Hello! I currently write film reviews, various entertainment-related articles, and conduct interviews with talent for my website: Reel Reviews by Randall Unger (https://reelreviewsnyc.wordpress.com). Take a look and enjoy!
Favorite movies: Ghostbusters II, the Back to the Future Trilogy, Jurassic Park, Glengarry Glen Ross, Batman (1989), Memoirs of an Invisible Man, Innerspace, Cast Away, Forrest Gump, Rain Man, True Lies, The 'burbs, etc.
Favorite TV shows: Seinfeld, Breaking Bad, Perfect Strangers, Charles in Charge, The Tick (animated), Batman: The Animated Series, Freakazoid!, The Office (U.S.), Arrested Development, It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, Daredevil, Gotham, etc.
The independent dramedy is all the rage nowadays. Actors and filmmakers often make beautiful music together when they join forces to put together a truly solid indie and this particularly rings true with Adult Beginners, a charming story of sibling dynamics and the overcoming of major life obstacles. Comedian Nick Kroll shifts gears a bit as a tech entrepreneur who has fallen on hard times. He then begins staying at his sister’s (Rose Byrne), where he becomes the babysitter of her and her husband’s (Bobby Cannavale) child. I recently had the opportunity to sit down with Kroll, Byrne and director Ross Katz and the conversation was interesting to say the least.
Kevin Pollack is a man of many talents. He is a gifted actor, comedian and impressionist and most recently, he has added “documentary filmmaker” to that list of professions. His new film Misery Loves Comedy is an intriguing examination of comedians and the darkness that often accompanies the job. In the film, Pollack serves as an interviewer, asking probing questions with some of the entertainment industry’s leading jokesters. I recently caught up with Mr. Pollack and sat down with the talented funny man to find out more about the film and what it means to comedians this day an age. Here’s how the interview went:
Religion can be a rather touchy subject and when that subject is touched upon on film, it can raise some questions. Fortunately the new independent film Death of a Tree is handled in a way that is tasteful, direct and at times, rather artfully. Filmmaker John Martoccia is an artist in every sense of the word. Not only does he write and direct films but he dabbles in abstract artist through paint and gasoline, yes gasoline. He is also a gifted poet. All of these artistic mediums are touched upon in his latest film and he was even kind enough to speak with me. Here’s how that interview went:
The main purpose of a documentary is a two-pronged one: to educate and to entertain. With the new boxing doc Champs, the viewer definitely gets the full filmed treatment. Filmmaker Bert Marcus’ mission (with all of his films) is to raise awareness about important sociological issues. In Champs, he certainly accomplishes this mission and then some. I recently had the great privilege of interviewing Bert about this new documentary. Here’s how that match went down.
Boxing is probably the most dangerous sport there is. It is an activity in which two individuals establish their dominance through sweaty and bloody competition. Many men (and women) have engaged in the sport and their personal stories often contribute to their punch for punch quest for glory. Not only are they fighting for a title but they are fighting for freedom, liberation from oppression and poor living conditions. The new documentary Champs is an exceptionally well-crafted film that highlights the struggles and the triumphs of boxers. Three of the greatest fighters to ever compete tell their stories and make for one very compelling documentary. It’s not just a film about the sport but a film showcasing the very best in humanity.
In acclaimed British actor Jude Law’s latest film Black Sea, the actor takes on one of his most challenging roles yet, that of a Scottish submarine captain bent on retrieving a large sum of gold buried beneath the sea. The film is a harrowing adventure that features a motley crew of English and Russian men all pursuing the same thing: fortune. It is an old fashioned thriller that explores a number of themes including greed, paranoia, and sacrifice. I recently had the great privilege of interviewing star Jude Law and Academy Award-winning director Kevin Macdonald (The Last King of Scotland, One Day in September). Here’s how the interview went:
The great thing about submarine films is that they usually evoke a strong sense of tension (Das Boot, The Hunt for Red October), mostly motivated by claustrophobia and/or paranoia. The setting is so tight that those onboard may begin to lose it, unravel, and the results can be pretty gripping. The new thriller Black Sea is a perfect example of this and with a brilliant cast led by charismatic leading man Jude Law plus expert direction from Academy Award-winning director Kevin Macdonald (The Last King of Scotland, One Day in September), it is a film that will definitely leave a profound impact on audiences. It’s just a fun film and almost everything about it clicks.
I recently had the exciting opportunity to sit down with ‘Big Eyes’ screenwriters Scott Alexander and Larry Karaszewski. Enjoy the interview below!
You first met Tim Burton 20 years ago. You worked with him on Ed Wood. How did you first meet? What was that like?
We had, just through a sort of eccentric people who know people, six steps removed kind of thing. We had the idea to write a movie about Ed, and at the time, Ed was a figure of mockery. And after our Problem Child movies, we started identifying with Ed, and we sort of had this idea that nobody sets out to make a bad movie. It just kind of happens.
I recently caught up with charming and personable director Greg Carter. Mr. Carter wrote and directed 2014’s Lap Dance, a film based on his own life that involves his fiancé taking a job as an exotic dancer.
I understand that ‘Lap Dance’ was inspired by actual events in your life.
At one point in time, animated films catered to children almost exclusively. Wholesome messages and brilliant art propelled these films to great heights. Thankfully, for nearly two decades now, the animated film has evolved to include parents into the proceedings. The new Dreamworks spin-off adventure Penguins of Madagascar is a prime example of a cartoon made for both kids and adults and the results are actually really fun. I had a chance to speak with the directors of the film (Eric Darnell and Simon J. Smith). Here’s how it went:
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