Interviews
Zac Efron & Taylor Swift Interview For ‘Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax’
Feb 7th
From the creators of ‘Despicable Me’ and the imagination of Dr. Seuss comes the 3D-CG feature ‘Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax,’ an adaptation of the classic tale of a forest creature who shares the enduring power of hope. The animated adventure follows the journey of a 12-year-old as he searches for the one thing that will enable him to win the affection of the girl of his dreams. To find it he must discover the story of the Lorax, the grumpy yet charming creature who fights to protect his world.
Danny DeVito will lend his vocal talents to the iconic title character of the Lorax, while Ed Helms will voice the enigmatic Once-ler. Also bringing their talents to the film are Zac Efron as Ted, the idealistic youth who searches for the Lorax, and Taylor Swift as Audrey, the girl of Ted’s dreams. Rob Riggle will play financial king O’Hare, and beloved actress Betty White will portray Ted’s wise Grammy Norma. ‘Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax’ is scheduled for release March 2nd in the US and July 27th in the UK.
What was your initial reaction to this film?
Zac Efron: At first, when I heard about ‘Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax,’ I vividly remembered being read that book by my parents. I remember flipping through the pages. It was this book that first planted that seed of the environmentalist in me. Also, who doesn’t want to do Dr Seuss? He’s just the coolest person ever. The fact that The Lorax is about the environment and has those messages, it’s one of the reasons I feel the way I do today. Dr. Seuss taught me that when I was so young. And I wanted to be a small part of his legacy. I feel very very lucky to be apart of this film.
Denzel Washington Interview For ‘Safe House’
Feb 6th
Denzel Washington and Ryan Reynolds co-star in the action-thriller ‘Safe House.’ Washington plays the CIA’s most dangerous traitor, who stuns the intelligence community when he surfaces in South Africa. When the safe house to which he’s remanded is attacked by brutal mercenaries, a rookie (Reynolds) is forced to help him escape. As the masterful manipulator toys with his reluctant protégé, the young operative finds his morality tested and idealism shaken. Now, they must stay alive long enough to uncover who wants them dead. Directed by Daniel Espinosa, ’Safe House’ co-stars Nora Arnezeder, Vera Farmiga, Ruben Blades, Brendan Gleeson, Liam Cunningham, Tim McGraw, Robert Patrick, and Sam Shepard. The film is due to hit cinemas February 10th in the US, and Febuary 24th in the UK. Look out for another interview with Denzel Washington for the films UK release date.
At the beginning, Ryan Reynolds’ character is very much an ideologue. However some of that slowly peals away as the movie moves along. Your character, Tobin Frost, his outlook is completely different…..
Denzel Washington: Yeah. I really enjoy how as the movie moves along, we peel away the layers of who these people are, the mind-games that are going on. I liken it to ‘Silence of the Lambs’ where this guy, this young kid, he’s trying to get in my head, and I’m all getting in his head – to the point where he doesn’t know what he’s thinking about.
Tobin Frost, he’s on his own, he’s a murderer, he’s a liar, he’s a sociopath, he’s willing to do whatever it takes to win. All he’s interested in is winning. I think that he’s been so isolated for so long, he doesn’t know how to feel, he doesn’t have feelings, he just knows how to use. He has no family, no relationships, he just uses people…..and drinks good wine (laughs). Making the money is not an important thing for him, I think winning is the important thing. The chance to manipulate this kid is winning, the chance to shove it up the CIA’s behind is winning for him. And he has no remorse about it.
Daniel Radcliffe Interview For ‘The Woman In Black’
Feb 4th
Based on the classic ghost story, ‘The Woman In Black’ tells the tale of Arthur Kipps (Daniel Radcliffe), a lawyer who is forced to leave his young son and travel to a remote village to attend to the affairs of the recently deceased owner of Eel Marsh House. Working alone in the old mansion, Kipps begins to uncover the town’s tragic and tortured secrets and his fears escalate when he discovers that local children have been dying under mysterious circumstances. When those closest to him become threatened by the vengeful woman in black, Kipps must find a way to break the cycle of terror. ’The Woman In Black’ also stars Ciaran Hinds (Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy) and Janet McTeer (Tumbleweeds), was adapted from Susan Hill’s novel for the screen by Jane Goldman and directed by James Watkins (Eden Lake). The film is set for release Febuary 10th in the UK, while it’s out now in the US.
What did you enjoy most about stepping back into that time period?
Daniel Radcliffe: On a completely superficial level, the costumes. If I could wear that stuff all the time I really would. When you put that on you stand differently, it ages you slightly. It was quite helpful to me in that effort. What’s great about that period is that it came in a time when the English had 5000 years of being a completely pagan nation, we fell out of love with any kind of spirituality as soon as Christianity came in. In that period, the Victorian era, England started to come around to the idea of spirits and demons and the notion of their being a potential to transcend the real world and the afterlife. That idea was very prominent at that time, so it’s very useful in telling ghost stories.
Ryan Reynolds Interview For ‘Safe House’
Jan 30th
Denzel Washington and Ryan Reynolds co-star in the action-thriller ‘Safe House.’ Washington plays the CIA’s most dangerous traitor, who stuns the intelligence community when he surfaces in South Africa. When the safe house to which he’s remanded is attacked by brutal mercenaries, a rookie (Reynolds) is forced to help him escape. As the masterful manipulator toys with his reluctant protégé, the young operative finds his morality tested and idealism shaken. Now, they must stay alive long enough to uncover who wants them dead. Directed by Daniel Espinosa, ’Safe House’ co-stars Nora Arnezeder, Vera Farmiga, Ruben Blades, Brendan Gleeson, Liam Cunningham, Tim McGraw, Robert Patrick, and Sam Shepard. The film is due to hit cinemas February 10th in the US, and Febuary 24th in the UK. Look out for a more in-depth interview with Ryan Reynolds and the rest of the cast closer to the films release date.
Your character is very much an ideologue to begin with, that slowly breaks down over the course of the film….
Ryan Reynolds: Oh yeah. I feel like that line can blur between jingoism and idealism, a little bit. I think we start out, my character, as a God and country guy, he’s a patriot, he has that kind of mentality. But then layers of that are slowly pealed away, he has to deal with a lot of disillusionment. He sees that this job he signed up for is incredibly murderous and corrupt in a lot of ways. And then he’s seeing this sort of weird perverting mirror image of himself in this guy who’s much older and who’s been doing it a lot longer. I know for a fact, spending time with these guys that have been in the CIA for 30 or so years, that when you talk to them they started out with a real, ultra patriotic, idealism that really gets replaced by a kind of cynicism later. But part of that is because they’ve spent their entire life as a lie. They have to lie to their wife and children, for 20 or 30 years….I spoke to one guy who just revealed to his wife and children what he does for a living after 25 years, 25 years! That is amazing, I just asked, “What was the reaction like?” I was fascinated, and he replied, “Not good,” (laughs). It’s tough, because when you go to bed….all those details, it makes her wonder, “What was true? What was wasn’t?”
Vanessa Hudgens Interview For ‘Journey 2: The Mysterious Island’
Jan 27th
In this follow-up to the 2008 worldwide hit ‘Journey to the Center of the Earth,’ the new 3D family adventure ‘Journey 2: The Mysterious Island’ begins when young Sean Anderson (Josh Hutcherson, reprising his role from the first film) receives a coded distress signal from a mysterious island where no island should exist. It’s a place of strange life forms, mountains of gold, deadly volcanoes, and more than one astonishing secret. Unable to stop him from going, Sean’s new stepfather, Hank (Dwayne Johnson), joins the quest. Together with a helicopter pilot (Luis Guzman) and his beautiful, strong-willed daughter (Vanessa Hudgens), they set out to find the island, rescue its lone inhabitant and escape before seismic shockwaves force the island under the sea and bury its treasures forever. ‘Journey 2: The Mysterious Island’ stars Michael Caine as Sean’s grandfather, Alexander Anderson, and Kristin Davis as Sean’s mom, Liz Anderson. ‘Journey 2: The Mysterious Island 3D’ is set for release February 3rd in the UK and Febuary 10th in the US.
In the film, you have the dynamic of the three generations of guys with the grandfather, father, and son. Then we have your character and your father. Your character, Kailani, she’s sort of the mature one, especially with her father being Luis Guzman….
Vanessa Hudgens: Yeah (laughs). I kind of have to wear the pants in that relationship. Luis Guzman is hysterical, he was cracking me up. He’s such a riot, and also so random. Some of the things that would come out of his mouth, I would have no idea how he could think of these things. He is so much fun, our relationship in the film is so sweet. It’s definitely one of those things where Kailani thinks he’s embarrassing, and of course all kids go through a time where parents are the most embarrassing things, and they want nothing to do with them. But if you step back you realise that you’d be nowhere without them, and that you love them so much, and they love you just as much – if not more. Kailani, she’s a fun character because she’s tough, she takes care of those around her.
Liam Neeson Interview For ‘The Grey’
Jan 26th
In ‘The Grey,’ Liam Neeson leads an unruly group of oil-rig roughnecks when their plane crashes into the remote Alaskan wilderness. Battling mortal injuries and merciless weather, the survivors have only a few days to escape the icy elements – and a vicious pack of rogue wolves on the hunt – before their time runs out. Directed by Joe Carnahan (The A-Team, Smokin’ Aces), ‘The Grey’ is set for release January 27th. Frank Grillo, Dermot Mulroney, Dallas Roberts, Joe Anderson, Nonso Anozie, and James Badge Dale co-star.
What spoke to you about this role? And how was it working with the other guys in this ensemble?
Liam Neeson: There was something very primal about the story that triggered me, triggered something in me in this technological age. Me and a bunch of guys, out in the elements, extreme elements, being pursued by….almost mythological wolves. Their size, their intensity, their hatred for mankind. The wolves want to pick us off one at a time. That really interested me. The script read like a 19th Century epic poem for me, something like “The Ancient Mariner.” And also the little boy in myself, I just thought it would be great to be out with a bunch of guys on a cliff face or a rock face and doing manly things.
Something quite immediate happened with all of us as we shook each others hand, you know? And yes, we knew we were gonna go on this ride, this journey – and I know that’s a cliché but it really really was a journey in lots of ways. We all recognised that, and we all recognised each others strengths and sensitivities. It was tough but we had a good laugh.