The Scorecard Review

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This is Jeff Bayer, and I don't update this site very often. If you'd like to listen to my current movie podcast you can find it at MovieBS.com.

All in Interviews

Dec 9
Dec 9 Freddy Rodriguez, Elisabeth Pena and Luis Guzman - Nothing Like the Holidays

Nothing adds to the holiday's commercial cheer like a good Christmas movie. A story about a Puerto Rican family coming together for Christmas, Nothing Like The Holidays is a warm film full of, what Freddy Rodriguez has called himself, an "all-star" cast. From Alfredo Molina to John Leguizamo, or Elisabeth Pena to Debra Messing, the family's all here in a film guaranteed to add a little spice to a holiday experience at the multiplex. Three stars from the film, Freddy Rodriguez (who also serves as an executive producer), Elisabeth Pena, and Luis Guzman came to Chicago for a red-carpet premiere at the city's treasured Music Box theatre. Joined by another reporter, I sat down at a conference table at Chicago's Four Seasons Hotel to understand why there really is Nothing Like

Nov 24
Nov 24 Angus MacLane - Director of Burn-E

And along comes Burn-E ... the one being who's life is not charmed my Wall-E. I sat down with Angus MacLane at the Westin Hotel in downtown Portland. He's the directing animator on Wall-E and directed the original short Burn-E which is included on the Wall-E DVD.

He's also worked on Geri's Game, A Bug's Life, Toy Story 2, Monsters, Inc., and Finding Nemo. So yes, he is Pixar.

For those that don't understand animation film making, what does a director animator do? The director directs everybody, the supervising animators help organize the animation department, and interface with the producer, director and they make artistic calls. The directing animator is more downward facing and helps on the ground the animators to get their work done and facilitate the consistency. They make sure the characters

Nov 11
Nov 11 Danny Boyle - Director of Slumdog Millionaire

The mastermind behind films like Trainspotting, 28 Days Later, the underrated Sunshine, and the newest, Slumdog Millionaire, Danny Boyle introduces himself with a big genuine smile and a firm handshake. When he starts talking, (immediately, about his take on British toilet humor), he has the intrigue and charm reminiscent of a nice chap at the pub who loves to tell stories. In a cozy room at Chicago's wonderful Hotel Sax, Boyle discussed with great enthusiasm his latest and possibly best achievement, Slumdog Millionaire. The film is a unique take on the concept of the underdog that, with amazing visuals and storytelling, catapults us headfirst into the life on the streets of Mumbai, India. Slumdog focuses on a young man named Jamal, whose life story is incidentally told through the questions he

Oct 31
Oct 31 Charles Burns, director of Fear(s) of the Dark

Charles Burns isn't about reinvention. But he is about taking risks. The 55-year-old Seattle native is known all over the world for his award-winning and ground-breaking graphic novels, comic series and collected works like Black Hole and El Borbah. His work has earned a cult following for its dark, distinctive themes, and Burns himself is one of the most respected cartoonists of his generation.

His first foray into film comes in the form of Fear(s) of the Dark, a French animated import that contains sequences written, illustrated and directed by Burns. Not surprisingly, these moments of black-and-white creepiness aren't a far cry from images found in his extensive array of published work.

As he enters a brand new form of storytelling, Burns says he thinks his film's fresh take on the animation genre

Oct 29
Oct 29 Lance Hammer - Director of Ballast

Lance Hammer's Ballast is a docile film that has made quite a name for itself in the festival circuit. His first film uses the Mississippi Delta to explore an "underlying sadness," as he calls it, involving three human beings who are affected by a suicide. The subtle and moving film won two awards at the Sundance Film Festival, and is currently nominated four times for the Gotham Independent Film Awards.

It was an honor to discuss the film and the general process of filmmaking with Hammer in a cozy conference room on Michigan Avenue.

Though he was not particularly enthusiastic about his days working on Joel Schumacher's Batman movies, he had to discuss involving making films that are true to one's vision. If you're a fan of films that tell so

Oct 29
Oct 29 Stefan Forbes - Director of Boogie Man: The Lee Atwater Story

Stefan Forbes is a courageous documentarian that says what he believes and believes what he says. In his latest effort, Boogie Man: The Lee Atwater Story he sheds a microscopic light over the life of the Republican Party’s last rock star, Lee Atwater. While working on both the Reagan and Bush (the first one) campaigns, Atwater found ways to persuade an impressionable American public by using tactically fabricated realities to sway their vote. Though his methods were hardly admirable, they were powerful in the sense that the fables he concocted were not only believed by Americans, but completely accepted on a national level.

Boogie Man reveals the web of lies surrounding Atwater’s systematic stranglehold on Washington for more than a decade, right up to his shocking demise. Forbes provides us with a

Oct 24
Oct 24 Gavin O'Connor - director of Pride and Glory

Gavin O’Connor is hardly as exhausted as I anticipate. Just as I’m being walked upstairs to talk to the critically acclaimed director, I’m told this is his last interview of the day. Not a good thing.

Despite the fear that O’Connor may be spent, I actually find him to be an engaging conversationalist, whose passion for his latest film [Pride and Glory, out tomorrow] is rivaled only by his daughter’s passion for Disney Music.

As we talk, it seems O’Connor is well prepared for the onslaught of attention he’s sure to get once Pride & Glory hits the theaters.

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Do you mind if I ask you some “ice breaker” questions so as not to lull you to sleep?

Not at all.

Okay, great. What’s dominating your ipod at the moment?

You now what’s dominating my iPod?

Oct 12
Oct 12 Clark Duke from Sex Drive

If Clark Duke isn't on your radar yet, just wait a year or so. The up-and-coming actor/writer, who helped launch his career with the self-produced web series "Clark and Michael" with best friend Michael Cera, is starring in the new teen road trip flick Sex Drive. He's also set to star in A Thousand Words next year alongside Eddie Murphy. In fact, at just 23, Duke has a long list of TV credits behind him and shows no signs of slowing down.

But when I got a a chance to speak with the actor about his new film and his plans for the future, he led me to believe his career may be headed in a different direction in the years to come.

Which kind of work do you prefer, Clark and Michael

Sep 22
Sep 22 Neil Burger - director of The Lucky Ones

Sep 4
Sep 4 Daryl Roberts - writer/director of America the Beautiful

American the Beautiful is a documentary by Daryl Roberts that focuses on the body image of women and explores the question of whether America has an unhealthy obsession with beauty. The quick answer is of course, yes, but Roberts gives specific examples and interviews a wide variety of people to clearly show the problem. I sat down with Roberts at the Avalon Hotel in Portland and spoke about body image (obviously), the 12-year-old model showcased in the film, and any solutions to these issues.

Early on in the film, you spoke about the girl that got away … Was this whole film a love letter to this girl? No, as a matter of fact, I went out of my way to make sure she never sees it. It’s embarrassing. I would never want her to see that part of the documentary.

It’s rated R? Why? Eve Ensler said, “Get a bigger dick,” right in the middle of the film and they gave me an R for it. Come on … that’s it? They hit independents hard. If it was a studio film it would have been as PG as PG gets. It was just rated in Canada and they gave us a PG and said it was unbelievable that they gave us an R.

Jul 31
Jul 31 Brandon T. Jackson from Tropic Thunder

Brandon T. Jackson plays Alpa Chino in the blockbuster comedy Tropic Thunder. Jackson costars with comedians Ben Stiller, Jack Black and Danny R. McBride. But people will be talking most about Robert Downey Jr.'s Kirk Lazarus who is black faced throughout the film. I had a chance to talk to Jackson about the role, what it was like on the set and also as the film’s most prominent black actor, what he thought of Downey’s performance. And just so you know, the T. stands for Timothy.

What did you bring to the role Alpa Chino that wasn’t in the script?

I brought pretty much the whole energy in the beginning, where you see all the Bootie Sweat (Alpa’s energy drink). I took the rapper over the top and so ridiculous, but then developed him in the jungle where he’s in the situation with Robert being a black face and he’s just fed up.

Jul 8
Jul 8 Jason Freeland - writer/director of Garden Party

This Garden Party is all about marijuana, young sex, music and most importantly, Los Angeles. Writer/director Jason Freeland has crafted an intertwining tale of young people in L.A. looking to break through, escape, or just get laid.

I sat down for an interview with Freeland at the Hotel Monaco in Portland and spoke about the scene (Los Angeles and Hollywood) …

How did you get your start? I had made short films. We actually did a short film with James Gandolfini, he was going to be the star of Brown’s Requiem (Freeland's 1998 debut), but then the money fell out. I consider myself more of a director. If I wasn't pursuing directing, I don't know if I would pursue movie making. That's my passion. It's the ultimate challenge, putting everything together.

Apr 7
Apr 7 Morgan Spurlock - Where in the World is Osama bin Laden?

Because of Morgan Spurlock’s film “Super Size Me” (and my wife), I’m off fast food almost entirely. Now comes his new film “Where in the World is Osama bin Laden?” It’s the story of a documentarian attempting to find the most notorious terrorist in the eyes of the U.S. government. Considering you haven’t read any headlines about bin Laden being interviewed, or Spurlock collecting the $25 million reward, you can guess what happened. But Spurlock does give insight into how people from Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Eygpt and Israel view Americans and what binds us all together.

I sat down with Spurlock and asked him if he was the skinny Michael Moore...

Mar 31
Mar 31 Doug Benson - Super High Me

Doug Benson had an idea. For a man who smokes pot, that’s nothing new. But he did something unique for a marijuana smoker… he followed through on that idea. “Super High Me” is a documentary/comedy inspired by Morgan Spurlock’s “Super Size Me” with one very big twist.

Benson smokes pot for 30 days straight to see what will happen. Morning, noon and night, Benson smokes. But first he goes completely sober (alcohol and pot) for a month and takes lung capacity tests, a physical and the SATs, which he then repeats during his pot month.

I first interviewed Benson at SXSW where his film made its premiere. But then everything was stolen (notes, recorder, computer). Benson was cool enough to do the whole thing all over again...

Mar 17
Mar 17 Sean Faris - Never Back Down

Sean Faris, star of the new mixed martial arts (MMA) flick Never Back Down might be a new face in Hollywood, but the 25-year-old got a jump on acting when he was just a kid. The Cleveland native, who bears a striking resemblance to Tom Cruise, used to tell people the Top Gun star was his dad.

But these days, Faris is making a name for himself.

Jeff Bayer talked with Faris about the Hollywood scene, Karate Kid and whipping himself into shape for his new film.

When you auditioned for the role of Jake Tyler, did you have to turn it on athletically? I had to do a fight test... I wasn't much of a kicker at all, but they saw enough to know that with the training I would be fine.

Jan 20
Jan 20 John Lehr - 10 Items or Less

John Lehr would like to thank you and make sure you come again. The creator and star of “10 Items or Less,” the TBS sitcom about a local grocery store, is beginning the second season of the show. The comedy is almost all improv with no character dialogue written beforehand. Lehr has a history of TV -- and film and stage, for that matter -- and spent time in Chicago, attending Northwestern and performing improv. His wife, author Jennifer Lehr of “Ill-equipped for a Life of Sex: A Memoir,” is pregnant with their second child, and though he loves parenthood, Lehr vows his resolution this year “is to not have any more children. I’m getting it cut. Whatever it takes, I’m done.”

Dec 19
Dec 19 Laura Linney - The Savages

The title of her new film might be “The Savages,” but Laura Linney proved quite the opposite. The actress co-stars with Oscar winner Philip Seymour Hoffman in a film about two siblings who suddenly getting yanked out of their self-obsessed lives to deal with a an ailing father now entering a nursing home. Linney has been nominated for two Academy Awards, and her role in “The Savages” could be a third, but her name still isn’t immediately recognizable. She’s able to dive into characters in films such as “The Squid and the Whale,” “Kinsey,” and “Love Actually.” And beyond all of that, she complimented me about the questions I asked, and I decided she doesn’t do that to everyone … right?

Nov 8
Nov 8 Josh Brolin - No Country for Old Men

The older brother in “Goonies” is probably the most popular role Josh Brolin has ever played. After more than 20 years as an actor on stage and the big screen, that might be changing. Brolin starred in “Grindhouse,” “American Gangster,” “Into the Valley of Elah,” and his biggest role of the year in the Coen brothers’ “No Country for Old Men.” Before we sat down to begin the interview, Brolin looked out the window and said, “ I actually slept well for the first time in about a year last night.” It’s easy to understand why, considering he was getting roles in films like “Into the Blue” and now he’s working with Denzel Washington, Tommy Lee Jones and Russell Crowe. And if you’re curious, even though he looks like a black...

Oct 19
Oct 19 Wes Anderson & Jason Schwartzman - The Darjeeling Limited

“The Darjeeling Limited” is about three American brothers who haven’t seen each other in a year. They reunite in India on a train ride aboard the Darjeeling Limited, which they hope will lead to a spiritual journey and once again being a close family. But with any Wes Anderson film, there is much more going on. Typically, his movies such as “The Royal Tenenbaums” and “Rushmore” get better with repeat viewings, so you might just want to consider a second sit-through. I sat down with director Anderson and star Jason Schwartzman at the Drake Hotel. “Rushmore” is one of my favorite films of all-time, so after a quick compliment, we talked about traveling to India, Schwartzman being barefoot in the film, and Anderson’s secret film with Noah Baumbach.

Sep 20
Sep 20 Emile Hirsch - Into the Wild

“Into the Wild” opens the same weekend I get married. It’s a story about running away from society with no plan, no money and no family contact and I absolutely loved it. Please keep in mind that I have no plans in following Christopher McCandless’s footsteps, played perfectly by Emile Hirsch, nor am I worried about entering into marriage with the woman I love. I just think it’s one of those funny coincidences that should be noticed and appreciated. I swear. I sat down with Hirsch, the 22-year-old who’s best known for starring in “Lords of Dogtown” and “The Girl Next Door.” But after his performance as McCandless, the 23-year-old who left modern life behind, he’ll be best known for “Into the Wild” — and maybe even an Oscar nomination.