his presenter’s remarks made a joke about Jada Pinkett Smith’s shaved head.

    Seemingly unaware that Pinkett smith had been dealing with alopecia for years, Rock made a joke comparing her to the main character in ‘G.I. Jane’ and, after briefly laughing, Will Smith got to his feet, marched on stage and slapped Rock. As he retook his seat, Smith yelled, “keep my wife’s name out of your f*****g mouth”, stunning the audience that might have thought it was a comedy bit set up by the Academy, its writers and the two performers.

    Smith would go on to win Best Actor for ‘King Richard’ that same evening, but the fallout has included Smith leaving the Academy (and the organization banning him from its events for a decade) and Smith largely staying quiet, out of the public eye.

    Will Smith photo courtesy of YouTube.
    Will Smith photo courtesy of YouTube.

    He has returned via his YouTube channel, answering questions about the event. And, in one particular segment, he apologized to Rock and his family.

    “I was fogged out by that point. It is all fuzzy. I’ve reached out to Chris and the message that came back is that he’s not ready to talk. When he is, he will reach out. I will say to you, Chris, I apologize to you. My behavior was unacceptable and I am here whenever you are ready to talk. I want to apologize to Chris’s mother. I saw an interview she did, and that was one of the things I just didn’t realize. I wasn’t thinking, but how many people got hurt in that moment.”

    “I want to apologize to Chris’ mother, I want to apologize to Chris’s family, specifically Tony Rock. We had a great relationship. Tony Rock was my man. This is probably irreparable. I spent the last three months replaying and understanding the nuance and complexity of what happened in that moment. I’m not going to try to unpack all of that right now, but I can say to all of you, there is no part of me that thinks that was the right way to behave in that moment. No part of me that thinks that is the optimal way to handle a feeling of disrespect or insult.”

    Smith also covered whether Pinkett Smith prompted him to act: “No. I made a choice on my own, from my own experience, and my history with Chris. Jada had nothing to do with it. I’m sorry, babe, and I want to say sorry to my kids and my family for the heat that I brought on all of us.”

    Finally, he offered his perspective and what he intends to do now. “Two things. One, disappointing people is my central trauma. I hate when I let people down, so it hurts me psychologically and emotionally that I didn’t live up to peoples’ image and impression of me,” he admits.

    “The work I am trying to do is, I am deeply remorseful and I’m trying to be remorseful without being ashamed of myself. I’m human and I made a mistake and I’m trying not to think of myself as a piece of shit so I would say to those people, I know it was confusing, I know it was shocking, but I promise you I am deeply devoted and committed to putting light and love and joy into the world,” Smith continues. “If you hang on, I promise we will be able to be friends again.”

    Will Smith accepts the Oscar® for Actor in a Leading Role
    Will Smith accepts the Oscar® for Actor in a Leading Role during the live ABC telecast of the 94th Oscars® at the Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood in Los Angeles, CA, on Sunday, March 27, 2022. Photo Credit: Blaine Ohigashi / A.M.P.A.S.