On Tuesday I had the pleasure of sitting down with Abigail Breslin and Alessandro Nivola to discuss their new film, JANIE JONES. The film had its US premiere on Friday night at the Tribeca Film Festival. I saw an early cut of the film last week and really enjoyed it. (Review HERE)
Sometimes arriving early to a press event has its rewards. Prior to the interview, I had the chance to watch Abigail Breslin perform a quick acoustic song for a few people. I never would have guessed that she is still learning to play. As I said in Tuesday’s daily recap, she is insanely talented in everything she does. Alessandro joked that she made a deal with the devil and that would honestly explain a lot.
Here is a video of our full interview. The only thing trimmed from it is when a bee decided to invade as we were about to begin. We talk about JANIE JONES, crying on cue, Jordan Creek Mall and even ZOMBIELAND 2. Enjoy!
For me, today’s experience at the Tribeca Film Festival was the definition of short but sweet. It opened once again with free Magnum ice cream for breakfast followed by a press screening of EVERYTHING MUST GO. The film brings us a more reserved Will Ferrell similar to what we saw in films like STRANGER THAN FICTION and he once again does a great job with that type of character. The film follows a man who lost his job only to come home and find out his wife is leaving him so he does what everyone would do in that situation, decides to live on his front lawn.
After the screening I found out that my first interview for the festival fell through, which was disappointing. However, the next email I read made me forget all about it. I got confirmation for an interview with Abigail Breslin and Alessandro Nivola for JANIE JONES, which I just reviewed yesterday. They were able to squeeze me in at the end of their press day, which I was very grateful for. It is funny how these things work out sometimes.
Since I had some time to kill before the interview, I grabbed a surprisingly cheap & delicious lunch at Dallas BBQ and then went back to the press lounge to work on my questions. The interview was set to take place right next door at the GEM Hotel. Since they had finished early, they said I could come up sooner so I got to listen to Abigail Breslin jam for a few minutes before the interview. That girl is insanely talented in everything she does. Alessando Nivola said that she is a machine and it’s true. They were both really cool to talk with and sadly our 10 minutes flew by. I will post the full interview tomorrow but for now here is a screen grab:
After that, I headed home. As I said, short but sweet.
Ethan Brand is a struggling rocker (Alessandro Nivola) who is forced to look after the daughter he’s never met before (Abigail Breslin) after her junkie mother abandons her at one of his concerts. The 13 year old happens to be a very talented musician on her own and a lot more mature than most girls her age. Ethan happens to be an unfriendly alcoholic whose life is all about music even though it can’t pay the bills. If you think you know what is going to happen next, you are probably right. While the story offers nothing new, JANIE JONES is still a well-made film that left me with a smile on my face at the end of the screening.
While the film is fairly straightforward, there are still a few ways it manages to take risks. For one thing, I was surprised that the film seems to be going for an R-rating when this type of film is typically a bit cleaner to reach a wider audience. I was also surprised by the character of Ethan Brand, who is the film’s real protagonist. I was surprised because he is such an asshole. He is not likeable at all nor does he start off with any redeeming characteristics. As the late great Blake Snyder would say, he does not “save the cat.”
If you are unaware of Snyder, he was a screenwriter who suggested the main character must do something early in the film to get the audience on board with him, such as saving a cat. When it comes time for him to “save the cat” by looking after Janie when she is abandoned, he is reluctant to even do that. He is forced to take her in and constantly reminds everyone that he doesn’t believe she’s really his kid and doesn’t even remember meeting her mom, despite a valid birth certificate. For a good chunk of the film we could care less about Ethan but because we are invested in Janie, we stick it out.
Then something happens. Slowly we come to feel sorry for Ethan and eventually we begin to root for him. He is self-destructive but he really does love his music. He is not trying to be a rock star for the sex, drugs or money. He is doing it because it is his passion. And when the time comes that he could exploit Janie’s talent, he doesn’t want to do it. It is very obvious that Ethan would evolve into a likeable father figure but it is still an interesting arch to follow.
The other big risk in the film is the music. Writer/Director David M. Rosenthal likes to linger on the musical sequences. Whenever Janie gets upset, she grabs her guitar and sings her heart out. This happens many times throughout the film. When other characters hear her playing and approach her, we always wait until she finishes her song for the scene to continue. It becomes overkill because we get that she loves to play and that is her retreat, we don’t need to see it happen constantly. At one point I actually became suspicious of Janie because of how often she played just close enough for band members and managers to hear her. I thought maybe she was scamming Ethan and she was not really his kid. That being said the music is not half bad and while so many sequences may be unnecessary, it fits in with the film.
The highlight of the film are the performances. Everyone does a great job with the roles, especially Abigail Breslin and Alessando Nivola who both did their own singing and guitar work. The always brilliant Peter Stormare was also fantastic as Brand’s managaer. I especially loved his first scene with Janie when she is still getting used to the band. I also enjoyed seeing Joel Moore (He got rid of the David?) in this since I have always been a fan of his work.
You know exactly what kind of film you are in for with JANIE JONES. It has flaws and lacks some originality but it has heart and solid performances throughout. If the plot description interests you, definitely give this one a watch.
I HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED THAT THE VERSION OF THE FILM I SAW WAS NOT THE FINAL CUT. I WILL LEAVE THIS REVIEW UP BUT PLEASE NOTE THERE MAY BE CHANGES FROM WHAT IS MENTIONED HERE AND WHAT IS IN THE FINAL FILM. IF GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY, I WILL REVIEW THE FILM AGAIN UPON RELEASE.
Johnny Depp, Isla Fisher and other celebs were on hand to walk the red carpet at Paramount Pictures big premiere of RANGO at the Regency Village Theater in Los Angeles on Monday. The cast spent Valentine’s Day signing autographs and posing for pictures for the waiting fans. Depp appeared in his cowboy hat in keeping with the playful Western theme of the movie.
Here’s an excerpt of what Johnny Depp and director Gore Verbinski had to say on lizards at the RANGO press conference on February 12th:
JOHNNY DEPP: I always had an affinity for lizards; I’ve always felt somewhat close to them. They’re reptile- feeling somewhat reptilian myself at times. No, the – I mean, what was – oddly, I think, I mean, Gore might even, he might disagree. But I feel like, you know, there was – when we were doing “Pirates” one, two and three, there was a certain, at times when Jack Sparrow had to run – there was this very specific run that I wanted. And it was from seeing – I saw this footage of a lizard running across the water. And it was like the strangest thing I’ve ever seen. And so I said, “Gore, he’s got to be the lizard running across,” and he’s like, “Oh, yeah, absolutely.” You know. So that was the whole thing. It was always – and so whenever we were in that situation, “Okay, it’s time to…you know, let’s…”
GORE VERBINSKI: [INDISCERNIBLE] the lizard.
JOHNNY DEPP: Get – yeah, get in touch with the lizard. And we did it. So I actually think that Rango was somehow planted in Gore’s brain from that run, from that lizard run, you know. And when he actually called me and said, “I want you to play a lizard,” I thought, “Well, God, I’m halfway there.”
Johnny Depp poses for photos at the Paramount Pictures Los Angeles Premiere of RANGO at the Regency Village Theater in Los Angeles, Monday, Feb. 14, 2011
Johnny Depp signs autographs for fans at the Paramount Pictures Los Angeles Premiere of RANGO at the Regency Village Theater in Los Angeles, Monday, Feb. 14, 2011
Abigail Breslin poses for photos at the Paramount Pictures Los Angeles Premiere of “Rango” at the Regency Village Theater in Los Angeles, Monday, Feb. 14, 2011
Johnny Depp and Paramount’s Brad Grey appear at the Paramount Pictures Los Angeles Premiere of RANGO at the Regency Village Theater in Los Angeles, Monday, Feb. 14, 2011.
Synopsis:
From the director of “The Pirates of the Caribbean” comes RANGO, featuring Johnny Depp in an original animated comedy-adventure that takes moviegoers for a hilarious and heartfelt walk in the Wild West. The story follows the comical, transformative journey of Rango (Depp), a sheltered chameleon living as an ordinary family pet, while facing a major identity crisis. After all, how high can you aim when your whole purpose in life is to blend in? When Rango accidentally winds up in the gritty, gun-slinging town of Dirt – a lawless outpost populated by the desert’s most wily and whimsical creatures – the less-than-courageous lizard suddenly finds he stands out. Welcomed as the last hope the town has been waiting for, new Sheriff Rango is forced to play his new role to the hilt . . . until, in a blaze of action-packed situations and encounters with outrageous characters, Rango starts to become the hero he once only pretended to be. With a cast that includes Depp, Isla Fisher, Abigail Breslin, Alfred Molina, Bill Nighy, Harry Dean Stanton, Ray Winstone and Timothy Olyphant as the Spirit of the West, Rango is an exciting new twist on the classic Western legend of the outsider who saves a town – and himself in the process.
RANGO will be in theaters on March 4, 2011. Visit the film;s official website at: http://www.RangoMovie.com/.
Find RANGO here on Facebook.
This film has been rated PG for rude humor, language, action and smoking.
Check out this advanced look at the Big Game spot for Johnny Depp’s new film RANGO! Cracks me up everytime I see these desert critters scurrying about.
Directed by Gore Verbinski (PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN) and written by Gore Verbinski, John Logan (GLADIATOR) and James Byrkit, RANGO stars the voices of Johnny Depp, Isla Fisher, Abigail Breslin, Bill Nighy, Stephen Root, Ray Winstone, Beth Grant, Ned Beatty, Harry Dean Stanton, and Alfred Molina. The score is from Verbinski favorite Hans Zimmer. RANGO will crawl into theaters on March 4th, 2011.
Visit the film’s official site at http://www.rangomovie.com/ to explore the latest interactive content (just make sure to continuously click on all the hilarious objects on the screen for it to work – you can turn on the radio or push the little roly-poly bug down the hole). Find RANGO here on Facebook
Paramount Pictures has released this newest poster and trailer for RANGO. The animated film stars this morning’s 2-time Golden Globe nominee Johnny Depp as Rango, a chameleon with an identity crisis.
Still looks to be a hilarious time come March!
Directed by Gore Verbinski (PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN) and written by Gore Verbinski, John Logan (GLADIATOR) and James Byrkit, RANGO stars the voices of Johnny Depp, Isla Fisher, Abigail Breslin, Bill Nighy, Stephen Root, Ray Winstone, Beth Grant, Ned Beatty, Harry Dean Stanton, and Alfred Molina. The score supplied by Hans Zimmer should add to the fun. RANGO will crawl into theaters on March 4th, 2011.
Visit the film’s official site at http://www.rangomovie.com/ to explore the latest interactive content (just make sure to continuously click on all the hilarious objects on the screen for it to work – you can turn on the radio or push the little roly-poly bug down the hole). Find RANGO here on Facebook
ZOMBIELAND was a near-perfect zombie picture that offered as many laughs as it did thrills, and, overall, it was one of the most entertaining times at the theater all year. Now comes word from Moviehole that a sequel is not only planned, it is definite. To that, I simply say, “Why?” Leave the first film alone. Leave the first film’s ending alone. I’m going to get into some spoiler territory here on the first ZOMBIELAND, so, if you haven’t seen it, you may want to divert your eyeballs elsewhere.
Seeing Columbus, Tallahassee, Wichita, and Little Rock drive off into the proverbial sunset after escaping the onslaught of zombies is a picture-perfect ending. I was so fearful near the end of ZOMBIELAND that some of them might not make it, it was such a sigh of relief when, indeed, they all did. I know this was initially planned as a pilot episode for a series, but that didn’t happen. The film that was left in its place was a perfect, little one-shot, and no amount of money means we deserve another go at these characters.
Unfortunately, if and when a sequel does come out, that means a few things story-wise:
More survivors – I don’t want to see more survivors. These four and Bill Murray were perfectly simple and perfectly effective. Having the quartet come upon a whole other group of survivors would just seem obvious and wasteful.
More zombies – It’s a sequel. We have to up the ante, right? That means a ton more zombies. At some point, it’s going to feel like, excuse the pun, overkill. The group they faced at the end of the first film was just the right size.
More threats of character death – I like all four of these characters. Putting them into a whole new film means any one of them could get taken out, and that, I don’t like one bit.
Let’s just brush past the idea that this sequel is going to be 3-D. I’m not shy in expressing my deep hatred for the over-usage of 3-D technology. It’s pointless, and, more often than not, it’s distracting.
Of course, director Ruben Fleischer, and writers Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick could come up with something that makes a ZOMBIELAND sequel just as successful as well as just as much fun as the first film. We shall see. For now, I say this is a lose/lose situation on all counts.
A strange thing happened last evening before the We Are Movie Geeks’ screening of ‘District 9.’ We got trailers. Not only that, but one of them was for ‘Zombieland,’ the new riotous zomedy (new term I’ve coined for zombie comedies) starring Woody Harrelson and Jesse Eisenberg. The MPAA screen at the beginning was green, but the trailer sure was not a green band trailer. It was full of bloody zombies (red blood, to note), a few thrown out curse words, and Harrelson giving Eisenberg the bird via a mannequin’s hand. The phrase “nut up or shut up” probably shouldn’t have been there, either, but I wouldn’t put it past the MPAA to not even know what the hell that means. I’d like to think this is a new trend in Hollywood. It’d be nice to see trailers for R-rated film that are going to be playing in front of other, R-rated films get more adult without warranting the dreaded red band.
Anywho, thought I’d throw that out there.
Coming Soon got their exclusive mits on this new poster. It’s nothing great, grand or wonderful, but it gets the point across. Seeing Woody Harrelson carrying a shotgun is always a good sight, and calls to mind his best performance as Micky Knox in ‘Natural Born Killers.’ I’d give anything to have him say the phrase, “That’s why helicopters were not deployed.” in every film he makes from here to the end of creation.
‘Zombieland’ comes out on October 9th. Our boys Scott, Matt, and Kent will be checking it out next month at Fantastic Fest.
From the onslaught of upcoming horror films, ‘Zombieland’ seems to be at the top of a lot of people’s most anticipated lists. This red-band trailer is sure to whet their appetites even further. From what I gather, it’s essentially the same thing that was shown at Comic Con, and it’s available now for your viewing pleasures.
Check it. Be sure you fill in your birthday information (or whatever information you want) into the boxes to confirm you are of age:
In a world overrun by zombies, Columbus (Jesse Eisenberg) and Tallahassee (Woody Harrelson) are perfectly evolved survivors. But now, they’re about to stare down the most terrifying prospect of all: each other.
‘Zombieland’ has been hitting the rounds lately with news and photos. One of the coolest news pieces is that Bill Murray will make a cameo in the film as the undead.
‘Zombieland’ is a horror-comedy (how convienent given my ‘I Heart Horror’ article about this sub-genre) that focuses on Columbus (Jesse Eisenberg) & Tallahassee (Woody Harrelson). Tallahassee is on a cross-country trek to get the world’s last Twinkie…. ok, I had to laugh about the Twinkie. They are joined by Emma Stone (‘Superbad’) and Abigail Breslin (‘Little Miss Sunshine’).
‘Zombieland’ is written by Rhett Reese & Paul Wernick (‘The Joe Schmo Show’) and will be released on October 9, 2009.
