Edge of Tomorrow, starring Tom Cruise and Emily Blunt and directed by Doug Liman, will be released on Ultra HD Blu-ray Combo Pack and Digital on July 5, it was announced today by Warner Bros. Home Entertainment.
Directed by Doug Liman (The Bourne Identity, Mr. & Mrs. Smith), Edge of Tomorrow stars Oscar® nominee Tom Cruise (the Mission Impossible films, Top Gun: Maverick) and Emily Blunt (The Devil Wears Prada, The Adjustment Bureau).
Warner Bros. Pictures’ and Village Roadshow Pictures’ sci-fi thriller Edge of Tomorrow was directed by Liman from a screenplay by Christopher McQuarrie and Jez Butterworth & John-Henry Butterworth and based on the novel entitled “All You Need is Kill” by Hiroshi Sakurazaka. Edge of Tomorrow was the first motion picture to be shot at Warner Bros. Studios Leavesden.
Edge of Tomorrow was produced by Erwin Stoff, Tom Lassally, Jeffrey Silver, Gregory Jacobs and Jason Hoffs, alongside executive producers Doug Liman, David Bartis, Joby Harold, Hidemi Fukuhara and Bruce Berman, with Tim Lewis and Kim Winther serving as co-producers.
Supporting Cruise and Blunt is an international cast that includes Bill Paxton (Aliens, HBO’s “Big Love”), Brendan Gleeson (Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1), Noah Taylor (Lawless), Kick Gurry (Australian TV’s “Tangle”), Dragomir Mrsic (Snabba Cash II), Charlotte Riley (World Without End), Jonas Armstrong (BBC TV’s “Robin Hood”), Franz Drameh (Attack the Block), Masayoshi Haneda (Emperor) and Tony Way (The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo).
Ultra HD* showcases 4K resolution with High Dynamic Range (HDR) and a wider color spectrum, offering consumers brighter, deeper, more lifelike colors for a home entertainment viewing experience like never before.
Edge of Tomorrowwill be available on Ultra HD Blu-ray Combo Pack for $24.99 ERP and includes an Ultra HD Blu-ray disc with the feature film in 4K with HDR and a Digital download of the film. Fans can also own Edge of Tomorrowin 4K Ultra HD via purchase from select digital retailers beginning on July 5.
An alien race, undefeatable by any existing military unit, has launched a relentless attack on Earth, and Major William Cage (Tom Cruise) finds himself dropped into a suicide mission. Killed within minutes, Cage is thrown into a time loop, forced to live out the same brutal combat over and over, fighting and dying again and again. Training alongside Rita Vrataski (Emily Blunt), his skills slowly evolve, and each battle moves them a step closer to defeating the enemy in this intense action thriller.
Ultra HD Blu-ray Elements
Edge of TomorrowUltra HD Blu-ray contains the following previously released special features:
Operation Downfall – Adrenaline Cut
Storming The Beach
Weapons Of The Future
Creatures Not Of This World
On The Edge With Doug Liman
Deleted Scenes
Ultra HD Blu ray $24.99* Standard Street Date: 7/5/22 EST Street Date: 7/5/22
Ultra HD Blu ray Languages: English, Spanish, French
Ultra HD Blu ray Subtitles: English SDH, Spanish, Parisian French Run Time: 113 minutes
Rating: PG 13 for intense sequences of sci fi action and violence, language and brief suggestive material
‘Apollo 13’ Lifts Off Again in Cinemas Nationwide This April, 50 Years After the Breathtaking Crisis in Space. For Three Days Only, Ron Howard’s Box-Office Blockbuster Returns to the Big Screen for its 25th Anniversary
Almost 50 years to the day after the liftoff of the ill-fated 1970 space mission for America’s third Moon landing, director Ron Howard and producer Brian Grazer’s acclaimed film “Apollo 13” returns to movie theaters in a special three-day-only presentation from Fathom Events, Universal Pictures and Imagine Entertainment.
Tickets are available at www.FathomEvents.com or participating movie theater box offices.
“Apollo 13” will play April 5, 6 and 8, blasting off in more than 600 movie theaters nationwide. A full list of theater locations is available on the Fathom Events website (theaters and participants are subject to change).
“Apollo 13” boasts a star-studded cast, featuring Tom Hanks, Kevin Bacon, Bill Paxton, Gary Sinise, Ed Harris and Kathleen Quinlan, but its even more remarkable achievement may be how director Howard executes a story of perseverance, unity and commitment to a higher purpose. Twenty-five years after its initial release – and a half-century after the arduous, near-fatal journey that made legends out of astronauts Jim Lovell, Fred Haise and Jack Swigert – “Apollo 13” shines as brightly as ever, thanks to its groundbreaking technical achievements, captivating performances and a soaring score by the late James Horner.
Lovell (played by Hanks), Swigert (Bacon) and Haise (Paxton) are almost to the Moon when an on-board explosion leads to the unforgettable line: “Houston, we have a problem.” As their spacecraft is depleted of most of its oxygen supply and electrical power, they attempt to return to earth, led by NASA flight controllers working in a pre-digital age.
A commercial and critical success upon release, “Apollo 13” cemented itsstatus as one of the great space films of all time when it wasnominated for nine Academy Awards™, including Best Picture (winning for Film Editing and Sound).
“Apollo 13 may have been deemed a ‘successful failure,’ but the movie is a brilliant reminder that it was anything but, and we are honored to commemorate the 50th anniversary of such an extraordinary human accomplishment – and the 25th anniversary of the movie – by bringing Apollo 13 back to movie theaters, where its vision and scope can be best appreciated,” said Fathom Events VP of Studio Relations Tom Lucas.
Based on the international best-seller by Dave Eggers, The Circle arrives on Blu-ray Combo Pack (plus DVD and Digital HD) and DVD August 1 from Lionsgate; with Digital HD on July 18 and On Demand on August 1 from EuropaCorp. Capturing the phenomenon of today’s social media and the consequences of being permanently checked in, the gripping modern thriller is directed and co-written for the screen by James Ponsoldt (The Spectacular Now) and Dave Eggers (A Hologram for the King), and features an all-star cast, including Emma Watson (Beauty and the Beast), Oscar® winner Tom Hanks (Best Actor, Forrest Gump, 1994), John Boyega (Star Wars: The Force Awakens), Karen Gillan (Guardians of the Galaxy), Ellar Coltrane (Boyhood), Emmy® winner Patton Oswalt (Writing for Variety Special, “Talking for Clapping,” 2016), Glenne Headly (“The Night Of”), and Golden Globe® nominee Bill Paxton (Best Actor, Television – Drama, “Big Love,” 2010) in his final role.
Now you can own THE CIRCLE on Blu-ray. We Are Movie Geeks has FOUR copies to give away.All you have to do is leave a comment answering this question: What is your favorite movie starring Tom Hanks? (mine is TURNER AND HOOCH!). It’s so easy!
Good Luck!
OFFICIAL RULES:
1. YOU MUST BE A US RESIDENT. PRIZE WILL ONLY BE SHIPPED TO US ADDRESSES. NO P.O. BOXES. NO DUPLICATE ADDRESSES.
2. WINNERS WILL BE CHOSEN FROM ALL QUALIFYING ENTRIES.
When Mae (Watson) is hired to work for the world’s largest and most powerful tech and social media company, she sees it as an opportunity of a lifetime. As she rises through the ranks, she is encouraged by the company’s founder, Eamon Bailey (Hanks), to engage in a groundbreaking experiment that pushes the boundaries of privacy, ethics, and ultimately, her personal freedom. Her participation in the experiment and every decision she makes begin to affect the lives and future of her friends, family, and all of humanity.
The home entertainment release of The Circle features all-new bonus content, including three featurettes chronicling the making of the film, a look at the future of technology, and an interview with Tom Hanks and James Ponsdolt reminiscing about their work with Bill Paxton, The Circle will be available on Blu-ray and DVD for $39.99 and $29.95, respectively. BLU-RAY / DVD SPECIAL FEATURES
“No More Secrets: Completing The Circle — A Four-Part Series” Featurette
“The Future Won’t Wait: Design and Technology” Featurette
“A True Original: Remembering Bill Paxton” Featurette
Based on the international best-seller by Dave Eggers, The Circle arrives on Blu-ray Combo Pack (plus DVD and Digital HD) and DVD August 1 from Lionsgate; with Digital HD on July 18 and On Demand on August 1 from EuropaCorp. Capturing the phenomenon of today’s social media and the consequences of being permanently checked in, the gripping modern thriller is directed and co-written for the screen by James Ponsoldt (The Spectacular Now) and Dave Eggers (A Hologram for the King), and features an all-star cast, including Emma Watson (Beauty and the Beast), Oscar® winner Tom Hanks (Best Actor, Forrest Gump, 1994), John Boyega (Star Wars: The Force Awakens), Karen Gillan (Guardians of the Galaxy), Ellar Coltrane (Boyhood), Emmy® winner Patton Oswalt (Writing for Variety Special, “Talking for Clapping,” 2016), Glenne Headly (“The Night Of”), and Golden Globe® nominee Bill Paxton (Best Actor, Television – Drama, “Big Love,” 2010) in his final role.
When Mae (Watson) is hired to work for the world’s largest and most powerful tech and social media company, she sees it as an opportunity of a lifetime. As she rises through the ranks, she is encouraged by the company’s founder, Eamon Bailey (Hanks), to engage in a groundbreaking experiment that pushes the boundaries of privacy, ethics, and ultimately, her personal freedom. Her participation in the experiment and every decision she makes begin to affect the lives and future of her friends, family, and all of humanity.
The home entertainment release of The Circle features all-new bonus content, including three featurettes chronicling the making of the film, a look at the future of technology, and an interview with Tom Hanks and James Ponsdolt reminiscing about their work with Bill Paxton, The Circle will be available on Blu-ray and DVD for $39.99 and $29.95, respectively. BLU-RAY / DVD SPECIAL FEATURES
“No More Secrets: Completing The Circle — A Four-Part Series” Featurette
“The Future Won’t Wait: Design and Technology” Featurette
“A True Original: Remembering Bill Paxton” Featurette
Tom Hanks and Emma Watson star in EuropaCorp’s THE CIRCLE.
Based on the international best-seller by Dave Eggers, THE CIRCLE is a thrilling modern morality tale starring Emma Watson, Tom Hanks, and John Boyega.
As she rises through the ranks of the world’s largest tech and social media company, The Circle, Mae (Watson) is encouraged by company founder Eamon Bailey (Hanks) to live her life with complete transparency. But no one is really safe when everyone is watching.
THE CIRCLE will be in theaters on April 28th, 2017.
For the sixth consecutive year, thousands of movie lovers from around the globe descended upon Hollywood for the TCM Classic Film Festival. The 2015 festival took take place Thursday, March 26 – Sunday, March 29, 2015 and no matter your favorite genre, attendees were treated to an extensive lineup of great movies, appearances by legendary stars and filmmakers, fascinating presentations and panel discussions, special events and more.
Friday night’s screening of APOLLO 13 was definitely one of the most exciting events of the festival. Celebrating its 20th anniversary, Ron Howard’s impressive telling of the nearly doomed mission of the 3 astronauts aboard Apollo 13 looked as spectacular as the first time audiences saw it 20 years ago.
Host and long-time NASA enthusiast Alex Trebek was on hand to introduce the film, as well as introduce fans in attendance to the real Captain Jim Lovell (played in the film by Tom Hanks). Also joining them on stage for a brief discussion before the film was Bill Paxton, who plays astronaut Fred Haise in the film.
Lovell, who also served as technical advisor on the film, shared some great insights about the story itself, as well as some fun trivia about the film. Perhaps one of the most famous lines in film history – “Houston we have a problem” was not actually said by Lovell, as seen in the film, but by fellow mission astronaut Jack Swaggart (played in the film by Kevin Bacon).
Another fun fact he shared was that he originally told director Ron Howard that he would like Kevin Costner to portray him in the film because he thought they bore a striking resemblance. After the studio’s choice of John Travolta (yes, John Travolta!) turned it down, Howard suggested Tom Hanks and the rest is film history.
Paxton also shared stories about filming the zero gravity scenes, taking over 25 flights on NASA’s KC-135 aircraft, also known as the “vomit comet.”
APOLLO 13 being re-released on Blu-ray from Universal Studios Home Entertainment on June 2nd, and its definitely worth a look.
“Action supports the drama…” – Terry Leonard, stuntman
Hosted by TCM’s own Ben Mankiewicz, RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK screened before a full house at El Capitan theater. Fans were treated to an amazing tribute video showcasing legendary stuntman Terry Leonard. The crowd went wild as Leonard came out to talk about his experiences in Hollywood.
Although famous for being Harrison Ford’s stunt double in RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK, Leonard has appeared as a stuntman and stunt coordinator in hundreds of Hollywood films, including Apocalypse Now, The Fugitive, and Romancing The Stone.
In one of the most famous stunts in film history, Leonard is dragged beneath a speeding truck on his back, moving the length of the truck to come out the back on a rope, in RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK. The idea of that stunt was Leonard’s – as a tribute to famed stuntman Yakima Canutt, who did the stunt originally using a stagecoach.
Leonard’s version was named 4th in a list of the best movie stunts of all time.
One of the less successful films of the “disaster” genre, EARTHQUAKE (1974) was still fun to see outside by the pool at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel.
Starring Charlton Heston, Ava Gardner, Lorne Green, George Kennedy and Richard Roundtree – among many other stars of the early 70’s – EARTHQUAKE attempted to show audiences what a real 7.0+ earthquake would do to Los Angeles.
The pre-show guest was none other than Richard Roundtree. Sharing his thoughts on the film, Roundtree told host Ileanna Douglas that after having starred in the SHAFT movies and television series in the early 70’s, he was looking to break out of the mold.
For disaster film fans, the movie mostly holds up, but the dialogue and most of the “destruction of the city” scenes are unintentionally hilarious.
Starring Doris Day (in her first starring role) and Howard Keel, CALAMITY JANE (1953) tells the story of famed wild west heroine Calamity Jane and her storied relationship with Wild Bill Hickok. The film was Warner Bros. response to the highly successful Annie Get Your Gun (1950) which also starred Howard Keel, alongside Betty Hutton as the title character.
Doris Day is perfectly cast, with her spunky dialogue, not to mention her singing and dancing chops. The song “Secret Love” became an instant chart-topper and won the Academy Award for Best Song. The film was also adapted for television in 1963, with Carol Burnett in the title role.
I had never actually seen this movie, but somehow over 60 years later, it is still so very entertaining.
Another movie I had never seen on the big screen, PSYCHO (1960) starring Janet Leigh, Anthony Perkins, Vera Miles and Martin Balsam, was extremely entertaining to see in the huge, “main house” of the TCL Chinese Theater in Hollywood.
Still as creepy today as it was 55 years ago, the film really holds up well, especially for many in attendance who had never seen it (suprisingly!). The infamous “shower scene” has become iconic in pop culture and still freaks us out every time!
On hand for the pre-show discussion was director Edgar Wright (Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz, Worlds End), who confessed that he too had not seen it on the big screen and being a big Alfred Hitchcock fan, was excited to see it. He commented that he admired Hitchcock’s technique of showing the audience one thing and then doing something completely different. He cited one early trailer for Psycho in 1960 that actually showed Vera Miles in the shower, so as not to give away that it was actually Janet Leigh who would succumb to said psycho.
The man knows his Hitchcock and it was great to see a contemporary director downright giddy over a movie that came out before he was even born.
With the world premiere of a new restoration, the classic 42nd STREET, starring Ruby Keeler, Dick Powell and Ginger Rogers did not disappoint. The story takes place “backstage” at a musical production, complete with snappy dialogue and toe-tapping production numbers.
Nearly 50 years after its release, the film inspired a 1980 Broadway production that won the Tony for best musical and became a long running hit.
On hand to share her thoughts on the film was Tony winner Christine Ebersole, who starred in the 2001 Broadway revival, which won the Tony for Best Revival of a Musical.
The film was nominated for the Academy Award for best picture in 1934 and in 1998 it was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress.
The theme for the 2015 TCM Classic Film Festival was History According to Hollywood:
The Old West. Medieval England. Ancient Rome.
Hollywood has found endless inspiration in re-creating historical moments and bringing to life the heroes and villains of the past, creating a form of time travel for audiences through the ages and around the world.
The 2015 TCM Classic Film Festival explored how cinema has shaped how we view – and remember – history.
“Launch Control this is Houston. We are GO for launch.”
A harrowing moment in human history became an exhilarating cinematic event two decades ago when acclaimed director Ron Howard chronicled NASA’s tense 1970 lunar mission crisis in the Oscar-nominated film Apollo 13.
To NASA enthusiasts and Saturn V rocket experts, the launch sequence, along with James Horner’s emotional score, is the greatest in movie history.
Universal Pictures Home Entertainment celebrates the unforgettable tale of courage and conviction with Apollo 13: 20th Anniversary Edition, coming to Blu-ray and Digital HD on June 2, 2015.
Newly restored and remastered using the original high-resolution 35mm film elements, the commemorative edition comes with an array of bonus features including “Apollo 13: Twenty Years Later,” an all-new retrospective featuring exclusive interviews with director Ron Howard and producer Brian Grazer.
The restored version of Apollo 13 premieres on March 27 at the TCM Classic Film Festival in Hollywood. NASA astronaut Captain James Lovell, the real-life subject of the film, will be on hand for the 20th Anniversary world premiere restoration.
Nominated for nine Academy Awards including Best Picture, Apollo 13 is the inspiring and riveting story of the space flight that gripped the nation and changed the world. Although it had been less than a year since man first walked on the moon, as far as the American public was concerned, Apollo 13 was just another “routine” space flight — until these infamous words pierced the immense void of space: “Houston, we have a problem.”
Apollo 13: 20th Anniversary Edition stars Academy Award-winner Tom Hanks, Kevin Bacon, Bill Paxton, Gary Sinise, Kathleen Quinlan and Ed Harris in the story of NASA’s epic operation to save the lives of three astronauts battling to survive an ill-fated mission to the moon.
Bonus Features:
Apollo 13: Twenty Years Later: A Conversation with Director Ron Howard and Producer Brian Grazer
Lost Moon: The Triumph of Apollo 13
Conquering Space: The Moon and Beyond
Lucky 13: The Astronaut’s Story
U-Control: The Apollo Era
U-Control: Tech-Splanations
Feature Commentary with director Ron Howard
Feature Commentary with Jim and Marilyn Lovell
FILMMAKERS Cast:Tom Hanks, Kevin Bacon, Bill Paxton, Gary Sinise, Ed Harris, Kathleen Quinlan Directed By:Ron Howard Written By:William Broyles Jr., Al Reinert From the Book By:Jim Lovell, Jeffrey Kluger Produced By: Brian Grazer Executive Produced By:Todd Hallowell Director of Photography:Dean Cundey Production Designer:Michael Corenblith Edited By:Daniel P. Hanley, Mike Hill Costume Designer:Rita Ryack Music By:James Horner
TECHNICAL INFORMATION – BLU-RAY: Street Date:June 2, 2015 Copyright: 2015 Universal Pictures Home Entertainment. All Rights Reserved. Selection Numbers: 61168453/61168448 Running Time: 2 hours, 20 minutes Layers: BD-50 Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1 Rating: PG for language and emotional intensity Technical Info: English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 and Dolby 2.0; French, German, Spanish, Italian, Japanese and Brazilian Portuguese DTS Digital Surround 5.1 Subtitles: English SDH, French, German, Spanish, Italian, Japanese, Swedish, Danish Finnish, Dutch, Norwegian and Brazilian Portuguese Subtitles
His name may be Lou Bloom but a more accurate name for Jake Gyllenhaal’s character would be the title of Dan Gilroy’s debut feature film. Lou is a creature of the night – like a wolf scrounging for scraps in order to survive another day. When Lou discovers the seedy world of late-night accident and crime-reporting he finally feels his skills are being better utilized. By imitating fellow reporter Joe (Bill Paxton) and following the guidance of his new boss Nina (Rene Russo), Lou’s “business” begins to take-off. Soon he is hiring an assistant (Riz Ahmed) for his late night reporting and rising to the top above his competition. It isn’t until a deadly murder that he catches on tape that places his life and everyone around him in jeopardy.
With a shit-eating grin, greasy hair, and bulging eyes that showcase the character’s eagerness for fame and fortune, Gyllenhaal feels like the car accidents his character goes to examine – he’s a complete wreck but you don’t want to look away. It’s a role that demands attention and Gyllenhaal gives his all and then some into the role (apparently he needed stitches after a run-in with a bathroom mirror in one scene). Even through all of the animal like comparisons one can make to his character, there’s still a level of intelligence that is relayed through several thought-provoking monologues. Some of these speeches feel like you’re watching an infomercial as Lou sells himself as a hard worker and a businessman. In a filmic career filled with ups and downs, Gyllenhaal delivers his finest and most complex performance to date.
Rene Russo is in top form as well playing a news producer who is trying to maintain ratings amid stiff competition. She serves as a reflection to Lou’s character but in a way that’s somewhat disguised due to her more conventional status in society. They both pine for money even at the cost of sacrificing their moral code – which as the film progresses becomes even harder to gauge. Russo plays the part with intimidating gravitas. Her scenes where she plays opposite Gyllenhaal ignite the screen with even more sparks and fire than some of the on-screen car crashes. One scene in particular where the two “working professionals” go on a date to a Mexican restaurant feels ever the power struggle as each side tries to control the situation, leaving the audience to feel the tension while being in awe of the deft wordplay. Thankfully both actors are up to the challenge of creating characters that the audience can love to hate.
This is also due to a tight script by Dan Gilroy. After sharpening his teeth by working on more Hollywood fare like REAL STEEL and THE BOURNE LEGACY, Gilroy finally shows he can write something with bite. NIGHTCRAWLER imparts a healthy amount of social commentary into what is essentially a dark character study on the surface. It is through Lou’s journey into the depths of the crime world that Gilroy is able to speak about the dog-eat-dog world of business and the political slant of the media. Lou is constantly racing against the clock to be the first one on the crime scene so to beat out the other reporters. Gilroy uses this as a metaphor for the current business world and the struggle to get your foot in the door that so many young people face on an everyday basis. Once Lou finally gets his foot in the door the script unveils some of the dark secrets behind the “real stories” we watch every night on our televisions. Gilroy does have a tendency to shine an overly negative light on these players in order to get his point across, which some might see as a little too one-sided
Aside from the hard-hitting themes at times, the other element that makes its presence far too known is James Newton Howard’s score. At times it utilizes tribal like drums to great effect, other times there’s violins or electronic sounds, while other times the score plays like a melodic almost contradictory joy to the macabre proceedings. Sadly, Howard’s score is one of the most distracting scores I have ever heard! There are times in the second half where it sets the tone of the film perfectly, but the first half is littered with a number of scenes where Howard tries out different styles with obnoxious results.
NIGHTCRAWLER reveals a world where everyone is either the hunter or the prey. It shows us that we are all animals at heart looking to not just better ourselves, but will ultimately do anything to get ahead of the pack. Gilroy stages his crime drama in a way that recalls 70’s films like NETWORK and THE CHINA SYNDROME with a dash of BLOW-UP. The film is unintentionally broken into two parts (Gilroy admitted to me in an interview that it was not necessarily written this way) by a gruesome event that happens halfway through the film that triggers a second half that ramps up the excitement. If the first hour or so shows how well Gilroy can handle dialogue, it’s the last 30 minutes that shows how confident he is in the directing seat. Intense, nail biting, and shocking, NIGHTCRAWLER delivers an explosive finale that will leave you shaken. Aside from a misguided score, NIGHTCRAWLER proves Gilroy is more than just a writer. In fact, he’s a director that isn’t afraid to venture into the dark of the night.
Overall score: 4 out of 5
NIGHTCRAWLER opens in theaters everywhere on October 31
Open Road Films latest release NIGHTCRAWLER is already getting a lot of attention for the amazing performance given by leading man Jake Gyllenhaal… and the film doesn’t open until next Friday!
Read Michael Haffner’s Fantastic Fest review HERE.
Last week WAMG sat down with Gyllenhaal (in a small roundtable) to discuss the film. Check it out below.
NIGHTCRAWLER is a pulse-pounding thriller set in the nocturnal underbelly of contemporary Los Angeles. Jake Gyllenhaal stars as Lou Bloom, a driven young man desperate for work who discovers the high-speed world of L.A. crime journalism. Finding a group of freelance camera crews who film crashes, fires, murder and other mayhem, Lou muscles into the cut-throat, dangerous realm of nightcrawling — where each police siren wail equals a possible windfall and victims are converted into dollars and cents. Aided by Rene Russo as Nina, a veteran of the blood-sport that is local TV news, Lou blurs the line between observer and participant to become the star of his own story.
One of the good things she was just saying about you is that you would make a great director. Do you have any ambitions do to that, at some point?
JAKE GYLLENHAAL : Well, my father’s a director. My mother’s a director, too. I know from a certain amount of experience, from watching a lot of people do it, who are extraordinary at it, because I’ve had the opportunity to work with people who are really good at it, that it would be presumptious of me to say that I would be good at it. At a time when I am looking to be presumptious, then maybe, yeah. I don’t know if that’s now. But I would like to try my hand at it, at some time.
I was going to ask you, when it came together to piecing together Lewis, did you do some research in the way motivational speakers talk and position themselves? Because I saw some of the hand movements that you were doing for your character.
JAKE GYLLENHAAL : Yeah, well, the hand gesturing, all that weird gesticulation… It was a bit of… You’ve met Dan Gilroy? And I talked a lot about there’s somebody who I based a lot of the character on, who used his hands a lot. But Dan, when he talks, he stands really straight, and he’s very thin. There’s something about him, he uses his hands a lot. So no, I didn’t study anybody who does self-help. The words kind of guided me there. Because there’s these strange punctuations, about it, and I kind of followed to a t the punctuation. I did not veer off one word, or one period, or any commas, throughout the whole thing. I think, in that way, it needed me to be very specific. So if there was a period, I would make sure to say a period. Sometimes my hands did it for me.
What about that movement that you would do with your hair? I noticed that was a kind of transformative movement. Is that something you decided, reading the script, or is that something you decided, “I like that!”.
JAKE GYLLENHAAL : That just happened one day. There was one point when I had the idea with Dan. There was some point where I thought, “What if, when Luke is headed into filming, that his hair gets in his way?” Because my hair was pretty long at the time. And there was a moment in the movie, when the hair was all in my face, and I’m filming, and I just thought, so often, when you’re driving, it’s sort of more dangerous when you’re driving with your knee. So there were a lot of inspirations that were coming from all over the place, from this movie. So I said to Dan, “Wouldn’t it be great when I was talking to Rick in the car, while I’m giving him speeches, that as I’m talking, as we all do, when you’ve lived in L.A., or driven a car in L.A., I’ll drive with my knee while I’m putting my hair up.” Yeah, exactly! There’s something about it, where I thought he was a ninja, that he thought that he was a ninja. It’s like, before he did anything, where he stole that bike, he’s a ninja! He went in, and was like, “Let’s go!” That just came out. Dan loved it.
In building this character, at times it seemed like this is Norman Bates, who’s gone into TV movies. Is he a sociopath? Is that why, with this character, do you think there was that, to him?
JAKE GYLLENHAAL : My belief is, in using that word, I think it takes the onus off of us, in the creation of Lou. He’s our creation. Without our need for information, without our need for information of all sorts, in a world where unimportant information is now important, and important information is now unimportant, and it all exists on the same plane, we just need to feed and consume, in that way. That people like Lou can thrive. He’s a product of a generation where jobs are, I wouldn’t necessarily say, now, as scarce as they have been, but definitely scarce, and they are transforming the idea of what someone does, as so different. The other day, I wrote an article and I post, it’s like, there’s a job that is changing the idea of a whole generation, who are coming into the world going, “What is a job? What do I do? How do I get a job?” And Lou is a product of that. The choices he makes; he’s kind of a walking metaphor, that’s how I look at it. So I wouldn’t say, as soon as you say, “Oh, he’s a sociopath.” It just sort of makes it go, “Oh, he’s over there. Don’t worry. We don’t have to deal with it.” In a way, I think he’s a product of… he does what he does. He is enabled by Nina, Renee’s character. He’s enabled by the guys at the head of the station, and they are enabled by us. There’s a world where we maybe could live, ideally, where someone who wouldn’t end up being the head of a huge major network. But I feel like, in the world that we live in now, he probably would.
Following up with questions, this movie is kind of about two people going to the TV, and what they’re doing. How do you see the journalism, and the entertainment, as kind of so close, and journalism has changed. The journalism…
JAKE GYLLENHAAL : There’s sort of part of the same answer that I would give, the same thing that I just said. I think the difference between what Lou does, he’s dealing with life and death. Though I think that there is a sense of no one taking responsibility. We’re all just in it. We’re all just needing information, and getting it. I think whatever shocks us is what we’re bound to go towards, even if we don’t want to. We’re still terrified by it, and interested. It’s the same idea as moving past an accident.
It’s kind of understandable. The teams he’s following, and the people…
JAKE GYLLENHAAL : I think that idea is very different. When you’re talking about celebrity culture, you’re dealing with life and death. When you’re following somebody who’s going about living their life, it’s not comparable.
Can you talk a little bit about working with Rene? As a person, and as an actress, and as your partner in this? And her touching your knee?
JAKE GYLLENHAAL : Oh yeah, she did do that in one scene. Well, in the restaurant scene, that’s actually a perfect example. Her husband, Dan, gave her very little to survive with in that scene. I would say that I was given, Lou was given a figurative 50 calibre machine gun, with his words, and she’s given a spoon. So I walked into that scene, expecting to just win, just because I’d been given all those words. And eventually he does win that scene. But Renee came in, and made it a struggle for me, in that, even with close to nothing to defend with, she was like a fierce competitor. The choices that she was making, moment to moment, even when she touched my leg, she must have said that to you, that was a choice she was doing, under the table to me, that no one would see, to mess with me. Because she knew that she needed to try and win something. As actor to actor. And I love it! There’s nothing I love more than another actor who is going to sideswipe me, sweep my leg, because I mean, it’s fun! She does it in so much fun, so much play, it’s not like dangerous. It’s so playful. When we rehearsed, with her and Dan; they’re so loving, the two of them, just so positive and loving. I would come and rehearse and do a speech with her, a scene, and she’d be like, “Oh my God, you’re just so great!” And then I’d be like, “Can we just do the scene?” And she’d be like, “Nope, I mean, Danny, isn’t he just so wonderful?” I’d just be like, and he would go, “I know, I told you! I told you!” Guys, we’re doing a scene! It was like that with them, and particularly with her. She’s been very, she’s separated herself from the whole Hollywood thing, as much as she can, and she’s really creative, and very sensitive, and very loving and open. When you think about her in ‘The Thomas Crown Affair’ and stuff, there’s a real intimidation factor about her beauty, and her charisma and stuff, but I think, deep down inside, she just likes to garden, and chill out and stuff. I love that side of her, in the scene, because it’s that side of her, seeing the real human side of her, that makes her so fearless in that scene. So it was great fun to work with her.
Can you talk about the look on your face, because it looks like…? Is it some effort on the make-up person, or is it just the camera?
JAKE GYLLENHAAL : Can we talk about your face? [Laughs] Who did that?
Is that the first time you lost some weight?
JAKE GYLLENHAAL : I have an extraordinary make-up artist, who’s working with me on this movie ‘Prisoners’, right now. And then he came, and he was nice enough to come and work with me on this movie. We had extraordinary department heads; from Rob Elswit, who shot our movie, all the way to our production designer. Every single department head, it was nuts! It was a 7.5 million dollar movie! The fact that we had all these people working with us was insane. So Donald, who did my make-up, I also worked on character with him. It was very important. It’s not about anything other than the creation of a good feeling inside. There’s no continuity with how we worked. There’s emotional continuity, given the scenario, and the scene and the day and the moment, has nothing to do with anything besides that. He was helpful there. We did subtle things. We made subtle choices and stuff. One of the biggest things that Lou really only sweats once in the movie, and that was a very particular thing, that we talked about often. In the times when he’s giving his speeches, or when he’s talking to Riz, or when he’s under pressure, when he’s with the police officers, when they’re questioning him, he’s in the interrogation room, he does not sweat. The only time that he sweats is out of excitement, when he’s going through that house. When he comes out of that, and he runs down that hill, and he’s driving away, is the only time that you see him sweaty. Because he’s fucking psyched! Every other exchange, there’s this cool confidence to him. So those types of things, as far as my face, and the choices that are made, losing weight and stuff. That was just months of, as we were getting into shooting, I would do stuff like run to set, and at a certain point I was just running through Griffith Park all the time, eight to fifteen miles a day, and I was just training myself as a coyote, with all the coyotes and stuff. And then my face just changed, I think. I don’t think I was really even aware, until a few months ago, and we were going through all the cuts. You start to separate from all the characters, and go like “Wow!” The place where you are mentally, it has so much less to do mentally than it does, physically. I can go back there at any moment and remember. I can go back to that Chinese restaurant, Like the scene of an accident, or something.
The way things are, like it or not, when the film comes out, you will be asked to make an indictment against this business, and how we cover stories, and how we put out information.
JAKE GYLLENHAAL : Just like you get to make an indictment of us, and what we put out.
Are you comfortable being put in that position? Have you thought about what you will say, or how you feel about that? Obviously, it’s a work of fiction, but is there reality in there, and do you define it as okay? I’m just thinking of this question as I’m saying it, but I can see it now, on CNN, or one of those shows, assuming we stop getting ebola, and say, shooting each other? Is there possibly some conversation on that?
JAKE GYLLENHAAL : Well, my form of communication is through the movies that I make. That’s one thing that I can say. I consider that to be, as much as I consider that to be entertainment, and it should be entertaining, that’s why I think, this movie is actually really fun to watch, and entertaining, as well as I feel like it’s some kind of commentary. I feel like when you can get the two in a movie, I feel like those are the types of movies I want to make. I believe that movies are political, no matter what. I think that if you’re going to escape, or you’re going to overtly deal with something political, it’s still political, because there’s stuff going on all the time. And I think I was taught and raised that it’s important to know, to be informed, and to make choices based on that, from a number of different standpoints, not just one. So I don’t think it’s necessarily, I don’t think any story’s good unless there’s a bit of indictment somewhere. There’s a… unless there’s some kind of comment; I would say indictment is the wrong word, I would say commentary. Dan Gilroy has a point of view. And I think he’s created this character, as i’ve said before, to shine light on the fact that I don’t think a character like Lou could exist, unless we really created him. There have been people who have seen the movie, and have come up to me, who do work in the media, and said stuff like, “I would buy the footage that Lou…” I’m like, “Wow! That’s interesting to me. That’s fascinating,” but at the same time, it’s true. You can go anywhere, on any news site, and scroll down, like you even said, we don’t want to read half of the things that we have to read. And I’m sure you don’t want to cover it. But it’s important that people know it. I have been more moved by the media, emotionally, my heart has swelled, as a result of stories that I’ve read, and I’ve been disgusted at the same time, in different stories that I’ve read. And I think that’s what’s beautiful about the job that you all do. That we’re all part of it. I feel the same way about movies. There are movies that do the same thing to me.
In the movie, L.A. is kind of its own character, and it’s beautiful. Can you tell me how you describe L.A., and how that played into your character?
JAKE GYLLENHAAL : L.A. is where I was born, and where I was raised. So it’s filled with all of that stuff for me, my childhood and stuff, driving around L.A… it means that, everytime I’m here, I live in New York, now, I flew here just a few hours ago. Every time that I fly in, it’s… I love L.A. I don’t want to quote Randy Newman, but… The movie would not have been able to been made, anywhere else. This is a Los Angeles movie. It’s a movie about the world, and I think that L.A., from my experience of L.A. has every single culture in it. I mean, it’s just this extraordinarily vast melting pot. And also the topography of it is really important, because there’s also the desert outside, and there’s the city, the metropolis. And Dan and I talked a lot about this, that the borders from space of Los Angeles, it goes from like electric to total darkness, into the desert. You know, there’s the green grass, and the lawns we created, are all man-made, and outside of that, is wilderness and the animal kingdom, and the wild. They come in, these animals come in at night. Who, who lives in L.A., has not had an exchange with a coyote? You know what I mean? Anytime that I talk to somebody who’s seen the movie, and said that I based this character off of a coyote, they go, “Oh!” Because it’s like, who hasn’t been eyefucked by a coyote. You know? They are not intimidated by you at all? In fact, they’re looking for the most vulnerable aspect of you. And they’re a beautiful animal. I have grown to love them, because I’ve done so much research, and felt like I was one of them, while I was playing this character. But they are ruthless, you know? And because they are also starving.
Are you living in New York because you’re living there, or are you living there because it’s a cool city?
JAKE GYLLENHAAL : I live in New York because my family lives there. My nieces live there, my mother lives there. My family all lives in New York. And my family is more important to me than where I live, but they all happen to be there, but it happens to be a wonderful city, too.
Are you excited about Broadway?
JAKE GYLLENHAAL : Am I excited about Broadway? I’m so excited, I can’t wait! I did a show about a year and a half ago, with the same writer and director, on a different show. It’s my favorite place to be, is up on stage. Like every musician gets to go on tour, you know what i mean? In my acting, the movie is my album. The theater is the live show, and so I can’t wait. That’s a different animal! That’s the animal, I always want to come out and they say, “Cut!”
What’s the name of your play?
JAKE GYLLENHAAL : It’s called ‘Constellations’ by Nick Payne.
NIGHTCRAWLER is a pulse-pounding thriller set in the nocturnal underbelly of contemporary Los Angeles.
Jake Gyllenhaal stars as Lou Bloom, a driven young man desperate for work who discovers the high-speed world of L.A. crime journalism. Finding a group of freelance camera crews who film crashes, fires, murder and other mayhem, Lou muscles into the cut-throat, dangerous realm of nightcrawling — where each police siren wail equals a possible windfall and victims are converted into dollars and cents.
Aided by Rene Russo as Nina, a veteran of the blood-sport that is local TV news, Lou blurs the line between observer and participant to become the star of his own story.
From director Dan Gilroy, NIGHTCRAWLER will have you on the edge of your seat when it hits the big screen on Halloween, October 31st.
WAMG invites you to enter for a chance to win passes (Good for 2) to the advance screening of NIGHTCRAWLER on Tuesday, October 28th at 7PM in the St. Louis area. We will contact the winners by email.
Answer the following:
Jake Gyllenhaal played a NASA engineer in what film?
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