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  • ‘Dead of Winter’ Interview: Emma Thompson and Judy Greer

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    Opening in theaters on September 26th is the new action thriller ‘Dead of Winter’, which was directed by Brian Kirk (’21 Bridges’) and stars Emma Thompson (‘Cruella’) and Judy Greer (‘Halloween Kills’).

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    Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with Emma Thompson and Judy Greer about their work on ‘Dead of Winter’, their first reactions to the screenplay, their approach to their characters, working together and the challenges of shooting on the ice.

    Emma Thompson stars in 'Dead of Winter'.
    Emma Thompson stars in ‘Dead of Winter’.

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

    Related Article: Emma Thompson to Star in Action Thriller ‘The Fisherwoman’

    Emma Thompson in 'Dead of Winter'. Photo: Vertical.
    Emma Thompson in ‘Dead of Winter’. Photo: Vertical.

    Moviefone: To begin with, can you both talk about your first reactions to the screenplay and why you both wanted to be part of this project?

    Emma Thompson: Well, it was a surprising screenplay to be sent, to be honest. Then I I started reading. My first thought was, “Oh, good, she doesn’t say anything.” I love movies where you don’t have to say anything, because then you can just think stuff and the camera finds it. I love that. Then she suddenly said a lot and I thought, “Oh, God, I’m going to have to really learn how to speak Minnesotan if I do this.” I then for some reason or other, I read the story and I omitted somehow to process accurately in my brain, quite how much running around and action there was in the film. I just thought that the writing was so great. I said yes, and then I spent six months dreading it, thinking, “What have I done? Oh, no, I’m going to be in the cold for months. Why? Why did I do this? There are other things out there where I could be in an office or something.” But you know what? It was the most extraordinary life experience. Never mind professional one, because there we were on a frozen lake in the north of Finland, 60 kilometers away from the Russian border, thank you very much, ladies and gentlemen. It was insane, you know? It was just insane. It’s 10 feet of snow when you fall into it, which I did, frequently.

    Judy Greer stars in 'Dead of Winter'.
    Judy Greer stars in ‘Dead of Winter’.

    Judy Greer: My first reaction was that I wanted to be a part of it when I got the email, and it said Emma Thompson. So, I said I would do it. Then, when I read it, and I saw the role, I thought maybe it was sent to me by mistake because no one ever sends me roles like this. I was assured that it wasn’t. I probably cried a little if I’m being honest because I was so excited and so proud. Then I met with Brian Kirk, the director and I fell deeply in love with him. He’s about the nicest, funniest guy, but then he directs these movies that are so complicated and intense. So, I’m interested in that person, always, who’s telling these stories. Yeah, it was just a character I’d never been offered before with one of my idols.

    MF: Can you also both talk about filming in Finland and the challenges of shooting in those weather conditions?

    ET: Well, it was the same for everybody because the point is, where we were shooting was so remote that there’s no nice hotel just down the road and there’s no Winnebago, there’s no where you can go to have a nice hot chocolate or get your feet warm. You just had to endure it. So, the way I prepared for it was to just go a month early, put my costume on and live in it for a month in the cold, just go for walks, you know, snowshoeing, walking around, doing cross- country skiing, learning how to do that, and digging into the ice. I spent a month doing that and talking to Minnesotans in Minnesota. So, it was the combination of that landscape, that Finnish landscape, which is very similar to Minnesota, because it’s the same latitude. And learning from the Minnesotan women and men who were so generous with their time, about what that kind of weather’s really like and how you must behave. You know, for instance, how essential your gloves are. We spent a lot of time talking about gloves. There are three sets of gloves. She must wear gloves if she’s dealing with a metal thing, because if you put your hand on that cold metal, it will stick to the metal. It’s extraordinary. Meanwhile, we’re surrounded by all these huge Fins who are basically chain sawing into the ice and clawing out these huge pieces of ice with their bare hands. I mean, these people are crazy tough, you know?

    Judy Greer in 'Dead of Winter'. Photo: Vertical.
    Judy Greer in ‘Dead of Winter’. Photo: Vertical.

    JG: It was totally easy. It was totally not a challenge at all. You should interview the crew. Honestly, they are the real superheroes of this movie because of what they had to do. I am not being hyperbolic, it was Herculean. They were lugging all the film equipment on sleds up these snowy mountains to start the day and then down the snowy mountains to end the day. There were not a lot of bathrooms. There’s a lot of layers of clothing. We got to sit in warming tents. They never did. As soon as they would put out hot coffee, it would get cold. I mean, it was just never ending, but it was also so beautiful. I mean, the first time I walked on that frozen lake, I couldn’t believe it. You can see it in the movie, but that is what we saw every single day. It was stunning for miles and like so quiet and peaceful and beautiful. But then sometimes we’re all standing on this frozen lake, and you would hear these booming sounds. It was the ice breaking, and that’s kind of freaky to someone who lives in southern California, but all you must do is look at a Finnish person and see that they don’t even flinch. It’s like when there’s turbulence and the flight attendants are still talking to each other and laughing and stuff, and you’re like, “Okay, we’re fine”. Like if you’re standing on a frozen lake and there’s booming sounds coming from under the lake and the Finnish people are cool, then it’s cool. Then you know you’re okay.

    Emma Thompson in 'Dead of Winter'. Photo: Vertical.
    Emma Thompson in ‘Dead of Winter’. Photo: Vertical.

    MF: Emma, can you talk about the resilience of your character and why she takes action to protect this girl that she doesn’t even know?

    ET: I think that her resilience comes from having been brought up in the way that she’s been brought up. I mean, her moral gauge is extremely simple, humble, American, a straightforward life where she’s loved somebody very much and been loved very much. She’s had a very rich life from that point of view, with a lot of tragedy in it, but the normal tragedy, human tragedy, because all life contains loss and grief. She’s really does appreciate what she’s had, I think. She’s been formed by the landscape that she’s grown up in, and by the stories, one of which she tells this girl about her grandparents. Because I imagine her life was tough, but she’ll say, “Well, that was nothing compared to my grandmother. You know, she had to give birth under ice.” You know, you just don’t know what people had to go through. So, I think that was her. That was the important thing about her is that she couldn’t have left that child. No one, none of us would have left that child. I mean, those of us who’ve grown up in, you know, like where I grew up, would have died, obviously, in the attempt, just of cold. But Barb is of the landscape, she was born and brought up there. She knows what to do and she’s not only resilient, but she also has a great cunning to her as well. So, you can see that, she’s had a life where she’s not no fool.

    MF: Judy, can you talk about your approach to your character and how you were able to justify her actions and motivations in your own mind?

    JG: Well, I find that I do fall for every character I play. But I don’t often play characters that do things that I would never do. But I love finding a reason why they do it. This one, even though she seems kind of like a demon, it was easy because she’s just desperate to stay alive. When you think about it, we’re all desperate for something, you know? So, it’s not that hard to tap into that desperation. I mean, physically, it can be trying, with the feeling of being so desperate for this one thing. In this character’s case, it’s keeping herself alive. In every character I’ve played, it’s something different. So, in that sense, she’s a lot like everybody else, you know, she just goes about it and in not maybe a respectful way.

    Emma Thompson in 'Dead of Winter'. Photo: Vertical.
    Emma Thompson in ‘Dead of Winter’. Photo: Vertical.

    MF: Finally, Judy, what was Emma Thompson like to have as a scene partner on this film?

    JG: She’s perfect in every way. She exceeded my expectations as an artist and as a person. I knew I would love being on set with her. I knew she would inspire me and bring out the best in me. What I wasn’t sure about was what it would be like to hang out with her and be stuck in a northeastern Finnish town for a month. She’s just the coolest. She’s so fun and so funny. She’s so kind and so generous. She takes care of everyone around her. She’s never not caregiving. I just loved her. I feel like me as a person in my life is better from having spent two months with her on this movie. And I’m a better artist because of it too.

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    What was the plot of ‘Dead of Winter’?

    A widowed fisherwoman (Emma Thompson), travelling alone through snowbound northern Minnesota, interrupts the kidnapping of a teenage girl. Hours from the nearest town and with no phone service, she realizes that she is the young girl’s only hope.

    Who is in the cast of ‘Dead of Winter’?

    • Emma Thompson as Barb
    • Judy Greer as Purple Lady
    • Marc Menchaca as Camo Jacket
    • Laurel Marsden as Leah
    'Dead of Winter' opens in theaters on September 26th. Photo: Vertical.
    ‘Dead of Winter’ opens in theaters on September 26th. Photo: Vertical.

    List of Emma Thompson Movies and TV Shows:

    Buy Tickets: ‘Dead of Winter’ Movie Showtimes

    Buy Emma Thompson Movies On Amazon

  • Movie Review: ‘The Long Walk’

    (L to R) Charlie Plummer as Barkovitch, Garrett Wareing as Stebbins, Cooper Hoffman as Garraty, David Jonsson as McVries, Ben Wang as Olson, Tut Nyuot as Baker, and Joshua Odjick as Parker in 'The Long Walk'. Photo: Murray Close/Lionsgate.
    (L to R) Charlie Plummer as Barkovitch, Garrett Wareing as Stebbins, Cooper Hoffman as Garraty, David Jonsson as McVries, Ben Wang as Olson, Tut Nyuot as Baker, and Joshua Odjick as Parker in ‘The Long Walk’. Photo: Murray Close/Lionsgate.

    Opening in theaters September 12 is ‘The Long Walk,’ directed by Francis Lawrence and starring Cooper Hoffman, David Jonsson, Garrett Wareing, Tut Nyuot, Charlie Plummer, Ben Wang, Joshua Odjick, Roman Griffin Davis, Josh Hamilton, Judy Greer, and Mark Hamill.

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    Related article: 19 Best Stephen King Movie Adaptations in Honor of ‘The Long Walk’

    Initial Thoughts

    (L to R) Joshua Odjick as Parker, Jordan Gonzalez as Harkness, David Jonsson as McVries, Cooper Hoffman as Garraty, and Charlie Plummer as Barkovitch in 'The Long Walk'. Photo Credit: Murray Close/Lionsgate.
    (L to R) Joshua Odjick as Parker, Jordan Gonzalez as Harkness, David Jonsson as McVries, Cooper Hoffman as Garraty, and Charlie Plummer as Barkovitch in ‘The Long Walk’. Photo Credit: Murray Close/Lionsgate.

    Stephen King began writing ‘The Long Walk’ in 1966, at the age of 19, while a student at the University of Maine, and eventually published it 13 years later under the pseudonym Richard Bachman. Rediscovered after his Bachman cover was blown in 1984, ‘The Long Walk’ has since been acclaimed as one of King’s finest early novels and a frightening depiction of a totalitarian future in which citizens are mere fodder for the regime (at the time King wrote it, it was an allegory for the Vietnam War).

    A film version has long been in development, but has now finally arrived from director Francis Lawrence, who has been traversing similar territory with his adaptations of the ‘Hunger Games’ books (which owe a clear debt to this and King’s other early dystopian work, ‘The Running Man’). We’re pleased to report that ‘The Long Walk’ is easily one of the finest King-based films ever, capturing the harrowing intensity of the narrative as well as the camaraderie that develops between its characters, especially the warm friendship between its two leads that gives the story a powerful emotional gut punch.

    Story and Direction

    (L to R) Mark Hamill as The Major and Director Francis Lawrence in 'The Long Walk'. Photo Credit: Murray Close.
    (L to R) Mark Hamill as The Major and Director Francis Lawrence in ‘The Long Walk’. Photo Credit: Murray Close.

    At some point in the indeterminate (but not too distant) future, the United States has been taken over by a totalitarian regime that annually stages a contest called the Long Walk, in which 50 young men must walk from Maine to Florida without stopping. If you stop for any reason or fall below the required pace of three miles per hour, you are given a warning. If you reach three warnings and do not resume walking at the correct speed, you are executed. The last walker alive wins, and is given a lifetime of freedom, riches, and opportunities.

    ‘The Long Walk’ focuses in particular on two of the boys thrust into this hellish marathon: Ray Garraty (Cooper Hoffman) and Peter McVries (David Jonsson), who quickly forge a friendship that McVries in particular extends to a number of the other contestants. Even as others on the Walk try to sabotage them, and despite the malevolent presence of the Major (Mark Hamill), the mysterious figurehead who presides over the Walk, a group of the boys manage to keep each other going – all while the Walk takes a horrific and increasingly fatal physical toll.

    In theory, ‘The Long Walk’ might not work onscreen, given the straightforward nature of the narrative and the ever-tightening if repetitive cycle of death as more and more contestants succumb to their doom. But Lawrence and screenwriter JT Mollner (‘Strange Darling’) keep the focus squarely on the characters, particularly Garraty and McVries, as we learn more about them and watch them turn from frightened, uncertain pawns into something resembling, of all things, a resistance.

    Roman Griffin Davis as Curly in 'The Long Walk'. Photo: Murray Close.
    Roman Griffin Davis as Curly in ‘The Long Walk’. Photo: Murray Close.

    It’s the human element that powers ‘The Long Walk,’ although the horror of the situation is never far away. And while we don’t gain very much knowledge about this version of the U.S., the bleak, decrepit, empty homes and storefronts we see along the way – along with the scattered, hollow-eyed observers on the side of the road – tell us all we need to know about a dying nation ruled by cruelty and distraction. Lawrence and Mollner make some cosmetic changes to the material – and alter the book’s ambiguous ending in a way that we’re not sure is totally successful – but capture the tone of King’s work perfectly.

    While some of Lawrence’s movies have left us cold in the past – particularly the later ‘Hunger Games’ entries – ‘The Long Walk’ is suffused with a sense of sadness and loss, coupled with the utter brutality of the regime and the way it mercilessly dispatches the walkers who can’t go the distance. But there’s also the warmth of friends and the bond of a shared experience, brought achingly to life by the cast.

    Cast and Performances

    (L to R) Cooper Hoffman as Garraty and David Jonsson as McVries in 'The Long Walk'. Photo Credit: Murray Close.
    (L to R) Cooper Hoffman as Garraty and David Jonsson as McVries in ‘The Long Walk’. Photo Credit: Murray Close.

    David Jonsson has been on viewers’ radars thanks primarily to his main role on ‘Industry’ and his standout work as the android Andy in last year’s ‘Alien: Romulus,’ but he comes fully into his own here as McVries. His mix of optimism, cynicism, courage, and bravado makes the character incredibly appealing and watchable, and his performance is moving enough to be awards-worthy down the line.

    Cooper Hoffman has only a handful of credits since making his debut in 2021’s ‘Licorice Pizza,’ but ‘The Long Walk’ may also represent his finest work so far. Garraty is the critical character in the sense that he’s the protagonist who changes the most over the course of the Walk – prodded along by McVries. But his naturalism as Garraty and the chemistry that he and Jonsson share is the engine of the story.

    The rest of the cast, almost to a man, step up even when they have little more than an agonizing death scene. But standouts include Garrett Wareing as the villainous Stebbins, Charlie Plummer as the dissolute Barkovich, Ben Wang as the irritating (but heartbreaking) Hank Olson, and Joshua Odjick as the noble Collie Parker. Judy Greer is excellent in her relatively small screen time as Garraty’s mom, and while we appreciate Mark Hamill showing up in his second King movie of the year (after ‘The Life of Chuck’), we wish his work as the Major was a bit more subdued in its menace than over-the-top.

    Final Thoughts

    Mark Hamill at The Major in 'The Long Walk'.
    Mark Hamill at The Major in ‘The Long Walk’. Photo: Lionsgate.

    Stephen King is having a banner year on screen: with the acidic ‘The Monkey’ and the excellent ‘The Life of Chuck’ already released and Edgar Wright’s version of ‘The Running Man’ due out in November, ‘The Long Walk’ will nevertheless be difficult to beat. It may well be one of the best movies of 2025, in addition to being possibly the best King adaptation of the year.

    Francis Lawrence and JT Mollner have not forgotten that King’s work is not just about the scares or the premise, but the people. ‘The Long Walk’ poignantly chronicles how human beings can find hope and comfort in each other in the darkest of circumstances, a theme that’s even more bracing and timely now as the United States slips terrifyingly toward the kind of scenario postulated in the film. Even as it doesn’t provide answers, it does offer a glimpse of a light in the darkness – and what people will endure to keep walking toward that light.

    ‘The Long Walk’ receives a score of 90 out of 100.

    Judy Greer as Ginny Garraty in 'The Long Walk'. Photo Credit: Murray Close/Lionsgate.
    Judy Greer as Ginny Garraty in ‘The Long Walk’. Photo Credit: Murray Close/Lionsgate.

    What is the plot of ‘The Long Walk’?

    In a dystopian United States ruled by a totalitarian regime, a group of young men enter an annual walking contest in which they must maintain a speed of at least three miles per hour or risk execution. The contest ends when only one walker remains alive.

    Who is in the cast of ‘The Long Walk’?

    • Cooper Hoffman as Raymond Garraty
    • David Jonsson as Peter McVries
    • Garrett Wareing as Stebbins
    • Joshua Odjick as Collie Parker
    • Tut Nyuot as Arthur Baker
    • Charlie Plummer as Gary Barkovitch
    • Ben Wang as Hank Olson
    • Roman Griffin Davis as Thomas Curley
    • Judy Greer as Mrs. Garraty
    • Josh Hamilton as Mr. Garraty
    • Mark Hamill as The Major
    'The Long Walk' opens in theaters on September 12th.
    ‘The Long Walk’ opens in theaters on September 12th.

    List of Stephen King Movies:

    Buy Tickets: ‘The Long Walk’ Movie Showtimes

    Buy Stephen King Movies On Amazon

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  • San Diego Comic-Con 2025: ‘The Long Walk’

    .(L to R) T. Mollner, Tut Nyuot, Roy Lee, David Jonsson, Mark Hamill and Garrett Wareing attend “The Long Walk” panel at San Diego Comic-Con International 2025 at the San Diego Convention Center on July 25, 2025 in San Diego, California. Photo by Vivien Killilea/Getty Images for Lionsgate.
    .(L to R) T. Mollner, Tut Nyuot, Roy Lee, David Jonsson, Mark Hamill and Garrett Wareing attend “The Long Walk” panel at San Diego Comic-Con International 2025 at the San Diego Convention Center on July 25, 2025 in San Diego, California. Photo by Vivien Killilea/Getty Images for Lionsgate.

    Preview:

    • Stephen King adaptation The Long Walk arrived at Comic-Con.
    • Mark Hamill and Garrett Wareing were among those on the panel.
    • The movie will be released in September.

    ‘The Long Walk’, just the latest adaptation of prolific author Stephen King’s work –– in this case, a dystopian tale of an annual event that ends with the death of everyone competing save the winner.

    With ‘Hunger Games’ director Francis Lawrence overseeing the new movie, it has a dark premise but an impressive cast that includes Cooper Hoffman, Mark Hamill, Garrett Wareing and Ben Wang.

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    Lionsgate is betting on this one being a success, and brought filmmakers and actors to Comic-Con to raise awareness.

    Related Article: San Diego Comic-Con 2025 Preview: Film & TV Panels You Cannot Miss

    What’s the story of ‘The Long Walk’?

    (L to R) Cooper Hoffman as Garraty and David Jonsson as McVries in 'The Long Walk'. Photo Credit: Murray Close.
    (L to R) Cooper Hoffman as Garraty and David Jonsson as McVries in ‘The Long Walk’. Photo Credit: Murray Close.

    Every year, fifty teenage boys meet for an event known throughout the country as “The Long Walk.”

    Among this year’s chosen crop is sixteen-year-old Ray Garraty (Hoffman). He knows the rules: that warnings are issued if you fall under speed, stumble, sit down. That after three warnings… you get your ticket.

    And what happens then serves as a chilling reminder that there can be only one winner in the Walk. The one that survives.

    What happened at ‘The Long Walk’s panel?

    Mark Hamill speaks during 'The Long Walk' panel at San Diego Comic-Con International 2025 at San Diego Convention Center on July 25, 2025 in San Diego, California. Photo by Vivien Killilea/Getty Images for Lionsgate.
    Mark Hamill speaks during ‘The Long Walk’ panel at San Diego Comic-Con International 2025 at San Diego Convention Center on July 25, 2025 in San Diego, California. Photo by Vivien Killilea/Getty Images for Lionsgate.

    The movie’s panel opened with the latest trailer and then a soldier taking the stage with a loud hailer to explain the premise of the walk to the audience.

    Producer Roy Lee and writer JT Mollner were first up on the panel, with Lee praising Mollner’s script for getting the movie made after years in development.

    For his part, Mollner recounted underlining dialogue from the book he wanted to use –– suffice to say, he underlined a lot!

    Joining them on stage were the likes of Hamill, Wareing, David Jonsson, Tut Nyuot and other cast. The early banter between the young actors in particular was mostly enthusiastic descriptions of their characters’ arcs and praise for their co-stars’ skills.

    (L to R) Anthony Breznican, Eric Vespe, Mark Hamill, David Jonsson, Tut Nyuot, Garrett Wareing, Roy Lee and J.T. Mollner speak during 'The Long Walk' panel at San Diego Comic-Con International 2025 at San Diego Convention Center on July 25, 2025 in San Diego, California. Photo by Vivien Killilea/Getty Images for Lionsgate.
    (L to R) Anthony Breznican, Eric Vespe, Mark Hamill, David Jonsson, Tut Nyuot, Garrett Wareing, Roy Lee and J.T. Mollner speak during ‘The Long Walk’ panel at San Diego Comic-Con International 2025 at San Diego Convention Center on July 25, 2025 in San Diego, California. Photo by Vivien Killilea/Getty Images for Lionsgate.

    Hamill revealed that Stephen King had casting approval –– and specifically wanted him to play the character of the Mayor, who oversees the Walk. For his part, Hamill wanted to dehumanize the character as much as possible.

    Lawrence and Ben Wang weren’t present at the panel –– they’re both at work on ‘The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping’ –– but they sent a video praising their colleagues and hyping ‘The Long Walk’.

    The panel wrapped up with a screening of the first 22 minutes of the movie. Tense stuff!

    When will ‘The Long Walk’ be in theaters?

    The new Stephen King adaptation marches into theaters on September 12th.

    'The Long Walk' opens in theaters on September 12th.
    ‘The Long Walk’ opens in theaters on September 12th.

    Other Stephen King Movies:

    Buy Stephen King Movies On Amazon

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  • TV Review: ‘Stick’

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

    ‘Stick’ receives 7.5 out of 10 stars.

    Released on Apple TV+ on June 4th with three episodes (followed by one every Wednesday through July 23rd), ‘Stick’ looks to play a similar game to Apple smash hit ‘Ted Lasso.’

    Starring Owen Wilson, the cast also includes Peter Dager, Marc Maron, Mariana Treviño, Lilli Kay, Judy Greer and Timothy Olyphant.

    Related Article: Producer and Marvel Creative Executive Kevin Wright Talks ‘Loki’ Season 2

    Initial Thoughts

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

    Despite its rampant popularity in the professional sporting world, and a legion of amateur club-swingers who head to courses across the world in their free time, golf is a pastime that hasn’t gotten the toe hold in popular culture to the same level as say football or even soccer.

    True, there have been a wealth of movies, including the likes of ‘Tin Cup’ and ‘Happy Gilmore,’ but now ‘Stick’ is looking to level the playing field on the small screen. Or should that be course?

    Mostly, though, the sport is more a backdrop for the character work, and especially the arc of Wilson’s Pryce, who seeks redemption on the green and off of it. And, much as with ‘Ted Lasso,’ the series around him aims to be a blend of sports story, hangout comedy and some deeper emotions, not all of them as sunny as the lead’s normal disposition.

    Script and Direction

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

    ‘Stick’ hails from creator Jason Keller, whose output has largely been confined to the big screen, including scripting the likes of ‘Ford V Ferrari,’ ‘Mirror Mirror’ and ‘Machine Gun Preacher.’

    Here, teamed with showrunner Christopher Moynihan (‘Marlon,’ ‘100 Questions’), he looks to open up the world of golf in a way not really explored since Adam Sandler’s heavy hitter –– indeed, the character of teen prodigy Santi, played by Peter Dager, has some resonance with Happy Gilmore, since he’s similarly able to thwack a ball great distances (though he’s less burning with anger, more simmering with resentful tension).

    The focus, though, is on Pryce, a man who once flirted with true golfing glory, only to let his own anger issues get in the way –– issues that were inflamed by a past tragedy in his life.

    Keller and the writers find a way to play to Wilson’s mostly laidback strengths, but still give him opportunities to go in another, fiercer direction when needed.

    (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+.

    Around him, they’ve built an effective set of characters with interesting stories of their own (even Marc Maron’s Mitts, who is mostly the grumpy former caddy-turned-wise old owl has a chance to shine), and if some of the narrative hits a ball into sand trap, the writing retrieves it well enough.

    The directors, which include ‘Little Miss Sunshine’ duo Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris alongside David Dobkin (‘Wedding Crashers’, which of course was a big hit for Wilson) and Jaffar Mahmood (‘The Residence’) keep the focus on the people, but also find a way to open up the golf games so as to make them understandable to those who don’t watch it regularly.

    Cast and Performances

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

    Owen Wilson has found a good groove on the small screen of late –– he was a highlight of both seasons of ‘Loki’ and here is playing a character he can certainly make work. As Pryce “Stick” Cahill, his good-natured charisma shines through, but he’s also willing to go to darker places when necessary. And he plays well off of everyone else, not least Judy Greer (as Pryce’s ex-wife Amber-Lynn) and Peter Dager’s Santi.

    Talking of the young golf whizz, Dager is handed and ably brings to life a more complicated role than just a moody teenager with one standout ability. He’s funny and charming at times, and also able to embody Santi’s frustration when life gets in his way.

    As mentioned, Judy Greer has a supporting role, but is typically excellent, balancing exasperation with enthusiasm and real heart.

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

    Santi’s mother Elena is brought to screens by ‘A Man Called Otto’s Mariana Treviño, and she’s also effective, treading a careful path between a mother worried about her son and looking to secure her own future. Her chemistry with Maron’s Mitts is particularly rewarding.

    Maron always gives good gruff, and the role of Mitts fits him well. He’s got his own reasons for behaving the way he does, and his history with Pryce works.

    Lilli Kay adds some romantic interest to Santi’s life, but is more than simply a reason for him to want to impress people. The role becomes more crucial as the story moves along, that Kay is more than up to the task.

    Final Thoughts

    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+.

    It might not exactly have quite the same layers as ‘Ted Lasso,’ but if ‘Stick’ doesn’t exactly score a hole in one, it’s able to stay under par and prove to be an effective delivery system for both charming comedy and decent drama.

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    What’s the plot of ‘Stick’?

    Owen Wilson stars as Pryce Cahill, an over-the-hill, ex-pro golfer whose career was derailed prematurely 20 years ago.

    After the collapse of his marriage and getting fired from his job at an Indiana sporting goods store, Pryce hedges his bets, and future, entirely on a troubled 17-year-old golf phenom named Santi (Peter Dager).

    The new sports comedy is about a found family and their relationships set within the world of golf as it has never been shown before.

    Who is in the cast of ‘Stick’?

    • Owen Wilson as Pryce Cahill
    • Peter Dager as Santi Wheeler
    • Lilly Kay as Zero
    • Mariana Treviño as Elena
    • Marc Maron as Mitts
    • Judy Greer as Amber-Linn
    • Timothy Olyphant as Clark Ross
    • Rob Benedict as Chuck Gray
    Timothy Olyphant in 'Stick,' premiering June 4, 2025 on Apple TV+. Photo: Apple TV+.
    Timothy Olyphant in ‘Stick,’ premiering June 4, 2025 on Apple TV+. Photo: Apple TV+.

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  • ‘Aporia’ Interview: Director Jared Moshé

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    Opening in theaters on August 11th is the new time traveling drama ‘Aporia,’ which was directed by Jared Moshé (‘The Ballad of Lefty’).

    What is the plot of ‘Aporia’?

    Since losing her husband Mal (Edi Gathegi) in a drunk-driving incident, Sophie (Judy Greer) has struggled to manage crippling grief, a full-time job, and the demands of parenting her devastated teenage daughter (Faithe Herman). When her husband’s best friend Jabir (Payman Maadi), a former physicist, reveals that he has been building a time-bending machine that could restore her former life, Sophie will be faced with an impossible choice—and unforeseeable consequences.

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    Who is in the cast of ‘Aporia’?

    Judy Greer (‘Ant-Man‘) as Sophie, Edi Gathegi (‘X-Men: First Class‘) as Mal, Payman Maadi (‘13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi‘) as Jabir, Faithe Herman (‘Shazam! Fury of the Gods‘) as Riley Rice, Whitney Morgan Cox (‘Animal Kingdom’) as Kara Brinkley, and Veda Cienfuegos (‘Circuit Breakers’) as Aggie.

    Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with filmmaker Jared Moshé about his work on ‘Aporia,’ developing the screenplay, the themes he wanted to explore, the rules of time travel, creating the look of the time machine, Sophie and Mal’s relationship, how things change when he returns, their obsession with “fixing time,” and assembling his excellent cast.

    Judy Greer and Edi Gathegi in Well Go USA Entertainment’s 'Aporia.'
    (L to R) Judy Greer and Edi Gathegi in Well Go USA Entertainment’s ‘Aporia.’

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

    Moviefone: To begin with, can you talk about developing the screenplay and the themes that you wanted to explore with this movie?

    Jared Moshé: So the idea for the screenplay came about when I was becoming a dad for the first time. Suddenly, the world became a lot scarier, everything felt a lot more uncertain. It just became scarier. I was trying to figure out how to wrestle with that. I found that as an artist, the best way to do that is sometimes through my art. So I wanted to do a movie that explored someone grappling with uncertainty, and trying to find a way to control the world, to a way that they understand it and bring it back to that place. While I was trying to figure out how to do that story, I remember this weird, crazy idea I’d had for a gun that could murder people in the past. I had this idea and I was like, “I don’t know what I’m going to do with that.” And then I was like, “Oh, what if a character has to use that to try to regain control of her life?”

    Judy Greer in Well Go USA Entertainment’s 'Aporia.'
    Judy Greer in Well Go USA Entertainment’s ‘Aporia.’

    MF: So, it’s sort of playing off of the “going back in time to kill Hitler” idea, is that right?

    JM: Right. It’s totally like that. But on a much more personal level. One of the things I think, is we like to talk about the world and this big space, but our worlds are really small, and our worlds are the lives we build for ourselves. So it’s a lot easier for someone to justify using it for their world, than it is for like, “Oh, well, I’m going to kill baby Hitler,” because who knows what that would do?

    Payman Maadi and Judy Greer in Well Go USA Entertainment’s 'Aporia.'
    (L to R) Payman Maadi and Judy Greer in Well Go USA Entertainment’s ‘Aporia.’

    MF: Every movie or TV show has their own specific rules about time travel. What were the rules of time travel that you wanted to establish for this story?

    JM: I wanted to try to keep it as simple as possible, when I was putting up this world. For this story, I thought about how to do it in a way that felt somewhat scientifically plausible and didn’t give any easy answers. So the rules I set forth with the machine, I thought it was a particle accelerator, and it could create a particle and it could send it back in time. If somehow you get it in someone’s head, it can cause basically, an aneurysm or a stroke. I was like, “All right, well if you’re doing that, the machine can only do really one thing. Kill someone.” Because if you shot a particle back in time to a wall, what’s going to happen? So the machine can only kill. Then two, you can’t un-kill. It’s like you fired the bullet, it’s out of there. So there’s no take backs. Then three, being sort of inspired by the way quantum physics works and relativity, I figured if you use the machine, you observed a change in the timeline. So you remember the original timeline, not the new one you’ve created.

    Related Article: ‘Aporia’ Exclusive Clip

    Payman Maadi in Well Go USA Entertainment’s 'Aporia.'
    Payman Maadi in Well Go USA Entertainment’s ‘Aporia.’

    MF: Can you talk about designing the look of the time machine? What did you want that to look like on screen?

    JM: I wanted it to look like a piece of crap. I wanted the most powerful machine in the world to look like a piece of junk. I gave my production designers two instructions. So I had two production designers on this movie. Kati Simon, who handled the world and everything else, and Ariel Vida who handled the machine. I gave her two pieces of instruction, direction. First was that it’s a particle accelerator. The second one was, make it look like a fire hazard. I want this thing to feel like it’s going to burn down. It’s more likely to burn down the building than it is to actually do what he says it does. She went in there and she learned how to weld. She grabbed things from junk shops. She would take stuff she found on the side of the street, like old jukebox parts. She rented the main part of it and then just went crazy. Our philosophy was, we don’t know what actually works and what doesn’t work, because our characters don’t know what actually works and what doesn’t work. They’ve tried to build this thing so many different times, and so many different times it’s caught on fire, blowing all the fuses. The fact that it does the work is just almost a miracle.

    Faithe Herman and Edi Gathegi in Well Go USA Entertainment’s 'Aporia.'
    (L to R) Faithe Herman and Edi Gathegi in Well Go USA Entertainment’s ‘Aporia.’

    MF: Can you talk about how Sophie and Riley are dealing with Mal’s death in the original timeline, and how their lives change after Jabir offers Sophie this rare opportunity to bring Mal back?

    JM: So I think Sophie, played by Judy Greer, my idea for this character is she’s created her life to be this very controlled thing. She went to nursing school, she became a nurse because she understood there’s always going to be need for nurses. We’re always going to have our life in front of us. She built this little life. They’re not rich, they live month to month. They rent, they’re not particularly well off, but they built out a little life that they’re really proud of and live in. And it’s been taken, when the movie starts, that’s been ripped away from her. Suddenly this one thing that she’s sort of built her whole life towards is gone and that grief is overwhelming. It’s like, the expectations of what you’re setting out to be just change completely. Adding to that grief is the fact that she has always been the provider for her family. Her husband Mal, played by Edi Gathegi, was kind the stay-at-home dad. He got his disability checks and he stayed at home. He raised their daughter Riley, played by Faithe Herman. So not only was she struggling with her life being blown up in a way she doesn’t understand, but also, she suddenly has to take on this whole other role. She’s not just the provider anymore. She’s the provider and the mother, and she has no clue how to do that, and no trust in her abilities to do that. Meanwhile, Riley, played by Faithe Herman is struggling so hard to connect to her mom. To try to find a place in this world when the one figure who was always there for her, her dad, was gone. It’s just suddenly made the world a lot darker and a lot scarier. So when Mal returns, things are still more complicated than Sophie thought, because as much as she thought she wanted this life back together, they spent the last year essentially apart because he was killed eight months ago. She remembers the eight months where he’s dead. He’s living in the eight months where he’s alive. Riley’s living in the eight months where he’s been alive. So suddenly, Sophie finds herself like this outsider in her own family, and she’s struggling to understand why, and what’s going on? What is all she missed? What does that mean about her connection with Mal? Meanwhile, Mal notices how strange Sophie is acting, because Sophie’s almost gushingly excited. “I have you back. You’ve been dead. This is amazing.” He has no clue. It’s like, “Why are you hugging me so much? This is weird. Why aren’t you being your normal self?” So it creates this disconnect that she wasn’t expecting, and they both have to grapple and figure out how to make it work.

    Edi Gathegi and Judy Greer in Well Go USA Entertainment’s 'Aporia.'
    (L to R) Edi Gathegi and Judy Greer in Well Go USA Entertainment’s ‘Aporia.’

    MF: Can you talk about the bond that Sophie, Mal and Jabir form together and their obsession with “fixing time”?

    JM: Well, I think it was really important to me when I was coming up with this story, that there was no real bad guys. I mean, I guess other than maybe Darby (Adam O’Byrne) at the beginning, but even he’s not a real bad guy in that way. But there’s no bad guys. There’s not one of them that is evil or has evil motivations. Not one of them is going to get corrupted by this power. It’s much more about, they each sort of realize they have this incredible thing in front of them. They want to use it to fix things in different ways. For Payman Maadi, who plays Jabir, he’s sort of already figured out all the moral conflicts of this. He feels like, all right, he’s done the trolley problem in his head a hundred times, and he knows what decisions he’ll agree with. So he sees this as a great opportunity to make the world a better place. Whereas, Sophie is much more concerned about what’s going on in the repercussions of the choices she’s already made, and the dangers of using this machine. She kind of wants to find a way to fix things, fix her mistakes, and she doesn’t know if the machine is the best way to do that or not. Meanwhile, Mal’s like, “Oh my gosh, this is an incredible thing.” He’s kind of like the guy who’s left out of it. They all got to use it but he didn’t. There’s a part of him that’s like, “There’s this incredible thing I’m part of. I want to be able to do something with it, but I don’t know what to do. I feel like I’m a little late to the party.” As much as they all care about it and connect, and have this obsession with this thing, the most powerful machine in the world that’s sitting in Jabir’s bedroom, they don’t know what is the best way forward.

    Edi Gathegi and Payman Maadi in Well Go USA Entertainment’s 'Aporia.'
    (L to R) Edi Gathegi and Payman Maadi in Well Go USA Entertainment’s ‘Aporia.’

    MF: Finally, can you talk about assembling your excellent cast?

    JM: I love my cast so much. I don’t know how I got so lucky, honestly, to get them. So, Judy Greer is just an incredible talent of an actor who’s been around for so long, and for so long she’s had to do supporting role parts, the best friend or the sidekick. But that sort of belies the talent that she really has as an actor. You see it comes through. It comes through in ‘The Descendants,’ it comes through in ‘Halloween,’ it even comes through in ‘13 Going On 30.’ You can see it in these little moments. So, I felt like she is one of the most expressive faces out there. I really wanted someone who can convey the maelstrom of emotions that Sophie is feeling, and that’s why I thought Judy would be the perfect actor for this. Then also, I kind of like the idea of this story being focused on the people you don’t expect to be the center of movie, and Judy was perfect for that just on a sort of metal level. We got her the script. Luckily for us, she responded to it and she and I had a great conversation, and we were able to attach her. Then once we had Judy and we needed to figure out who our Mal was going to be. One of the things I love about Edi Gathegi as an actor is the way he can use stillness. Judy is all energy and emotion, and she can really show everything. Eddie is very still and emotes so powerfully with the slightest gesture or just his eyes. It’s like his body will be still, and there’ll be a world of emotion and meaning in a look. I felt like he was the perfect foil to put with Judy, because he’s the stillness and feels more like the rock in the relationship, which is what Sophie feels he is, and that they would play really well together. Thankfully they did. Then the last one was Payman Maadi, who he’s a huge Persian actor. I mean, when I saw ‘A Separation,’ I was just like, “Who is this guy?” He should be a huge movie star in America, and hopefully he will. When I was trying to find the right actor for Jabir, who is a character who understands who he is and is very self-aware, but has made some choices that someone might say are morally ambiguous. I think it’s really important to have someone who embraces empathy, because he’s a very empathetic character. So much of the movie is his story as much as it’s theirs, and the choice, especially given where the film goes. I wanted an actor who could portray that empathy. Luckily, Payman was available and was able to do it, and it was just incredible having all three of them together.

    Judy Greer in Well Go USA Entertainment’s 'Aporia.'
    Judy Greer in Well Go USA Entertainment’s ‘Aporia.’

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  • Melanie Lynskey, Justin Long talk ‘Lady of the Manor’

    Melanie Lynskey, Justin Long talk ‘Lady of the Manor’

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    In ‘Lady of the Manor,’ Melanie Lynskey plays Hannah, who takes on a job as a tour guide at an Antebellum estate, only to be personally haunted by one of the estate’s previous owners (played by Judy Greer). Lynskey joined writers/directors Justin and Christian Long to talk about their new movie.

    First up, Lynskey talks about her character and what it takes for her to do an American accent.

    Moviefone: Could you describe Hannah a little bit?

    Melanie Lynskey: Hannah is somebody who is quite a lazy person I would say. She likes to be comfortable, she likes her life to be easy. She works selling weed, she spends a lot of time smoking it, and she is at a point in her life where she needs a new job and she needs a place to live, and both of those things come through. She gets a job being a tour guide at a place called Wadsworth Manor.

    MF: So, how did you get involved in this one? I got to talk to Christian and Justin, but how did you get involved in this?

    Lynskey: I had worked with Justin before on a little independent movie called And Then I Go, and it was quite a dark intense movie, but we had a lot of fun. We played a married couple, we had dinner together every night. It was a really fun experience and we’d stayed in touch. So he wrote the script, he and Christian wrote the script and he just reached out to me and said, “Would you read it? I think it might be fun for you to do.” It really made me laugh. It made me laugh over and over again, and I was like, “Yep, I think I want to do it.”

    MF: There’s so many jokes that you guys do, and there’s some outtakes that we get to see over the credits. How much are you getting to improv versus sticking on the page? What does that like for you personally? Do you enjoy getting to improv say?

    Lynskey: I love getting to improv. Probably my favorite job that I’ve had was the show Togetherness. It’s an HBO show that the Duplass Brothers made, because they would come with a script, a perfect script, and you could just do the scene from the script, but we also got to improvise a lot, and so there was a lot of freedom. That’s my favorite way to work.

    It was a similar thing with Justin and Christian. They’d written a script, there were jokes, so many jokes in the script, it was great and then we get to add stuff. My rule is you don’t add anything if it doesn’t need it, so if something comes to you and it feels like it’s going to enhance the scene, then I’ll do it.

    MF: I found myself wondering while I was watching this, you get to work so many funny co-stars, and you’re no stranger to comedy in general. How tough is it? What does it take to not break in those scenes? At some point do you just get fed up? What’s it take to kind of stay true to the scene or do you ever lose it?

    Lynskey: It can be very, very difficult to not break. I’m not great, a lot of the time I’ll just laugh. It’s just easier to get it out and try again, it’s really hard to hold it in. Justin is very good at not breaking. He’s really, really good at it, but I am not.

    MF: I would get the feeling that Luis Guzmán is also good at that. How was it working with him at the bar?

    Lynskey: Oh, it was really fun. He’s such a sweet guy, and it was obviously so kind of him to come and do that part. We just had a day of filming and it was really great, and Justin was just thanking him all day long for being there. It was incredible that he did that. But yeah, he’s very good at not breaking also. There were a couple of times where he did, and it felt like a personal victory.

    MF: You have so many great scenes with Judy Greer in this, and you both can do drama and comedy. What was it like working with her? I mean, you guys have a great chemistry. Was it as fun as it looked to those of us watching?

    Lynskey: Yeah, it was super fun. I was saying earlier that I’ve never worked with her before, because usually either she’s doing the part or I’m doing the part in the movie, or Kathryn Hahn. So, there’s just not really been an opportunity for us to do stuff together, so it was a real gift to get to have this much time with her on screen and off.

    I mean, I don’t think we stopped talking, there wasn’t a quiet moment. We were in the green room talking, we were walking to sit talking, we’d do the scene, we’d keep talking. I really adore her, she’s great.

    MF: I’m sure you get this question all the time, but I’m curious, what’s it take for a Kiwi girl to do such an excellent US accent? Is there a trick to doing an American accent?

    Lynskey: Oh, that’s very kind. Also, I appreciate you saying doing an American accent, because people say, “Oh, how do you lose your accent all the time?” It drives me crazy, because Americans also have an accent, so thank you for putting it that way. I just worked on it. When I first got here, I just watched a lot of movies and I tried to learn a lot of different kinds of accents. There’s a website that I look at that has specific regional accents, the International Dialects of English Archives. It’s very helpful for any young actors who might need to do an accent. It’s really specific and good.

    MF: You’re in almost every scene of this movie, just about. Are those long days for you?

    Lynskey: Yeah, they couldn’t go over 12 hours, because nobody could afford to pay for overtime, and so that was one blessing. At the end of 12 hours, you would know the day was done. But yeah, it was a lot. I had a one-year-old child at the time, she’s two and a half now. So, she’s not a great sleeper still. She was an even worse sleeper then, so it was a lot of up all night, working all day. Yeah, it was a lot.

    MF: Two and a half, that’s where the fun begins, right? That’s where they start walking around, right?

    Lynskey: Yeah. Yeah, I mean, she’s been fun, but now she’s full sentences and a lot of funny observations and it’s pretty cute.

    MF: Did she come to the set with you and see you acting or is she not there yet? She’s still staying home with a caretaker or your partner, or whoever?

    Lynskey: Yeah, my husband, and we have this amazing nanny who we love so much, and they’re both helping at all times, but she does come to set. It’s harder now with COVID, but she has come sometimes and she loves the makeup trailer and she likes to play with the sponges. But one day she pretended to be me going to work, and she said, “I’m mama going to work,” and then she said, “I’m home from work now.” I said, “What did you do at work?” She said, “Just sitting around.” I was like, “Hmm. Okay.” So, she doesn’t really understand.

    MF: So when you’re doing a role like this, what’s the preparation for this like to kind of get into Hannah’s head? Are you working either with wardrobe together, or are you kind of like, “Oh, what’s it like to be a stoner that sells weed.”

    Lynskey: Well, I had to get some advice from people who do smoke weed, because I’m not one of them, about how to do it. I had to practice a little bit so it didn’t look like it was the first time I was doing it. Yeah, working with costumes to find the most comfortable and silliest options available.

    MF: I mean, Hannah looks like she’s wearing … most of the outfits are pretty comfortable. Is that a rare treat as an actor to be able to like, “Oh yeah, I’m basically in pajamas.”

    Lynskey: Yes. The job before, I was literally in pajamas for much of it, which was great. The job before that I did was Mrs. America, which was this limited series, and I was playing a very uptight conservative woman and I was not comfortable, so it was a very nice thing to go to this job after that.

    MF: My last question. So we’ve seen Justin now directing, anytime we might see Melanie Lynskey behind the camera and directing a film?

    Lynskey: Never, ever. I could not stand the responsibility. I need to be able to pay a lot of attention to people in conversation. I’m not good with groups of people and have a lot of social anxiety, so having to answer a lot of people’s questions all at once, it would petrify me. So, no, never.


    Writers/directors Christian and Justin Long talk about what inspired the movie and working with a talented cast.

    Moviefone: What inspired this particular story idea to do this kind of funny comedy with a ghost?

    Christian Long: Well, two things I would say. One, we love buddy comedies. So we grew up watching a lot of them. What About Bob? Is one of our favorites, Planes, Trains and Automobiles is a favorite. So we love the genre. And then we had an idea for, kind of a low budget potential buddy comedy. That was like a comedic version of Psycho where Norman Bates’s mother, instead of inspiring murder in him, was just like annoying and nagging, like in an noxious overbearing ghost mother. So that kind of started our train of thought with what we came up with. But we wanted to [inaudible] it small and contained while also feeling like more commercial bigger movie.

    Justin Long: And the crew we had really went along. We wouldn’t have looked that way had it not been for… we got very lucky with the crew. Especially with the art department who made it seem like it was a bigger budget. And having great actors too, that makes a difference.

    MF: You do have a terrific, terrific cast here. First of all, how do you cast Julie Greer, Judy Greer, sorry, but then do you have to pitch her and say like look, we want you to play it down a little bit. Not go over the top like we’ve seen you do.

    Christian Long: No, actually the opposite. We were concerned that on the page, that role was a bit more, it was very much the straight person role. Too one-note, too reactive and not… But Judy, because she’s Judy Greer and she can’t not be interesting to watch. She brought so much more to the role than I even knew was there. Just like so lucky that we had her.

    Justin Long: I remember thinking like, oh, whoever I think that Hannah role was really fun. I thought actresses might want to do that. But I remember thinking like the ghost might be tricky to cast somebody who’s recognizable, of note, because it really wasn’t all that there it was… She was, like you said, she was like Margaret Dumont in the Marx Brothers.

    And Judy, she’s brought out so much. A lot of that was improv, but a lot of it too was just like her… She has an innate comedic charm that can’t help but come through. It’s almost stuff that you… I guess you could write it, but we didn’t and it’s hard to even define what it is-

    Christian Long: That’s her face, like what do you do with her face. The looks and the… how much she liked Hannah and wanted to be her friend. And I just never saw that one-note character.

    Justin Long: A perfect example is like, there was just a moment. It was a throwaway moment where Melanie says like, geez, you’re so anal. She calls her anal retentive. And Judy just gives this look. And we didn’t even direct her to do that. She was like, oh, like I had a moment where she processes anal. It’s so quick. It’s such a throwaway, but it was beautiful.

    MF: It works right because she’s got Hannah or she’s her character, Lady Wadsworth, is listening to everything and isn’t letting anything go.

    Justin Long: Totally. Right. And taking in the world, we wanted a little bit of that. It was tricky because we… Like Christian said, first and foremost, we wanted to make a buddy comedy. We want people to see this as like an odd couple comedy before a supernatural or ghost comedy or whatever. So we tried to… that’s what we were hoping for. But still there were those moments where we wanted those reminders that, yes, this is a new world to Judy and the internet. And like, she’s taking it in. And so we thought there was some comedic value there.

    MF: I’m going to talk to you about Melanie in a minute, but I first, want to thank you for casting Ryan Phillippe to do comedy, because I feel like that is something that not enough people rely on him for.

    Justin Long: I agree. I know we… MacGruber is one of our favorite movies. He’s just so… It’s such an underrated performance of his because he allows Will Forte and [inaudible]. He allows all that mania to happen in those big set pieces. He keeps it so grounded. It’s a reactive character, but he’s kind of the mouthpiece for the audience and-

    Christian Long: He’s so funny without ever playing the comedy. And I can say the same thing about all of the actors. And that’s important to us because often I see comedies where the actors are really like playing into the [inaudible] it real. And I just happen not to find that brand of comedy as funny. So it was really important that someone like Ryan play that part. It’s such a ridiculous, like he’s such a despicable character and it’s such an awful, like over the top potential character that… But he had such realism and truth to it that it made it funnier.

    Justin Long: Right. And he really knew that line to walk. He knew it was a delicate balance of like do shitty without being over the… big, without being over the top. It’s weird. And I’ve always had a little bit of a prejudice, I think about really handsome guys that I just sort of assume they don’t a have good sense of humor. And because they haven’t… There’s not as much of a need to cultivate a sense of humor for a handsome guy like that. But Ryan does, he’s like a rare combination of looks, like somebody who has those great looks, but also is truly good sense of humor. Really funny.

    MF: Yeah. It feels a little bit like it’s a discovery of when the Zucker brothers cast Peter Graves and Lloyd Bridges in Airplane. These guys that you’re so used to seeing so serious.

    Justin Long: Yeah. And, and Val Kilmer and Top Secret!.

    Christian Long: It might take an audience like a minute to get over how they usually see this person. But I think if they could hang in there in this movie they’ll be really surprised by… I mean, Melanie Lynskey, someone who’s such a brilliant actress is mostly known for, I would say more dramatic things. But she, in my opinion, there’s was no one funnier than her. But I just [crosstalk] people will see that in this movie.

    MF: I almost want to say she’s like a stoned Lucille Ball in this.

    Justin Long: Oh my God. I’m going to write this down. I’m going to tell her. Love that. That’s an amazing compliment. Yeah. It’s funny, we got an email from her a couple of … From her agent about a month before we started shooting and we thought, oh God, that this is it. She’s dropping out, Martin Scorsese called and we’re out of luck.

    And so, because it said, Melanie’s got a concern and we’re nervous of what could it be. It’s about the pot smoking. And, and we thought, oh, is there a way that we can do it without the pot smoking? And we thought it was because she just would morally objected to… She didn’t want to play a character who did that on screen for whatever reason. And it turns out… this is how dedicated she is as an actress and how much she was thinking about this part. It turns out she was nervous that technically she wouldn’t be able to look… She didn’t have enough experience inhaling, that it was just a mechanical thing. And so we kind of talked her through it and Jason Ritter her-

    Christian Long: He gave her some lessons.

    Justin Long: He gave her lessons. He has more experience smoking weed. So, the fact that she was even thinking that much about it was like we knew that we were in good hands.

    MF: She’s really great… You have to imagine it’s great on set watching that as an actor who can play, but she’s still good at playing kind of dopey without overplaying it. Right. And there’s a lot of laughs that she gets out of that.

    Christian Long: Well, again, she never plays the joke. She never goes… it’s always grounded. Mel is just can’t not be truthful. Also in the wrong hands that the script we wrote, and not to like crap on our script, but just as Judy brought something so unexpected to that part, that was potentially like a one-note straight woman part. I can say the same thing for Melanie who… that part could have been in the wrong hands. Kind of unless… she does like a bunch of unlikable things and she’s kind of like crass and gross. But because Melanie is so charming, like inherently charming and likable, she made all that gross stuff work so well. And it made you root for her because… But that’s her. That’s not the script. That’s her charm.

    Justin Long: That’s the great thing about Bill Murray too. That’s why like… And if this was a Bill Murray movie, that would be the part. Melanie’s playing that part where Bill Murray… even What About Bob? I mean, he does truly a crazy thing. Like genuinely annoying things like screaming Dr. Leo Marvin in the middle of a public area. And he has such charm. He has such inherent… and Melanie has that. To me, she’s like a young Catherine O’Hara. She has that level of comedic chops and sensibility and certainly her drunk acting is the best I’ve ever [inaudible]. Chris Pratt, I think those are the two best strong performances I’ve ever witnessed. And we were just so like… we were such fans of hers, but watching her, it was a whole other level of appreciation for what she could do.

    Christian Long: What’s it like for you guys, especially for you, Justin, like acting and directing at the same time. Does it put you in two different headspaces or do you just kind of throw that to your brother in those scenes.

    Justin Long: We were just talking about it. For the most part, I really have to lean on Christian for that, but it was also… I was so familiar with the script. We had been with it for so long and we had been…I mean, we wrote it so I just knew where the scenes had to go. And we did that on purpose because I initially I didn’t think that I was going to play the part. I thought it’d be easier to not act in it as well, but I ended up doing it. And I always thought it was a part that if I have to do it, it would be in my wheelhouse. It wouldn’t be much of a stretch. And so, it didn’t that difficult. I think if I had a different part, it might’ve been-

    Christian Long: Feel like those scenes were such a blur. They went by so fast because we would do at most two takes.

    Justin Long: Yeah. We were really moving.

    Christian Long: Combination of you knowing the material and knowing that character so well and Melanie being kind of perfect and never needing more than two takes. The combination of the two of you. It was just like, we just banged those out so quickly. All those scenes.

    Justin Long: It’s always embarrassing when Melanie knew the lines better than I did. I was like oh God, I’ve only had this for a year.

    MF: So feature directorial debut for you guys. What took so long?

    Justin Long: Well, we had been… it’s funny that it, we just said this, but it doesn’t feel like it was a sudden. It felt like we’ve been doing it for a while, just because we’ve been doing it kind of under the radar for so long. Trying to get experience and learning and-

    Christian Long: We’ve made shorts and web series, but this is our first feature, like you said. But, yeah we’ve been kind of working, like chipping away at it to get to this point. And yeah, a lot of time has passed. But hopefully the next one doesn’t take 10 more years.

    Justin Long: And also we had a script that was about to happen at Ben Stiller’s company, at Red Hour and that got shelved for reasons I think… Hopefully we’re resurrecting it now. So, we also needed something that we could shoot on a budget and so we tailored this specifically for that. But like Christian said, we had done this web series called The Real Steven Glad, it’s on Amazon, if you want to check it out. So we got to know a lot of the… we’ve learned a lot, but we also got to know a lot of the crew down in Florida and that’s kind of what led to this happening. So it was really an introduction to the filmmaking community down there that led to us shooting in Tampa and getting a producer that was behind this movie. And so it all kind of like flowed from very humble beginnings.

    MF: How long was your shoot? I imagine because it’s an indie and you talk about low budget, although you’d never know it really from looking on the screen, that means you probably have limited time though. Still, right?

    Christian Long: 17, 18 days. It was quick.

    Justin Long: It was quick and there a lot of dialog to get through. And the montage stuff took a while. But again, like Christian said that, Melanie and Judy, all the actors were so on top of it and everyone was on their lines and they were they’re so good right away. I mean, take one was always so good.

    Christian Long: I can’t imagine how we would have done it.

    Justin Long: We wouldn’t have made otherwise.

    Christian Long: Because then we had, we were so lucky and having these actors who, not only were really good, but knew their lines. Were Prepared. And if there was an actor who needed like six, seven, eight takes here and there, we would not have been able to make it.

    Justin Long: And like you said, we wanted it. I’m glad you said that Matt because we wanted it to look like a bigger movie. We wanted it to feel more commercial and it’s kind of how we wrote it. We wanted that setup to feel commercial, we wanted… And so certainly to look that way and we had the best art department, Sean. We had such a great wardrobe. So the people who were working on it, we were lucky to have. They were outside of our budget range and they made it look a lot bigger.

    MF: Ryan’s preppy wardrobe is terrific.

    Christian Long: It’s great. And the reason that he always had to have those blazers and the salmon colors is, is his entire arm is full of tattoos. And we thought you don’t have time to put makeup on it and we’re in Florida. So it’s going to be hot for him to wear this. But it worked out.

    Justin Long: It did. Yeah, it did. I remember seeing it at first. I remember seeing his wardrobe and I was like, oh, because it’s jarring. It’s really like crazy those outfits. And I thought, oh, this might be over the top. This might look a little too broad. But the way he was playing it, then once I saw him and then with the spray tan and like his attitude, he lived in those clothes very naturally.

    MF: All right. So my last question, it seems like it has to be awesome to get Luis Guzmán on set.

    Justin Long: Oh, man, Luis… I’ve known Luis for, God almost 20 years now. And he’s always saying like, let me know, man, when I do something with you guys. And he’s always been so kind. But I always just sort of thought he was being friendly because he’s such a warm guy. So we sent it to him and right away, he said, yeah, absolutely man. And at the day he came down was for us the most stressful day. For many reasons that would be boring to get into. But we were under a lot of pressure and it was crazy stressful. And I remember at one point he just pulled us aside and he was like, hey, listen, you guys, it’s going to be okay, all right. And he just like looked at us with such conviction-

    Christian Long: He just gave us like a chill pill. It was like, wow.

    Justin Long: Yes he did. We got goosebumps.

    Christian Long: Yeah, we did. He was like some Jedi stuff that he pulled on us.

    Justin Long: And we were like… I know, but the thing, and the were doing this and he goes, no, no, no, listen man, it’s going to be okay, don’t worry. And we were like, oh my God, thank you. And we like melted. And yeah.

    MF: I feel like he’s like the low key legend that just makes anything better.

    Justin Long: Yeah. He is.

    Christian Long: Absolutely.

    Justin Long: And again, when he shows up, he lends also a legitimacy to it because he’s such an authentic presence and he has such a funny presence. Just his presence is enjoyable. And he would give us, I remember every take, he go like, alright, I’m going to do like three different levels. He would just give us three very distinct takes. And knowing that we’d use whichever one in the editing room. And he was just such a joy. I’ve always loved being around him, but I’m forever grateful to him now for what he got us through. And just coming down to play.

    ‘Lady of the Manor’ is now available on digital and on demand.

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  • 12 Things You Didn’t Know About ’13 Going on 30′ on its 15th Anniversary

    12 Things You Didn’t Know About ’13 Going on 30′ on its 15th Anniversary

    Columbia Pictures

    It’s been 15 years since “13 Going on 30” hit theaters, meaning this rom-com about an awkward teenager morphing into an adult is now old enough to be an awkward teenager itself. Celebrate this anniversary with a few fun facts you might not know about “13 Going on 30.”

    1. “13 Going On 30” isn’t the only time Christa B. Allen has played a younger version of a Jennifer Garner character. She also shared a role with Garner in 2009’s “Ghosts of Girlfriends Past.”

    2. Gwyneth Paltrow, Hilary Swank and Renée Zellweger were all considered for the lead role before Jennifer Garner was cast.

    Columbia Pictures

    3. Jenna morphs into a 30-year-old woman exactly 13 minutes into the film.

    4. Both Jenna and Lucy’s wardrobes evolve as the character’s respective personalities change. That’s why Jenna wears progressively warmer colors over the course of the movie.

    Columbia Pictures

    5. On the DVD director’s commentary, Gary Winick notes that he originally clashed with the studio over their insistence on including the slumber party scene. In hindsight, Winick considers it to be one of the best scenes in the movie.

    6. Jenna’s birth date is shown to be May 26, 1974, making her about two years younger than Garner herself.

    7. The scene where Jenna first sees her adult self in the mirror was framed as an intentional homage to 1988’s “Big,” which features a similar premise.

    Columbia Pictures

    8. Choreographer Michael Peters is included in the credits despite Peters having died in 1994. That’s because Peters performed the choreography for the “Thriller” music video, which is replicated in one of the most memorable scenes in “13 Going On 30.”

    9. Future Oscar winner Brie Larson made her film debut here as one of the “Six Chicks.” Her character is the one who is replaced by Jenna in the altered yearbook photo.

    Marvel Studios

    10. The scene in which Jenna confronts Matt before his wedding features a copy of Martin Amis’ “Time’s Arrow” on a shelf. This is appropriate, as “Time’s Arrow” is about a man experiencing his life in reverse order.

    11. The train scene was filmed on the exact same train Winick previously used in 2000’s “Tadpole.”

    12. The movie’s title was changed to “Suddenly 30” in Australia, as executives feared the original title would be too confusing.

  • Judy Greer to Star in ‘Playing With Fire’ With John Cena

    Judy Greer to Star in ‘Playing With Fire’ With John Cena

    Kidding still
    Showtime via Kidding/YouTube

    The cast of “Playing With Fire” has added one more to its number.

    Judy Greer is set to star in the film, Deadline reports. She’ll play Dr. Amy Hicks, a character who happens to be the love interest of John Cena‘s character, John Carson. Cena’s casting was first reported in October.

    The script was written by Matt Lieberman, and it is about three orphaned kids trying to stay together after discovering that they’ll be sent to separate foster homes. Andy Flickman is directing, and Broken Road is producing for Paramount Players. Matt Dines is overseeing the project for the studio, and Sean Robbins is also a producer.

    Greer has been keeping very, very busy in both film and TV in recent years. She stars in the Showtime series “Kidding” opposite Jim Carrey and also voices the title character in the animated series “Let’s Go Luna!” On top of that, she had five films come out in 2018 alone — including “Ant-Man and the Wasp” and “Halloween” — and will appear in at least two in 2019.

    A release date for “Playing With Fire” has not yet been announced.

    [via: Deadline]

  • Jim Carrey Is Basically a Tortured Soul Mr. Rogers in Showtime’s ‘Kidding’ Trailer

    Jim Carrey is Mr. Pickles. And Mr. Pickles is in his feelings right now.

    The new Showtime series “Kidding” marks a reunion for Jim Carrey with his brilliant “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind” director Michel Gondry.

    The drama costars Catherine Keener, Frank Langella, and Judy Greer, and premieres this September.

    Here’s the synopsis for “Kidding”:

    “In his first series regular role in over two decades, Jim Carrey stars as Jeff, aka Mr. Pickles, an icon of children’s television, a beacon of kindness and wisdom to America’s impressionable young minds, who also anchors a multimillion-dollar branding empire. But when Jeff’s family begins to implode, he finds no fairy tale or fable or puppet will guide him through the crisis, which advances faster than his means to cope. The result: a kind man in a cruel world faces a slow leak of sanity as hilarious as it is heartbreaking.”

    And here’s the awkward and heartbreaking trailer (featuring Conan O’Brien):Watch the “In Living Color” alum in his small screen return when “Kidding” premieres Sunday, September 9 at 10 p.m. ET on Showtime.

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  • 6 Things to Know Before Seeing ‘War for the Planet of the Apes’

    WAR FOR THE PLANET OF THE APES poster“War for the Planet of the Apes” is the latest big-budget sequel to hit theaters this summer, and the third entry in the ongoing saga of man vs. ape will push the story in an even darker direction. But if you’re not sure where “War” fits into the overall “Apes” picture, we’re here to help.

    Here’s everything you need to know before heading to the theater this weekend.

    1. It’s a sequel.It can be hard to keep track of how the various “Planet of the Apes” movies fit together, given that the franchise has been rebooted more than once. “War for the Planet of the Apes” is the third entry in Fox’s latest reboot series. It builds on the groundwork established in 2011’s “Rise of the Planet of the Apes” and 2014’s “Dawn of the Planet of the Apes,” taking place roughly two years after the previous movie.

    2. Caesar is still the star.

    This sequel will, again, center on super-intelligent chimpanzee Caesar (Andy Serkis) as he attempts to lead his ape family while dealing with the ongoing threat posed by humanity. Several of Caesar’s ape friends and family will also return, including wife Cornelia (Judy Greer), son Blue Eyes (Max Lloyd-Jones), and friend/adviser Maurice (Karin Konoval).There will also be new ape villains to fill the void left by the treacherous Koba. Red (Ty Olsson) is a gorilla who once followed Koba and now sides with humanity against his ape brethren.

    3. There are new human characters.Woody Harrelson stars in Twentieth Century Fox's "War for the Planet of the Apes."“War” will continue the series’ trend of starting from scratch where its human cast is concerned. Don’t expect return appearances from James Franco‘s Will Rodman from “Rise” or Jason Clarke‘s Malcolm and his family from “Dawn.” Instead, Woody Harrelson‘s “The Colonel” is the main human character this time around. The Colonel sees humanity as being on the brink of extinction following its long war with apes, and he’ll do whatever is necessary to ensure the survival of his species.

    4. The franchise is getting darker.Sure, the previous two “Apes” movies were pretty dark, but things look to be taking an even darker turn in “War,” as the war for survival becomes more heated. The third movie will focus a great deal on Caesar’s growing sense of disillusionment as he deals with mounting casualties and comes to understand that apes are just as skilled as humans when it comes to treachery.

    5. There are classic “Apes” connections.Karin Konoval, left, and Amiah Miller in Twentieth Century Fox's "War for the Planet of the Apes."“Rise of the Planet of the Apes” featured a fun nod to the original “Apes” series in the form of a cameo for wayward astronaut George Taylor (Charlton Heston‘s character) and the doomed ship Icarus. “War” will continue to pay homage to the classic movies as it introduces two new, key characters fans will recognize. The film will feature the debut of Caesar’s youngest son, Cornelius (Devyn Dalton), and mute human refugee Nova (Amiah Miller). Maybe we’ll even see Taylor himself stop by in a future sequel. Speaking of which…

    6. There will be more sequels.It doesn’t appear that “War” will be the last film in the current “Apes” series. Fox confirmed in October 2016 that a fourth film is already in development. We assume the ending to “War” will give a better idea of where the franchise is headed, however, Fox may have to move forward with a new director, as Matt Reeves has signed on to direct “The Batman” for Warner Bros.