Interviews
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.
Dwayne Johnson & Josh Hutcherson Interview For ‘Journey 2: The Mysterious Island’
Jan 26th
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.
How was it for the both of you shooting in Hawaii? Dwayne, I know you spent some time there during you teenage years. And Josh, how was it compared to shooting on a sound-stage where much of the first film was shot?
Dwayne Johnson: For me, I was a punk kid running around there when I was 14, getting arrested, doing a lot of things I shouldn’t have been doing. To go from that kid to this man, to be able to have this movie pump millions of dollars into the economy, that was very special to me. The first movie, ‘Journey to the Center of the Earth,’ was a good movie that did great around the world. With this movie, we had an opportunity to do something better. One of the ways of making it better was taking it off the sound-stage and taking it to Hawaii, where you see the vastness, the lushness, the beauty of Hawaii. You have the mountains, the rainforest….there’s a texture that makes people go, “WOW!” Especially with the 3D. The scenery is a character in of itself.
Josh Hutcherson: Hawaii added a tonne to this movie. Not only visually and physically, but also emotionally. I think it has this sort of laid back “Aloha” spirit that the whole crew was able to tap into. Therefore, amidst the madness of running around from giant lizards on set, you get to step off and calm down, chill. When I heard we were shooting in Hawaii I was thrilled.
Ralph Fiennes Interview For ‘Coriolanus’
Jan 25th
Coriolanus (Ralph Fiennes), a hero of Rome, is a great soldier but despises the people. His extreme views ignite a mass riot and he is banished from Rome. Coriolanus allies with a sworn enemy (Gerard Butler) to take his revenge on the city. As director and star, Ralph Fiennes brings William Shakespeare’s visceral history play to the big screen for the first time. Coriolanus is a drama for the ages, a commentary on the precarious draw of war and an auspicious directorial debut from one of the world’s great classical actor. Alongside Ralph Fiennes and Gerard Butler the film stars Vanessa Redgrave, Brian Cox, Jessica Chastain and James Nesbitt. Coriolanus out in cinemas now.
What was it about this flawed hero and story that you found so captivating?
Ralph Fiennes: I think I became obsessed with Coriolanus by playing it onstage about 10, 11 years ago. It’s a very provocative piece with a very confrontational tone to it. I like that, I like the way Shakespeare was confronting the audience, not just with Coriolanus, but with all the questions about loyalty and political intrigue. The idea that you have this man who almost has an obscene integrity (laughs). I think the play challenges audiences sense of where their audience should lie. I also think it’s a play that is continually relevant – always! Now particularly with various uprisings and economic uncertainty around the world, which is the background to the play. I think it’s always a play that provokes an audience.
Jessica Chastain Interview For Ralph Fiennes’ ‘Coriolanus’
Jan 24th
Coriolanus (Ralph Fiennes), a hero of Rome, is a great soldier but despises the people. His extreme views ignite a mass riot and he is banished from Rome. Coriolanus allies with a sworn enemy (Gerard Butler) to take his revenge on the city. As director and star, Ralph Fiennes brings William Shakespeare’s visceral history play to the big screen for the first time. ‘Coriolanus’ is a drama for the ages, a commentary on the precarious draw of war and an auspicious directorial debut from one of the world’s great classical actor. Alongside Ralph Fiennes and Gerard Butler, the film stars Vanessa Redgrave, Brian Cox, Jessica Chastain and James Nesbitt. ‘Coriolanus’ is out now.
You’ve worked with Shakespeare’s material before in your career, how did you find this different approach?
Jessica Chastain: I went to Julliard and I studied Shakespeare for four years. But since I got out of school I didn’t have the opportunity to revisit any of the plays. When I heard Ralph Fiennes was going to direct this, to me it’s like taking a master-class, and that’s why I wanted to be involved. I knew that just by looking at the script all of my scenes were going to be with either Ralph Fiennes or Vanessa Redgrave, and when I saw the cast developing, it’s just everyone who’s the best of the best, people at the top of their craft – I knew I would learn a lot from it. Working with an actor who’s so sensitive, has such subtlety and passion in what they’re doing. Then being directed by that, it can’t help but inspire the best performance out of you.
Extended Preview Video For ‘Man on a Ledge’ – Starring Sam Worthington, Elizabeth Banks & Jamie Bell
Jan 23rd
With the films release date around the corner, Summit Entertainment has release this extended preview video (clocking in at almost 4-minutes) for Asger Leth’s heist flick ’Man on a Ledge.’ The film centers on an ex-cop (Sam Worthington) convicted of a crime he didn’t commit who stands on the ledge of a Manhattan building, threatening to kill himself. However, unbeknownst to the cops on the scene, what appears to be a suicide attempt is in fact a cover for a massive diamond heist. Worthington is joined by Elizabeth Banks as a hard-living New York Police Department hostage negotiator, Anthony Mackie as Worthington’s best friend and ally, and Jamie Bell as Worthington’s younger brother and ardent supporter. Edward Burns, Genesis Rodriguez, Ed Harris, Kyra Sedgwick and Titus Welliver co-star. ‘Man on a Ledge is set for release January 27th in the US and Febuary 3rd in the UK. Check out my interviews for the film here: Sam Worthington, Elizabeth Banks, and Jamie Bell.
Nick Cassidy (Sam Worthington) was an honest cop. Now he’s in prison for a crime he didn’t commit. Desperate, he seizes the first chance to escape. Hours later, he is freshly shaven in an expensive suit, standing on a window ledge high above New York City. As a crowd gathers below, police cordon off the area and agree to Nick’s request to speak with pretty police negotiator Lydia Anderson (Elizabeth Banks). But Lydia doesn’t know that she is part of his grand plan, a plan that could give them both a second chance.