Comic-Con 2009 - We talk to Sam Rockwell (Justin Hammer) about "Iron Man 2"
Thursday, November 19, 2009 11:48 AM | From MovieJungle
Don Cheadle and Sam Rockwell in Paramount's "Iron Man 2"
Sam Rockwell has a seat next to me for the next portion of the “Iron Man 2” interviews. So far we’ve covered Robert Downey Jr., Eric Feige and Scarlett Johansson. Rockwell’s in two films currently at the box office – Disney’s Jerry Bruckheimer produced “G-Force” animation as well as the critically acclaimed “Moon” via Sony Pictures Classics.
“It really feels like you’re part of the all stars” he says about working on this project. “It’s not just a big studio movie with thrills and chills, it’s very actor friendly. Cinematically, it’s just phenomenal, it’s just big filmmaking and yet it’s very accessible to actors in a way that independent film is. It’s very actor friendly for sure.”
Some guy asks about this and “Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy.” An odd question. Rockwell responds “That was different, that character was different. That was more like Monty Python a little bit. Little more prosthetics for me, but that was silly. Sometimes that even felt more silly fun kind of crazy. This has a much more dramatic theme on it.”
Is Justin Hammer a physical threat? He’s asked.
“That I will not answer,” he says. “But I like that you’re asking that question. You’ll have to wait, get the popcorn and check it out. But as you can see Mickey is a bit of a threat.”
How would he describe the Justin Hammer character to fans who are not familiar with him?
“He’s a bit of a Lex Luther mixed in with a little Bill Murray in ‘King Pin’ and George. C Scott in ‘Hustler.’ A little Steve Jobs…you know? He’s an amalgam of different archetypes. It’s still developing you know? We don’t know what Justin Hammer is becoming, he might become something else. He’s starting up one way. He’s an arms dealer.”
He asked about the fact that in the first film Robert Downey Jr. and Jon Favreau were rewriting as they went along and whether the same thing happened now.
“Yes, yes it has. Although, we had one writer all along, Justin Theroux. He wrote a complete script and stuff changed but at least we had a complete structure, you know? Which I think helps a lot.”
He talks about working with the Theroux, Favreau and the crew “I really trusted Jon Favreau and Justin Theroux and Kevin Feige that this thing was going to take shape you know? You feel like you’re in good hands; a lot of smart people pulling the strings on this. So I felt pretty good about it.”
Rockwell talks more about the Justin Hammer character’s motivation “It’s basically jealousy I think. He doesn’t have the same skills and I think he looks up to Tony and then Tony doesn’t really want to have anything to do with him and so…he’s gonna take him down! We’ll see…we’ll see what ends up on the big screen.”
About future projects he says “That’s it you know. I might do a play. I don’t know what I’m doing I’m just going to hang out and see what happens.”
Is that how you manage your career?
“I usually, I’m just a hired gun but I’ve gotten very lucky hooking up with guys like Duncan Jones and these guys, George Clooney, David Gordon Green…I’ve lucked out your know. I’ve never gone as far as making a production company or anything like that. I’ve just sort of…whatever comes along. I’ve been picky and I’ve been less picky more recently. I’ve been saying yes more and doing some stuff and I’ve having a good time. I think I’m happier working and stuff you know. Working with Jared Hess. You know, and I got to work with Robert De Niro recently. So I find I’m better when I’m working but I am a little exhausted, so I wouldn’t mind taking a break.”
Thursday, November 19, 2009 11:48 AM | From MovieJungle
Little Fockers" may have Jessica Alba on board. The actress is currently in talks to join the Universal Pictures and Tribeca Productions' comedy which Paul Weitz is helming.
She would join Ben Stiller and Robert De Niro in the third film which is expected to pick up after 2004's "Meet the Fockers" left off. Gaylord Focker (Stiller) and Pamela Byrnes (Teri Polo) are having a kid (or kids according to reports of twins).
Her character would be a pharmateutical rep who wreaks havoc on male characters in the story.
The latest version is written by John Hamburg.
"Meet the Parents," the first film in the franchise, debuted on October 6th, 2000 with $28.6 million before ending off with $166 million in the U.S. and over $164 million internationally. Follow-up "Meet the Fockers" opened on December 22nd, 2004 with $46.1 million and went on to gross over $279 million in the U.S. and $237 million in overseas figures.
Laura Dern joins Little Fockers
Thursday, November 19, 2009 11:48 AM | From MovieJungle
Laura Dern has joined the cast of Universal Pictures' "Little Fockers," the sequel to "Meet the Fockers." Paul Weitz is helming and the title might change. Most of the main players return including Ben Stiller, Teri Polo, Robert De Niro, Blythe Danner and Owen Wilson. Jessica Alba has also joined the cast recently.
Dern will play the headmistress of the elementary school the Fockers' kids attend.
Jay Roach and Jay Rosenthal produce. John Hamburg rewrote the original script by Larry Stuckey.
Dern's last project was in "Tenderness" with Russell Crowe, Jon Foster and Sophie Traub. John Polson directed that crime thriller.
Harvey Keitel joins Little Fockers
Thursday, November 19, 2009 11:48 AM | From MovieJungle
Harvey Keitel has joined the cast of Universal Pictures "Little Fockers," the third installment in the comedy series started by "Meet the Parents."
The cast includes Ben Stiller, Teri Polo, Robert De Niro, Blythe Danner and Owen Wilson as well as some other fresh faces in Jessica Alba and Laura Dern.
Paul Weitz, director of "In Good Company," helms from the screenplay by John Hamburg which is a rewrite of the original script by Larry Stuckey.
Film focuses on the Focker kids and Keitel plays a contractor who is employed by Stiller's character. Producing are Jay Roach and Jane Rosenthal.
"Meet the Parents" opened back in October 6th, 2000 with $28.6 million on its first weekend before ending off with $166 million in the U.S. and over $164 million internationally. On December 22nd, 2004, "Meet the Fockers" followed with a big $46.1 million weekend take and accumulated a hefty $279.1 million in the U.S. and $237.3 million overseas.
Kenneth Branagh is bringing in some gods of Asgard to fight along side Thor. According to Variety, Stuart Townsend, Ray Stevenson, and Tadanobu Asano has signed on to co-star in THOR as the Warriors Three, Fandral, Volstagg, and Hogun. Though it was pretty much at an end, anyway, this ties the rumors off from a month or so back when Jude Law and Robert De Niro’s names were orbiting the film.
In the original comics, the three were travelling companions to Thor who often fought alongside him. Townsend, Stevenson, and Asano join a cast that already includes Chris Hemsworth as Thor,…
Thors Warriors Three Confirmed
Tuesday, November 17, 2009 9:04 AM | From Screen Rant
There’s been a lot of rumor and speculation about which actors would be playing the famous “Warriors Three” in Kenneth Branagh’s upcoming adaptation of Marvel Comic’s Thor. Names ranging from Dominic Cooper to Robert De Niro and Jude Law were once thought to be hovering over the roles of Thor’s buddies in battle, and in [...]
Harvey Keitel Joins De Niro In Little Fockers
Thursday, November 12, 2009 1:08 PM | From Cinema Blend
There was a time, really not so long ago, when the world was young and Martin Scorsese was a scrappy upstart and these two actors named Robert De Niro and Harvey Keitel were making movies with him. Movies like Mean Streets and Taxi Driver, that didn't try to make their audiences feel good but challenged them, movies that inspired an entire generation to try and make something as good themselves.
Now those actors are starring together in a movie called ...
Harvey Keitel Greets LITTLE FOCKERS; Zachary Quinto Takes a Spin on Whirligig
Thursday, November 12, 2009 11:08 AM | From Collider
According to THR, Harvey Keitel has joined the inevitable pain that is Little Fockers. Even though Keitel has never achieved the stature of his early peer Robert De Niro, Keitel has kept steady work in low-profile material and thus maintained the respect that De Niro cannot claim with his rocky record of the past 15 [...]
Keitel Gets Focked
Thursday, November 12, 2009 8:32 AM | From IGN Movies
In an inspired piece of casting, Harvey Keitel has joined the Little Fockers ensemble, reuniting the actor with his Mean Streets, Taxi Driver and
Cop Land co-star Robert De Niro.
Harvey Keitel And Robert DeNiro To Work Together Again
Thursday, November 12, 2009 7:12 AM | From Latino Review
...And it's not in the type of movie you'd think. Harvey Keitel has joined the cast of the second "Meet the Parents" sequel.Paul Weitz ("In Good Company") is directing the film, which has the working title of "Little Fockers," since it focuses on the main couple's children. Keitel will play a contractor employed by Stiller's character.This cast is shaping up to be rather eclectic, for lack of a better term. Along with regulars Ben Stiller, Teri Polo, Robert De Niro, Blythe Danner and Owen Wilson, we have newcomers Jessica Alba, Laura Dern, and now Keitel. I'm not sure if Dustin Hoffman and Barbara Streisand will return as the Fockers, but I can't imagine them being excluded.I think "Meet the Parents" is a comedy classic. I hesitate to use that word, but I can think of few other comedies that have utilized the "slow build" as effectively, or hit upon the anxiety that accompanies trying to impress your significant other's family as well as that film does. Plus, it kind of got the ball rolling on that whole "Office-like" aesthetic of mining humor out of exceedingly awkward situations that is so commonplace in comedies nowadays. But, after the so-so sequel, I think this might be three times too much.Source: The Trades
