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Tag: scott-eastwood

  • ‘Tin Soldier’ Exclusive Interview: Scott Eastwood

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    Opening in theaters on September 12th before arriving on digital and On-Demand beginning September 30th is the new action thriller ‘Tin Soldier’, which was directed by Brad Furman (‘The Lincoln Lawyer’), and stars Scott Eastwood (‘Fast X’), John Leguizamo (‘Violent Night’), and Oscar winners Jamie Foxx (‘Miami Vice’), and Robert De Niro (‘Heat’).

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    Scott Eastwood in 'Tin Soldier'. Photo: Samuel Goldwyn Films.
    Scott Eastwood in ‘Tin Soldier’. Photo: Samuel Goldwyn Films.

    Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with Scott Eastwood about his work on ‘Tin Soldier’, his first reaction to the screenplay, his research into cults, what his character is fighting for, working with Jamie Foxx and Robert De Niro, doing his own stunts, and collaborating with director Brad Furman, as well as giving an update on when ‘Fast X: Part 2‘ will begin production.

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

    Related Article: Scott Eastwood Talks ‘Alarum’ and the ‘Fast & Furious’ Franchise

    (L to R) Scott Eastwood and Jamie Foxx in 'Tin Soldier'. Photo: Samuel Goldwyn Films.
    (L to R) Scott Eastwood and Jamie Foxx in ‘Tin Soldier’. Photo: Samuel Goldwyn Films.

    Moviefone: To begin with, what was your first reaction to the screenplay and why did you want to be part of this project?

    Scott Eastwood: The setup was quite interesting. It was original, but it’s something you could imagine could happen if a cult had formed, but instead of a bunch of yahoos, it’s ex-military. I thought that that was an interesting concept and having the one guy who had escaped the cult called back to help the government go in and break it up. At the same time, he is lured in by his wife who had gone missing, that she might still be alive. I thought that was an interesting concept. Also, Jamie Foxx and Robert De Niro, it was like, that’s a no-brainer. I got to work with those two.

    MF: Did you do research into real-life cults and the mindset of a person who is a former cult member?

    SE: Yeah. I watched a ton of documentaries about them. Luckily in recent years there’s been a lot of documentaries about these cults, whether it’s ‘Wild Wild Country’ or the Waco stuff. There’s been a lot more docs about them and a lot more deep dives into the psychology and how the brainwashing happens. It’s interesting stuff.

    (L to R) Scott Eastwood and Jamie Foxx in 'Tin Soldier'. Photo: Samuel Goldwyn Films.
    (L to R) Scott Eastwood and Jamie Foxx in ‘Tin Soldier’. Photo: Samuel Goldwyn Films.

    MF: Can you talk about the relationship between Nash and Bokushi and what was it like working with on those scenes with Jamie Foxx?

    SE: Yeah, from the research, they sort of all have the same playbook. They break you down and then build you up and they become like a messiah for people and then it always seems that they turn ugly in some of the manifestations of these behaviors. Whoever these figures are, whether it’s the Bhagwan (Shree Rajneesh), Ron L. Hubbard, it sort of turns dark. Working with Jamie was great. I mean, he made some wild choices with this guy. So, getting to work opposite him was, for me, it made the job quite easy because he’s a bigger than life character, and he brought a ton of interesting choices to him. So as an actor it’s a dream because you just sort of react to those choices.

    MF: Did you know Jamie already before making this movie?

    SE: I did. Yeah, I did, and Jamie’s a great guy. He’s great and he’s easy to work with and super giving and friendly. He brings a vibe to the set that always gets people to smile and relax so you can be there and have fun doing your job.

    Robert De Niro in 'Tin Soldier'. Photo: Samuel Goldwyn Films.
    Robert De Niro in ‘Tin Soldier’. Photo: Samuel Goldwyn Films.

    MF: You have some intense scenes with Robert De Niro. How did you prepare for those scenes and were you intimidated working with him?

    SE: Just like anything, yes, you feel that you want to do a good job, you want to bring life to this character, but that’s all just reps in the gym beforehand. By the time you get on set, you’ve already done all the hard work. You’ve already done the performance 10,000 times. You’ve done the emotional work, you’ve done all the prep work, so by the time you get there, then you can just relax and do the best job you can do. That all comes from your prep, prepping and doing the performance a bunch, and then you just get to show up and have fun.

    MF: What did you learn from working with De Niro, and could you see his greatness in the scene when you were acting opposite him?

    SE: Well, I think he would probably tell you the same thing. I’ve intellectualized a little bit about acting with him, and then I’ve also heard him speak through the years about process, but it’s a similar thing. If you’ve done the work and you’ve done the performance 10,000 times and you’ve mined it and go deeper and deeper into everything from all the choices the character would make, and just really discovering that, then by the time you get to the set, the hard work is done. I mean, I’ve heard him say that many times and we spoke about that.

    Robert De Niro in 'Tin Soldier'. Photo: Samuel Goldwyn Films.
    Robert De Niro in ‘Tin Soldier’. Photo: Samuel Goldwyn Films.

    MF: I’ve heard that De Niro likes to do a table read with the cast before he signs on to a project to make sure it’s something that he wants to be involved with. Is that true? Was that the case on this film?

    SE: We didn’t do a table read that I can remember with him. My memory’s a little fuzzy, but I don’t remember doing that. But he is so prepped when he shows up on set. I mean, he has done all the work and really explored the character.

    MF: In many ways, as an ex-military and a former member of this cult, Nash is uniquely qualified for this mission. Can you talk about that and how he feels about going back to confront Bokushi?

    SE: Yeah, he is. I mean, he’s been in that world, sucked in and was really the only one to get out. So, he’s got that inside information and he’s been pulled back in. He is at the same time, I think, a very tormented character through what he’s been through, so he’s got that pulling at him, the whole movie, which makes him a very complex guy.

    Jamie Foxx in 'Tin Soldier'. Photo: Samuel Goldwyn Films.
    Jamie Foxx in ‘Tin Soldier’. Photo: Samuel Goldwyn Films.

    MF: Nash returns to save his wife, who he is not even sure is still alive. Is that what drives the character in your opinion?

    SE: That’s what drives him, yeah. That’s sort of the emotional rollercoaster of the film. That’s the heart of it, trying to discover the truth, get back to the truth and find out if she’s alive. Which made it, that’s like the North Star. That’s all he really cares about. He doesn’t really care about trying to break this thing up. He’s there for his own reasons to see if his wife is alive.

    MF: Can you talk about shooting the action sequences and did you do all the stunts yourself?

    SE: I think so. Not everything. There were certain stunts, and we shot this movie in Greece. I find that anytime you go into Europe, you get away with a little bit more. You get away with some bigger stunts and get away with some stuff that might not be allowed in the U.S., which always makes for a better movie because you get a bigger production value out of it. But no, there were certain stunts that they didn’t want me doing that I sort of acquiesced and said, “Oh great, let’s let someone else do that one. That one seems like it’s threading the needle a little bit.” But I try to do as much as I can. It just helps the movie. When you can do the most that you can, then the movie becomes more visceral. You don’t have to cheat things; you can do cool camera movements if you keep the actor in those stunts.

    Scott Eastwood as “Joe” in the action crime thriller 'Alarum', a Lionsgate release. Photo courtesy of Lionsgate.
    Scott Eastwood as “Joe” in the action crime thriller ‘Alarum’, a Lionsgate release. Photo courtesy of Lionsgate.

    MF: You’ve played characters with military backgrounds before. Do you have to retrain every time or does the training stay with you?

    SE: You brush up on it before you do gun work and before you do that stuff. I think you always brush up on it just to keep it tight and make sure that’s good. But yeah, it’s in the toolbox for sure, so that’s easy for me.

    MF: What was your experience like collaborating with director Brad Furman on set?

    SE: Fascinating. He’s very complex and very visual. He’s a fascinating guy. We had a very tough shoot, but the movie turned out to be a wild ride.

    Scott Eastwood in 'The Fate of the Furious'. Photo: Universal Pictures.
    Scott Eastwood in ‘The Fate of the Furious’. Photo: Universal Pictures.

    MF: Finally, can you give us an update on ‘Fast X: Part 2’? Have you seen a script yet or do you know when you’ll begin shooting?

    SE: I don’t know, but I know that there’s talk about it and whispers about it right now. It’s happening right now.

    Jamie Foxx in 'Tin Soldier'. Photo: Samuel Goldwyn Films.
    Jamie Foxx in ‘Tin Soldier’. Photo: Samuel Goldwyn Films.

    What is the plot of ‘Tin Soldiers’?

    The Bokushi (Jamie Foxx), who preaches to hundreds of veterans who have been drawn to the promise of protection and purpose under him. After several failed infiltration attempts on his impenetrable fortress, military operative Emmanuel Ashburn (Robert De Niro) recruits Nash Cavanaugh (Scott Eastwood), an ex-special forces asset who was once a disciple of The Bokushi. Nash agrees to use his insider knowledge of the enigmatic leader as he seeks vengeance on the man who took everything from him, including the love of his life.

    Who is in the cast of ‘Tin Soldiers’?

    'Tin Soldier' opens in theaters on September 12th. Photo: Samuel Goldwyn Films.
    ‘Tin Soldier’ opens in theaters on September 12th. Photo: Samuel Goldwyn Films.

    List of Scott Eastwood Movies:

    Buy Tickets: ‘Tin Soldier’ Movie Showtimes

    Buy Scott Eastwood Movies On Amazon

     

  • ‘Alarum’ Exclusive Interview: Scott Eastwood

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    Opening in theaters, on demand and digital on January 17th is the new action thriller ‘Alarum’, which was directed by Michael Polish (‘The Astronaut Farmer’), and stars Scott Eastwood (‘Suicide Squad’, ‘Fast X’), Sylvester Stallone (‘Rocky’, ‘Cop Land’), Willa Fitzgerald (‘Reacher’), and Mike Colter (‘Plane’).

    Related Article: Tyrese Gibson and Scott Eastwood Talk ‘1992’ and Working with Ray Liotta

    Scott Eastwood as “Joe” in the action crime thriller 'Alarum', a Lionsgate release. Photo courtesy of Lionsgate.
    Scott Eastwood as “Joe” in the action crime thriller ‘Alarum’, a Lionsgate release. Photo courtesy of Lionsgate.

    Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with Scott Eastwood about his work on ‘Alarum’, his first reaction to the screenplay, his character’s marriage, working with Mike Colter and their characters’ unlikely alliance, what he learned from working with the legendary Sylvester Stallone, and collaborating with the stunt team on the action sequences, as well as the future of the ‘Fast & Furious‘ franchise.

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

    Scott Eastwood as “Joe” in the action crime thriller 'Alarum', a Lionsgate release. Photo courtesy of Lionsgate.
    Scott Eastwood as “Joe” in the action crime thriller ‘Alarum’, a Lionsgate release. Photo courtesy of Lionsgate.

    Moviefone: To begin with, what was your first reaction this screenplay, your character, and exploring the spy world?

    Scott Eastwood: Well, to be honest, I really liked the writing. I think Stallone gravitated to the writing. The way that the characters spoke it reminded me of old movies from the ’80s or ’90s. Just the writing was interesting. I will say though, this movie was supposed to take place on a tropical island and at a tropical resort. We were going to make it at the end of 2023, and I don’t know if you remember, but the economy was tight and the film market was tight, and so trying to get it made for the right budget to go and do it was a huge feat. So, the thing got switched last second to make it in a state that would give us some tax rebate and we could go and make it. So, it wasn’t exactly the way it was written, but we made it work and we changed it to Eastern Europe.

    MF: Michael Caine has said publically that he picks projects based on where they are filming. Is that something you do as well, and how disappointed were you when the production changed locations?

    SE: Oh yeah. Big time. I like warm movies. I think this movie would’ve been interesting, hot, sweaty, and sexy, but it is what it is. If you want to make a movie, sometimes you got to just roll with the punches.

    MF: In a lot of ways, ‘Alarum’ is a love story. Can you talk about that, the dynamics of Joe’s marriage to Laura, and working with Willa Fitzgerald?

    SE: It’s about their complicated relationship, right? You marry a spy and things are going to get complicated. She’s great. By the way, she’s super physical. I think she was a dancer, so she has a real control over her body. She’s just great. She’s a cool person. She’s fun.

    Willa Fitzgerald as “Lara” in the action crime thriller 'Alarum', a Lionsgate release. Photo courtesy of Lionsgate.
    Willa Fitzgerald as “Lara” in the action crime thriller ‘Alarum’, a Lionsgate release. Photo courtesy of Lionsgate.

    MF: Did you know Sylvester Stallone before working with him on this movie?

    SE: I believe we’d met in passing many years ago, but he was on my list. He was on the rolling list of guys I really want to work with.

    MF: What did you learn from working with him?

    SE: He’s an action icon and getting to work with a guy like that, with an iconography of that kind of body of work, it’s cool. He’s a legend, so just getting to work with him is good enough for me.

    MF: In addition to being a legendary actor, Stallone is also a very accomplished writer and director. Do you see that side of his brain working while he is acting on set?

    SE: So, people ask what kind of questions I asked him, and they were less fanfare questions and more writing and understanding material questions because he has such a good grasp of material and what makes good material versus mediocre material. You really can (see that in his work). I was telling people that the reason that his show (‘Tulsa King’) I think is so successful is because he really understands his character and his iconography, who he is, what age he is, how he should play that guy that he plays, and he makes it light, hard and fun. I think because he writes on those shows that they’re very interesting because of that.

    (L to R) Scott Eastwood as “Joe” and Sylvester Stallone as “Chester” in the action crime thriller 'Alarum', a Lionsgate release. Photo courtesy of Lionsgate.
    (L to R) Scott Eastwood as “Joe” and Sylvester Stallone as “Chester” in the action crime thriller ‘Alarum’, a Lionsgate release. Photo courtesy of Lionsgate.

    MF: Have you seen your process as an actor change because of working with Stallone?

    SE: I think every chance you work on a film is a good learning experience. Right? Do you pick up something? Do you pick up the way a director does something, the way an actor approaches material? There’s always learning experiences.

    MF: Can you talk about the relationship between Joe and Chester? Was Chester a mentor to Joe at one point?

    SE: Yeah, a former mentor, they did missions together, and then the spy world is full of betrayal, which I love. You never know who is going to betray who, so I thought that was interesting.

    MF: Can you talk about the unlikely alliance that Joe makes with Mike Colter’s character?

    SE: I mean look, they make an alliance I think, out of necessity. Not because they wanted to, but they got to do it. They need to stick together.

    Mike Colter as “Orlin” in the action crime thriller 'Alarum', a Lionsgate release. Photo courtesy of Lionsgate.
    Mike Colter as “Orlin” in the action crime thriller ‘Alarum’, a Lionsgate release. Photo courtesy of Lionsgate.

    MF: Joe has a military background, and you have appeared in other movies where your character has a similar background and you’ve prepared for those roles with weapons and military training. Since you’ve done that training in the past for other movies, do you go through that training again for each role, or does that training stay with you from movie to movie?

    SE: A lot of that stuff sort of sticks once you know it. I’ve gone through a few immersion training programs, especially with weapons and close-quarter combat training and stuff that’s stuck in my mind. It’s like once you ride a bike you know how to do it. You might need to brush up if you’re going to do a scene that’s dynamic, you might want to brush up like the day before work with somebody again just to refresh, but it comes back quick.

    MF: Can you talk about the action sequences and working on those with the stunt team? Was there any sequence that you found particularly difficult to execute?

    SE: I think it’s just always making it look good and that’s the challenge. We had a very short schedule. This movie was made in a tough economical time, so we had a very short schedule and to try to get the action to look cool and make sure it was believable and good is always tough when you have less time to do it. When you have more time to do it, you have a longer schedule, you can dial it in, you can shoot it from a lot of different angles, you have more time to tell that story and make it look cool. The pressure cooker is on the stunt guys, on the stunt team, on my stunt double, and on me. All those things we’re running and gunning and we’re trying to make it look good.

    MF: Do you like working like that, or are you more comfortable on a bigger movie where there is more time and money to get the action sequences right?

    SE: Yeah, there’s a fine line. I think you get on the ‘Fast & Furious’ sometimes and they become so disconnected from the action because you have a full second unit that could be as big as most first-unit movies and I think I like it somewhere in between. I like typically a 40-day schedule to 45-day schedule for a movie. I think it gives you enough time, but also keeps the actors connected to the action, which I think makes it look better and more realistic sometimes.

    (Clockwise, from left) Letty (Michelle Rodriguez), Han (Sung Kang), Ramsey (Nathalie Emmanuel), Dom (Vin Diesel), Little Brian (Leo Abelo Perry), Abuelita (Rita Moreno), Mia (Jordana Brewster), Tej (Chris ‘Ludacris’ Bridges, back to camera) and Roman (Tyrese Gibson, back to camera) in 'Fast X,' directed by Louis Leterrier.
    (Clockwise, from left) Letty (Michelle Rodriguez), Han (Sung Kang), Ramsey (Nathalie Emmanuel), Dom (Vin Diesel), Little Brian (Leo Abelo Perry), Abuelita (Rita Moreno), Mia (Jordana Brewster), Tej (Chris ‘Ludacris’ Bridges, back to camera) and Roman (Tyrese Gibson, back to camera) in ‘Fast X,’ directed by Louis Leterrier.

    MF: Finally, what has it been like for you to join the ‘Fast & Furious’ family and are you excited to start shooting ‘Fast X: Part 2’?

    SE: It’s always a great time getting to work with Vin (Diesel), Tyrese (Gibson), Ludacris and all the foes, including Jason (Momoa). It’s always fun because it is like a big family and so it’s fun to jump in and get your rounds in the ring.

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    What is the plot of ‘Alarum’?

    Two spies (Scott Eastwood and Willa Fitzgerald) go rogue so that they can get married, but their remote cabin comes under attack from various intelligence agencies, each looking for a stolen hard drive.

    Who is in the cast of ‘Alarum’?

    • Sylvester Stallone as Agent Chester
    • Scott Eastwood as Agent Joe Travers
    • Willa Fitzgerald as Agent Laura
    • Mike Colter as Orlin
    • Ísis Valverde as Bridgette
    • D. W. Moffett as Director Burbridge
    (L to R) Sylvester Stallone as “Chester,” Willa Fitzgerald as “Lara” and Scott Eastwood as “Joe” in the action crime thriller 'Alarum', a Lionsgate release. Photo courtesy of Lionsgate.
    (L to R) Sylvester Stallone as “Chester,” Willa Fitzgerald as “Lara” and Scott Eastwood as “Joe” in the action crime thriller ‘Alarum’, a Lionsgate release. Photo courtesy of Lionsgate.

    List of Scott Eastwood Movies:

    Buy Tickets: ‘Alarum’ Movie Showtimes

    Buy Scott Eastwood Movies On Amazon

     

  • ‘1992’ Interview: Tyrese Gibson and Scott Eastwood

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    Opening in theaters on August 30th is the new action movie ‘1992’, which was directed by Ariel Vromen (‘The Iceman’) and Tyrese Gibson (‘Fast X’), Scott Eastwood (‘Suicide Squad’) and the late great Ray Liotta (‘Goodfellas’).

    Related Article: Movie Review: ‘Fast X’

    (L to R) Tyrese Gibson and Scott Eastwood star in '1992'.
    (L to R) Tyrese Gibson and Scott Eastwood star in ‘1992’.

    Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with Tyrese Gibson and Scott Eastwood about their work on ‘1992’, making a heist movie with the backdrop of the LA Riots, their characters, collaborating with director Ariel Vromen and working with the legendary Ray Liotta.

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

    Scott Eastwood as Riggin Bigby in the Action, Crime, Thriller film, '1992', a Lionsgate release. Photo courtesy of Lionsgate.
    Scott Eastwood as Riggin Bigby in the Action, Crime, Thriller film, ‘1992’, a Lionsgate release. Photo courtesy of Lionsgate.

    Moviefone: To begin with, Scott, what was your first reaction to the screenplay and the idea of making a heist movie with the backdrop of the LA Riots?

    Scott Eastwood: I am always attracted to heist movies. One, I loved movies like ‘The Town’ and ‘Den of Thieves’. I think if you like those types of movies, you’ll like this type of movie because it’s a heist movie, but it’s got high stakes, and it’s set upon the backdrop, like you said. It’s also really grounded. It’s got some dynamic character issues that create a lot of conflict, and that stood out for me in this film.

    MF: Tyrese, what was your first reaction to the screenplay and the plot of the film?

    Tyrese Gibson: The crazy thing is when I got the ‘1992’ script, we read it and then at some point got on with Ariel Vromen, our director, who is brilliant, and I love him so much. After reading the script, I realized quickly that I don’t want to do a heist movie and I don’t want to just do a movie about the riots. So, if we can’t do them both, then this is not a movie for me because there’s plenty of documentaries. So yeah, it was a journey to pull this all together. I was there protesting on April 29th, 1992. So was Snoop Dogg, believe it or not. So, it’s unbelievable to be here. God has a sense of humor like, “You’re in the riots, you’re out there protesting, you’re active, you got your boots on the ground, and I’m glad you’re doing this right now because 30 years from now, you’re about to do a movie.” What a life.

    Tyrese Gibson as Mercer in the Action, Crime, Thriller film, '1992', a Lionsgate release. Photo courtesy of Lionsgate.
    Tyrese Gibson as Mercer in the Action, Crime, Thriller film, ‘1992’, a Lionsgate release. Photo courtesy of Lionsgate.

    MF: Scott, can you talk about your approach to this character and why this heist is so important to him?

    SE: I think this is his Moby Dick, right? He’s got to do this to get out. This is for him. He does not want to be in this world. He’s got other dreams of getting out. The character was an amalgamation of guys I’d seen growing up, Riverside guys, East County guys, rough around the edges, tatted up. I had seen guys like that growing up, so I was able to steal character traits and things and pepper it in there.

    MF: Can you talk about his uneasy relationship with his father and what it was like working with Ray Liotta?

    SE: It was perfect because Ray is a no-bulls**t kind of guy. You know what you’re getting with him, and he doesn’t intellectualize about the work. It’s like, “Let’s do it.” So, there was an uneasiness about it and I think it created for exactly the relationship we have. There was an uneasiness, there was conflict. He’s a master. When they say action, he’s electric.

    (L to R) Ray Liotta as Lowell and Christopher A’mmanuel as Antoine in the Action, Crime, Thriller film, '1992', a Lionsgate release. Photo courtesy of Lionsgate.
    (L to R) Ray Liotta as Lowell and Christopher A’mmanuel as Antoine in the Action, Crime, Thriller film, ‘1992’, a Lionsgate release. Photo courtesy of Lionsgate.

    MF: Tyrese, what was your experience like working with Ray Liotta?

    TG: Ray Liotta was dark. He was intense, man. You walk up to him on the set, “Hey, Ray, how are you doing?” “Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.” He was really in it, which I appreciate. I’m one of those guys who’s like, “I don’t need you to explain what your space and what your zone is and how you go about getting in the spirit of your role.” But when it was time for us to do our scenes together, all that distance and being mean in my mind, it all showed up on camera.

    MF: Scott, can you talk about the unlikely alliance that Riggin makes with Mercer?

    SE: Look, they’re both in a father-son standoff, which is interesting. I like the parallel stories that go through the whole film about fathers and sons, and I thought that was one of the more interesting parts of this film.

    Tyrese Gibson as Mercer in the Action, Crime, Thriller film, '1992', a Lionsgate release. Photo courtesy of Lionsgate.
    Tyrese Gibson as Mercer in the Action, Crime, Thriller film, ‘1992’, a Lionsgate release. Photo courtesy of Lionsgate.

    MF: Tyrese, can you talk about how prison changed your character and what he’s trying to teach his son?

    TG: I think this specific character is Mr. Self-Sabotage, where there’s problems, where there’s issues, where there’s some street Crips and Bloods and shooting and killing. Just a typical dude in the hood that’s just going to end up on another episode of ‘The First 48’. That was my character, just got nothing to live for, and then had this child. The mother of my child knew that I was still out there very active and crazy, and just basically isolated me away from having a presence in my son’s life. Then she died and grandmother died, and I got full custody. So now you have this dynamic between, “You are my father, but you haven’t been present, and I know everybody here probably more than you.” Then trying to get him to understand that there’s nobody else here that matters in your life more than me, and everything about you being safe from this point on is going to happen on my back. Understanding you’re not my friend, you’re my son. If you don’t like what I’m saying and what I’m talking about or where we’re going, it’s not up for discussion. I’m your father. Get in the car, we’re leaving. That’s what we wanted to establish with that dynamic. Then the duality of me and my son versus the dynamic of Ray Liotta, rest in peace, and Scott, which just really built the contrast, it was inspiring and interesting.

    (L to R) Director/Co-Writer Ariel Vromen, Ray Liotta as Lowell and Scott Eastwood as Riggin Bigby behind the scenes of the Action, Crime, Thriller film, '1992', a Lionsgate release. Photo courtesy of Lionsgate.
    (L to R) Director/Co-Writer Ariel Vromen, Ray Liotta as Lowell and Scott Eastwood as Riggin Bigby behind the scenes of the Action, Crime, Thriller film, ‘1992’, a Lionsgate release. Photo courtesy of Lionsgate.

    MF: Scott, what was it like collaborating with director Ariel Vromen on set?

    SE: Ariel’s great. I’ve known Ariel for 20 years. Way before we ever decided to work together, we were friends. When I had seen him do ‘The Iceman’, I was like, “Let’s try to find something together.” I thought that was a well-executed film. This just fell into place. It was the right character, it was the right age, the right thing, and I thought it was an interesting original story.

    MF: Finally, is it fun making a heist movie?

    SE: I think there’s some exhausting moments, but there’s also some fun moments. It’s like any film. This film, a lot of it took place at night, so that’s tough. Nights are tough. Doing any action movie is tough. Your body’s beat up by the end of it. You’re crushed.

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    What is the plot of ‘1992’?

    In 1992, Mercer (Tyrese Gibson) endeavors to restore his life and relationship with his son during the unrest following the Rodney King verdict. Meanwhile, in another part of town, a father (Ray Liotta) and son (Scott Eastwood) confront their troubled relationship by planning a perilous heist at Mercer’s workplace. As tensions in Los Angeles escalate and chaos ensues, the two family’s cross paths.

    Who is in the cast of ‘1992’?

    (L to R) Ori Pfeffer as Murphy, Dylan Arnold as Dennis, Ray Liotta as Lowel, Clé Bennett as Copeland, Scott Eastwood as Riggin Bigby, and Oleg Taktarov as Titus in the Action, Crime, Thriller film, '1992', a Lionsgate release. Photo courtesy of Lionsgate.
    (L to R) Ori Pfeffer as Murphy, Dylan Arnold as Dennis, Ray Liotta as Lowel, Clé Bennett as Copeland, Scott Eastwood as Riggin Bigby, and Oleg Taktarov as Titus in the Action, Crime, Thriller film, ‘1992’, a Lionsgate release. Photo courtesy of Lionsgate.

    Other Heist Movies:

    Buy Tyrese Gibson Movies on Amazon

    Buy Scott Eastwood Movies on Amazon

  • Movie Review: ‘Fast X’

    (Clockwise, from left) Letty (Michelle Rodriguez), Han (Sung Kang), Ramsey (Nathalie Emmanuel), Dom (Vin Diesel), Little Brian (Leo Abelo Perry), Abuelita (Rita Moreno), Mia (Jordana Brewster), Tej (Chris ‘Ludacris’ Bridges, back to camera) and Roman (Tyrese Gibson, back to camera) in 'Fast X,' directed by Louis Leterrier.
    (Clockwise, from left) Letty (Michelle Rodriguez), Han (Sung Kang), Ramsey (Nathalie Emmanuel), Dom (Vin Diesel), Little Brian (Leo Abelo Perry), Abuelita (Rita Moreno), Mia (Jordana Brewster), Tej (Chris ‘Ludacris’ Bridges, back to camera) and Roman (Tyrese Gibson, back to camera) in ‘Fast X,’ directed by Louis Leterrier.

    ‘Fast X’ opening in theaters on May 19th, is the latest entry in the sprawling, wildly successful franchise that begun in much more humble fashion as a take on ‘Point Break’s undercover lawman genre in 2001 and his since spiraled into a bombastic action franchise revolving around the endlessly repeated theme of family.

    After a muted, disappointing entry with ‘F9: The Fast Saga’ in 2021 (which nevertheless did good business), it’s a relief to report that fans of the franchise, led by star/producer Vin Diesel, is a return to the ridiculous, stunt-heavy, common sense-free form that we’ve come know and appreciate.

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    What’s the story of ‘Fast X?

    Dominic Toretto (Diesel) is back living in the family home in Los Angeles with wife Letty (Michelle Rodriguez) and son Brian (Leo Abelo Perry). It’s a relatively quiet time for Dom and his gang, punctuated by family barbecues, driving lessons for Brian and a visit from his Abuela (Rita Moreno).

    But Dom’s peace is ruined when old enemy Cipher (Charlize Theron) shows up badly injured at his door one night, spinning a story of a new threat called Dante (Jason Momoa). He, it turns out, is the son of Hernan Reyes (Joaquim de Almeida), the drug kingpin that Dom and his team robbed and killed 10 years ago in Rio (as chronicled in the events of ‘Fast Five’ in 2011).

    (From left) Ramsey (Nathalie Emmanuel) and Han (Sung Kang) in 'Fast X,' directed by Louis Leterrier.
    (From left) Ramsey (Nathalie Emmanuel) and Han (Sung Kang) in ‘Fast X,’ directed by Louis Leterrier.

    Soon, the flamboyant, crazed Dante is setting traps for our heroes, including luring Roman (Tyrese Gibson), Tej (Ludacris), Ramsey (Nathalie Emmanuel) and Han (Sung Kang) on a fake mission to Rome where they and others, including spy agency member Little Nobody (Scott Eastwood) must stop a giant, rolling bomb from destroying parts of Rome and the Vatican.

    But when they’re all framed for the attack, the “family” is scattered to various parts of the world as Dante schemes and undermines them, stealing all their money and threatening their own family members.

    Soon Dom is locked in a frantic battle with Dante, forced to rely on everyone he loves, even as they’re put in mortal danger. Can he succeed against this powerful villain?

    Brie Larson is Tess in 'Fast X,' directed by Louis Leterrier.
    (Right) Brie Larson is Tess in ‘Fast X,’ directed by Louis Leterrier.

    Who else is in ‘Fast X’?

    The cast for the movie includes the returning likes of Jason Statham as Deckard Shaw, Helen Mirren as Queenie Shaw, Jordana Brewster as Mia Toretto, John Cena as Jakob Toretto, plus new recruits Brie Larson as Tess, Alan Ritchson as Aimes and Daniela Melchior as Isabel.

    Jason Momoa as Dante in 'Fast X', directed by Louis Leterrier.
    Jason Momoa as Dante in ‘Fast X’, directed by Louis Leterrier.

    Related Article: Vin Diesel Hints at the Idea of a 12th ‘Fast & Furious’ Movie, For a Finale Trilogy

    What works about ‘Fast X’

    To put it bluntly, there are two main advantages to the new ‘Fast’ movie, and the biggest is easily Jason Momoa. Clearly understanding that he A) needs to bring some fun and B) have some fun in the role of the big bad, he’s the most entertaining villain, and possibly the most entertaining character, the franchise has had for a long time.

    Extravagantly dressed, free of macho impulses and always ready with a quip, he’s a giant breath of fresh air that nevertheless also feels like a real challenge to Dom and co. Even his mantra of, “Never accept death when suffering is owed,” inherited from his late father (who is glimpsed in an opening blend of footage from ‘Fast Five’ and newly created shots) helps to justify why Dom and company usually tend to escape from their adventures all but unscathed. You might still find yourself shouting, “why don’t you just kill [insert name here]??” at various points, but that’s all part of the fun of the franchise.

    And let’s be honest: people “die” in this movie series and have returned before (Han in particular). It’s rarely the end it might be elsewhere.

    (From left) Little Brian (Leo Abelo Perry, back to camera) and Jakob (John Cena) in 'Fast X,' directed Louis Leterrier.
    (From left) Little Brian (Leo Abelo Perry, back to camera) and Jakob (John Cena) in ‘Fast X,’ directed Louis Leterrier.

    While there were real concerns after ‘F9’ felt like a tired retread of the usual tropes, a sign the movies are running out of gas, ‘Fast X’ actually comes across as a second wind, embracing the set piece silliness and leaning into the entertainment value. Aside from Momoa, it also succeeds by letting Cena embrace his more humorous side since switching sides from being the vengeful villain in the previous entry.

    An early briefing for a new character lets the franchise poke proper fun at itself, nodding towards the physics-defying action and globe-trotting story. It’s a canny way to catch up anyone who has decided to make this their first ‘Fast’ movie (though it’s hard to imagine anyone rocking up to these films without having seen at least one other).

    Plus, new director Louis Leterrier (who replaced veteran Justin Lin after the latter quit one week into production) is something of a revelation, bringing a combo of his ease with the sort of high-concept action where he started his career (such as ‘The Transporter’) and finding the emotional core these films need to work.

    Vin Diesel and Director Louis Leterrier on the set of 'Fast X.'
    (L to R) Vin Diesel and Director Louis Leterrier on the set of ‘Fast X.’

    What are the problems of the movie?

    For all its advantages, there are also the usually clunky elements, this entry still boasting scenes that make it seem as though a straight-to-DVD B-movie broke out in the middle of a summer blockbuster.

    Actors who have won Oscars struggle with dialogue that would trip any actor up, whole moments sounding like they were written by feeding to suggestions to a ChatGPT AI that was then dropped on its hard drive, so leaden and first base are the results. It’s especially glaring for any scenes set in the mysterious “agency” spy division currently run by Ritchson’s Aimes. The man who is Jack Reacher on TV doesn’t break free of the dodgy lines he’s handed. And even Larson can’t make Tess work beyond some basic motivations.

    And Diesel, despite being the core of the film, remains the one who treats it all so completely seriously that it’s actually less fun when he’s growling and putting the pedal to the metal.

    (From left) Queen (Helen Mirren) and Dom (Vin Diesel) in 'Fast X,' directed by Louis Leterrier.
    (From left) Queen (Helen Mirren) and Dom (Vin Diesel) in ‘Fast X,’ directed by Louis Leterrier.

    Even as the movie acknowledges its own ridiculous nature, you’ll end up giggling at how many times the word “family” is uttered as usual, and the number of familial connections between characters is becoming ever more ridiculous. Everyone Dom knows at this point is connected to someone else in the franchise. It’s not hard to imagine him running into someone at the local auto parts store who is a long-lost cousin.

    Fortunately, ‘Fast X’ is nimbler than ‘F9’ and papers over some of these typical cracks with gusto .

    ‘Fast X’ receives 8.5 out of 10 stars.

    Vin Diesel as Dom in 'Fast X,' directed by Louis Leterrier.
    Vin Diesel as Dom in ‘Fast X,’ directed by Louis Leterrier.

    Other Movies Similar to ‘Fast X:’

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    ‘Fast X’ is produced by Neal H. Moritz, Vin Diesel, Justin Lin, Jeff Kirschenbaum and Samantha Vincent. The executive producers are Joseph M. Caracciolo, Jr., David Cain, Chris Morgan, Amanda Lewis and Mark Bomback.

     

  • Vin Diesel Hints at 12th ‘Fast & Furious’ Movie

    Vin Diesel as Dom in 'Fast X,' directed by Louis Leterrier.
    Vin Diesel as Dom in ‘Fast X,’ directed by Louis Leterrier.

    Just when you though the ‘Fast & Furious’ team had really, truly finalized plans to wrap the franchise up (while still, of course, leaving the car door open for future spin-offs etc.) with the already-announced 11th entry as a two parter with this week’s ‘Fast X’ along comes star/producer Vin Diesel teasing that there could well be at least one more movie.

    Team ‘Fast’ headed to Rome shortly before the weekend for a big press event to promote the movie (which makes sense, since a chunk of the film takes place in the city).

    Interviewed by Fandango about a possible future for the franchise, Diesel said this,

    “It’s a really good question. As filmmakers, you want to allow people to enjoy the film without tipping the hat too much. I can say this. Going into making this movie, the studio had asked if this could be a two-parter. And after the studio saw this, part one, they said, could you make ‘Fast X’, the finale, a trilogy?”

    Diesel and co-star Michelle Rodriguez wouldn’t be drawn on whether it’ll happen for sure, though Diesel did say, “probably”.

    You can see the full video here:

    Of course, even though Diesel has an awful lot of say over developments in the ‘Fast’ world, it’s up to Universal whether this actually happens. But we can certainly see the studio happy to keep its most successful franchise motoring.

    Our guess –– and this is purely speculation –– is that executives are waiting to see the box office results of ‘Fast X’ before making any final decision.

    Jason Momoa is Dante in 'Fast X,' directed by Louis Leterrier.
    Jason Momoa is Dante in ‘Fast X,’ directed by Louis Leterrier.

    Related Article: Rita Moreno Joins ‘Fast X’

    What happens in ‘Fast X’?

    Directed by Louis Leterrier (who replaced Justin Lin) ‘Fast X’ picks up with Dom and his crew as they look to fend off the pair of big bads — the cyberterrorist Cipher (Charlize Theron) and her mysterious cohort, Dante (Jason Momoa), who, it turns out, has a link to another previous franchise antagonist, the drug kingpin Reyes, played in ‘Fast Five’ by Joaquim de Almeida.

    Dante, as the trailers for ‘Fast X’ have already revealed, is the son of Reyes, and has spent the time since ‘Fast Five’ plotting his revenge against Dom and co.

    Dom and the usual gang will need help of a new friend, Tess (Brie Larson), who has her own connections to a supporting ‘Fast’ character.

    The cast for this one is typically sprawling and includes Tyrese Gibson, Sung Kang, Chris “Ludacris” Bridges, John Cena, Jason Statham, Alan Ritchson, Nathalie Emmanuel, Michael Rooker, Helen Mirren, Daniela Melchior, Jordana Brewster, Cardi B and Scott Eastwood, Rita Moreno and Leo Abelo Perry.

    And original franchise star Paul Walker’s daughter Meadow will appear in the film in a cameo to “honor” the legacy of her late father, as she revealed on social media last week.

    ‘Fast X’, as mentioned, is due in theaters on Friday. The 11th film (with Leterrier returning) has yet to announce a release date but is likely headed our way in 2025.

    Jason Momoa and Vin Diesel star in 'Fast X.'
    (L to R) Jason Momoa and Vin Diesel star in ‘Fast X.’ Photo courtesy of Universal Pictures.

    Other Movies Similar to ‘Fast X:’

    Buy Tickets: ‘Fast X’ Movie Showtimes

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    ‘Fast X’ is produced by Universal Pictures, Original Film, One Race, and Perfect Storm Entertainment. It is set to premiere in theaters on May 19th, 2023.

     

  • Scott Eastwood Returning to the Fast Movies For ‘Fast X’

    Britt Robertson and Scott Eastwood
    (L to R) Britt Robertson and Scott Eastwood in 2015’s ‘The Longest Ride.’

    Having seemingly sped around (or, given this franchise, though) its director departure roadblock, the Fast & Furious’ franchise is well and truly back in high gear. The latest installment, ‘Fast X’ is recruiting from among its deep bench of previous cast members, as Scott Eastwood will return for the new movie.

    Eastwood appeared in ‘Fate of the Furious’, the eighth installment, directed by F. Gary Gray and released in 2017. His character was a rule-following government agent who is frequently seen with his boss, Mr. Nobody, a shady manipulator played by Kurt Russell.

    Does this mean that Russell – whose character was briefly a plot point in last year’s ‘F9: The Fast Saga’ – will also return? No one is saying yet. But you wouldn’t be wrong if you started speculating that the slick Nobody could once again feature.

    Speculation is pretty much all we have at this point when it comes to the plot of ‘Fast X’. With Louis Leterrier now on board to direct, the story will likely see Vin Diesel’s Dom Toretto and the rest of the ‘Fast’ family tackling another big threat from the likes of Charlize Theron’s calculating Cipher.

    Alongside Diesel, the returning cast also includes such core names as Jordana Brewster, Michelle Rodriguez, Ludacris, Tyrese Gibson, Nathalie Emmanuel, and Sung Kang. Michael Rooker as mechanic and Toretto family friend Buddy) and Cardi B (as paramilitary leader Leysa) are reportedly back from ‘F9’. Given Buddy’s presence, that could point to redeemed villain John Cena’s Jakob Toretto also popping up, but the ‘Fast’ team have revealed nothing about his possible appearance.

    'The Fate of the Furious' Cast
    (L to R) Vin Diesel, Charlize Theron, Michelle Rodriguez, Dwayne Johnson, Tyrese Gibson, Chris “Ludacris” Bridges, and Jason Statham in ‘The Fate of the Furious.’

    New faces this time are Jason Momoa, who will apparently be causing trouble alongside Cipher, ‘Reacher’s Alan Ritchson, ‘Captain Marvel’ star Brie Larson and ‘The Suicide Squad’s Daniela Melchior, who are all playing mystery characters.

    While Justin Lin left the director’s job a couple of weeks into shooting over creative and script differences, he’s still attached as a producer and wrote the screenplay with Dan Mazeau (though we’re fairly certain it has since gone through some changes).

    Eastwood, who followed his famous father into the film business, is best known for movies including ‘Pacific Rim: Uprising’, ‘Suicide Squad’ and ‘The Longest Ride’. He was most recently seen in Prime Video’s romantic comedy ‘I Want You Back’. Along with ‘Fast X’, he’s also filming LA riots drama ‘April 29, 1992’, in which a shopkeeper must save his son from an angry mob in the wake of the Rodney King verdict.

    Despite the delays, it seems that ‘Fast X’ is still on track to make it into theaters on May 19th next year. It’ll be followed by a second movie, which will wrap up both the story of these last two entries and, according to Diesel, bring the franchise as a whole to a close. At least until the various spin-offs start their engines…

    'Fast X' Logo.
    ‘Fast X’ Logo. Courtesy of Vin Diesel’s Instagram account.

  • Here’s the Young Han Solo ‘Star Wars’ Spinoff Actor Shortlist

    Thousands of young men have been vying for the chance to play a young Han Solo in Disney’s upcoming Solo-centric “Star Wars” spinoff flick. Now, according to a new report, that number has been whittled down to less than a dozen.

    Variety reports that Disney and Lucasfilm are close to making a decision on who will fill Harrison Ford’s iconic shoes to play a younger version of the roguish hero, and have narrowed the field of potential leading men considerably in recent days. Per Variety’s sources, the lucky few remaining on the Solo shortlist include Miles Teller, Ansel Elgort, Dave Franco, Jack Reynor (“Transformers: Age of Extinction”), Scott Eastwood, Logan Lerman, Emory Cohen (“Brooklyn”), and Blake Jenner (Richard Linklater’s upcoming “Everybody Wants Some”).

    Casting is expected to be announced sometime in the next few weeks, and according to Variety, there’s a good reason for such an accelerated decision: Though the Han Solo project isn’t slated to start shooting until early next year, the actor playing Solo may be popping up in the first “Star Wars” spinoff flick, “Rogue One,” which is due in theaters this December.

    That film is still in the late stages of production, so there’s time to insert the chosen Solo star into the flick for a brief cameo, which would then set up his own spinoff. (Variety compares the process to the one used by Disney and Marvel for the introduction of the new Spider-Man, Tom Holland, who will first appear in “Captain America: Civil War” before headlining a standalone flick.)

    Producers had reportedly been looking for an actor in his mid-20s to play the part originated by a 35-year-old Ford in “Star Wars: A New Hope.” The flick will reportedly take place sometime between the events of “Episode III” and “Episode IV.”

    The as-yet-untitled project is due in theaters on May 25, 2018.

    [via: Variety]

    Photo credit: StarWars.com

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  • The ‘Suicide Squad’ Is ‘Ready for Battle’ in Director’s New Set Photos

    It’s on! The super villain movie “Suicide Squad” — starring Will Smith, Margot Robbie, Jared Leto, Jai Courtney, Viola Davis, Scott Eastwood, and 100 other cool people — is still filming with director David Ayer at the helm. A bunch of cast and character photos were previously released by Ayer, and then several action shots were leaked while they filmed on the streets of Toronto. After the leaks, Ayer said the movie’s surprises were still intact, and he went dark on Twitter for a bit. But now he’s back, tweeting a few new set photos, including this one hinting to a major action scene:


    That’s some serious firepower. Speaking of serious, here’s a shot of some serious hardware, presumably also from the “Suicide Squad” set:


    And here’s a badass in shadow in what may or may not be a tease for Slade Wilson/Deathstroke:


    Rumor has it that Scott Eastwood will play Deathstroke, who is not to be confused with Will Smith’s Deadhshot. Thoughts on the battle ahead for this crew? “Suicide Squad” has an August 5, 2016 release date.

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  • Is ‘The Longest Ride’ the End of Nicholas Sparks’s Box Office Ride?

    the longest rideYou’d have thought that opening “The Longest Ride” opposite the still-strong “Furious 7” would have been a smart counterprogramming move. With all that testosterone on display in the latest installment of the car-chase franchise, surely some female moviegoers would feel underserved and turn to the new Nicholas Sparks movie, that they’d flock to the kind of cathartic tearjerker that is the “Notebook” author’s bread and butter.

    As it turned out, not so much. “Longest Ride” opened in third place with an estimated $13.5 million, below even the modest expectations for the film (about $14 to $16 million). That’s better than the even weaker opening of last October’s Sparks entry “The Best of Me” (which premiered with just $10.0 million and topped out at $26.8 million) but well below the $22.5 million debut of 2012’s Sparks saga “The Lucky One.”

    Does the relative weakness of these recent spark-free Sparks movies mean that the Sparks vogue, which has spanned 10 movies over 16 years, is over?

    Maybe not, but there are some lessons in “Longest Ride”‘s failure that future Sparks adaptations would be wise to study.

    1. Don’t open opposite a “Fast & Furious” movie.
    If there’s any action franchise that’s going to compete with a Sparks movie for female viewers, it’s this one. With the gals as badass as the guys in these movies, they have strong appeal to women. Studio polling last week, when “Furious 7” opened, showed an almost even gender split among ticketbuyers. And even though the film fell nearly 60 percent from last weekend’s debut, that’s still an estimated $60.6 million this weekend, more than four times what “Ride” sold out of the gate.

    2. Don’t open opposite a strong family film.
    That would include a movie like “Home,” which, even in its third week, still pulled an estimated $19.0 million, good for second place. “Ride” may have been targeting women over 25, but many of those are moms who were taking their kids to see the cute cartoon aliens.

    3. In fact, counterprogramming isn’t a sure thing anymore.
    We saw that last month, in reverse, when a number of macho action movies (“Chappie,” “Run All Night,” “The Gunman”) tried to open against a much stronger slate of female-driven movies (“Cinderella,” “The Divergent Series: Insurgent,” and the lingering “Fifty Shades of Grey.”) None of them grossed above $31 million total in North America. Even indie sequel “The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel” grossed higher than any of the action sausage fests. These days, when a current movie or a current kind of movie is going strong at the box office, it seems to suck all the oxygen out of the multiplex and leave little room for anything different.

    4. Make a better movie.
    Nicholas Sparks movies typically get terrible reviews, and “Ride” is no different. That hasn’t stopped most of them from becoming hits, but if you’re going after older audiences, as “Ride” seems to be (given the prominence of Alan Alda’s oldtimer in the film’s plot), then reviews matter. Yes, the film got terrific word-of-mouth (measured by its A grade at CinemaScore), but word-of-mouth doesn’t help much if not many people who might recommend the movie are drawn to see it in the first place.

    5. Casting matters.
    Alan Alda is a beloved Emmy-winning and Oscar-nominated actor, but he’s not a box office draw. Britt Robertson is a fine young actress, but she has no movie track record, and her best-known TV role is probably on CBS’s cult summer drama “Under the Dome.” Scott Eastwood has a famous last name (and some resemblance to papa Clint) but a sparse résumé so far. It used to be that a cast with as little box office appeal as that of “Longest Ride” wouldn’t hurt a Sparks movie, since the novelist was the real star and the movie’s biggest draw. But as lessons 1 through 4 make clear, Sparks’s name alone isn’t enough to sell tickets any more. He needs whatever help he can get.
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