Mr. Vin Diesel has made a name for himself playing monotone bruisers; big guys who look like they want to smash your skull in if you get in your way. But he's also a family man when it comes to the "Fast and Furious" films. He's also been a talking tree, a sci-fi warrior, a mobster, a military grunt in a Steven Spielberg movie, and more. While Diesel seems solely committed to playing Dom in the "Furious" saga these days, we shouldn't forget about his other work, some of which is quite good (and others ... not).
To get to the bottom of what Diesel's best role is, we here at /Film asked our readers to weigh in. Then we compiled the results in a special, massive supercomputer. The results may actually surprise you. They kind of surprised me! So let's take a look at Vin Diesel's best roles, starting at the bottom.
To get to the bottom of what Diesel's best role is, we here at /Film asked our readers to weigh in. Then we compiled the results in a special, massive supercomputer. The results may actually surprise you. They kind of surprised me! So let's take a look at Vin Diesel's best roles, starting at the bottom.
- 7/23/2023
- by Chris Evangelista
- Slash Film
Click here to read the full article.
Cinematographer Tom Richmond, whose résumé included work on such films as Stand and Deliver, Killing Zoe, Little Odessa, Slums of Beverly Hills and Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist, has died. He was 72.
Richmond died Friday in New York City, Anthony Jannelli, head of cinematography at NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts, told The Hollywood Reporter (Richmond also taught at NYU). The cause of death was not immediately available.
Richmond, who was the director of photography on nearly four dozen features, also shot Keenan Ivory Wayans’ I’m Gonna Git You Sucka (1988), Scott Silver’s Johns (1996), Rob Zombie’s House of 1,000 Corpses (2003) and Todd Solondz’s Palindromes (2004).
He won the best cinematography prize at Sundance in 2006 for his work on Right at Your Door, a drama about a terrorist attack involving chemical bombs.
He received Spirit Award nominations for Stand & Deliver...
Cinematographer Tom Richmond, whose résumé included work on such films as Stand and Deliver, Killing Zoe, Little Odessa, Slums of Beverly Hills and Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist, has died. He was 72.
Richmond died Friday in New York City, Anthony Jannelli, head of cinematography at NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts, told The Hollywood Reporter (Richmond also taught at NYU). The cause of death was not immediately available.
Richmond, who was the director of photography on nearly four dozen features, also shot Keenan Ivory Wayans’ I’m Gonna Git You Sucka (1988), Scott Silver’s Johns (1996), Rob Zombie’s House of 1,000 Corpses (2003) and Todd Solondz’s Palindromes (2004).
He won the best cinematography prize at Sundance in 2006 for his work on Right at Your Door, a drama about a terrorist attack involving chemical bombs.
He received Spirit Award nominations for Stand & Deliver...
- 8/3/2022
- by Mike Barnes
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
In the days leading up to the Fourth of July, New York governor Andrew Cuomo took to social media urging state residents to avoid indoor parties and large gatherings. But it seems folks didn’t listen and after seeing pictures of packed beaches and stocked bars surface online, a second wave of coronavirus-induced quarantine and social distancing seems closer than ever before.
Should it come to that, at least Netflix will have you covered. Over the past week, the streamer added a whopping 103 new movies and 23 new shows. Yes, it seems they’re giving subscribers enough content to last a lifetime of isolation and here’s a quick overview of some of the best titles that arrived this week.
Let’s start with movies. If you’re aching for a familiar yet thrilling crime drama, look no further than Donnie Brasco. This film, which stars Johnny Depp in one of his first lead roles ever,...
Should it come to that, at least Netflix will have you covered. Over the past week, the streamer added a whopping 103 new movies and 23 new shows. Yes, it seems they’re giving subscribers enough content to last a lifetime of isolation and here’s a quick overview of some of the best titles that arrived this week.
Let’s start with movies. If you’re aching for a familiar yet thrilling crime drama, look no further than Donnie Brasco. This film, which stars Johnny Depp in one of his first lead roles ever,...
- 7/5/2020
- by Tim Brinkhof
- We Got This Covered
Vin Diesel may have built his reputation in the action genre, and when he’s not starring in his multiple franchise roles as either Fast and Furious’ Dominic Toretto, Pitch Black’s Richard B. Riddick, XXX’s Xander Cage or Guardians of the Galaxy’s Groot, he can generally be found trying to launch new ones in the likes of The Last Witch Hunter and Bloodshot, but the 52 year-old didn’t exactly burst onto the scene with grand designs of conquering the market on vest-wearing heroes.
Instead, Diesel got his break by writing, producing and directing his own original projects in the mid-90s, with the buzz surrounding his early efforts in Multi-Facial and Strays gaining the attention of Steven Spielberg, who gave the actor his big break by casting him in Saving Private Ryan. In fact, the legendary filmmaker still laments the fact that the gravel-throated star hasn’t...
Instead, Diesel got his break by writing, producing and directing his own original projects in the mid-90s, with the buzz surrounding his early efforts in Multi-Facial and Strays gaining the attention of Steven Spielberg, who gave the actor his big break by casting him in Saving Private Ryan. In fact, the legendary filmmaker still laments the fact that the gravel-throated star hasn’t...
- 7/2/2020
- by Scott Campbell
- We Got This Covered
The first of the month is always a big one for any streaming service and July is no different in that regard. The big four – that’s Netflix, Amazon Prime, Hulu and HBO Max – all brought their A-games today, delivering hundreds of new titles between them comprising movies and TV shows from all different decades, genres and backgrounds.
Indeed, no matter which one you subscribe to, you’re in for a treat today as there’s a plethora of fresh content on each platform to dig through and in case you wanted to check it all out in one handy list, we’ve got just that for you down below. Yes, starting with Netflix, below you’ll find every new release for July 1st across all of the aforementioned streaming services.
Ready to dive in?
Netflix
#AnneFrank – Parallel Stories (2019)
A Bridge Too Far (1977)
A Thousand Words (2012)
A Walk to Remember...
Indeed, no matter which one you subscribe to, you’re in for a treat today as there’s a plethora of fresh content on each platform to dig through and in case you wanted to check it all out in one handy list, we’ve got just that for you down below. Yes, starting with Netflix, below you’ll find every new release for July 1st across all of the aforementioned streaming services.
Ready to dive in?
Netflix
#AnneFrank – Parallel Stories (2019)
A Bridge Too Far (1977)
A Thousand Words (2012)
A Walk to Remember...
- 7/2/2020
- by Matt Joseph
- We Got This Covered
It was only a few hours ago that we told you about Netflix‘s July 1st content drop, which contained over 50 new movies and TV shows for viewers to dig into. But it seems the streaming giant still had more up its sleeve for us.
What’s On Netflix has shared an updated list of everything that hit the platform today and as you can see down below, it includes quite a few titles that weren’t on the original list. For instance, we’ve got Will Ferrell’s classic comedy Elf, forgotten Robert De Niro movie Heist, Denzel Washington’s hugely underrated The Taking of Pelham 123 and several more.
In total, there were over 70 new pieces of content added today and below, you can see the complete list. Ready to dive in?
61 New Movies Added Today
#AnneFrank – Parallel Stories (2019) A Bridge Too Far (1977) A Thousand Words (2012) A Walk to Remember...
What’s On Netflix has shared an updated list of everything that hit the platform today and as you can see down below, it includes quite a few titles that weren’t on the original list. For instance, we’ve got Will Ferrell’s classic comedy Elf, forgotten Robert De Niro movie Heist, Denzel Washington’s hugely underrated The Taking of Pelham 123 and several more.
In total, there were over 70 new pieces of content added today and below, you can see the complete list. Ready to dive in?
61 New Movies Added Today
#AnneFrank – Parallel Stories (2019) A Bridge Too Far (1977) A Thousand Words (2012) A Walk to Remember...
- 7/1/2020
- by Matt Joseph
- We Got This Covered
Welcome to The B-Side, from The Film Stage. Here we talk about movie stars and filmmakers and not the movies that made them famous or kept them famous, but the ones they made in between.
As we all stay safe and keep our social distance, here is a very special episode for you all. The incredibly talented writer/director Brian Koppelman joined us to discuss his accomplished career, specifically the two feature films he directed with David Levien: Knockaround Guys and Solitary Man. If you’re a film fan, you know Koppelman and Levien for Rounders, the John Dahl movie starring Matt Damon and Edward Norton that gained cult status as poker became a mainstream sport. The duo wrote the script for the film, highlighting their specific style of dialogue that lives on to this day.
Koppelman and Levien are currently busy with their hit show Billions, which we...
As we all stay safe and keep our social distance, here is a very special episode for you all. The incredibly talented writer/director Brian Koppelman joined us to discuss his accomplished career, specifically the two feature films he directed with David Levien: Knockaround Guys and Solitary Man. If you’re a film fan, you know Koppelman and Levien for Rounders, the John Dahl movie starring Matt Damon and Edward Norton that gained cult status as poker became a mainstream sport. The duo wrote the script for the film, highlighting their specific style of dialogue that lives on to this day.
Koppelman and Levien are currently busy with their hit show Billions, which we...
- 3/26/2020
- by Dan Mecca
- The Film Stage
John Malkovich has signed on for a guest-starring arc in Season 3 of Showtime’s hit drama series Billions. Malkovich will play Russian billionaire Grigor Andolov. The role reunites him with Billions creators/executive producers Brian Koppelman and David Levien, and is a familiar character for Malkovich who played Russian mobster Teddy Kgb in feature Rounders, written by the Billions duo. "John appeared in our first two films, Rounders and Knockaround Guys, and we have a…...
- 1/24/2018
- Deadline TV
John Malkovich is coming to Showtime’s “Billions.” The premium cable network announced that the Oscar winner will have a recurring guest role as a Russian billionaire named Grigor Andolov on the upcoming third season of the drama series, premiering March 25. “John appeared in our first two films, ‘Rounders’ and ‘Knockaround Guys,’ and we have a long creative history together. We are ecstatic to be reunited with the man who played Teddy Kgb once again,” said showrunners Brian Koppelman and David Levien in a statement. Also Read: 'Billions' Star Asia Kate Dillon on Playing Non-Binary in 'Hyper-Masculine World' (Exclusive Video) “Billions” stars Paul Giamatti...
- 1/24/2018
- by Reid Nakamura
- The Wrap
While last weekend's new releases failed to energize the box office, two of this week's new titles will top the weekend chart. M. Night Shyamalan's latest thriller, Split, and the return of Vin Diesel in the title role of xXx: Return of Xander Cage are both looking to score $20 million openings while Hidden Figures and La La Land look to continue to capture audience attention amid their already-strong domestic runs. Additionally, this weekend features the release of The Founder into just over one thousand theaters and High Top releasing brings The Resurrection of Gavin Stone into 887 theaters as it hopes to attract the attention of the faith-based audience. At the top of the weekend box office expect to find M. Night Shyamalan's Split. Shyamalan's career has featured plenty of ups and downs, but following the performance of The Visit in 2015 and the solid early reviews for Split, we...
- 1/19/2017
- by Brad Brevet <[email protected]>
- Box Office Mojo
The Last Witch Hunter Movie Posters. Breck Eisner‘s The Last Witch Hunter (2015) movie posters have been released. I like Vin Diesel. He seems like a good guy, and usually finds himself in roles he can handle. I remember first seeing Knockaround Guys, Saving Private Ryan, and The Fast and The Furious, thinking, this guy’s alright. I’m rooting for him. I’ve […]...
- 7/9/2015
- by Marco Margaritoff
- Film-Book
Clint Mansell is a long ways away from his days as frontman of alt. rock band Pop Will Eat Itself. Since his first stab at it on Darren Aronofsky's "Pi," he has forged a singular career as a film composer, working on productions as varied as "Knockaround Guys," "Sahara," Moon" and "Stoker." But it seems whenever he comes back to the table with Aronofsky, that's when something magical happens. Mansell has worked with Aronofsky on each of the director's features — "Pi," "Requiem for a Dream," "The Fountain," "The Wrestler," "Black Swan" and now "Noah" — and you can tell talking to Mansell that the creative rapport they've managed to sustain is rare. Mansell is pretty straight-forward about what he wants out of this gig, and Aronofsky has always come across the same way. So it certainly makes sense that they would keep coming back to the well. We talked for...
- 10/10/2014
- by Kristopher Tapley
- Hitfix
We return with another edition of the Indie Spotlight, highlighting recent independent horror news sent our way. Today’s massive feature includes a review for Nobody Can Cool, first details on The Night Crew, Heir, and a Doctor Who documentary called Who’s Changing: An Adventure In Time With Fans, a new clip from Muck, trailers for Blood Shed, NightBeasts, and Virginia Obscura, and much more:
[Editor's Note: We want to give a big thanks to our Indie Spotlight manager, Tamika Jones, for her constant work on this weekly feature and putting together our largest Indie Spotlight to date this weekend!]
Indie Spotlight Review: Nobody Can Cool
by Heather Wixson
Nobody Can Cool is the rather impressive directorial debut from up-and-coming filmmaking duo Dpyx, Marcy Boyle and Rachel Holzman, who crafted a blisteringly taut and thoughtful indie crime thriller with a palpable sense of tension from start to finish. A gritty and engaging tale of deceit, violence and desperation, Nobody Can Cool is anchored by a breakout performance by Nick Principe (best known from his work in the Laid to Rest series, Madison County and...
[Editor's Note: We want to give a big thanks to our Indie Spotlight manager, Tamika Jones, for her constant work on this weekly feature and putting together our largest Indie Spotlight to date this weekend!]
Indie Spotlight Review: Nobody Can Cool
by Heather Wixson
Nobody Can Cool is the rather impressive directorial debut from up-and-coming filmmaking duo Dpyx, Marcy Boyle and Rachel Holzman, who crafted a blisteringly taut and thoughtful indie crime thriller with a palpable sense of tension from start to finish. A gritty and engaging tale of deceit, violence and desperation, Nobody Can Cool is anchored by a breakout performance by Nick Principe (best known from his work in the Laid to Rest series, Madison County and...
- 1/19/2014
- by Tamika Jones
- DailyDead
James Franco is in talks to star in "The Game," based on the best-selling book about picking up women by Neil Strauss, who was a student of Mystery, the teacher on the VH1 reality series "The Pick-Up Artist." Franco will play Mystery in the adaptation, which is part memoir, part how-to guide and will detail the author's effort to learn the tricks to become a successful pick-up artist. The project was originally set up at Columbia with Chris Weitz attached to direct. Then Spyglass, Lionsgate and Fox Searchlight all attempted to bring the book to the big screen. Now, MGM is giving it a shot and have hired Brian Koppelman and David Levien (Solitary Man, Knockaround Guys) to write and direct. Mystery on "Conan":...
- 1/8/2012
- WorstPreviews.com
MGM has purchased the rights to Neil Strauss' best-selling novel, The Game, and have hired Brian Koppelman and David Levien (Solitary Man). THR reports that Koppelman and Levien will rewrite and direct the adaptation about picking up women. The film be based on the book which is part memoir, part how-to guide and "it details Strauss's effort to learn the tricks to becoming a successful pick-up artist, even moving into a Sunset Strip mansion filled with other competing players to find love."
This project has bumped from studio-to-studio. It was first at Columbia with Chris Weitz attached to direct, then it shacked up with Spyglass with D.B. Weiss writing. Later, Lionsgate made a pass at an incarnation with Rawson Marshall Thurber attached to helm. Fox Searchlight also flirted with the project, but Game has now made its way to MGM, with Chris and Paul Weitz are attached to produce.
This project has bumped from studio-to-studio. It was first at Columbia with Chris Weitz attached to direct, then it shacked up with Spyglass with D.B. Weiss writing. Later, Lionsgate made a pass at an incarnation with Rawson Marshall Thurber attached to helm. Fox Searchlight also flirted with the project, but Game has now made its way to MGM, with Chris and Paul Weitz are attached to produce.
- 7/9/2011
- by Tiberius
- GeekTyrant
When actors hit the big time, their pre-fame work suddenly gets more attention, and not always deservedly so
You may have heard about the film Holy Rollers, which stars Jesse Eisenberg as a lovable Hasidic Jew who gets involved in the international drug trade. Or maybe you haven't. Holy Rollers, made in 2010, was shot before Eisenberg's breakthrough role in The Social Network. It falls into that category of motion pictures starring relatively or completely unknown young stars that get a wider theatrical release after the star has become famous: albatross cinema, if you want a genre name.
Alabatross cinema is not a well populated genre, but it does exist. An American Crime, which stars Ellen Page as a young girl tortured to death by a deranged midwestern housewife, was made the same year Page made her breakthrough with Juno. Unlike Juno, which is charming and life-affirming and sweet, An American Crime is revolting,...
You may have heard about the film Holy Rollers, which stars Jesse Eisenberg as a lovable Hasidic Jew who gets involved in the international drug trade. Or maybe you haven't. Holy Rollers, made in 2010, was shot before Eisenberg's breakthrough role in The Social Network. It falls into that category of motion pictures starring relatively or completely unknown young stars that get a wider theatrical release after the star has become famous: albatross cinema, if you want a genre name.
Alabatross cinema is not a well populated genre, but it does exist. An American Crime, which stars Ellen Page as a young girl tortured to death by a deranged midwestern housewife, was made the same year Page made her breakthrough with Juno. Unlike Juno, which is charming and life-affirming and sweet, An American Crime is revolting,...
- 7/7/2011
- by Joe Queenan
- The Guardian - Film News
Well, this week is a bit of a bummer. Due to some contractual spats between Starz and Sony, all of the movies Sony has home video distribution over were pulled from instant streaming. Notable movies include Easy A and Grown Ups but the biggest loss will be felt this week with The Social Network staying unavailable until the corporations get all the Bs squared away.
The Movies that Would be Available to Stream this week, without the Starz/Sony Contract Dispute
The Social Network – June 20th
Burlesque – June 20th
Punch Drunk Love – June 23rd
Tamara Drewe – June 23rd
According to Netflix, the contract issue will be fixed soon and is only “temporary.”
New to Netflix Streaming On Tuesday June 21th
The best show on all of TV right now, Louis C.K.’s “Louie” is available stream this week.
New to Netflix Streaming On Friday June 24thSlap Shot (R | 1977)
Flickchart Ranking:...
The Movies that Would be Available to Stream this week, without the Starz/Sony Contract Dispute
The Social Network – June 20th
Burlesque – June 20th
Punch Drunk Love – June 23rd
Tamara Drewe – June 23rd
According to Netflix, the contract issue will be fixed soon and is only “temporary.”
New to Netflix Streaming On Tuesday June 21th
The best show on all of TV right now, Louis C.K.’s “Louie” is available stream this week.
New to Netflix Streaming On Friday June 24thSlap Shot (R | 1977)
Flickchart Ranking:...
- 6/20/2011
- by Daniel Rohr
- Flickchart
Subject: Vin Diesel, 43-year old American actor, director, and producer
Date of Assessment: April 27, 2011
Positive Buzzwords: Franchise, franchise, franchise
Negative Buzzwords: Lack of range, directing, writing
The Case: It's hard to hate on someone who's made quite a lot of use out of very limited talent, and damn if Vin Diesel hasn't done just that in a very roundabout way. Back in 1994, Mark Vincent began his career as a writer and director of a short film called Multi-Facial (sadly, not a porn flick), in which he also starred. The short, which was a semi-autobiographical take on the life of a multi-racial actor, screened for the Cannes Film Festival but failed to make an impact with critics, distributors, or anywhere of even trivial importance. A few years later, Vincent made another lackluster attempt at cinematic triple duty with the feature-length Strays. At that point, someone in his life wisely encouraged him to just stick with acting,...
Date of Assessment: April 27, 2011
Positive Buzzwords: Franchise, franchise, franchise
Negative Buzzwords: Lack of range, directing, writing
The Case: It's hard to hate on someone who's made quite a lot of use out of very limited talent, and damn if Vin Diesel hasn't done just that in a very roundabout way. Back in 1994, Mark Vincent began his career as a writer and director of a short film called Multi-Facial (sadly, not a porn flick), in which he also starred. The short, which was a semi-autobiographical take on the life of a multi-racial actor, screened for the Cannes Film Festival but failed to make an impact with critics, distributors, or anywhere of even trivial importance. A few years later, Vincent made another lackluster attempt at cinematic triple duty with the feature-length Strays. At that point, someone in his life wisely encouraged him to just stick with acting,...
- 4/27/2011
- by Agent Bedhead
We've known for some time that a third National Treasure film is in the offing. Jon Turtletaub, who made the first two films and The Sorcerer's Apprentice, just signed to direct Unreasonable Doubt, but it looks like NT3 is moving forward anyway. Brian Koppelman and David Levien, who wrote Rounders, Oceans 13 and The Girlfriend Experience and wrote and directed Knockaround Guys and Solitary Man, have started the script for the film. Additionally, they've adapted David Levien's novel City of the Sun as a project to direct. This time last year, Carlo Bernard and Doug Miro were writing [1] the third National Treasure movie. But Brian Koppelman recently talked to Done Deal Pro [2] (via Bleeding Cool [3]), saying, We just finished the screenplay for our next film to direct, an adaptation of David’s book City Of The Sun, and are now working on National Treasure 3 for Bruckheimer. As for City of the Sun,...
- 3/22/2011
- by Russ Fischer
- Slash Film
The past few months have oddly been filled with mid-life crisis films. At the center of them are narcissistic, yet somewhat likeable, leads. Both the fantastic Greenberg and the excellent Up in The Air met that said criteria. Solitary Man takes it to the next level. That’s not to say it’s a better film, but it definitely pushes the envelope a bit further in the terms of having a questionable protagonist.
Ben Kalmen (Michael Douglas) is a down-and-out car dealership owner who’s hit a roadblock. He’s lost touch with his family, he’s having business troubles and he’s nearly flat broke. Kalmen is a man only worried about living in the moment. Taking risks is of the greatest importance to him. After an early visit to a doctor, Ben learns he could be sick. When a major business deal falls through, he’s in the worst rut of his life.
Ben Kalmen (Michael Douglas) is a down-and-out car dealership owner who’s hit a roadblock. He’s lost touch with his family, he’s having business troubles and he’s nearly flat broke. Kalmen is a man only worried about living in the moment. Taking risks is of the greatest importance to him. After an early visit to a doctor, Ben learns he could be sick. When a major business deal falls through, he’s in the worst rut of his life.
- 6/11/2010
- by Jack Giroux
- The Film Stage
Just a day after the death of former child star Gary Coleman, legendary veteran actor Dennis Hopper has died at the age of 74 following a battle with prostate cancer which he was first diagnosed with last year reports The BBC.
The actor first came to notice with a small role in "Rebel Without a Cause" and went on to memorable roles in such films as "Easy Rider," "Apocalypse Now," "Blue Velvet," "Gunfight at the O.K. Corral," "Cool Hand Luke," "Hang 'Em High," "True Grit," "Mad Dog Morgan," "Reborn," "The Osterman Weekend," "Hoosiers," "Super Mario Bros.," "True Romance," "Speed," "Waterworld," "Basquiat," "EDtv," "Knockaround Guys," "Land of the Dead" and TV shows like "24," "Gunsmoke," "E-Ring," and "Crash".
Hopper died Saturday morning surrounded by friends and family at his home in Venice, California.
The actor first came to notice with a small role in "Rebel Without a Cause" and went on to memorable roles in such films as "Easy Rider," "Apocalypse Now," "Blue Velvet," "Gunfight at the O.K. Corral," "Cool Hand Luke," "Hang 'Em High," "True Grit," "Mad Dog Morgan," "Reborn," "The Osterman Weekend," "Hoosiers," "Super Mario Bros.," "True Romance," "Speed," "Waterworld," "Basquiat," "EDtv," "Knockaround Guys," "Land of the Dead" and TV shows like "24," "Gunsmoke," "E-Ring," and "Crash".
Hopper died Saturday morning surrounded by friends and family at his home in Venice, California.
- 5/29/2010
- by Garth Franklin
- Dark Horizons
Shrek Forever After may have earned the top spot on the box office chart last weekend, but it was the indie Solitary Man that actually drew in the most dollars per screen. The film stars Michael Douglas as Ben Kalman, an aging auto industry titan whose enviable life has been destroyed by his own self-destructive behavior, and earned close to $24,000 per theater in its debut on four screens in New York and Los Angeles this past weekend. Douglas, as our reviewer Lisa Schwarzbaum attests, is at his finest since last decade’s Wonder Boys. It helps that he’s supported...
- 5/26/2010
- by Nicole Sperling
- EW - Inside Movies
As the authors of Rounders, Knockaround Guys, and Ocean's Thirteen, David Levien and Brian Koppelman are known for writing about characters who are great con artists, but Solitary Man marks the first time one of them is basically conning himself. In their new film, which Koppelman wrote and they directed together, Michael Douglas plays the king of all snake-oil salesman, a used car magnate who becomes a shameless, self-destructive lothario after a doctor's visit hints at the possibility he might be dying. Always seeing all of the angles but ignoring the eventual repercussions, Douglas' character feels like the culmination of the grifters and con men the duo created in their previous films, but with the added gravitas that comes from knowing happy endings are the stuff of movies, not real life.
Cinematical sat down with Koppelman and Levien for an intimate chat about Solitary Man following a screening at the 2010 Dallas International Film Festival.
Cinematical sat down with Koppelman and Levien for an intimate chat about Solitary Man following a screening at the 2010 Dallas International Film Festival.
- 5/21/2010
- by Todd Gilchrist
- Cinematical
After penning the scripts for "Ocean's 13" and "Rounders," Brian Koppelman and David Levien have turned their attention to the worst con of all - self-deception. In "Solitary Man," the duo's second directorial effort following 2001's "Knockaround Guys," Michael Douglas stars as Ben Kalmen, a used car baron who has seen his charms and fortune stall out like a Chevy Vega when a bad business deal and a divorce (from Susan Sarandon) leave him adrift in his 60s, with his opportunities for redemption limited to taking the teenage daughter of his girlfriend (Mary-Louise Parker) for a weekend college visit and repairing his relationship with his own daughter (Jenna Fischer) and her son. Likened to a "white-collar 'Wrestler'" by Levien, Douglas trades heavily on his well-established iconography to play the irrepressible ladies' man who finds that time is a crueler mistress than his several women on the side.
While Douglas is...
While Douglas is...
- 5/19/2010
- by Stephen Saito
- ifc.com
Atomic Popcorn in promotions with Best Buy and the film Solitary Man, are giving away 150 dollars to Best Buy! One of you will have the chance to take home a 150 dollar Best Buy giftcard as part of our promotions for the upcoming film Solitary Man. The film stars Michael Douglas, Danny DeVito, Jesse Eisenberg, Jenna Fischer, Imogen Poots, Olivia Thirlby, Mary-Louise Parker and Susan Sarandon and is written and directed by Brian Koppelman and David Levien (Writer / directors of “Knockaround Guys,” writers of “Rounders,” “Ocean’s Thirteen,” “The Girlfriend Experience”)
Film Synopsis:
Solitary Man tells the dryly funny yet all too relatable story of Ben Kalmen (Michael Douglas), a fifty-something New Yorker and former successful car dealer, who through his own bad choices lost his entire business. He’s also divorced from Nancy (Susan Sarandon), his college sweetheart and the one…
Click to continue reading Solitary Man is giving you 150 dollars to Best Buy!
Film Synopsis:
Solitary Man tells the dryly funny yet all too relatable story of Ben Kalmen (Michael Douglas), a fifty-something New Yorker and former successful car dealer, who through his own bad choices lost his entire business. He’s also divorced from Nancy (Susan Sarandon), his college sweetheart and the one…
Click to continue reading Solitary Man is giving you 150 dollars to Best Buy!
- 5/17/2010
- by Matthew
- Atomic Popcorn
Click image below to view full poster
Cinematical has just received this exclusive poster for Solitary Man, starring Michael Douglas as a former car dealership mogul whose life begins to unravel as he struggles to deal with multiple business problems, as well as balance his many relationships with the opposite sex. Directed by the team of Brian Koppelman and David Levien (and written by Koppelman), Solitary Man earned some good buzz back when it premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in September of '09. Surely some of that is due to the exceptional cast surrounding Douglas, including Jesse Eisenberg, Susan Sarandon, Mary-Louise Parker, Jenna Fischer and Danny DeVito.
If the names Koppelman and Levien are familiar, it's because you recognize them as the guys who directed Knockaround Guys back in 2001. They also wrote Rounders, Ocean's 13 and, more recently, Steven Soderbergh's excellent fly-on-the-wall look at the risks and...
Cinematical has just received this exclusive poster for Solitary Man, starring Michael Douglas as a former car dealership mogul whose life begins to unravel as he struggles to deal with multiple business problems, as well as balance his many relationships with the opposite sex. Directed by the team of Brian Koppelman and David Levien (and written by Koppelman), Solitary Man earned some good buzz back when it premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in September of '09. Surely some of that is due to the exceptional cast surrounding Douglas, including Jesse Eisenberg, Susan Sarandon, Mary-Louise Parker, Jenna Fischer and Danny DeVito.
If the names Koppelman and Levien are familiar, it's because you recognize them as the guys who directed Knockaround Guys back in 2001. They also wrote Rounders, Ocean's 13 and, more recently, Steven Soderbergh's excellent fly-on-the-wall look at the risks and...
- 4/19/2010
- by Erik Davis
- Cinematical
For college students who feel miserable that they are only freshmen, envying seniors who get all the girls and who are soon to graduate into the real world, Ben Kalmen (Michael Douglas) has the right advice. He more or less states that it's better to be sophomore than a senior "Look at all the fun that's ahead of you." Douglas performs in the role of a man in about to turn 60 (he is 65 in real life) who had been diagnosed with a heart problem six and one-half years earlier but refuses to get a Cat-scan that would reveal the extent of his condition. The way he acts in "Solitary Man," which is written and directed by Brian Koppelman and David Levien ("Knockaround Guys" and writers of "Ocean's Thirteen" and "The Girlfriend Experience") he looks like a fellow with mid-life crisis. But we suspect he has always been the way he is: a compulsive womanizer,...
- 4/16/2010
- Arizona Reporter
It's probably been 10 years since Michael Douglas has starred in anything particularly memorable (Traffic and Wonder Boys were both released in 2000), and although Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps looks like it could be his next big hit, Douglas also continues to dabble in indie films that turn up on the festival circuit every year or two as well. Solitary Man premiered at last year's Toronto International Film Festival and seemed to generate some decent reviews (Greg saw it and liked it... read his review here [1]). The movie has since been picked up by Anchor Bay for a theatrical release, and the first trailer arrived online last week. Although the trailer didn't blow me away, the cast does have me intrigued. In addition to Michael Douglas, we also have Jesse Eisenberg (Zombieland), Jenna Fischer (The Office) and Mary-Louise Parker (Weeds) plus Susan Sarandon and Danny DeVito. Douglas plays a divorced former...
- 4/5/2010
- by Sean
- FilmJunk
With all the hype and anticipation surrounding Michael Douglas’ return as Gordon Gecko in Oliver Stone’s Wall Street sequel, Money Never Sleeps, Douglas’ other movie, Solitary Man, has sort of fallen under it’s shadow. Written and co-directed by Brian Koppelman (with David Levien) the movie sounds familiar, at first glance. Douglas plays Ban, a former car dealership owner whose bad decisions as a businessman and a ladies’ man has destroyed his life and marriage.
Brian Koppelman’s only previously directed film was Knockaround Guys (2001) but as a writer he’s been better received with films like Rounders, Ocean’S Thirteen and The Girlfriend Experience. In Solitary Man, Douglas is joined by Susan Sarandon as his ex-wife, with a supporting cast that includes Danny Devito, Jesse Eisenberg (Zombieland), Jenna Fischer (Slither) and Mary-Louise Parker, who appeared in the infamously long-titled but excellent The Assassination Of Jesse James By The Coward Robert Ford.
Brian Koppelman’s only previously directed film was Knockaround Guys (2001) but as a writer he’s been better received with films like Rounders, Ocean’S Thirteen and The Girlfriend Experience. In Solitary Man, Douglas is joined by Susan Sarandon as his ex-wife, with a supporting cast that includes Danny Devito, Jesse Eisenberg (Zombieland), Jenna Fischer (Slither) and Mary-Louise Parker, who appeared in the infamously long-titled but excellent The Assassination Of Jesse James By The Coward Robert Ford.
- 4/5/2010
- by Travis
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
Update: The new trailer was taken offline within an hour of when we posted this story a few days back. The trailer is now back online, and embedded after the jump. Anchor Bay Films has released a movie trailer for Brian Koppelman/David Levien's Solitary Man (not to be confused with Tom Ford's A Single Man or The Coen Brothers' A Serious Man). The film stars Academy Award winner Michael Douglas as a former car dealership mogul dealing with a string of business problems and issues in his personal life through a number of relationships with women - many women. Co-starring Jesse Eisenberg, Susan Sarandon, Danny DeVito, Jenna Fischer, and Mary-Louise Parker. Koppelman/Levien wrote the screenplays for Rounders, Runaway Jury and directed Knockaround Guys. The film premiered at the 2009 Toronto International Film Festival to mostly positive buzz. Watch the trailer now embedded after the jump along with some new photos.
- 4/1/2010
- by Peter Sciretta
- Slash Film
Didn't expect this: Transformers 3 just got a touch of Burn After Reading. Michael Bay has signed John Malkovich and Frances McDormand to co-star in the threequel, along with Hangover and Community breakout star Ken Jeong.
That's a strange trio made all the more curious by the fact that it's effing Transformers. The Malkatraz thing doesn't surprise me at all, for I have seen Eragon and Knockaround Guys. The McDormand thing is a little more out of the blue, and Ken Jeong is obviously a heat check.
Deadline reports that Malkovich Malkovich Malkovich with play Shia Labeouf's first boss. Odd that they're writing Steven Spielberg into the movie as a character, but whatever. (Ok, not really.) McDormand will play the National Intelligence Director, a good kind of ball-busting role she should have fun with. Also, the paycheck's not bad.
That's a strange trio made all the more curious by the fact that it's effing Transformers. The Malkatraz thing doesn't surprise me at all, for I have seen Eragon and Knockaround Guys. The McDormand thing is a little more out of the blue, and Ken Jeong is obviously a heat check.
Deadline reports that Malkovich Malkovich Malkovich with play Shia Labeouf's first boss. Odd that they're writing Steven Spielberg into the movie as a character, but whatever. (Ok, not really.) McDormand will play the National Intelligence Director, a good kind of ball-busting role she should have fun with. Also, the paycheck's not bad.
- 3/23/2010
- by Colin Boyd
- GetTheBigPicture.net
If I had to guess, I'd say there's a very good chance that Shawn Levy's upcoming comedy Date Night will be a big hit. Not only does it bring together the stars of two of the biggest sitcoms on TV right now (The Office and 30 Rock), but it also has a supporting cast that includes James Franco, Mila Kunis, Mark Wahlberg, Kristen Wiig, Mark Ruffalo, Ray Liotta and yes, even G4's Olivia Munn. Not to mention the fact that Shawn Levy has directed two of the highest grossing comedies of the past 3 years with Night At The Museum and its sequel. But will it actually be good? The script for Date Night, which was originally written by Brian Koppelman and David Levien (Ocean's Thirteen, Knockaround Guys, Rounders), got an honourable mention from the 2008 Hollywood BBC Elite List as one of the best screenplays of the year. However, since...
- 10/1/2009
- by Sean
- FilmJunk
Might this become the unofficial sequel to Rounders? Paramount has picked up an untitled pitch from Brian Koppelman and David Levien that takes place in the world of online poker. Leonardo DiCaprio will be developing this through his company Appian Way and is set to star in the lead role. Koppelman and Levien last write The Girlfriend Experience for Steven Soderbergh as well as Ocean's Thirteen, Walking Tall, Runaway Jury, Knockaround Guys, and Rounders. Let's hope this project will take them all the way back to their poker roots. No director is attached yet and no start date has been set, but it sounds interesting. Being a big fan of Rounders (and poker) myself, I'm inherently excited for this. I'm curious to see what kind of story they can come up with that's set in the world of online poker world. It's definitely not as exciting as real poker, but...
- 6/16/2009
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
In honour of the soon-to-be $70 million-grossing Fast and Furious, last week we asked you to pick your favourite movie from the relatively painful filmography of Mr. Vin Diesel. The results from said poll placed Pitch Black at the top by a fairly large margin, followed by The Fast and the Furious and The Chronicles of Riddick. It's interesting that his older films generally seem to rank higher than the new ones (Babylon A.D. being dead last). What do you think, did Vin Diesel squander his early opportunities, and now that Fast and Furious has revitalized his career, do you see him doing the same thing all over again? 1. Pitch Black -- 41.1% 2. The Fast and the Furious -- 13.9% 3. The Chronicles of Riddick -- 13% 4. Boiler Room -- 8.7% 5. xXx -- 6.1% 6. Find Me Guilty -- 5.6% 7. A Man Apart -- 4.3% 7. The Pacifier -- 4.3% 9. Knockaround Guys -- 2.2% 10. Babylon A.D. -- 0.9%...
- 4/8/2009
- by Sean
- FilmJunk
It seems that, despite his sixty-three years, Michael Douglas still has a penchant for roles where he gets to go horizontal. Variety reports that Millennium Films has set Douglas to play a car magnate with a runaway libido in “Solitary Man.” Susan Sarandon, Danny DeVito and Jenna Fischer are in talks to co-star. Brian Koppelman and David Levien are directing a script written by Koppelman. Production begins in November in New York. Douglas plays a former owner of a car dealership chain whose career and marriage were destroyed by his business and romantic indiscretions. Paul Schiff and Steven Soderbergh are producing. Avi Lerner, Danny Dimbort, Trevor Short, Moshe Diamant and Joe Gatta are executive producers. Koppelman and Levien previously directed “Knockaround Guys” and the 2005 TV series “Tilt." Koppelman and Levien wrote Soderbergh’s next film, “The Girlfriend Experience.” Douglas will topline a Liberace film that Soderbergh is developing to direct at Warner Bros.
- 9/19/2008
- UGO Movies
Having a 63-year old Michael Douglas play a sex addict isn't exactly what I'd call appetizing. Although, I love the guy in just about anything so I'm willing to give the co-directed (by Brian Koppelman and David Levien) film titled Solitary Man a chance. According to Variety, Douglas plays a character who's a "former owner of a car dealership chain whose career and marriage were destroyed by his business and romantic indiscretions." I suspect Susan Sarandon will play Douglas' wife, who is in talks to co-star, along with War of the Roses pal Danny DeVito and "The Office" actress Jenna Fischer. Douglas as a satyriasis car salesman? This already sounds like a great movie and it hasn't even start shooting! Koppleman, who wrote the script for Solitary, and Levien previously co-directed Knockaround Guys starring Vin Diesel, which I found to be a pretty dark and enjoyable ride. I don't see...
- 9/17/2008
- by Kevin Powers
- firstshowing.net
Michael Douglas will play a car magnate with a runaway libido in Solitary Man with Millennium Films. The film also stars Susan Sarandon, Danny DeVito and Jenna Fischer who are in talks.
Brian Kaoppleman and David Levien are directing the film. The film is scripted by Koppleman. The shooting for the film will begin in November in New York.
Douglas will play a former owner of a car dealership chain whose career and marriage were destroyed by his business and romantic indiscretions.
Steven Soderbergh will produce this movie. Koppelman and Levien previously directed Knockaround Guys and the 2005 TV series Tilt. They also teamed to write Soderbergh’s next film The Girlfriend Experience.
Michael Douglas will also been seen in the Liberace biopic...
(more...)...
Brian Kaoppleman and David Levien are directing the film. The film is scripted by Koppleman. The shooting for the film will begin in November in New York.
Douglas will play a former owner of a car dealership chain whose career and marriage were destroyed by his business and romantic indiscretions.
Steven Soderbergh will produce this movie. Koppelman and Levien previously directed Knockaround Guys and the 2005 TV series Tilt. They also teamed to write Soderbergh’s next film The Girlfriend Experience.
Michael Douglas will also been seen in the Liberace biopic...
(more...)...
- 9/17/2008
- by John
- ReelSuave.com
'Dragon' slays band of six
As expected, Universal's Red Dragon held the top spot for the second straight weekend as the Anthony Hopkins starrer tapped an estimated $17.6 million, off 52% from its debut, during a record Columbus Day session that featured a flood of new wide releases -- six to be exact -- and several high-profile limited offerings. The Brett Ratner-helmed Dragon has picked up an estimated $63.2 million in 10 days. The surprise star performer among this frame's new wide releases was Fox Searchlight's Brown Sugar, which racked up a sweet $11.1 million estimate from 1,372 venues to place third. The PG-13-rated romantic comedy easily had the best per-theater average of this weekend's top 12 films, with $8,090. Fox's action-thriller The Transporter debuted in the fourth slot with an estimated $9.2 million. Warner Bros. Pictures' drama White Oleander appeared in the seventh slot on its debut with an estimated $5.7 million. Buena Vista's Tuck Everlasting, a PG-rated fantasy-drama pulled in an estimated $5.5 million to land in the eighth position. New Line's The Knockaround Guys was bumped into the ninth slot on its debut as the crime drama starring Vin Diesel picked up a discouraging estimate of $5 million. Lions Gate's The Rules of Attraction pulled in a weak estimate of $2.4 million. Among the weekend's limited releases, Sony's Punch Drunk Love from Revolution Studios grossed an estimated $380,000 from a meager five locations for a staggering per-theater average of $76,000.
- 10/14/2002
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
IMDb.com, Inc. takes no responsibility for the content or accuracy of the above news articles, Tweets, or blog posts. This content is published for the entertainment of our users only. The news articles, Tweets, and blog posts do not represent IMDb's opinions nor can we guarantee that the reporting therein is completely factual. Please visit the source responsible for the item in question to report any concerns you may have regarding content or accuracy.