Richard Jenkins

DVD Review: 'After Dark Horrorfest III: 8 Films to Die For'

BrianTT — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 09:58:29 -0600

Overall DVD Rating: 2.0/5.0

CHICAGO – Lionsgate and After Dark Films’ recently released their third collection of “8 Films to Die For” and this year proved to be the most uninspiring octet to date. With fewer risks taken than the last two years and less extreme failures or successes, “After Dark Horrorfest III” is terrifyingly dull.

What makes this year’s collection rather forgettable is the lack of extremes on either side of the rating spectrum. The first two years produced some truly excellent genre gems including “Borderland,” “The Hamiltons,” and “The Abandoned.” At the same time, movies like “Lake Dead,” “Unearthed,” and “Nightmare Man” should be buried in a deep hole and never see the light of day again.

I have to admit that I liked the variety in quality of the last two years more than this year, when nearly every film registered as forgettable more than good or bad. There was one notable standout, a couple of films that almost worked, and a bunch of genre junk. In order of quality:

1. “Perkins’ 14”

DVD Rating: 3.5/5.0

Starring: Patrick O’Kane, Richard Brake, Michale Graves, Mihaela Mihut, and Shayla Beesley
Written by: Lane Shadgett
Directed by: Craig Singer

After Dark Horrorfest III
Photo credit: Lionsgate Home Video

Synopsis: Ten years ago, Officer Dwayne Hooper’s son was abducted, the final victim in a string of fourteen local disappearances. Now, Hooper’s suspicions have been aroused by a prison inmate who bears striking similarities to the purported kidnapper. Hooper finds evidence in the criminal’s apartment and seeks revenge – igniting a wave of carnage that engulfs the town.

“Perkins’ 14” is far-from-perfect but it does feature a few things that most of this year’s After Dark films do not - quality acting and an interesting premise. O’Kane and Brake give the best performances in all eight films as a police officer and the man who kidnapped his son ten years ago to the day.

After an investigation of the kidnappers basement reveals something incredibly dark, “Perkins’ 14” turns into a movie from the prime era of John Carpenter - good guys trapped in one place with the bad guys outside. There’s effective tension in the final act due to the quality acting in the first two.

The film was actually the winner of an online contest, in which an unexperienced writer submitted his idea and After Dark took it from there, even casting major roles online. The project was clearly rushed a bit but I think it says something about the art of moviemaking that the best film of this year’s collection came from the least experienced group of people.

2. “From Within”

DVD Rating: 2.5/5.0

Starring: Elizabeth Rice, Thomas Dekker, Kelly Blatz, Laura Allen, Steven Culp, Rumer Willis, Jared Harris, and Adam Goldberg
Written by: Brad Keene
Directed by: Phedon Papamichael

After Dark Horrorfest III
Photo credit: Lionsgate Home Video

Synopsis: A rash of suicides has devastated the small community of Grovetown, with fear and panic spreading among local residents. As those around 18 year-old Lindsay continue to die grisly deaths, she begins to distrust everyone…and suspects she will become the next victim.

“From Within” has an interesting concept and some great character actors in the supporting cast, including Jared Harris of “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” and Adam Goldberg of “The Unusuals,” but the final product suffers deeply from “boring lead syndrome”. I thought Thomas Dekker was uncharismatic and dull on “The Terminator: The Sarah Conner Chronicles” but he’s downright scintillating compared to his drab performance here.

Papamichael (a famous cinematographer in his own right) has made the most professional-looking film of the set and he knows how to build tension but the final act has a few too many twists for its own good and I couldn’t stand the leads - two serious problems in the world of horror.

3. “The Broken”

DVD Rating: 2.5/5.0

Starring: Lena Headey, Ulrich Thomsen, Melvil Poupaud, Michelle Duncan, Asier Newman, and Richard Jenkins
Written by: Sean Ellis
Directed by: Sean Ellis

After Dark Horrorfest III
Photo credit: Lionsgate Home Video

Synopsis: The life of a successful radiologist spirals out of control when she sees the spitting image of herself driving down a London street. Attempting to discover the identity of her double, she stumbles into a terrifying mystery that involves her family and closest friends, leaving her with no one to trust.

Honestly, I can’t believe that this is #3. It shows you how quickly things slide off this year. The only reason it ranks this high this year is the caliber of the cast, including the great Richard Jenkins and intriguing Lena Headey. But as much as I wanted to like “The Broken,” this thing is dull, dull, dull. It’s all creepy music with nothing going on to support it. It’s nearly comical in the way everything is dramatically overblown when we, the audience, have nothing to fear.

4. “Autopsy”

DVD Rating: 2.5/5.0

Starring: Robert Patrick, Jessica Lowndes, Jenette Goldstein, Michael Bowen, Robert Lasardo, and Ross Kohn
Written by: Adam Gierasch & Jace Anderson & E.L. Katz
Directed by: Adam Gierasch

After Dark Horrorfest III
Photo credit: Lionsgate Home Video

Synopsis: A group of recent college grads is taking a final vacation together when an accident leaves them hurt and stranded on a lonely Louisiana road. An ambulance arrives and takes them to mercy hospital, an eerie, half empty place that harbors a chilling secret: a doctor conducting inhuman experiments on its helpless patients.

It’s almost worth seeing “Autopsy” to see the two movies on display at the same time - the atmospheric, mad scientist movie that Robert Patrick thinks he’s making and the the tongue-in-cheek, early-era Peter Jackson flick that everyone else is filming. The gorehounds should go here first in the After Dark collection. There’s some CRAZY gore, but the thing doesn’t build at all and Patrick is half-asleep. There’s no character there at all. The female lead isn’t bad but the radical shifts in tone from atmosphere piece to gore extravaganza make for an ultimately unsatisfying experience.

5. “Slaughter”

DVD Rating: 2.0/5.0

Starring: Lucy Holt, Amy Shiels, Craig Robert Young, and Antonia Bernath
Written by: Stewart Hopewell & Tim Long
Directed by: Stewart Hopewell

After Dark Horrorfest III
Photo credit: Lionsgate Home Video

Synopsis: Looking to escape an abusive relationship, Faith moves in with Lola at her family’s farm. Every night the girls go out, the young sexy Lola brings home an older man. When Faith realizes Lola’s one night stands are disappearing, she fears Lola’s creepy family is killing more than just animals in the slaughter house.

For the 2009 After Dark film with the most interesting “great premise, horrible execution” dynamic, take a look at “Slaughter”. The idea, which I won’t give away here, is a really good one, a twist on the battle of the sexes and the protection of a father in his little girl’s dating life. But the execution is another story, no pun intended. The first 45 minutes drag and the second 45 minutes are absolutely ridiculous. The first half will make you long for something to happen and the second half will simply make you roll your eyes.

6. “Voices”

DVD Rating: 2.0/5.0

Starring: Yoon Jin-seo, Lee Ki-Woo, and Nae-sang Ahn
Written by: Oh Ki-Hwan
Directed by: Oh Ki-Hwan

After Dark Horrorfest III
Photo credit: Lionsgate Home Video

Synopsis: After witnessing the violent murders of two family members, a young woman fears that she may be marked for death. With no one to trust and nowhere to flee, she races against time to uncover a deadly secret, in this heart-stopping thriller.

I must admit that my Asian horror tolerance is at an all-time low. And that’s coming from a huge fan of the genre. I still vividly remember the first time I saw “Ringu” and I have spent hours tracking down the next great horror film from overseas. But the genre has grown so stale. It’s just the same tricks over and over again. A few jump scares, a plot that’s impossible to follow, usually some girls in jeopardy, black hair, pale faces. (Yawn.) Honestly, I was expecting to hate “Voices” more than I did. It’s reasonably well-executed and better than a lot of the junk that has come out of the Asian horror scene in the last few years but that still doesn’t get it very far.

7. “The Butterfly Effect 3: Revelations”

DVD Rating: 1.5/5.0

Starring: Chris Carmack, Rachel Miner, and Daniel Spink
Written by: Holly Brix
Directed by: Seth Grossman

After Dark Horrorfest III
Photo credit: Lionsgate Home Video

Synopsis: The latest entry in The Butterfly Effect franchise tells the story of Sam who possesses an extraordinary talent: the ability to travel through time. He can use his gift to help police solve cases, but he must never intervene with the past as it could alter the present in horrific ways. When a woman from Sam’s past begs him to help her find her sister’s killer, Sam breaks his own rule…and all Hell breaks loose.

Yes, they have actually made three “Butterfly Effect” movies. This one is more of a mystery and I like the twist in concept but, like “From Within,” this one suffers from “boring lead syndrome”. Like a lot of the films in this collection, it doesn’t feel like a risk. There were no significant gambles this year and a third “Butterfly Effect” movie feels like a prime example of walking the safe line that too many films did in the collection for 2009. I almost wished for a “Lake Dead” just to know I was alive instead of so seriously bored. Okay, I take that back. Maybe a “Dark Floors”.

8. “Dying Breed”

DVD Rating: 1.5/5.0

Starring: Nathan Phillips, Leigh Whannell, Bille Brown, Mirrah Foulkes, and Melanie Vallejo
Written by: Michael Boughen, Rod Morris, & Jody Dwyer
Directed by: Jody Dwyer

After Dark Horrorfest III
Photo credit: Lionsgate Home Video

Synopsis: On their quest to find a rare tiger, four adventurers in Tasmania enter an isolated township named Sarah, once a hideout for an infamous cannibal called “The Pieman.” The four hunters suddenly become the hunted as they discover that the township still upholds its cannibalistic heritage - and need fresh “stock” to breed.

And this is the ultimate in 2009 After Dark Horrorfest boredom. I literally struggled to care about what was happening in the horribly written “Dying Breed”. Only Nathan Phillips stands out at all and that’s because he’s so bad. He doesn’t understand the difference between likable jerk and total a-hole. I just couldn’t wait for him to die. I couldn’t wait for all of them to die. And yet I still didn’t care when they did.

By BRIAN TALLERICO
Content Director
HollywoodChicago.com
brian@hollywoodchicago.com

Interviews With 2009 Oscar Nominees: Melissa Leo, Richard Jenkins, Taraji P. Henson

BrianTT — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 08:14:27 -0700

CHICAGO – In 2008, HollywoodChicago.com was lucky enough to speak to several of of this year’s lucky Oscar nominees, including Melissa Leo of “Frozen River,” Richard Jenkins of “The Visitor,” Taraji P. Henson of “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button,” and Darren Aronofsky of “The Wrestler,” who may have missed out Best Director but saw his two stars, Marisa Tomei and Mickey Rourke, land major nominations.

We thought we would recap and link to some of the best interviews from our team in 2008 by a few of the people that the Academy deemed worth of Oscar nominations for their work in 2008.

“If you’re an actor, you are enough. You have to believe that - that you are enough.” - Patrick McDonald speaks to Richard Jenkins about “The Visitor” (Nominee for Best Actor)

“We are here to grow into our best selves. That is my religion. Whatever can get you there and whatever the trials, that is what betters us. That is how the story of this film is played out.” - Patrick McDonald speaks to Melissa Leo about “Frozen River” (Nominee for Best Actress)

“Frozen River” star Melissa Leo in Chicago on July 16, 2008.
Photo credit: Patrick McDonald, HollywoodChicago.com

“It was very bold for Eric Roth to choose to make Queenie an African-American woman who was the surrogate mother to Benjamin Button – a white character – which would have been very unusual at the time with what was happening in the country with race.” - Adam Fendelman speaks to Taraji P. Henson about “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” (Nominee for Best Supporting Actress)

(On Rourke) “Between action and cut, there was no one I’ve ever met who was as natural, and he was in complete control,” Aronofsky said. “He was aware of what was going on and was always fully there as the character.” - Patrick McDonald speaks to Darren Aronofsky about “The Wrestler” (Nominee for Best Actor and Best Supporting Actress)

By BRIAN TALLERICO
Content Director
HollywoodChicago.com
brian@hollywoodchicago.com

2008 in Review: The Top 5 Film Interviews of HollywoodChicago.com

PatrickMcD — Sat, 17 Jan 2009 20:19:54 -0700

CHICAGO – After participating in close to 25 interviews in 2008 for HollywoodChicago.com, the mechanics of each sit down are interestingly similar. The reporters gather at a pre-determined spot (usually a Chicago downtown hotel).

And then either one-by-one or part of group, we are led into the inner sanctum of the actor or director’s interview room. Then, getting anywhere from 14 to 40 minutes, we get to ask questions.

Sometimes there are phone interviews. Nothing is more surreal than sitting in the home office, surrounded by everything that is familiar, and talking to one of the industry’s most notorious playwrights or an admired character actor.

The goal of each profile became the opportunity to either ask a question the interviewee had never heard, or to get a nugget of information that distinguishes the film or television show that they’re promoting. It is a terrific challenge.

After assessing all of the 2008 interviews, it was these five that stood out.

Melissa Leo, Lead Actress, “Frozen River”

“Frozen River” star Melissa Leo in Chicago on July 16, 2008.
Photo credit: Patrick McDonald, HollywoodChicago.com

The Background

After playing Sgt. Kay Howard on the TV show “Homicide” in the 1990s, and having notable supporting character roles for years, Leo got the opportunity to be the prime mover in this unusual story of immigrant running on the Canadian border.

The Quote

“We are here to grow into our best selves. That is my religion. Whatever can get you there and whatever the trials, that is what betters us. That is how the story of this film is played out.”

Behind the Scenes

When asked about playing Suellen O’Hara (Scarlett’s sister) in the mini-series “Scarlett” (1994), she laughed that it was “ancient history.” When informed that the 1939 Suellen (Evelyn Keyes) of “Gone With the Wind” had died the week before, she regretted never meeting her.

Chiwetel Ejiofor, Lead Actor, “Redbelt”

“Redbelt” star Chiwetel Ejiofor in Chicago on March 31, 2008.
Photo credit: Patrick McDonald, HollywoodChicago.com

The Background

This fascinating British actor (name pronounced choo-ih-tell edge-o-for), who began his career working with Stephen Spielberg (”Amistad”), has played many memorable roles for directors ranging from Spike Lee to Woody Allen.

He was amazing as a Jujitsu master in the underrated David Mamet film, “Redbelt.”

The Quote

“If anything, the film is commenting on the way of how people – through their own volition – favor a simple way of living within their own moral framework, but find themselves at times vulnerable to the bigger machines at work.

The lesson within the film is that if you maintain your own position, you’ll find ways of engaging if not defeating anything that comes your way.”

Behind the Scenes

While talking about Hollywood politics, we both got into a spasm of uncontrolled laughter.

Steve Conrad, Director/Writer, “The Promotion”

“The Promotion” writer and director Steve Conrad in Chicago on April 22, 2008.
Photo credit: Patrick McDonald, HollywoodChicago.com

The Background

This Chicago-based writer/director put his heart and soul into the charming and brilliantly observed human comedy “The Promotion.” Passionate about the character of Chicago, he convinced the producers to film, with his all-star cast, on location in the city.

The Quote

“I would always try to measure the comedy through real human behavior. Among others things, it’s about carving out the space in America to become your better self, how that challenges you and what it costs. It amounts to the fight of all of our lives.”

Behind the Scenes

The interview was conducted in Conrad’s favorite tavern in the Bucktown neighborhood of Chicago.

Richard Jenkins, Lead Actor, “The Visitor”

Richard Jenkins in “The Visitor”.
Photo credit: Overture Films

The Background

Getting the lead role after a career of supporting portrayals (most notably as the father on “Six Feet Under”), Jenkins took “The Visitor” on his shoulders as the complex but heroic character of Walter Vale.

The native of DeKalb, Illinois, also spoke about his younger days watching movies at the Egyptian Theater there.

The Quote

“There’s nothing like walking onto a Hollywood sound stage.

You walk onto Warner Brothers and on those big sound stages that have been there for years there’s a list of every movie ever shot there. You are in the same place where Spencer Tracy, Errol Flynn, Jimmy Cagney and Humphrey Bogart made movies.”

Behind the Scenes

His distinct gravely voice felt like a private performance when coming out of the speaker phone. It was Richard Jenkins as Richard Jenkins.

Neil LaBute, Director/Writer, “Lakeview Terrace”

Director Neil LaBute and Samuel L. Jackson on the set of “Lakeview Terrace”.
Photo credit: imdb

The Background

One of the most notorious and controversial playwrights in America, LaBute put his distinct spin on race relations in his must-see morality film, “Lakeview Terrace.”

His unblinking instinct to showcase human beings in their most unsettled form formulates a provocative atmosphere.

The Quote

“If Rodney King asks the question ‘can’t we all get along?,’ I would say after much scrutiny the answer would be ‘just barely’.”

Behind the Scenes

Even though the indication was that Mr. LaBute would be available via phone only for 17 minutes, he graciously went overtime and engaged in all of the interview questions.

Quick Takes on Some of the Other Good Ones in 2008

Funniest Interviews

“Shaun of the Dead” Simon Pegg loved his personalized water bottle, and frenetic Sam Rockwell did several minutes on trying to light a cigarette.

Master Class

One of the top and most famous documentary makers, Errol Morris, held a group of us in awe as he spoke of his craft.

Big Stars

Oscar winner Chris Cooper was a larger-than-life presence and Rainn Wilson – Dwight Schrute himself of “The Office” – rhapsodized about fulfilling a life-long show business dream.

Finally, Dude, You Are So Old & Boring

One of the subjects of the documentary, “American Teen” spent most of the group interview surreptitiously text messaging a distant friend. “OMG, STFU!”

By PATRICK McDONALD
Staff Writer
HollywoodChicago.com
pat@hollywoodchicago.com

Blu-Ray Review: ‘Burn After Reading’ Hilarious Movie, Horrible Blu-Ray

BrianTT — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 10:23:27 -0700

CHICAGO – It’s impossible for a critic to thoroughly defend something he finds funny but fully realizes that a large majority of the audience may not. Sometimes a film just hits your funny bone in right way. “Burn After Reading” does so for me, but may not for audiences without a little bit of a mean streak.

Fitting snugly into the Coen Brothers’ resume of slightly-demented comedies, “Burn After Reading” disappointed audiences expecting “No Country For Old Men 2”, but like “Raising Arizona”, “The Hudsucker Proxy”, and “The Big Lebowski”, should have an extensive life on the home market.

Every time the Coens have made a “serious” movie, they’ve followed it with a lark of a comedy. “Arizona” came after “Blood Simple”, “Hudsucker” followed “Barton Fink”, and “Lebowski” was an odd choice after “Fargo”. They’ve all thrown audiences for a loop. It happened again with “Burn After Reading”, a dark, vicious comedy about people who think they understand espionage because they’ve seen a lot of spy movies. The Coens have often been accused of making fun of their characters and I’ve usually defended them as laughing with their lead. Not this time. They’re laughing at these morons.

The morons in question include an all-star cast headed by Brad Pitt, George Clooney, Frances McDormand, Tilda Swinton, Richard Jenkins, J.K. Simmons, and John Malkovich. The entire ensemble is clearly having a blast and it’s infectious. Some critics were upset at not being able to find the deeper meaning in a story about a disc of government secrets that makes its way into the hands of some stupid fitness experts. Guess what? There is no deeper meaning. That’s the point. Just have fun with “Burn After Reading”.

Perhaps Universal knows they have an eventual cult hit and held back the special features for an inevitable special edition but that kind of double-dipping is getting really old. Universal has been consistently releasing the most comprehensive and well organized Blu-Rays of the season, so we’ll forgive “Burn After Reading” as the exception. Special features? Three lonely featurettes - “Finding the Burn”, “DC Insiders Run Amuck”, and “Welcome Back, George” - don’t really qualify as “special”, especially considering they run less than twenty minutes COMBINED.

“Burn After Reading” does include Universal’s BD-Live functionality that allows viewers to cut their favorite scenes and send them but this common addition doesn’t really qualify as a special feature. It’s really just bookmarking with an internet connection.

Technically, “Burn After Reading” looks and sounds great with a 1080p HD Widescreen transfer in its original 1.85:1 aspect ratio and an audio track an English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1. Both the video and audio won’t be used to show off new home theaters, but are also never distracting.

Universal clearly intended the Blu-Ray release of “Burn After Reading” to be a rental. If they wanted more purchases, they would have put more effort into the special features. Luckily, the movie itself is funny enough to make the dearth of bonuses easier to overlook.

‘Burn After Reading’ is released by Universal Home Video and stars Brad Pitt, George Clooney, Frances McDormand, Tilda Swinton, John Malkovich, J.K. Simmons, David Rasche, and Richard Jenkins. It was released on December 21st, 2008.

By BRIAN TALLERICO
Content Director
HollywoodChicago.com
brian@hollywoodchicago.com

Slideshow: 36-Image Gallery For ‘The Tale of Despereaux’ With Matthew Broderick, Dustin Hoffman

BrianTT — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 10:46:23 -0700

CHICAGO – This 36-image slideshow contains official press images for Universal’s “The Tale of Despereaux,” which stars Matthew Broderick, Dustin Hoffman, Emma Watson, Tracey Ullman, Kevin Kline, William H. Macy, Stanley Tucci, Ciaran Hinds, Robbie Coltrane, and Tony Hale from writer Gary Ross and directed by Sam Fell & Robert Stevenhagen. The film opens on Dec. 19, 2008.

“The Tale of Despereaux” is Universal’s animated adventure for the season and features voice work by Matthew Broderick in the title role, a mouse who wants to be a man. Despereaux must team with a disgraced rat (voiced by Dustin Hoffman) and an awkward servant girl (Tracey Ullman) to save a kingdom that has been plunged into darkness. The animated film is rated G and opens on Friday, December 19th, 2008.

You can click “Next” and “Previous” to scan through this slideshow or jump directly to individual photos with the captioned links below. All photos credited to Universal Pictures Copyright: © 2008 Universal Studios. All rights reserved.

Despereaux01: Noble mouse Despereaux (voiced by Matthew Broderick) jousts with royal chef Andre (voiced by Kevin Kline) in the animated adventure that tells a story of bravery, forgiveness and redemption: The Tale of Despereaux.
Despereaux02: Soup genie Boldo (voiced by Stanley Tucci), noble mouse Despereaux (voiced by Matthew Broderick) and royal chef Andre (voiced by Kevin Kline) in the animated adventure that tells a story of bravery, forgiveness and redemption: The Tale of Despereaux.
Despereaux03: Noble mouse Despereaux (voiced by Matthew Broderick) explains his quest to palace jailer Gregory (voiced by Robbie Coltrane) in the animated adventure that tells a story of bravery, forgiveness and redemption: The Tale of Despereaux.
Despereaux04: Noble mouse Despereaux (voiced by Matthew Broderick) is led to the edge of Ratworld by blind Hovis (voiced by Christopher Lloyd) in the animated adventure that tells a story of bravery, forgiveness and redemption: The Tale of Despereaux.
Despereaux05: Blind Hovis (voiced by Christopher Lloyd) leads noble mouse Despereaux (voiced by Matthew Broderick) to the edge of Ratworld in the animated adventure that tells a story of bravery, forgiveness and redemption: The Tale of Despereaux.
Despereaux06: Noble mouse Despereaux (voiced by Matthew Broderick) in the animated adventure that tells a story of bravery, forgiveness and redemption: The Tale of Despereaux.
Despereaux07: Princess Pea (voiced by Emma Watson) greets noble mouse Despereaux (voiced by Matthew Broderick) in the animated adventure that tells a story of bravery, forgiveness and redemption: The Tale of Despereaux.
Despereaux08: Noble mouse Despereaux (voiced by Matthew Broderick) commits to his quest in the animated adventure that tells a story of bravery, forgiveness and redemption: The Tale of Despereaux.
Despereaux09: Princess Pea (voiced by Emma Watson) is greeted by noble mouse Despereaux (voiced by Matthew Broderick) in the animated adventure that tells a story of bravery, forgiveness and redemption: The Tale of Despereaux.
Despereaux10: Noble mouse Despereaux (voiced by Matthew Broderick) describes excitement to his family in the animated adventure that tells a story of bravery, forgiveness and redemption: The Tale of Despereaux.
Despereaux11: The Tilling family: meek brother Furlough (voiced by Tony Hale), noble mouse Despereaux (voiced by Matthew Broderick), mother Antoinette (voiced by Frances Conroy) and father Lester (voiced by William H. Macy) in the animated adventure that tells a story of bravery, forgiveness and redemption: The Tale of Despereaux.
Despereaux12: (L to R) Mother Antoinette (voiced by Frances Conroy), noble mouse Despereaux (voiced by Matthew Broderick) and father Lester (voiced by William H. Macy) in the animated adventure that tells a story of bravery, forgiveness and redemption: The Tale of Despereaux.
Despereaux13: Noble mouse Despereaux (voiced by Matthew Broderick) devours tales of knights and princesses in the animated adventure that tells a story of bravery, forgiveness and redemption: The Tale of Despereaux.
Despereaux14: (L to R) Despereaux Tilling’s family—Father Lester (voiced by William H. Macy), mother Antoinette (voiced by Frances Conroy) and meek brother Furlough (voiced by Tony Hale)—are joined by the family doctor as they welcome baby Despereaux to Mouseworld in the animated adventure that tells a story of bravery, forgiveness and redemption: The Tale of Despereaux.
Despereaux15: Noble mouse Despereaux (voiced by Matthew Broderick) sets his mind to it in the animated adventure that tells a story of bravery, forgiveness and redemption: The Tale of Despereaux.
Despereaux16: Noble mouse Despereaux (voiced by Matthew Broderick) attends school in Mouseworld in the animated adventure that tells a story of bravery, forgiveness and redemption: The Tale of Despereaux.
Despereaux17: (L to R) Guards from the Mayor lead noble mouse Despereaux (voiced by Matthew Broderick) to the edge of Ratworld in the animated adventure that tells a story of bravery, forgiveness and redemption: The Tale of Despereaux.
Despereaux18: Noble mouse Despereaux (voiced by Matthew Broderick) prepares to descend into Ratworld in the animated adventure that tells a story of bravery, forgiveness and redemption: The Tale of Despereaux.
Despereaux19: Noble mouse Despereaux (voiced by Matthew Broderick) devours tales of knights and princesses in the animated adventure that tells a story of bravery, forgiveness and redemption: The Tale of Despereaux.
Despereaux20: Princess Pea (voiced by Emma Watson) greets her rescuer, noble mouse Despereaux (voiced by Matthew Broderick), in the animated adventure that tells a story of bravery, forgiveness and redemption: The Tale of Despereaux.
Despereaux21: (L to R) Meek brother Furlough (voiced by Tony Hale) tells noble mouse Despereaux (voiced by Matthew Broderick) to just eat (not read) the books in the animated adventure that tells a story of bravery, forgiveness and redemption: The Tale of Despereaux.
Despereaux22: Noble mouse Despereaux (voiced by Matthew Broderick) fights off a cat gladiator in the animated adventure that tells a story of bravery, forgiveness and redemption: The Tale of Despereaux.
Despereaux23: (L to R) Noble mouse Despereaux (voiced by Matthew Broderick) enlists the help of good-hearted rat Roscuro (voiced by Dustin Hoffman) in the animated adventure that tells a story of bravery, forgiveness and redemption: The Tale of Despereaux.
Despereaux24: Princess Pea (voiced by Emma Watson) is lost in her loneliness in the animated adventure that tells a story of bravery, forgiveness and redemption: The Tale of Despereaux.
Despereaux25: Good-hearted rat Roscuro (voiced by Dustin Hoffman) in the animated adventure that tells a story of bravery, forgiveness and redemption: The Tale of Despereaux.
Despereaux26: Good-hearted rat Roscuro (voiced by Dustin Hoffman) frightens Princess Pea (voiced by Emma Watson) in the animated adventure that tells a story of bravery, forgiveness and redemption: The Tale of Despereaux.
Despereaux27: (L to R) Serving girl Miggery Sow (voiced by Tracey Ullman) brings the crown to Princess Pea (voiced by Emma Watson) in the animated adventure that tells a story of bravery, forgiveness and redemption: The Tale of Despereaux.
Despereaux28: Serving girl Miggery Sow (voiced by Tracey Ullman) dreams of becoming a princess in the animated adventure that tells a story of bravery, forgiveness and redemption: The Tale of Despereaux.
Despereaux29: Serving girl Miggery Sow (voiced by Tracey Ullman) dreams of becoming a princess in the animated adventure that tells a story of bravery, forgiveness and redemption: The Tale of Despereaux.
Despereaux30: Despereaux (voiced by Matthew Broderick) prepares to impress his friends in the animated adventure that tells a story of bravery, forgiveness and redemption: The Tale of Despereaux.
Despereaux31: (L to R) Noble mouse Despereaux (voiced by Matthew Broderick) receives a lecture from his Principal (voiced by Richard Jenkins) in the animated adventure that tells a story of bravery, forgiveness and redemption: The Tale of Despereaux.
Despereaux32: (L to R) The Tilling family: mother Antoinette (voiced by Frances Conroy), meek brother Furlough (voiced by Tony Hale), noble mouse Despereaux (voiced by Matthew Broderick) and father Lester (voiced by William H. Macy) in the animated adventure that tells a story of bravery, forgiveness and redemption: “The Tale of Despereaux.”
Despereaux33: (L to R) The Queen (voiced by Patricia Cullen) and King of Dor dine on soup with Princess Pea (voiced by Emma Watson) in the animated adventure that tells a story of bravery, forgiveness and redemption: The Tale of Despereaux.
Despereaux34: Good-hearted rat Roscuro (voiced by Dustin Hoffman) plots revenge with serving girl Miggery Sow (voiced by Tracey Ullman) in the animated adventure that tells a story of bravery, forgiveness and redemption: The Tale of Despereaux.
Despereaux35: Good-hearted rat Roscuro (voiced by Dustin Hoffman) attempts to quiet serving girl Miggery Sow (voiced by Tracey Ullman) in the animated adventure that tells a story of bravery, forgiveness and redemption: The Tale of Despereaux.
Despereaux36: (L to R) Good-hearted rat Roscuro (voiced by Dustin Hoffman), Princess Pea (voiced by Emma Watson) and noble mouse Despereaux (voiced by Matthew Broderick) in the animated adventure that tells a story of bravery, forgiveness and redemption: “The Tale of Despereaux.”

By BRIAN TALLERICO
Content Director
HollywoodChicago.com
brian@hollywoodchicago.com

Interview: Richard Jenkins on First Lead Role in ‘The Visitor,’ ‘Six Feet Under,’ Coen Brothers

HollywoodChicago.com — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 00:40:29 -0600

DeKALB, Ill. – Richard Jenkins is a familiar if not overly recognizable character actor. With his distinctly grave voice, he’s best known for his turn as the dead father in the seminal HBO series “Six Feet Under”. But he has also had numerous film roles – most notably with the filmmaking brothers Joel Coen and Ethan Coen along with Peter Farrelly and Bobby Farrelly.

Born and raised in DeKalb, Ill., Jenkins moved to the east coast after college to pursue theater work with the Trinity Repertory Company in Providence, R.I. Now residing there, Jenkins has carved a character niche in TV and movies from Providence.

Richard Jenkins in “The Visitor”.
Photo credit: Overture Films

HollywoodChicago.com recently interviewed Jenkins about his first leading male role in the new film “The Visitor,” his “Six Feet Under” experience and his life as an actor.

‘The Visitor’

HollywoodChicago.com: In “The Visitor,” how are you as an individual most like the character you play (Walter Vale)? Conversely, how are you unlike him?
Richard Jenkins: Like him, I’m a little hesitant to do new things and try new things. I get stuck in a box a bit – but hopefully not to the degree that Walter Vale has. But I do understand him. I understand looking for different answers in the same place and not finding them.

I understand isolation and I’m a little shy, which is in Walter. I’m unlike him since I’m a little more hyper. I think physically I’m different from Walter. I’m a little more animated.

HC: What is the origin of your association with the writer and director of the film (Thomas McCarthy)? Since he wrote Walter Vale with you in mind, how did he help you and how did you help him develop Walter from the page to the character?
RJ: We barely knew each other. We did know enough to say “hi” because we had the same agent. But we were in Los Angeles doing a movie, staying at the same motel and doing different movies. He saw me in the lobby and asked me to get something to eat. So we went out and talked for a couple hours about everything.

A year-and-a-half later, he calls and says he wrote this part for me. It’s the part he had been thinking about. He thought about me as Walter after he had dinner with me. He said he wrote Walter with my voice in his head. We then rehearsed it for two weeks.

He rewrote as we went along while the other two leads and I basically hung out. We had meals together, we rehearsed and we talked and laughed. We really became friends. The things we were saying in rehearsal would sometimes end up in the script the next day in a much clearer and more interesting way.

It really evolved. At the same time, this was his movie and his script. He knew what he wanted it to be. Basically the script I read was the script we shot.

HC: When Walter has the angry breakdown in the immigration detention center, what decisions as an actor did you make in approaching how angry he would get?
RJ: I did it in a bunch of different ways, but I kept thinking: “This is Walter’s breakdown.” I didn’t want to do it by tearing apart the room. There was a certain decorum even in that for him. It’s anger, yes, but it’s also impotence. You can change anything in the situation. He realizes there is nothing he can do.

HC: Following Sept. 11, 2001, laws and attitudes toward immigration rights are a major plot point in “The Visitor”. Was it Thomas McCarthy’s intention to expose how good people are painted with the same brush as terrorists?
RJ: I always thought when I read this script (and it holds true in life) that everything changes when you know someone. Everything changes when there’s somebody sitting behind that detention center glass who is your child or your friend.

The ability to stand in someone’s shoes before we judge is important. There is a whole world of experience out there that we sometimes shut ourselves from – not intentionally – but we do. It’s simply better if we know each other than if we don’t.

Richard Jenkins (left) and Hiam Abbass in “The Visitor”.
Photo credit: Overture Films

HC: Since you have a great deal of experience with stage work, what classic theater character do you equate Walter Vale with and why?
RJ: Elwood Dowd from “Harvey” – you know, the guy who talks to the rabbit – except he has a friend and Walter doesn’t have a friend.

Richard Jenkins: The Actor

HC: You’ve been on a number of film sets with many different directors. What type of set atmosphere do you prefer with your acting style? Without naming names, what type of set experience is not conducive to your preference?
RJ: I’ve never been asked that. It’s an important question.

It even determines the movie I will do and how I feel the working conditions will be. I like relaxed sets. I like to feel that I can make a mistake without feeling like I’m costing somebody money. I like a sense of freedom. I like it when people are open and are willing to let you do your work.

When there is tension, arguments and money problems, it’s tough to do your work. Some people thrive on that. I don’t.

HC: You have now worked with the Coen brothers on three films. What kind of sensibility do they bring to their stories and characters that you most connect to?
RJ: They trust you. They cast you because they see you as their character.

It’s a very relaxed and easy atmosphere with them. Still, they make these incredibly intense, interesting and complicated films. They move very fast because they know what they want. Still, they are also open for you to bring to your character what you see. It’s a great environment to work with them.

HC: How did growing up in the DeKalb, Ill. during the 1960s impact your decision of becoming an actor?
RJ: I went to the movies in DeKalb at the Egyptian Theater. That’s how I saw the world. I saw “Goldfinger” and thought: “Wow!” It didn’t matter what was playing. We went. I fantasized about it, but as for being in the movies, I thought that was like going to the moon. I didn’t know how you did that.

When the opportunity arose to actually work in film, I jumped right in. It fulfilled all my fantasies about it. There’s nothing like walking onto a Hollywood sound stage. You walk onto Warner Brothers and on those big sound stages that have been there for years there’s a list of every movie ever shot there.

You are in the same place where Spencer Tracy, Errol Flynn, Jimmy Cagney and Humphrey Bogart made movies.

‘Six Feet Under’

HC: I was always struck by the dichotomy between Nathaniel Fisher, your character and the character of Nate’s wife (Ruth). What do you think Nate and Ruth’s relationship in life was about? Why do you think your character greeted her after her death at the end of the show?
RJ: I had an idea, but I never really knew who this guy was because he was only alive in the show (literally) for a minute and a half. Every time I appeared, it was another character’s impression of him. Everyone saw him in a different way. In truth, I never knew who he really was.

I also know, though, that there was something special between Ruth and Nate when they were really young. When she died, she thought of him.

HC: How did you collaborate with series creator Alan Ball on the character?
RJ: I was only supposed to be in the pilot, but Alan said: “When your father dies, you never really stop thinking about him.” So, he asked me to come back and do more. He could be brutal to his family, but really it was about the character being brutal to themselves like self-loathing or a lack of confidence.

HC: Since you only appeared in the show periodically, how were you able to develop the excellent father-son connection between your character and the characters played by Peter Krause and Michael C. Hall?
RJ: They are really good actors. We all started the show together. We started with the pilot. We didn’t know what it was going to be like. We all became friends. It was really fun coming back during my appearances to see everyone.

HC: Finally, as a veteran actor, do you have a one-line piece of advice regarding technique?
RJ: If you’re an actor, you are enough. You have to believe that – that you are enough.

“The Visitor” is currently playing at Landmark’s Century Centre Cinema in Chicago.

By PATRICK McDONALD
Staff Writer
HollywoodChicago.com
pat@hollywoodchicago.com

‘The Visitor’ Works Out America’s Demons Following Sept. 11, 2001

HollywoodChicago.com — Sun, 20 Apr 2008 22:07:36 -0600

CHICAGO – “The Visitor” is a subtle film. Created by the unique talent of writer and director Thomas McCarthy – who also generated the equally subtle world of “The Station Agent” – this new work explores the nature of who belongs where.

It’s outside the artificial borders of countries and city states and more toward the intuitive virtues of the emotional state that bonds us to each other. Richard Jenkins – best known as the recurring dead father on “Six Feet Under” – plays the role of a lifetime as Walter Vale: a burnt-out professor of economics at a Connecticut university.

Read Patrick McDonald’s full review of “The Visitor” in our reviews section.

View our full, high-resolution “The Visitor” image gallery.

His wife – a reputable concert pianist – has recently died. The emptiness of the new circumstance is etched upon his soul. Forced to attend a conference in New York City, Walter opens up an apartment he owns there only to find squatters living inside.

Tarek (Haaz Sleiman) is an illegal immigrant from Syria and his girlfriend, Esi (Danai Jekesai Gurira), is an African with similar status. They have “rented” the apartment from someone who conned them into the place.

Walter lets them stay until they can find new lodgings. He discovers that Tarek is a jazz drummer (of the single African drum variety) and is curious to learn new drumming techniques. When Walter begins to absorb the rhythm lessons from Tarek, a bond develops.

Danai Jekesai Gurira in “The Visitor”.
Photo credit: Overture Films

Richard Jenkins in “The Visitor”.
Photo credit: Overture Films

Read Patrick McDonald’s full “The Visitor” review.