Emile Hirsch’s bright red hair and freckles in his new film “Peel” has made him innocent, naive and estranged from his family, but he is still the “most decent person” you’ll meet.
In this charming, emotional and quirky coming of age story, Hirsch plays Peel, a young man who goes on a road trip to reconnect with his long-lost, brown-haired brothers after his mother’s death.
“Everyone would tease me and say my hair was red because my mom had an affair with the pool boy,” Hirsch says in the first trailer for “Peel,” which TheWrap has obtained exclusively. “She told me I sprouted from an orange peel.”
Also Read: 'The Autopsy of Jane Doe' Review: Emile Hirsch Slices Into Slow-Burn Horror
After being abandoned by his father at a young age and raised in near isolation by a loving yet emotionally unstable and over-protective mother,...
In this charming, emotional and quirky coming of age story, Hirsch plays Peel, a young man who goes on a road trip to reconnect with his long-lost, brown-haired brothers after his mother’s death.
“Everyone would tease me and say my hair was red because my mom had an affair with the pool boy,” Hirsch says in the first trailer for “Peel,” which TheWrap has obtained exclusively. “She told me I sprouted from an orange peel.”
Also Read: 'The Autopsy of Jane Doe' Review: Emile Hirsch Slices Into Slow-Burn Horror
After being abandoned by his father at a young age and raised in near isolation by a loving yet emotionally unstable and over-protective mother,...
- 4/29/2019
- by Brian Welk
- The Wrap
Paul Schrader’s action thriller has found a home in the run-up to its North American premiere in Toronto next month.
Nicolas Cage, Willem Dafoe and Christopher Matthew Cook star in Dog Eat Dog, which is based on the novel by Edward Bunker and written by screenwriter Matthew Wilder.
Dog Eat Dog premiered in Cannes and centres on a botched kidnapping in which three ex-cons get on the wrong side of the Mob. The first Toronto screening is September 8.
Rlj entertainment negotiated the deal with Adme and plans a theatrical and VOD release in November.
Mark Earl Burman, Gary Hamilton, Brian Beckmann and David Hillary produced and Jeremy Rosen, Jeff Caperton, Barney Burman, Ray Mansfield, Shaun Redick, Donald Rivers, Michael McClung and Tim Peternel served as executive producers.
Jeanne Fields acted as executor of the Edward Bunker estate.
Nicolas Cage, Willem Dafoe and Christopher Matthew Cook star in Dog Eat Dog, which is based on the novel by Edward Bunker and written by screenwriter Matthew Wilder.
Dog Eat Dog premiered in Cannes and centres on a botched kidnapping in which three ex-cons get on the wrong side of the Mob. The first Toronto screening is September 8.
Rlj entertainment negotiated the deal with Adme and plans a theatrical and VOD release in November.
Mark Earl Burman, Gary Hamilton, Brian Beckmann and David Hillary produced and Jeremy Rosen, Jeff Caperton, Barney Burman, Ray Mansfield, Shaun Redick, Donald Rivers, Michael McClung and Tim Peternel served as executive producers.
Jeanne Fields acted as executor of the Edward Bunker estate.
- 8/25/2016
- by jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
- ScreenDaily
As a special exclusive for Daily Dead readers, we have Carl Kelsch’s new short film, For My Facebook, available to watch now. Also in today’s Horror Highlights: Ray Harryhausen: Special Effects Titan Blu-ray / DVD release details, info on Europe’s 4K Uhd Blu-ray release of The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, and a Q&A with Restoration director/co-writer/co-star Zack Ward.
Exclusive: Watch the Short Film For My Facebook: Press Release: “It all started with a funny image that popped in writer/director Carl Kelsch’s head: a play on words that yielded the final shots of ‘For My Facebook’ (To say more would spoil the ending). With only a few directing credits under his belt, he recruited jack-of-all-horror-trades Louie Cortes (Dir. of Attack of the Brain People, writer of Blood Slaughter Massacre) to do Sound. Kelsch, who also operated the camera, got input from Cortes on blocking and framing.
Exclusive: Watch the Short Film For My Facebook: Press Release: “It all started with a funny image that popped in writer/director Carl Kelsch’s head: a play on words that yielded the final shots of ‘For My Facebook’ (To say more would spoil the ending). With only a few directing credits under his belt, he recruited jack-of-all-horror-trades Louie Cortes (Dir. of Attack of the Brain People, writer of Blood Slaughter Massacre) to do Sound. Kelsch, who also operated the camera, got input from Cortes on blocking and framing.
- 4/28/2016
- by Tamika Jones
- DailyDead
The actor has joined Nicolas Cage on Pure Dopamine’s market-bound thriller that Arclight represents for worldwide sales.
Paul Schrader has begun shooting Dog Eat Dog based on the book by Eddie Bunker about three ex-cons on a botched kidnapping who go on the run in Los Angeles.
Matt Wilder and Schrader adapted the screenplay.
Mark Earl Burman of Pure Dopamine produces and the executive producer roster include Arclight chief Gary Hamilton, Don Rivers, Tim Peternel, Shaun Redick and Ray Mansfield.
Paul Schrader has begun shooting Dog Eat Dog based on the book by Eddie Bunker about three ex-cons on a botched kidnapping who go on the run in Los Angeles.
Matt Wilder and Schrader adapted the screenplay.
Mark Earl Burman of Pure Dopamine produces and the executive producer roster include Arclight chief Gary Hamilton, Don Rivers, Tim Peternel, Shaun Redick and Ray Mansfield.
- 10/29/2015
- by jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
- ScreenDaily
(Their last collaboration "Dying of the Light" was taken over and edited by the distributor.) Arclight Films and Pure Dopamine made the announcement Saturday at Cannes. "Dog Eat Dog" will start production in L.A. in October. Schrader ("Light Sleeper") and Matt Wilder are adapting the contemporary thriller novel "Dog Eat Dog" by Eddie Bunker, about three ex-cons from the underbelly of L.A. who are hired for a kidnapping. When the abduction is botched they go on the run, vowing to stay out of prison. “Ed Bunker is the crime writer's crime writer. He's in the pantheon and one of the main people who define modern crime writing,” said Schrader. “He lived the life and lived to tell the story. 'Dog Eat Dog' is Bunker at his best.” Producers are Mark Earl Burman and David Hillary of Pure Dopamine. Executive Producers are Gary Hamilton, Don Rivers, Tim Peternel,...
- 5/16/2015
- by Anne Thompson
- Thompson on Hollywood
John Moore ("A Good Day To Die Hard") is on board to direct the $30 million action feature "The Englishman" at Foresight Unlimited and Envision Entertainment.
William Wisher penned the script based on the book "Once A Pilgrim" by former Sas officer turned mercenary Will Scully.
The story recounts the time Scully rescued innocent civilians trapped inside an African hotel during a coup.
Moore, Mark Damon, James Gibb, Benedict Carver and Tim Peternel will produce. Shooting begins early next year in South Africa.
Source: Screen Daily...
William Wisher penned the script based on the book "Once A Pilgrim" by former Sas officer turned mercenary Will Scully.
The story recounts the time Scully rescued innocent civilians trapped inside an African hotel during a coup.
Moore, Mark Damon, James Gibb, Benedict Carver and Tim Peternel will produce. Shooting begins early next year in South Africa.
Source: Screen Daily...
- 8/9/2013
- by Garth Franklin
- Dark Horizons
Foresight Unlimited and Envision Entertainment, riding high on the number one North American release of 2 Guns, will finance and produce the $30m action film.
A Good Day To Die Hard director John Moore is on board The Englishman and will direct from a screenplay by William Wisher. Foresight will handle worldwide sales.
Foresight founder and head Mark Damon [pictured] will produce alongside James Gibb, Benedict Carver, Tim Peternel and Moore. Production is set for early next year in South Africa.
The Englishman is based on the book Once A Pilgrim by former Sas officer turned mercenary Will Scully and recounts the time he rescued innocent civilians trapped inside an African hotel during a coup.
London-based Derby Street Films developed the screenplay and the company’s Nicola Horlick and Rachel Green serve as executive producers with Shaun Redick, Ray Mansfield, Ash Shah, Chris Hanley, Peter Veverka, Foresight president Tamara Birkemoe and Envision’s Stepan Martirosyan, Vitaly Grigoriants...
A Good Day To Die Hard director John Moore is on board The Englishman and will direct from a screenplay by William Wisher. Foresight will handle worldwide sales.
Foresight founder and head Mark Damon [pictured] will produce alongside James Gibb, Benedict Carver, Tim Peternel and Moore. Production is set for early next year in South Africa.
The Englishman is based on the book Once A Pilgrim by former Sas officer turned mercenary Will Scully and recounts the time he rescued innocent civilians trapped inside an African hotel during a coup.
London-based Derby Street Films developed the screenplay and the company’s Nicola Horlick and Rachel Green serve as executive producers with Shaun Redick, Ray Mansfield, Ash Shah, Chris Hanley, Peter Veverka, Foresight president Tamara Birkemoe and Envision’s Stepan Martirosyan, Vitaly Grigoriants...
- 8/9/2013
- by jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
- ScreenDaily
Foresight Unlimited and Envision Entertainment have come aboard to produce and finance The Englishman.
Director John Moore (A Good Day To Die Hard, Behind Enemy Lines) is attached to helm the film from a screenplay written by William Wisher (Terminator 2: Judgment Day). Foresight Unlimited will also be handling worldwide sales for the film.
Mark Damon will produce the $30M action film alongside James Gibb, Benedict Carver, Tim Peternel, and Moore.
The Englishman was developed by London-based Derby Street Films. Derby Street’s Nicola Horlick and Rachel Green are executive producing, together with Shaun Redick, Ray Mansfield, Ash Shah, Chris Hanley, Peter Veverka, and Foresight’s President, Tamara Birkemoe. Envision Entertainment’s Stepan Martirosyan, Vitaly Grigoriants, and Remington Chase will also be executive producers on the film.
Set to shoot in South Africa early next year, The Englishman is a true story based on the book “Once a Pilgrim” by Will Scully.
Director John Moore (A Good Day To Die Hard, Behind Enemy Lines) is attached to helm the film from a screenplay written by William Wisher (Terminator 2: Judgment Day). Foresight Unlimited will also be handling worldwide sales for the film.
Mark Damon will produce the $30M action film alongside James Gibb, Benedict Carver, Tim Peternel, and Moore.
The Englishman was developed by London-based Derby Street Films. Derby Street’s Nicola Horlick and Rachel Green are executive producing, together with Shaun Redick, Ray Mansfield, Ash Shah, Chris Hanley, Peter Veverka, and Foresight’s President, Tamara Birkemoe. Envision Entertainment’s Stepan Martirosyan, Vitaly Grigoriants, and Remington Chase will also be executive producers on the film.
Set to shoot in South Africa early next year, The Englishman is a true story based on the book “Once a Pilgrim” by Will Scully.
- 8/9/2013
- by Michelle McCue
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
Foresight Unlimited and Envision Entertainment, who previously collaborated on the current box office hit, 2 Guns , produced by Marc Platt and Emmett/Furla and starring Denzel Washington and Mark Wahlberg, have come aboard to produce and finance The Englishman . John Moore ( A Good Day to Die Hard ) is attached to direct the film from a screenplay written by William Wisher ( Terminator 2: Judgment Day ). Foresight Unlimited will also be handling worldwide sales for the film. Mark Damon will produce the $30 million action film alongside James Gibb, Benedict Carver, Tim Peternel, and Moore. The Englishman was developed by London-based Derby Street Films.Derby Street's Nicola Horlick and Rachel Green are executive producing, together with Shaun Redick, Ray Mansfield, Ash...
- 8/8/2013
- Comingsoon.net
To mark the release of Small Apartments on DVD Monday 29th, we’ve got 5 copies to give away where the first person to be drawn from the digital hat will also win an A2 poster.
Franklin Franklin (Lucas) plays the alphorn and dreams of Switzerland. His crazy brother sends him fingernail clippings in the mail. One of his neighbours is a forgetful pot-head, the other a gruff busy-body who doesn’t miss anything. Across the street live a mother and her fifteen-year-old daughter, whom he likes to watch from his window, but none of these are Franklin’s real problem. The real problem is his landlord; lying dead on the kitchen floor. Switzerland seems further and further away.
Small Apartments was written by Chris Millis and based on his novel. It was produced by Ash R. Shah,
Timothy Wayne Peternel, David Hillary and Bonnie Timmermann. Ben Feingold executive produced, along with
John Glynn,...
Franklin Franklin (Lucas) plays the alphorn and dreams of Switzerland. His crazy brother sends him fingernail clippings in the mail. One of his neighbours is a forgetful pot-head, the other a gruff busy-body who doesn’t miss anything. Across the street live a mother and her fifteen-year-old daughter, whom he likes to watch from his window, but none of these are Franklin’s real problem. The real problem is his landlord; lying dead on the kitchen floor. Switzerland seems further and further away.
Small Apartments was written by Chris Millis and based on his novel. It was produced by Ash R. Shah,
Timothy Wayne Peternel, David Hillary and Bonnie Timmermann. Ben Feingold executive produced, along with
John Glynn,...
- 7/26/2013
- by Competitions
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
Matt Lucas (Alice In Wonderland, Bridesmaids) leads a hilarious allstar cast in the new comedy Small Apartments, available February 19th from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment. Directed by award-winning film and music video director Jonas Åkerlund (Spun, Lady Gaga’s “Paparazzi”), the film premiered at the 2012 South by Southwest Film Festival. Nick Nunziata of Chud.com hailed the film, saying “They don’t make them like this anymore. Actually they’ve never made them like this before.”
Lucas appears in his first leading role as “Franklin Franklin,” a clumsy recluse who embarks on a hapless cover-up after accidentally killing his landlord. Also starring in the film is Billy Crystal (When Harry Met Sally), Juno Temple (The Dark Knight Rises), James Marsden (X-Men: The Last Stand), Peter Stormare (Fargo), Amanda Plummer (Pulp Fiction), Dolph Lundgren (The Expendables), Rosie Perez (Pineapple Express), and Rebel Wilson (Pitch Perfect), with James Caan (The Godfather) and...
Lucas appears in his first leading role as “Franklin Franklin,” a clumsy recluse who embarks on a hapless cover-up after accidentally killing his landlord. Also starring in the film is Billy Crystal (When Harry Met Sally), Juno Temple (The Dark Knight Rises), James Marsden (X-Men: The Last Stand), Peter Stormare (Fargo), Amanda Plummer (Pulp Fiction), Dolph Lundgren (The Expendables), Rosie Perez (Pineapple Express), and Rebel Wilson (Pitch Perfect), with James Caan (The Godfather) and...
- 2/13/2013
- by Movie Geeks
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
Sony Pictures Worldwide Acquisitions has acquired rights for North America and most international territories to the Jonas Åkerlund-directed “Small Apartments,” which happens to feature an appearance by newly popular funnygirl Rebel Wilson (“Pitch Perfect,” “Bridesmaids”). The crime comedy had its premiere at the SXSW Film Festival in March. Read More: Jonas Akerlund Talks His Busy 2011, Making Bizarro New Feature 'Small Apartments' Along with 34 Commercials and 5 Music Videos Matt Lucas, Wilson, James Caan, Billy Crystal, Johnny Knoxville, Dolph Lundgren, James Marsden, Juno Temple and Rosie Perez star in the story of a recluse who accidentally kills his landlord and then has to deal with the eccentrics in his building and law enforcement as he tries to cover it up. Chris Millis wrote the screenplay. Ash R. Shah, Timothy Wayne Peternel, David Hillary and Bonnie Timmermann produced. Ben Feingold, John Glynn, Bridget...
- 10/15/2012
- by Jay A. Fernandez
- Indiewire
#58. Small Apartments - Jonas Akerland Another item that could end up in the Midnight in Park City section is the book to film adaptation of Small Apartments (see movie prop pic above). The 2003 festival edition saw Jonas Åkerlund showcase his first film Spun. The cast for his third picture is a nutty bunch -- it's toplined by Juno Temple and supported by a huge cast of misfit looking actors. Gist: Based on Chris Millis' novel and penned by the author himself, this is about a man surrounded by strange events and odd neighbors. Producers: David Hillary (Yellow), Timothy Wayne Peternel - Producer, Ash R. Shah - Producer, Bonnie Timmermann (Violet & Daisy)(Ioncinema.com Preview Page // IMDb Link) ...
- 11/12/2011
- IONCINEMA.com
Sundance Film Festival
PARK CITY -- The reason there are so few successful screwball comedies anymore is that it's nearly impossible to create the right balance of goofiness and reality. Writer-director Geoffrey Haley's The Last Word is no exception.
The story of a sullen writer (Wes Bentley) who composes poetic epitaphs for people planning suicides and his ditzy girlfriend (Winona Ryder), the film pushes the eccentric without creating believable characters. Ryder's surprising flair for comedy and a few laughs along the way could give ThinkFilm some modest boxoffice returns, but Word is more likely to find its place as a cult item on home video.
As creepy movie professions go, Evan Merck's (Bentley) job as a poet for desperate souls looking for an exit poem before they check out is right up there. Evan clearly is a gifted writer but apparently has been bruised by life and prefers dealing with other people's suffering to his own. Other than a childhood in foster homes, Haley offers few details or backstory.
While Evan is paying his respects at the funeral of one of his clients, he meets the departed's sister, Charlotte (Ryder). When she contacts him, it's less complicated for him to say that he knew her brother from college than to try and explain what he really does.
But Charlotte is insistent and starts calling and showing up at his apartment, taking him to dinner and dancing. When Evan tells her he isn't funny, he really isn't kidding. Stiff as a board and pasty-faced, Bentley's Evan is a study in comatose; he's as emotionally dead as some of his clients.
The paring of these two unlikely partners is the kind of match that could only happen in movies. Evan is not vaguely appealing, and what Charlotte sees in him is the film's big mystery. For her part, Charlotte is a handful, but Ryder at least makes her sexy and likable -- in a manic way.
While Evan is spending much of his energy covering his tracks and creating lies so Charlotte doesn't discover how he really knew her brother, he is neglecting his other clients. Ray Romano, in a wry dramatic role, plays Abel, a serious music composer whose career hasn't gone well and has reduced him to recording jingles for phone messages. Abel is almost as morose as Evan, and the two form a kind of bond of futility. It's mildly amusing to see someone as ill-equipped as Abel giving Evan advice about love.
Unfortunately, the pieces don't really add up, and even the surprise ending with Evan enabling Abel's fondest wish isn't particularly satisfying. Haley and his team give the film a professional sheen, but less quirky and more reality would have made for a better picture.
THE LAST WORD
ThinkFilm
ThinkFilm, Deviant Films
Credits:
Director-screenwriter: Geoffrey Haley
Producers: Bonnie Timmermann, Alexandra Milchan, David Bergstein, David Hillary, Timothy Wayne Peternel, Jack Utsick
Executive producers: Lawrence Davis, Jeff Rice, Gary Walters, Diego Matamoros
Director of photography: Kees Van Oostrum
Production designer: Erin Smith
Music: John Swihart
Costume designer: Bonnie Stauch
Editor: Fabienne Rawley
Cast:
Evan Merck: Wes Bentley
Charlotte Morris: Winona Ryder
Abel: Ray Romano
Francis: Alan Rich
Hilde Morris: Gina Hecht
Running time -- 94 minutes
No MPAA rating...
PARK CITY -- The reason there are so few successful screwball comedies anymore is that it's nearly impossible to create the right balance of goofiness and reality. Writer-director Geoffrey Haley's The Last Word is no exception.
The story of a sullen writer (Wes Bentley) who composes poetic epitaphs for people planning suicides and his ditzy girlfriend (Winona Ryder), the film pushes the eccentric without creating believable characters. Ryder's surprising flair for comedy and a few laughs along the way could give ThinkFilm some modest boxoffice returns, but Word is more likely to find its place as a cult item on home video.
As creepy movie professions go, Evan Merck's (Bentley) job as a poet for desperate souls looking for an exit poem before they check out is right up there. Evan clearly is a gifted writer but apparently has been bruised by life and prefers dealing with other people's suffering to his own. Other than a childhood in foster homes, Haley offers few details or backstory.
While Evan is paying his respects at the funeral of one of his clients, he meets the departed's sister, Charlotte (Ryder). When she contacts him, it's less complicated for him to say that he knew her brother from college than to try and explain what he really does.
But Charlotte is insistent and starts calling and showing up at his apartment, taking him to dinner and dancing. When Evan tells her he isn't funny, he really isn't kidding. Stiff as a board and pasty-faced, Bentley's Evan is a study in comatose; he's as emotionally dead as some of his clients.
The paring of these two unlikely partners is the kind of match that could only happen in movies. Evan is not vaguely appealing, and what Charlotte sees in him is the film's big mystery. For her part, Charlotte is a handful, but Ryder at least makes her sexy and likable -- in a manic way.
While Evan is spending much of his energy covering his tracks and creating lies so Charlotte doesn't discover how he really knew her brother, he is neglecting his other clients. Ray Romano, in a wry dramatic role, plays Abel, a serious music composer whose career hasn't gone well and has reduced him to recording jingles for phone messages. Abel is almost as morose as Evan, and the two form a kind of bond of futility. It's mildly amusing to see someone as ill-equipped as Abel giving Evan advice about love.
Unfortunately, the pieces don't really add up, and even the surprise ending with Evan enabling Abel's fondest wish isn't particularly satisfying. Haley and his team give the film a professional sheen, but less quirky and more reality would have made for a better picture.
THE LAST WORD
ThinkFilm
ThinkFilm, Deviant Films
Credits:
Director-screenwriter: Geoffrey Haley
Producers: Bonnie Timmermann, Alexandra Milchan, David Bergstein, David Hillary, Timothy Wayne Peternel, Jack Utsick
Executive producers: Lawrence Davis, Jeff Rice, Gary Walters, Diego Matamoros
Director of photography: Kees Van Oostrum
Production designer: Erin Smith
Music: John Swihart
Costume designer: Bonnie Stauch
Editor: Fabienne Rawley
Cast:
Evan Merck: Wes Bentley
Charlotte Morris: Winona Ryder
Abel: Ray Romano
Francis: Alan Rich
Hilde Morris: Gina Hecht
Running time -- 94 minutes
No MPAA rating...
LAS VEGAS -- Trying to speed alongside the classic drug movies of the past decade or so ("Drugstore Cowboy", "Trainspotting", "Requiem for a Dream"), the methamphetamine-themed "Spun" is one hellacious bomb-blast of imagery and jagged storytelling as crazed characters on a sleepless binge furiously test one's ability to sympathize with self-destructive losers. With a grunge-ho cast that includes Mickey Rourke in his best role in years, "Spun" is laced with salty language, much nudity and bawdy animation that would necessitate trims if it gets distribution -- though forgoing an MPAA rating on a project that has less-than-universal appeal would preserve the performers and filmmakers' artfully constructed trip through black-comedy hell.
Rock video director Jonas Akerlund, in a promising feature debut, is attuned to the extremely short attention spans of the characters, and genre fans will be amply reminded of "Requiem", with repetitive montages centered on the act of ingesting the poison that drugs are for these desert rats. There's a reason why another nickname for the home-cooked stimulant is "crank," and "Spun" is virtuoso cinema that mercilessly holds a light up to wasted lives but also comes down off its high to make us care about these lost souls.
Centered on dropout Ross (Jason Schwartzman), the film opens with the "spun" (awake for days while snorting the powdered drug) lead trying to score crystal meth from ultraparanoid Spider Mike John Leguizamo), whose zoned-out posse includes girlfriend Cookie (Mena Suvari), video game junkie Frisbee (Patrick Fugit) and stripper Nikki (Brittany Murphy). Ross is dating stripper April (Chloe Hunter), whom he visits after the wild opening sequences that introduce most of the characters.
The local supplier of the moment is the Cook (Rourke), a motel cowboy who makes crystal in his room. His main squeeze is Nikki, who flirts with Ross. The movie turns into a cracked odyssey as Ross (the only one with a car) becomes Cook's wheels. Among the rounds is a trip to the local convenience store, where two freaky Latino girls (Elisa Bocanegra and Julia Mendoza) help provide the running gag of their ratty nemesis (Nicholas Gonzalez) getting clocked by much more menacing customers. At one point, Ross sees his normal-world girlfriend (Charlotte Ayana), to whom he owes money, while his butch next-door neighbor (Deborah Harry) is suspicious of his activities.
In the first of the film's unexpected animated sequences, Ross goes to see April at work and fantasizes that he's sucked inside her and becomes a sperm cell. After they make love, he leaves her naked, tied up, gagged and blindfolded on his bed. Of all the ongoing gags and subplots of the screenplay by Will De Los Santos and Creighton Vero, as well as the constant motif of televisions showing pro wrestling mayhem, the cruelty of this behavior most dramatically underscores the serious message of the film: Don't do it.
The supporting players include Eric Roberts as Rourke's backer and Peter Stormare and Alexis Arquette as two meth-hooked cops who are trying to bust Spider Mike, with a TV show crew behind them. Of the principals, Schwartzman, Murphy and Rourke are completely engaging and play their characters believably. "Spun" is an impressive effort by all involved to give moviegoers more zap for their buck.
SPUN
Silver Nitrate in association with Amuse Pictures/Little Magic Films and Sagittaie Fims A Muse/Blacklist production
Credits:
Director: Jonas Akerlund
Screenwriters: Will De Los Santos, Creighton Vero
Producers: Chris Hanley, Fernando Sulichin, Timothy Wayne Peternel, Danny Vinik
Executive producers: Bradford Schlei, Nicola Doring, Kiki Miyake, Mark Mower, Mark Boone, Ash Shah
Director of photography: Eric Broms
Production designer: Richard Lassalle
Editor: Jonas Akerlund
Costume designer: B
Casting: Renita Whited
Cast:
Ross: Jason Schwartzman
Nikki: Brittany Murphy
The Cook: Mickey Rourke
Spider Mike: John Leguizamo
Frisbee: Patrick Fugit
Cookie: Mena Suvari
April: Chloe Hunter
Running time -- 101 minutes
No MPAA rating...
Rock video director Jonas Akerlund, in a promising feature debut, is attuned to the extremely short attention spans of the characters, and genre fans will be amply reminded of "Requiem", with repetitive montages centered on the act of ingesting the poison that drugs are for these desert rats. There's a reason why another nickname for the home-cooked stimulant is "crank," and "Spun" is virtuoso cinema that mercilessly holds a light up to wasted lives but also comes down off its high to make us care about these lost souls.
Centered on dropout Ross (Jason Schwartzman), the film opens with the "spun" (awake for days while snorting the powdered drug) lead trying to score crystal meth from ultraparanoid Spider Mike John Leguizamo), whose zoned-out posse includes girlfriend Cookie (Mena Suvari), video game junkie Frisbee (Patrick Fugit) and stripper Nikki (Brittany Murphy). Ross is dating stripper April (Chloe Hunter), whom he visits after the wild opening sequences that introduce most of the characters.
The local supplier of the moment is the Cook (Rourke), a motel cowboy who makes crystal in his room. His main squeeze is Nikki, who flirts with Ross. The movie turns into a cracked odyssey as Ross (the only one with a car) becomes Cook's wheels. Among the rounds is a trip to the local convenience store, where two freaky Latino girls (Elisa Bocanegra and Julia Mendoza) help provide the running gag of their ratty nemesis (Nicholas Gonzalez) getting clocked by much more menacing customers. At one point, Ross sees his normal-world girlfriend (Charlotte Ayana), to whom he owes money, while his butch next-door neighbor (Deborah Harry) is suspicious of his activities.
In the first of the film's unexpected animated sequences, Ross goes to see April at work and fantasizes that he's sucked inside her and becomes a sperm cell. After they make love, he leaves her naked, tied up, gagged and blindfolded on his bed. Of all the ongoing gags and subplots of the screenplay by Will De Los Santos and Creighton Vero, as well as the constant motif of televisions showing pro wrestling mayhem, the cruelty of this behavior most dramatically underscores the serious message of the film: Don't do it.
The supporting players include Eric Roberts as Rourke's backer and Peter Stormare and Alexis Arquette as two meth-hooked cops who are trying to bust Spider Mike, with a TV show crew behind them. Of the principals, Schwartzman, Murphy and Rourke are completely engaging and play their characters believably. "Spun" is an impressive effort by all involved to give moviegoers more zap for their buck.
SPUN
Silver Nitrate in association with Amuse Pictures/Little Magic Films and Sagittaie Fims A Muse/Blacklist production
Credits:
Director: Jonas Akerlund
Screenwriters: Will De Los Santos, Creighton Vero
Producers: Chris Hanley, Fernando Sulichin, Timothy Wayne Peternel, Danny Vinik
Executive producers: Bradford Schlei, Nicola Doring, Kiki Miyake, Mark Mower, Mark Boone, Ash Shah
Director of photography: Eric Broms
Production designer: Richard Lassalle
Editor: Jonas Akerlund
Costume designer: B
Casting: Renita Whited
Cast:
Ross: Jason Schwartzman
Nikki: Brittany Murphy
The Cook: Mickey Rourke
Spider Mike: John Leguizamo
Frisbee: Patrick Fugit
Cookie: Mena Suvari
April: Chloe Hunter
Running time -- 101 minutes
No MPAA rating...
- 6/19/2002
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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