You never know what gem of an information nugget you will unearth when conducting an interview, or, as in the case of my chat with Jason Segel and James Ponsoldt, before the formal interview began while I was checking the sound levels on my recording equipment on May 2, 2015. I had spoken to Ponsoldt… Read More »
Bertrand Bonello and Gaspard Ulliel Resurrect SAINT LAURENT
Fashion designer Yves Saint Laurent rocked the fashion world of the 1960s and 70s, and he designed his image as carefully as he did any of his haute couture. When making a bio-pic about a legend like this, the trick is to say something that hasn’t been said before. That was the first thing I… Read More »
Taylor Hackford Presents RAY
You can’t talk to Taylor Hackford about RAY and not understand why this was a project that he pursued doggedly for over a decade. Given Jamie Foxx’s electrifying performance as Ray Charles, it was worth the wait. Hackford saw the story not just of one man beating the odds personally and professionally, but also as metaphor… Read More »
Gretchen Mol is THE NOTORIOUS BETTIE PAGE
Call it the curse of having startling good looks: not being taken seriously as an artist. Gretchen Mol was poised for stardom a few year’s back, but instead of glitzy Hollywood fluff, she chose to go the route of live theater and little films of enormous substance that would stretch her considerable acting talents rather than… Read More »
Laurent Tirard Brings MOLIERE to Life
Laurent Tirard proved to be as philosophical as he is imaginative. His film being MOLIERE, the subject of comedy as a serious business naturally came up when we talked on July 10, 2007, but it was his lively musings on what makes a good script, how to imitate a horse, as well as his citation of Joseph Campbell that… Read More »