All Articles by Tommy Cook

Recap of the SERENITY Hero Complex Screening with Nathan Fillion; Also Talks MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING, FIREFLY Reunion, and Joss Whedon

Posted: May 21st, 2012 at 8:19 pm

This weekend Hero Complex in association with The Los Angeles Times hosted the third annual Hero Complex Film Festival. Highlights to which included a screening of Shaun of the Dead with Edgar Wright, Wall-E with director Andrew Stanton, A Clockwork Orange with Malcolm McDowell, and Robocop with Peter Weller.

Joss Whedon’s cult-favorite Serenity closed out the festival Sunday night.  Star Nathan Fillion was on hand to discuss the film and its short-lived television predecessor Firefly.  (I still maintain that show’s season/series finale “Objects in Space to be the finest piece of writing Whedon’s ever done.)  In the post screening Q&A, Fillion reflected on reuniting with the cast for the film, reciting Whedon’s particular cadences and previews his role in another Whedon project/film: Much Ado About Nothing.  For all this and more, hit the jump.

BEFORE WATCHMEN: First Thoughts on the WATCHMEN Prequel

Posted: May 20th, 2012 at 8:03 pm

Is it possible (and/or right) to continue Watchmen without Alan Moore?  The question is so oft posed and the resulting criticisms so well documented, it almost feels tiresome to repeat.  Art vs. commerce and yadda, yadda, yadda… I have nothing new to add to the ol’ Moore vs. DC debate.  I love Alan Moore and Dave Gibbon’s Watchmen.  On general reflex, I considered a prequel without their involvement at best foolhardy.  But also understand that from a market standpoint, Watchmen prequels are good business and an inevitability with or without the creators.  And so here we are with Before Watchmen – a prequel nobody really asked for, but one everyone still wants to read regardless (myself included).

This past week, I was invited to DC headquarters to sample the initial issues from the seven runs of Before Watchmen (each run focusing on an individual character or group: e.g. The Comedian, Rorschach, Nite Owl, Ozymandias, Silk Spectre, Dr. Manhattan and Minutemen).  I’ve been sworn to secrecy on plot points and narrative spoilers, but allowed to share general thoughts (I think) on whether or not you should pre-hate this comic you’re probably still going to buy anyways.  For more thoughts (some of which surprised myself), hit the jump.

Recap of the ROBOCOP Hero Complex Screening With Peter Weller

Posted: May 20th, 2012 at 4:34 pm

This weekend Hero Complex in association with The Los Angeles Times hosted the third annual Hero Complex Film Festival.  Highlights to which included a screening of Shaun of the Dead with Edgar Wright, Wall-E with director Andrew Stanton and A Clockwork Orange with star Malcolm McDowell.

I was on hand Saturday for the fest at a midday screening of Paul Verhoeven’s seminal satirical ultraviolent masterpiece RoboCop. Star Peter Weller appeared after the screening for a lengthy and animated Q&A wherein he discussed prepping for RoboCop, learning to appreciate the satirical bend of the film and his thoughts on a hypothetical remake, among many other topics of conversation.  For highlights from the Q&A, hit the jump.

Recap of BOARDWALK EMPIRE Academy of Television and Science Panel; Creator Terrence Winter Talks Season Three

Posted: April 29th, 2012 at 2:07 am

The other night, The Academy of Television and Science hosted an exclusive panel with the cast and creator of HBO’s Boardwalk Empire. Boardwalk recounts the rise of the duplicitous Nucky Thompson torn between the political upheaval and criminal birth of the Prohibition.  His rise is cast against the downfall of his surrogate son, Jimmy Darmondy, a War Veteran scarred by his time over there.  It is the tense interplay between the two characters that gave Boardwalk Empire much of its dramatic heft during its first two remarkable seasons – which is probably what made Season Two’s conclusion so… surprising.

During the panel, Steve Buscemi and Michael Pitt discussed the controversial finale, costar Michael Shannon lamented always playing “the crazy person”, and creator Terence Winter previewed Season Three, among many other topics of conversation.  For highlights from the panel (which also included costars Kelly Macdonald, Michael Stuhlbarg, Michael Kenneth Williams, Vincent Piazza and Gretchen Mol) hit the jump.

DC Comics Co-Publishers Dan DiDio and Jim Lee Talk BEFORE WATCHMEN at the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books

Posted: April 22nd, 2012 at 12:57 pm

There’s an undeniable irony to Watchmen – Alan Moore’s great critique of the comic superhero, which began as an appropriation of The Mighty Crusaders – now finding itself appropriated by a series of new artists (much to Moore’s chagrin) in the upcoming prequel Before Watchmen.  The seven part series focuses on the principle characters of the comic – Rorschach, the Comedian, Night Owl, Ozymandias, Dr. Manhattan and Silk Spectre – before the events of Moore/Gibbons’ magnum opus.

At the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books, DC Entertainment Co-Publisher’s Dan DiDio and Jim Lee were on hand to discuss the highly anticipated but divisive prequel at a panel called DC Entertainment Presents: Watchmen – It’s Not the End, It’s the Beginning.  The panel and proceeding round table covered a gauntlet of topics ranging from DC’s relationship with creative artists to the financial realities of the comic industry (i.e. why a Watchmen prequel is a good thing) to just why the hell anyone would ever make a prequel to arguably the most beloved comic of all time.  Alan Moore’s specter loomed large over the proceedings – with a series of very pointed questions over Moore’s falling out with DC and his lack of involvement (let’s be honest – outright disdain) with the resulting Watchmen film and now comic spin-offs.  For the sometimes-heated conversation with DiDio and Lee, hit the jump.

Seann William Scott and Eddie Kaye Thomas AMERICAN REUNION Interview

Posted: April 7th, 2012 at 7:17 am

American Reunion, the nostalgia dripping thirteen-plus year sequel to American Pie (nine years since American Wedding, three since the DTV American Pie: Book of Love), leans heavily not only on the past iterations/bonds/adventures of its many characters but more-so on the audience’s own relationship to the original film.  Numerous references to American Pie abound: hey remember the time when Jim failed to seal the deal with Nadia over a webcam or Milf #2 or ‘That Time at Band Camp’?… – because American Reunion sure does and it pulls at every heartstring to make sure you do too.  In the sequel – Jim and Michelle’s marriage has hit a sexual lull, Stifler is now stuck working a dead end job, Oz is a C-level celebrity, Finch has disappeared without a trace and Kevin is just beginning to settle into boring normal adulthood. Of course their high-school reunion tests these status quos – upending some, reaffirming others…

At the recent press day in conjunction with our partners Omelete, I was able to speak with the entirety of the American Reunion cast.  Today’s interview: Sean William Scott & Eddie Kaye Thomas (Stifler & Finch).  In the interview, the duo discuss the rivalry of their characters, the difficulties (or lack thereof) in returning to characters previously played and surprises in how their characters have turned out.  Hit the jump to watch.

Mena Suvari and Chris Klein AMERICAN REUNION Interview

Posted: April 6th, 2012 at 9:18 am

American Reunion, the nostalgia dripping thirteen-plus year sequel to American Pie (nine years since American Wedding, three since the DTV American Pie: Book of Love), leans heavily not only on the past iterations/bonds/adventures of its many characters but more-so on the audience’s own relationship to the original film. Numerous references to American Pie abound: hey remember the time when Jim failed to seal the deal with Nadia over a webcam or Milf #2 or ‘That Time at Band Camp’?… – because American Reunion sure does and it pulls at every heartstring to make sure you do too. In the sequel – Jim and Michelle’s marriage has hit a sexual lull, Stifler is now stuck working a dead end job, Oz is a C-level celebrity, Finch has disappeared without a trace and Kevin is just beginning to settle into boring normal adulthood. Of course their high-school reunion tests these status quos – upending some, reaffirming others…

At the recent press day in conjunction with our partners Omelete, I was able to speak with the entirety of the American Reunion cast. Today’s interview: Mena Suvari & Chris Klein (Heather & Oz). In the interview the duo reminisce about the first American Pie, discuss aging with the characters and preview where they see Heather and Oz ten/twenty years from now. For the full interview, hit the jump.

Jason Biggs and Alyson Hannigan AMERICAN REUNION Interview

Posted: April 5th, 2012 at 6:50 pm

American Reunion, the nostalgia dripping thirteen-plus year sequel to American Pie (nine years since American Wedding, three since the DTV American Pie: Book of Love), leans heavily not only on the past iterations/bonds/adventures of its many characters but more-so on the audience’s own relationship to the original film.  Numerous references to American Pie abound: hey remember the time when Jim failed to seal the deal with Nadia over a webcam or Milf #2 or ‘That Time at Band Camp’?… – because American Reunion sure does and it pulls at every heartstring to make sure you do too.  In the sequel – Jim and Michelle’s marriage has hit a sexual lull, Stifler is now stuck working a dead end job, Oz is a C-level celebrity, Finch has disappeared without a trace and Kevin is just beginning to settle into boring normal adulthood. Of course their high-school reunion tests these status quos – upending some, reaffirming others…

At the recent press day in conjunction with our partners Omelete, I was able to speak with the entirety of the American Reunion cast.  Today’s interview: Jason Biggs & Alyson Hannigan (Jim & Michelle).  In the interview, the duo reminisce about the first American Pie, discuss the art of humiliation and preview where they see Jim and Michelle ten/twenty years from now.  Hit the jump to watch.

Tara Reid and Thomas Ian Nicholas AMERICAN REUNION Interview

Posted: April 4th, 2012 at 9:22 am

American Reunion, the nostalgia dripping thirteen-plus year sequel to American Pie (nine years since American Wedding, three since the DTV American Pie: Book of Love), leans heavily not only on the past iterations/bonds/adventures of its many characters but more-so on the audience’s own relationship to the original film. Numerous references to American Pie abound: hey remember the time when Jim failed to seal the deal with Nadia over a webcam or Milf #2 or ‘That Time at Band Camp’?… – because American Reunion sure does and it pulls at every heartstring to make sure you do too. In the sequel – Jim and Michelle’s marriage has hit a sexual lull, Stifler is now stuck working a dead end job, Oz is a C-level celebrity, Finch has disappeared without a trace and Kevin is just beginning to settle into boring normal adulthood. Of course their high-school reunion tests these status quos – upending some, reaffirming others…

At the recent press day in conjunction with our partners Omelete, I was able to speak with the entirety of the American Reunion cast.  Today’s interview: Thomas Ian Nicholas & Tara Reid (Kevin & Vicky).  In the interview the duo reminisce about the first American Pie, lament the frustrations in playing the ‘straight woman’ of the series and preview where they see Kevin and Vicky ten/twenty years from now.  Hit the jump to watch.

Eugene Levy and Jennifer Coolidge Talk AMERICAN REUNION, Improvisation, Deleted Scenes, and More

Posted: April 3rd, 2012 at 12:50 pm

American Reunion, the nostalgia dripping thirteen-plus year sequel to American Pie (nine years since American Wedding, three since the DTV American Pie: Book of Love), leans heavily not only on the past iterations/bonds/adventures of its many characters but more-so on the audience’s own relationship to the original film.  Numerous references to American Pie abound: hey remember the time when Jim failed to seal the deal with Nadia over a webcam or Milf #2 or ‘That Time at Band Camp’?… – because American Reunion sure does and it pulls at every heartstring to make sure you do too.  In the sequel – Jim and Michelle’s marriage has hit a sexual lull, Stifler is now stuck working a dead end job, Oz is a C-level celebrity, Finch has disappeared without a trace and Kevin is just beginning to settle into boring normal adulthood.  Of course their high-school reunion tests these status quos – upending some, reaffirming others…

At the recent press day in conjunction with our partners Omelete, I was able to speak with the entirety of the American Reunion cast.  Today’s interview: Eugene Levy and Jennifer Coolidge (Jim’s Dad & Stifler’s Mom).  In the interview, the duo discuss how the film was pitched to them, improvisation and deleted scenes.  Hit the jump to watch.

SOUND OF MY VOICE Review

Posted: March 28th, 2012 at 9:09 pm

Does the act of belief (substitute faith if you’re so inclined) outweigh the actual content of reverence?  Such is the question posed in Zal Batmanglij’s great, if somewhat intellectually dubious, Sound of My Voice.  I can’t remember liking a film this much whose ethos I find so suspect.  The sci-fi cult thriller focuses on a cynical couple’s attempt to infiltrate and expose a beautiful cult leader claiming to be a time traveler from 2059.  Of course – the longer the couple spends with the cult and its enigmatic leader, the more inclined they find themselves believing her to be true.  Is she from the future, crazy, a con artist, all-of-the-above?  Does it even matter?  For thoughts on the film, hit the jump.

Los Angeles Animation Festival Recap – IRON GIANT, TEAM AMERICA: WORLD POLICE, GRAVE OF THE FIREFLIES, and More

Posted: March 14th, 2012 at 10:15 pm

This week, the Regent Showcase hosted the 3rd Annual Los Angeles Animation Film Festival. The four-day fest boasted 35mm screenings of The Iron Giant, Gulliver’s Travels, Team America, Grave of the Fireflies and A Cat in Paris, amongst many others. For a full rundown of just what screened and when check out the festival’s website. For select highlights from days two through four of the fest, hit the jump. For further coverage of the fest – see here.

Los Angeles Animation Festival Recap Day One: AKIRA + Erotica

Posted: March 12th, 2012 at 4:55 pm

A post-apocalyptic war torn neo-Tokyo, Greek statues come to chorus girl dancing life, a psychedelic Snow White with a sprinkling of Bambi fetishism and some hard-core erotic and amusing (are the two ever mutually exclusive?) Spanish shorts.

This past week, the Regent Showcase hosted the 3^rd Annual Los Angeles Animation Film Festival. The four-day fest boasted 35mm screenings of The Iron Giant, Fantastic Planet, Gulliver’s Travels, Team America, Grave of the Fireflies and honoree Bill Plympton’s The Tune, amongst many others. For a full rundown of just what screened and when, might I direct you to the festival’s website. For the day one highlights – which included a screening of Akira and a bunch of X-rated shorts, hit the jump.

Amanda Seyfried Talks GONE and LES MISERABLES

Posted: February 21st, 2012 at 5:50 pm

In the curtly titled Gone, Amanda Seyfried stars as Jill, a pill-popping, suicidal chronic liar whose sister may or may not have been kidnapped by the same mystery-man that abducted Seyfried (or did he?) two years prior. The lack of conviction in the previous sentence could be due to any of the aforementioned pill-abusing/emotionally unstable/duplicitous attribute(s) of the character.  But Seyfried/Jill sure does seem convinced that something terrible is afoot. It honestly doesn’t matter if Jill’s right/wrong/crazy/lying/all-of-the-above — because you can’t help but want her to be true. Reality doesn’t matter, only conviction.

In the following interview, Amanda Seyfried discusses the morally grey nature of Jill and the difficulties in playing a scene all by your lonesome. Seyfried was also more than excited to discuss Tom Hooper’s Les Misérables – in particular the live recordings for the musical. Gone opens everywhere this Friday. For the full interview, hit the jump.

Alex Russell CHRONICLE Interview

Posted: February 3rd, 2012 at 7:48 am

In Chronicle, newcomer Alex Russell stars as Matt, the faux “poet laureate” prone to namedropping Jung and Plato, the better to woo ladies and prove intellectual superiority – and this is before the guy even gets superpowers. But instead of becoming more braggadocious after the discovery, Matt’s newfound abilities humble him (well – his inability to use telekinesis properly humble him). Matt soon becomes the voice of reason for the film – warning his friends to use their powers sparingly and never to hurt any living thing with them. Ironically enough – the poser philosopher inadvertently becoming the wise man he always pretended to be….

In the following interview with Alex Russell, he discusses (not) researching philosophy books for the character, how to perfect an American accent (he’s Australian) and the rehearsal process for Chronicle. To watch the full interview, hit the jump.

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