Simon West knows a thing or two about action. More importantly, he’s proficient at capturing engaging performances set against explosions galore. His latest is a grounded affair, one where the jokes are good but the bullets are real. Compared to the likes of Con Air and The Expendables 2, it’s a quieter film that does less to glamorize assassins, and more to humanize them. In the film, Christoph Waltz plays Danny Dolinski, the titular “old guy” who is asked to train a young protege, any story about a hitman (of any age) will certainly have its fair share of sizzle, snark and a sniper rifle. Enjoy this chat with Simon…
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Interview…Frank Grillo on ‘Werewolves’
Calling all you action junkies. Do you love bombastic films? Do you love running and gunning? How about being afraid of the full moon lest it turn you into a 9-foot tall Lycan hungering for human flesh? Ok, that one may not be for everyone, but the other two should grab your attention. But on that note, we got the rare chance to speak with Frank Grillo about his foray into all of the above-mentioned cinematic buckets. To date, Frank has been in nearly 100 projects. While most of them involve guns, explosions, and tense action scenes, there’s also some high points on his resume that have some real gravitas.…
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Interview…Director Phillip Noyce on Character Mortality, Storytelling and Improvisation
Just a few weeks before Christmas, we got a bucket list chance to speak with director Phillip Noyce about his latest film. For almost fifty years Noyce has worked on every aspect of filmmaking (writing, acting, cinematography, rigging) and the result of all that experience is his ability to capture the audience and bring us right into the story. Noyce has given us stunning, remarkable and indelible characters who are on the run from something – their agencies, their enemies/friends or even themselves – and these stories about Jack Ryan, Simon Templar and several others resonate with audiences years, even decades later. The reason? Well, in the words of Mr.…
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Interview…Kellan Lutz on Action, Emotion, Film & Family
In his latest movie, Kellen Lutz gets to do his version of a Liam Neeson Taken movie. The man who has been a vampire, an expendable, even Hercules has had quite a roster of films and TV work since getting into the business less 20 years ago. And he really deserves credit for his emotional portrayal. He’s underrated and remarkably good at playing a character who is broken down, or has had his whole world taken from him. So much so that it would be good for him to land more roles where his character is in crisis. In 2016 he played something similar, albeit in an indie sci-fi opera, as…
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Interview…Alden Ehrenreich and Natalie Metzger on ‘Shadow Brother Sunday’
One of the most enjoyable perks in film journalism is getting to talk to creative individuals about their work. On this site we’ve been fortunate enough to meet with numerous storytellers; we love taking deep dives with the talent at hand to find what inspires them. Some of the best interviews are ones that yield behind-the-scenes stories, triumphs and lessons learned. All in all, the road to bring any production to the public is a long one – but it can certainly be fun. And that’s why people in film consider the work an all-or-nothing pursuit. Last week, we had a kitchen sink discussion with Alden Ehrenreich. He’s been working…
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Interview…Jon Voight on Charisma, Collaboration, Career Advice and ‘Mercy’
Jon Voight is an acting legend. More than that, he’s kind, charismatic and an incomparable thespian. At 85, he’s still got wide range and is razor sharp. But whether he plays a bit part, leading man or anything in between, anyone who’s seen his films can easily cite Voight for being a standout. Think about Midnight Cowboy, Varsity Blues, Enemy of the State, Heat, Mission: Impossible, Deliverance, The Champ, or his Oscar-winning turn in Coming Home and it’s clear that Voight’s performance sticks with you years after the credits have rolled. There are a few constants established and maintained in his career beyond his towering 6’-2” frame and that’s his…
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Interview…Catherine Hardwicke on Rome, Romance and Toni Collette in ‘Mafia Mamma’
If you want a comedy that is as off-the-wall as it is refreshing, then look no further than Catherine Hardwicke’s Mafia Mamma. This fish-out-of-water actioner mixes The Godfather and Eat, Pray, Love into a wine vat and the result is an endearing farce that shines thanks to Toni Collette. Always one for detail and legitimacy, Hardwicke gives this film a boost by filming in Rome and casting real Italian actors who add a lot of body to the sauce. Yet the wonderful sets and locations would be noting if she didn’t understand the characters. Even with its implausible comedic set up, the film delivers because of the earnestness of the…
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Interview…Jessica St. Clair, David Gborie and Maile Flannagan Chat About ‘Royal Crackers’ on Adult Swim
Adult Swim has really jumped to the forefront of animation in the last twenty years. What was once the kind of thing that people would talk about in hushed tones – friends swapping grainy VHS copies of lewd shows in schools – is now in the mainstream and getting the attention these remarkable shows deserve. Sure, some of the output is an acquired taste with stories/characters/jokes as wild as they come. But the team here at GST are fans, and we recently talked to Casper Kelly (Too Many Cooks) as well as the team behind Aqua Teen Hunger Force (Dave Willis and Matt Maiellaro) who help lead the zany charge…
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[Fantastic Fest Interview]…Jason Eisener on ’Kids Vs. Aliens’
Jason Eisener’s passion for fun filmmaking oozes right through the screen. Fun, furious and fast-paced, KIDS VS. ALIENS is like a kids playset come to life. An inventive alien abduction flick that really commits to its concept with the right amount absurdly over-the-top elements. If you love Treevenge and Hobo With A Shotgun, this flick offers is a wild look into what makes Eisener’s mind tick is one of the best playing. You’re gonna want much more. Promise! Enjoy our fun chat with Jason about kids, aliens, toys and Rutger Hauer’s improv. If you weren’t at FF this year to enjoy all the pint-sized fun, worry not. It’s been picked…
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[Fantastic Fest Interview]…Carter Smith and Mark Patton on ’Swallowed’
Whether it’s at Fantastic Fest, or anywhere else, it’ll be hard to find a tighter or more claustrophobic narrative than Carter Smith’s Swallowed. With four key cast members thrown into a no-win scenario, it’s like a vice that tightens every second of this solid story. It gives me chills just thinking back on it. Of course it also doesn’t help (or maybe it does) that Smith shot this in 4:3 which only puts the characters that much closer to uncomfortable situations and Jena Malone‘s ferocity. That certainly amplifies the intensity and helplessness but man, oh, man it this a great ride. We sat with star/veteran horror icon Mark Patton and…
