Moviefone Editorial

Tag: morgan-freeman

  • ‘The Gray House’ Interviews: Daisy Head and Amethyst Davis

    XFRwIXEX

    Premiering on Prime Video February 26th is the new historical drama ‘The Gray House’, which was produced by Morgan Freeman (‘Glory’) and Kevin Costner (‘Dances with Wolves’), co-written by John Sayles (‘Eight Men Out’), and directed by Roland Joffé (‘The Killing Fields’).

    LKGqnBoqo9Q4Mb4vC5JNH1

    The series stars Mary-Louise Parker (‘RED’), Daisy Head (‘Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves’), Amethyst Davis (‘Kindred’), Ben Vereen (‘Tenspeed and Brown Shoe’), Robert Knepper (‘Prison Break’), Rob Morrow (‘Quiz Show’), Sam Trammell (‘True Blood’), Christopher McDonald (‘Happy Gilmore’), and Keith David (‘They Live’).

    (Left) Daisy Head stars in 'The Gray House'. Photo: Bogdan Merlusca. (Right) Amethyst Davis stars in 'The Gray House'. Photo: Bogdan Merlusca.
    (Left) Daisy Head stars in ‘The Gray House’. Photo: Bogdan Merlusca. (Right) Amethyst Davis stars in ‘The Gray House’. Photo: Bogdan Merlusca.

    Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with Daisy Head and Amethyst Davis about their work on ‘The Gray House’, the true story it is based on, their characters’ relationship, working with Mary-Louise Parker, and collaborating on set with director Roland Joffé.

    You can read the full interview below or click on the video player above to watch our interviews with Head, Davis, and Keith David.

    Related Article: Every Kevin Costner Movie and TV Western, Ranked

    Daisy Head stars in 'The Gray House'. Photo: Bogdan Merlusca.
    Daisy Head stars in ‘The Gray House’. Photo: Bogdan Merlusca.

    Moviefone: To begin with, Daisy, can you talk about the alliance that Elizabeth and her mother make with Mary Jane and the incredible work they do together against all odds?

    Daisy Head: It was a remarkable trio, a very tenacious group of women. Obviously, Mary Jane had suffered so much adversity and just had such an extraordinarily harrowing experience for any human to have endured. To be able to unite and rely on each other’s bravery, courage, and strength in their quest for freedom and to preserve American democracy was really humbling to experience as a human being and portraying that character in that role within that story. I was in awe of these three women and everything that they sacrificed. Being able to play against Mary-Louise and Amethyst in the scenes was just an absolute privilege, and I’m very grateful for the opportunity.

    MF: Amethyst, in the series your character explains that she has lost her faith in God and that it is rage that keeps her going. Can you talk about that and how her rage gave her an advantage against the Confederates?

    Amethyst Davis: I think that’s a turning point of the whole series. I think a lot of people will be able to relate to when something traumatic and devastating happens, and you start to lose your faith a little bit and you get reunited with something else. But it’s something that the journey of feeling trauma and dealing with it and seeing it with your own eyes, with your own family can really give you ammo to get ready to do things that you never thought you would do.

    Amethyst Davis stars in 'The Gray House'. Photo: Bogdan Merlusca.
    Amethyst Davis stars in ‘The Gray House’. Photo: Bogdan Merlusca.

    MF: Amethyst, as an actor and as a human being, what was it like to act out some of the horrible situations in this series? Did it feel real at times, and how did that help inform your performance?

    AD: I think sometimes, but no, it didn’t feel real. The more prepared I was, the more removed from it I could be. There was one scene that was a real small scene, no lines, and I really didn’t prepare that much because I just thought, “Oh, it was going to be a quick scene.” It was not a quick scene. I was not prepared, so then therefore, I’m in it. It’s me in this scene, and now we’re traumatized. No, we weren’t traumatized. We shook it off and we were all a close cast, so we were able to help each other out and hang out with each other. So, we were able to shake that off.

    MF: Daisy, can you talk about the relationship between Elizabeth and her mother and what it was like working with Mary-Louise Parker?

    DH: I mean, Mary-Louise, testament to her, she is such a remarkably talented actor. To be able to have a relationship on screen, but develop it off-screen as well was a true joy because it I felt like we had our own chemistry and our own bond off-screen. I was able to, in scenes just feel very comfortable and safe in her company. She is an extraordinary talent, and I’m so fond of her as a human being. So, it really helped strengthen the narrative of the story, because there was an incredibly tight bond between us as people. Which just made it easier, and I was able to generate that kind of strength of relationship much faster than if it was someone else. So, it was a great privilege.

    Mary-Louise Parker stars in 'The Gray House'. Photo: Bogdan Merlusca.
    Mary-Louise Parker stars in ‘The Gray House’. Photo: Bogdan Merlusca.

    MF: Daisy, what was it like working with director Roland Joffé and watching him execute his vision for this project?

    DH: I mean, he’s just remarkable. He is so talented, and his eye and attention to detail is literally unparalleled. I just felt so honored to have the opportunity to work alongside him for such a long project and fully trust in his vision and concept. Because even in some scenes, I would be concerned about how something was being portrayed and about whether I needed to do it. He was just like, “No, trust me, in the bigger scheme of things, don’t worry too much about this little thing.” I put my full faith in him. I mean, the finished product, the work speaks for itself. He is an incredibly, extraordinarily talented human.

    MF: Finally, Amethyst, what was your experience like working with Roland?

    AD: I was just so surprised at how much he respected my voice and my opinion as being a newer actor. Anytime I had a suggestion or sometimes they would even ask me things. They never made me feel like, “Oh, you’re just an actor,” or “Oh, you’re just a new actor,” or anything like that. They were very respectful and open, and I know that doesn’t always happen.

    Mary-Louise Parker stars in 'The Gray House'. Photo: Bogdan Merlusca.
    Mary-Louise Parker stars in ‘The Gray House’. Photo: Bogdan Merlusca.

    What is the plot of ‘The Gray House’?

    Based on a true story, the series is about the secret work carried out by Union spies during the American Civil War.

    Who is in the cast of ‘The Gray House’?

    • Mary-Louise Parker as Eliza Baker Van Lew
    • Amethyst Davis as Mary Jane Richards
    • Daisy Head as Elizabeth Van Lew
    • Ben Vereen as Isham Worthy
    • Paul Anderson as Stokely Reeves
    • Robert Knepper as Bully Lumpkin
    • Sam Trammell as Jefferson Davis
    • Colin Morgan as Hamton Arsenault
    • Hannah James as Clara Parish
    • Keith David as Rev. Henry H. Varnett
    'The Gray House' Premieres on Prime Video February 26th.
    ‘The Gray House’ Premieres on Prime Video February 26th.

    List of Daisy Head Movies:

    Buy Daisy Head Movies on Amazon

  • ‘Now You See Me: Now You Don’t’ Digital Release Interview

    tU3d157y

    Available on premium digital from Lionsgate December 16th is the box office hit ‘Now You See Me: Now You Don’t’, which is the third film in the popular franchise and was directed by Ruben Fleischer (‘Venom’).

    dFKlIcmxniLYHGSZpNnS15

    The movie stars returning cast members Jesse Eisenberg (‘Zombieland’), Woody Harrelson (‘Zombieland: Double Tap’), Dave Franco (‘Together’), Isla Fisher (‘Rango’), Lizzy Caplan (‘Cloverfield’), and Morgan Freeman (‘The Dark Knight’), as well as new cast members Justice Smith (‘Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves’), Dominic Sessa (‘The Holdovers’), Ariana Greenblatt (‘Barbie’), and Rosamund Pike (‘Saltburn’).

    (L to R) Dave Franco as Jack Wilder, Jesse Eisenberg as Daniel Atlas, and Isla Fisher as Henley Reeves in 'Now You See Me: Now You Don’t'. Photo: Katalin Vermes.
    (L to R) Dave Franco as Jack Wilder, Jesse Eisenberg as Daniel Atlas, and Isla Fisher as Henley Reeves in ‘Now You See Me: Now You Don’t’. Photo: Katalin Vermes.

    Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with director Ruben Fleischer about his work on ‘Now You See Me: Now You Don’t’, joining the franchise, reuniting with his ‘Zombieland’ actors Jesse Eisenberg and Woody Harrelson, Rosamund Pike’s hilarious performance, the new cast members, creating the illusions on screen, and if he would return to helm a fourth movie.

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

    Related Article: Movie Review: ‘Now You See Me: Now You Don’t’

    'Now You See Me: Now You Don't' director Ruben Fleischer.
    ‘Now You See Me: Now You Don’t’ director Ruben Fleischer.

    Moviefone: To begin with, as a filmmaker, can you talk about the challenges of joining a successful series to direct the third installment of a franchise?

    Ruben Fleisher: I approach this movie as a fan of the franchise. I love the first two movies. So, for me, the pressure of trying to make it as good as the previous two was so much self-imposed because I didn’t want to disappoint my fellow fans of the franchise. So, I did everything in my power to carry on the spirit of the original and clean up some of the things that happened in the past. For example, Henley (Isla Fisher) was in the first movie and then was replaced by Lulu (Lizzy Caplan) without much explanation. So, it was important to me that both be in the film, just because as a fan, I wanted to see those two women together, because they’re both so great. So, just carrying forward all the magic, all the fun, the banter, the relationships and everything else. So, the big challenge was just feeling the pressure not to disappoint fans.

    (L to R) Justice Smith as Charlie, Jesse Eisenberg as Daniel Atlas, and Woody Harrelson as Merrit McKinney in 'Now You See Me: Now You Don't'. Photo Credit: Katalin Vermes.
    (L to R) Justice Smith as Charlie, Jesse Eisenberg as Daniel Atlas, and Woody Harrelson as Merrit McKinney in ‘Now You See Me: Now You Don’t’. Photo Credit: Katalin Vermes.

    MF: Did it help that you already had a good working relationship with Jesse Eisenberg and Woody Harrelson from making the ‘Zombieland’ movies?

    RF: I was lucky because I had a pre-existing relationship with Woody and Jesse, so I had a familiarity and a comfort level and that’s what drew me to the project in the first place. I was lucky to have the help of two longtime collaborators to make sure that we did our best work. This was my fourth movie with each of them. We all did the two ‘Zombieland’ movies together and then Jesse and I did ‘30 minutes or Less’ and Woody was in the tease at the end of ‘Venom’. But I love working with those two guys, and I also knew that they loved working with the rest of the cast. I was a huge fan of Dave Franco, Isla Fisher and Lizzie Caplan. So, for me, it was just an opportunity to work with more actors that I really love, but I had also heard from Jesse and Woody about what a great dynamic everybody had on set and how they felt like a family among themselves. So, I was just happy to join the family.

    Rosamund Pike as Veronika in 'Now You See Me: Now You Don’t'. Photo Credit: Katalin Vermes.
    Rosamund Pike as Veronika in ‘Now You See Me: Now You Don’t’. Photo Credit: Katalin Vermes.

    MF: Actress Rosmund Pike gives a fantastic performance in the movie. Can you talk about casting and working with her?

    RF: I have been a fan of hers for a long time. I mean, she’s so good going back to ‘Die Another Day’ or ‘Gone Girl’, but it was really seeing her recently in ‘Saltburn’, where I felt like she just stole every scene that she was in, and she was so funny. In addition to being a challenging character, I think movies to a degree are only as good as the villains. You need someone formidable, and especially when you have such a strong ensemble as we have, with such incredible actors, you need someone who feels equally weighted in terms of screen presence, threat, charisma and everything that makes a great movie character. So, Rosamund’s somebody who, beyond her dramatic ability, beyond her obvious beauty, she just tends to make her characters delicious and more than what’s expected. So, it was exciting for me to. She brought so much to it. She has an incredible, natural aptitude for accents, and the South African accent is very specific and challenging. I’m so proud of the fact that when South Africans have watched the movie, and I’ve talked to them about it, they have told me they’ve never heard a non-South African have such a perfect accent as that. So that was really gratifying to learn. But she’s just got this inherent intelligence. She seems like she’s from this lofted heiress status, and she seems smart and like she could be dangerous or somebody not to mess with. So, it was a great experience from beginning to end working with her.

    (L to R) Dominic Sessa as Bosco, Justice Smith as Charlie, and Ariana Greenblatt as June in 'Now You See Me: Now You Don’t'. Photo: Courtesy of Lionsgate.
    (L to R) Dominic Sessa as Bosco, Justice Smith as Charlie, and Ariana Greenblatt as June in ‘Now You See Me: Now You Don’t’. Photo: Courtesy of Lionsgate.

    MF: Can you talk about bringing in new cast members like Justice Smith, Dominic Sessa and Ariana Greenblatt and having them mix it up with the returning cast?

    RF: That was also a great challenge just because when you have such beloved, established actors, and you got to find, younger, less established actors who you expect to be as compelling and charismatic, so they just don’t get completely blown away by these movie stars. It’s challenging, but for all three of them, I had been fans of their work. With Dominic, ‘The Holdovers’ was his first movie, but he was so compelling in it. I think it was an incredible launch for his career. But I was proud to have cast him in his first ever studio movie, and I think he more than performed at a level we needed in terms of just being funny and he turned out to be good with both the magic and the action. He’s just got this cool kind of swag. Justice is somebody who we’ve all seen whether it’s ‘Dungeons and Dragons’ or the ‘Jurassic World’ movies, but also super cool indies as well. He’s always interesting and so I’ve been a fan, and it was exciting to get to cast him. Then Ariana was just a force of nature. She was 16 when she first came to Budapest and celebrated her 17th birthday while we were there. So, she was literally a child relative to these adults, and she’s just so wise beyond her years, so capable physically, obviously a great actress and just really brought so much cool to June that she just inherently has as a person. Casting’s one of my favorite parts of the process and I think if you look at the original ‘Zombieland’ or other movies I made, casting seems to be a signature of the films just discovering people who have gone on to great things. Not to say I discovered these people, but just giving them maybe perhaps a bigger platform. I think they all have exceeded beyond my wildest hopes and dreams, and I think they’re just so compelling as a triad.

    (L to R) Dominic Sessa as Bosco, Jesse Eisenberg as Daniel Atlas, Isla Fisher as Henley Reeves, and Justice Smith as Charlie in 'Now You See Me: Now You Don’t'. Photo Credit: Katalin Vermes.
    (L to R) Dominic Sessa as Bosco, Jesse Eisenberg as Daniel Atlas, Isla Fisher as Henley Reeves, and Justice Smith as Charlie in ‘Now You See Me: Now You Don’t’. Photo Credit: Katalin Vermes.

    MF: Can you talk about designing the illusions for the film and how you wanted them to look on screen?

    RF: The first two movies are terrific, and I love them, but there were moments as a fan where I felt like they relied perhaps a little too heavily on VFX or CGI. So, it was very important to me for our movie that we do everything as practical as possible and do everything as much in cameras as possible. One of the things I’m most proud of is that all those illusion rooms that take place in the château are all physical sets that we built. So, whether it was the upside-down room where we literally spun a room upside down, which is a Hollywood convention going back to Fred Astaire dancing on the ceiling. Or it’s the Ames room, which we probably all seen versions of in various museums of Illusion throughout the world, where one person’s very big and one person’s very small on the other side of frame. We built that, and that was all in camera and practical, and that was just so cool to experience when you walk to that room. It really did look like a normal room and then as soon as you walk in, the proportions shift. So, that was just neat and to be able to create something like that with that level of detail. The infinity staircase, which is what we call the room that Woody was in with all the mirrors going in a million different directions. I talked to the production designer about trying to figure out how we could do a practical version of M.C. Escher’s painting, where the stairs are going in all different directions and you’re not quite sure what’s up and down or anything else. So, through a trial and error, we arrived at the design for that room, which kind of does provide that feeling of you don’t know which way is up or down and you don’t know which reflections are real and which is Woody. Then there was a hall of mirrors, which we’ve seen in movies before, but that was all in camera. Truthfully, the only VFX effects in any of these environments was just when there were mirrors. We had to paint out the camera because he inherently shot his own reflection, but we put him in a skintight form fitting blue screen suit. So, it was easy to find him in all the reflections, and then we could just erase him. But I’m proud of how we committed to this concept of it having to be as practical as we could make it, and then holding true to it, and not ultimately bailing or relying on VFX, which is always a possibility.

    (L to R) Woody Harrelson as Merrit McKinney, Jesse Eisenberg as Daniel Atlas, Dominic Sessa as Bosco, Dave Franco as Jack Wilder, Justice Smith as Charlie, Isla Fisher as Henley Reeves, and Ariana Greenblatt as June in 'Now You See Me, Now You Don’t'. Photo Credit: Katalin Vermes.
    (L to R) Woody Harrelson as Merrit McKinney, Jesse Eisenberg as Daniel Atlas, Dominic Sessa as Bosco, Dave Franco as Jack Wilder, Justice Smith as Charlie, Isla Fisher as Henley Reeves, and Ariana Greenblatt as June in ‘Now You See Me, Now You Don’t’. Photo Credit: Katalin Vermes.

    MF: Finally, the ending of the film hints at more adventures for the main characters, is returning for a ‘’Now You See Me 4’ something you would be interested in doing?

    RF: Yeah, absolutely. I mean, that’s why we left it off on that ellipsis of more potential adventures to go on. I’m thrilled with the reaction that the audience has had to the film, and I’d be absolutely thrilled to go back into this world with these actors and devise a new magical adventure for them to go on. So, fingers crossed.

    (L to R) Justice Smith as Charlie, Ariana Greenblatt as June, Dominic Sessa as Bosco, Jesse Eisenberg as Daniel Atlas, Isla Fisher as Henley Reeves, and Dave Franco as Jack Wilder in 'Now You See Me: Now You Don’t'. Photo Credit: Katalin Vermes.
    (L to R) Justice Smith as Charlie, Ariana Greenblatt as June, Dominic Sessa as Bosco, Jesse Eisenberg as Daniel Atlas, Isla Fisher as Henley Reeves, and Dave Franco as Jack Wilder in ‘Now You See Me: Now You Don’t’. Photo Credit: Katalin Vermes.

    What is the plot of ‘Now You See Me: Now You Don’t’?

    The original Four Horsemen (Jesse Eisenberg, Woody Harrelson, Isla Fisher and Dave Franco) reunite with a new generation of illusionists to take on powerful diamond heiress Veronika Vanderberg (Rosamund Pike), who leads a criminal empire built on money laundering and trafficking. The new and old magicians must overcome their differences to work together on their most ambitious heist yet.

    Who is in the cast of ‘Now You See Me: Now You Don’t’?

    • Jesse Eisenberg as J. Daniel Atlas
    • Woody Harrelson as Merritt McKinney
    • Dave Franco as Jack Wilder
    • Isla Fisher as Henley Reeves
    • Justice Smith as Charlie Vanderberg
    • Dominic Sessa as Bosco LeRoy
    • Ariana Greenblatt as June Rouclere
    • Lizzy Caplan as Lula May
    • Rosamund Pike as Veronika Vanderberg
    • Morgan Freeman as Thaddeus Bradley
    • Mark Ruffalo as Dylan Shrike
    'Now You See Me: Now You Don’t' opens in theaters on November 14th.
    ‘Now You See Me: Now You Don’t’ opens in theaters on November 14th.

    List of Movies in the ‘Now You See Me’ Franchise:

    Buy Tickets: ‘Now You See Me: Now You Don’t‘ Movie Showtimes

    Buy ‘Now You See Me’ Movies On Amazon

  • Movie Review: ‘Now You See Me: Now You Don’t’

    (L to R) Justice Smith as Charlie, Ariana Greenblatt as June, Dominic Sessa as Bosco, Jesse Eisenberg as Daniel Atlas, Isla Fisher as Henley Reeves, and Dave Franco as Jack Wilder in 'Now You See Me: Now You Don’t'. Photo Credit: Katalin Vermes.
    (L to R) Justice Smith as Charlie, Ariana Greenblatt as June, Dominic Sessa as Bosco, Jesse Eisenberg as Daniel Atlas, Isla Fisher as Henley Reeves, and Dave Franco as Jack Wilder in ‘Now You See Me: Now You Don’t’. Photo Credit: Katalin Vermes.

    Opening in theaters November 14, ‘Now You See Me: Now You Don’t‘ is directed by Ruben Fleischer and stars Jesse Eisenberg, Woody Harrelson, Dave Franco, Isla Fisher, Justice Smith, Ariana Greenblatt, and Dominic Sessa.

    dFKlIcmxniLYHGSZpNnS15

    Related Article: Rosamund Pike Joins The Cast Of ‘Now You See Me 3’

    Initial Thoughts

    (L to R) Dominic Sessa as Bosco, Jesse Eisenberg as Daniel Atlas, Isla Fisher as Henley Reeves, and Justice Smith as Charlie in 'Now You See Me: Now You Don’t'. Photo Credit: Katalin Vermes.
    (L to R) Dominic Sessa as Bosco, Jesse Eisenberg as Daniel Atlas, Isla Fisher as Henley Reeves, and Justice Smith as Charlie in ‘Now You See Me: Now You Don’t’. Photo Credit: Katalin Vermes.

    It has been nearly ten years since ‘Now You See Me 2‘, which means that the third film needed to prove itself as having a reason to return. Bringing back most of the original cast, while adding in a group of young actors to play up and coming magicians who look to the Four Horseman as inspirations is the perfect way to do it.

    This not only keeps the franchise alive, it keeps it young and adds in a bit of generational humor in the process. Fans of these movies enjoy elaborate illusions and want to see justice done to someone who deserves it. ‘Now You See Me: Now You Don’t’ delivers exactly that.

    Story and Direction

    Morgan Freeman as Thaddeus Bradley in 'Now You See Me: Now You Don’t'. Photo: Courtesy of Lionsgate.
    Morgan Freeman as Thaddeus Bradley in ‘Now You See Me: Now You Don’t’. Photo: Courtesy of Lionsgate.

    The weakest part of this movie is easily the writing. That said, no one really goes to these movies for the writing anyways. As mentioned above, fans want to see grandeous magic tricks done by charasmatic, and slightly cocky, magicians. ‘Now You See Me: Now You Don’t’ knows its audience and plays into their hands perfectly.

    The pressure was on for ‘Now You See Me: Now You Don’t’. While Isla Fisher’s return was a welcome one, she was already explained away in the second film. Bringing her back could have easily gone horribly wrong, but this is the part of the movie where the writing really shined. Every missing cast member was given a believable reason to not be there, something that is important, especially for beloved actors like Lizzy Caplan and Mark Ruffalo.

    As with the previous films, there is a big twist towards the end. Even though viewers will be expecting it, chances are they will not figure it out. This is because of the direction – or should I say misdirection – which is handled brilliantly. The fun of these films is not knowing what to expect and being shocked at the end.

    Cast and Performances

    (L to R) Woody Harrelson as Merrit McKinney, Jesse Eisenberg as Daniel Atlas, Dominic Sessa as Bosco, Dave Franco as Jack Wilder, Justice Smith as Charlie, Isla Fisher as Henley Reeves, and Ariana Greenblatt as June in 'Now You See Me, Now You Don’t'. Photo Credit: Katalin Vermes.
    (L to R) Woody Harrelson as Merrit McKinney, Jesse Eisenberg as Daniel Atlas, Dominic Sessa as Bosco, Dave Franco as Jack Wilder, Justice Smith as Charlie, Isla Fisher as Henley Reeves, and Ariana Greenblatt as June in ‘Now You See Me, Now You Don’t’. Photo Credit: Katalin Vermes.

    Just take one look at the cast list and it is clear that this movie is filled with star power. Of course the returning cast is fantastic at what they do – Isla Fisher, Jesse Eisenberg, Woody Harrelson and Dave Franco all deliver incredible performances – but the new cast fits right in without blinking an eye.

    Dominic Sessa, Justice Smith, and Ariana Greenblatt are perfect additions to the cast. They bring that young, fresh meat, attitude that is important in making ‘Now You See Me: Now You Don’t’ not feel repetative. They are integral to the story being told, and work well with the veteran cast. Their inclusion also allows for laugh-out-loud jokes about social media and how different generations handle different situation.

    Final Thoughts

    Rosamund Pike as Veronika in 'Now You See Me: Now You Don’t'. Photo Credit: Katalin Vermes.
    Rosamund Pike as Veronika in ‘Now You See Me: Now You Don’t’. Photo Credit: Katalin Vermes.

    ‘Now You See Me: Now You Don’t’ gives fans of this franchise exactly what they are looking for. The writing might be on the weaker side but the cast delivers on both humor and heart. There and multiple twists and turns, and a whole lot of fun to be had.

    Filled to the brim with delightful illusions, ‘Now You See Me: Now You Don’t’ is bigger than ever, and more than worth the ticket price.

    ‘Now You See Me: Now You Don’t’ receives a score of 78 out of 100.

    'Now You See Me: Now You Don’t' opens in theaters on November 14th.
    ‘Now You See Me: Now You Don’t’ opens in theaters on November 14th.

    What is the plot of ‘Now You See Me: Now You Don’t’?

    The Four Horsemen return along with a new generation of illusionists performing mind-melding twists, turns, surprises, and magic unlike anything ever captured on film.

    Who is in the cast of ‘Now You See Me: Now You Don’t’?

    • Jesse Eisenberg as Daniel Atlas
    • Woody Harrelson as Merrit McKinney
    • Dave Franco as Jack Wilder
    • Isla Fisher as Henley Reeves
    • Morgan Freeman as Thaddeus Bradley
    • Justice Smith as Charlie
    • Ariana Greenblatt as June
    • Dominic Sessa as Bosco
    (L to R) Justice Smith as Charlie, Jesse Eisenberg as Daniel Atlas, and Woody Harrelson as Merrit McKinney in 'Now You See Me: Now You Don't'. Photo Credit: Katalin Vermes.
    (L to R) Justice Smith as Charlie, Jesse Eisenberg as Daniel Atlas, and Woody Harrelson as Merrit McKinney in ‘Now You See Me: Now You Don’t’. Photo Credit: Katalin Vermes.

    Other Movies in the ‘Now You See Me’ Franchise:

    Buy ‘Now You See Me’ Movies On Amazon

    li4KaXQF

  • TV Review: ‘Cross’

    Aldis Hodge as Alex Cross in 'Cross'. Credit: Keri Anderson/Prime Video. Copyright: Amazon MGM Studios.
    Aldis Hodge as Alex Cross in ‘Cross’. Credit: Keri Anderson/Prime Video. Copyright: Amazon MGM Studios.

    Launching on Prime Video on Thursday 14th November with all eight episodes, ‘Cross’ is the newest cop thriller based on the work of prolific author James Patterson.

    While previous versions have been on the big screen –– Morgan Freeman famously played the character in a couple of movies and Tyler Perry was Cross in the 2012 film named for the character –– this incarnation features Aldis Hodge as the main character.

    But is TV, famously home to the police procedural genre, the right place for the character? The answer to that is complicated.

    Related Article: Aldis Hodge Talks Writing and Starring in ‘Parallel’ and His DCU Future

    Does ‘Cross’ make its case?

    Aldis Hodge as Alex Cross in 'Cross'. Credit: Keri Anderson/Prime Video. Copyright: Amazon MGM Studios.
    Aldis Hodge as Alex Cross in ‘Cross’. Credit: Keri Anderson/Prime Video. Copyright: Amazon MGM Studios.

    Perhaps the biggest issue that Patterson fans may have with ‘Cross’ is that it takes some big liberties with the character. Show creator Ben Watkins skirts around that by having this take on the conflicted cop be “inspired” by the books, which means he’s not beholden to any one plotline.

    And it’s certainly true that a lot of what you might expect from Cross –– his intelligence, his tragic past, his determination –– is present and correct here. Hodge is also an asset, playing the character with grit, steel and charm. The biggest problem is that a lot of ‘Cross’ is essentially the usual serial killer plot with a few extra layers, and it doesn’t always work.

    Script and Direction

    Aldis Hodge as Alex Cross in 'Cross'. Credit: Quantrell Colbert/Prime Video. Copyright: Amazon MGM Studios.
    Aldis Hodge as Alex Cross in ‘Cross’. Credit: Quantrell Colbert/Prime Video. Copyright: Amazon MGM Studios.

    With Watkins leading the writers’ room, the ‘Cross’ story will probably be familiar to anyone who has watched a serial killer thriller, and that’s partly by design. After all, the Alex Cross books are very much in that mold. Yet while Watkins has got a better handle on what makes Cross tick as an African–American man than Patterson might, what that inspires feels like fairly standard stuff.

    Tensions a running high on the initial case Cross is working, as a local leader and activist is found dead, and the Washington, D.C. community is up in arms. But it soon transpires that the dead man is just one of the targets of a devious serial killer who has a twisted extra reason for getting creative with his victims.

    While Watkins has a way with Cross’ sweary attitude, the feeling is less of Alex Cross than just a generic homicide on cop on the trail of a killer.

    Stacey Muhammad, Craig Siebels and Nzingha Stewart, share directing duties on the series, and while the show is generally well shot, there’s not much that makes it stand out from a hundred other offerings in the genre.

    Performances

    A show like this lives and dies on the casting of its central figure, and fortunately for ‘Cross,’ it has a strong leading man in Aldis Hodge. In fact, he stands out to such a degree that it’s hard for many others to make an impact.

    Aldis Hodge as Alex Cross

    Aldis Hodge as Alex Cross in 'Cross'. Credit: Keri Anderson/Prime Video. Copyright: Amazon MGM Studios.
    Aldis Hodge as Alex Cross in ‘Cross’. Credit: Keri Anderson/Prime Video. Copyright: Amazon MGM Studios.

    We’re introduced to Cross (well, after a quick flashback to see how his wife died) in the midst of an interrogation where his smarts and charisma are allowed full flow. Hodge nails the scene and the rest of the show, bringing the character life in a way that’s different from how he’s been seen on screen before.

    It might not quite be the Cross of the books, but he’s the one thing that actually makes the show stand out more from the pack. There’s a real feeling of energy and intensity from the actor, and he carries the baggage of Cross effectively. It’s not his fault that his character’s background is so straight-from-the-shelf it nears parody at times.

    Ryan Eggold as Ed Ramsey

    Ryan Eggold as Ed Ramsey in 'Cross'. Credit: Keri Anderson/Prime Video. Copyright: Amazon MGM Studios.
    Ryan Eggold as Ed Ramsey in ‘Cross’. Credit: Keri Anderson/Prime Video. Copyright: Amazon MGM Studios.

    Eggold does his best as Ramsey, the twisted mind who has been kidnapping people and… well, the rest would be a spoiler. But while he’s suitably creepy and weird, undercutting his handsome looks with twitches and glassy-eyed moments, the role is still very much seen-it-before serial killer stuff: lots of speeches about his own genius and ideas and preening when he thinks he’s gotten away with it all.

    Isaiah Mustafa as John Sampson

    Isaiah Mustafa as John Sampson in 'Cross'. Credit: Quantrell Colbert/Prime Video. Copyright: Amazon MGM Studios.
    Isaiah Mustafa as John Sampson in ‘Cross’. Credit: Quantrell Colbert/Prime Video. Copyright: Amazon MGM Studios.

    Cross’s best friend and fellow detective is a key part of this story, and Mustafa plays well against Hodge, though the role doesn’t often give him much of a chance to shine, at least until tension creeps in between the pair.

    Supporting cast

    Cross (the man) comes complete with two adorable moppets who are also mourning their mother’s death and a kindly, but no-nonsense mother-in-law. Dotted around are the usual gathering of cop colleagues and criminals.

    Final Thoughts

    (L to R) Isaiah Mustafa as John Sampson, Aldis Hodge as Alex Cross in 'Cross'. Credit: Keri Anderson/Prime Video. Copyright: Amazon MGM Studios.
    (L to R) Isaiah Mustafa as John Sampson, Aldis Hodge as Alex Cross in ‘Cross’. Credit: Keri Anderson/Prime Video. Copyright: Amazon MGM Studios.

    There’s some entertainment value in ‘Cross,’ but at times it is painfully generic. There’s only so much you can do to jazz up an Alex Cross tale, and honestly, while this has an edgier feel than the Morgan Freeman movies, it can’t overcome the strictures of its own genre.

    Yet if you enjoy the show, there’s good news to report –– Prime Video has already announced that a second season has already been commissioned.

    ‘Cross’ receives 6 out of 10 stars.

    LU9HOJg4veIpPOCBANkyl1

    What’s the plot of ‘Cross’?

    ‘Cross’ follows the investigations of brilliant forensic psychologist and DC Metro Detective Alex Cross (Aldis Hodge). Together with his best friend and partner Detective John Sampson (Isiah Mustafa), Cross delves into the psyches of insidious murderers while fighting to protect his family from the dangers of the criminal world.

    Cross and Sampson are backed by a team of Washington DC detectives, along with FBI agent Kayla Craig (Alona Tal). Together, they help Cross uncover the truth behind serial killers, high–profile kidnappings, and even a deadly personal stalker.

    Yet all the backup in the world can’t save Cross from himself. Cross is driven by a deep desire to do right –– especially by victims who don’t have the power to defend themselves. But he struggles with the psychological fallout of his work, desperate to insulate his family and everyone he loves.

    Who is in the cast of ‘Cross’?

    (L to R) Aldis Hodge as Alex Cross, Isaiah Mustafa as John Sampson in 'Cross'. Credit: Keri Anderson/Prime Video. Copyright: Amazon MGM Studios.
    (L to R) Aldis Hodge as Alex Cross, Isaiah Mustafa as John Sampson in ‘Cross’. Credit: Keri Anderson/Prime Video. Copyright: Amazon MGM Studios.

    Movies in the ‘Alex Cross’ Franchise:

    Buy ‘Alex Cross’ Movies On Amazon

    g630IfCU

  • First Trailer for ‘Special Ops: Lioness’

    Writer/director/showrunner Taylor Sheridan has quietly (and not-so-quietly, depending on where you live and how aware of his work you are) been building a small screen empire with his ‘Yellowstone’ shows, which have spun off two prequels (‘1923’ and 1883’, with more on the way).

    Those in turn have led to the commissioning of other series, including Sylvester Stallone-starring ‘Tulsa King’, Jeremy Renner-led ‘Mayor of Kingstown’, the upcoming ‘Lawmen: Bass Reeves’, which features Dennis Quaid and David Oyelowo and ‘Land Men’, boasting Billy Bob Thornton heading its cast.

    Sheridan’s work has, as the lists above suggest, attracted plenty of top talent, but the needle of the Big-Name-O-Meter hit even further with the announcement of another new show (seriously, when the does this man see his family?), ‘Special Ops: Lioness’, which has dropped its first trailer and you can watch t above.

    Zoe Saldana as Joe in 'Special Ops: Lioness' streaming on Paramount+, 2023.
    Zoe Saldana as Joe in ‘Special Ops: Lioness’ streaming on Paramount+, 2023. Photo Credit: Lynsey Addario/Paramount+.

    All about ‘Special Ops: Lioness’

    The new show, inspired by an actual US Military program, follows the life of Joe (Zoe Saldaña) while she attempts to balance her personal and professional life as the tip of the CIA’s spear in the war on terror.

    The Lioness Program, overseen by Kaitlyn Meade (Nicole Kidman) and Donald Westfield (Michael Kelly), enlists an aggressive Marine Raider named Cruz (Laysla De Oliveira) to operate undercover alongside Joe among the power brokers of State terrorism in the CIA’s efforts to thwart the next 9/11.

    It’s all very much in the wheelhouse of movies that Sheridan has written in the past, especially ‘Sicario’, which saw Emily Blunt as an idealistic FBI agent enlisted by a government task force to aid in the escalating war against drugs at the border area between the U.S. and Mexico.

    Except ‘Lioness’ goes further into espionage territory, with plenty of meetings in darkened command centers, lots of action with guns blazing and undercover operatives under threat and comments about carrying out missions “in front of CBS news”, which makes sense, since the series from this first look comes across as something that would probably play well (if in much more limited/lower budget fashion) on Paramount+’s network sibling CBS.

    James Jordan as Two Cups, Jonah Wharton as Tex, Jill Wagner as Bobby, Zoe Saldana as Joe, Nicole Kidman as Kaitlyn Meade, Austin Hébert as Randy and Laysla De Oliveira as Cruz Manuelos in 'Special Ops: Lioness' streaming on Paramount+, 2023.
    (L to R) James Jordan as Two Cups, Jonah Wharton as Tex, Jill Wagner as Bobby, Zoe Saldana as Joe, Nicole Kidman as Kaitlyn Meade, Austin Hébert as Randy and Laysla De Oliveira as Cruz Manuelos in ‘Special Ops: Lioness’ streaming on Paramount+, 2023. Photo credit: Greg Lewis/Paramount+.

    Related Article: Wes Bentley and Cole Hauser Talk Paramount Network’s ‘Yellowstone’ Season 5

    Who else is in ‘Special Ops: Lioness’?

    In addition to the already impressive roster, ‘Lioness’ also features Morgan Freeman, playing Edwin Mullins. He’s the Secretary of State in the series and has some tough questions for the CIA program’s creators and agents.

    And the cast includes Dave Annable, Jill Wagner, LaMonica Garrett, James Jordan, Austin Hébert, Jonah Wharton, Stephanie Nur and Hannah Love Lanier.

    ‘Special Ops: Lioness’ will launch on Paramount+ on Sunday, July 23. Will it catch on the way ‘Yellowstone’ has and spawn 17 spin-offs all overseen by Sheridan (who will presumably have perfected cloning technology by then so he can handle the workload)? Only time will tell…

    Jill Wagner as Bobby, Thad Luckinbill as Kyle, Zoe Saldana as Joe, James Jordan as Two Cups, Jonah Wharton as Tex, Austin Hébert as Randy in 'Special Ops: Lioness' streaming on Paramount+, 2023.
    (L to R) Jill Wagner as Bobby, Thad Luckinbill as Kyle, Zoe Saldana as Joe, James Jordan as Two Cups, Jonah Wharton as Tex, Austin Hébert as Randy in ‘Special Ops: Lioness’ streaming on Paramount+, 2023. Photo credit: Greg Lewis/Paramount+.
    Nicole Kidman as Kaitlyn Meade, Michael Kelly as Bryon Westfield and Zoe Saldana as Joe in 'Special Ops: Lioness' streaming on Paramount+, 2023.
    (L to R) Nicole Kidman as Kaitlyn Meade, Michael Kelly as Bryon Westfield and Zoe Saldana as Joe in ‘Special Ops: Lioness’ streaming on Paramount+, 2023. Photo Credit: Luke Varley/Paramount+.
    Laysla De Oliveira as Cruz Manuelos, Zoe Saldana as Joe, and Nicole Kidman as Kaitlyn Meade in 'Special Ops: Lioness' streaming on Paramount+, 2023.
    (L to R) Laysla De Oliveira as Cruz Manuelos, Zoe Saldana as Joe, and Nicole Kidman as Kaitlyn Meade in ‘Special Ops: Lioness’ streaming on Paramount+, 2023. Photo Credit: Luke Varley/Paramount+.
    Stephanie Nur as Aaliyah and Laysla De Oliveira as Cruz Manuelos in 'Special Ops: Lioness' streaming on Paramount+, 2023.
    (L to R) Stephanie Nur as Aaliyah and Laysla De Oliveira as Cruz Manuelos in ‘Special Ops: Lioness’ streaming on Paramount+, 2023. Photo Credit: Luke Varley/Paramount+.
    Laysla De Oliveria as Cruz Manuelos in 'Special Ops: Lioness' streaming on Paramount+, 2023.
    Laysla De Oliveria as Cruz Manuelos in ‘Special Ops: Lioness’ streaming on Paramount+, 2023. Photo Credit: Lynsey Addario/Paramount+.
    Zoe Saldana as Joe in 'Special Ops: Lioness' streaming on Paramount+, 2023.
    Zoe Saldana as Joe in ‘Special Ops: Lioness’ streaming on Paramount+, 2023. Photo Credit: Lynsey Addario/Paramount+.

    Movies Similar to ‘Special Ops: Lioness’:

    Buy Zoe Saldaña Movies On Amazon

     

  • Movie Review: ‘A Good Person’

    Florence Pugh as Allison in 'A Good Person,' directed by Zach Braff, a Metro Goldwyn Mayer Pictures film.
    Florence Pugh as Allison in ‘A Good Person,’ directed by Zach Braff, a Metro Goldwyn Mayer Pictures film. Credit: Jeong Park / Metro Goldwyn Mayer Pictures. © 2023 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures Inc. All Rights Reserved.

    Releasing into theaters on March 24th, ‘A Good Person’ represents the latest film from actor/director/writer Zach Braff, known –– outside of his TV acting work on the show ‘Scrubs’ –– for making the movies ‘Garden State’, ‘Wish I Was Here’ and ‘Going in Style’.

    With ‘A Good Place’, he chooses, as with his previous film, to eschew appearing on camera, instead putting Morgan Freeman (who co-starred with Michael Caine and Alan Arkin in ‘Going in Style’) and Florence Pugh front and center.

    b6HZ4G67K8y35V74c8a5B5

    What is the plot of ‘A Good Person’?

    ‘A Good Person’ follows Allison (Pugh), a young woman who would seem to have a bright future ahead of her. She’s blissfully engaged to marry Nathan (Chinaza Uche) and successful in her career as a drug rep, but a momentary lapse in concentration while driving ends in a deadly car crash that kills her soon-to-be sister- and brother-in-law.

    Allie descends into depression, confusion and, thanks to the painkillers prescribed for her injuries, addiction. She meets Daniel (Freeman), a former New Jersey police officer and recovering alcoholic who was to be Allie’s father-in-law before the accident –– though they’d not met previously because of his estrangement from his eldest son –– by chance at an AA meeting and begins an awkward but healing path to understanding. Through Daniel’s teenage granddaughter Ryan (Celeste O’Connor), who was orphaned by the accident, more difficult steps towards peace and forgiveness are taken.

    But as Allie — living with her mom, Diane (Molly Shannon), who has her own red-wine-and-pill dependence — finds her need for painkillers getting more intense, and her decision-making abilities affected, this story of redemption, friendship, and courage tackles other issues of contemporary life.

    Florence Pugh as Allison and Morgan Freeman as Daniel in 'A Good Person,' directed by Zach Braff, a Metro Goldwyn Mayer Pictures film.
    (L to R) Florence Pugh as Allison and Morgan Freeman as Daniel in ‘A Good Person,’ directed by Zach Braff, a Metro Goldwyn Mayer Pictures film. Credit: Jeong Park / Metro Goldwyn Mayer Pictures. © 2023 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures Inc. All Rights Reserved.

    Related Article: Florence Pugh and Writer/Director Zach Braff Talk ‘A Good Person’

    Pugh and Freeman shine in the movie

    Along with his particular style and focus on characters looking to fix something broken within themselves, Braff has developed a welcome ability to cast and put trust in some excellent actors. From his first outing, which gave Natalie Portman a chance to shine (albeit in a role many criticized as a cliched “manic pixie dream girl” serving to help Braff’s main character Andrew find his own life path), the director has two stellar lead performers.

    Pugh has established herself as one of the best actors of her generation, and she imbues Allie with real human pain and sweetness, carefully unearthing (along with Braff’s sensitive direction) the transition from satisfied wife-to-be to haunted, damaged soul. Even just staring at the camera, tears glistening in her eyes, Pugh does more with a glance than some actors manage with a monologue.

    As Allie descends through the traditional steps of a story like this, hacking off her hair and –– in a very Braff-ian display of emotional quirk –– eschewing cars for a BMX bike, Pugh and her director make sure that the character almost always maintains our sympathy, struggling to be, as the title suggests, a good person.

    Freeman, meanwhile, is sometimes at the stage where he’s offered parts that hardly seem to challenge him and while conflicted former Daniel is indeed far from the most complicated character he’s played, the actor gives it his all, switching between twinkly compassion and frustration for those around him. Witness his stinging rebuke of Allie after she abandons Ryan during an unauthorized night in Manhattan.

    Daniel fits Freeman well, and he works well off of Pugh, the two matching each other for emotional beats and enlivening even the staidest of circumstances, such as Daniel showing Allie his impressive model train setup.

    It’s also worth noting that the movie is by no means devoid of humor, and there are some moments of levity, such as Daniel catching Ryan in bed with Quinn (Ignacio Diaz-Silverio), chasing the near-naked paramour out of the house, where he’s confronted by neighbor Belinda (Jackie Hoffman), who accosts Quinn with her garden hose while screeching that he’s a “f***boy”, or Shannon dipping in to her own vast well of comedy experience to make Diane a more entertaining character than the typical harried mother figure.

    Writer/director Zach Braff on the set of 'A Good Person,' a Metro Goldwyn Mayer Pictures film.
    Writer/director Zach Braff on the set of ‘A Good Person,’ a Metro Goldwyn Mayer Pictures film. Credit: Jeong Park / Metro Goldwyn Mayer Pictures. © 2023 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures Inc. All Rights Reserved.

    What problems does the movie have?

    For all the powerful performances that the likes of Pugh, Freeman and Shannon deliver, there’s no avoiding the fact that ‘A Good Person’ has very little that is fresh or new to say about addiction or other life challenges.

    Allie and Daniel’s stories plod along predictable arcs, and you can’t help but suppress a grimace of bored recognition when they fall into well-trodden behaviors, such as Allie flushing pills down the toilet or Daniel struggling with whether to unlock his gun from its safe when he learns Ryan is in trouble. If you’re going to utilize such established moments, at least find something truly fresh to do with them. Braff, sadly, just sticks with the expected and you can almost tick them off a checklist as they appear.

    And while you can see the logic in having Freeman, an actor with a voice so iconic it has been parodied for years, narrate the opening moments and voice a letter his character writes late on, you find yourself wishing Braff had found something more compelling and revelatory than having him as Daniel comment on how life doesn’t work out as neatly as in the curated world of model train sets. You might as well have him parading around with a sandwich board that screams, “This Is A Metaphor”. It’s frustrating and tiresome.

    There are important, humane things to be said about grief, but while the film offers a few of them, nothing here feels like it hasn’t been said, in better ways, a hundred times before. And for a movie promising complicated characters, it certainly wraps things up in the simplest fashion.

    Braff’s latest has a couple of great performances but can’t completely escape some very obvious cliches. It might be called ‘A Good Person’, but it’s only a slightly above average movie.

    ‘A Good Person’ receives 6.5 out of 10 stars.

    Florence Pugh as Allison in 'A Good Person,' directed by Zach Braff, a Metro Goldwyn Mayer Pictures film.
    Florence Pugh as Allison in ‘A Good Person,’ directed by Zach Braff, a Metro Goldwyn Mayer Pictures film. Credit: Metro Goldwyn Mayer Pictures. © 2023 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures Inc. All Rights Reserved.

    Other Movies Similar to ‘A Good Person:’

    Buy Tickets: ‘A Good Person’ Movie Showtimes

    Buy Zach Braff Movies On Amazon

    ‘A Good Person’ is produced by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Killer Films, RocketScience, Elevated Films, and Elevation Pictures, and is scheduled for release on March 24th.

  • ‘A Good Person’ Interview: Florence Pugh and Zach Braff

    4yNtsI08

    Opening in theaters on March 24th is the new drama ‘A Good Person,’ which was written and directed by ‘Garden State’s Zach Braff.

    What is ‘A Good Person’ about?

    ‘A Good Person’ follows Allison (Florence Pugh), a young woman whose life is changed forever after a fatal car accident kills her future in-laws, causing her relationship to end and sending her on a downward spiral of drug abuse.

    With the help of her supportive but enabling mother Diane (Molly Shannon), Allison enrolls in a treatment program where she meets retired police officer and recovering alcoholic Daniel (Morgan Freeman), who is also her ex-fiancé’s dad and the father of the passengers who died in her accident. While they don’t see eye to eye at first, eventually they form a friendship and overcome their grief and addiction together.

    b6HZ4G67K8y35V74c8a5B5

    Who is in the Cast of ‘A Good Person?’

    ‘A Good Person’ stars Oscar nominee Florence Pugh (‘Little Women,’ ‘Black Widow’) as Allison, Oscar winner Morgan Freeman (‘Million Dollar Baby,’ ‘The Shawshank Redemption’) as Daniel, Molly Shannon (‘Me and Earl and the Dying Girl’) as Diane, Chinaza Uche (‘The Devil Below’) as Nathan, Celeste O’Connor (‘Ghostbusters: Afterlife’) as Ryan, and Zoe Lister-Jones (‘State of Play’) as Simone.

    Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with Florence Pugh, as well as writer and director Zach Braff to discuss their work on ‘A Good Person,’ writing the screenplay, creating Pugh’s character, being directed by Braff, researching addiction, the importance of music in the movie, and working with the great Morgan Freeman.

    'A Good Person,' writer and director Zach Braff.
    ‘A Good Person,’ writer and director Zach Braff.

    You can read the full interview below or click on the video player above to watch our interviews with Pugh, Braff, and Molly Shannon.

    Moviefone: To begin with, Zach, can you talk about the research you did into addiction and recovery, and what you did to make sure those scenes were as accurate as possible?

    Zach Braff: Well, I did a lot. I live in Hollywood where there’s plenty of people who are in recovery and in programs, so I have plenty of friends and loved ones that I could rely on. Sometimes it was calls, sometimes it was texting. I’ve been to meetings with friends to support them. Then when I finally had a draft of the script, I got in touch with someone who runs a recovery center who answered a lot of my questions, and then he put us in touch with a woman who not only had recovered from an opioid addiction, but was now helping other young women. She not only was our onset person, but she really sat with Florence and advised her on the feelings of withdrawal, the feelings of trying to go cold turkey and really coached Florence on what would the accurate feelings be, and that was just invaluable.

    MF: Florence, can you talk about your approach to playing Allison and the guilt that she carries around with her?

    Florence Pugh: Well, it’s a tough role to step into, especially as I understood her and got to know her as Zach was writing her. So I felt like I really did understand the mental state that she was in. I knew that I needed to give a specific performance. I think for me, one of the ways that I always try and figure out someone, especially if they’re going through such intense and dark times, is I always try and put myself in their situation. I think that’s easy with Allison and all the other characters in this script because they are so relatable. It could have been any of us. It’s not like she was texting or on Instagram, or anything like that. She was on Maps, which is something that everybody does. She suffered an injury and was put on opiates, which could happen to anyone and does happen to many people. It affects many people. So I think for me, getting in the head space of someone that is clearly at many versions of rock bottom was, “All right, well, I have to put myself in that position.” Through that, that’s also why I wrote a song for that, and I was just trying to write as if I were her and what I’d be feeling. What I’d be wanting to do to myself and all of the things that you really have to go through to try and get this character right.

    Florence Pugh stars in 'A Good Person,' written and directed by Zach Braff.
    Florence Pugh stars in ‘A Good Person,’ written and directed by Zach Braff.

    MF: Zach, music has always played an important role in your films. Can you talk about that and creating Allison’s musical sequences in this movie with Florence?

    ZB: Well, I love music. I grew up on musicals. My dad used to bring me into New York to see musicals. I love them. I went to musical theater camp as a kid. I’m a musical theater geek. So I think that I’ve always, even from a young age, been aware of the power of placing the right song in the right spot. I have running playlists on my phone that are like, “This would be cool in a movie somewhere, sometime, someplace.” Of course, there’s input from friends, my editor and a music supervisor, and we amassed this massive list of songs and we just kept trying them. You just never know until you find the right spot. Then I’ll see the hairs on my arm stand up, and I’ll say, “Okay, I think this might be a contender.” With this film, we had the unique experience of having Florence write songs for the character. There’s two different songs that are on the soundtrack that Florence wrote herself, and that’s just a really unique thing to have someone write a song in the character of the protagonist. That’s unique to anything I’ve done before.

    MF: Florence, can you talk about the unusual friendship that Allison and Daniel form together, how that helps them both with overcoming their addiction and loss, and what it was like working on those scenes with Morgan Freeman?

    FP: I think it’s a friendship that is unexpected but needed, and it’s full of care and love and understanding. Because it’s unexpected, it’s really enjoyable to watch as an audience member. And really they are the only people that understand what they are going through. They understand truly the level of pain that they’re both in. I think because obviously Daniel is in AA and understands addiction, he is the only person that is keeping her from really sinking to a whole new low. Working with Morgan Freeman was a bizarre and surreal experience. This is someone that we all we know so well. We know that voice. He is God! It was just fantastic to be able to play with him and act with him, and throw anything that he’s throwing at me back. It was quite magnificent.

    Florence Pugh as Allison and Morgan Freeman as Daniel in 'A Good Person,' directed by Zach Braff, a Metro Goldwyn Mayer Pictures film.
    (L to R) Florence Pugh as Allison and Morgan Freeman as Daniel in ‘A Good Person,’ directed by Zach Braff, a Metro Goldwyn Mayer Pictures film. Credit: Jeong Park / Metro Goldwyn Mayer Pictures. © 2023 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures Inc. All Rights Reserved.

    MF: Zach, can you talk about Florence and Morgan’s chemistry together on screen? Did you know on the first day of shooting that their chemistry together would work for these characters and their story?

    ZB: You obviously never know, but I knew they’re both fantastic and they’re both at the top of their game, and I just love the image. I pictured that Jersey diner booth, and I saw the image. In fact, I had a concept artist paint Florence sitting opposite Morgan, and I just thought, “I want to see that movie. I’m so interested in seeing one of the greatest actors of all time with the most exciting ingenue of our time. I want to see what that dance looks like,” and they really delivered.

    MF: Finally, Florence, what was it like for you as an actress to work with Zach as a director and collaborate with him to create this character and this movie?

    FP: Well, it really was collaborative. We wanted to make this movie. He wanted to write this for me. He wanted to direct it, and I think I was able to understand this world whilst he was writing it. I wasn’t allowed to read the script until it was completed and finished. I think he was obviously just very nervous about giving it to me, and he knows that I’m really pernickety about dialogue and I really love it when it flows. So I think he just wanted to make sure that it was completely perfect. Well, not completely perfect, but at a state that he wasn’t maybe so sensitive. So, I was fully aware of what he was trying to do, and what we were going to make. I understood the world, and I understood the characters. So by the time that I stepped into Allison, I really knew her inside and out. It wasn’t hard to understand. I just needed to breathe some life into her and then of course, try and tackle how to play her version of addiction.

    Writer/director Zach Braff on the set of 'A Good Person,' a Metro Goldwyn Mayer Pictures film.
    Writer/director Zach Braff on the set of ‘A Good Person,’ a Metro Goldwyn Mayer Pictures film. Credit: Jeong Park / Metro Goldwyn Mayer Pictures. © 2023 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures Inc. All Rights Reserved.

    Other Movies Similar to ‘A Good Person:’

    Buy Tickets: ‘A Good Person’ Movie Showtimes

    Buy Zach Braff Movies On Amazon

    ‘A Good Person’ is produced by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Killer Films, RocketScience, Elevated Films, and Elevation Pictures, and is scheduled for release on March 24th.

  • Oscar Winner Juliette Binoche Talks ‘Paradise Highway’

    aRzLNaxR

    Opening in theaters, on digital, and on demand July 29th is the new thriller ‘Paradise Highway’ from writer and director Anna Gutto (‘Home for Christmas’).

    The movie revolves around Sally (Juliette Binoche), a truck driver who reluctantly smuggles a young girl named Leila (Hala Finley) to save her imprisoned brother Dennis (Frank Grillo).

    As Sally and Leila bond during their dangerous journey across state lines, a retired FBI agent (Morgan Freeman) and his new partner (Cameron Monaghan) are determined to take down the human-trafficking operation and bring Sally and Leila to safety.

    Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with Oscar winner Juliette Binoche about her work on ‘Paradise Highway,’ her first reaction to the screenplay, Leila’s impact on Sally, and her co-dependent relationship with her brother.

    Juliette Binoche in Lionsgate's 'Paradise Highway.'
    Juliette Binoche in Lionsgate’s ‘Paradise Highway.’

    You can read our full interview below or click on the video player above to watch our interviews with Juliette Binoche, Hala Finley, Cameron Monaghan, Frank Grillo, and writer/director Anna Gutto.

    Moviefone: When you first read the screenplay, what were some of the aspects of the character of Sally that really intrigued you and that you wanted to explore more with this film?

    Juliette Binoche: I didn’t know how I was going to get into Sally, because it felt so far away from me. But the subject matter, the sex trafficking subject, as well as the truck driving excitement pulled me in. The director, Anna Gutto said, “No, you’ll be it.” She was always trusting that I could do it.

    Also, she put me in the hands of this wonderful woman who inspired the script, Desiree. She’s a woman truck driver and we went on trip together for a few days in order for me to understand what it felt like to sleep in a truck and to eat in truck, and all the truck stops and all the journey. I interviewed her for many hours. She’s very eloquent so she was able to really share her experiences in her life, and I got inspired by her.

    Also, the script was well written, so it said enough, but not too much because it’s terrible when scripts are too explanative. You don’t want that, but it was enough, so we got inside of it without having a book to read, it’s a journey you will experience.

    The big question for me was, “Are we going to find the actress to play Leila?” Because it’s such an important character in the film. The relationship between her and myself really has to be the root of it all. So, I was crossing fingers that Anna was going to find the right person. I have to say, when we started shooting, the first day, I was like so relieved because Hala was really an actress.

    Hala Finely and Juliette Binoche in Lionsgate's 'Paradise Highway.'
    (L to R) Hala Finely and Juliette Binoche in Lionsgate’s ‘Paradise Highway.’

    MF: Can you talk about the relationship that builds between Sally and Leila and the moment Sally realizes she needs to help her?

    JB: I don’t know if there’s a specific moment. Probably when she takes care of her, she’s cleaning her, and she sees that Leila is really this weak little girl. Probably my character is really feeling something. It’s true that in our experiences, when we see somebody at the lowest physically or emotionally, that’s where our heart is opening.

    I think for Sally, because she is caught up inside of a relationship with her brother, the past, and the trauma she’s been through with her father and all that, it’s very hard for her to unplug that because she feels responsible.

    She wants to keep that relationship with her brother until this Leila situation, having to take care of her, suddenly changes bit by bit her feelings. Her heart is finally opening up and understanding that you’ve got to choose a family of heart. Not only of blood, but of heart. That’s the journey she’s accomplishing in a way.

    Frank Grillo in Lionsgate's 'Paradise Highway.'
    Frank Grillo in Lionsgate’s ‘Paradise Highway.’

    MF: Finally, because of the trauma that Sally, and Dennis experienced together as children, they have a very co-dependent relationship with each other as adults. Can you talk about that complicated brother and sister relationship and how it manifests throughout the movie?

    JB: There’s this emotionally enmesh man who is so unhealthy. Yet, the need is still fed inside of that trauma. My character in the film, Sally, is a pleaser. She wants to make sure her brother is happy and to make sure that he’s saved. So, it’s fed with this unhealthy kind of relationship until she finds out at the end, the truth of it all, and that she has to make a separation.

    It’s so hard because we don’t want to separate from our parents. We don’t want to separate from our siblings because there’s an attachment that is so hard to unplug. But you have to choose your own life, your sanity, your own feelings, and your own thoughts. So, that’s a huge step to make. Not an easy one, but a huge one to make.

    Morgan Freeman and Juliette Binoche in Lionsgate's 'Paradise Highway.'
    (L to R) Morgan Freeman and Juliette Binoche in Lionsgate’s ‘Paradise Highway.’
    8dBFmxyDcd2yoY9NFRHtR3
  • Gerard Butler Is on the Hunt in New ‘Angel Has Fallen’ Trailer

    Gerard Butler Is on the Hunt in New ‘Angel Has Fallen’ Trailer

    Angel Has Fallen trailer still
    Lionsgate Movies/YouTube

    Secret Service agent Mike Banning is at it again.

    Lionsgate has released a new trailer for “Angel Has Fallen” starring Gerard Butler, and there is no rest for the weary. In the sequel to “Olympus Has Fallen” and “London Has Fallen,” Butler’s Banning is not only trying to protect the president (Morgan Freeman) but also clear his name after he’s framed for an assassination attempt.

    The trailer shows Banning discussing migraines he’s been having. He claims they started after a concussion he got in a car accident, but from the rest of the footage we see, there are bigger risks in his life than riding in a car. He becomes the subject of a massive manhunt, and yet, in spite of the danger, he seems to have a plan.

    “Don’t worry about finding me,” he says at one point. “I’ll find you.”

    Watch below.

    Butler and Freeman star alongside Jada Pinkett Smith, Lance Reddick, Tim Blake Nelson, and Piper Perabo. The cast also includes Nick Nolte and Danny Huston.

    “Angel Has Fallen” opens Aug. 23.

  • ‘Angel Has Fallen’ Trailer: Gerard Butler Is Framed for an Assassination Attempt

    ‘Angel Has Fallen’ Trailer: Gerard Butler Is Framed for an Assassination Attempt

    Angel Has Fallen trailer still
    Lionsgate Movies/YouTube

    Life isn’t getting any less exciting for Gerard Butler‘s Secret Service agent character, Mike Banning.

    The new “Angel Has Fallen” trailer is here, and it looks as action-packed as its predecessors, 2013’s “Olympus Has Fallen” and 2016’s “London Has Fallen.” Butler reprises his role as Banning, who works to protect President Allan Trumball, again played by Morgan Freeman. It’s no easy feat — there’s an attempt on the president’s life early on in the trailer, and Banning is framed for the crime. He goes on the run as he tries to clear his name and unravel the plot.

    “The president is not safe,” he says. “They’re trying to finish the job, and I’m not going to stop until I prove who did this.”

    Watch below.

    The film is directed by Ric Roman Waugh, and the cast also includes Jada Pinkett Smith, Lance Reddick, Tim Blake Nelson, Piper Perabo, Nick Nolte, and Danny Huston.

    “Angel Has Fallen” opens Aug. 23.