Blood Father BLOOD FATHER (2016) Starring Mel Gibson, Erin Moriarty, Diego Luna, William H. Macy, Michael Parks, Thomas Mann, Dale Dickey, Miguel Sandoval, Richard Cabral, Daniel Moncada, Ryan Dorsey, Raoul Trujillo, Brandi Cochran, Cameron Cipta, Lucien Dale, Joanne Camp and Tait Fletcher. Screenplay by Peter Craig and Andrea Berloff. Directed by Jean-François Richet. Distributed by Lionsgate Premiere.  88 minutes.  Rated R. Mel Gibson crashed and burned his acting career ye

Bokeem Woodbine, Jesse Plemons, Jean Smart, Jeffrey Donovan, Kirsten Dunst, Noah Hawley and Cristin Milioti at the PaleyFest NY celebration of “Fargo” on October 16, 2105. Photo copyright Jay S. Jacobs. Kirsten Dunst, Jeffrey Donovan, Bokeem Woodbine, Jean Smart, Cristin Milioti and Warren Littlefield Goin’ Back to Fargo by Jay S. Jacobs Whatcha sayin’?  Fargo’s comin’ back? Oh, ya.  The second season is startin’ out real good. There are few stories in history that seemed les

Two-Bit Waltz TWO-BIT WALTZ (2014) Starring Clara Mamet, Rebecca Pidgeon, William H. Macy, Jared Gilman, David Paymer, Matt O’Leary, Ella Dershowitz and John Pirruccello. Screenplay by Clara Mamet. Directed by Clara Mamet. Distributed by Monterey Media.  79 minutes.  Not Rated. Sometimes a film can be rather shocking, when you consider the highs of the highs compared to the lows of the lows. Two-Bit Waltz is the first film written and directed by 20-year-old Clara Mamet, the

Clara Mamet stars in “Two-Bit Waltz.” Clara Mamet Dancing the Two-Bit Waltz by Jay S. Jacobs Clara Mamet is no stranger to show business.  Her father, David, is the Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright, screenwriter and director.  Her mother, Rebecca Pidgeon, is a well-known actress and singer.  Also half-sister Zosia is one of the stars of HBO’s hit series Girls. Therefore, it is no real surprise that Clara Mamet would gravitate towards filmmaking.  Though she spent the last co

Fargo FARGO (1996) Starring Frances McDormand, William H. Macy, Steve Buscemi, Harve Presnell, Peter Stormare, Kristin Rudrüd, Tony Denman, John Carroll Lynch, Larissa Kokernot, Melissa Peterman, Steven Reevis, James Gaulke, Steve Park, Bruce Campbell and Jose Feliciano. Screenplay by Joel Coen & Ethan Coen. Directed by Joel Coen. Distributed by Fox Home Entertainment. 98 minutes. Rated R. In the opening of Fargo there is one of those title cards that informs you that “This i

Joe Mantegna in “Joan of Arcadia.” joe mantegna one of us by jay s. jacobs When Joe Mantegna was a student at the Goodman School of Drama in Chicago, he would to pick up a play and turn the page that listed the original cast.  It always fascinated him.  Who originated these roles?  What did they do later?  Did they become a star or stay relatively obscure?  He always thought that it would be the greatest thing if someday an acting student could open a book and see his name. A

The Cooler THE COOLER (2003) Starring William H. Macy, Maria Bello, Alec Baldwin, Ron Livingston, Joey Fatone, Paul Sorvino, Estella Warren, Arthur J. Nascarella, M.C. Gainey, Ellen Greene, Don Scribner, Tony Longo, Richard Israel, Timothy Landfield, T.J. Gioia, Jewel Shepard, Gordon Michaels, Doc Watson, Larry Elliott and Dan Lemieux. Screenplay by Frank Hannah and Wayne Kramer. Directed by Wayne Kramer. Distributed by Lionsgate Films. 101 minutes.  Rated R. There are certai