BRUCE WILLIS STANDS FIRM By Brad Balfour It’s hard to believe that superstar Bruce Willis, a man often heard over many explosions in his signature action adventure films like those in the Die Hard series, should be so soft spoken. Yet after his wildly successful career as a hardnosed hero, Willis still tries to challenge himself and … Continue reading
SAMUEL L. JACKSON LEARNING FROM RECONCILIATION By Brad Balfour Few actors prompt the same kind of awe that Samuel L. Jackson does after having played a remarkable range of characters; from the tough gangster in Pulp Fiction to the heroic Mace Windu in Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones. Through the eyes of a harsh … Continue reading
Jamie Foxx What’d He Say? By Brad Balfour With the incredible buzz about the Ray Charles bio pic, Ray, comedian Jamie Foxx’s work has been hailed as a Best Actor Oscar shoo-in even though he’s also nominated for his work in Collateral). And that’s no joke; this former Texan has made the transition from TV funny man (In Living Color/The … Continue reading
JONATHAN RHYS MEYERS PLAYS A PERFECT MATCH by Brad Balfour For a young actor working with a master director like Woody Allen becomes an honor; it’s an even greater opportunity to perform for him in his first non-American made feature and a drama no less. In Match Point, Irish actor Jonathan Rhys Meyers gets to play … Continue reading
THE AVIATOR (2004) Starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Cate Blanchett, Kate Beckinsale, John C. Reilly, Alec Baldwin, Alan Alda, Ian Holm, Danny Huston, Gwen Stefani, Jude Law, Adam Scott, Matt Ross, Kelli Garner, Frances Conroy, Brent Spiner, Stanley DeSantis, Edward Herrmann, Willem Dafoe, Kevin O’Rourke, Loudon Wainwright III, Martha Wainwright and Rufus Wainwright. Screenplay by John Logan. … Continue reading
Kevin Bacon Comes Out of the Woods by Brad Balfour It’s not an easy role for anyone play – a pedophile just released from prison who struggles against resuming his criminal behavior while trying to establish a normal life. But if anyone can handle playing this role, the ever-versatile Kevin Bacon can, for The Woodsman is both challenging for the subject matter and … Continue reading
Liam Neeson Investigates More Than His Soul in Kinsey by Brad Balfour Originally posted on November 17, 2004. Oscar-winning actor Liam Neeson doesn’t shy away from tough roles. When he took on Oskar Schindler for Steven Spielberg, he faced a challenge but now that he’s tackled Kinsey, he has handled some difficult tasks for award-winning … Continue reading
Henry Rollins Out of the Van by Ronald Sklar “I could grandstand and tell you I’m The Man, but I basically don’t have a life,” Henry Rollins tells me in a recent phone interview. As usual, The Man is being too hard on himself. The rock legend, now in his early forties and still as tough … Continue reading
CHRISTOPHER WALKEN THE SANEST MAN IN HOLLYWOOD by Jay S. Jacobs Mention the name Christopher Walken, and anyone you’re talking to will have a very strong, concrete image. There are very few actors in the world who spur such strong name recognition, such certainty on the part of an audience that we get what he’s all about. He’s a hard, … Continue reading
William Shatner – Has Been (Shout! Factory) In any discussion of the worst records of all time, someone will mention William Shatner’s 1968 jaw-dropper The Transformed Man. On that vanity record, Shatner emoted (most would say over-emoted) some of the biggest hits of the era, including gonzo versions of “Mr. Tambourine Man,” “Lucy In the Sky With Diamonds” … Continue reading
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