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Variety Video: Don Cheadle and Kerry Washington Talk Life in Hollywood

I stumbled upon this wonderful video today and thought I would share:


Over the course of 30 minutes, Cheadle and Washington talk to Variety about their respective careers (at one point, they chuckle when describing what they do as a ‘career’), along with the opportunities and challenges they have encountered and lastly, how they have turned the exposure their success brings to shine a light on issues they are passionate about (for better or worse).

It is an engaging exchange and reminded me, among other things, that they are former co-stars, in 2003’s The United States of Leland. I remember seeing this film around the time of its release but it is a little too far in my cinematic rearview for me to give an adequate review/recap. Check out the trailer here:

Have you seen the film? If so, what did you think about it?

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A Brief Look at The Guard (2011)

Who ever thought the following words would be uttered: Brendan Gleeson and Don Cheadle are comedy gold ?

The fact is they are in The Guard, an independent Irish film written and directed by John Michael McDonagh. Brendan Gleeson is the guard in a town on the west coast of Ireland. Our introduction to Boyle’s method of policing (and life in general) is, shall we say, a bit unorthodox. Whether it is pilfering drugs off of recent accident victims, or inappropriately handling corpses, Sgt. Boyle is not anyone you would want on your beat.

A recent murder in the area is revealed to be part of a larger drug smuggling operation that has international implications. The FBI, represented by Agent Wendell Everett (Don Cheadle), is called in to assist the locals with the operation. They are looking for three men they suspect are involved in the trafficking a boatload of missing narcotics. Add to that the disappearance of a local officer, and our boys have their hands full.

After a rather rough start Boyle and Everett establish a tenuous camaraderie, which comes in handy by the time the film reaches its climax.

For the role of Sgt. Boyle, Gleeson has been nominated for a Golden Globe in the category of Best Actor (Comedy or Musical). In the role of the straight man that is also a fish out of water, Don Cheadle delivers. Cheadle is no stranger to comedy, but he hits the mark in this film, which showcases his versatility. Rounding out the talented cast are Liam Cunningham, Mark Strong and Fionnula Flanagan.

With a complex blend of raunchiness, humor, drama, tragedy, (very) foul language and brief flashes of violence, one of these elements could easily get lost in a film that runs just shy of 100 minutes. But the McDonagh aptly finds that balance to give the audience a satisfyingly entertaining film.

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