Author: Frank Mengarelli

I have always been Frank.

CASINO ROYALE – A Review by Frank Mengarelli

by Frank Mengarelli, posted in Film Review

CASINO ROYALE created a new dawn in film. Not only was it a swift and needed step away from the loathsome DIE ANOTHER DAY, it also created a template on how to not only reboot a mainstay franchise, but do it with such gravitas and clarity that the franchise itself feels anew and reinvigorated.

Daniel Craig was more or less unknown to the masses. He had appeared in LAYER CAKE, Sam Mendes’ ROAD TO PERDITION, and a handful of small, independent European films. Craig quickly proved his naysayers wrong (including me, who was a staunch lobbyist for Clive Owen).

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Craig’s blonde hair and blue eyes may not have been akin to what James Bond is supposed to look like, but his swagger, attitude, and brutish demeanor brought absolute justice to the biggest standing franchise in film history.

While the film was updated to the current digital age, and reflecting our current pop culture obsession with the addition of Texas Hold’em, the film remained grounded in it’s original source material. Validating every word that Ian Flemming wrote in his 1953 novel.

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While now, the Texas Hold’em arc may seem silly considering the fad has long been removed from ESPN and the mainstream of American culture; essentially that’s what a Bond film is. It had always been a reflection of our present day culture.

Enter into the fold Mads Mikkelsen, Jeffery Wright, Eva Green, Giancarlo Giannini, and Jesper Christensen; the film stayed true to casting an exotic array of worldly cinematic actors, while retaining Judi Dench’s M, GoldenEye’s Martin Campbell and seminal Bond scribes Neal Purvis and Robert Wade – the film remained grounded within the cinematic world of James Bond whilst taking the franchise in a much needed and welcomed new direction.

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PTS Presents Director’s Chair with Terry McMahon

by Frank Mengarelli, posted in Film Review, Interviews, Podcast

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terry-mcmahonPodcasting Them Softly is beyond excited to present a conversation with filmmaker, actor, and teacher Terry McMahon! Terry‘s two feature films, Charlie Casanova and Patrick’s Day, are some of the best pieces of cinema to come out of Ireland in recent years, with Patrick’s Day making a big splash over the last two years as both a brilliant piece of cinema and enduring conversation piece. Terry‘s a filmmaker who is interested in society, people, and how we all relate and communicate with one another, and his keen eye and sharp voice can be seen and heard in everything he does. An actor, producer, writer, and director, Terry is a true talent, which was solidified when Patrick’s Day, which premiered at the 2014 South By Southwest Film Festival, was nominated for 9 Irish Film and Television Awards, and winning three, for Best Screenplay, Best Sound, and Best Actor for Moe Dunford. Terry also made an appearance in Christopher Nolan’s Batman Begins, and serves as an acting coach for Dublin-based performers. We hope you enjoy this informative, passionate, and humorous chat with one of the biggest personalities that we’ve had the pleasure of speaking with thus far!

PTS PRESENTS DIRECTOR’S CHAIR with OREN SHAI

by Frank Mengarelli, posted in Film Review, Podcast

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unnamed-2Podcasting Them Softly is thrilled to present a chat with filmmaker Oren Shai, whose debut feature THE FRONTIER is playing in limited release in select cities right now, and is also available for streaming via ITunes, Amazon, VUDU, and Hulu, with a DVD and Blu ray release via Kino Lorber set for December 6, 2016. Co-written by Shai and Webb Wilcoxen, The Frontier is an extremely stylish and wildly entertaining neo-noir with juicy performances, twists and turns, and lots of hard-boiled dialogue. Reminiscent of films such as Blood Simple and Red Rock West, The Frontier pays respects to various genre classics while carving out its own distinct piece of the pie. We hope you enjoy this exciting discussion about a very exciting new cinematic voice!

Paul Schrader’s DOG EAT DOG – A Review by Frank Mengarelli

by Frank Mengarelli, posted in Film Review

​DOG EAT DOG is akin to noir films of the 1950’s and 1940’s like KILLING THEM SOFTLY is akin to noir of the 1970’s and 1960’s.  The kinship doesn’t stop there; DOG is a film that not only is absurdly funny and brutally violent, but it is also an examination of the economy, the justice system, and the blue collar working class.

Filmmaker Paul Schrader is at his best when he dabbles in quasi topical films.  Matthew Wilder (who has a voice cameo on the phone during the opening scene) pens a sharply chaotic and humorous script adapted from Edward Bunker’s novel. 
Nicolas Cage, Willem Dafoe, and Christopher Matthew Cook headline the film as a trio of career criminals who for an extended period of time have been removed from society and spent time in prison and are now simultaneously readjusting to society while struggling to survive.  Their plights are real, as they fight to live in a society that has cast them out and turned it’s back on them.

Cage and Dafoe are on fire.  Cage has never been so good.  A complete return to his zany and almost abstract form.  Willem Dafoe is cinematic treasure.  I can’t think of another actor who is a staple in the works of Lars von Trier, Paul Schrader, Abel Ferrara; yet is a viable mainstream draw, showing up in the upcoming JUSTICE LEAGUE.  
Much like KILLING THEM SOFTLY; DOG EAT DOG is not a film for the masses (or critics for that matter).  For as fun and as topical the film is, it is proud at how perversely humorous and transgressive it is as a whole.  DOG EAT DOG is the cinematic answer to the turbulence and dilapidation of contemporary America. 

DOG EAT DOG is available on VOD and is now playing theatrically in select cities.

PTS Presents Writer’s Workshop with Eric Heisserer

by Frank Mengarelli, posted in Film Review, Interviews, Podcast

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unnamed-1Podcasting Them Softly is beyond thrilled to present a chat with screenwriter Eric Heisserer, whose new science fiction film, Arrival, hits theaters this weekend! Riding a wave of stellar reviews and showcasing the directorial talents of Denis Villeneuve (Prisoners, Sicario, the upcoming Blade Runner 2049), Arrival has all the makings of an instant genre classic, and we were honored to be invited to take part in the official media junket for the first time. We’d like to extend an extra special thanks to the publicity departments of Sony Pictures and Paramount Pictures, Lauren Woods at PMKBNC, and Eric himself for making this happen! Hope you enjoy this fast but informative discussion about one of our most anticipated films of the year!

THE EXPENDABLES – A Review by Frank Mengarelli

by Frank Mengarelli, posted in Film Festivals, Film Review

THE EXPENDABLES is that hard R-rated film that hits the sweet spot for adults craving adult oriented action and humor with past and present staples of actions cinema. Sylvester Stallone crafts not only a film, but a hugely successful franchise, around himself and his movie star buddies. The film is so much fun to watch, watching these ancient relics double-fisting machine guns and laying waste to anyone in their path.

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Sure, the film is riddled with hammy dialogue, campy acting, ridiculous character names, and obnoxious action – but that is EXACTLY what this film should be, and is. Sylvester Stallone is one of cinema’s most unsung and undervalued auteurs. This is a guy, who has made catastrophic career choices; yet he’s been able to resurrect his career four, count it, four times due to his directing and writing abilities. Rocky, Rambo, Expendables, and now his reinvention of Rocky in last year’s CREED.

Stallone took a film with an eighty million dollar budget that yielded 275million at the worldwide box office, and spurred two successful sequels. The subgenre of the hard R rated B action films have seemed to have slipped off the cinematic radar in past years. Either we get a tent-pole movie star grazing his way through a watered down PG-13 film, or we get some sort of intentional franchise starter with an over-the-hill star fighting alongside a fresh face who more times than not, lacks acting chops severely.

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THE EXPENDABLES goes for it, and resets the mold of that strain of films we have missed. Stallone headlines Jason Statham, Dolph Lundgren, Mickey Rourke, Jet Li, Terry Crews, Randy Couture, Steve Austin, Bruce Willis, Arnold Schwarzenegger, and Eric Roberts. Not to mention all the other wonderful additions Stallone recruited for the two sequels.

Stallone creates a world that takes place inside the movie world. These guys are big, tough, and ooze masculinity. The dialogue is akin to what we heard from the same actors in the 80’s, the practical explosions are bigger, and the CGI blood is absolutely egregious. The director’s cut of the film stands slightly taller, adding a bit more depth, and rounds out some of the more clunky characters in the film.

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While this film is nowhere near perfect, it is perfect for what it is. Dolph Lundgren lynching Somalin pirates, Stallone quick drawing a revolver and taking out six guys, Eric Roberts being over-the-top snarling through his teeth, Jason Statham putting his fist through skulls, Mickey Rourke looking obnoxious as ever yet putting on an acting clinic in his brief scene, and everything else you’d want from a hard R, quickly paced B movie filled with explosions and gunfire. THE EXPENDABLES and its two sequels is a feverishly welcome return from an auteur that refuses to be rendered obsolete.

PTS Presents ARTISAN’S WORKBENCH with CHAD KEITH

by Frank Mengarelli, posted in Film Review, Podcast

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unnamedPodcasting Them Softly is thrilled to present a discussion with production designer Chad Keith! Chad‘s newest film, Loving, from writer/director Jeff Nichols, hits theaters this weekend in limited release, with more cities being added each week to its nationwide roll-out. Some of Chad‘s other superb credits include this year’s absolutely incredible Midnight Special, Kumiko The Treasure Hunter (a PTS fave!), Take Shelter, Begin Again, At Any Price, Martha Marcy May Marlene, and Goodbye Solo. Chad has also worked on various short films, including Plastic Bag, from executive producer Werner Herzog and director Ramin Bahrani, and if you haven’t seen this little gem, head on over to YouTube and check it out, as it’s absolutely remarkable and thought provoking. This was a total treat and honor to be joined by Chad for a chat, and we hope you all enjoy!

Episode 32: 30th Anniversary of Michael Mann’s MANHUNTER with Special Guest Charles de Lauzirika

by Frank Mengarelli, posted in Film Review, Podcast

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Photo by Carlee Baker.
This year marks the 30th anniversary of Frank’s all time favorite film, Michael Mann’s MANHUNTER.  Frank is joined with returning guest, Charles de Lauzirika who produced Ridley Scott’s home video releases of everything from BLADE RUNNER to THE COUNSELOR to THE MARTIAN and the ALIEN QUADRILOGY.  Everyone who owns the ALIEN QUADRILOGY and the silver BLADE RUNNER briefcase, thank Charlie he was a producer and consultant on it, from the packaging to the menu navigation, supplements.  Anyway, Frank and Charlie gush about their love for MANHUNTER, and speak about the other films, novels, the HANNIBAL TV show, and the Shout Factory MANHUNTER release.  Please check out our previous chat with Charlie here.

 

 

PTS Presents DIRECTOR’S CHAIR with John D. Hancock

by Frank Mengarelli, posted in Film Review, Interviews

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John Hancock.jpgPodcasting Them Softly is thrilled to present a discussion with filmmaker John D. Hancock! John is the director of the 70’s horror classic Let’s Scare Jessica to Death, the highly acclaimed baseball drama Bang the Drum Slowly with Robert De Niro and Michael Moriarity, Baby Blue Marine with Jan-Michael Vincent, the cult classic California Dreaming, family holiday favorite Prancer, and the prison drama Weeds with Nick Nolte. His most recent film was The Looking Glass (currently streaming on Netflix), which was a collaboration between John and his wife, Dorothy Tristan, who in addition to delivering a superb lead performance, wrote the film’s sensitively observed screenplay. His impressive TV credits include Cover Up, Lady Blue, Hill Street Blues, and The Twilight Zone, as well as multiple made for TV movies. He’s also a veteran of the stage, having directed works from Shakespearre to Saul Bellow, as well as versions of ‘night, Mother and Noises Off. He served as the Artistic Director of the San Francisco Actor’s Workshop in 1965, and later became Artistic Director of the Pittsburgh Playhouse and the New Repertory Theater in New York City, while also collaborating with famed playwright Tennessee Williams. It was a total honor to speak with him about his fabulous career – we hope you enjoy!

PTS Presents Writer’s Workshop with MATTHEW SAND

by Frank Mengarelli, posted in Film Review, Interviews, Podcast

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mattsand_mingasson_025Matthew Sand is the co-writer of “Deepwater Horizon.” On April 20, 2010, one of the world’s largest man-made disasters occurred on the Deepwater Horizon oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico. Directed by Peter Berg (“Lone Survivor”), this story honors the brave men and women whose heroism would save many on board, and changed everyone’s lives forever. The film stars Mark Wahlberg, Kurt Russell, John Malkovich, Gina Rodriguez, Dylan O’Brien and Kate Hudson. Lionsgate is set to release the Summit/Participant production on September 30, 2016. For Sand, the story is not about the tragedy, but a simple act of heroism.

Sand was drawn to the story of “Deepwater Horizon” after reading a New York Times piece about a floor-hand on the rig, Mike Williams, and many others. Williams, a father-figure to the crew, risked his life to save others. When Sand began working on the project in 2010, there was no list of the eleven people who died (and no president at their funerals). To honor those men, one of the first things he did was find their names and set them down.

After moving to Los Angeles from his native Brooklyn where he worked in fine art, Sand quickly began writing and has written over 40 screenplays and teleplays for all of the major studios including “The Summoner,” “Beowulf” and “10,000 BC.” This lead him to meeting sibling American film directors Lana and Lilly Wachowski, who hired him for his first credited screenplay job, “Ninja Assassin.”

“Ninja Assassin,” directed by James McTeigue (“V for Vendetta”) was released in 2009.  The story follows a young ninja who turns his back on the orphanage that raised him, leading to a confrontation with a fellow ninja from the clan.  Sand resides in Los Angeles with his wife where he enjoys rock climbing and museums.

Currently, he is working on a mini-series for the BBC about the 3rd Crusade, “Little Brother” based on the novel by Cory Doctorow for Paramount, and an untitled feature film script for Netflix.