CONTEST: Win The Innkeepers Prizes
Posted By: MovieWeb
Wed Apr 25 2012 5:02:41 am
MPI Media Group will release The Innkeepers on Blu-ray and DVD April 24, and we're celebrating this new horror film which stars Sara Paxton and Pat Healy. We have a contest running and we're giving away gatefolds signed by director Ti West, a poster from The Dude Designs, and the standard DVD. These prizes will surely go fast, so enter this contest today.

Winners Receive:
- The Innkeepers gatefolds signed by director Ti West
- The Innkeepers poster by The Dude Designs
- The Innkeepers DVD
HERE'S HOW TO WIN!
Just "Like" (fan) the MovieWeb Facebook page (below) and then leave a comment below telling us why these prizes must be yours!
If you already "Like" MovieWeb, just leave a comment below telling us why these prizes must be yours!
After over one hundred years of service, The Yankee Pedlar Inn in Connecticut is shutting its doors for good. The last remaining employees - Claire (Sara Paxton, Shark Night 3D, The Last House on the Left) and Luke (Pat Healy, Dirty Girl) - are determined to uncover proof of what many believe to be one of New England's most haunted hotels. As the inn's final days draw near, odd guests start to check in and the pair of minimum wage "ghost hunters" begin to experience strange and alarming events that may ultimately cause them to be mere footnotes in the hotel's long mysterious history.
The Innkeepers, which blends the classic ghost story style with a solid modern twist is an original Dark Sky Films in partnership with Glass Eye Pix. The extras on the Blu-ray and DVD will include:
- The Innkeepers: Behind the Scenes
- Commentary with Writer/Director/Editor Ti West, Producers Peter Phok & Larry Fessenden, and 2nd Unit Director/Sound Designer Graham Reznick
- Commentary with Writer/Director/Editor Ti West and Stars Sara Paxton and Pat Healy
The Innkeepers was released February 3rd, 2012 and stars Sara Paxton, Pat Healy, Alison Bartlett, Jake Ryan, Kelly McGillis, Lena Dunham, George Riddle, Brenda Cooney. The film is directed by Ti West.
CONTEST: Win The Darkest Hour Blu-ray
Posted By: MovieWeb
Tue Apr 24 2012 20:41:29 pm
The Darkest Hour is now on Blu-ray and DVD. This harrowing thriller from director Chris Gorak finds a group of US tourists trapped in Moscow during an alien invasion and stars Emile Hirsch, Olivia Thirlby, Rachael Taylor, Max Minghella, and Joel Kinnaman. We're so sure you'll love this exciting throwback to old school sci-fi classics that we're giving away the Blu-ray as part of a prize pack that also includes a comic book, a poster, a key chain, and a glow bracelet. All you have to do to win is enter our contest. Details are below.
Winner Receives:
- 1 The Darkest Hour Blu-ray
1 Comic Book
1 Poster
1 Key Chain
1 Glow Bracelet
4 Runners Up Receive:
HERE'S HOW TO WIN!
Just "Like" (fan) the MovieWeb Facebook page (below) and then leave a comment below telling us why these prizes must be yours!
If you already "Like" MovieWeb, just leave a comment below telling us why these prizes must be yours!
With Moscow's classic beauty as the backdrop, The Darkest Hour features mind-blowing special effects from the minds of visionary filmmakers Timur Bekmambetov and Chris Gorak. The suspense never lets up as the invaders begin their assault on Earth, targeting the planet's power supply.
Special Features
- "The Darkest Hour: Survivors" - Follow the rebel resistance in an all-new short film!
Deleted & Extended Scenes
The Darkest Hour: Visualizing an Invasion
Audio Commentary with the Director
The Darkest Hour was released December 25th, 2011 and stars Emile Hirsch, Olivia Thirlby, Rachael Taylor, Joel Kinnaman, Max Minghella. The film is directed by Chris Gorak.
CONTEST: Win The Terror Experiment Blu-ray
Posted By: MovieWeb
Tue Apr 24 2012 20:35:42 pm
Anchor Bay recently released The Terror Experiment on Blu-ray and DVD, a spine-tingling thriller from director George Mendeluk. We have a contest lined up for this new title, where we're giving away copies of this Blu-ray to our readers. These high-def discs will go fast, so enter this contest today.
Winners Receive:
HERE'S HOW TO WIN!
Just "Like" (fan) the MovieWeb Facebook page (below) and then leave a comment below telling us why these prizes must be yours!
If you already "Like" MovieWeb, just leave a comment below telling us why these prizes must be yours!
A terrorist sets off an explosion that rocks the Federal Building and unleashes a toxic gas throughout the ventilation system. His purpose: to expose the Government's secret biological warfare weapon, a deadly virus that instantly attacks a person's adrenal system, causing them to become inhumanly aggressive, with an uncontrollable urge to kill each other.
Special Features:
- Audio Commentary with Executive Producer/Director George Mendeluk
The Terror Experiment was released April 10th, 2012 and stars Judd Nelson, C. Thomas Howell, Jason London, Robert Carradine, Lochlyn Munro, Edrick Browne, Serah D'Laine, Alicia Leigh Willis. The film is directed by George Mendeluk.
CONTEST: Win The Wicker Tree on Blu-ray
Posted By: MovieWeb
Tue Apr 24 2012 20:15:27 pm
Anchor Bay Home Entertainment will release The Wicker Tree on Blu-ray and DVD April 24, director Robin Hardy's sequel to his 1975 classic The Wicker Man. We have a contest running and we're giving away copies of the Blu-ray to our readers. These prizes will surely go fast, so enter this contest today.
Winners Receive:
HERE'S HOW TO WIN!
Just "Like" (fan) the MovieWeb Facebook page (below) and then leave a comment below telling us why these prizes must be yours!
If you already "Like" MovieWeb, just leave a comment below telling us why these prizes must be yours!
Based on Robin Hardy's acclaimed 2006 novel "Cowboys for Christ," The Wicker Tree tells the story of Texas-based singer Beth Boothby (newcomer Brittania Nicol) and her friend Steve Thomson (Henry Garrett), two born-again Christians who come to Scotland to spread the gospel. When their initial efforts are met with disdain and disinterest, they find comfort in an invitation to sing in Tressock, the border fiefdom owned by Sir Lachlan Morrison (Graham McTavish).
However, Beth's and Steve's message of personal chastity quickly comes into direct conflict with Tressock's sexual and religious practices, drawing upon ancient Celtic beliefs and rituals. Temptations begin to challenge Beth and Steve -- with the stakes no less than their very lives and souls...
Christopher Lee, who played the mysterious Lord Summerisle in the original, returns again in a dramatic cameo. Rounding out the cast are Jacqueline Leonard as Lady Delia Morrison, Clive Russell as Beame, James Mapes as Reverend Moriarty and Honeysuckle Weeks as Lolly.
Special Features:
- Deleted Scenes
The Making of The Wicker Tree
Trailer
The Wicker Tree was released January 27th, 2012 and stars Christopher Lee, Graham McTavish, Clive Russell, Honeysuckle Weeks, Callum Mitchell, Henry Garrett, Jacqueline Leonard, Natalie Parnes. The film is directed by Robin Hardy.
CONTEST: Win a BBQ Grill from Bob's Burgers and American Dad
Posted By: MovieWeb
Tue Apr 24 2012 19:46:06 pm
Fox Home Entertainment recently released American Dad!: Volume Seven and Bob's Burgers Season 1 DVD sets from Fox's Animation Domination lineup. We have a contest lined up where the winners can take home these DVD sets and branded, indoor grills. These prizes will surely go fast, so enter this contest today.
Winners Receive:
- Branded indoor grill
HERE'S HOW TO WIN!
Just "Like" (fan) the MovieWeb Facebook page (below) and then leave a comment below telling us why these prizes must be yours!
If you already "Like" MovieWeb, just leave a comment below telling us why these prizes must be yours!
American Dad!: Volume Seven
From the creator of Family Guy come the hilarious antics of CIA Agent Stan Smith and his dysfunctional family in American Dad!. Featuring the voices of Seth MacFarlane (Family Guy), Mike Henry (The Cleveland Show) and Patrick Stewart (X-Men)
Special Features:
- Uncensored episodes only available on DVD
-Uncensored Audio commentaries
-Deleted scenes
-Featurettes
Bob's Burgers Season 1
Bob's Burgers follows a third-generation restaurateur, Bob Belcher who runs Bob's Burgers with the help of his wife and their three kids. Despite his greasy counters, lousy location and occasionally spotty service, Bob is convinced his burgers speak for themselves. Featuring the voice talents of H. Jon Benjamin (Archer) and Kristen Schaal (Flight of the Conchords), Bob's Burgers is a hilarious comedy about one unconventional family that will have you coming back for seconds.
Special Features:
- Bobs Burger's Audio Outtakes - Stars H. Jon Benjamin, Kristen Schaal and the rest of the gang go off script and fill you up with hilarious uncensored dialogue!
- Louise and the Burger Menu (Story Extension) - Very funny piece about how Louise names the "burger of the day" with custom animation and voice over (Kristen Schaal)
- Bob's Burgers Original Demo with Intro by Loren Bouchard - This is the "studio pitch piece" and Loren's explanation on the process and changes of the characters and casting
- Lifting up the skirt of the Night - Music video inspired by an original song from the series
- Audio Commentaries
EXCLUSIVE: She's Not Our Sister DVD Clip
Posted By: MovieWeb
Tue Apr 24 2012 12:06:53 pm
Following the DVD trailer last week, we have an exclusive clip for She's Not Our Sister, which arrives on DVD May 1. Take a look at this scene where Deandre (Christian Keyes) gets grilled about his relationship status.
She's Not Our Sister DVD - Exclusive: Number 1
Sibling relationships are complicated--on a good day; but when three sisters learn that their estranged father may have left them a multi-million dollar inheritance, fireworks really ignite! Oh, and then there's the half-sister they soon discover was one of their father's deep secrets! Directed by Vernon Snoop Robinson, this powerful, intimate and inspiring musical stage play demonstrates the range of emotions the sisters experience as they attempt to deal with the unexpected death of their father, long-buried family secrets, and the shocking revelation of an extra-marital affair that nearly exploded their parents' seemingly idyllic marriage. Questions of family loyalty, honesty and acceptance are raised; tempered by the realization that maybe love can conquer all.
Hell on Wheels: The Complete First Season Blu-ray and DVD Arrive May 15
Posted By: MovieWeb
Mon Apr 23 2012 19:43:34 pm
Credited for "helping to modernize the Western genre" when it premiered in 2011, Hell on Wheels centers on former Confederate soldier Cullen Bohannon (Anson Mount), whose quest for vengeance has led him to the Union Pacific Railroad's westward construction of the first transcontinental railroad. Currently reigning as the #2 rated show on AMC (with a series premiere that was the second highest rated AMC debut of all time), it is episodic TV at its very best. And before Season Two rolls into town this fall, home viewers can catch up on all the frontier drama in this star-studded smash with Hell On Wheels - The Complete First Season, arriving on DVD and Blu-ray May 15, only from Entertainment One.
Hell on Wheels tells the epic story of post-Civil War America, focusing on a soldier who sets out to exact revenge on the Union soldiers who have killed his wife. His journey takes him west to Hell on Wheels, a dangerous, raucous, lawless melting pot of a town that travels with and services the construction of the railroad, an engineering feat unprecedented for its time. The lavishly-produced series documents the railroad's engineering and construction, as well as institutionalized greed and corruption, the immigrant experience and the plight of newly emancipated African-Americans during Reconstruction. Chronicling this potent turning point in our nation's history, this fan favorite series shows just how uncivilized the business of civilization can be across 10 absorbing episodes.
Developed by Endemol USA and produced by Entertainment One and Nomadic Pictures, Hell on Wheels is created, written, and executive-produced by Joe and Tony Gayton (Faster, Uncommon Valor, The Salton Sea, Bulletproof).
Cast
- Anson Mount (City By The Sea, Cook County, Line of Fire)
- Common (Just Wright, Date Night)
- Colm Meaney (The Conspirator, Get Him to the Greek)
- Dominique McElligott (Moon, The Philanthropist)
- Ben Esler (The Pacific)
- Tom Noonan (Damages, The House of the Devil)
- Phil Burke (Mercy)
- Eddie Spears (Into the West)
- Wes Studi (Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee, Heat)
Bonus Programming
- "Recreating the Past: The Making of Hell on Wheels"
"Crashing a Train: From Concept to Camera"
- Seven "Making-of" Featurettes
- Ten "Inside the Episode" Featurettes
- Seven Character Featurettes
- Behind-the-Scenes Footage
EXCLUSIVE: Marvel Anime: Iron Man - The Complete Series DVD Featurette
Posted By: MovieWeb
Mon Apr 23 2012 13:13:29 pm
We have an exclusive featurette for Marvel Anime: Iron Man - The Complete Series, which debuts on DVD April 24. Marvel's head of television Jeph Loeb describes how the character was altered for the Japanese audience in this animated series. Check it out.
Marvel Anime: Ironman - Complete Series DVD: Exclusive: Re-Imagining Iron Man Animating for the Japanese
Tony Stark arrives in Japan to help implement his goal of world peace by building the Arc Reactor, a carbon-neutral power plant that, once operational, will be able to provide limitless (thus free) energy to the world. Set to retire his Iron Man persona, and about to mass-produce a line of Iron Man armor known as "Iron Man Dio", Stark's plans are derailed by a series of high tech Mech monsters. Zodiac, a top secret organization funded by the terrorist group A.I.M. is out to disrupt the Arc Station, steal the Dio armor and put an end to Iron Man. The Armored Avenger's fight is only just beginning.
Special Features:
- The Marvel Anime Universe: Re-Imagining Iron Man
21st Century Hero: The Technology of Iron Man
Special Cross Talk: The Creators Of Marvel Anime's Iron Man and Wolverine
Voicing Tony Stark: Interview with Keiji Fujiwara
EXCLUSIVE: John Hawkes Talks Roadracers
Posted By: MovieWeb
Fri Apr 20 2012 3:00:55 am
Don't take this the wrong way, but I didn't know how funny you were before I saw this. I thought you were hilarious as Nixer.
John Hawkes: Oh, thank you very much. I was really proud of it. I moved out here, after doing plays and being a part of a theater company in Texas. It was one of the few times, after moving out here, that I could make a whole character happen, on camera, that was satisfying for me as a viewer. That was very gratifying. I did a lot of oddball, sidekick work early on, and I never really found those roles very interesting, but that was one of the few that was right on. I felt that Robert afforded us, all of us as actors, room to create characters that were interesting and very well-rounded.
That's one of the things I liked about it. Nixer definitely is a sidekick, but he has a lot more going on than your regular sidekick. Was that more of a draw for you, or was it just working with Robert, who was just coming off El Mariachi?
John Hawkes: You know, I was really excited to work with Robert. I had just seen El Mariachi, and I was just excited when I read the script. To be honest, in 1994, I was doing a lot of jobs, as an actor, that I wasn't very interested in, because I just enjoyed acting. I was doing just about anything, but a job like this, I was really really excited and hopeful to be cast. It was a really rewarding experience, all the way through.
We mostly only see Nixer when he's hanging out with Dude. Did you ever develop any kind of back story, about maybe his home life, just to get into the character more?
John Hawkes: I'm certain that I did that. I'm an over-preparer to this day, but back then, if I had a one-line role in a sitcom, there would be pages that I would write up about the character (Laughs). I'm sure I had a lot about Nixer. I just wish I could recall what it was. I was trying to dig around and find the notebooks last night, and even the script. I keep very few scripts over the years, but I know I kept that one, because it was a highlight. I'm not sure exactly what Nixer's back story was, but I can assure you that there was a pretty thorough one that I had come up with. I don't think that Robert was that insistent on his actors doing anything like that. I was just enjoying it as an exercise and to figure things out about the character.
I just talked to William Sadler, and he described Robert as being this kid with the biggest toy set one could possibly imagine. Would you say that was true, in your experience working with him?
John Hawkes: I think so. I know that Robert was kind of frustrated, because even though it was a small project by Hollywood standards, I think he felt like it was over-crewed, that there were just way too many people around. He felt they could have done it with less people, and they could have saved the money to shoot other things. He was never rude to people at all, but he was very much a do-it-yourself guy. About a couple days into the shoot, he was pretty much shooting it himself, at that point. It probably wouldn't have been a fun thing to be the director of photography on Robert's early projects, because he just knew what he wanted. I don't think that's an egomaniacal thing, he's just a storyteller. He described in Rebel Without a Crew, how he can close his eyes and think of a movie from the very first moment from the very last roll of the credits, before he even begins to shoot. It was an unusual experience for all of us, and I've never had one quite like it, but it was terrific. It was really exciting. That being said, you work with someone like Steven Soderbergh, and, to this day, he shoots his own movie, as well as directs, and he finds that to be an effective approach. Again, I don't think it has anything to do with ego, and much more to do with making the movie you want to make.
It was cool to watch these performances from David (Arquette), Salma (Hayek) and William Sadler. Could you get a sense of the greatness that was to come from all of these actors?
John Hawkes: I think so. I mean, David had already done a fair amount of work. Jason Wiles, who plays Teddy, literally while we were in pre-production, was cast in John Singleton's Higher Learning, and had a great role. Salma, it was her first American role, but you could tell that she was beyond just a beauty. She had a lot of gut and soul. Sadler I really liked, at that point, because he was so funny in Bill and Ted's Bogus Journey. My friend Alex Winter played Bill, and I knew Sadler's work that way, so I was really excited to meet him. The one thing that happened, and Sadler might have already talked about this, but the Northridge earthquake happened right in the middle of the shoot. Right in the middle, maybe day 3 or day 4. This was pre-cell phone, so I think I drove all the way out to the set to find out if we were working that day. There was a huge earthquake, and we didn't know if we were going to shoot or not, but we ended up taking the day off, and shooting the next day. That day was the amazing roller skating scene, and I remember everyone was on roller skates and the after shocks were hitting. For the next two or three months, in Los Angeles, everyone was just saying, 'Did you feel that?' People were feeling their own earthquakes and aftershocks. It was crazy. I remember going to Portland to shoot a pilot, a month and a half or two months later, and thinking that Portland was shaking. It was a really odd thing.
That gives a lot more context to that roller skating scene then.
John Hawkes: Yeah, and it was such a brilliantly-shot scene. I remember Robert was on a wheelchair, and putting a camera on a skate, literally, and pushing it around with a pole. He was very inventive and it was guerilla filmmaking at its finest.
We ran a story awhile back that you were in talks to play The Governor in The Walking Dead. Is there anything you can say about that?
John Hawkes: They offered me the role, and I just felt there would be someone else who could do it better. I was flattered, and I took a look at the series. It held interest for me, but I just didn't feel like I was the guy for it. I have to be careful of what TV shows I choose, particularly ones that have commercials in them, because it's going to be a different kind of television show. There are going to be sponsors. No matter how good the show is, if there are commercials, it's going to be a different show, to me. That's just my personal feeling. Yeah, it was nice of them to ask, and it's a good show, but, again, I just didn't feel I was the guy. They came to me and sent me the graphic novel and the first two seasons. I took a look at them, and just didn't feel like it was for me.
Is there anything you can say about Switch? I'm a huge fan of Elmore Leonard, and Jackie Brown as well.
John Hawkes: I think the only Tarantino movie I haven't seen is Jackie Brown, and I won't watch it until after I shoot this. I don't think we're supposed to be imitators of Samuel L. Jackson and Robert De Niro, although I think that's what some people expect. Again, I will not have even seen Jackie Brown at that point, and my De Niro impression isn't that great, so I'm just going to approach it like any other film. (Writer-director) Daniel Schechter adapted the novel, I think, really beautifully, and this has kind of been a long time coming. I met with him many months ago, and Yasiin Bey, who I worked with many years before very briefly, I think he's a terrific guy and actor. I'm looking forward to getting going on it. It's been slow moving, trying to get the money and schedules all set up, but the script is what called to me, and that's always how it is. The script is good, and the role is good, and Daniel seems like a capable storyteller. I'm excited to work on it.
When do you start shooting?
John Hawkes: No idea. Hopefully this summer.
Excellent. I'll definitely keep my eyes peeled for that.
John Hawkes: Yeah, man. I hope it's good. Again, it starts with the script, and it's a fine script, for sure. I know that Elmore Leonard was impressed enough to want to be a part of the project. I just know that he's blessed the project, and that's exciting. He's such a terrific writer.
Oh yes. I'm not quite there yet, as far as reading his whole collection, but I've amassed quite a big stack of Elmore Leonard novels.
John Hawkes: Well, that's a life's work right there, my friend. That's a lot to read, that's good. I'm glad you're working your way through. I haven't read enough of his books myself, but I have always enjoyed them.
Just to wrap up, Roadracers is definitely Robert's most obscure title in his collection. What would you like to say to fans of his, who might not be familiar with this, about why they should pick it up on Blu-ray?
John Hawkes: Well, I just think it's a terrific little movie, and I think you'll see Robert's work in its infancy, those kind of action sequences, which he already proved he could do in El Mariachi on a shoestring budget. He had a little more to work with on this one, it's very inventive, it's very fun, it's got attitude, for sure, and I think people will get a real kick out of it. It's interesting to look at Salma Hayek's first English-speaking film, and see David Arquette do an amazing job, as well as Sadler, and just a great cast all around.
Excellent. I really loved this.
John Hawkes: Oh, cool man. I can't wait. I haven't seen it in several years, so I can't wait to see it again.
Thanks so much. It was great talking to you again.
John Hawkes: All right, Brian. Take care, man.
You can watch John Hawkes in his fantastic turn as Nixer in Roadracers, which is currently available on Blu-ray.
EXCLUSIVE: Dale Shelton Talks Mission: Impossible Ghost Protocol Blu-ray
Posted By: MovieWeb
Wed Apr 18 2012 14:35:32 pm
Last week, I was invited to Washington D.C. to take part in a special press event for Mission: Impossible Ghost Protocol, which debuts on Blu-ray and DVD April 17. The event took place at the International Spy Museum, right in the heart of our nation's capital, which is quite an amazing facility that I highly recommend visiting if you ever find yourself within the Beltway.
Director Brad Bird was on hand for a Q&A session with the press, but first off, I got to sit down, one-on-one, with Dale Shelton, who served as a weapons consultant on the sequel. He was responsible for high-tech gadgets such as the biometrics readers, facial recognition, thermal imaging, night vision, and other devices. Check out our exclusive video, then read on to see what Brad Bird had to say about this blockbuster.
Exclusive: Dale Shelton - Mission: Impossible Ghost Protocol Weapons Consultant
Director Brad Bird Talks Mission: Impossible Ghost Protocol
Mission: Impossible Ghost Protocol Blu-ray/DVD Trailer
Mission: Impossible Ghost Protocol Spy/Espionage Expert Panel
Mission: Impossible Ghost Protocol Spy Museum Footage
One of the highlights of this incredible action tale is star/thrill-seeker Tom Cruise actually climbing on the tallest building in the world, the Burj Khalifa in Dubai, India. The filmmaker revealed they had originally wanted to achieve these breathtaking shots by using CGI, but his star insisted on getting it in camera.
The filmmaker also talked about Tom Cruise as a producer, how he approaches the franchise much differently than any other series, and how he wanted to make it more realistic by having the gadgets fail the agents.
Brad Bird also talked about Tom Cruise doing all of his own stunts, and the actor's incredible work ethic.
Mission: Impossible Ghost Protocol arrives on Blu-ray and DVD April 17. You can also clickHere to learn more about the International Spy Museum in Washington D.C.
Mission: Impossible Ghost Protocol was released December 21st, 2011 and stars Tom Cruise, Jeremy Renner, Simon Pegg, Paula Patton, Michael Nyqvist, Vladimir Mashkov, Samuli Edelmann, Ivan Shvedoff. The film is directed by Brad Bird.
EXCLUSIVE: William Sadler Talks Roadracers Blu-ray
Posted By: MovieWeb
Wed Apr 18 2012 4:34:51 am
This came out the same year as The Shawshank Redemption, so I was curious if you shot Roadracers before that?
William Sadler: If I'm not mistaken, I think I shot this before I shot Shawshank. I'm not certain about that, to be honest with you. I know they happened in the same year. Shawshank was in the summer, in Ohio. We spent the entire summer there, 11 or 12 weeks or something like that. Maybe it happened right after Shawshank.
It must have been interesting to have these two roles go right up against each other, the prisoner and the cop. There's an interesting duality there.
William Sadler: Well, I'm always on one side of law enforcement or the other, aren't I?
That's true. What I enjoyed about this it's like this 1950s version of The Dukes of Hazzard, almost. What kind of vibe did you get when you first read the script by Robert (Rodriguez) and (co-writer) Tommy (Nix)?
William Sadler: You know, I loved the style he had. It had this sort of gritty style, that you don't see all the time, and I also liked the humor that he brought to it. There were bits that were funny that were designed to be funny. I only knew Robert from El Mariachi, which I had just seen, and he had called and asked me to do it. I was excited to meet him, this wunderkind. He really was. Everybody in Hollywood was talking about him. Everybody. He was this extraordinarily gifted director, who made a movie for like 20 bucks, selling his blood or something to get enough money to make a movie, and the movie turned out great. It was classy, and it was funny as hell. He was really the big draw for me. I liked the script, and I liked the role, and I liked what it was funny about it, but Robert was the reason I wanted to do the film.
I loved the first scene with Sarge, the whole pigs in the blanket introduction. It almost sets him up as this softy, but we learn that he's very much the opposite. Was it tricky to find that balance as this guy who just wants to clean up his town, and this guy who will stop at nothing to get Dude?
William Sadler: Well, it's not hard to get those two flavors in the same ice cream cone. That's like the Nazi who is into his puppies, and then turns around and kills people. People are complex that way, people are that way. He has this soft spot, he can wax poetical about pigs in a blanket, and then turn around and be a motherf*&%er. It's all about mother, and apple pie, and home, pride and country, but don't cross him, man.
They hinted at the history between Sarge and Dude's father. It isn't quite explored fully in the movie though, but was that something that you and Robert developed, just so you could have that history of the character?
William Sadler: Yeah, exactly. Sometimes that stuff is enough that we're on the same page. You can hint at it without going into great detail.
I loved how they kept focusing on that, 'This is God's Country' sign, and so many bad things keep happening right around that sign.
William Sadler: That's the thing. That's his sense of humor. He's always looking for the ironic twist, the unexpected, ironic, funny, and he seasons his movies with that. He makes them incredibly indelible.
This has some early performances from David Arquette, Salma Hayek, and John Hawkes. Can you talk about the dynamic on the set of being around a really up and coming cast?
William Sadler: You could tell that these were classy folks.
John Hawkes and Salma were amazing. Hawkes was hysterical in this. He was so fun to watch. You know, throwing the knife and sticking in the shoe, that whole sequence. You expect great things from people who are that good. Everybody was just starting out.
Can you give us a sense of how Robert works on the set? What really impressed you about working with him?
William Sadler: There was a great sense of playfulness, that I loved about working with Robert. You often hear this about directors, how it's like having the best set of toys. This fabulous train set, the biggest box of toys that a kid could possibly have. The best directors look like a kid having more fun than you're supposed to have. He was like running from one camera to another. It was his first film after El Mariachi, in which he did everything. He held the camera, he held the microphone, he did the editing, he did everything. Here, suddenly, he had the box of toys. There's a learning curve, and he was like, 'What do you do with this? Oh my God, look at this.' He really did look like a kid on Christmas Day, running around the set, with these huge 35 millimeter film cameras and cranes and special effects and a budget for costumes. It was the best train set a kid could possibly get.
We heard recently there was a script completed for Bill & Ted 3. I was wondering if you have heard anything about The Grim Reaper possibly returning in that sequel?
William Sadler: I'm not sure if it's a done deal yet. I know they're trying to write The Grim Reaper in. (Writer-star) Alex (Winter) said, 'How could we do this without the Reaper?' I'm hopeful. I'd love to go back and play with those guys again. That was one of the most fun roles I've done. I'll be there in a heartbeat, if they want to do it.
What would you like to say to any fans of Robert who might not be familiar with Roadracers, about why they should pick it up on Blu-ray?
William Sadler: Oh, they should absolutely check out the early work of one of our best directors. You have to look at where these people come from, who have gone on to impress you so much with bigger films. All the raw ingredients of greatness are there.
Excellent. That's my time. Thanks so much for talking to me, William.
William Sadler: Thank you, Brian.
You can watch William Sadler as Sarge in the early Robert Rodriguez movie Roadracers, which is currently available on Blu-ray.
She's Not Our Sister DVD Trailer
Posted By: MovieWeb
Tue Apr 17 2012 15:46:52 pm
Image Entertainment has released the DVD trailer for She's Not Our Sister, which hits DVD May 1. This musical stage play, directed by Vernon Snoop Robinson, stars Kellita Smith, Christian Keyes, and Drew Sidora and centers on three sisters who discover family secrets after their father passes away. Check it out.
She's Not Our Sister DVD - Trailer
Sibling relationships are complicated--on a good day; but when three sisters learn that their estranged father may have left them a multi-million dollar inheritance, fireworks really ignite! Oh, and then there's the half-sister they soon discover was one of their father's deep secrets! Directed by Vernon Snoop Robinson, this powerful, intimate and inspiring musical stage play demonstrates the range of emotions the sisters experience as they attempt to deal with the unexpected death of their father, long-buried family secrets, and the shocking revelation of an extra-marital affair that nearly exploded their parents' seemingly idyllic marriage. Questions of family loyalty, honesty and acceptance are raised; tempered by the realization that maybe love can conquer all.






























Tweet