Looking Back at 'White Men Can't Jump'

As part of The Dissolve's Movie of the Week feature, film critic Noel Murray and I had a conversation about 1992's White Men Can't Jump. This weekly back-and-forth exchange is called Forum, and I loved getting a chance to do one with a guy I really like. In our conversation, we talk about the film's terrific opening, Ron Shelton's view on racial politics, the L.A. riots, the connection between sports and art, and where Sidney and Billy probably are today. A lot of fun, and I hope you enjoy.

On the Great Don Hertzfeldt and 'World of Tomorrow'

Over at Movie Mezzanine, I had a conversation with fellow film critic Alissa Wilkinson about Don Hertzfeldt, one of our best filmmakers. That he's an animator who mostly producers shorts shouldn't disqualify him. In our back-and-forth exchange, we discuss his amazing new short World of Tomorrow and why great movies can sometimes come in small packages. You can read the whole thing here.

SAG Foundation: My Conversation With Ellar Coltrane and Richard Linklater

I have had a very fun year interviewing the folks from Boyhood. First, I talked to Richard Linklater for a Backstage cover story. Then, I conducted a Q&A with Linklater, Ethan Hawke, Patricia Arquette and Ellar Coltrane. (Sorry, no video for that.) Then, for the SAG Foundation, I spoke with just Arquette and Hawke. Then, in December, I conducted a Q&A with the film's casting director (Beth Sepko), co-production designer (Rodney Becker) and editor (Sandra Adair). (Sorry, no video for that.) And then on Wednesday, right before I left for Sundance, I chatted with Coltrane and Linklater for the SAG Foundation. I never get tired of hanging out with these people.

In this conversation, I wanted to talk about what the experience has been like for them since Boyhood premiered a little over a year ago at Sundance. Coltrane is especially interesting when he talks about how he's tried to cope with the rush of attention he's received. But both men are warm and engaging, as always. (And Linklater's right in his response to my observation that his movies celebrate families.)

SAG Foundation: My Conversation With Timothy Spall

On December 4, I sat down with Timothy Spall, the star of the mighty Mr. Turner, to discuss the film at a SAG Foundation screening. We only had about 25 minutes, but he was terrific. This is one of those Q&As where my guest does all the heavy lifting: Spall spoke at length, and articulately, about his approach to playing the painter J.M.W. Turner and his relationship with writer-director Mike Leigh, whom he refers to as a "forensic filmmaker." Needless to say, I was honored to get to speak with him. The video is below.

SAG Foundation: My Conversation With Zach Braff

I had a fine time speaking with Zach Braff, the writer, director and star of Wish I Was Here, which was easily the most divisive film at Sundance this year. (I found it uneven but quite moving. A friend and colleague sitting next to me loathed it.)

In this 45-minute conversation, we talked about Braff's experience with the film since that festival premiere. We also chatted about the courage required to be sincere, the whirlwind of starring in the Broadway musical adaptation of Bullets Over Broadway and what it's like to write a screenplay with your brother.

SAG Foundation: My Conversation With Felicity Jones and Eddie Redmayne

I was deeply moved by The Theory of Everything when I saw it in Toronto in September. In November, I got to speak to its stars, Felicity Jones and Eddie Redmayne. They couldn't have been more charming. This conversation took place at the Linwood Dunn in Hollywood. My thanks to the SAG Foundation for inviting me to host this chat.

SAG Foundation: My Conversation With Patricia Arquette and Ethan Hawke

Yesterday, I conducted a Q&A with two of Boyhood's stars, Patricia Arquette and Ethan Hawke, for the SAG Foundation. This is actually the second time I've chatted with them in connection to this film. (Back in August, I moderated a panel with those two, as well as Richard Linklater and Ellar Coltrane.) So I already knew what to expect from them, which is that they're total pros who don't need much guidance. Just ask them a solid question, and they'll take it from there. This Q&A was a delight, and the crowd loved them. You can watch our talk below, where we discussed the challenges of making a film over 12 years, Linklater's creative process, and why neither actor really wanted to ever share Boyhood with audiences. (Also, Hawke pokes a little fun at Daniel Day-Lewis.)



Oh, and a personal highlight before our conversation: Hawke telling me he liked my outfit.

SAG Foundation: My Conversation With Clara Mamet

This week, I hosted a post-screening Q&A with Clara Mamet, the writer-director of the forthcoming Two-Bit Waltz, for the SAG Foundation. Our chat is now available online, if you're interested. We talked about life as a first-time filmmaker, writing out of vengeance and what it's like to have David Mamet and Rebecca Pidgeon as parents.

Talking About Jonathan Glazer, Part Two

Earlier this month, I began an online conversation with Glenn Heath Jr. at To Be (Cont'd) to discuss the films of Jonathan Glazer (Sexy Beast, Birth, Under the Skin). The first installment of our talk, written by me, is here. Glenn picked up the thread and responded here. Now the baton is handed back to me. In the latest installment, I explain why Glazer's movies have come out in almost the reverse order of what you'd expect from a developing filmmaker. Also, I dig into how Under the Skin can be seen as both a metaphor for filmmaking and acting. Here's my latest missive.

Talking About Jonathan Glazer, Part One

This is Jonathan Glazer, the filmmaker behind Sexy Beast, Birth and the new sci-fi drama Under the Skin. Starring Scarlett Johansson as an alien come to Earth to lure young men to their doom, Under the Skin is his best movie yet. To mark the occasion, the editors of To Be (Cont'd) were kind enough to invite me and fellow film critic Glenn Heath Jr. to do a month-long discussion about Glazer and his work. Kicking off this series, I tried to find a connective thematic tissue between Glazer's diverse collection of films. (I also talk about his videos a bit, too, Radiohead fans.) Hope you enjoy our conversation.

I Had Lunch With James Rocchi

I was quite honored to be invited to be on fellow film critic James Rocchi's podcast The Lunch. We chatted about current movies, including Captain Phillips, Gravity, 12 Years a Slave, All Is Lost and Dallas Buyers Club. And we also sang the praises of some overlooked movies from the first part of 2013. A lot of fun all around. You can hear it here.