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On the Scene: β€˜The Good Nurse’ Cast Talk Real Life Hero Behind Movie at Premiere

by Dano Nissen
written by Dano Nissen

The putative most prolific serial killer in US history was taken down by kindness.Β 

β€œThe Good Nurse” tells the true story of a night nurse who brought a colleague, and friend, to justice after she discovered he had been killing patients. She goes up against the hospital bureaucracy’s negligence and her conflicted feelings towards someone she considers a trusted friend. This is not a serial killer movie glorifying the twisted mind of a murderer. It’s a movie about a working single mom stopping evil with goodness.

The Knockturnal spoke with the cast, writer and director of the film at the Oct 18 premiere in Manhattan.

Jessica Chastain plays the eponymous nurse, the real life Amy Loughren. Chastain said she learned a lot from Laughren, who often visited the set. β€œShe was so great with me because she taught me a lot about her compassion and her empathy and humanity,” said Chastain. β€œOne of the very first conversations I had with her is I asked her why she worked as a night nurse and she said she wanted her girls to think they had a stay at home mom.”

She continued, β€œShe worked all night long taking care of others working at the hospital. She’d come home and do the grocery shopping and the housework while her kids were at school and then take care of them when they were out of school. She really was at no moment taking care of herself And i learned a lot about that from actually talking to her.”

Eddie Redmayne plays the serial killer Charles Cullen. He, too, was able to speak to Loughren, who had a close friendship with Cullen until she learned of his crimes. β€œ[It was] extraordinary talking about the intimacy of her friendship and the specifics of that and the real love that she had,” said Redmayne. β€œAlso this man had a seemingly amazing humanity. But there was this other side that she met twice and it was a different human being.”

He continued, β€œViolence was ended through compassion and reminding this man who was doing horrific things of his humanity.”

Danish director Tobias Lindholm helmed the film as his first English language feature. He’s directed several episodes of David Fincher’s serial killer Netflix show β€œMindhunter.” He’s also the writing partner of Thomas Vinterberg and collaborated on the scripts for β€œThe Hunt” and 2021’s Academy Awards Best Foreign Language Film β€œAnother Round.” Lindholm and Vinterberg are adherents to the Scandinavian film movement Dogme 95, a set of rules which extol naturalism and vΓ©ritΓ©.

β€œI’m proudly on the shoulders of Dogme, but Dogme is always proudly on the shoulders of [John] Cassevetes,” said Lindholm. β€œSo it’s a circle. I think I’m bringing some [Ingmar] Bergman to the table and some [David] Fincher and some 70s great movie making.”

Lindholm joined the chorus of praising the real life good nurse. β€œWithout her insistence on human values, friendship and love there would be no story to tell,” he said.

β€œThe Good Nurse” is in theaters and available for streaming on Netflix.

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On the Scene: β€˜Weird: The Al Yankovic Story’ Cast on the True, the Made-up and the Weird at NYC Premiere

by Dano Nissen
written by Dano Nissen

Divine inspiration captures a musician in a glorious moment. It’s fleeting. The rush is on. Right then and there, an impromptu recording session produces their hit song you know and love β€” in real time. But that only happens in movies. Right?

β€œI was watching the Michael Jackson β€˜Bad’ video on TV, the world premiere,” Weird Al Yankovic told The Knockturnal. β€œAnd immediately thought β€” β€˜fat’. They were walking through the turnstiles in the subway. What if this guy was like 900 pounds and couldn’t get through the turnstiles? And before the video was over I had a concept for the video.”

Weird Al’s β€œFat” is to Michael Jackson’s β€œBad” as β€œWeird: The Al Yankovic Story” is to β€œBohemian Rhapsody,” β€œThe Doors” or β€œSid and Nancy.” Biopics tend to take artistic liberties, not limited to the genesis of songs. It’s almost mandatory that at some point in one of these movies a band member will go, “wait a minute,” then commence jamming the riff to what will be their biggest hit. β€œWeird” tends to take artistic liberties with those well-trodden artistic liberties.Β 

In real life, no, Yankovic did not write most of his songs spontaneously, nor did he have a torrid love affair with Madonna nor did he make a mortal enemy of Colombian drug kingpin Pablo Escobar β€” all of which happen in the movie.

β€œA lot of times when I write a song it’s a matter of me thinking about something for a long period of time,” said Yankokovic. β€œ[β€˜Bad’ is] the exception to the rule. Usually it’s me thinking about what are the variations on the theme I can explore.”

The Knockturnal spoke to the cast, director and some of the real life people who inspired the not so true story at the New York premiere of β€œWeird: The Al Yankovic Story” at Downtown Brooklyn’s Alamo Drafthouse on Nov 1.Β 

Daniel Radcliffe, standing on the carpet with Yankovic, is noticeably shorter. About eight inches. His vocabulary also differs.Β 

Radcliffe, beginning to speak about his favorite Weird Al song not included in the film called β€œBob”, let out a reflexive β€œah, fu-,” narrowly avoiding consummating the f-bomb. A cursus interruptus. β€œI didn’t even get through the whole word,” he said. β€œSo it’s fine.”

Yankovic has not and has never, according to himself and all known documentation, sworn. β€œHe doesn’t. It’s true. I do, unfortunately. I grew up on film sets so I swear like a sailor,” said Radcliffe. β€œAnd I’m English, so it’s like charming when I do it.”

Despite the disparities, Radcliffe pulled it off. After all, he didn’t have to play the teetotalling, clean-mouthed, sperm donor eligible (Yankovic’s a cool six foot) version of Al. Radcliffe plays Weird Al’s parody of Weird Al β€” international sex symbol, MMA-trained, binge boozing, libidinous rockstar Al.Β 

β€œDude, it was one of the things that I loved getting to do in the film,” said Radcliffe. β€œEveryday I was getting to do a fight scene or a song and dance number or comedy with Rainn Wilson or Evan [Rachel Wood].”

One of those song and dance numbers is β€œI Love Rocky Road,” a parody of Joan Jett’s β€œI Love Rock β€˜n’ Roll.” In the film, Radcliffe lip syncs the song in front of a rowdy crowd of bikers, punks and other hard-looking folks. Along with his performance in Madonna’s β€œLike a Virgin” parody β€œLike a Surgeon,” Radcliffe cited β€œRocky Road” as his favorite to do.Β 

β€œI was never in a band growing up and I got to live out that fantasy during that sequence,” he said. β€œAl was on set everyday. He would come in with notes occasionally, mostly about musical stuff we were doing.”

While interacting on set, Radcliffe said he never urged the man he was spoofing to spoof himself and his most famous role β€” Harry Potter. Weird Al has taken on many big franchises like β€œStar Wars” (twice) and β€œSpider-Man,” but has never gone to Hogwarts. β€œI’m almost surprised it hasn’t happened anyway. Potter does feel like it’s pretty rich ground for parody,” said Radcliffe.Β 

During one of Yankovic’s days on sets, he had a rather famous friend and fan visit β€” and make a brief cameo in the film. β€œThe making of this movie was a blur,” said Lin-Manuel Miranda. β€œI was there for a morning. I got to hug Al.”

Miranda has long admired the parody artist, gushing over him in numerous interviews. Now, he’s friends and coworkers with a larger than life figure to him. He said, β€œI feel like I’m friends with Santa Claus.”

His Saint Nick-esque persona notwithstanding, Yankovic is pretty approachable, according to the β€œWeird” director Eric Appel. Appel said he wanted Yankovic’s blessing to do the movie so he reached out to mutual friend Patton Oswalt to set up a meeting.Β 

In that very first meeting, Yankovic threw out some of the more outlandish components of the film, namely, Pablo Escobar’s appearance as a primary antagonist. β€œThat came from the very first conversation I had with Al in 2019,” said Appel. ”I believe Al had just binge watched all of β€˜Narcos.’ And Escobar was just right there on the tip of his brain. He was like, β€˜I think it would be really funny if we had a sequence in the movie where I turned into John Wick and Escobar just makes sense as a 1980s super villain.”

Even the pitch meeting smacks of a parody of an off the walls Hollywood boardroom. β€œI saw someone’s tweet a while ago that said this movie feels like someone’s fake movie from β€˜30 Rock,’” said Appel. He did an impression of Alec Baldwin’s Jack Donaghy talking to Tina Fey’s Liz Lemon from the NBC show, β€œWe got Harry Potter as Weird Al, Lemon.”

Yankovic didn’t just take the idea of Escobar from watching Netflix; he took one of the actors from streamer’s hit show to play the drug lord. Arturo Castro, who plays a prominent member of the Cali cartel in β€œNarcos” and Escobar in β€œWeird,” joked, β€œThis is the only part that was a real fact. Al Yankovic got rid of Pablo Escobar.”

As for the surviving Escobars and their acolytes who might watch his repeated portrayal of Colombian cocaine czars, he said, β€œI really hope they have a sense of humor.”

Weird Al didn’t really face off with Escobar in the jungles outside MedellΓ­n. He didn’t do practically anything featured in the movie. But he wouldn’t have done any of this at all β€” the successful novelty music career, the fake biopic β€” without the mentorship of Dr. Demento.Β 

Early in his career. Yankovic came under the tutelage of Barry Hansen, better known as the Los Angeles comedic radio broadcaster Dr. Demento.Β 

As the movie goes, Weird Al submits a tape of β€œMy Bologna,” a parody of The Knack’s β€œMy Sharona” to Dr. Demento, played by Rainn Wilson, to instant acclaim and commercial success. Dr. Demento actually did receive that tape, recorded in a bathroom at Cal State San Luis Obispo, by a curly-haired college student. But it didn’t catapult Yankovic into overnight stardom. Hansen said it took about six years for Yankovic to cultivate his art and gain mainstream traction.Β 

β€œEvery year it seemed like he learned to do something new, something better,” said Hansen of those first six years. β€œHe started out making these homemade tapes and then he started being able to produce his own records. Then he started being able to produce his own videos. Now he’s co-producer of this movie.”

β€œWeird: The Al Yankovic Story” is available for streaming on Roku.Β 

 

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On The Scene: “A Tree Of Life: The Pittsburgh Synagogue Shooting” Screening

by Danielle Niecey
written by Danielle Niecey

 

Co-Head of HBO Documentary & Family Programming, Nancy Abraham, introduces the HBO Documentary Film “A Tree Of Life: The Pittsburgh Synagogue Shooting” October 20, 2022 in New York City. (Photo by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images for HBO)

There wasn’t a dry eye in the theater the night of October 20th, 2022; including mine. I can typically bypass the daunting task of processing tear jerking emotions altogether. My avoidance usually works best when I misplace an item of clothing or if something I wanted doesn’t come to fruition and I do my best to not get upset about it. IΒ  rationalize my way around minor, non-life threatening annoyances such as these once I find the logic behind it all. However, there is one annoying experience that I’ve encountered (and unfortunately, still do from time to time) that I’ve yet to find the logic behind.Β  That major annoyance is Racism. It doesn’t make sense to me at all. It will never make sense to me that the fears and misconceptions about a group of people or persons could incite hate and premeditated acts of violence.Β 

Rabbi Hazzan Jeffrey Myers attends a special screening for the HBO Documentary Film “A Tree Of Life: The Pittsburgh Synagogue Shooting” (Photo by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images for HBO)

On October 20th, 2022, I attended the exclusive HBO screening in Manhattan, New York for β€œA Tree Of Life: The Pittsburgh Synagogue Shooting” nationally phrased as, β€˜The Pittsburgh Synagogue Shooting’. The screening opened with remarks by director Trish Adelsic and producer Susan Margolin. Rabbi Hazzan Jeffrey Myers led the audience in a moment of silence and thoughtful prayer. On the cusps of the 4th anniversary, the screening was a beautiful event to remember the innocent men and women lost and celebrate their lives. The tragic events of the day unfolded, a little over 4 years ago, on the morning of October 27, 2018 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. 22 defenseless Jewish worshippers became the targets of a anti-semitist terrorist attack. The lone suspect, Robert Gregory Bowers, armed himself with a Colt AR-15 SP1, semi-automatic assault rifle and 3-Glock .357 handguns, entered into the synagogue during their time of devotional prayer and open-fired on the unassuming congregation. In his wake of destruction, 11 victims of this mass shooting survived, many with injuries and lingering cases of PTSD from the incident; 11 of the victims did not survive the attack of the gunman.Β 

 

Co-Head of HBO Documentary & Family Programming, Nancy Abraham, introduces the HBO Documentary Film “A Tree Of Life: The Pittsburgh Synagogue Shooting” on October 20, 2022 in New York City. (Photo by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images for HBO)

The documentary film was created by award-nominated and Emmy-winning director Trish Adlesic, a Pittsburgh native, and was Executively produced by Michael Keaton, Billy Porter, and Mark Cuban among others (which include, D.J. Gugenheim, Geeta Gandbhir, Elliott Joseph, Lloyd Myers, Lauran Bromley, Michele Fetting, and Charlie Friday). The documentary film delves into the aftermath of the Squirrel Hill community, a quaint town in Pittsburgh, whose foundation was shaken by this heinous act against humanity. The film highlights the resilience that helped the community band together across the divides of culture, religion and racial differences to mourn the innocent victims who lost their lives.

Special Guests Kate Diaz and Idina Menzel with Director Trish Adelsic

β€œA Tree Of Life: The Pittsburgh Synagogue Shooting”, alarms the world to the prejudicial violence that threatens our sense of security; and the film takes an expansive look at the hate-based crisis in the United States, stemming from the political climate in our country and it stands up to the ideals that are presently causing the moral decay of humanity. Adlesic does a remarkable job balancing the focus on the impacts of Anti-Semitism in America being as problematic a concern nationally as it is on a global scale; she skillfully illustrates the impacts of Anti-Semetic views, propaganda and how these global issues change the lives of well-meaning people that we interact with day to day.Β 

 

On a brighter note, the film sends the uplifting message that β€œlove wins”. The documentary film interviews both survivors, their families and members of the community that rose to the occasion to serve as the balm for the healing of the Jewish community in Squirrel Hill. The story of the attack is told through voices from the community, including Carol Black, Dr. Joseph Charny, Anthony Fienberg, Audrey Glickman, Daniel Leger, Wasi Mohamed, Rabbi Jeffrey Myers, Brad Orsini, Rabbi Jonathan Perlman, Michele Rosenthal, Diane Rosenthal, Augie Siriano, Ellen Surloff, Andrea Wedner, Stephen Weiss and Barry Werber.

Wasi Mohamed attends a special screening for the HBO Documentary Film “A Tree Of Life: The Pittsburgh Synagogue Shooting” (Photo by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images for HBO)

Special guests of the screening included HBO Executives, Nancy Abraham and Lisa Heller; Idina Menzel and Kate Diaz, who share a song featured in the film; film-featured American Classical Musician and Jazz Trumpeter, Hannibal Lokumbe; and film featured Senior Policy Officer and community advocate Wasi Mohamed, a life-long Pennsylvania resident and community advocate committed to changing systems and structures that perpetuate poverty and inequity.

For me, the most eye opening aspect of this film was the perspective that it afforded me. As a spectator, I was a witness to racism and not as the victim.Β  Very rarely have I been a witness to racial crimes that weren’t targeted and directed towards BIPOC. Adlesic’s film offered me a unique and freeing insight about racism by educating me on the ongoing struggles of the Jewish communities in America. I was able to experience the vulnerability and helpless feeling of wanting to free a targeted group of people from the experience of being discriminated against, but found myself not knowing how to convince their attacker of the fault in their logic. This film taught me that prejudice and hate crimes all mimic the same behavioral pattern; an the unwillingness of a racist person to see life outside of their own perspective; the spread of misinformation, the continuance of indoctrinating fear-based rhetoric into the next generation; lack of gun-control laws, the lack of mental health and hygiene; and that hatred along with the crimes it inspires are not an exclusive struggle to one race, color or creed, as an experience.Β  It is my hope that films such as, “A Tree Of life: The Pittsburgh Synagogue Shooting” can be a major part of the catalyst that helps our country and the world to stop these attacks and heal us all from our fear-driven, limiting beliefs.

β€œA Tree Of Life: The Pittsburgh Synagogue Shooting” aired on Wednesday, October 26th, 2022 on HBO and is available to stream on HBO Max.Β 

 

Β 

 

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Exclusive: Tony Hale, Mystic Inscho, and more talk The Mysterious Benedict Society

by Joe Henkel
written by Joe Henkel
Season 2 of The Mysterious Benedict Society is now streaming on Disney+.

Following the success of season one of the Mysterious Benedict Society, the crew is back together for season two. In season one, this group of four ‘misfits’ Reynie, Sticky, Kate and Constance were brought together to stop the evil Dr. Curtain and save the world. They used their wit, intelligence, kindness and empathy to stop the evil schemes. In this new season, they return to help Mr. Benedict once again. When their leaders Mr. Benedict and Number Two are kidnapped, these kids must use their minds to find their leaders. This is a fun series for the whole family. Each episode is filled with mystery, beauty and humor.

The Knockturnal recently spoke with the cast and creators of this show. Tony Hale, who plays Mr. Benedict and his evil twin brother Dr. Curtain, shared his creative journey of developing these characters. Mystic Inscho (β€œReynie Muldoon”), Marta Kessler (β€œConstance Contriare”), Seth Carr (β€œGeorge β€œSticky” Washington”) and Emmy DeOliveira (β€œKate Wetherall”) are the four main heroes of this show. We spoke with them about the costumes, sets and exciting process of creating another season of this show. Gia Sandhu (β€œMs. Perumal”) and MaameYaa Baofo (β€œRhonda Kazembe”) told us about working with these young actors and the excitement that filled each new day of filming. We also spoke with the creators of this series Darren Swimmer, Todd Slavkin, Phil Hay and Matt Manfredi. They shared their creative processes of collaborating on the Mysterious Benedict Society.

Watch The Mysterious Benedict Society season two now only on Disney+.

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Why I will always admire Tim Burton and his work

by Richard Schertzer
written by Richard Schertzer

Pretty soon, people will be greeted to Tim Burton’s next project entitled Wednesday, which is set to premiere on Netflix November 23rd. With his latest project nearing the horizon, it seems only fitting to look back onto the director’s body–nay– his mountain of work that captured millions of fans and made being goth look cool.Β 

Tim Burton began his career with Disney, drawing concept art for the company. Although most of his art went unused and he was getting paid to just conceptualize drawings that never materialized, that didn’t stop him from creating such classics in the 1980s like Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure, Beetlejuice, and the Michael Keaton-led superhero film Batman.Β 

He has made some of the darkest and bloody films while adding his own touch of whimsy to them. His passion for German expressionism and macabre has never wavered and it has honestly only gotten stronger with time.Β 

I remember when I first saw Beetlejuice on VHS. When I first experienced this cult classic, I thought it was something of a fever dream to have witnessed a live-action movie mix in gothic elements and stop-motion. Of course, everything is diffΓ©rent and distorted when you are young. With that being said, I thought the film was a lot darker and less comedic when I first saw it than now.Β 

That wasn’t my only experience with Tim Burton’s work. I remember there was a time in summer of 2013, in fact, it was June 28th, 2013 on a Friday, that I sawΒ  clips of Burton’s film Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street. This was the film that made me a Tim Burton and Johnny Depp fanatic. I remember how dark and beautiful the performances and landscape were. I was enthralled by each character and the storyline of vengeance and justice.Β 

I remember watching a documentary on Tim Burton and he claimed that he grew up as a weirdo and a loner, where people did not like him. Much like his characters, he was an outcast among other people. I can definitely relate with his plight and struggle.Β 

I remember having my heartstrings tugged when I watched Big Fish, Corpse Bride, and the live-action Disney remake Dumbo. I have never seen a director be so committed to the craft of macabre that he made it part of his entire life. I never felt more comfortable being in my own skin after seeing his work and knowing where he got his inspiration from.Β 

Tim Burton truly is one of the reasons that I always wanted to be a filmmaker and that feeling has not wavered since.Β 

 

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EXCLUSIVE: Bitch Ass interviews with Tunde Laleye, Me’Lisa Sellers, and Bill Posey

by Joe Henkel
written by Joe Henkel

Bitch Ass is now available on selected streaming platforms.

This Halloween season watch your back, there’s a new serial killer on the block. Bitch Ass the smart and scary killer and “the first Black serial killer in a mask.”

The legendary Candyman actor Tony Todd introduces us to this threat in the opening scene of this movie. The story follows four young gang members break into a house seeking reward, but are punished by Bitch Ass. They are forced to play games in desperation and the challenges are creepy twists on children’s games. If they win they survive, but if they win they die.

This movie stars Tony Todd, Sheaun McKinney, Tunde Laleye, Me’Lisa Sellers, Teon Kelly and more. The Knockturnal recently interviewed Tunde and Me’Lisa about their experience filming this movie. Tunde Laleye shared the process of internalizing and developing this new villain. Me’Lisa Sellers talked about creating this powerful and empathetic character that she’s excited to share on screen.

We talked with director Bill Posey about the inception and creation of this film. He told us about the contrast of the dark themes with religious undertones. His influences of watching movies when he was young, growing up in Massachusetts and attending Catholic school all inspired him as he created this movie. Posey shared what it was like booking Tony Todd and having him work on set. They only had one day to film Tony’s scenes and that day of filming was powerful.

Now available to watch on Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, Redbox, Vudu and more. Be sure to watch this movie this Halloween season and watch your back for the serial killer Bitch Ass.

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