Opening in theaters and On Demand on January 17th is the new crime thriller Reasonable Doubt, which was directed by first time filmmaker Peter P. Croudins. The movie stars Dominic Cooper (Captain America: The First Avenger), Samuel L. Jackson (The Avengers), and Gloria Reuben (Lincoln).
IAR is proud to present an exclusive clip from Reasonable Doubt.
Once best known for his roles in comedic films like Superbad, Knocked Up, Get Him to the Greek, and 21 Jump Street, Jonah Hill has recently transformed himself into a very respected dramatic character actor. First with his Academy Award-nominated supporting work in Moneyball, and now for his role in Martin Scorsese’s The Wolf of Wall Street, which has just earned him his second Oscar-nomination for Best Supporting Actor.
The Wolf of Wall Street tells the true story of the rise and fall of Wall Street stockbroker Jordan Belfort (Leonardo DiCaprio). During the late ‘80s and early ‘90s Belfort makes a name for himself selling penny stocks and creating the firm Stratton Oakmont with his associate Donnie Azoff (Hill). Living a lavish lifestyle of parties, sex, and drugs, Belfort becomes addicted to cocaine and Quaaludes, and illegally accumulates a fortune while being investigated by the FBI. Hill has been praised for his over-the-top performance as Donnie, and holding is own against powerhouse actor Leonardo DiCaprio.
I recently had a chance to sit down with Jonah Hill, along with a few select journalists, to discuss his work in The Wolf of Wall Street. Hill talked about his new film, working with his hero Martin Scorsese, his character, transitioning from comedic films to dramas, performing opposite Leonardo DiCaprio, and what he learned from the experience.
Opening in theaters and On Demand on January 17th is the new crime thriller Reasonable Doubt, which was directed by first time filmmaker Peter P. Croudins. The movie stars Dominic Cooper (Captain America: The First Avenger), Samuel L. Jackson (The Avengers), and Gloria Reuben (Lincoln).
IAR's Managing Editor Jami Philbrick recently had the pleasure of sitting down with Dominic Cooper and Samuel L. Jackson to talk about their work on Reasonable Doubt. The two accomplished actors discussed their new film, finally getting to act together on screen after both appearing in Captain America: The First Avenger and Captain America: The Winter Soldier, why it took so long, what they look for when they are choosing projects, the long list of legendary directors that Jackson has worked with, collaborating with first time director Peter P. Croudins, what Jackson has learned from making over 100 movies, and what Cooper learned from working with Jackson on Reasonable Doubt.
Available on Blu-ray beginning January 14th is the musical documentary 20 Feet from Stardom, which was directed by Morgan Neville (Johnny Cash's America). The film features interviews with current and former backup singers including Darlene Love, Judith Hill, Lisa Fischer, Merry Clayton, Tata Vega, Patti Austin, Sheryl Crow, Gloria Jones, David Lasley, Claudia Lennear, Lynn Mabry, Janice Pendarvis, and Stevvi Alexander, as well as music producer Lou Adler, and musicians Mick Jagger, Bette Midler, Bruce Springsteen, Sting, and Stevie Wonder.
IAR's New York Correspondent Justine Browning recently had a chance to sit down with Darlene Love, Lisa Fischer and Judith Hill to talk about their work on 20 Feet from Stardom. The accomplished singers discussed their new film, watching their lives chronicled in a documentary, what it takes to be a successful backup singer, and how the theatrical release of the movie has changed their careers.
Premiering January 11th on EPIX is the new documentary Milius, which chronicles the life and career of director and screenwriter John Milius (Conan the Barbarian, Red Dawn). The documentary was directed by Joey Figueroa and Zak Knutson (Kevin Smith: Burn in Hell), and features interviews with Francis Ford Coppola (Apocalypse Now), Richard Dreyfuss (Jaws), Clint Eastwood (Dirty Harry), Sam Elliott (Hulk), Harrison Ford (Raiders of the Lost Ark), Bob Gale (Back to the Future), James Earl Jones (The Empire Strikes Back), William Katt (Carrie), George Lucas (Star Wars), Michael Mann (Heat) Ed O'Neill (TV's Modern Family), Paul Schrader (Taxi Driver), Martin Scorsese (Goodfellas), Arnold Schwarzenegger (Conan the Barbarian), Charlie Sheen (Red Dawn), Bryan Singer (X-Men), Steven Spielberg (E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial), Sylvester Stallone (Rocky), Lea Thompson (Red Dawn), Oliver Stone (Platoon), Kurt Sutter (TV's Sons of Anarchy), Robert Zemeckis (Forrest Gump), and Powers Boothe (Red Dawn).
IAR's Managing Editor Jami Philbrick had an opportunity to attend the red carpet premiere of Millius at USC in Los Angeles and speak with Powers Boothe about the documentary. The veteran actor discussed the new film, working with the great John Milius, the director's genius, making Red Dawn, working with its young cast, and the movie's lasting impact. He also confirmed that he will NOT be reprising his role from The Avengers in the upcoming sequel Avengers: Age of Ultron.
After co-directing the 2009 indie hit Tanner Hall with Tatiana von Furstenberg, writer and director Francesca Gregorini makes her solo directorial debut with her new film The Truth About Emanuel, which stars Jessica Biel (The A-Team, Total Recall) and opens in theaters on January 10th.
While this is only her second film, Gregorini is no stranger to Hollywood being the daughter of former Bond girl Barbara Bach (The Spy Who Loved Me) and the stepdaughter of musical legend Ringo Starr (The Beatles). Her latest film, The Truth About Emanuel, follows the title character (Kaya Scodelario); a troubled young girl who becomes obsessed with her mysterious new neighbor (Biel), a woman that bears a striking resemblance to her dead mother. In addition to Biel and Scodelario, the film also stars Alfred Molina (Spider-Man 2), Frances O’Connor (A.I. Artificial Intelligence), Aneurin Barnard (Hunky Dory), and Jimmi Simpson (Breakout Kings)
I recently had a chance to speak with writer and director Francesca Gregorini about The Truth About Emanuel. The talented filmmaker discussed her new movie, developing the screenplay, its genre, the title change, casting the film’s baby, directing her first film without Tatiana von Furstenberg, what she learned from making Tanner Hall, Jessica Biel’s impressive performance, and working with the hilarious Jimmi Simpson.
A star is born!
When you think of “star making” performances in movies, you think of Eddie Murphy in 48 Hours, Tom Cruise in Risky Business, Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman, Sharon Stone in Basic Instinct, Hugh Jackman in X-Men, Christian Bale in American Psycho, and more recently Melissa McCarthy in Bridesmaids, and Jennifer Lawrence in Winter’s Bone. Well, you can now add Margot Robbie in The Wolf of Wall Street to that illustrious list.
Robbie, who up to this point was best known for her role on the short-lived TV series Pan Am and in the recent film About Time, gives a stunning Oscar-worthy performance opposite Academy Award-nominee Leonardo DiCaprio in legendary director Martin Scorsese’s latest film The Wolf of Wall Street. The movie tells the true story of the rise and fall of Wall Street stockbroker Jordan Belfort (DiCaprio). During the late ‘80s and early ‘90s Belfort makes a name for himself selling penny stocks and creating the firm Stratton Oakmont with his associate Donnie Azoff (Jonah Hill). Living a lavish lifestyle of parties, sex, and drugs, Belfort becomes addicted to cocaine and Quaaludes, and illegally accumulates a fortune while being investigated by the FBI. Robbie plays Belfort’s second wife, the drop dead gorgeous Naomi Lapaglia who quickly becomes another one of Jordan’s obsessions.
I recently had a chance to sit down with Margot Robbie to talk about her “star making” performance in The Wolf of Wall Street. The Australian actress discussed her new movie, her “star making” performance, how it’s changed her career, what it’s like working on a Martin Scorsese set, Leonardo DiCaprio’s process as an actor and crafting her character’s specific New York accent.
Opening in theaters on January 3rd is the new supernatural horror film Paranormal Activity: The Marked Ones, which is a spinoff of the extremely popular Paranormal Activity franchise. The movie was written and directed by Christopher B. Landon (Burning Palms), and stars Andrew Jacobs (TV's Major Crimes), Jorge Diaz (Filly Brown), newcomer Gabrielle Walsh, and Renee Victor (The Prophecy II).
IAR's Managing Editor Jami Philbrick recently had a chance to sit down with Andrew Jacobs, Jorge Diaz, and Gabrielle Walsh to talk about their work on Paranormal Activity: The Marked Ones. The young actors discussed their new movie, the pressure of joining the Paranormal Activity franchise, what they bring to the series, the film's Easter eggs, acting with found footage, and director Christopher B. Landon.
Opening in theaters on January 10th is the new action movie The Legend of Hercules, which is based on the mythical Greek hero. The film is directed by Renny Harlin (5 Days of War), and stars Kellan Lutz (Immortals) in the title role, as well as Scott Adkins (Universal Soldier: Day of Reckoning), Roxanne McKee (TV's Game of Thrones), Liam McIntyre (TV's Spartacus: War of the Damned), Johnathon Schaech (Takers), Rade Serbedzija (In the Land of Blood and Honey), and newcomer Gala Weiss.
IAR's Managing Editor Jami Philbrick recently had the pleasure of sitting down with Kellan Lutz to talk about his work on The Legend of Hercules, as well as his upcoming film The Expendables 3. The popular young actor discussed his new movie, playing such an iconic character as Hercules, working with director Renny Harlin, the film's similarities to 300, performing action sequences with Scott Adkins, The Expendables 3, and which members of the film's all-star cast he got to work with.
The 1st Annual Snoop Youth Football League All-Star Game took place in Los Angeles on January 4th, where members of musician/actor Snoop Dogg's (formally Snoop Lion) youth football league (SYFL) played members of musician Flo Rida's youth football league (FYFL).
IAR's Managing Editor Jami Philbrick attended the game and had the pleasure of speaking with both Snoop Dogg and Flo Rida about The 1st Annual Snoop Youth Football League All-Star Game, music, movies, and more. The two popular musicians talked about their youth football leagues, why the started them, the all-star game, their friendship, what they teach the kids, safety, how football changed their lives, their upcoming musical and movie projects, if Snoop will appear on Flo Rida's next album, and what it was like for Snoop to perform in front of President and First Lady Obama at the recent Kennedy Center Honors.
