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MPF Returns Thursday 8/28!

Tue, 26 Aug 2008 16:05:00 -0400

After too long of hiatus, I'm happy to announce MPF will officially return on August 28th! We've got too many EXCLUSIVES, interviews and reviews to count. Check back in on the 28th and thanks for all the love we've been getting these past few months!!!!

Interview: EXCLUSIVE 1 on 1 With Jonathan Levine (The Wackness)

Sun, 27 Jul 2008 03:03:00 -0400

Jonathan Levine directs and writes "The Wackness"
(Sony Pictures Classics, in theaters now)

Jonathan Levine has directed two high profile independent films in the last three years. Pretty impressive for a guy that used to be Paul Schrader's personal assistant. With a horror film and a coming of age period piece in the can, what's next for him?

We asked the director and writer when he was in town to promote his new film "The Wackness". Taking place in the summer of 1994, the film follows Peck's character as he bonds with a therapist over pot, copes with parent's financial woes and falls for his first love. Read on for more in our EXCLUSIVE 1 on 1 with Jonathan Levine...

MPF: These characters felt so complex and real. Were they based on real people?

Jonathan Levine: You know, what I did well was cast the right people for the roles. As a director that's one of the biggest things you can do, cast the right people, prepare them and then let them do their thing. Then they feel like these characters are their own and they create these fleshed out people. Yes, on the page we tried to make them as three dimensional as possible and be as true to life as possible but for instance, Stephanie's character could have very well come across as a cold heartless girl and Olivia's so good you can kind of sympathize with that character. So it's a combination of what's on the page but it's really a credit to all the actors in the film too.

MPF: You worked as Paul Schrader's assistant?

JL: Yeah, not for very long. Right after college I worked for an internet company and got laid off. Working there was my way to make a lot of money, it was sort of my own version of drug dealing. Then I started to work for him and I was a huge fan, but I also wanted to see what it was like to be a director. I had always been really interested in it, I had been directing films since forever and he's just awesome. I'd read all these books about how he was crazy or whatever and it's not true. He's down to earth, really really funny and a very disciplined hard working guy. He hasn't seen "The Wackness" yet, I'm kind of nervous to have him see it. But I hope he likes it. But anyway I became his personal assistant for six months and then I was like I have to go to film school. But the things I learned there just from listening to him were amazing and every once in a while when he was out of the office I would sneak into his files and see hand written notes for "Taxi Driver" and "Raging Bull", it was pretty awesome.

MPF: What's your fascination with drug use? You did a short film called "Shards" about crystal meth and "The Wackness" is all about marijuana.

JL: (laughs) For me it was definitely a part of my adolescence. There are a lot of themes you can investigate and use it as a device to look at that stuff, what is your reality and what you want your reality to be- and how you want to live in this world and what is your coping mechanism. It also really gives me the opportunity to do some funny shit but next movie I'm really going to try to avoid drugs. I think it's so important to challenge yourself and for some reason I tend to gravitate towards that material. "Shards" is like "Requiem for a Dream", raw and real.

MPF: How do you go from being almost unknown to directing two hot independent films?

JL: Well I went to film school and I met these producers who produced my first film "All the Boys Love Mandy Lane" which is supposed to be coming out later this year. I can't remember when we did that, whether it was 06 or 05, it feels like a long time ago. For me it's been like working, working, working and now that the movie is finally coming out it pays off. I've been working for a long time, at least it seems like it. I'm still young but I'm lucky to have met these producers. Because you can work as hard as you want but if no one is in love with the movie it's never going to get made. Hopefully other filmmakers will get an opportunity like that too.

MPF: What is happening with "All the Boys Love Mandy Lane? I feel like it's been in limbo for a long time.

JL: I've separated myself from it. There has just been so many release dates, I think they're picking a good date. I don't talk to them on a day to day basis though like I talk to Sony Pictures Classics. I don't know when it's coming. I know it's going to be before the end of the year. I think they're waiting to see how this does and then do something then.

MPF: What happened with the Weinstein's picking it up and then not releasing it?

JL: What happened was it became apparent that they just weren't as passionate about it as we wanted them to be. We brokered this sale to Senator and they haven't really started distributing yet. I think they're getting their legs under them. It sucks for me but forget about me man, it sucks more for the producers, the DP, the production designer and every actor who doesn't get the opportunity to have their work seen and get more work because of it. That's why for me it's really important to get it out there and seen.

"The Wackness" is in theaters now.

Interview: EXCLUSIVE 1 on 1 With Josh Peck (The Wackness)

Sat, 26 Jul 2008 02:01:00 -0400

Actor Josh Peck, "The Wackness" junket, 6/26/08, 3:55pm.

What happened to Josh Peck? A Nickelodeon fixture on "Drake and Josh", the young actor grew up on TV through his teens in kid oriented, family friendly entertainment. Most knew him as the 'chubby' kid back then, cute but not really a heartthrob. Now that's all about to change. At twenty one, he's slimmed down, looking good and making his name known outside the boob tube.

Getting naked and playing a drug dealer in a breakthrough performance in the new film "The Wackness", Peck is turning a lot of heads. We sat down with Peck a month ago to talk about the new film, his new found sexiness and how much of the character was similar to him. Read on for more in our EXCLUSIVE 1 on 1 with actor Josh Peck...

MPF: How much of you is in the character of Luke?

Josh Peck: I think it's one of these divine gifts you're allotted as an actor that I am very close to who this kid was. I think the line that sums it up is "I was the most popular of the unpopular.

MPF: I could not believe your character was supposed to be uncool, he was so the opposite.

JP: I know! I think it was dope though, that he was secure with the things that he liked, the music that he loved, the way he carried himself and what he did. But I think we shared the same sort of disillusionment and sometimes a bit of cynicism about life. That torture, that philosophical question "what is happiness?" as it applies to me. It's a philosophical inquiry and searching that out, not wanting to be the masses or the sheep, wanting to be able to have semblance of who I was as an adolescent as I get older. I remember being nine years old and sitting in the bath tub and going "remember this moment, remember when you're twenty one that you loved action figures and comic books and power rangers" you know? Growing up with a mom that was single and not really having met my pops- I understand not having the traditional support system and I don't think that Luke has it in the movie either. Even though both parents are present, he has to go to external sources to find that validation.

MPF: Did Jonathan Levine approach you for the role? Because Luke is the complete opposite of the character you're most known for on "Drake and Josh".

JP: Right. I had to battle it out with the usual suspects which will go unnamed, but they're cats who are really talented and we right for parts they've been brilliant in. They're people in my age group who are doing very truthful, honest work in movies that highlight their ability, so really when you know who's in your wheelhouse and five or six guys that are going to be heavy contenders, you find the right part that inevitably works out for you if you're bringing your A game to every single audition. You have to suit up and show up, but John and I were two hip hop heads from New York so we instantly clicked like kindred spirits. I think he wanted to see if people were exuding the character and less about just the audition proper. Because that's just three minutes and then that's all you have to draw from.He wanted to get a feel for who we all were and I just felt that I could bring a lot of truth and honesty to who this cat was. I had just gotten my heart broken by my first real serious girlfriend so I had a lot to draw from.

MPF: Jonathan had never seen you on "Drake and Josh"?

JP: He had never seen me, it was just based on the audition. I was blessed in that sense because I didn't have to worry about battling any preconceptions. Now he says he can't fucking get away from my show, whenever he's at the gym it's on reruns and there's a "Drake and Josh" marathon-

MPF: Will there be a theatrical film version coming soon?

JP: There will be a Christmas TV movie and I'm glad it's going to be on TV because you go to theaters and do a big motion picture and it becomes something different than what we've established as the brand. We're comfortable in this setting and our producer Dan knows our characters so intimately and knows how to write for them. I think his strength is really in TV- it will be a cool, big TV movie.

MPF: I think it will be bigger than "Camp Rock" which was the highest cable rating TV movie this year-

JP: No way. Those Jonas Brothers man, they're dreamy (laughs) and they're from Jersey!

MPF: The sex scene in the film was one of the hottest, realest scenes I've scene in a while- and it was pretty ballsy on your part to go through with the nudity in the scene-

JP: My balls were actually in a cock sock. (both laugh) Man, it was petrifying filming that- everyone has body issues but growing up on TV and being a heavy set kid growing up it was absolutely petrifying.

MPF: Puleeze! You looked good!

JP: (laughs) Well thank you man! What I did was (pauses) it was for me, just the part of a lifetime and I knew I had to do it. I felt comfortable though, John (the director) was there and he said it was going to be a closed set and we're going to do it and you'll be done. So we saved it till the ladder portion of the day because we wanted that beautiful sort of sunset and our cinematographer/DP had such a distinct vision of the movie and was able to capture those moments. Even on the ferry ride over to fire island was so gorgeous. Anyway, I didn't eat anything for lunch because I didn't want to get bloated (laughs).

MPF: Well the response to you and that scene has been great, so no worries. Although, your ass will be all over the internet within a matter of weeks.

JP: God bless em! Do with it what they will. I basically did a hundred push ups before the scene and when I dropped the robe I thought the world would come down with it, but thankfully it didn't. It wasn't choreographed either, it was rather natural. You always want the female to choreograph anything that goes on in those scenes so it was easy. I was pretty in love with kissing her. Unfortunately her boyfriend is so much better looking than me but yeah, for movie purposes it was great that I was crushing on her because then it could really translate into the character. You start living their dreams anyway, you start living in their skin so now that the movie is finished we've become great friends.

MPF: Is there any dream role you want to play?

JP: I would really love to play Beethoven not the lovable dog (laughs) but the composer. That's a dream of mine, that's something I'd like to write and eventually make.

MPF: What do you say to those who say this will be your breakthrough role?

JP: I feel like if I'm alloted the privilege of playing parts like this where I feel like I can really exercise this muscle and what my deep passion is- which is to play these parts, inevitably all I ever wanted was to be an actor and to be respected and to do things that turn me on. My favorite actors are people like Sir Ben Kingsley, Morgan Freeman, Benicio Del Toro and Jeffrey Wright. I feel like they're so committed to the craft so to have a tenth or one percent of what they have would be a dream.

"The Wackness" is in theaters now.

Interview: Matthew Goode and Haley Atwell (Brideshead Revisited)

Fri, 25 Jul 2008 05:02:00 -0400

(L-R) Matthew Goode, Haley Atwell and Ben Whishaw star in "Brideshead Revisited" (Miramax, in limited release today)

No it's not the critically loved, highly watched, always mentioned 1981 BBC miniseries all over again, this is the first feature film version of Evelyn Waugh's novel. Sure the miniseries before it was 11 parts long and had Jeremy Irons and Diana Quick in it- but this separate, different interpretation is layered, elegant and thrilling all its own. Directed by "Becoming Jane" helmer Julian Jarrold and starring Matthew Goode, Haley Atwell, Ben Whishaw, Emma Thompson and Michael Gambon- there is plenty of star power and rising talent to entice audiences this weekend as the film begins to roll out in limited showings.

Goode has some great upcoming projects opening soon including the superhero franchise hopeful "Watchman" (already all over magazine covers and hyped to the roof) and Atwell has another star studded Oscar hopeful opening later this year called "The Duchess" with Keira Knightley and Ralph Fiennes. Both stars were in New York last week for a press junket to talk with us and the rest of the NY press about the film. Read on for more with "Brideshead" stars Matthew Goode and Haley Atwell.......

MPF: How familiar were you with Evelyn Waugh's book and the story before shooting the film and had you seen the mini series?

Haley Atwell: I'd heard of the book, hadn't read it, hadn't heard of the series and just decided not to look at it. I thought it's got to have some kind of integrity as a stand alone film and as would my take on Diana Quick's performance. So I didn't and I'm glad I didn't because I think I would have bought into the pressure of it being such a melancholy piece.

Matthew Goode: I had read the book and seen the series and I understood it. The series I saw about five or six years ago because my agent gave it to me as a gift and told me I should watch it and learn from it. There is a different narrative structure and characters in the mini-series so you can't look at it the same.

(spoilers) MPF: Do you think the relationship with Sebastian in the film is more apparent in this version?

MG: Ever so slightly. It stills touches upon the ambiguities of it all which we wanted to uphold with integrity. It would have made no sense saying: well, here we are now in an era, as opposed to it being made in 1981 where we can. We haven't come far enough in our views of homosexuality, it's much more interesting to think- well maybe because Charles is so lonely he would question his own sexuality. But at the same time the idea of male love is more interesting if it's platonic from one of them and not from the other and obviously the complications of bringing in Julia earlier into the story-

HA: It's kind of a Shakespearean love whereas marriage was seen as a business partnership and it was often arranged, specifically in the aristocratic classes. So then you have the meeting of these two who can't have it with other women, especially in this all boy's environment in Oxford- so it kind of puts the ingredients together to make a strange kind of intimacy that's not titled as 'gay'. But it has within in it a beauty for Sebastian though, it goes to an entirely different place. It's very much a coming of age for all of them, over two or three decades of understanding what the impact of your first romantic love has on the rest of your life and the choices that you make in pursuit of your own happiness.

(spoilers) MPF: How do you think "Brideshead" speaks to an audience today, especially with its concerns with Catholic guilt, sin and redemption?

MG: I think it's as much about those things as it's about bad parenting.

HG: Absolutely. You can't really escape that which are born into. Sebastian and Julia are isolated the moment they're born, their life is destined for them. I imagine what's it like for the Royal family maybe. So within that, you have all these constraints of how can any of them pursue happiness with their freedom and letting go of the baggage that comes with that. It's as much about them being in this innate Catholic family as it is about the oppression that the mother instills upon them. The passions of the flesh versus their faith, which ultimately for Julia the decision she has to make at the end. It's been interpreted many different ways but for Julia I felt it was quite a positive thing for her. She couldn't fight her background, she couldn't fight her past and so by the end of it, she turns around and embraces it, finding it miraculous with her father's miracle on his death bed. Now she's able to actually liberate herself from her chains by embracing the church and not going for the romantic love which maybe she can see is something less.

MPF: Matthew, what is the main difference for you as an actor starring in something like "Watchmen" which has a global audience and already is getting huge buzz versus "Brideshead" which has a more less mainstream art-house buzz?

MG: An ever so slightly larger codpiece really (laughs). No, in a way "Watchmen" is still a period piece, it's in the 80's. I was done with that at the end of February. I don't know if it's going to be career changing, I saw the trailer the other day and I was like- "fucking hell that looks alright."

MPF: Who do you think Charles first love was?

MG: Sebastian, but Brideshead as well. In a sense that you think of two people who never had a childhood and never been happy, the reason Charles is so, so in love with Brideshead is that it's the only place he's ever been happy. And in a way, you're like- don't go back there, for Christ sakes, huge mistake, here we go (laughs). But if anyone should be the owner of and looking after it, it's easily Charles because it is crumbling and it is going to go in the wrong hands, let's be honest: down the shitter. With him there, it wouldn't ever.

MPF: You both have been directed by Woody Allen in his two back to back films, how was it?

MG: I was much more central to the story in this film, I had more to do here, conversations and so on- with Woody it was more "get on with it".

HA: Yeah, I'd agree. I was less than a year out of drama school when I made "Cassandra's Dream" and I really didn't know what I was doing. (laughs) And not that I'm comparing myself to Lauren Bacall in anyway, but you know the iconic look where she has her head down and she looks up? How iconic that was? I read in her audio biography how she was so terrified that was the only way she could control her body. So with Woody Allen, especially since it was my first film and he didn't really talk and there was no read through, no rehearsal period, there was nothing. It was literally say your lines and fuck off- but kindly. (laughs) Very engaging socially, but he has no interest in the psychology of the character and coming from the theatrical background of drama school where everything is analyzed, it was weird territory for me. So I spent the whole time calming by nerves by remaining really in control of what I was doing. But I was terrified.

"Brideshead Revisited" is in playing in limited release now.

"The Dark Knight" Mania

Thu, 17 Jul 2008 04:13:00 -0400

The showtimes billboard outside the AMC Empire 25, 9:49pm.

It was madness last night when I was walking home in Times Square and saw the huge, around the block line waiting for the midnight show screenings of "The Dark Knight". I'm just glad that finally a Hollywood produced film that is actually good for once, is getting the success it deserves.

UPDATE: "The Dark Knight" has earned $155.34 million to top "Spider-Man 3" for best opening weekend at the box office. The difference in quality between the two films is remarkably different, "The Dark Knight" deserves its success, "Spider Man 3" not so much.

Review! (The Dark Knight: IMAX Edition)

Wed, 16 Jul 2008 00:42:00 -0400

It's here. I've seen "The Dark Knight". Is it one of the best films of the year? Is the hype all it's cracked up to be? Find out here!!!!!

"High School Musical 3" - The Teaser Trailer

Mon, 14 Jul 2008 03:40:31 -0400

I so get what everyone (pre-teens and cheesy movie lovers) were going on about when the original "High School Musical" premiered. Designed for teenie boppers but enjoyed by many, this world phenomenon is yes, I'm ashamed to say: A LOT OF FUN. I 'm a sucker for all these Disney musical things.

The cast of "High School Musical 3" (Disney, October 24th) dances off

Yes it's silly fluff, but I get a kick out of it. The drama of Troy and Gabriella, the divaness of Sharpay, I like it all. It's irresistible corniness and I'm finding I can't get enough of it! There are MANY others my age who like it for the same reasons too, they're just too ashamed to come out and say they like it. So there's my confession readers- enjoy the new teaser trailer. Looks like tons of money is to be made. This is supposed to be the last one, uh huh- with this cast maybe. Disney knows what they got and they ain't stupid. "HSM 4-11". I'm calling it right now.

I Actually Did Get It...

Mon, 14 Jul 2008 02:40:01 -0400

My amazing brother Andy waited in line for nine hours or more and got me an IPhone 3G the other day. I was told the madness that unfolded in those nine hours were pretty insane. People getting in fights, security making sure there were no riots, sleep deprivation, activation issues, the apple store shutting down and countless other things. Whoa.

All for a phone, right? Well, wrong. This thing rocks my socks, (I'm going to sound like an advertisement now so get ready) it's so much more than a phone- it's a revolutionary device that I will cherish for a long, long, long while. I've waited in line for numerous random and very silly things in my life. When I was into wrestling I waited six hours to meet The Undertaker for instance. I know, shut up. Heh. Back to movies now...

That "Dark" Feeling...

Sun, 29 Jun 2008 18:14:37 -0400

Advertisement for "The Dark Knight" in Times Square, 6/27/08, 9:42pm.

Pushing my way through Times Square to get home and saw a crowd taking pictures of something. Well what's above was what it was. I get a whirlwind of different emotions whenever I see the WB promote "The Dark Knight" with Ledger's image front and center.

It's kinda a tribute and it's kinda exploitive. Either way the thing will open huge and his performance is getting raves/Oscar mentions. I'm seeing it soon on IMAX, which should be incredible. I just can't shake that 'wrong/right' emotion about looking at this ad. You better believe WB knows it too. Why else would he be the front and center of all the marketing?

Interview: EXCLUSIVE 1 on 1 with Gilles Marini (Sex and the City: The Movie)

Sun, 29 Jun 2008 16:23:41 -0400

Actor Gilles Marini, restaurant in Studio City, LA. On Father's Day (see the T-Shirt), 3:49pm.

So readers, aren't you glad you waited? How could we cover "Sex and the City" and not have an interview with the reason the movie is sexy in the first place? Gilles Marini aka: 'The Naked Shower Guy' in "Sex and the City: The Movie" is much more than just a gorgeous face and body. A dedicated father and actor on the rise, he's dealing with his new found fame while still looking for the next role that will continue to expand his flourishing career.

Meeting up with Gilles in LA during our stay, he had to move from the Starbucks we were at originally because the female attention grew a little too intense. Settling in a restaurant near by, we finally got to talk about everything from the movie the whole world has seemed to have seen to what he is all about. Read on for MPF's EXCLUSIVE 1 on 1 with Gilles Marini...

MPF: What do you think of this new found fame?

Gilles Marini: I think I�m enjoying it. To tell you the truth, it�s very surprising to me. At first I was like �whoa, what�s going on here?� The fans and the people that enjoy the part- I found them to be very sweet and understanding instead of �oh look, there�s this beautiful guy!� The messages I�m getting from people are very flattering and a lot are saying they want to see me on other things. That makes me feel good everyday. Every time I open emails I get so much love and I love it.

MPF: Take me from where you were career wise before hand, to where you are right now.

GM: Right before I started acting I was doing some modeling and stuff. I don�t think I got big roles right away because believe it or not I don�t have the �big� agent yet. I have managers but it�s really difficult for them to find the right lead role for me, knowing where I�m from and my background- all I needed was a shot and I got one.

MPF: Did you always want to be an actor?

GM: Yes. It was whenever �American Gigolo� came out. My mother was a big fan of actors and she said to me �acting is what you�re going to do.� Something, a scene, stuck in my mind in the film where he�s driving around in his car and the wind is blowing in his hair and life is good. That�s what I remember anyway, I was seven. And I said �that�s a good job, to make believe.� Since that day I really wanted to be an actor, then modeling came up and well, the rest is history.

MPF: How were you cast in �Sex and the City�? Did Michael Patrick King just say �drop em!�?

GM: (laughs) Michael is much smarter than that. I did my first audition in LA in a hotel- it was pretty much shirt off, some lines and such and they sent it back to the producers and Michael in NY. A couple of days later, I got the �big call back� and my manager said �this is important, this is it.� I was like �wow!� I wasn�t really watching the show at the time. I was counting my pennies so to speak, so HBO wasn�t a priority. I had never seen the �real show� only the one on TBS, which is so different. I believe a fan of the HBO version could not be a fan of the TBS version. So when I got to the next audition, I was brushed up more on the show and knowing I was doing scenes with Samantha, made me feel different. I�ve been really lucky.

MPF: Do you mind that millions of people have seen you naked across these huge screens?

GM: Thank god for the huge screens. (laughs) If they were smaller, than who knows, right? I don�t mind though, because what a nice payback for all the male and female audiences who like to see that. It�s always the woman as the object of the movie, boobs bouncing around- I thought it was a very good idea for them to do what we did and now it�s different. Dante, my character is the mirror of what Samantha was before, so we tried to really portray that as close as possible. It never really crossed my mind to ask what was going to be shown, I didn�t care though. And what everyone saw in the movie was nothing compared to what we shot. It�s so funny everyone says full frontal, it was a side shot. We did a lot of full frontal. Not that he really asked me too, but I was. When I hear �rolling!� it�s like I�m hearing �action!� and I just block everything out of my eyes. Kim Cattrall was there when she was giving her lines and I was just completely naked in front of her but I didn�t care, you know?

MPF: Everyone is saying you�re the �Sex� in �Sex and the City�-

GM: Yeah, this is what Sarah Jessica Parker said and that sentence made my day. And the movie is still kicking- I�m getting messages from all around the globe. It�s quite funny too, I go to school and models come up to me and they�re looking at my face but sometimes they look down, two weeks ago they weren�t.

MPF: Is there a certain type of role you would like to tackle now that you�ve done this?

GM: Sure, I would love to play someone who is mentally challenged or even a bad guy. These two things I would really love to play.

*spoilers* MPF: One thing a lot of people are asking is why there isn�t a scene with you and Kim Cattrall together when the movie ends-

GM: I think it was great not having the scene because it was more than her being attracted to me. Dante reminded her of her old self. That is the trigger that makes her leave, that�s the trigger to a lot of things. Sure I would love to have the scene you speak of �getting on with it�. Why don�t you go to Michael Patrick King in the sequel and that will be one of the first thing she does. I would be so down to it. I talked to him on the phone before the opening and he said �Take credit for yourself, you made Dante come to life. Enjoy it.� I was really thankful to him. I think there should be a trilogy, right? But they should really get to it.

"Sex and the City: The Movie" is in theaters now.