Jake Johnson, better known as the manchild Nick from New Girl, has been killing it lately in the comedy world. You may remember Jake from 2012’s summer bromance hit “21 Jump Street” where he showed off his comedic skills as the lazy principal who expels Channing Tatum and Jonah Hill, but since then he’s gone from being a minor actor to a major presence on screen. The first time I saw Johnson was in the critically acclaimed indie film “Safety Not Guaranteed”, a story about a man seeing a companion for time travel. I didn’t have too high of expectations since aside from the legendary Back to the Future trilogy, I’m not usually a fan of time travel stories, but Johnson’s deadpan humor, along with Aubrey Plaza hilarious performance, made this film into a gem. It wasn’t long after that I stumbled upon Johnson’s Fox hit show New Girl, where he plays a directionless 30 year old who is plagued with strange quirks that keeps the audience coming back for more. New Girl started as an amusing show to watch out of boredom but has since snowballed into one of the most well written and witty comedies on TV. The show is the perfect vehicle for Johnson to display his comedic chops and has made him into a star, but even with newfound fame Johnson hasn’t abandoned his indie roots. Last year Johnson starred into the indie mumblecore hit of the year “Drinking Buddies” alongside SNL Alum Jason Sudeikis and Olivia Wilde and proved that he could take on a more serious role by playing a lovestruck brewery worker with a big heart and an ever bigger desire for beer. Every actor gave a great performance in this film but the on screen chemistry between Wilde and Johnson was what made it truly incredible. Johnson also has some great projects on the horizon like Seth Rogen comedy “Neighbors” coming out on May 9th and the buddy cop film “Let’s Be Cops” which is expected to hit theaters on August 13th, but if you want to check out some of his performances in the meantime be sure to watch episodes of New Girl on Fox’s Website or check out the trailer for Drinking Buddies.
Scott Mescudi (Kid Cudi)
You may know him as The Man on the Moon, Mr. Rager, or Kid Cudi, but the Cleveland born rapper is no longer just a musician: he’s developed into quite the talented actor as well. Kid Cudi has long been known among rap fans as a musician that has combined rap narrative with space odyssey themed beats to create a unique sound that is a breath of fresh are to hip hop. He is a unique artist that has the ability to connect to fans through soulful music and visually stunning music videos by day and make those same fans laugh through his appearances on HBO’s “How to Make it in America” and NBC’s hit cop show “Brooklyn nine-nine” by night. Many people may roll their eyes when they hear a rapper is pursuing an acting career and think they may be unqualified but Cudi doesn’t fit this mold: in fact his Television and recent “Need for Speed” performances have been so good that he’s just been cast as Ari Gold’s assistant in the upcoming and highly anticipated “Entourage” movie. His ability to switch from stoic and serious to slapstick funny in the matter of seconds makes him a versatile actor whose performances mirror the breadth of human emotions featured in his music. Whether he is playing the carefree stoner Domingo on “How to Make it in America” or Aaron Paul’s partner in crime in “Need for Speed” Mescudi is able to bring his character’s to life in a refreshing way that leaves the audience wanting more, which is why even those who aren’t fans of his music can appreciate him as a multi-talented artist. If you want to see some of Scott’s performances be sure to check out his Brooklyn nine-nine cameo or spot him actually flying a helicopter in this “Need for Speed” clip.
Reel talk with Alex Hope
What do you get when you mix Paul Newman, Gladiator, and a pair of glasses? An interview with starting Goalie for Lafayette men’s Hockey team and Sophmore film student Alex Hope. I sat down with Alex to chat about manly actors, Netflix, and why indie movies offer something that blockbusters don’t. Here’s what he had to say:
The Garden Slate: What film has had the biggest impact on you?
Alex Hope: I would have to say Gladiator because of it’s historical background and the strong story development throughout the movie. It’s cool to see filmmakers bring such an old concept (Ancient Rome) to life on the screen in a powerful way.
TGS: Why do you think that films that are grounded in historical time periods that are far removed, like Gladiator, are popular? Do you think people find it cool seeing history play out before them on the screen?
AH: Well we’ve been doing this for centuries now. We’ll take a time period where we don’t know the full story and we’ll reimagine it. Take myths for example. Myths were originally used to explain phenomenons we didn’t quit understand, like the changing of the seasons, but eventually they just became a form of entertainment. I think that’s why people find these stories so interesting is because they’re learning about aspects of history, but are still enjoying it because the filmmakers have taken liberties that have made the stories more exciting.
TGS: What actor, either past or present, do you think has made the biggest impact on people’s lives?
AH: An actor from the past who I think has had the biggest impact on people’s lives would be Paul Newman because he lived such an incredible life on an off the screen. He was able to have an incredible acting career that spanned across decades and was able to leave a great legacy by creating Newman’ Own, his nonprofit food company that I read donates between 25-30 million dollars a year to charity, which is crazy if you think about it. How many other actors can say they’ve done that? So I think that when you can have your impact go beyond the silver screen you can change people’s lives beyond just touching them through performing, you’ve done something right, and by doing that Newman has been able to leave an amazing legacy.
TGS: Is there any current actor who you think will leave a legacy similar to Newman?
AH: Well I’ve always been a fan of Brad Pitt because he’s been able to find success through playing the “man’s man” archetype that James Dean popularized. I would say Martin Sheen and Steve McQueen probably fit into that category as well, especially Sheen in Badlands where he’s made up to look like James Dean, so I would say those three come close to Newman in terms of performance but it’s hard to leave a legacy like Paul has simply because he’s changed so many lives through philanthropy.
TGS: The Oscars just happened recently and two independent films, Her and Nebraska, were nominated and Her writer/director Spike Jonze even took home the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay. Do you think this is a sign that people are starting to accept independent movies and that they may finally be getting the recognition they deserve?
AH: I would say that as an audience at this point we’ve pretty much seen it all. Take Avatar, one of the biggest blockbusters of the century, for example. Isn’t that essentially just a rehashing of Pocahontas? Even The Avengers, which took in a ridiculous amount of money on opening weekend, isn’t something we haven’t already seen. We know how the super hero story goes and I think we’ve sort of become bored of it, so that’s why people are starting to go see movies like Her, which offers something different. Her is a film that brings a bunch of different elements together, like technology, isolation due to globalization, and the idea that the faster we’re moving the more alone we feel, to create a pretty good story. So I think people are starting to look to movies more for their content rather than a pretty visual or incredible effect, and the only movies that seem to be offering that right now are indie films, which is why they’re getting recognition.
TGS: So do you think that this shift means people are going to start moving away from Blockbusters that are packed with stars?
AH:That’s a good question because people are always going to want to watch the blockbusters to see their favorite stars. Like what’s coming out this week?
TGS: Need for Speed.
AH: Ah perfect. So this is a great example of someone giving into popular demand by adapting a video game into a movie and using Aaron Paul, who people know from Breaking Bad and are therefore familiar with, to get people in the seats. I understand that the studios have to churn out a certain number of films every year to stay afloat but they’ve started to all become so similar that it’s taken away from the enjoyment of the blockbuster. But even so people will still continue to go to the blockbusters because they want to see their favorite stars.
TGS: Netflix has recently become a big distributor for films and TV shows online. Do you think it’s possible that we would ever see a day where films were no longer in theaters and instead premiered online?
AH: Before Netflix you had two options on a Friday night: you could either go to blockbuster video, rent a movie, and watch it in your living room in your boxers or you could put some pants on and go watch a movie in theaters. Now you don’t even need to put pants on to go to blockbuster because you’ve got all these movies at your fingertips on your computer, so it’s definitely made us lazier. Will it eliminate the need for movie theaters? Probably not. People are always going to want to go to the movies for the experience. And computer screens don’t really do films with incredible cinematography and surround sound justice.
So that was the wisdom and film knowledge that Alex Hope had to offer. Be sure to check out my Review of “The Grand Budapest Hotel” which should be up on the blog in next few days and follow me on twitter @TheGardenSlate.
Artistic Philanthropy: When film is used as a tool for change
I was on facebook the other day and saw that Seth Rogen was trending, so naturally curiosity got the best and I clicked to see what he was up to. I figured it was either a late night talk show appearance or an announcement about one of his several highly anticipated upcoming projects, but what I found surprised me. Rather than a clip of Seth making a weed joke or doing something strange with James Franco, he was sitting before a committee on CSPAN pleading for the government to allocate more funds for Alzheimer’s Research in what amounted to be a funny, yet incredibly heartfelt speech that was more genuine than any I’ve heard in a long time. Its no secret that in the public eye Seth is seen as the champion of idiotic humor, (which I guiltily must say I’m a fan of), and therefore, unfortunately, is sometimes scoffed at as nothing more than a juvenile comedian, but when Rogen addressed the committee during this hearing we saw a different side of him that isn’t typically displayed on screen: a human side. You could hear the passion in his voice when he discussed how this debilitating disease had slowly robbed his Mother-in-Law of the ability to walk, talk, and reognize her loved ones, and she him getting broken up discussing how difficult dealing with the disease had been on his family. I expected to get a laugh or two out of the video but by the end of it I was moved by Rogen ability to channel his frustrations with the lack of funding into a moving speech, which started to make me think about the influence artists have in philanthropy. Many of us look to entertainment as an escape, a chance in which we can leave behind our problems temporarily and enjoy the misadventures and dramas of others, but what would happen if we were to find a balance between entertaining and inspiring others to take action philanthropically? What could we achieve if each one of us lazy college students decided to dedicate more time towards changing the world in some small way through art? I pondered this for a little while until a trailer popped up in my newsfeed for a film called “Friends of Mine” (trailer below). The question I posed to the universe had been answered in a manner of minutes in the form of a Indie documentary Film trailer about college graduate Matthew Palmer’s journey to find happiness through working at a special needs summer camp. The trailer is as heartwarming and motivating as Rogen’s testimony and shows the personal growth that one undergoes through helping others and the impact that philanthropy can have on other people’s lives.
If a self proclaimed man child like Rogen and a college graduate lost in the world can make such philanthropic waves through film and media then what is stopping us from doing the same? The answer is nothing, so next time you see a cause that you truly care about think of how a man largely known for his pot smoking idiocy (Seth) is doing more to change the world than you are and go out there and do something about it. You’ll be glad you did. And if you want to check out Palmer’s moving documentary “Friends of Mine” check it out the film’s website for more information.
James Franco’s Indie Film Palo Alto set to premiere May 6th
James Franco is a busy guy. He’s not busy partying in LA or lounging poolside like many of his acting contemporaries, but instead is busy taking classes at Yale and writing novels. In fact, he’s the kind of guy that is so busy that he once had to juggle taking classes at Columbia and filming 127 Hours by continually flying back and forth between New York and Salt Lake City just so he wouldn’t lose credit and fall behind in class. Needless to say this desire to be constantly learning, creating, and growing as an artist has earned Franco a renaissance man reputation and has left fans of his work interested in what the actor/director/poet/professor is doing next. If you are one of the many people interested in Franco’s upcoming projects here is a complete list of everything he’ll be working on or releasing soon.
First up is Franco’s Indie film Palo Alto, which is loosely based on his 2010 novel of the same name. The film was completely funded through donations on the website Indiegogo and was directed by Gia Coppola, the Granddaughter of legendary director Francis Ford Coppola. The film has been shown at a few small film festivals around the country but hadn’t been released in theaters, but a recent variety.com article revealed that Tribec Films have picked up Palo Alto as a distributor and is expected to hit theaters in New York and Los Angeles May 9th.
As if writing and starring in films isn’t hectic enough, this year Franco will break away from filming to make his broadway debut in a play adaptation of Steinbeck’s classic Of Mice and Men along side Bridesmaids funny man Chris O’Dowd and Gossip Girl star Leighton Meester. Of Mice and Men will debut on Broadway April 16th and is set to conclude July 17th. (For more information about Of Mice and Men check out this Broadway article). If by some chance you’re not able to catch Franco in this classic production, or just aren’t a theater/Steinbeck fan in general, fear not because he’ll be returning to the big screen this fall in The Interview, a film co-written by Evan Goldberg and Seth Rogen, the comedy masterminds behind Superbad (2007), Pineapple Express (2008), and last summer apocalypse comedy This Is The End (2013) . Rogen is slated to co-star in the comedy alongside Franco as well as direct the film, so if your a fan of this hollywood bromance keep an eye out for a trailer in the coming months.
Sound Exhausting? Well that’s only the tip of the iceberg. In recognition of his eclectic artistry New York’s IFC Theater will be hosting a James Franco Film Festival exhibiting his past works and some of his upcoming projects that will begin March 5th. Franco himself will be in attendance and is expected to talk about the indie moviemaking process to those lucky enough to get tickets to the showings.
Another highly anticipated Franco project expected to begin filming this year is The Disaster Artist, a film Franco is set to direct, produce, and star in based on the recently published book of the same name written by Greg Sestero. The Disaster Artist is a behind the scenes memoir that looks at the making of the indie cult classic The Room, widely considered to be one of the worst films of all time for it’s horrible acting, plot inconsistencies, and strange subject matter. Franco is expected to star in the alongside his Brother Dave in the film, which as of now is still being written.
So there you have it: the incredibly busy schedule of James Franco. Are you wondering how he has time to do all this and still eat, sleep, and hydrate? You’re not alone. It doesn’t seem possible. But if you want to be even further amazed you can see a comprehensive list of Franco’s upcoming work on his IMDB page or take a look at this article from the Fontana Herald News.
Wes Anderson Returns March 7th with “The Grand Budapest Hotel”…and he’s bringing some old friends
Wes Anderson doesn’t just make films, he creates whimsical visual masterpieces and based on “The Grand Budapest Hotel” trailer the Indie Auteur has done it again. The trailer features the likes of oscar nominated actors Adrien Brody, Willem Dafoe, Edward Norton, Harvey Keitel, and frequent Anderson collaborator Bill Murray and tells the story of the theft and recovery of a priceless Renaissance painting and the bitter fight over a family fortune. If you’re not familiar with Anderson’s work I would suggest seeing his coming of age love story Moonrise Kingdom (2012) or his cult classic, and now criteron collection, hit The Royal Tenenbaums (2001). Anderson is widely considered to be one of the most accomplished indie directors of the last decade whose work continues to stand out due to it’s quirky subject matter, stylized and colorful sets, and the phenomenal performances given by his often star studded cast. To find out more about the film check out Jennifer Lafferty’s article on stack.com (link provided below) and be sure to keep an eye out for Grand Budapest Hotel, which is expected to hit theaters on March 7th.
http://www.stack.com/2013/12/08/grand-budapest-hotel/