My review of Quantum of Solace (warning this contains spoilers!)
The foundation of every great movie is a well thought out plot and excellent writing. No matter how talented the cast and crew are, if the foundation of the story is weak, the film crumbles. However, the writing of Quantum of Solace was short a brick, leaving a lackluster structure. Now don't get me wrong there are some bright spots in the film, but I feel the Bond series has strayed way too far away from its roots in order to get that PG-13 rating. The film isn't short on violence, but it's short on the other components that make a Bond film magical. In Quantum of Solace Daniel Craig is unquestionably talented, but his character is hardened so much he seems almost bored. According to Craig, because Bond had his heart broken in Casino Royale, "meeting someone else and falling in love didn't make any sense whatsoever." So, there really isn't much romance in this film, or even much chemistry with any of the female leads. As a matter of fact it is one of the only times in the Bond franchise that Bond does not sleep with the leading lady, played by exotic Ukranian actress Olga Kurylenko (Camille). Olga has her own set of problems--particularly avenging the death of her family, who were killed in front of her when she was a child.
So, considering Camille and Bond's broken pasts, the quirky sexual innuendo is gone too (say buh bye to Pussy Galore similar characters.) And Bond himself is so pissed he doesn't even have time to be the debonair gentleman, as he focuses on killing to the point of jeopardizing his job. French actor, Mathieu Amalric does a decent job playing Dominic Greene, the smarmy Bond villain. What this villain lacks in physical prowess he makes up with his aggressive and manipulative mind. He is joined by his freakish sidekick Elvis, played by Anatole Taubman who needs a new hairstylist ASAP 'cause those freakish bangs gotta go!
Greene conspires to take total control of one of the world's most important natural resources. He plans to do this by overthrowing the existing regime in Bolivia, giving a corrupt General control of the country in exchange for a seemingly barren piece of land. While this story has a modern slant--as natural resources are a hot topic, the story falls flat--feeling more like a thread holding together violent scenes more than anything else. Soooooo….what are the bright spots of the film? This story was filmed in more overseas locations than any other movie in the 46 year running James Bond franchise. From Panama to Chile to Italy to Mexico, the scenes had lush and exciting backdrops that make the Bond series shine. As far as stunts, the most compelling one was when Bond and Camille freefall out of a plane. This effect was created using Bodyflight, the UK's first and world's largest skydiving wind tunnel. The tunnel is 16.47 feet in diameter (4.95m) and 26 feet tall and simulates the experience you get freefalling at 170 mph without ever having to jump out of a plane. Wardrobe was another highlight--as Tom Ford was called upon to create custom suits for Craig that resembled Sean Connery's look--creating a sleek but retro feel. The actresses throughout the film also wore divine frocks created by Prada. But other than that, I hope that Bond snaps out of his funk for the next film. A lot of the Quantum of Solace was shot in the desert because it represents solitude and loneliness--or Bond's state of mind. But Bond needs to break free from this boring solace and get his groove back! The abrupt ending leaves just as many questions as answers--
Celebrities without makeup..November 3, 2008
This is a time when women are under extraordinary pressure to live up to a beauty standard set by Hollywood. The proliferation of plastic surgery and beauty make-over shows prove this point over and over again—as often attractive women go through surgical lengths look like popular starlets. So, it was to my surprise to find this website that shows before and after pictures of women considered the most beautiful by Hollywood and the fashion industry. Some of the women look fine or even better without makeup, like Jessica Alba, Roselyn Sanchez, Eva Mendez, and Dayannara Torres. (Interesting I just realized that I listed mostly Latina women—maybe it’s the olive toned skin.) In any case, I am bringing this whole subject up for this reason: if even the most famous women in the world need this much help to look good, then the average woman should stop beating herself up if she falls short of this ideal. To see for yourself the transformation check out this
link.
Think about it, these women make use of the best and most expensive plastic surgery, botox treatments and fillers, facials, and creams, and even they fall short of this commercialized facade without some serious make-up! I welcome your comments on this subject.
My video interview with David Schwimmer September 7, 2008, 2008
Well peeps it’s been one helluva hot summer here in Northern California. With temps of 97 degrees on a daily basis it’s nice to hang out in the air-conditioned production studio and get to work. I know it’s been a long time since my review of “Run Fat Boy Run” and my description of my interview with David Schwimmer (see below). So I felt it was high time that I started converting these videos to quicktime for the viewing pleasure of those that live outside norcal and can’t see my show! So, check out this youtube clip below. David is really such a sweet guy, it’s amazing that his fame and fortune hasn’t gone to his head. He is still so eager to learn about directing, but won’t give up acting anytime soon. We chatted about what it was like for him to direct a feature length film for the first time, what his major pet peeves are on the film set, and last, is he ready to settle down in his personal life? I asked this question because a lot of my single girlfriends wanted to know…haha…I had no idea that so many women considered him a hot pocket. More videos to come--I hope you are all enjoying your summer, and thanks so much for watching the show, and for the sweet e-mails!!!
Anthony Bourdain's No reservations...July 3, 2008
I have been wanting to update my blog forever, but summer is just flying by
and I don’t want to miss one second of it! As someone who works in
television, it takes a lot to get me to sit down and watch more television,
(especially in the summer.) However, I want to dedicate this blog today to
an outstanding program that keeps me riveted from beginning to end.The show
I am talking about is Anthony Bourdain's No Reservations. This show
is so daring in a creative rather than crass way. From the locations, to
the masterful editing, to Bourdain himself—this show is television
at its finest. Bourdain has a mastery of the English language, his soothing
voice speaks in poetry. He is not a conventional TV host in any sense, he
kind of looks like a retired rock star, a tall and sinewy man in his 50s
that still wears earrings and suede boots. He has a culinary, rather than
media background, so he is not bound by the standard styles of other TV hosts.
His dry sense of humor and occasional swear words would be looked down upon
in the more conservative networks. I am not the cheerleader type, and favor
being authentic, whether that's goofy or serious, depending on the
situation. That's why I identify with Bourdain, and I love that he is
given the freedom to be as snarky as he wants. He is often dark,
and speaks not from the heart, but from deep down in his gut. I don't think
perky is even a part of his vocabulary. Kudos to the Travel Channel for being
one of the only channels (other than PBS in general) to give a host such
creative freedom!
Let me set up a scenario to give you an example. Bourdain goes to Namibia,
where he hangs out with the Bushman tribe. The tribe’s cooking skills
are rudimentary at best. They gather ostrich eggs, and literally cook them
on dirt. They put more dirt on top to make a sort of mud patty. Then they offer
some to Bourdain, and the good sport he is, he takes off the dirt and eats
some of the egg. “Mmmm crunchy!” he says. But it gets much worse.
Later in the program they spear a warthog. They tear the animal apart, and
roast all the shredded bits. From the head covered in fur, to the innards,
each unwashed part is roasted in more dirt. They save the prized piece for
Bourdain, and, that piece happens to be the.... warthog anus! They squeeze
out the feces, and, unwashed, roast the anus in dirt and give some to Bourdain.
I would have run for the hills if I were the host. But Bourdain explains that
this is not an option. According to him, you have to accept the hospitality
of the people, no matter how much it makes your cringe. So, he starts chewing
on the gamey, grassy, stinky fecal mess. His narration is hysterical—he
talks about blasting his body with antibiotics to kill the parasites of this "food," then
says “I was hoping they would cook it longer, but nooooo, this Hershey
highway was served al dente!” This for me was a spew-my-beverage-all-over-the-table-moment.
I cannot imagine that the network managers would allow this kind of dialogue
on their shows. From that one insane soundbite, you can feel how he tries to
make light of this nightmarish situation in order to survive. In an another
episode where he travels around New York, he agonizes about the lack of sleaze
and decadence, which has been replaced by the kitchy and the corporate. “Where
is tha sleaze!” he shouts, “no dive bars, only Bubba Gumps Shrimp
Company. The poor souls that work at that place must want to go home and kill
themselves over and over again every night.” Obviously he is not afraid
of deterring corporate sponsors, he is all about keeping it real. This is not
your average travel guide. From hanging out with royalty in India, to checking
out eccentric art in Berlin Germany, to learning how to kickbox in Korea, Bourdain
doesn’t seek the usual tour bus itinerary. I am anxiously awaiting the
new season starting July 7th—and no, I do not work for Travel Channel—yet.
:) Anthony, thanks for keeping it real, and if you ever need a tour guide for
San Francisco, just holllaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!
My interview with David Schwimmer and review of "Run Fat Boy Run!" ...March
22, 2008
Dennis (played by Simon Pegg) is your average British dude. He’s got
a little belly, smokes, and works as a security guard for a lingerie shop (and
gets busy with the mannequins occasionally). But he’s funny, has a good
heart, and is a great father. Only problem is, he did the unthinkable—he
finds the girl of his dreams, Libby, (Thandie Newton) gets her pregnant, proposes,
then runs away from her at the wedding altar. WTF you ask? Well, five years
later, he realizes he made a huge mistake and tries to win Libby back, all
the while fitting in some quality daddy time with their cute son Jake. At this
point, Libby meets a new American guy, Whit, a fit and tan businessman who
runs marathons for charity. To prove his love for Libby, Dennis decides to
run the marathon as well, to the shock and amazement of all of his friends,
including Whit, who calls him a fat boy.
Funny thing is, Dennis is far from fat, so not sure where the title for this
film really comes from. David Schwimmer does not act in this film at all, and
instead makes his feature film directorial debut. The film moves quickly, there
isn’t a dull moment, and Schwimmer makes excellent use of London city
scenes to add cultural depth to the film. The film was shot in 52 locations
around London in 37 days, making glorious use of the Capital’s eye candy,
from the Waterloo bridge to St. Paul’s Cathedral. You may ask, why is
Schwimmer directing a mainly British Comedy set in London? Well, I met up with
him when he stopped over in San Francisco, and he said the script was originally
set in New York City. However, London-based Material Entertainment took over
the rights to the film, and this company’s goal was to create more films
in London. Hence the location switch. You may know British actor Simon Pegg
from his brilliant performance in Hot Fuzz. Pegg lent his writing skills to
the film to “Anglicize it” or make it more British friendly. The
main part of the film takes place in the Columbia/Shoreditch area, where there
is a large East Indian population. So to make the film even more authentic,
Schwimmer cast talented veteran actor Harish Patel as the neighbor, and the
gorgeous newcomer India De Beaufort as his daughter.
Complimenting the cast was the hilarious comedian Dylan Moran, who plays Gordon,
Dennis’s best friend. Moran brought a naturalness to his performance,
even though his character has a propensity to hang out bottomless in several
scenes of the film (don’t ask me why, but if you like bare ass shots
this film delivers!) Now, onto Schwimmer. Out of all of the celebrities I have
interviewed, he really is one of the sweetest. He has a boyish charm, dressed
casually in navy blue, hair slightly disheveled, with puppy dog eyes.
I love his mantra on the set—he said he has a no yelling policy, because
too many times he has seen mean spirited directors yell at the very actors
they were trying to inspire. How is an actor supposed to be funny when he has
just been demoralized? I could tell Schwimmer has been bit by the directing
bug, and determined to work through the challenges of filmmaking. He is still
single and available ladies, and his mom wants him to find someone soon, so
I’m just passing along the information! I think “Run Fat Boy Run” is
an excellent date movie to break the ice with that special someone. The comedy
is light, not belly rolling laughter, but pleasant nonetheless. All I have
to say is if this boy is considered fat in the U.K, then Americans have a lot
of running to do! This film has already been released in the U.K. and will
be released in the U.S. on March 28, 2008. I will have streaming clips of the
interviews up here soon so check back often peeps!
What a busy week it was... March 8, 2008
with Charlize Theron and David Schwimmer coming to San Francisco to promote
their independent films. Both actors this time though had intense roles behind
the screen, with Charlize acting as producer of her latest film called Sleepwalking,
and Schwimmer directing a British comedy called “Run Fat Boy Run!” In
this blog though, I will focus on Charlize and her film, which was very,
very grim. The setting of the film was dreary, dark and depressing, the characters
experiencing intense angst because of their miserable lot in life.
The film is a drama about a deep bond that develops between a 30 year old man
James (played by Nick Stahl) and his young niece Tara (played by AnaSophia
Robb) when her mother Joleen (Charlize Theron) suddenly leaves town. Forced
out of her home after her latest boyfriend du jour is arrested, Joleen needs
a place to stay with her daughter. She turns to help to her brother James,
a simple and overly trusting man who doesn’t hesitate to help them, and
strive to become the father Tara never had. Charlize only makes about three
powerful appearances in the film, as the film centers more on the relationship
between uncle and niece. However, this is not a bad thing, as Stahl brings
such a raw sensitivity to his role that you can’t help put want to jump
though the screen and help his character get a better life. AnaSophia is an
incredibly mature and talented actress given her young age—she knows
how to deliver the delicate balance of a vulnerability and sassiness—due
to the fact that her character had to grow up too fast from her mother’s
neglect. Screenwriter Zac Stanford had written this movie with this premise
in mind: “Why don’t we take care of our kids? In this film, James
is the least person able to take care of a child, and the least person able
to be responsible, and yet he does it.” Stanford never thought his film
would see the light of day until the screenplay ended up on Theron’s
lap. She said, “I was moved to tears when I read it…the idea that
we can own our own lives, that we don’t have to be haunted by the legacy
of our family. Just because we have the same blood flowing in our veins, we
don’t have to make the same mistakes.”
As soon Theron was on board, the filmmakers had a much easier time getting
the film made. Theron personally made phone calls to the actors, from Stahl,
to Rob, to Dennis Hopper and Woody Harrelson (who gave some comedic relief
to the film) and got them on board. When I went to interview Theron and Stahl,
I noticed a huge difference between the two actors. Charlize walked in, tall,
willowy, with her smooth blond hair cut in a chin length bob. Designer clothes
in soft rose and beige draped her statuesque frame, and she carried herself
with grace as she sat in her chair. In contrast, Stahl was dressed more casually
in jeans, slunk in his chair in a more relaxed fashion.
Theron is one of the more distant and even formal celebrities I have interviewed,
I felt like I had to work hard to draw the answers out of her. I will give
her some slack though because I know she work up early and did a lot of interviews
earlier that morning and the night before. Towards the end she warmed up and
even confessed that she had to make calls begging for the film to get made!!
Can you imagine Charlize having to beg for anything? She talked about working
in front of versus behind the camera, what attracted her to the role, and why
she thought it was important to get the film made. The video is in the process
of being edited, and once I can get it streaming I will post it here for your
viewing enjoyment! The film made its premiere at Sundance and is set for release
March 14, 2008 You can check out more movie info and the trailer here. I'll
be back with info on my interview with David Schwimmer, and his British (yes
British) comedy, "Run Fat Boy Run!"
My review of Be Kind Rewind, and Interview with Director Michel Gondry...
January 20, 2008
In our age of media consolidation, you would be hard pressed to find a film
that has an anti-corporate message. However one could argue that academy award
winning director Michel Gondry’s film Be Kind Rewind is a quiet, artistic
rebellion against the corporate machine. The central action in “Be Kind
Rewind” takes place in a car junkyard. In the movie, Jerry, the character
played by Jack Black, accidentally becomes magnetized by a power plant. His
magnetic field erases all the tapes in a video store where his best friend,
Mike, played by Mos Def, works. The duo end up re-enacting and refilming their
own versions of movies like “King Kong,” “Ghostbusters,” and
even “Driving Miss Daisy.”
For director Gondry, who invented the technique of several cameras taking pictures
the same time around somebody (used in the The Matrix) you would think this
film would be loaded with special effects. Instead, Gondry takes this film
back to the basics, using hand-crafted, creative methods and props to recreate
these popular films. I met with Gondry at a top floor pent house at the St.
Regis Hotel in San Francisco. (according to Gondry, Mos Def was staying at
the same hotel that day, but not doing press interviews—bummer!) A stylish
Frenchman, Gondry seemed rather mellow but his eyes would light up when talking
about his inspiration for making the film. Gondry commented on how the desolate
junkyard was his inspiration, “I would rummage around and find a piece
of metal that looked like a robot’s leg, and thought I could use this
for a Robocop scene, so we decided to include the re-enactment of that film
among others.”
When I asked him what it was like working with Jack Black, thinking that Black’s
rough comedic style would clash with the suave sensibility of the French, Gondry
disagreed. “The Americans laugh at us French because we like Jerry Lewis.
I am a big fan of many American comedians, I always enjoyed Jack Black’s
humor, and he believes in what he does, his character’s action comes
from the heart and I think that shows well in the film.” Gondry was right—if
you have ever seen the film "Nacho Libre", you can witness Black’s gift
for making ludicrous characters seem real. In “Be Kind Rewind,” Black’s
character actually believes he is a budding movie star, and not only do you
start believing him, but you start rooting for him to succeed. I also asked
about Gondry’s choice for the more pragmatic character of the video store
owner, played by Mos Def. Gondry first discovered Mos Def during the filming
of comedian Dave Chappelle’s Block Party.
“I noticed that Mos Def had incredible charisma and was a great public
speaker, and thought he would be perfect for this role.” If Jack Black’s
character is grounded in fantasy, Mos Def’s character provides the reality
check. Indeed, Mos Def’s social and political consciousness that makes
that makes him so popular as a rapper is what makes his character shine in
the movie. It’s Mos Def’s character that keeps in mind the bigger
picture, as he struggles to save his video store for his community instead
of chasing Hollywood glory. “Be Kind Rewind” is like one big love
affair with cinema, where old-school videotapes, rather than DVDs, remain king.
The beginning of the film does have its awkward moments—as the characters
try to recreate the film “Ghostbusters,” the use of props and dialogue
were so sloppy and hacked together I started questioning where the film was
going. Was the whole film going to be about a couple of childlike men playing
in a junkyard? However, as the movie unfolds, the audience gets to see the
larger message unfolding. Actors Danny Glover and Mia Farrow round out the
film with their quirky characters with their strong performances. There are
some gems of dialogue strewn throughout the film too, for example, “you
know you are in love with someone when you spend more than 20 minutes a day
talking to that person in your head.”
Gondry told me,” People work so hard all week for corporations, then
they blow all their money on the weekends to those same corporations. I am
saying families should get together to make movies, we can entertain ourselves
and make it a wonderful experience.” The film’s bittersweet and
surprising ending actually had me in tears—Gondry’s simple message
more powerful and resonating than ever as I left the theater. This film is
set for national release on February 22, 2008.
Beating the winter blues…Deecember 2, 2007
This time of year I just want to wrap myself in a blanket and either read or
watch a good film. I am hoping that this time, with the start of Video I in December,
that I can help you cope with the winter blues too. This season promises
to be better than ever, with more film festival coverage, more filmmaker
interviews, celebrity surprises, and documentaries covering the environment,
the ongoing war, and history you will never find in school text books. The
only regret that I have about this season is that it will be one hour later,
so instead of Monday nights at 10:00 pm, it will be on Monday nights at 11:00
pm. But if you write to KQED (wink
wink) they may be able to change it back. In the meantime I do hope you will
stay up later to check out films that will not only entertain you, but inspire
you to make a change in the world! The first show of the season will show
highlights of the San Jose Cinquest Film Festival—one of the largest
in the country. This year over 70,000 film fans showed up to see films from
34 countries, including: Bolivia, Brazil, Ireland, Malaysia, The Netherlands,
Iceland, Serbia, Croatia, the Philippines, Bosnia and Herzogovina, Cuba,
Japan, Indonesia, Vietnam, Norway, Canada,Iran, Hungary, Mexico, China, Germany,
Denmark, United Kingdom, Spain, Australia, France, Romania, Czech Republic
and the United States. We hand picked some of favorites from the festival
and got interviews with the filmmakers so you can get extra insider information.
This year’s special guests and Maverick award winners were Stewart
Copeland, legendary musician of one of my favorite groups on the planet,
The Police, as well as actress Minnie Driver—an actress that has stayed
true to the independent film genre. So, in essence—we are bringing
various eclectic film festivals to your very own living room week after week.
Video I is on cable channel 10 in most regions of the San Francisco Bay Area—hope
you will join us!
A look back at the past year,... September 7, 2007
This month I will begin shooting a whole new season of video
i for PBS. This may be my last season, so I want to give it my all--expect
lots of incredible films, positive energy, and insightful conversations with
illustrious filmmakers this time around. I have been hosting this show for
almost ten years now--I can’t believe how time has flown, but I am ready
for new challenges and directions. I thought I'd share some of my memorable
moments with you at ABC...here is a montage of my celebrity interviews:
I just interviewed Chris Tucker and Brett Ratner for Rush Hour 3...August
9, 2007
and let me tell you they are a fun and flirtatious couple of guys. The interviews
were set up at the pent house floor of the St. Regis Hotel, with a beautiful
view of sunny San Francisco. As I walked into the interview room, poor Ratner
(the director) was sitting at the table, his head slumped over asleep. Upon
waking up though, he was in a cheerful mood, as was Chris Tucker, who told
me I looked like Queen Rania of Jordan(I wish!). We talked about how the pair
met (during a Heavy D video waaaaaay back) and how much fun they had during
the movie (too much for sure). You can tell these guys are great friends and
work well together. Tucker is sharp as a tack—it was hard for me to keep
a straight face during the interview because he made me laugh so much before
the camera lights went on. You can check out the interview here.
Ratner let me know he is creating a documentary focusing on Helmut Newton to
be released on HBO, and Tucker hopes to act in more indie films in the future.
Towards the end of the interview, Ratner let me know he was single and available—as
I am taken, this is a shout out to the ladies out there, if you’re interested
in this mega director, give him a buzz—hehe. Here he is on the red carpet
with Jackie Chan.
Now let me tell you about the movie. Let me just say Rush
Hour 3 represents Chris Tucker at his absolute finest—from his one
liner deliveries, to his goofy faces, to his insane energy, the man had me
in stitches for almost the entire movie. Tucker’s talents open the film,
as he croons Prince’s “Do Me Baby” while directing traffic.
This scene caused the audience, including me, to burst into uproarious laughter.
It’s the kind of scene that I would want to play over and over if it
was on DVD. I got Tucker to do an impromptu riff of that song during the interview
and he happily obliged—loved it! Even when my interivew time was over
Tucker said,"Oh come on, give the girl at least two more questions!" Tucker’s
comedic prowess surfaces again and again throughout the film--the next time
even funnier than the last. My favorite scene is when he takes on the ginormous
Chinese mutant ninja Yao Ming. Now I know why he raked in a 20 million dollar
paycheck this time around. And he not only has strong comedic chops, he is
a formidable action hero as well, holding his own with the legendary Jackie
Chan.
Basically LAPD Detective Carter and Chinese Inspector Lee are back to stop
the most powerful and notorious crime syndicate in the world, the Triads, which
are based in Paris. As a professed Francofile, I was salivating at the Parisian
streets and architecture, as most of the film takes place on Parisian city
streets. During their journey, they meet up with various transients, from a
French cabbie (one of my favorite characters in the whole film) to French model
Noemie Lenoir, arguably one of the most beautiful women on the planet.
The film is quick paced—with enough action to make you dizzy. Jackie
Chan doesn’t disappoint with his physical artistry. Although he still
seems uncomfortable in delivering his lines in a meaningful way, that just
adds to his charm and you can’t imagine anyone taking his place. The
film also plays off the racial differences between the pair. There is never
a dull moment in the progression of Chan and Lee’s relationship—as
they go from partners in the first movie, to friends in the second movie, to
brothers in the third. Whether they’re dangling from the Eiffel Tower,
getting a serious whiff of French sewage (giving new meaning to stinky French
cheese) or dancing on a Parisian burlesque stage, you can see the respect they
slowly gain for one another as characters. If they have a fourth movie I can’t
imagine how much closer they can get…hmmm. This film will be in theaters
August 10.
Interview with Bruce Willis....June 18, 2007
There are some stars that ooz charisma, and I never thought I’d say this,
but Bruce Willis is one of them. I went to interview him at the lavish but
subdued Mandarin Oriental Hotel in San Francisco. Let me just say Willis doesn’t
walk, he saunters. He was wearing a navy blue suit, arriving fashionably late
to the press event, looking more youthful and handsome in person than on the
screen in my opinion. In preparation for the film, he trained rigorously several
months prior to the start of production.
He was in town promoting Live
Free or Die Hard the fourth in the series of Die Hard Films. I got to see
a special half hour rough cut of the film, and let me say this, I wanted to
see more. I have never been a fan of action films, but this film is more cerebral
and edgy than your standard action flick. The director and producers (with
a lot of input from Willis) get real, visceral, and in your face—creating
effects the old school way without so much computer imagery. The stylized set
pieces are ginormous, the stunts are all real--and crazy I might add. One scene
that comes to mind is when a sedan hurtles though the air towards Willis a.k.a.
detective John McClane, seconds before crushing him—before the sedan
lands on passing cars and bounces over him and his cohort, a hacker named Matt
Farrel.
Basically the plot goes like this: An evil dude named Thomas Gabriel wants
to shut down the entire nation through his computer wizadry—by attacking
the United States infrastructure. McClane has a lot of street smarts, but he
doesn’t know what a PDA is nor does he probably know how to send e-mail.
To stay ahead of the game in technology he needs Farrell to help him. Willis
does a phenomenal job in playing the tough detective with a lovable vulnerability,
especially when his family is in the mix. And that lovable side came across
during my interview as well. They gave me only five minutes for the interview,
and when the manager was trying to wrap things up I asked, “can I ask
just one more question?” Willis told him, “hey, I’m in charge
here, she not only gets one more question, but two more questions.” What
a sweetie. You can see my interview on View
From the Bay, and the film will be released June 27th.
Interview with Harry Connick Jr....(May 24)…
Alright folks, I had been trying for weeks to secure an interview with musician
Harry Connick Jr. and just when I thought it wasn’t going to happen,
I got latenight--“Harry can do interviews tomorrow at 10:00 am.” Needless
to say I was thrilled. This guy has it all- a gifted musician and actor,
a family man and humanitarian, I was so ready to interview this incredible
artist and veritable icon. Not to mention I used to have a huge crush on
him...hello people!
I arrived at the venue this morning and waited about 15 minutes…then
Connick walked in, tall, about 6'1,radiant skin, wearing jeans, black t-shirt,
a casual almost military style jacket, and a New Orleans Saints cap. I only
wish he wasn't wearing that darn cap because I love his hair! He was mellow
and charming, a southern gentleman. No pretension, no high maintenance behavior,
he gave me the time I needed for the interview. And he even hung out for some
additional shots we had to get before leaving. Once we finished and packed
up up all our gear, we saw him outside in front of about five tour buses and
he gave us one last goodbye. So refreshing to see someone like him be so down
to earth. Remember to check in for more film releases, celebrity interviews,
and other revelations.
