Monday Morning Critic Podcast

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(Episode 294) "Dumb and Dumber" Actor: Mike Starr. Apr 14, 2022

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Episode 294.
"Dumb and Dumber"
Actor.
Mike Starr.
Mike Starr is a legendary actor whose filmography includes Dumb and Dumber, Goodfellas, The Natural, Uncle Buck and so many more. Mike's first role was Hawaii 5-0 in 1978 and he's put together a legendary filmography ever since.
Talking Points.
1. Mike and I discuss his brother, actor Beau Starr.
2. Mike breaks down Dumb and Dumber and what it was like working with Jim Carrey and Jeff Daniels.
3. Mike talks Goodfellas and Martin Scorsese.
4. We talk Joe Rogan and late night television.
5. Mike shares his experiences in the best baseball movie ever made, The Natural.
6. Mike's role in Uncle Buck is one for the ages.
7. In Uncle Buck, Mike came up with the quote "Four Flushing" that was not used but was eventually used by Chevy Chase in Christmas Vacation.
8. Mike shares some personal stories about Jim Carrey.
9. Mike's wife is a well respected Doctor.
10. Mike shares what it's like to be humble and why it seems to be getting more rare by the day.
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(Episode 293) "All Quiet on the Western Front" Academy Award Winning Film Composer: Volker Bertelmann "Hauschka". Apr 01, 2022

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Episode 293.
"All Quiet on the Western Front"
Composer.
Volker Bertelmann
Volker Bertelmann "Hauschka" is a supremely talented film composer whose filmography includes Against the Ice, Stowaway, Your Honor, Ammonite, The Old Guard, A Christmas Carol, The Art of Racing in the Rain, Adrift and one of the best scores in Cinematic History: "Lion".
Absolutely loved talking to Volker who is beyond passionate when it comes to music and scoring films not to mention a really good human being.
Volker and I hit on many topics.
1. Volker's early life, Germany and religion.
2. The story behind his first piano.
3. His friendship and rapport with fellow film composer Dustin O'Halloran.
4. His newest project, Against the Ice.
5. The powerful impact of the movie "Lion"
6. Co-scoring multiple projects with Dustin O"Halloran.
7. A movie my late father absolutely loved and was blown away by.
8. Lion is the perfect movie, the way it's shot, its epic score and iconic cast.
9. Volker's visionary work in "prepared piano" is mind blowing.
10. The story behind "Hauschka"
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(Episode 292) "Pretty Woman" Actor: Laura San Giacomo. Mar 28, 2022

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Episode 292.
"Pretty Woman"
Actor: Laura San Giacomo.
Laura San Giacomo is an actor who is known for her charitable work and her amazing filmography that includes Pretty Woman, Quigley Down Under, Just Shoot Me, Sex, Lies, and Video Tape and so much more.
Sarah has put together a wonderful career. I really enjoyed conversing with her. A really kind and genuine person.
Talking Points:
1. We discuss Laura's work with Cerebral Palsy.
2. Her time at Carnegie Mellon
3. Why not getting accepted to Carnegie Mellon made her a better actor.
4. We discuss Pretty Woman and Kit De Luca.
5. We also discuss an all time class in Quigley Down Under, an underrated masterpiece.
6. Laura and I discuss the advice given to her by James Spader.
7. Laura shares her fondness for the late George Segal.
8. Another person who has impacted Laura is Pretty Woman director Garry Marshall.
9. The Original Pretty Woman script was very dark.
10.Laura discusses the very underrated "Just Shoot Me"
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(Episode 291) "12 Years a Slave" Cinematographer: Sean Bobbitt. Mar 20, 2022

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Episode 291.
"12 Years a Slave"
Cinematographer: Sean Bobbitt.
Sean Bobbitt is an award winning Cinematographer whose work includes 12 Years a Slave, Stronger, The Place Behind the Pines and so much more. His rapport with Steve McQueen has resulted in some wonderful movie making.
Welcome, Sean Bobbitt.
Talking Points:
1. Sean talks about his early life in Texas.
2. Sean did a bit of traveling early in his life.
3. Sean lives on a boat on the Thames River.
4. Sean's collaboration with Steve McQueen has resulted in some wonderful film making.
5. Sean will be scoring the highly anticipated "The Marvels" coming in 2023.
6. Sean and I both agree that Chiwetel Ejiofor should have won best actor for his work in "12 Years a Slave."
7. We talk about how making a movie truly is a team effort.
8. Hans Zimmer's score in "12 Years a Slave" remains a very key component for why it is such a captivating movie.
9. I stand in awe as to how actors can turn it off and on, especially with a character like Edwin Epps portrayed by Michael Fassbender.
10. Sean remains one of the most highly sought after cinematographer in movie making today.
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(Episode 290) "Ozark" Actor: Felix Solis. Mar 17, 2022

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Episode 290.
"Ozark"
Actor.
Felix Solis.
#ozarkseason4 #ozark #podcast #interview
Felix Solis, the man who has taken Ozark and Netflix by storm with is portrayal of Mexican Drug Cartel Kingpin, Omar Navarro was kind enough to join me on the podcast.
Actor Felix Solis has been in such projects as The Sopranos, The Forgotten, Man on a Ledge and most notably The Head of the Mexican Cartel, Omar Navarro in the Netflix smash hit, Ozark. I've done countless interviews for the podcast, this is easily one of my all time favorites. You will see why!
Welcome, Felix Solis.
Talking Points:
1. Felix's dog, Jackie Robinson was a rescue that Felix and his longtime partner clearly adore. And he has his own instagram page!
2. Felix has been a long time Star Wars fan.
3. Like me, Yoda is Felix's Star Wars icon.
4. Felix is huge into Star Wars memorabilia. He puts figures together and pants them.
5. We both share our thoughts on the last three Star Wars movies.
6. Felix was raised in New York.
7. Felix attends Comic Cons as a FAN, not a celebrity.
8. We talk about Ozark and who the WORST person on the show is.
9. Felix shares all things Omar Navarro and Ozark.
10. Felix has been a target of a death threat for his portrayal of Omar Navarro in Ozark.
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(Episode 289) "Star Trek Discovery" Actor: Hiro Kanagawa. Mar 13, 2022

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Episode 289.
Star Trek Generations.
Actor: Hiro Kanagawa.
#startrek #alteredcarbon #upload
Hiro Kanagawa has amassed a wonderful filmography which includes Star Trek Discovery, Upload Season 2, The Good Doctor, Altered Carbon, Godzilla, The X-Files, Smallville, Best in Show and so many more.
I really enjoyed conversing with Hiro.
He's talented, honest and a good human being.
Talking Points:
1. Hiro explains to me why Bruce Springsteen is so vastly popular.
2. We talk about how difficult it is to land "Series Regular" status.
3. Early on, Hiro was in a boarding school in Japan.
4. Hiro's life path has taken him all over the world.
5. When Hiro was in High School he saved all his lunch money from the semester and purchased an acoustic guitar which he still has today and you can see it in the video portion of the interview.
6. Hiro is also a musician and writer.
7. Hiro had a very unique path to acting.
8. Hiro attended college in Middlebury College in Vermont.
9. Hiro has two projects out now, Star Trek Generations and Upload season 2.
10. Hiro shares insight about his experiences on Star Trek Generations.
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(Episode 288) "Peacemaker" Actor: Chukwudi Iwuji. Mar 09, 2022

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Episode 288.
"Peacemaker"
Actor: Chukwudi Iwuji.
Chukwudi makes his SECOND appearance on the show to talk about "Peacemaker" and the highly anticipated "Guardians of the Galaxy 3" in which there is immense speculation and excitement about who he will be playing. I really love Chukwudi as an actor, but he's even a better human being. One of the all time greats to stop by the podcast. He's the real deal.
One of the best actors on the planet.
Talking Points:
1. Chuk talks about his amazing wife.
2. Host Darek Thomas incorrectly called "Peacemaker", "Peacekeeper" (multiple times) to which I apologize and am throughly embarrassed. I have done this with other "Peacemaker" guests. Bad habit.
3. I tried very hard to get Chuk to reveal who he is playing in Guardians 3, I tried REALLY hard. I am not sure it worked.
4. Chuk talks about how a non-fictional death leads to real world emotions.
5. We talk about James Gunn, and how he loved Chuk so much in Peacemaker, he offered him the highly coveted role that many high profile actors wanted in Guardians of the Galaxy 3.
6. Clemson Murn is the biggest hero in Peacemaker.
7. I ask Chuk how reading scripts is different than reading for pleasure.
8. Chuk is fresh off a one night "Othello" performance.
9. I might get Chuk a Monday Morning Critic Jacket (Like Tom Hanks has for SNL) for his third appearance which would make him the most featured guest in MMC history!
10. Chuk shares exclusively that the energy exerted in his character for Guardians of the Galaxy 3 was unexpected, exhausting and like nothing else he's ever done before.
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(Episode 287) "The History Channel's Abraham Lincoln" Film Composer: Kurt Farquhar. Mar 01, 2022

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Episode 287.
"The History Channel's Abraham Lincoln"
Film Composer: Kurt Farquhar.
Kurt Farquhar is a film composer whose filmography includes Moesha, Black Lightening, The King of Queens and The History Channel's three part documentary on Abraham Lincoln.
Interview Highlights:
1. Kurt discuses growing up on the South Side of Chicago.
2. Kurt's mother encouraged her children to play instruments, randomly giving them one to learn.
3. Kurt is one of five children. He is the youngest.
4. Kurt has multiple projects on Disney+
5. He went to study music in Europe.
6. Kurt emotionally shares the kindness of a friend and his family he met in Boston.
7. Kurt has been homeless on two separate occasions in his life. Each for a year.
8. He has scored more primetime television than any other African American composer in his 30 year career.
9. Kurt took a job as a maid (cooking and cleaning) to make ends meet.
10. Kurt continues to score project after project and is still going strong!
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(Episode 286) "The Righteous Gemstones" Actor: Gaven Wilde. Feb 25, 2022

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Episode 286
The Righteous Gemstones"
Actor: Gaven Wilde.
Gaven Wilde is a very talented actor whose filmography includes Halloween Kills, The Righteous Gemstones and the soon to be released The Black Phone. Gaven and I touched on a variety of subjects in a really fun conversation. I really. like Gaven. Having just turned 18, his future is unquestionably bright.
Highlights:
1. Gaven talks about being one of five siblings.
2. HIs phenomenal work in The Righteous Gemstones.
3. The importance of working with a talent like Walton Goggins and what is learned from those experiences
4. At this point, Michael Meyers is a Superhero.
5. The importance of ad libbing and unscripted moments in the Righteous Gemstones.
6. The unplanned moments in filming Gemstones that end up being some of the best scenes. David Gordon Green's amazing ability to use unsuspecting moments to make some pretty awesome television.
7. Working with Emma Shannon and how the two of them make one hell of a team.
8. Gaven is naturally gifted as a comedian.
9. Working around nerves to make scenes successful and being part of the Halloween franchise.
10. The Black Phone looks like one hell of a movie. Release date is late June.
This and so much more.
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(Episode 285) "Nightmare Alley" Cinematographer: Dan Laustsen. Feb 21, 2022

Show notes

Episode 285.
"Nightmare Alley"
Cinematographer: Dan Laustsen.
Dan Laustsen is a two time Academy Award nominated Cinematographer for his work in "The Shape of Water" and most currently, his academy award nomination for "Nightmare Alley". The 2022 class of Academy Award nominated Cinematographers includes:
DUNE, Greig Fraser, THE POWER OF THE DOG, Ari Wegner, THE TRAGEDY OF MACBETH, Bruno Delbonnel WEST SIDE STORY, Janusz Kaminski and this week's guest NIGHTMARE ALLEY, Dan Laustsen.
Dan's filmography includes John Wick Chapter 2, 3 and the soon to be released John Wick Chapter 4. Silent Hill, Crimson Peak, League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, Darkness Falls, Brotherhood of the Wolf and so many more.
Highlights:
1. Dan was encouraged by his sister to apply to Film School.
2. Guillermo Del Toro called Dan one of the top 5 best cinematographers.
3. Guillermo Del Toro and Dan have done 4 films together. Crimson Peak, The Shape of Water, Nightmare Alley and Mimic.
4. Dan has done the cinematography in 3 of 4 John Wick movies.
5. Dan has been nominated for two academy awards.
6. Dan includes Se7en and The Lighthouse as two of the most influential movies as they apply to cinematography.
7. Roger Deakins ended up winning the Academy Award in 2018 for his work in "Blade Runner 2049". That same year Dan was nominated for "The Shape of Water"
8. Dan attended the National Film School in Denmark.
9. Prior to attending film school Dan had experience as a Fashion Photographer.
10 . Dan had aspirations of becoming a National Geographic Photographer.
A gifted cinematographer I am very fortunate to bring you Cinematographer, Dan Laustsen.
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