JasonSchwartzman Tagged Articles at Cinematical
Interview: Jason Schwartzman
Filed under: Fox Searchlight », Interviews »
Personally speaking, I've been a fan of Jason Schwartzman since he and writer-director Wes Anderson collaborated on Rushmore and created what I still think is a definitive portrait of the beautiful torment of teenage life. While of course Anderson and co-writer Owen Wilson conceived the ideas, Schwartzman fleshed them out both literally and emotionally, offering a character that was weird and idiosyncratic but also remarkably relatable, not the least of which because it seemed like the actor was going through many of the same things as his on screen counterpart.
Eleven years later, Schwartzman has matured into one of the most versatile and interesting actors in Hollywood, even if, as he himself puts it, he isn't yet able to "get a part like someone can order a pizza." His latest film reunites him with Anderson for the fourth time, playing another kid who's growing up way too fast in Fantastic Mr. Fox. In addition to talking about tackling another coming of age story, Schwartzman discusses his own Hollywood story, and offers a few insights about the interesting filmmakers with whom he works so frequently, and so closely.
Cinematical: You've worked with a number of filmmakers, such as Sofia Coppola and David O. Russell, who have very specific visions for their films. How is Wes different, whether it was just on Fantastic Mr. Fox or in general, that makes your collaboration more satisfying?
Blu-ray Review: Funny People
Filed under: Universal », DVD Reviews », Home Entertainment »
These days it's common practice for filmmakers to document every single aspect of a movie's creation for its eventual home video release – examining previsualization, creature development, fight choreography, set and costume design, effects rendering, and so on. When you're making a comedy, however, there seems to be less of interest in the different aspects of production (not the least of which because many of those above aren't even a factor), leaving only outtakes, gaffes, and alternate line readings to fill out the bonus features for a forthcoming Blu-ray or DVD.
Judd Apatow's Blu-ray for Funny People, however, runs contrary to expectations; indeed, it's by far the most complete and comprehensive portrait of a comedy production ever assembled. Featuring not only the requisite slate of alternate takes, film flubs, and extra scenes, but two different versions of the film, multiple featurettes, archive footage, and a feature-length documentary about the film's origins, development and production, the two-disc set takes the art of being funny very seriously.
AFI Review: Fantastic Mr. Fox
Filed under: Animation », Comedy », Festival Reports », Fox Searchlight », George Clooney », Other Festivals »
It's not hard to like any movie that uses the Beach Boys' music, but Wes Anderson makes it especially easy. As Hollywood's foremost purveyor of hipster drama, his pedigree as a reliable selector of appropriately wistful, poignant and all-around unforgettable songs is virtually unrivaled, but Fantastic Mr. Fox exceeds even the work of his earlier films, using "Heroes and Villains," and later, "I Get Around" as populist punctuation that manages to be both specifically relevant and substantively rousing.
As an animated opus, the film is by necessity his most controlled to date, a painstakingly-designed dollhouse where he no longer controls just the music, sets, and costumes, but the performers themselves. Ironically, however, it feels like his loosest as well - a gloriously unwieldy comedy of manners submerged in the minutiae of Anderson's madcap creativity. All of which makes Fantastic Mr. Fox a celebration both of its stop-motion medium and Anderson's aesthetic, while still managing to fully document the spectacular fun in original author Roald Dahl's daffy, distinctive imagination.
Review: The Marc Pease Experience
Filed under: Comedy », Independent », Theatrical Reviews », Paramount Vantage »
Once upon a time, Marc Pease (Jason Schwartzman) flipped out during his high school's production of The Wiz, despite every assurance from his drama teacher, Mr. Gribble (Ben Stiller), that he was at the very least capable ("You set the bar... so that others can go beyond it!").
Eight years later, Gribble's giving The Wiz another shot, while Pease tries to keep the remaining half of his once mighty a cappella group together and heading towards some modest goal of stardom. The two of them share a common love with present-day senior Meg (Anna Kendrick), and all three of them have a love for performing -- and an aversion to anything resembling comedy over the course of The Marc Pease Experience.
Jason Segel, Jonah Hill, and Jason Schwartzman Spell Adventure
Filed under: Action », Comedy », Casting », Scripts »
If you were ever wondering what would happen if The Darjeeling Limited was less quirky and more adventurous, you're about to get your wish. The Hollywood Reporter posts that there's a new adventure comedy on the way called The Adventurer's Handbook, and Jason Segel will star, along with Jonah Hill and Darjeeling's Jason Schwartzman.Written by Hill, along with Matt Spicer and Max Winkler, the film is an adaptation of Mick Conefrey's book The Adventurer's Handbook: Life Lessons from History's Great Explorers. Rather than a scattershot collection of explorer stories, it'll focus on four childhood friends who are sick of their monotonous lives. Inspired by Conefrey's book, the foursome set off to perk things up with their own adventure. Considering the fact that the book includes helpful tips like "what to do if you are attacked by an anaconda -- you wait until it is has swallowed you up to your knees and then you reach down and cut its head off," this adventure should be insane. (And how do you cut off a snake's head if your legs are trapped inside?!)
'Fantastic Mr. Fox' Trailer Looks Pretty Good At The Very Least
Filed under: Animation », Comedy », Family Films », George Clooney », Trailers and Clips »
A few months ago, a good friend of mine saw a test screening of Fantastic Mr. Fox (no 'The') and described it as very much the union between Roald Dahl's story and Wes Anderson's style. Now, it looks like the trailer up on Yahoo! and after our jump confirms as much, and I actually find myself genuinely charmed by it -- like, 'now on my radar' charmed.This tale of a sly fox (voiced by George Clooney, natch) taking on some grumpy farmers reminded me a great deal of Chicken Run, if it were inspired less by The Great Escape and more by Ocean's Eleven, and while it does look perfectly family-friendly, it really does seem to be a Wes Anderson film through and through -- only Bill Murray, Owen Wilson, and Jason Schwartzman are all talking animals in stop-motion. (Hell, it's probably the most animated Murray's been in years!)
(Pun half-intended.)
Also starring Meryl Streep and apparently released by Fox proper (as opposed to Fox Searchlight), Fantastic Mr. Fox is due to open on November 13th.
'Funny People': New Trailer and Adam Sandler's Prank Call, Circa 1991
Filed under: Comedy », Drama », Fandom », Movie Marketing », Trailers and Clips »
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The summer movie season has already past its half-way point, but my two most anticipated films still haven't arrived: District 9 and Judd Apatow's Funny People. We talked about the former yesterday, and now today it's time to plug a film that looks to bring it all: laughs, tears, Australian accents, Seth Rogen's weird cough-laugh, sarcastic Australian accents, Jason Schwartzman looking stoned, Jonah Hill being a d*ck, tons of stand-up comedy -- seriously, what more could you want from a movie?
Two new pieces of Funny People marketing have arrived today. We have a red-band trailer that premiered over at MySpace and a piece of viral awesomeness that premiered over at Moviefone. The red-band (or restricted ... which sounds so mean, doesn't it) trailer isn't all too bad (with the exception of an oral sex joke), and it definitely shines a light on the finer aspects of Apatow's films, which include real, human moments, or, as some would say, the little stuff.
Meanwhile, the viral piece is something pretty unique. Back in the early '90s, Judd Apatow and Adam Sandler were actual roommates, who, apparently, filmed ridiculous things like prank calls. So ... this video is Apatow filming a very young-looking Sandler prank-calling the local deli as an old lady to complain about a sandwich while wearing underwear on his head. Check out both the trailer and the viral video after the jump.
Funny People hits theaters on July 31.
Adam Sandler's 'Redo' and Other Fake 'Funny People' Films
Filed under: Comedy », Universal », DIY/Filmmaking », Newsstand », Movie Marketing », Images », Summer Movies », Trailers and Clips »
Sandler isn't the only one getting a bit of viral action. Jason Schwartzman also has a sitcom kicking around the Internet called Yo, Teach! starring his Funny People character, Mark Taylor Jackson. The best part about Jackson's promo (besides how wincingly familiar it is) is that NBC.com helpfully hosted it as if it was promoting a real show. There's probably going to be a lot of people sitting around this fall waiting for "that really sweet looking teacher show" ...
Summer 2009 Comedies
Summer Comedy Movies
Judd Apatow directing Adam Sandler and Seth Rogen as stand-up comedians ... Harold Ramis directing Jack Black and Michael Cera as inept cavemen ... Sacha Baron Cohen shocking even more innocent bystanders ... No, you haven't died and gone to comedy heaven. Or maybe you have.
From gigolos to Sleestaks and everything in between, read on to see which comedies you'll be quoting from this summer until the next summer rolls around.
Universa(2)l/ Sony/ Getty Images
'Next Day Air'
Opening: May 8
Starring: Donald Faison, Mike Epps, Mos Def
What It's About: When Faison and Mos Def's slacker parcel men accidentally deliver a giant box filled with cocaine to lowly criminals Epps and Wood Harris, gangsters are out to hurt them all (and by "hurt," we mean "kill"). It's a crime thriller with comedic elements -- it's sort of like a Guy Ritchie flick, except with a mostly African-American cast.
More on 'Next Day Air':
Summit Entertainment
'Dance Flick'
Opening: May 22
Starring: Damon Wayans Jr., Craig Wayans, Shoshanna Bush
What It's About: The Wayans clan couldn't sit back and let Jason Friedberg and Aaron Seltzer, the "minds" behind 'Epic Movie,' 'Date Movie,' 'Disaster Movie,' etc., corner the spoof market. Thus their latest effort, which sends up the 'Save the Last Dance' and 'Step Up' subgenre, and introduces fresh Wayanses (try saying that one fast) Craig and Damon Jr.
More on 'Dance Flick':
Paramount
'Year One'
Opening: June 19
Starring: Jack Black, Michael Cera, Olivia Wilde
What It's About: Think 'Superbad' meets 'Forrest Gump,' set in caveman times, starring Judd Apatow regulars, directed by comedy great Harold Ramis. Black and Cera play inept hunter-gatherers who set off for epic adventure when they're banished from their village. They meet biblical figures (David Cross, David Cross, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Hank Azaria), a hottie princess and a sexy slave (Wilde and June Diane Raphael) ... and leave their footprints on history.
More on 'Year One':
Get 'Superbad':
Sony
'Land of the Lost'
Opening: June 5
Starring: Will Ferrell, Anna Friel, Danny McBride
What It's About: Ferrell heads up this remake of the cult '70s Saturday-morning time-travel adventure. We were growing weary of Ferrell's sports spoofs, so we're excited for his take on the surreal show we loved to sort of hate (even as young 'uns, we recognized cheesy effects when we saw 'em). But even greater than our curiosity about Ferrell is the undying appeal of one word, drawing us like a Siren song to the theater: Sleestaks. Oh, and remember Chaka? Color us nostalgic.
More on 'Land of the Lost':
Get the original 'Land of the Lost':
Universal
'The Hangover'
Opening: June 5
Starring: Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms, Heather Graham
What It's About: Todd Phillips ('Old School,' 'Road Trip') revisits the theme of boys behaving badly with a Vegas bachelor party gone awry -- which leads to hangovers, spotty memories and a missing groom-to-be (Justin Bartha). Will the three groomsmen reclaim their best friend and deliver him to the altar in time? If Philips' previous movies are any indication, there'll be plenty of raucousness, a touch of male-bonding sweetness, and at least 12 lines that call for "earmuffs."
More on 'The Hangover':
Get 'Old School':
Warner Bros.
'Bruno'
Opening: July 10
Starring: Sacha Baron Cohen
What It's About: If you're under the assumption that there's no way Sacha Baron Cohen could top the envelope-pushing humor of his '06 hit 'Borat,' you probably haven't watched the red-band trailer for 'Bruno.' Once again paired with director Larry Charles, Cohen adopts the persona of a gay Austrian fashionista to wreak havoc on unsuspecting victims with antics that include destroying a fashion show, naming his adopted African-American baby OJ and using a prosthetic penis as a weapon. And that's just the stuff that's safe to print.
More on 'Bruno':
Get 'Borat':
Universal
'Funny People'
Opening: July 31
Starring: Adam Sandler, Seth Rogen, Jason Schwartzman
What It's About: Writer-director Judd Apatow, who redefined the rom-com with 'The 40-Year-Old Virgin' and 'Knocked Up,' returns with his most dramatic flick yet. Sandler stars as a successful comedian who, after learning he has only a year to live, enters into a life-altering bromance with a struggling comic (Rogen). Sandler's character reevaluates his priorities, trying to win back the one that got away (Mann) -- and hopefully making audiences pee their pants laughing in the process.
More on 'Funny People':
Get 'Knocked Up':
Universal
'The Goods: The Don Ready Story'
Opening: August 14
Starring: Jeremy Piven, Ving Rhames, Ed Helms, James Brolin
What It's About: Taking cues from his Emmy-winning TV gig as a smarmy agent ('Entourage'), Piven plays title character Don Ready, the ultimate car salesman. Ready can seal the deal on any motor vehicle but has issues smooth-talking when it comes to the woman of his dreams.
More on 'The Goods':
Get 'Entourage':
Paramount Vantage
'Post Grad'
Opening: August 14
Starring: Alexis Bledel, Zach Gilford, Michael Keaton
What It's About: Recent college grad Ryden (Bledel), lacking a job or any real prospects, is forced to move back in with her oddball family and figure out a new path for herself. She may be experiencing an early-life crisis, but nothing helps the blow like a longtime best friend ('Friday Night Lights' star Gilford) ... and maybe some My Little Pony bedsheets.
More on 'Post Grad':
Get 'Friday Night Lights':
Fox Atomic
Funny stuff. All they're missing is a cameo by Kirk Lazarus.
Watch This: Jason Schwartzman's TV Show, 'Yo Teach'
Filed under: Comedy », Fandom », Movie Marketing », Summer Movies », Trailers and Clips »
Hey, did you know that Jason Schwartzman was starring in a new NBC show called Yo Teach, about a teacher with a big heart who goes all Stand and Deliver/Dangerous Minds-like on the inner-city troublemakers in his class? I'm lying, of course -- Schwartzman isn't starring in any real TV show; instead, this is just a taste of the first piece of viral marketing for Judd Apatow's Funny People, which, because it stars actors playing popular actors, is filled with all sorts of fake movies and TV shows, like Yo Teach. (Read about some of the fake movies within the movie.)
Funny People stars Adam Sandler as a comedian-turned-crappy high concept actor who mentors a younger up-and-coming comedian (Seth Rogen), all while struggling to beat cancer and win back the girl (Leslie Mann) that got away. Jason Schwartzman stars as one of Rogen's pals, an egocentric TV actor. So far two clips from Yo Teach have arrived online, with one being a behind-the-scenes look and the other a straight-up scene that features YouTube comedian/songwriter Bo Burnham, who Apatow is a fan of. One expects tons more viral stuff to hit prior to the release of Funny People on July 31 (which is currently sporting a two and a half hour runtime, apparently), so stay tuned.
And you know what? I think I'd actually watch this show if it was real. It's lame, sure, but I dig it for some reason. What say you?
[via The Playlist]
Judd Apatow's 'Funny People' Gets a Trailer!
Filed under: Comedy », Movie Marketing », Trailers and Clips »
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The first trailer for Judd Apatow's Funny People has just gone up over at Moviefone (watch it below or over there in HD), and it definitely looks to be his most dramatic effort yet ... even though it's hard to get too serious when you have a cast that includes Adam Sandler, Seth Rogen, Jonah Hill, Jason Schwartzman, Eric Bana (rockin' his Aussie accent) and Leslie Mann. What we do get (which is good) is a solid three-and-a-half-minute (!) debut trailer full of what looks to be some really great dramedy -- nothing too over the top or raunchy; just Apatow's standard substance over style -- reality over stupid scripted set pieces -- and I definitely dig it. Could this be the first Apatow-helmed flick to knock on Oscar's door?
Check out the trailer below -- along with a group of new images -- and let us know what you think. Does this look to have some legs on it? Is it what you'd expect from a Judd Apatow film? Funny People hits theaters on July 31. Discuss!
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