The FILMdetail Interview Podcast

Angus MacLane on WALL-E

ambrose@filmdetail.com (Ambrose Heron) — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 13:58:00 +0100

I recently spoke to Angus MacLane who was the directing animator on WALL-E, the latest film from Pixar. The story is about the last robot left on Earth many years into the future, after mankind has evacuated onboard a giant spaceship. Named WALL-E (Waste Allocation Load Lifter-Earth class), he organises the giant mounds of waste that litter the planet with only a cockroach for company. But when a new robot named EVE (Extraterrestrial Vegetation Evaluator) visits Earth, he starts to have feelings for her and soon discovers where the humans have gone. Since it was released in the US last month it has got rave reviews and topped the box office. I recently spoke to Angus about his role, the challenges animating the robots and what it is like to work at Pixar. (WALL-E is out at UK cinemas this Friday)

File Download (11:24 min / 11 MB)

Simon Tatum on The Last Freak Show

ambrose@filmdetail.com (Ambrose Heron) — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 00:07:00 +0100

The Last Freak Show is a short documentary directed by Simon Tatum that airs on the UK channel More4 this Tuesday. I recently spoke to Simon about the film which follows a musician named Jeffrey Marshall who was born without arms or legs, his feet growing almost directly from his hips. Curious as to whether people come to his gigs for the music or to stare at a limbless man playing the bass guitar with his feet, he decided to explore his identity as a disabled performer by exhibiting himself in ‘The World of Wonders’ – the last remaining ‘freak show’ in America.

File Download (14:33 min / 13 MB)

Richard Jenkins and Tom McCarthy on The Visitor

ambrose@filmdetail.com (Ambrose Heron) — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 11:01:00 +0100

This week sees the UK release of The Visitor, a drama about an economics professor (Richard Jenkins) who discovers two illegal immigrants living in his New York apartment. I recently spoke to Richard Jenkins and the writer-director Tom McCarthy about the film.

File Download (22:39 min / 21 MB)

Akiva Goldsman and Peter Berg on Hancock

ambrose@filmdetail.com (Ambrose Heron) — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 10:52:00 +0100

Hancock is the new summer blockbuster starring Will Smith as a drunken, depressed superhero seen as a nuisance by the public. I recently spoke to screenwriter and producer Akiva Goldsman and director Peter Berg about their work on the film which opens on July 2nd.

File Download (9:56 min / 9 MB)

Jason Bateman and Charlize Theron on Hancock

ambrose@filmdetail.com (Ambrose Heron) — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 19:43:00 +0100

Hancock is the new film starring Will Smith as a depressed, drunken superhero who is loathed by a public that finds him a dangerous nuisance. Jason Bateman plays a Ray Embrey, a PR man who helps Hancock rehabilitate his image after he is saved by him whilst Charlize Theron plays Ray’s sceptical wife, Mary. I recently spoke to Jason and Charlize about their roles in the film and Arrested Development – the TV show they starred in from 2003-2006.

File Download (9:31 min / 9 MB)

John Hensley on Teeth

ambrose@filmdetail.com (Ambrose Heron) — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 20:38:00 +0100

John Hensley stars in the new US horror movie ‘Teeth’, as the brother of a teenage girl named Dawn (Jess Weixler) who has a rather unusual body problem. Best known for his role as Matt McNamara in the TV show ‘Nip/Tuck’, he has also appeared in ‘Shutter’ and ‘The Sopranos’.

File Download (10:30 min / 10 MB)

Peter Biskind on Miramax

ambrose@filmdetail.com (Ambrose Heron) — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 03:52:00 +0100

Peter Biskind is the author of ‘Down and Dirty Pictures’, the 2004 book which explored the rise of US independent film in the 80s and how it influenced the major studios. With Miramax re-releasing their back catalogue on DVD, I spoke to him about the history of the studio, the larger-than-life methods of the founders (Bob and Harvey Weinstein), the landmark films they released and their legacy.

File Download (21:23 min / 20 MB)

Ben Affleck and Casey Affleck on Gone Baby Gone

ambrose@filmdetail.com (Ambrose Heron) — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 02:52:00 +0100

Gone Baby Gone is the new film based on the Dennis Lehane novel about the search for a young girl who has been kidnapped in an area of Boston. Ben Affleck makes his debut as director and his younger brother Casey Affleck stars as the private investigator asked to help out on the case. I recently spoke to both of them about the film.

File Download (13:30 min / 12 MB)

Neil Marshall on Doomsday

ambrose@filmdetail.com (Ambrose Heron) — Tue, 06 May 2008 03:11:00 +0100

Director Neil Marshall was the man behind such horror films as Dog Soldiers (2002) and The Descent (2005) and he now returns with post-apocalyptic thriller Doomsday.

I spoke to him recently about his new film, the state of the horror movie, filming in South Africa and a few other things as well.

For more links visit filmdetail.com and to send us any feedback email us at podcast@filmdetail.com

File Download (8:59 min / 8 MB)

Morgan Spurlock on Where in World is Osama Bin Laden?

ambrose@filmdetail.com (Ambrose Heron) — Tue, 06 May 2008 02:31:00 +0100

Morgan Spurlock explored the health effects of eating McDonald’s food for a month in his 2004 documentary Super-Size Me.

Now, after the success of his TV series 30 Days, he returns to the big screen with Where in the World is Osama Bin Laden?, a look at where the world’s most wanted terrorist might be and the different attitudes in the Middle East towards America’s war on terror.

More more links and info visit filmdetail.com and to send us your thoughts and questions email us at podcast@filmdetail.com

File Download (12:09 min / 11 MB)

Stephen Morris on Joy Division

ambrose@filmdetail.com (Ambrose Heron) — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 14:47:00 +0100

Joy Division is the new documentary about the Manchester band behind such seminal albums as Unknown Pleasures and Closer.

Formed in 1976 they consisted of Ian Curtis (vocals), Bernard Sumner (guitar and keyboards), Peter Hook (bass guitar and backing vocals) and Stephen Morris (drums and percussion).

They remain one of the most enduring bands of the last 30 years and although their career was cut short by the tragic death of Curtis in 1980, the remaining members went on to form New Order.

Directed by Grant Gee, the documentary features interviews with all the surviving band members and explores the band’s history through never-before-seen live performance footage, personal photos, period films and newly discovered audio.

It also features contributions from the late Factory Records owner Tony Wilson, iconic Factory Records graphic artist Peter Saville, photographer/filmmaker Anton Corbijn, Belgian journalist Annik Honoré (speaking for the first time about her relationship with Ian Curtis) and many other connected with the band.

I recently spoke with the drummer Stephen Morris about the film, how it differs from Control (the biopic that came out last year) and the legacy of the band.

Joy Division opens at selected UK cinemas on Friday 2nd May

File Download (13:52 min / 13 MB)

Jessica Alba on The Eye

ambrose@filmdetail.com (Ambrose Heron) — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 02:05:00 +0100

Since coming to fame with the lead role in the TV series Dark Angel, Jessica Alba has appeared in films such as Sin City, Fantastic Four and Into the Blue.

Her latest film is The Eye, a US remake of the Asian horror film about a young blind woman who experiences mysterious visions after a cornea transplant.

I spoke to Jessica recently in London where we discussed the film and her recent role in hosting the ‘technical Oscars’ (a.k.a. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ Scientific and Technical Awards).

For more links and info visit www.filmdetail.com and if you have any questions or feedback, you can email us via podcast@filmdetail.com

File Download (7:51 min / 7 MB)

Jim Sturgess and Kate Bosworth on 21

ambrose@filmdetail.com (Ambrose Heron) — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 18:39:00 +0100

This week sees the UK release of 21, a drama based on the real life tale of MIT students who used their math skills to count cards and win at casinos in Las Vegas.

Earlier this week I spoke to two of the stars of the film, Jim Sturgess and Kate Bosworth.

Jim was recently in The Other Boleyn Girl and last year starred in Julie Taymor’s Across The Universe.

Kate is perhaps best known for playing Lois Lane in Superman Returns in 2006 and has also been in films such as Wonderland, Win a Date with Tad Hamilton! and Beyond the Sea.

for more info and links go to filmdetail.com

File Download (15:23 min / 14 MB)

Kevin Spacey on 21

ambrose@filmdetail.com (Ambrose Heron) — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 17:28:00 +0100

Kevin Spacey stars in and has also produced 21, which is the new film about a group of MIT students who use their math skills to count cards in Las Vegas.

Spacey plays Mickey Rosa, the professor who tries to persuade Ben Campbell (Jim Sturgess) to join his blackjack team.

Based on the bestselling book ‘Bringing Down the House’ by Ben Mezrich, it is currently the number 1 film at the US box office.

I recently spoke to him about the film and his work at the Old Vic Theatre in London.

21 opens in UK cinemas this week

File Download (10:31 min / 10 MB)

Son of Rambow: Garth Jennings, Jessica Hynes, Bill Milner and Will Poulter

ambrose@filmdetail.com (Ambrose Heron) — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 23:06:00 +0100

Son of Rambow is a charming coming-of-age tale set in the 1980s about two young boys who make their own short film after seeing Sylvester Stallone as Rambo in First Blood.

I recently spoke with the director Garth Jennings, actress Jessica Hynes and the two young leads Bill Milner and Will Poulter.

Son of Rambow is out at UK cinemas on Friday 4th April and in US cinemas on May 2nd

For more links and info go to www.filmdetail.com

File Download (24:28 min / 22 MB)

Chris Coen on Funny Games

ambrose@filmdetail.com (Ambrose Heron) — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 00:30:00 +0100

In 1997, director Michael Haneke made a disturbing but memorable film called Funny Games about a middle class family terrorised by two young sociopaths.

In 2005, producer Chris Coen approached Haneke with the idea to remake the film in English and he agreed to direct this new US version.

It stars Naomi Watts and Tim Roth as the married couple, Devon Gearhart as their young son and Michael Pitt and Brady Corbet as the mysterious men who turn up at their holiday home.

I spoke to Chris recently about various aspects of the film including: how the remake came about, the reception certain US critics gave the film and the challenges of remaking it shot-for-shot.

For more links and info just go to www.filmdetail.com

File Download (13:47 min / 13 MB)

David Sington on In the Shadow of the Moon

ambrose@filmdetail.com (Ambrose Heron) — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 21:48:00 +0000

One of the best documentaries to come out last year was In the Shadow of the Moon, which explores the Apollo space missions in the late 60s and early 70s.

Containing interviews with the surviving Apollo era astronauts, including Al Bean, Michael Collins, Buzz Aldrin, Charlie Duke, and Harrison Schmitt, it also contains previously unseen NASA footage from the time.

I spoke recently to director David Sington about the film and we discussed a number of things including who came up with the idea, the legacy of the Apollo missions and the reception the film has had in the US.

In the Shadow of the Moon is out on DVD on Monday

For more links and info go to www.filmdetail.com

File Download (12:46 min / 12 MB)

The Cottage Interviews: Andy Serkis / Paul Andrew Williams / Jennifer Ellison / Reese Shearsmith

ambrose@filmdetail.com (Ambrose Heron) — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 16:22:00 +0000

The new horror comedy The Cottage is out in UK cinemas this week and I caught up with some of the cast and the director to talk about the film.

Andy Serkis is best known for playing Gollum in the Lord of the Rings trilogy and the title character in King Kong.

Paul Andrew Williams is a writer-director who came to prominence last year with the low budget London to Brighton and this is his second feature film.

Jennifer Ellison came to fame as an actress on the TV series Brookside and was in the 2004 film version of Phantom of the Opera.

Reese Shearsmith is best known for his work in the cult TV show The League of Gentlemen and has also been in Shaun of the Dead and the TV series Spaced.

For more links and info just go to www.filmdetail.com

File Download (26:06 min / 24 MB)

Barry Norman on United Artists

ambrose@filmdetail.com (Ambrose Heron) — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 16:29:00 +0000

United Artists are re-releasing a lot of their famous back catalogue on DVD in the build up to their 90th birthday celebrations.

I spoke recently with film critic Barry Norman about the history of the studio, which was founded in 1919 by Mary Pickford, Charles Chaplin, Douglas Fairbanks, and D. W. Griffith.

We discuss the highs and lows of the studio and some of the key films and filmmakers who made films at United Artists, as well as Barry’s career reviewing films on British TV.

For more links and info go to www.filmdetail.com

File Download (11:23 min / 10 MB)

Pete Travis and Matthew Fox on Vantage Point

ambrose@filmdetail.com (Ambrose Heron) — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 04:37:00 +0000

This week sees the release of conspiracy thriller Vantage Point, which is directed by Pete Travis and stars Mathew Fox, William Hurt, Forest Whitaker and Sigourney Weaver.

I spoke to Pete about: what the film is about, moving from docu-dramas like Omagh to mainstream thrillers like this and the release of that film on DVD.

With Matthew I spoke about: his character, the choice of Pete as director and how Lost (in which he plays Jack) has been affected by the recent writer’s strike.

Vantage Point is out now in UK cinemas

For more links just go to filmdetail.com

File Download (15:42 min / 14 MB)

Stuart Cooper on Overlord

ambrose@filmdetail.com (Ambrose Heron) — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 01:46:00 +0000

In 1975 director Stuart Cooper made Overlord – a drama about the run up to the D-Day landings.

What makes the film unique is that it was filmed with the help of the Imperial War Museum and uses documentary footage from their vast archive, set against the central narrative.

Starring Brian Stirner, Davyd Harries, Nicholas Ball and Julie Neesam it is now being re-released on DVD after showing to great acclaim at the Telluride Film Festvial in 2006 and a short run at the ICA in London last month.

I spoke to him recently about the film, the challlenges of making it and the current re-release.

For more links and info about the film just visit filmdetail.com

File Download (27:21 min / 25 MB)

Catherine Owens on U2 3D

ambrose@filmdetail.com (Ambrose Heron) — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 23:54:00 +0000

Catherine Owens is the director of U2 3D, the new concert film of the Irish band.

Filmed on the Vertigo tour in 2006, it uses new 3D technology in order to recreate their live show.

I spoke with her recently about her history with U2, how the idea of doing a 3D film came about, working with the band members, how this differs from previous 3D films and a lot more besides.

U2 3D is currently on general release at cinemas in the UK and US.

File Download (25:44 min / 24 MB)

Uma Thurman on The Accidental Husband

ambrose@filmdetail.com (Ambrose Heron) — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 23:42:00 +0000

Since coming to prominence in the late 80s in films like Dangerous Liaisons and Henry and June, Uma Thurman went on to star in films such as Pulp Fiction, The Golden Bowl, Gattaca and the Kill Bill movies.

Her latest role is in The Accidental Husband, a romantic comedy in which she stars as a radio talk show host in New York.

I spoke with her recently about the film, which is out in the UK on Friday.

File Download (5:15 min / 5 MB)

Vincent Cassell on Eastern Promises

ambrose@filmdetail.com (Ambrose Heron) — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 01:13:00 +0000

Since his breakthrough role was in Mathieu Kassovitz’s La Haine in 1995, Vincent Cassel has gone on to star in a variety of European films such as L’Appartement and Irréversible.

He has also appeared in a number of Hollywood productions such as Ocean’s Twelve and Ocean’s Thirteen, Derailed, Birthday Girl, Elizabeth and Shrek (he was the voice of Monsieur Hood).

His latest film is Eastern Promises, a dark tale of Russian gangsters in London, directed by David Cronenberg and co-starring Naomi Watts, Viggo Mortensen and Armin Mueller-Stahl.

Eastern Promises is out now on DVD

File Download (9:07 min / 8 MB)

Sylvester Stallone on Rambo

ambrose@filmdetail.com (Ambrose Heron) — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 06:09:00 +0000

The new Rambo film opens in the UK this week and I recently spoke to Sylvester Stallone about reprising the role.

We also talked about why older film characters (like John McClane, Indiana Jones and Rambo) are making a return to cinema screens, the real life backdrop to this film in Burma, the appeal of Rambo and his love of golf.

Rambo opnes in UK cinemas nationwide this Friday

File Download (3:44 min / 3 MB)