John C. Reilly

‘Cirque du Freak: The Vampire’s Assistant’ With John C. Reilly Not Freaky Enough

BrianTT — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 13:54:59 -0600

CHICAGO – For everything that Paul Weitz’s “Cirque du Freak: The Vampire’s Assistant” does right, there’s something about the film that just doesn’t work. More manic than quirky and more cluttered than consistent, “Cirque” features a few great performances and interesting characters but they’re sabotaged by the other members of this cinematic freak show.

Rating: 2.0/5.0

With a plot that plays like what “Beetlejuice”-era Tim Burton might have done with the current vampire craze (“True Blood,” “The Twilight Saga’s New Moon”), “Cirque du Freak: The Vampire’s Assistant” is an adaptation of the books by Darren Shan that is constantly shooting itself in the foot through bad editing, a distracting supporting cast, a super-dull lead, and far too much expository dialogue. A non-ending that tries to set up the franchise a la “The Golden Compass” doesn’t help the feeling that you’ve just watched a tragically incomplete film.

Read Brian Tallerico’s full review of “Cirque du Freak: The Vampire’s Assistant” in our reviews section.

Darren (newcomer Chris Massoglia) is a high-school kid with an obsession with spiders. His best friend Steve (Josh Hutcherson) is the more mischievous of the two and his goth obsession happens to be with vampires. The two are thrilled when a mysterious limo with plates that read “DES-TINY” toss them a flyer for the ‘Cirque du Freak,” a travelling show stopping their town that night.

Darren and Steve head to the show and the audience is introduced to the massive supporting cast including the Wolfman (Tom Woodruff Jr.), Gertha Teeth (Kristen Schaal), Rhamus Twobellies (Frankie Faison), Alexander Ribs (Orlando Jones), Madame Truska (Salma Hayek), Corma Limbs (Jane Krakowski), Evra the Snake Boy (Patrick Fugit), and the MC of the show, Mr. Tall (Ken Watanabe). Of course, the star of the evening is a vampire named Larten Crepsley (John C. Reilly) and his magic spider named Octa.

‘Cirque du Freak: The Vampire’s Assistant’ stars John C. Reilly, Chris Massoglia, Josh Hutcherson, Jessica Carlson, Michael Cerveris, Ray Stevenson, Patrick Fugit, Ken Watanabe, Salma Hayek, Orlando Jones, Frankie Faison, Willem Dafoe, and Jane Krakowski. It was written by Paul Weitz & Brian Helgeland and directed by Helgeland. It opens on October 23rd, 2009. It is rated PG-13.

Continuing reading for Brian Tallerico’s full “Cirque du Freak: The Vampire’s Assistant” review.

(L to R) Crepsley (John C. Reilly) makes a curious proposal to Darren (Chris Massoglia) in Cirque Du Freak: The Vampires Assistant.
Photo credit: David Lee

HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: 50 Passes to ‘9’ Screening in Chicago From Tim Burton

HollywoodChicago.com — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 21:44:18 -0600

CHICAGO – In our latest animated edition of HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: Film, we have 50 admit-two passes up for grabs to the Chicago screening of the new animated film “9” from producers Tim Burton of “Beetlejuice” and Timur Bekmambetov of “Wanted”.

“9” features the voices of Elijah Wood, John C. Reilly, Jennifer Connelly, Christopher Plummer, Crispin Glover and Martin Landau from director Shane Acker (an animator for “The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King”), writer Pamela Pettler (Tim Burton’s “Corpse Bride”) and producers Tim Burton (“Beetlejuice”) and Timur Bekmambetov (“Wanted”).

To win your free pass to the advance screening of “9” in Chicago courtesy of HollywoodChicago.com, all you need to do is answer our question below. That’s it! The screening will be held on Sept. 8, 2009 at 9:09 p.m. in downtown Chicago. Directions to enter this Hookup and immediately win can be found beneath the graphic below.

The movie poster for “9” from Tim Burton with the voices of Jennifer Connelly, Elijah Wood and John C. Reilly.
Image credit: Focus Features

Here is the “9” plot description:

An action-packed adventure, director Shane Acker’s animated fantasy epic is the feature-length expansion of his Academy Award-nominated 2004 short film of the same name. The screenplay for the feature is by Pamela Pettler (“Monster House”) and directors Tim Burton (“Beetlejuice”) and Timur Bekmambetov (“Wanted”) are among the feature version’s producers.

The time is the too-near future. Powered and enabled by the invention known as the Great Machine, the world’s machines have turned on mankind and sparked social unrest. This has decimated the human population before being largely shut down. But as our world fell to pieces, a mission began to salvage the legacy of civilization.

A group of small creations was given the spark of life by a scientist in the final days of humanity and they continue to exist post-apocalypse. Another of their own, #9 (voiced by Elijah Wood), emerges and displays leadership qualities that may help them survive and possibly even thrive.

The conflicted but resilient tribe already includes #1 (Christopher Plummer), a domineering war veteran and the group’s longtime leader; #2 (Martin Landau), a kindly but now-frail inventor; #3 and #4, scholarly twins who communicate non-verbally and mostly with each other; #5 (John C. Reilly), a stalwart and nurturing engineer; #6 (Crispin Glover), an erratic artist beset by visions; #7 (Jennifer Connelly), a brave and self-sufficient warrior; and #8 (Fred Tatasciore), the none-too-bright muscle and enforcer for #1.

With their group so few, these “stitchpunk” creations must summon individual strengths well beyond their own proportions in order to outwit and fight against still-functioning machines – one of which is a marauding mechanized beast. In the darkness just before the dawn, #9 rallies everyone of his number to band together.

While showcasing a stunning “steampunk”-styled visual brilliance, the film dynamically explores the will to live, the power of community and how one soul can change the world.

The “9” theatrical movie trailer can be watched now below.

To secure your free tickets now, make sure you’re logged into your HollywoodChicago.com account. If you don’t yet have one, you can quickly register here. Having an account with a valid e-mail address is required. Then, simply add a new comment in the form below. In your comment, include an answer to this simple question:

What one action would you do to save the world from destruction?

Like all Hookups here, this HollywoodChicago.com Hookup is simple: Just submit your comment below and we will award 50 people randomly via e-mail. Winners needs to arrive early as seats are consumed on a first-come, first-served basis. “9” opens on Sept. 9, 2009.

By ADAM FENDELMAN
Editor-in-Chief
HollywoodChicago.com
adam@hollywoodchicago.com

Interview: Director Steve Conrad Elevates Chicago Setting, Sean William Scott in New Comedy ‘The Promotion’

HollywoodChicago.com — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 19:41:34 -0600

CHICAGO – Barring extreme wealth or hermetics, everyone uses the grocery store. It is the great equalizer – the marketplace where all socioeconomic groups can co-exist side by side – in pursuit of daily bread. Inspired by this reality, writer and director Steve Conrad turned it into his feature directorial debut.

Rating: 4.5/5.0

It’s a notable comedy that was shot in Chicago with the definitive title of “The Promotion”. HollywoodChicago.com recently interviewed Conrad to glean his take on the dynamics of this unusual movie subject and to offer the lowdown on shooting the film in the city where he also lives.

“Well, it’s home,” Conrad said. “To me, doing a movie in Chicago means putting Chicago natives in a part of town where they live.”

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

Conrad added: “Buildings convey stories, settings convey stories and in order to tell the story right I want to pick the right place. This is easier for me here because these are the places where I walk around. I want to do it better.”

Seann William Scott (left) and John C. Reilly star in Steve Conrad’s “The Promotion”.
Photo credit: Chuck Hodes, The Weinstein Company

“The Promotion” is a story about two assistant grocery-store managers – Doug (played by Seann William Scott, who was Stifler in “American Pie”) and Richard (John C. Reilly) – who are vying for a coveted manager post at the new branch of their Chicago-based grocery chain.

“It was based on a real-life event that happened at a grocery,” Conrad said, “and it seemed the most logical place to set it.”

Conrad described seeing a store employee at a Chicago chain armed only with a yellow courtesy vest break up some unruly loiterers in the parking lot.

“They hurt him so badly just from taunts,” Conrad recalled, “and they absolutely refused to recognize any of his authority. He was completely diminished by it all. He turned around and walked away and I noticed it said on the back of his vest: ‘Have a nice day.’”

“The Promotion” co-star Seann William Scott (left) in Chicago on April 22, 2008.
Photo credit: Patrick McDonald, HollywoodChicago.com

Conrad continued: “So he’s walking back to work instead of quitting, which is what I might do or someone of lesser mettle might do. I thought it was heroic of him to go back. I’m not making too much of this. There’s so much to be admired in that person’s strength.”

Through the awkwardness of the store’s corporate office to the daily grind of customer problems, Conrad and his talented supporting crew – including Fred Armisen, Jenna Fischer, Lili Taylor and Gil Bellows – interpret this real-life scenario with poignant and hilarious observations.

Conrad describes the process with the talented cast: “I started out hiring people who I thought were actors before they were movie stars.”

He added: “I have better luck with actors because they treat the film like a craft. They want it to go well and they will do the work it takes to give the movie a good shot.”

Conrad coaxes great performances out of his two leads.

Williams deftly creates the mask of the everyman who tried to do the right thing while at the same time desiring the prestige and money of the new position. Reilly creates an intricate comic character and imbues him with a Canadian accent and a sad-sack soul.

RELATED IMAGE GALLERY
View our full, high-resolution “The Promotion” image gallery.

RELATED READING
Read more film reviews from critic Patrick McDonald.

Conrad reflected: “Some people can tell a joke and some people can make you laugh. I was really confident that John and Sean were in that second category. If you asked them, you can count on them to do any number of things.”

“I would always try to measure the comedy through real human behavior,” Conrad said in summary. “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. It deserves to be treated with some force and some respect.”

There’s a running gag in the film culminating into a moment of pure joy that’s rarely seen in movies today. Steve Conrad has created a story of everyday people also honoring the small victories that define the meaning of life.

“The Promotion” opened on June 6, 2008. In Chicago, the film is showing at AMC River East and Landmark’s Century Centre Cinema.

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

Hookup: 30 Admit-Two Early Passes to ‘The Promotion’ With John C. Reilly, Seann William Scott

HollywoodChicago.com — Wed, 28 May 2008 14:22:32 -0600

CHICAGO – In our latest edition of HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: Film, we’re giving away 30 admit-two passes to the new film “The Promotion” with John C. Reilly and Seann William Scott. The screening will take place on June 2, 2008 at 7 p.m. in Chicago. To win, just submit a comment! The first 30 people to do so are guaranteed free passes.

The movie poster for “The Promotion” with John C. Reilly and Seann William Scott.
Image credit: The Weinstein Company

Here’s a description of the new film, which is scheduled to open on June 6, 2008.

Oscar-nominated actor John C. Reilly (“Chicago,” “Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby”) and Seann William Scott (“American Pie”) lend their deft comedic touch to the story of two mid-level Chicago supermarket employees – Doug and Richard (a dubious new guy from Canada) – who compete ruthlessly for a coveted managerial post.

Doug and Richard couldn’t be more different, but going head to head in a contest of wits and will reveals how they have more in common than they thought. The duo battle toward a hilarious final showdown that will leave you guessing until the very end. The film is the directorial debut of Steve Conrad (writer of “The Pursuit of Happyness”).

Seann William Scott (left) and John C. Reilly in “The Promotion”.
Image credit: The Weinstein Company

Winners will be e-mailed with confirmation and venue information. To secure your tickets now, make sure you’re logged into your HollywoodChicago.com account. If you don’t yet have one, you can quickly register here. Next, click “Add new comment” below. This is required to win. In your comment, you must include your name and an answer to this simple question:

Who’s funnier and why: John C. Reilly or Seann William Scott?

John C. Reilly (left) and Seann William Scott in “The Promotion”.
Image credit: The Weinstein Company

By ADAM FENDELMAN
Editor-in-Chief
HollywoodChicago.com
adam@hollywoodchicago.com

John C. Reilly Delivers Dewey Cox at Chicago’s Cubby Bear For ‘Walk Hard’

HollywoodChicago.com — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 12:06:08 -0700

We reported on Wednesday that man-of-many-faces John C. Reilly would be performing in character as Dewey Cox on Thursday in Chicago to pump his upcoming film “Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story”.

Excellent photos are in from the Chicago native’s packed show. These are credited to Joseph Mohan and have been published by Pitchfork. The show took place at the Cubby Bear by Wrigley Field in Chicago.

The group will also play at Stubb’s in Austin on Dec. 7, the Mercy Lounge in Nashville on Dec. 8, the Great American Music Hall in San Francisco on Dec. 10 and the Knitting Factory in New York on Dec. 19.

“Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story” hits theaters on Dec. 21.

John C. Reilly to Perform in Chicago in Character For ‘Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story’

HollywoodChicago.com — Wed, 05 Dec 2007 13:54:58 -0700

John C. Reilly will perform in Chicago on Thursday at the Cubby Bear (1059 W. Addison) by Wrigley Field in character to pump “Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story”. The Chicago native stars as Dewey Cox in the film from “Superbad” and “Knocked Up” talent Judd Apatow.

John C. Reilly in “Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story”.
Photo credit: IMDb
The film is directed by Jake Kasdan – the brother of Jon Kasdan (who I interviewed for “In the Land of Women”) – and the son of the legendary “Star Wars” writer Lawrence Kasdan.

The poster for “Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story”.
Image credit: IMDb
Stay tuned for our full review on “Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story” from critic Dustin Levell. As a sneak peek into his take, he says it’s one of the funniest films of the year. The film opens on Dec. 21.