Michael Pena

TOWER HEIST Review

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: November 4th, 2011 at 6:02 am

I was trying to figure out a way to find a more backhanded compliment than Brett Ratner‘s “Tower Heist is surprisingly not terrible,” but I came up empty.  At first glance, it should be the poster child for everything that’s wrong with mainstream American cinema.  Ben Stiller has been playing the same character, his co-star Eddie Murphy doesn’t seem to care about acting anymore, and Ratner is an unimpressive journeyman director.  And yet Tower Heist is kind of an entertaining movie.  Stiller plays against type, Eddie Murphy shows he can deliver when he’s not phoning it in, and Ratner keeps the film upbeat.  There are a mind-blowing number of obvious plot-holes, and the crappy screenplay relies heavily on coincidence, but the movie never comes off as insulting or offensive.  Tower Heist is like a sweet child who draws a terrible picture of your house, but he doesn’t know any better and just wants you to be impressed.

8 Clips from TOWER HEIST

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: October 27th, 2011 at 11:33 am

We’ve been provided with eight clips from director Brett Ratner’s upcoming comedy Tower Heist. The film centers on a group of disgruntled employees who decide to rob a white-collar criminal living under house arrest in their high-rise after he scams them all out of their savings. The all-star cast includes Eddie Murphy, Ben Stiller, Matthew Broderick, Casey Affleck, Gabourey Sidibe, Téa Leoni, Stephen Henderson, Judd Hirsch, Michael Peña, and Alan Alda. Tower Heist opens November 4th.

New Trailer for TOWER HEIST Starring Ben Stiller and Eddie Murphy

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: October 6th, 2011 at 1:13 pm

A new trailer for Brett Ratner’s Tower Heist has gone online.  The film centers on a group of employees working in a high-rise who decide to rob a white-collar criminal after he fleeces them out of their savings. After viewing both trailers, I stick by my conclusion that it will be a popular movie featuring the kind of safe humor that makes a crummy show like Two and a Half Men the #1 show on comedy.  However, it looks like we might finally get another funny performance from Eddie Murphy.

Hit the jump to check out the trailer. The film also stars Ben Stiller, Matthew Broderick, Téa Leoni, Gabourey Sidibe, Casey Affleck, Stephen Henderson, Judd Hirsch, Michael Peña, and Alan Alda.  Tower Heist opens November 4th and hits VOD in select markets three weeks later.

Warner Bros. Sets GANGSTER SQUAD for October 19, 2012

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: September 28th, 2011 at 1:25 pm

It looks like Warner Bros. believes it has an awards contender on its hands with Ruben Fleischer’s Gangster Squad.  According to Box Office Mojo, the studio has set the 1940s crime thriller for October 19, 2012.  The film is based on the true story of an Los Angeles Police Department task force whose mission was to bring down notorious mobster Mickey Cohen (Sean Penn).  The impressive cast also features Josh Brolin, Ryan Gosling, Emma Stone, Nick Nolte, Michael Peña, Anthony Mackie, Mireille Enos, Holt McCallany, Robert Patrick, and Giovanni Ribisi.

The other films that currently hold the 10/19/12 date are the romantic comedy The Big Wedding starring Robert De Niro and Katherine Heigl (hoo-boy) and an untitled project from Sopranos creator David Chase.

20 Things to Know About END OF WATCH From Our Exclusive Set Visit; Plus the First Two Official Images and Synopsis

by Steve 'Frosty' Weintraub    Posted: September 5th, 2011 at 6:56 pm

Jake Gyllenhaal and Michael Pena are standing at the beginning of a driveway in a low income residential neighborhood in South Central Los Angeles.  Earlier that day, near the film set, there was a gun battle that seriously injured a police officer and shut down dozens of blocks, so tension is high.  Dressed in Police Blues, Gyllenhaal has his weapon drawn and starts to make his way down the alley with Pena flanking his rear.  As he walks, Gyllenhaal’s eyes are constantly taking in the surroundings as he looks for the suspect he thinks is close by.  After getting to the back of the property, the two come to a six foot cement barrier.  Without hesitation, they make their way over the wall, and then I hear South Central-born writer-director-producer David Ayer (screenwriter of Training Day, The Fast and the Furious, S.W.A.T. and writer/director of Harsh Times & Street Kings) call cut.

But let me back up a second.

Late at night on August 25, 2011 I got to visit the set of End of Watch.  Unlike most set visits which have 8 to 10 reporters, I was the only invited journalist, and I got to spend a number of hours talking with the filmmakers, Jake Gyllenhaal and Michael Pena, as well as producer John Lesher.  While I wasn’t sure what to expect going in, I learned that End of Watch is going to look and feel completely different than any cop movie you’ve ever seen and I left excited by what I saw.  Hit the jump for a lot more – including the first two official images from the movie.

30 MINUTES OR LESS Review

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: August 12th, 2011 at 4:44 am

In a summer packed with R-rated comedies, 30 Minutes or Less is the last one out the gate.  It’s not the most emotionally fulfilling (Bridesmaids), it’s not the one that delivers the most laughs (Horrible Bosses), and it’s certainly not the worst (The Hangover Part II).  What 30 Minutes or Less has working for it is that it’s short.  There’s hardly an ounce of fat on it and it races from scene to scene trying to get as many laughs in as possible.  The comic ensemble does a terrific job and while director Ruben Fleischer doesn’t show off the visual flair he demonstrated in Zombieland, he keeps the movie crass, fast, and funny.

First Trailer and Poster for TOWER HEIST Starring Ben Stiller and Eddie Murphy [Updated with 5 New Images]

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: July 28th, 2011 at 9:14 am

I know I should have zero interest in Tower Heist.  It’s directed by Brett Ratner, it has Ben Stiller playing a straight man, and Eddie Murphy hasn’t done a good comedy this century, but I have to admit that the trailer got a couple laughs out of me although they weren’t from Stiller or Murphy.  The movie’s got a great supporting cast that includes Michael Peña, Casey Affleck, Matthew Broderick, and Alan Alda, but the biggest laugh in the trailer comes from watching Gabourey Sidibe (Precious) hit on Murphy.  I also have to mention that this and Horrible Bosses share the message that if you’re interested in committing a crime, ask a black guy (preferably one who was in Dreamgirls).

Hit the jump to check out the trailer as well as the new poster.  Tower Heist opens November 4th. [Update: We've added five new images from the film and replaced the poster with a hi-res version]

Exclusive: Michael Pena Talks 30 MINUTES OR LESS, TOWER HEIST, END OF WATCH, GANGSTER SQUAD and Doing More Comedies at Comic-Con

by Steve 'Frosty' Weintraub    Posted: July 27th, 2011 at 7:23 pm

When I sat down with Michael Pena at Comic-Con a few days ago, the first thing I told him was he needs to do more comedies.  Trust me, after you guys see 30 Minutes or Less, you’re going to agree with me, because Pena steals every scene he’s in.  While I thought Pena was awesome in Observe and Report and on the second season of Eastbound & Down, it’s his work as a hitman named Chango that proves he’s ready to carry a movie.  Thankfully, when I brought up doing more comedies, Pena said that’s his plan.  Which makes me very happy.

During the interview we also talked about how he prepares for doing comedies (explains how he looks at documentaries and real people for inspiration for his characters), what was it like to work with Eddie Murphy on Tower Heist, talks about End of Watch with Jake Gyllenhaal and describes their ride-along with a police officer where the perpetrator was shot in the face, Gangster Squad, and he also talks about working with director Ruben Fleischer on 30 Minutes or Less and then Fleischer crashes the interview.  Hit the jump to watch.

Comic-Con 2011: 30 MINUTES OR LESS Panel Recap

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: July 22nd, 2011 at 5:25 pm

As part of Sony’s massive Hall H panel today, we were treated to a presentation of Zombieland director Ruben Fleischer’s new film 30 Minutes or Less.  Moderator Ralph Garman began by bringing out Fleischer, Nick Swardson, Michael Pena, and Aziz Ansari. Fleischer explained that Jesse Eisenberg is currently shooting a Woody Allen movie and Danny McBride is busy with Eastbound and Down. However, McBride treated us to a pre-recorded message that began with the actor stating, “If you are viewing this, the apes have won.” In his gut-busting video he proceeded to call every one of the other actors on the panel assholes.  Hit the jump for my full recap.

Free Tickets to the 30 MINUTES OR LESS Comic-Con Screening Featuring Q&A With Ansari, Swardson, Pena and Fleischer

by Steve 'Frosty' Weintraub    Posted: July 18th, 2011 at 3:01 pm

With director Ruben Fleischer’s (Zombieland) 30 Minutes or Less opening August 12, Sony is using this week’s Comic-Con to help promote the very funny film.  Starring Jesse Eisenberg, Danny McBride, Aziz Ansari, Nick Swardson, Dilshad Vadsaria and Michael Pena, the film centers on a pizza delivery guy (Eisenberg) who is kidnapped by two men (McBride and Swardson) and forced to rob a bank at the risk of being blown up.

Anyway, Sony is holding a free screening this Friday night at 8pm and we’ve got tickets to give away to some of our readers.  Since I know no one wants to see a movie by themselves, every person getting tickets will get a +1.  In addition, Ansari, Swardson, Pena and Fleischer will intro the film and then participate in a Q&A following the screening!  Hit the jump for details on how to enter, and you can also watch video messages from Eisenberg and Ansari, as well as McBride and Swardson.

New Trailer for 30 MINUTES OR LESS

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: June 22nd, 2011 at 11:08 am

A new green band trailer for director Ruben Fleischer’s (Zombieland) comedy 30 Minutes or Less has been released. It’s more or less a clean version of the most recent red band trailer, but it’s still a lot of fun. Everything I’ve seen from this movie so far has been pretty much spot-on. Fleischer’s put together a great cast, and the pairing of Eisenberg and Ansari is fantastic.

Starring Jesse Eisenberg, Danny McBride, Aziz Ansari, Nick Swardson, Dilshad Vadsaria and Michael Pena, the film centers on a pizza delivery guy (Eisenberg) who is kidnapped by two men (McBride and Swardson) and forced to rob a bank at the risk of being blown up. Hit the jump to watch the trailer. If you missed it, check out Steve’s set visit report/video blog, in addition to his on-set interviews with Eisenberg, Ansari and Vadsaria, Swardson and McBride, and Fleischer. 30 Minutes or Less hits theaters August 12th.

Michael Pena Joins Sean Penn and Josh Brolin in GANGSTER SQUAD

by Jason Barr    Posted: June 7th, 2011 at 4:02 pm

With their comedy 30 Minutes or Less set to hit theaters on August 12th, Michael Pena and director Ruben Fleischer (Zombieland) will now join forces once again in the crime/drama Gangster Squad. According to Heat Vision, Pena has been cast alongside Sean Penn, Josh Brolin, and Ryan Gosling, as an eager-to-please LAPD officer. For those unfamiliar with the project, Gangster Squad is based on an LA Times article by Paul Lieberman that focuses on corruption within LAPD ranks in the 1940s. The film will pit good cop John O’Mara (Brolin) against gangster Mickey Cohen (Penn) as the former attempts to keep East Coast mafia influences out of Los Angeles. Gangster Squad currently looks to be a 2013 release. In the meantime, Pena can also be seen alongside Eddie Murphy, Ben Stiller, and Casey Affleck in the action/comedy Tower Heist due out later this year on November 4th.

EVERYTHING MUST GO Review

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: May 13th, 2011 at 7:13 am

When it comes to comedy, Will Ferrell has fallen into a slump of repetitive characters that have the comic tics of shouting, stating the obvious, and shouting the obvious.  If it weren’t for Ferrell’s sublime comic timing and talent for knowing just how long to go deadpan before breaking out, his movies would seem like sequels where only the character’s name and setting had been changed.  Back in 2006, it was a welcome change of pace to see Ferrell in the dramedy Stranger Than Fiction.  He played a man that could not only hear his life being narrated, but also learned that he was about die.  Ferrell gave a strong performance that required both his comic skills and his dramatic ability.  His new film Everything Must Go once again demands that he set his familiar comedic persona aside in favor of drama, but the movie falls apart because it never demands anything from its lead actor beyond looking sad and tired.

30 MINUTES OR LESS Set Visit Recap and Video Blog

by Steve 'Frosty' Weintraub    Posted: May 10th, 2011 at 9:00 am

Jesse Eisenberg is sitting on the hood of his pizza delivery car in an abandoned junkyard.  He’s been tied up.  Standing nearby are Danny McBride and Nick Swardson.  They’re wearing normal clothing, except for the gorilla masks to hide their identities.  The two have captured Eisenberg’s character because they have a plan: instead of robbing a bank on their own, they’ve attached a bomb to Eisenberg and they’re making him do the job.  As you might imagine if you were faced with this reality, Eisenberg is freaking out.  However, it’s hard to take it seriously because McBride and Swardson are improvising during every take and each one is funnier than the last.  I’m starting to think 30 Minutes of Less is going to be awesome.

But let me back up a second.

It’s late August, 2010.  I’m in Michigan with some other online reporters on the set of director Ruben Fleischer’s follow-up to Zombieland.  While rumors had him possibly directing Mission Impossible 4, Fleischer settled on 30 Minutes or Less as his second film.  Even though many might have second guessed this decision, after talking with him on set and learning a lot about the movie, I think it was a smart choice.  I’ll explain why and recap the set visit after the jump.

END OF WATCH Photos Show Bald Jake Gyllenhaal and Michael Peña as Cops

by Brendan Bettinger    Posted: April 23rd, 2011 at 9:52 am

Jake Gyllenhaal and Michael Peña have signed on to star as seasoned police partners in End of Watch, described as a “gritty cop drama.”  I’m not entirely sure when writer/director David Ayer (Street Kings) will shoot the movie: Gyllenhaal told Access Hollywood he’s “about to start” work; Movie Insider lists Los Angeles as a location scheduled for July 6.  But we have an early look at Peña and a very bald Gyllenhaal in uniform for a promotional photo shoot for End of Watch.  Hit the jump to see the images.

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