I first encountered Griffin Dunne, now 58, as one of the New York producers, with partner Amy Robinson, of Joan Micklin Silver's "Chilly Scenes of Winter." He went on to produce "Baby It's You" and "Running on Empty" as he pursued an acting career, starring in Martin Scorsese's "After Hours" and John Landis's "An American Werewolf in London," and more recently, "House of Lies," "Red Band Society," "The Discovers" and "Dallas Buyers Club." Read: Griffin Dunne Talks Acting, "The Discoverers" Dunne is also a director; among a string of decent indie features, his 1995 debut short film "Duke of Groove" was nominated for an Oscar, and he's been directing "The Good Wife" and writing a feature that he'd like to direct. Mostly he's been fine-tuning the doc about Joan Didion, now that he's finished interviewing her. "She was really...
- 10/24/2014
- by Anne Thompson
- Thompson on Hollywood
Griffin Dunne is back in a leading role again.
The actor was well known back in the 1980s with cult movie favorites like “An American Werewold in London,” “After Hours” and “Who’s That Girl” with Madonna.
Dunne returns to a leading role in the indie comedy “The Discoverers,” which also stars Madeleine Martin, Dreama Walker and Cara Buono.
The Justin Schwarz directed film is about a dysfunctional family who had to re-discover about themselves during a Lewis and Clark reenactment expedition.
In an exclusive phone interview with Latino-Review, Dunne talked about the film, his career for the past 30 years, re-enactments and the history tidbits of Lewis and Clark.
“The Discoverers” is currently available on VOD. It also playing in select theaters in New York and Los Angeles.
Latino-Review: What’s it like to be back in a leading role again?
Griffin Dunne: Well, it’s better being an...
The actor was well known back in the 1980s with cult movie favorites like “An American Werewold in London,” “After Hours” and “Who’s That Girl” with Madonna.
Dunne returns to a leading role in the indie comedy “The Discoverers,” which also stars Madeleine Martin, Dreama Walker and Cara Buono.
The Justin Schwarz directed film is about a dysfunctional family who had to re-discover about themselves during a Lewis and Clark reenactment expedition.
In an exclusive phone interview with Latino-Review, Dunne talked about the film, his career for the past 30 years, re-enactments and the history tidbits of Lewis and Clark.
“The Discoverers” is currently available on VOD. It also playing in select theaters in New York and Los Angeles.
Latino-Review: What’s it like to be back in a leading role again?
Griffin Dunne: Well, it’s better being an...
- 6/3/2014
- by Gig Patta
- LRMonline.com
I first encountered Griffin Dunne, now 58, as one of the New York producers, with partner Amy Robinson, of Joan Micklin Silver's "Chilly Scenes of Winter." He went on to a strong producing ("Baby It's You," "Running on Empty") and acting career, starring in Martin Scorsese's "After Hours" and John Landis's "An American Werewolf in London," and more recently, the occasional character turn in television ("House of Lies") and such films as "Dallas Buyers Club." And this week he ably carries the new family comedy "The Discoverers" from New York politico and academic turned writer-director Justin Schwartz, who cast Dunne as a washed-up professor--natch--who drags his two reluctant teenagers ("Californication" star Madeleine Martin and "American Horror Story"'s Devon Graye) on an unexpected Lewis & Clarke Oregon road trip. Dunne gets to use his chops as a slapstick comedian in "The Discoverers," which opens in Los Angeles this Friday.
- 5/30/2014
- by Anne Thompson
- Thompson on Hollywood
I’ve long been a fan of Griffin Dunne, since the days of An American Werewolf in London, so it’s a treat to see him back in a leading role that’s worthy of his talent. The film is called The Discoverers, and it’s a low-key but satisfying comedy-drama that marks the feature debut of writer-director Justin Schwarz. Dunne’s character is a bit of a jerk, a self-absorbed academic who has been working obsessively on a massive text about the Lewis and Clark expedition. He is heading across the country for a teaching job he desperately needs, but along the way he’s obliged to pick up his alienated teenage kids (Madeleine Martin and Devon Graye) and look after them. The last thing they want...
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- 5/16/2014
- by Leonard Maltin
- Leonard Maltin's Movie Crazy
Griffin Dunne is part of a select group of actors who not only aren’t in nearly enough films but who also should be in every film. Like an admittedly far less manic Sam Rockwell he brings a specifically appealing persona with him from film to film, one that encourages a smile from viewers in comedies and dramas alike. Dunne projects the bodily form of an oppressed everyman, the weight of the world slumping his shoulders down even closer to the earth, and he carries it with a mix of determination and unavoidable defeat. His greatest triumph remains the blackly comic magic act that is Martin Scorsese’s After Hours, but a rare leading role has once again afforded him the opportunity to shine in bristly fashion. Lewis Birch (Dunne) is a professor at a community college that prizes tuition fees over actual education, but Lewis’ disgust at that realization is overshadowed by his plan to leave...
- 5/16/2014
- by Rob Hunter
- FilmSchoolRejects.com
Sundance Selects has acquired the North American rights to "Last Weekend," starring Patricia Clarkson. The film is the directorial debut of Tom Dolby and Tom Williams, who shot the film at the historic 1929 Lake Tahoe estate that was also the location of the 1951 Elizabeth Taylor and Montgomery Clift classic, "A Place in the Sun." "We are thrilled to have the film distributed by Sundance Selects," said co-directors Dolby and Williams. "Viewers relate to this film in a very personal way and are often reminded of their own families. We're excited about bringing the 'Last Weekend' family to a larger audience." The ensemble cast includes Zachary Booth ("Keep the Lights on"), Chris Mulkey ("Twin Peaks"), Joseph Cross ("Running with Scissors"), Devon Graye ("The Discoverers") and Jayma Mays ("Glee"). The dark comedy unfolds over the course of a long Labor Day weekend at Lake Tahoe. According to the synopsis, Celia Green (Clarkson) and her husband,...
- 5/14/2014
- by Casey Cipriani
- Indiewire
Six years ago, I had an idea for making a movie about family – how it could simultaneously be our greatest source of strength and the origin of all of our problems. This month, after 19 festivals, 9 awards, several uninspiring distribution offers, and a successful Kickstarter campaign to raise promotion and advertising, my feature debut will premiere at the Village East in New York and the ArcLight Hollywood in Los Angeles, followed by a nationwide release. Starring Oscar and Emmy nominee Griffin Dunne, “The Discoverers” is a bittersweet comedy about a dysfunctional family forced on a Lewis and Clark...
- 5/1/2014
- by Justin Schwarz
- The Wrap
One of the biggest disappointments of 2013 was that despite its successful film festival run, Justin Schwarz's debut feature, The Discoverers, never landed the high profile distribution deal that it truly deserves. As I stated in my glowing 8 out of 10 review of The Discoverers: It is the smartness of the writing that escalates The Discoverers above the recent barrage of familial reconciliation stories that have appeared in the wake of Little Miss Sunshine. The core family element — Lewis, Stanley, Zoe and Jack — all fit nicely into the mold of characters in this sub-genre, at least on the surface. Lewis and Zoe are the two characters who definitely go above and beyond their contemporaries; and it is great to see these two character types (precocious daughter, schlubby everyman father) get a lot more depth and range for once. They walk away with the wittiest and smartest dialogue of the film,...
- 4/25/2014
- by Don Simpson
- SmellsLikeScreenSpirit
"The Discoverers" is Justin Schwarz's feature debut, a dysfunctional family road trip tale with some quirky, unprecedented elements. Griffin Dunne stars as tired history professor, who is faced with the challenge of bringing together his disconnected family, including but not limited to his deadpan teen kids (Madeleine Martin from "Californication" and Devon Graye of "American Horror Story") and his crazed Lewis-and-Clark-obsessed father (Stuart Margolin). The film will be released in NYC May 16 and in La May 30. If you think you'll find a standard array of caricatures in this bittersweet comedy, check out the trailer: you'll be pleasantly surprised.
- 4/22/2014
- by Taylor Lindsay
- Indiewire
MTV has cast Victoria Justice in the cyber thriller Eye Candy based on Rl Stine’s bestselling novel. Justice plays Lindy, a beautiful but reclusive hacker whose blog exposes everything from terrorist plots to suspected killers. Convinced by her roommate to begin online dating, Lindy is targeted by a dangerous cyber stalker and believes one of her suitors to be the culprit. When things take a deadly turn, she teams up with the city’s cyber-crime unit to catch the killer. Twilight director Catherine Hardwicke will direct and executive produce the pilot. Justice is coming off her successful Nickelodeon series Victorious which wrapped in 2012. She is repped by UTA. Madeleine Martin has joined Netlix’s Hemlock Grove as a new series regular. She’ll take on the role of Shelly Godfrey, a reanimated child of the Godfreys, played last season by Nicole Boivin. Martin can currently be seen in the feature The Discoverers.
- 10/11/2013
- by THE DEADLINE TEAM
- Deadline TV
Yesterday was the closing night of the 18th Annual Genart Film Festival which spotlights and celebrates emerging filmmakers in North America. All the awards were selected by a paneled jury including actor Bryan Greenberg ("Friends with Benefits"), director Johhn Krokidas ("Kill Your Darlings"), and Senior Editor at New York Magazine’s Vulture, Kyle Buchanan. "Swim Little Fish Swim" was awarded best feature along with the directing award. "The Discoverers" walked away with the"Genart(ist)" Male and Female award for Madeleine Martin and Devon Graye as well as the Score award. Awards Best Feature Film – Swim Little Fish Swim Best Short Film – Eden Male Stargazer – Dustin Guy Defa of Swim Little Fish Swim Female Stargazer – Annabelle Dexter-Jones Directing – Swim Little Fish Swim Cast Collaboration – Emoticon Score Award – The Discoverers Costume Design – Eden Cinematography (Feature) – A Song Still Inside Cinematography (Short) – Top Floor Writing –...
- 10/8/2013
- by James Hiler
- Indiewire
The Sarasota Film Festival, which runs from April 5 - April 14, will open with Gabriela Cowperthwaite's "Blackfish," a documentary about the history of killer whales in captivity. The 15th annual festival will close with Noah Baumbach's "Frances Ha," starring Greta Gerwig. Sundance Special Jury Prize winner "The Spectacular Now," starring Shailene Woodley, will screen as the festival's Narrative Centerpiece Film and Barbara Kopple's documentary "Running From Crazy" will screen as the Documentary Centerpiece Film. Two-time Academy Award winner Kopple will also be honored at the festival with the Director's Award. Other highlights include the world premiere of Will Slocombe's "Pasadena," starring Peter Bogdanovich and Cheryl Hines, Carlos Puga's "Burma," Justin Schwarz' road movie "The Discoverers," and the North American premiere of Tom Gilroy's "The Cold Lands." The Sff's Visions Competition lineup will be announced March 13, along with the rest of the program. Below are the.
- 3/4/2013
- by Erin Whitney
- Indiewire
Why He's On Our Radar: Actor Devon Graye, best known for playing a teenage version of Michael C. Hall's titular character in "Dexter," is no newcomer to acting having starred in that hit series and many others including "CSI: Miami" and "Alphas." But this fall the 25-year-old is poised to break out bigger than ever before thanks to a challenging turn in Ryan Murphy's hotly anticipated second installment of his Emmy-winning mini-series "American Horror Story," and a supporting turn in the indie family drama "The Discoverers," which just had its world premiere at the Hamptons International Film Festival. What's Next: Graye is currently filming the indie family drama "Last Weekend," alongside Patricia Clarkson and "Keep the Lights On" star Zachary Booth. In the film, set in a Northern California estate overlooking Lake Tahoe, Graye plays Booth's opera singer boyfriend. You career's...
- 10/11/2012
- by Nigel M Smith
- Indiewire
The Hamptons, New York — The past is never history in Justin Schwarz's The Discoverers, a family-reconciliation tale in which three generations of estranged relatives are forced to stick together on a historical reenactment of the Lewis and Clark expedition. More warm-hearted than funny, Schwarz's feature debut benefits from an intelligent script and sympathetic lead performance by Griffin Dunne, though commercial prospects are modest. Dunne plays Lewis Birch, a history prof whose career is foundering thanks to his inability to complete a mammoth book about York, a slave who belonged to William Clark on the 19th-century expedition
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- 10/8/2012
- by John DeFore
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
While most likely known from his Scrubs work, there are few finer character actors than John C. McGinley. From Platoon to Se7en to Office Space, whether a tiny or supporting role, he always seems to make an impression. The actor will hopefully continue the trend in an upcoming biopic.
Variety reports he has joined the ensemble of Warner Bros.’ Jackie Robinson sports drama 42. Directed by Oscar-winner Brian Helgeland, the film already stars Chadwick Boseman as Robinson, Harrison Ford as Dodgers executive Branch Ricke and Nicole Beharie as Robinson’s wife, Rachel. Christopher Meloni, T.R. Knight, Brad Beyer, Toby Huss and Ryan Merriman round out the cast.
McGinley will play legendary radio broadcast Red Barber and one can him in a video below, as he talks about Robinson. At the end one can even see a snippet of an actual broadcast featuring Barber. As for McGinley, he has a busy 2012 with...
Variety reports he has joined the ensemble of Warner Bros.’ Jackie Robinson sports drama 42. Directed by Oscar-winner Brian Helgeland, the film already stars Chadwick Boseman as Robinson, Harrison Ford as Dodgers executive Branch Ricke and Nicole Beharie as Robinson’s wife, Rachel. Christopher Meloni, T.R. Knight, Brad Beyer, Toby Huss and Ryan Merriman round out the cast.
McGinley will play legendary radio broadcast Red Barber and one can him in a video below, as he talks about Robinson. At the end one can even see a snippet of an actual broadcast featuring Barber. As for McGinley, he has a busy 2012 with...
- 5/7/2012
- by jpraup@gmail.com (thefilmstage.com)
- The Film Stage
Although the name Bailee Madison may be relatively unknown to most people, the young actress has been acting since the age of seven. After playing having roles in Just Go With It, Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark and on the kid TV show Wizards of Waverly Place, Madison is adding a staring role to her list, as Variety reports she has been cast in the indie romance-drama Watercolor Postcards.
Madison will be joined by Scrubs alum John C. McGinley in the project directed by Rajeev Dassani and written by Conrad Goode. The story is “centered on a smalltown girl, wise beyond her years, who returns home and inherits more problems than she brought back.” I was a big fan of McGinley‘s work on Scrubs, but I’ve noticed that he’s had a difficult time channeling that stardom to the big screen after having small parts in various movies over the years.
Madison will be joined by Scrubs alum John C. McGinley in the project directed by Rajeev Dassani and written by Conrad Goode. The story is “centered on a smalltown girl, wise beyond her years, who returns home and inherits more problems than she brought back.” I was a big fan of McGinley‘s work on Scrubs, but I’ve noticed that he’s had a difficult time channeling that stardom to the big screen after having small parts in various movies over the years.
- 2/14/2012
- by jpraup@gmail.com (thefilmstage.com)
- The Film Stage
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