Movie Playlist: Jonathan Levine
Welcome to another edition of Movie Playlist, where we talk to the writers, directors, and stars about their favorite films. I’ve always found the celebrity playlists on iTunes to be interesting. Most everyone in the film business moved to Hollywood after discovering their love of films. And I’ve always love talking to people about their favorite films. So talking to the people who make the movies about their favorite films just seemed like a natural idea.
This week’s edition is with Jonathan Levine, the writer and director of The Wackness and All The Boys Love Mandy Lane. I first saw The Wackness at the 2008 Sundance Film Festival, where the movie went on to win the audience award. I’ve seen the film three times since January, and it still remains on my list of the top five films of 2008. Levine is an up and coming filmmaker who is sure to impress in the years to come.
Manhattan, written and directed by Woody Allen
“Just because of the sweeping kind of romantic scope of it and also the humor and the way it looks.”
Billy Madison by Tamra Davis
“I think it’s just really fucking funny.”
Band of Outsiders by Godard
I really like, well Godard, I think is, I really really like the way he makes films and the way he plays with form is really interesting to me. And I think it’s actually in many ways kind of consistent with hip-hop and sampling things and just the things he does with music and sound. I think he’s like a one of a kind, very unique, and I like to rip him off as much as I can.”
La Notte by Michelangelo Antonioni
Eyes Wide Shut by Stanley Kubrick
“It’s just like a tone, you know? As much as Woody Allen kind of revels in the emotion, those guys kind of have a healthy distance from the emotion that in many ways is just as impactful. There’s a misanthropy to it that is not cynical. It’s like you’re showing that the worst side of people but in doing so, you’re allowing… you know, it’s Tom Cruise, you’re like ‘oh shit! Like Tom Cruise is this scumbag… he has the weirdest thoughts and his wife wants to cheat on him with a marine and he’s Tom Cruise but he’s so fucking fucked up by it that he has to go put on a mask and go to an orgy.’ But you identify with these base desires and with the worst part of human beings and then you realize all right, it’s not that bad. The movie ends on this note where it’s like, oh yeah, we got fucked. I really liked that movie. It might not be my favorite movie… the only one of those movies that constitutes my favorite movie is Manhattan but the other ones do really interesting things that I respect out of movies.”
Check out Jonathan Levine’s latest movie The Wackness, which hits limited release this Friday.
Hilary Duff Checks Out “The Wackness”
Hilary Duff Checks Out “The Wackness”
Looking sexy in a curve-hugging white tanktop with black pants, Hilary Duff stopped by the Los Angeles Film Festival for a night at the movies on Tuesday (June 24).
After making her way to the Crest Theater in Westwood, California, Duff opted to check out the Jonathan Levine directed dramedy, “The Wackness”.
A film synopsis tells: “It’s the summer of 1994, and the streets of New York are pulsing with hip-hop. Set against this backdrop, Luke Shapiro (Josh Peck) spends his last summer before college selling dope throughout New York City, trading it with his shrink (Ben Kingsley) for therapy, while crushing on his step-daughter (Olivia Thirlby).”
“The Wackness”, which also stars Mary-Kate Olsen and Method Man, among others, makes its way into theaters on a limited release basis in the States on July 3rd.
The Wackness Official Movie Trailer
Sony Pictures Classics has released a new trailer for one of my favorite films of the year - The Wackness. They’re calling it the “official trailer”, and I actually like it much more than the the previously released teasers. It plays equal attention the relationships between Peck, Thirlby, and Kingsley, the 1990’s nostalgia, and the incredible soundtrack. I could have done without the Mary-Kate Olsen button at the end, but I understand she might be a selling point.
Hunter points out that they probably should have played up some of the great critical reaction the film has gotten on the festival circuit. But at the same time I can understand that the target audience might not care about quotes from movie critics. I’m still waiting for the inevitable red band trailer. As I’ve said before, this film is a tough film to sell. Director Jonathan Levine told me that SPC was planning on doing a lot of word of mouth screenings to raise awareness. I think the best thing they could do is pack a theater with people and show them the film, as they will surely recommend it to ten of their friends.
Watch the trailer in High Definition on Yahoo. The Wackness hits theaters on July 3rd 2008.
The Wackness Movie Trailer #3
When I first saw The Wackness in January at Sundance, I proclaimed that it was one of my favorite films of the year so far. It’s very easy to make such claims in the first couple weeks of a new year, especially when you’re in Park City. I’ve seen the film now four times, in three different states. We’re now almost half way through 2008, and I can tell you without a doubt, the film stands up.
The Wackness will find an audience, because frankly, it’s a good movie. Problem is, the film is hard to market. Almost every character in the film smokes, the lead character sells drugs, none of which can be shown in a green band movie trailer. To top it off, the film is a period film, set in the mid-90’s, enough to tempt any marketing department to use crazy 90’s colors and graphics, none of which is appealing to people today because, well, “it’s so 90’s.” But I think this new teaser trailer does a better job of explaining things. It’s really hard to take a step back. Having seen the films so many times now, it’s almost like your brain fills in the blanks.
The new teaser focuses on the relationship between Josh Peck and Olivia Thirlby’s characters. I’m still waiting for a two and a half minute theatrical trailer. When I interviewed director Jonathan Levine a couple weeks back, he told me they’re working on a kick ass red band trailer which should help sell the movie more for what it is, and not only the g-rated elements they’re allowed to show you. I hear Sony Pictures Classics is going to run a lot of advanced screenings, because word of mouth is really the only way to get the word out about this film. Anyway, watch the new teaser trailer below and tell me what you think in the comments.
Watch the trailer in High Definition on Apple.com. The Wackness hits theaters in New York and Los Angeles on July 3rd 2008.
Official Plot Synopsis: It’s the summer of 1994, and the streets of New York are pulsing with hip-hop and wafting with the sweet aroma of marijuana—but change is in the air. The newly-inaugurated mayor, Rudy Giuliani, is beginning to implement his anti-fun initiatives against “crimes” like noisy portable radios, graffiti and public drunkenness. Set against this backdrop, Luke Shapiro (Josh Peck) spends his last summer before college selling dope throughout New York City, trading it with his shrink (Ben Kingsley) for therapy, while crushing on his step daughter (Olivia Thirlby). Famke Janssen, Mary Kate Olsen,and Method Man round out the cast in this edgy, bittersweet, and funny coming of age story.
Discuss: What do you think of the new trailer for The Wackness.