Wednesday, August 31, 2016

Kam's Kapsules

 Weekly Previews That Make Choosing a Film Fun
For Movies Opening 9-9-16
by Kam Williams



OPENING THIS WEEK

BIG BUDGET FILMS

The Disappointments Room (R for sexuality, profanity, violence and bloody images) Haunted house thriller about a family (Kate Beckinsale, Duncan Joiner and Mel Raido) that moves from Brooklyn to a mansion in the country only to unwittingly unleash demonic forces sitting dormant in the attic. With Gerald McRaney, Lucas Till and Michaela Conlin. 

Sully (PG-13 for peril and brief profanity) Tom Hanks portrays Sully Sullenberger in Clint Eastwood's re-enactment of the US Airways pilot's heroic crash landing of his crippled plane on the Hudson River in January of 2009. Cast includes Laura Linney, Aaron Eckhart and Anna Gunn.

When the Bough Breaks (PG-13 for violence, sexuality, mature themes, profanity, disturbing images and partial nudity) Psychological thriller about a couple (Morris Chestnut and Regina Hall) forced to resort to desperate measures when the surrogate mom (Jaz Sinclair) hired to bear their baby suddenly develops feelings for the father. With Theo Rossi, Justin Lebrun and Sue-Lynn Ansari.

The Wild Life (PG for peril, mild action and rude humor) Animated adventure unfolding from the perspective of the peaceful creatures living on a tropical island whose tranquility is disrupted by the arrival of Robinson Crusoe (Matthias Schweighofer). Voice cast includes Kaya Yanar, Ilka Bessin and Aylin Tezel.


INDEPENDENT & FOREIGN FILMS

Author: The JT Leroy Story (R for sexuality, drug use, violent images and pervasive profanity) Out-of-the-closet documentary revealing that fiction writer Laura Albert is the real person behind the pen name JT Leroy .

Cameraperson (Unrated) Reverential documentary chronicling the career of Kirsten Johnson, cinematographer of the Oscar-winning, documentary Citizenfour and other groundbreaking exposes.

Defying the Nazis: The Sharps' War (Unrated) Ken Burns co-directed this documentary recounting the heroic mission mounted in 1939 by American minister Waitstill Sharp and his wife Martha to rescue scores of Jewish refugees fleeing the Nazi occupation of Europe. Voice cast includes Tom Hanks and Marina Goldman.

For the Love of Spock (Unrated) Obsessed fan biopic chronicling the enduring appeal of the late Leonard Nimoy, as well as the beloved character he originated on Star Trek, Dr. Spock. Featuring commentary by Williams Shatner, J.J. Abrams, Chris Pine, Zoe Saldana, George Takei, Nichelle Nichols, Simon Pegg and Zachary Quinto.

Ithaca (PG for mature themes, smoking and a violent image) Meg Ryan makes her directorial debut with this adaptation of The Human Comedy, William Saroyan's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, set in 1942, revolving around a 14 year-old's (Alex Neustaedter) attempt to provide for his widowed mother (Ryan) and siblings (Spencer Howell and Christine Nelson) after his older brother (Jack Quaid) goes off to fight in World War II. With Sam Shepard, Hamish Linklater and Nick Williams.

Kicks (R for pervasive profanity and for teen drug and alcohol abuse, sexuality and violence) Coming-of-adventure, set in inner-city Oakland, revolving around a 15 year-old's (Jahking Guillory) attempt to retrieve a pricey pair of sneakers stolen right off his feet. With Christopher Wallace, Jr. (Biggie's son), Christopher Meyer, Kofi Siriboe and Mahershala Ali.

London Road (Unrated) Crime drama recounting real-life events which transpired in 2006 when the peace of the quaint town of Ipswich, England was rocked by the murders of five women. Co-starring Olivia Colman, Clare Burt and Rosalie Craig.

Starving the Beast (Unrated) College tuition expose examining the push to reform America's public universities so that the cost of a higher education will be borne directly by its student beneficiaries rather than by the general public.

Tuesday, August 30, 2016

Emayatzy Corinealdi

The “Roots” Interview
with Kam Williams

Amazing Emayatzy!

Born at Fort Knox, Kentucky on January 14, 1980, Emayatzy Corinealdi was an army brat whose family moved around a lot during her childhood as dictated by her dad's military career. After stints around the country and overseas, she put down roots in New Jersey, which enabled her to study at the Actor's Training Studio as well as William Esper Studio.

She parlayed a recurring role on the TV soap opera The Young and the Restless into a critically-acclaimed starring one in Ava DuVernay's Middle of Nowhere (2012). She's since appeared in the screen adaptation of Zane's erotic thriller Addicted (2014), and as Miles Davies' wife Frances in miles Ahead (2016).

Here, Emayatzy talks about her latest out as Belle, Kunta Kinte's (Malachi Kirby) wife, in the remake of Roots.


Kam Williams: Hi Emayatzy, thanks for the time.
Emayatzy Corinealdi: Thanks, Kam.

KW: What interested you in Roots?
EC: The idea of bringing the story of the history of this country to a new generation was an important conversation that I believe is necessary, given the current climate of race relations in the United Slates.

KW: How did you prepare to play Belle Reynolds? Did you watch the original miniseries?
EC: What was happening everyday in this country: police brutality, injustice, people feeling angry and ignored, all of these issues were things that helped to prepare me. That coupled with the knowledge that I have since gained about enslavement and its history.

KW: Did you have any emotional moments on the set during the shooting?
EC: Every day was an emotional moment on set. The final scene, having her daughter Kizzy taken away, might've been one of the toughest by far.

KW: What message do you hope people will take away from the miniseries?
EC: Know your history. It can teach you who you are, where you have come from, and how to be a better person as a result. Also, I hope that young people especially will begin to have a better understanding of slavery and its effects, which are still evident today, To understand those parallels and, from there, begin ta be a part of the wave of hope to change things for the better

KW: You recently portrayed Frances Taylor, Miles Davis' first wife, in the biopic Miles Ahead. Did you feel any extra pressure to get the role right, given that you were playing a real person?
EC: Definitely! I indeed wanted Ms Frances to be pleased while at the same time honoring my director's vision, along with rny own creativity. It is a balancing act which, I am glad to say, did pay off with her approval!

KW: Did you consult Frances in preparation for the role?
EC: For sure. We had quite a few lunches that were filled with great stories, laughter and truth.

KW: Are you a fan of Miles' music?
EC: I am now. I was not as familiar with him before the film. He was always this mysterious man on my father's album covers up until that point.

KW: Ling-Ju Yen asks: What is your earliest childhood memory?
EC: Climbing trees when I was about 9 with my best friend. Climbing trees is still one of my favorite things to do. A tree and a good book and I'm happy.

KW: Was there a meaningful spiritual component to your childhood?
EC: Absolutely! God has always been the head of my life, even before I knew it.

KW: What is your favorite dish to cook?
EC: Arroz con pollo, my father's recipe. He is a chef in Kansas City, and he is fantastic.

KW: The Uduak Oduok question: Who is your favorite clothes designer?
EC: I don't have one. I like what looks good on me and, as a result, I don't find myself drawn to one specific designer all the time.

KW: If you could have one wish instantly granted, what would that be for?
EC: To hug my mother just one more time.

KW: When you look in the mirror, what do you see?
EC: A woman who stands up for what she believes.

KW: What's the craziest thing you've ever done?
EC: Called my friends up at almost midnight to play in a freshly excavated ditch near my house. It was dark, there were piles and piles of dirt, space and opportunity and each and every one of them came and we had a good time. Until the police came, that is. But hey, it adds to the excitement.

KW: Larry Greenberg asks: Do you have a favorite movie monster?
EC: Anton Chigurh from No Country For Old Men. He has taken the place of Jason who was my former favorite. I don't ever want to see that dude anywhere.

KW: AALBC.com founder Troy Johnson asks: What was the last book you read?
EC: "Her Again," a Meryl Streep biography.  

 
KW: Finally, what’s in your wallet?
EC: Capital One was the first thing that carne to mind. [LOL]

KW: Thanks again for the time, Emayatzy, and best of luck with all your ventures.
EC: Take care, Kam.


To see a trailer for Roots, visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x-qsh9rXifs



To order a copy of Roots on Blu-ray, visit:



Monday, August 29, 2016

Skiptrace

 
Film Review by Kam Williams




Jackie Chan Teams with Johnny Knoxville for Familiar Unlikely-Buddies Flick


Jackie Chan made dozens of martial arts movies in his native Hong Kong prior to finding phenomenal success stateside in 1998 co-starring with Chris Tucker in the buddy-comedy Rush Hour. Their pairing as unlikely-partners proved so popular that they returned to the well to shoot a couple of sequels in Rush Hour 2 and Rush Hour 3. And Jackie further milked the familiar formula in outings opposite Owen Wilson in Shanghai Noon and Shanghai Knights.

Despite being perhaps a little long-in-the-tooth to still be doing such stunt-driven adventures, the sixty-something matinee idol is back with Skiptrace, a slight variation on the theme co-starring Johnny Knoxville. Knoxville is known for Jackass, the TV and film franchise in which he and a coterie of deranged confederates perform an array of death-defying feats.

Here, he reprises some of his greatest hits, like rolling down the street in a barrel. The same can be said of Chan, as so many of the picture's chase and fight sequences have a feeling of deja vu about them. Nevertheless, a treat is in store for the unintiated, especially youngsters who've never seen either of these leads ply his trade before.

In Skiptrace, Jackie plays Hong Kong detective Benny Chan, and Johnny co-stars as Connor Watts, an American gambler on the run from a Russian casino owner (Charlie Rawes) he fleeced to the tune of a million dollars. At the point of departure, Benny's partner Yung (Eric Tsang) is murdered by a mysterious mobster known as The Matador, and he makes it his mission to bring the creep to justice.

Meanwhile, half a world away, Johnny just happens to witness the kidnapping of Yung's daughter Samantha (Bingbing Fan). So, that makes him invaluable to Benny when the two subsequently cross paths, as much as the detective dislikes the idea of cooperating with a slippery con man.

Directed by Renny Harlin (Die Hard 2), Skiptrace overall is a globe-trotting affair which unfolds at a dizzying pace in the course of visiting a variety of ports-of-call all across the planet. The multi-layered whodunit eventually builds to a big showdown at Kai Tak Cruise Terminal back in Hong Kong, where the case is very satisfactorily resolved.

Though he's certainly no Chris Tucker, Johnny Knoxville does prove a decent enough accomplice for Jackie Chan's endearing combination of antics and acrobatics.




Good (2 stars)
Rated PG-13 for violence, suggestive content, profanity, drug use and brief nudity
Running time: 107 minutes
Distributor: Saban Films


To see a trailer for Skiptrace, visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EWUjtb0i7dg

Sunday, August 28, 2016

Top Ten DVD List for 8-30-16

by Kam Williams


This Week’s DVD Releases

The Jungle Book

The Commitments [25th Anniversary Edition]


The Phenom

19-2: Season Two

Grey's Anatomy: The Complete Twelfth Season

Chicago Med: Season One

Star Wars Rebels: Complete Season Two

Me Before You

Shameless: The Complete Sixth Season

Blunt Talk: The Complete First Season


Honorable Mention

Chicago Fire: Season Four

Supernature: Wild Flyers


Friday, August 26, 2016

Kam's Kapsules for Movies Opening 9-2-16

Weekly Previews That Make Choosing a Film Fun
by Kam Williams

OPENING THIS WEEK
BIG BUDGET FILMS

The Light between Oceans (PG-13 for mature themes and sexuality) Romance drama, set off the coast of Australia in the wake of World War I, about a lighthouse keeper (Michael Fassbender) and his wife (Alicia Vikander) who decide to adopt a baby (Florence Clery) they rescue from a rowboat adrift at sea. Cast includes Rachel Weisz, Leon Ford and Jack Thompson.

Morgan (R for profanity and brutal violence) Sci-fi thriller revolving around a corporate risk-management consultant (Kate Mara) hired to decide whether to terminate the life of a superhuman cyborg (Anya Taylor-Joy) after it attacks one of the scientists that created it. With Toby Jones, Rose Leslie and Michael Yare.

Solace (R for sexuality, nudity, profanity, and pervasive violence and bloody images) Crime thriller about a psychic doctor (Anthony Hopkins) mourning the death of his daughter who joins forces with an FBI agent (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) to apprehend a serial killer (Colin Farrell). Featuring Abbie Cornish, Matt Gerald and Marley Shelton.``


INDEPENDENT & FOREIGN FILMS

In Search of the American Dream (PG-13 for profanity, violence and mature themes) Survival saga about six sibling's attempt to elude the authorities in a race across Texas after their undocumented parents are arrested on the spot and carted away. Co-starring Baldemar Rodriguez, Shaina Sandoval, Kayla Valadez and Jeremy Becerra. (In English and Spanish with subtitles)

Kickboxer: Vengeance (Unrated) High-octane tale action flick about a martial artist (Alain Moussi) who travels from L.A. to Bangkok to avenge the killing of his brother (Darren Shahlavi) by the Muay Thai champion (Dave Bautista). With John-Claude Van Damme, Georges St-Pierre and T.J. Storm.

Ma Rose (Unrated) Jerry Lewis plays the title role in this skeletons-in-the-closet dramedy as a jazz pianist who has just discovered that his terminally-ill wife (Claire Bloom) has been hiding a big secret that makes their 65-year marriage a big lie. Cast includes Kerry Bishe', Dean Stockwell, Fred Willard, Illeana Douglas and Kevin Pollak.

Naam Hai Akira (Unrated) Crime thriller revolving around a headstrong college coed (Sonakshi Sinha) whose life spirals out of control after she unwittingly gets caught up in a conspiracy being hatched by a quartet of crooked cops. With Amit Sadh, Urmila Mahanta, Teena Singh and Mukesh Hariawala. (In Hindi with subtitles)

Sister Cities (Unrated) Dysfunctional family drama revolving around the reunion of four estranged sisters (Troian Bellisario, Stana Katic, Michelle Trachtenberg and Jess Weixler) for the funeral after their mother's (Jacki Weaver) apparent suicide. Support cast includes Alfred Molina, Tom Everett and Kathy Baker.

Skiptrace (PG-13 for violence, suggestive content, profanity, drug use and brief nudity) Action comedy about a Hong Kong detective (Jackie Chan) who teams up with an American gambler (Johnny Knoxville) to arrest the drug kingpin (Winston Chao) who murdered his partner (Eric Tsang). (In English and Mandarin with subtitles)

Summer of 8 (Unrated) Ensemble dramedy set in Santa Monica where we find an octect of high school grads hanging out on the beach during their last days of freedom before going their separate ways to college. Co-starring Carter Jenkins, Michael Grant, Matt Shively, Nick Marini, Shelly Hennig, Bailey Noble, Rachel DiPillo and Natalie Hall.

There Is a New World Somewhere (Unrated) Romance drama about a struggling, NYC artist (Agnes Bruckner) who returns home to Texas for a friend's wedding only to fall for a seductive stranger (Maurice Compte) who talks her into accompanying him on a road trip across the South. With Ashley Bell, John Robinson and Morgan Krantz.

White Girl (Unrated) New York City saga about a hedonistic college coed (Morgan Saylor) whose life spirals out of control after she falls head-over-heels for a bad boy (Brian 'Sene' Marc) dealing dime bags on her block. Cast includes Chris Noth, Justin Bartha and Adrian Martinez.

Tangled Roots

 
Cynthia Groya
Artist Reception Sunday, September 11, 4:00 - 6:00 pm
MUSE Gallery Philadelphia
52 N. 2nd St., Philadelphia Center City
Show Runs from September 1 to October 1, 2016

America’s complex history is a maze of conflicting accounts. While historians and filmmakers on either side of the aisle present countless representations of the way things were, slavery’s unresolved legacy prompts new considerations of things past. While few historical narratives have included African-American perspectives, David Brooks, in a recent NYT op-ed How Artists Change The World, reminds us that escaped slave Frederick Douglass used his freedom to turn stereotypes of “inferior, unlettered, comic and dependent” African-Americans “upside down” by projecting his dignified presence with160 dignified photographic portraits, and in the process “redrawing people’s unconscious mental maps.” (Henry Louis Gates Jr.) Brooks writes that artists, by “implanting pictures in the underwater processing that is upstream from conscious cognition” have the opportunity not to “change your mind,” so much as “smash through some of the warped lenses through which we’ve been taught to see.” Fortunately, more of these stereotype-smashing images from the past are making their way through the water, influencing a changing awareness of our country’s past. Could conscious cognition be far behind?

Tangled Roots, the solo exhibition at MUSE Gallery September 1 - October 1, 2016, is an ongoing effort to “smash through” some of the stereotypes indelibly written on our “mental maps” by the historical narratives of the past. These artworks are not visual recreations of historical events, but rather expressive abstractions referencing the Civil War, the Gettysburg Address, the Emancipation Proclamation and the tangled roots of slavery in our country. Contemporary mixed media paintings of reverse painting on layers of plexiglass, video conversations discussing the relevancy of Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address, and collage works turning cultural assumptions “upside down” are offered not to change the viewers mind, but to suggest alternative re-imaginings of the mental maps we create for ourselves. 

 Southern Cross Composite Version 6 small file
IMAGE: Southern Cross
"Southern Cross" is based on the lynching of 3,446 African Americans between 1882 and 1968 and the song Strange Fruit, written by Abel Meeropol and made famous by Billie Holiday. The title is inspired by the work of Theologian James H. Cone's The Cross and the Lynching Tree. Strange Fruit was a protest song against the brutality of lynching and indicted racism in America, fueling the rise of the civil rights movement of the 1950's and 1960's.
119" x 90" x 1.75" 9 mirrored plexi-paneled vitrines, mixed media with barbed wire, metallic powders and crystal prisms, inscribed with poetry by Countee Cullen, Claude McKay and Abel Meeropol, set in a gridded metal framework.

Testing (whether that nation)
IMAGE: "testing..."
"testing..." is based on a passage from the Gettysburg Address delivered by Abraham Lincoln at the battlefield commemorating the more than 51,000 soldiers that lost their lives during the three days of battle at Gettysburg during the Civil War.
30" x 36" Acrylic, glass, ash and mixed media on plexi-panel, birch base

For more information, contact Cynthia Groya at  cynthiagroya@comcast.net
Artist’s website: www.cynthiagroya.com

Tuesday, August 23, 2016

Hands of Stone


 
Film Review by Kam Williams


Career of Boxing Legend Roberto Duran Revisited in Revisionist Tale of Redemption


Roberto Duran (Edgar Ramirez) is considered by most fight experts to be, pound-for-pound, one of the greatest boxers of all time. The intimidating icon earned his nickname "Hands of Stone" by virtue of his prodigious displays of punching power. 
 
Born in Panama in 1951, Roberto exhibited promise from the moment he first entered the ring at the age of 8. He turned pro at 16 and assumed the World Lightweight title at Madison Square Garden in 1972 after Ken Buchanan (John Duddy) failed to answer the bell for the 14th round. Roberto went on to knock out over 50 foes en route to compiling an impressive 62-1 record as a lightweight before moving up in weight class. 
 
By the time he retired in 2002, Roberto would also hold the world welterweight, light middleweight and middleweight titles. But despite that incredible feat, he appears fated to be best remembered for crying "No mas!" before quitting midway through his Welterweight World Championship rematch with Sugar Ray Leonard (Usher Raymond). And although he would eventually return to the ring, that one display of cowardice effectively overshadowed his sizable subsequent achievements. 
 
Written and directed by Jonathan Jakubowicz (Secuestro Express), Hands of Stone is a reverential biopic which humanizes Roberto while putting a positive spin on his indelible stain. This version of his story blames Duran's failing on his parasitic manager, Carlos Eleta (Ruben Blades), as well as on pressure from the big fight's promoter, Don King (Reg E. Cathey).

Here, we're treated to the backstage specter of a burnt-out Roberto bemoaning his being exploited. "I worked all my life. I didn't have any fun, when I was a kid." Truth be told, not only did he begin boxing young, but he married at an early age, too, 17. And his wife Felicidad (Ana de Armas) was only 14 when they tied the knot. FYI, the couple went on to have 8 children and are still together 47 years later. 
 
If the movie has a flaw, it's in the fight scenes which leave a lot to be desired. Anyone expecting cinema verite on the order of Rocky or Raging Bull, for which Robert De Niro won an Academy Award in 1981, is destined to be disappointed. 
 
Speaking of De Niro, he plays the legendary Ray Arcel who came out of retirement over death threats from the Mafia to train a teenaged Duran. Before you can say "Burgess Meredith," he whips the promising protege into fighting shape, and it's just a matter of time before his diamond in the rough's rags-to-riches dream becomes a reality. 
 
A touching, revisionist tale of redemption presenting the sensitive side of a pulverizing pugilist.



Very Good (3 stars)
Rated R for sexuality, nudity and pervasive profanity
In English and Spanish with subtitles
Running time: 105 minutes
Distributor: The Weinstein Company


To see a trailer for Hands of Stone, visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cNzXeY9OBxI

Monday, August 22, 2016

Southside with You


 
Film Review by Kam Williams




Inspirational Biopic Revisits Barack and Michelle Very First Date


Who would ever think of making a movie just about Barack (Parker Sawyers) and Michelle Obama's (Tika Sumpter) first date? Richard Tanne would, that's who, and he makes an impressive directorial debut with this inspirational biopic chronicling a very eventful day in the lives of the future President and First Lady. 
 
The story unfolds in Chicago during the summer of 1989 when Michelle was already employed as an attorney and living back home with her parents (Vanessa Bell Calloway and Phillip Edwad Van Lear). Barack had just finished his first year at Harvard law school and had landed an internship as her assistant at her prestigious, white-shoe firm. 
 
Apparently, he was so instantly smitten with Michelle that he could barely contain himself. So, she had to politely remind him of the the office's strict rule against fraternizing among associates. Nevertheless, when she refused to consider a romantic rendezvous, he pitched her on the idea of attending a business meeting with him. 
 
Once Michelle grudgingly agrees, Barack arrives late, yet is too cocky to be embarrassed about either his tardiness or the gaping hole in the floor of his rusty jalopy. What the skeptical object of his affection doesn't know is that he has added a picnic, a museum and a movie to their planned itinerary. 
 
Again, Michelle balks, but consents only after reminding her self-assured suitor that "This is not a date." Nevertheless, the smooth-talking chain smoker presses on with his own agenda, with the Art Institute of Chicago being their first port-of-call. And while perusing paintings by the legendary Ernie Barnes, Barack began broaching personal subjects. 
 
The two continued to get to know each other over sandwiches in the park, with the discussion touching on everything from family to faith to blackness to the meaning of life. So, Michelle had a decent measure of the man by the time they headed to the South Side rec center where Barack had once worked as a community organizer. 
 
The icing on the cake proves to be an inspirational speech that's nothing short of presidential which he delivers there to the discouraged denizens of the crumbling 'hood. Michelle's floodgates finally open, undoubtedly helped along by one woman's (Deanna Reed Foster) approval of her as the first sister she's ever seen Barack with. Next thing you know, the two lovebirds head to the theater to see Spike Lee's Do the Right Thing, before capping off the evening with a little canoodling while sharing an ice cream cone. 
 
Southside with You is a syrupy soap opera readily recommended for ardent Obama admirers. The predictable love story has a tendency to telegraph its punches, since its familiar plotline sticks to what's already public knowledge. Overall, this plausible account of the blossoming of love between Barack and Michelle serves up a pleasant, if sanitized version of their romantic launch en route to an historic rendezvous with destiny!



Very Good (3 stars)

PG-13 for smoking, a violent image, brief profanity and a drug reference
Running time: 84 minutes
Distributor: Miramax / Roadside Attractions

To see a trailer for Southside with You, visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=erpUF2ToUls

Sunday, August 21, 2016

Jeff Bridges

The “Hell or High Water” Interview
with Kam Williams


Rappin' with "The Dude"

One of Hollywood’s most successful actors and a six-time Academy Award-nominee, Jeff Bridges performance in Crazy Heart as Bad Blake, the down-on-his-luck, alcoholic country music singer at the center of the drama, deservedly garnered the iconic performer an Oscar in the Best Lead Actor category. The performance also earned him a Golden Globe, Screen Actors Guild and Independent Spirit Award.


Jeff earned his first Oscar nomination in 1971 for Peter Bogdanovich’s The Last Picture Show, co-starring Cybill Shepherd. Three years later, he received his second nomination for his role in Thunderbolt and Lightfoot. In 1984, he landed more kudos via a Best Actor nomination for Starman. In 2001, he was honored with his fourth Oscar nomination for his work in The Contender, a political thriller co-starring Gary Oldman and Joan Allen in which he played the President of the United States.


In December 2010, his reunion with the Coen Brothers in the critically-acclaimed Western True Grit landed him his sixth Oscar nomination. The same month he was seen in the highly-anticipated 3D action-adventure TRON: Legacy. Jeff reprised his role of video-game developer Kevin Flynn from the classic 1982 film TRON. with the help of state-of-the-art technology. The picture featured him as the first actor in cinematic history to play opposite a younger version of himself.


Prior to Crazy Heart, Jeff was seen in the war comedy The Men Who Stare at Goats, playing Bill Django, a free-spirited military intelligence officer, who is the leader of a secret group of warriors in the army. Additionally, he has starred in numerous box-office hits, including Seabiscuit, The Fisher King, The Fabulous Baker Boys, The Jagged Edge, Tucker: The Man and His Dream, Blown Away, Fearless and American Heart.


In 1983, Jeff founded the End Hunger Network, a nonprofit organization dedicated to feeding children around the world. He also produced the End Hunger tel-event, a three-hour live television broadcast focusing on world hunger. The show featured Gregory Peck, Jack Lemmon, Burt Lancaster, Bob Newhart, Kenny Loggins and other leading film, television and music stars in an innovative production to educate and inspire action.


He is currently the national spokesman for the Share Our Strength/No Kid Hungry campaign that is fighting to end childhood hunger in America. Another of Jeff’s true passions is photography. While on the set of his movies, he takes behind-the-scenes pictures of the actors, crew and locations. After completion of each motion picture, he edits the images into a book and gives copies to everyone involved.


Jeff’s photographs have been featured in several magazines, including Premiere and Aperture, as well as in other publications worldwide. He has also had gallery exhibitions of his work in New York, Los Angeles, London and San Diego. In 2013, he was the recipient of an Infinity Award, presented by the International Center of Photography in Manhattan.


The books, which have become valued by collectors, were never intended for public sale, but in the fall of 2003, powerHouse Books released Pictures: Photographs by Jeff Bridges, a hardcover book containing a compilation of his photographs taken on numerous film locations over the years, to much critical acclaim. Proceeds from the book are donated to the Motion Picture & Television Fund, a nonprofit organization that offers charitable care and support to film-industry workers.


In August of 2011, Jeff released his self-titled major label debut album for Blue Note Records. Multiple-Grammy Award-wining songwriter, musician and producer T Bone Burnett produced the album. It is an organic extension and culmination of his personal, professional and music friendship with Burnett, whom he has known for more than 30 years.


The critically-acclaimed album was a follow up to his first solo effort 'Be Here Soon,' on Ramp Records, the Santa Barbara, California label he co-founded with Michael McDonald and producer/singer/songwriter Chris Pelonis. The CD features guest appearances by vocalist/keyboardist Michael McDonald, Grammy-nominated Amy Holland and rock legend David Crosby. In 2014, he released his first live album 'Jeff Bridges & The Abiders Live' and has been touring off and on when he is not working.


Jeff and his wife Susan divide their time between homes in Santa Barbara and Montana. Here, he talks about his latest outing as wily Texas Ranger Marcus Hamilton in Hell or High Water, a cat-and-mouse crime thriller co-starring Chris Pine and Ben Foster.


Kam Williams: Hey Jeff. I'm honored to have this opportunity to speak with you.
Jeff Bridges: Why, thank you, Kam. it's good talking to you, too.

KW: I loved Hell or High Water. I don't know why they released it in August instead of just ahead of awards season. Everything about it screams Oscars.
JB: It's an awfully good movie.

KW: Yeah, from the A-list cast to the visually-captivating cinematography to its haunting musical score to its intriguing script featuring an unpredictable cat-and-mouse thriller as well as some decent character development. It all added up to an enchanting cinematic experience.
JB: It was a great experience for me watching it, too, and also making it, of course. It's a good one!

KW: Absolutely! What was it like working with such a talented ensemble. I was already familiar with Ben Foster and Chris Pine, but Gil Birmingham who was new to me did a great job, too.
JB: Yeah, the whole team they assembled, not only the actors, but the crew--the writer, the director, the set designer--all came together. That's a pretty rare phenomenon! It certainly doesn't happen all the time. And such a great screenplay by Taylor Sheridan. That's where it all began.

KW: And how about trusting a British director, David Mackenzie, to make a modern Western set in Texas?
JB: Yeah, he had those fresh eyes. He was so concerned about getting it right, and I think he did a brilliant job.

KW: I agree. How did you come up with your character Marcus Hamilton's persona?
JB: Well, it was definitely on the page. That was one of the things that attracted me to the project in the first place. It just rang so true. It seemed like Taylor Sheridan really knew what he was talking about. I found out that his cousin, Parnell McNamara was a Marshall down in Texas. He was made available to me, and I talked to him quite a bit. We were also very fortunate to have a very famous Texas Ranger, Joaquin Jackson, on the set with us. He died recently, but he was very instrumental, for me anyway, in getting my character right.

KW: Harriet Pakula-Teweles says: I loved you in True Grit. Is there another remake you'd like to star in?
JB: Nothing really comes to mind, although I understand they're doing a remake of Starman. I know this doesn't exactly answer your question but whenever I see Karen Allen, who was with me in the original, we often ask, "Gee, why don't they make a sequel to Starman?" After all, she was impregnated by the alien guy... He's given her the silver ball... There's a story there! But I guess they're going ahead with a remake instead. That doesn't answer your question. As a matter of fact, when the Coen Brothers came to me with True Grit, I went "Why do you want to remake that? It's already a famous movie?" They asked me, "Well, have you read the novel by Charles Portis?" So, I checked out the book, which read like the Coen Brothers' script. And then I understood what they were up to.

KW: Even though you've had so many great roles, whenever I told someone I was going to interview, invariably the response would be, "The Dude! The Dude! The Dude!" a reference to another Coen Brothers film, The Big Lebowski. Do you also get more of a fan response about that film than any other?
JB: Oh, absolutely! I just signed a couple of bowling pins moments ago. That sort of thing happens to me just about every day when I'm out and about. It's great! I don't feel any resentment about it. The Big Lebowski's a real masterpiece, as far as I'm concerned. I suppose I'm a bit biased because I'm in it. But even if I weren't, I'd still love that movie, it's so well done.

KW: Yeah, my son always says it's his favorite movie of all time. Which of your roles are you fondest of?
JB: It's like that corny thing actors say about how it's like being asked to pick their favorite kid. Each one is such a different experience.

KW: Is there one that comes to mind?
JB: Lebowski is certainly up there. I couldn't pick one favorite, but I loved working with my brother [Beau] and my father [Lloyd] whenever that happened. I had a wonderful experience making The Fabulous Baker Boys which I felt was a great movie, too. And I got to work with my dad in Tucker and in Blown Away which were also wonderful experiences. Sometimes, it's hard for me to separate the experience from the final product.

KW: What was a film you really enjoyed making that might not have enjoyed box-office success?
JB: The moguls was an obscure movie I had such a good time on. It's also called The Amateurs. It had a great cast and a wonderful director [Michael Traeger], and we had so much fun. It was about the citizens of a small town getting together to make a porno movie. I think it came out great., but it fell apart because the distributor turned out to be a crook, so it never got released. Hardly anybody saw it, but you could probably find it somewhere.

KW: Watching your dad on TV in Sea Hunt, was a big part of my childhood. was the show a big part of yours, too?
JB: Yeah, unlike a lot of people in Hollywood, he loved showbiz so much he encouraged his kids to go into it. If you were a Sea Hunt fan, then you probably saw me on the show as a little kid. He was like, "Hey Jeff, why don't you come to work with your old man. You get to skip school."

KW: Ling-Ju Yen asks: What is your earliest childhood memory?
JB: Sitting in my living room and seeing my mother open the front door. She was wearing a mink stole but had just cut off all of her long beautiful hair. She had a very short kind of bob. It just freaked me out. I just ran and locked myself in the bathroom. I must have been about 3 or 4.

KW: What is your favorite dish to cook?
JB: I'm not much of a cook. Maybe scrambled eggs or something like that.

KW: When you look in the mirror, what do you see?
JB: A stranger, as of late. I sort of don't recognize myself. It's kind of an interesting situation. I went through a very hairy period. I had a movie where I was going to play Walt Whitman that fell through. At the time, I had grown this huge beard and very long hair. But then, the movie got canceled, I had some other parts, and I currently have very short hair. So, when I look in the mirror, I don't know who I am exactly. It's interesting.

KW: When you prepare to play a character, do you take him on mentally as well as physically?
JB: Sure, yeah.

KW: How long does it take you to shake off a character and get him out of your system after a film has wrapped?
JB: That's hard to say. Once, during an interview in front of my wife, I was asked, "Are you one of those actors who brings your character home? Do you stay in character?" I said, "No, not really. I don't do that," and she started laughing. I asked her why. She said, "Well, you might think you don't bring characters home, but you do." So, while I don't feel like a character is lingering, it probably is.

KW: What are you up to musically?
JB: I'm looking at my guitar right now. I play music as much as I can. I have a band called The Abiders. We've put out a couple of albums you can find on iTunes. We tour and all that stuff, so music is very much a part of my life.

KW: Finally, what’s in your wallet?
JB: I have my prized possession in my wallet. That's a photograph of the first words I ever uttered to my wife, and her answer to my question when I asked her, "Will you go out with me?"

KW: What was her answer?
JB: "No." I happen to have snapped a photograph of that moment.

KW: Well, it all worked out very well for you in the end. Thanks again for the time, Jeff. I really enjoyed this.
JB: Nice chatting with you, too. Have a good one, Kam.


To order a copy of Jeff Bridges & The Abiders' "Live" CD, visit:

To order a copy of Jeff Bridges' "Be Here Soon" CD,

To order a copy of Jeff Bridges' "Jeff Bridges" CD,


To see a trailer for Hell or High Water, visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JQoqsKoJVDw