What Maisie Knew: Directors Scott McGehee and David Siegel

Written by Meredith Alloway Sunday, May 19, 2013, 8:48 PM

Although star names litter this cast, with Julianne Moore playing a rock star mom, Steve Coogan a workaholic dad and Alexander Skarsgard a gentle stepfather, it’s really all about Maisie. Played by Onata Aprile, Maisie is the center focus of McGehee and Siegel’s latest directorial collaboration. She’s caught between her parents Susanna (Moore) and Beale’s (Coogan) messy attempt to raise their 6-year-old daughter. In an attempt to receive further custody rights, Susanna marries bartender Lincoln (Skarsgard) and Beale, Maisie’s nanny Margo (Joanna Vanderham). It’s a film that illuminates the child’s perspective, something that often goes unexplored when adult issues overshadow.

At Millennium Entertainment in LA, which is distributing the film, I had the treat to talk with the directors. In a conference room with a breathtaking view of the city behind us, we got to the bottom of working with such amazing actors like Skarsgard and Moore, managing a protagonist that’s primarily passive and creating a whole world around Maisie.

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PJ Boudousque: Coldwater, Little Rock Film Fest

Written by Meredith Alloway Friday, May 17, 2013, 8:13 PM

When Coldwater premiered at SXSW in March, everyone wanted to know who its leading man was. Who is PJ Boudousque? Playing the brooding 17-yr-old Brad Lunders who’s sent to a reform facility in the woods, he gave a debut performance that was both grounded and intricate.

When the film was accepted into the Little Rock Film Festival, I knew I had to snag a few words with the leading man. After interviewing Coldwater writer/director Vincent Grashaw at SXSW, I met PJ back in LA last week. I was eager to get his side of the story, knowing the script evolved greatly during the shoot and that this was his first big feature film experience.

We met at The Darkroom in West Hollywood and dished about his last minute audition, re-writing the shot list in the camp cafeteria and his love for Paul Newman. Before the interview began, though, we shared some of our SXSW stories. Pretty sure PJ had no idea I was taping this segment, but I pressed record when I realized his Brie Larson [Short Term 12, 21 Jump Street] story was priceless [sorry, PJ, but it was too good.]

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Writer/Director Vincent Grashaw: Little Rock Film Fest

Written by Meredith Alloway Thursday, May 16, 2013, 2:30 PM

Little Rock Film Festival has a stellar line up this year. It's has proven itself as the hottest new place to see up and coming indies. One if which, Coldwater, has already become widely praised. It premiered at SXSW in March, and director/writer Vincent Grashaw is back with it this week in Little Rock. Buzz has been around Grashaw’s feature debut  since Bellflower, which he produced,received an amazing following in the indie scene. In Coldwater,  troublemaker Brad Lunders ( PJ Boudousque) is sent to a juvenile reform facility in the wilderness. Soon it’s apparent that the operations are abusive and the attendees are far worse off than upon their arrival.

Vince and I had a chance to sit down and chat about his need to voice the issues on reform facilities, the countless times the film almost got made and the moment his leading man walked in the room.

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Top 10 Best Gangster Films

Written by Riley Webster Tuesday, May 14, 2013, 6:24 PM

I dunno what it is, exactly, about gangster films being so enjoyable… but they are.  Maybe they help us release our inner violent demons, maybe it's because we all secretly enjoy seeing two people in nice suits yell profanities at each other, or maybe it's just that great gangster films can bring out the best in writers, directors, and actors....I don't know.

What I do know is that these 10 films belong not only on a list of great gangster flicks, but a list of great films, period.  Despite their sometimes numbing violence and narcissism, these are inherently very entertaining movies, every last one of them, and I hope you agree.

Of course, there are the admissions.  Many flicks that several other people consider "gangster" films, I would put in another category -- films like Heat, French Connection, and L.A. Confidential would be more "cop" movies, for me, and I wasn't quite sure what to classify Bonnie & Clyde. 

And here are the ones I do consider gangster films, but sadly, these came up just a little bit short: Reservoir Dogs, Miller's Crossing, Road to Perdition, The Untouchables, Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, Snatch, Carlito's Way, Public Enemies, Mean Streets, Scarface (1932), and Little Caesar. I know, some of you will hate me for snubbing the above mentioned, but there is only room for the Top 10, and so it goes….

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Top 10 Family Friendly Not-So-Scary Movies

Written by Cassiah Joski-Jethi Wednesday, May 08, 2013, 1:29 PM

As everyone knows, Halloween is a time to get your freak on, quite literally. After all, it is the one night you can scare the socks off of other people and even yourself. For this reason, every Halloween, I stay inside and lock my doors, afraid of the crazy teens on the streets and the monsters from my dreams. When I was younger, I couldn’t wait for Halloween as it was a time where I could imagine and create - and eat as much candy as I wanted!  So how do I celebrate Halloween now, inside and all alone? I watch, what I could call, ‘not-so-scary’ scary movies.

But what are ‘not-so-scary’ movies you might ask? Although vague in its title, it merely means a film that is scary, but not really scary. A movie you are able to take in jest, a movie that can be cute, and a movie that doesn’t leave you with nightmares. Want to watch The Orphanage (2007) on your own at night? Now, that is a prime example of what is NOT a ‘not-so-scary’ movie.

However, Halloween only happens once a year! There may be some nights aside from the 31^st of October that you may feel like a bit of a scare. Perhaps you want to watch a horror film, but you don’t think you could quite stomach horror classics such as The Exorcist (1973) or The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974). If you find yourself in that situation, these are the top ten best family friendly 'not-so-scary' movies that you can enjoy in the privacy (and protection!) of your own home, any night of the year.

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