Posts Tagged ‘The Wackness’

Famke Janssen Says ‘No’ To Kids

July 8th, 2008

Although Famke Janssen treats her seven-year-old Boston terrier Licorice like a child, she doesn’t want any kids of her own.

“Often when women don’t want children, people think it’s connected to being ambitious and not wanting to take that time out of your life,” The Wackness star, 42, tells me. “I have very clear memories as a kid. I have two sisters – they both have kids – I have four nieces between the two of them. And they’ve always said ‘I want kids.’ I’ve always said ‘I don’t want kids.’ I’m not sure what it is. It has nothing to do with I don’t like children – I love children. I love my nieces, but it was just something I never looked for.”

Still, she doesn’t rule out adoption one day in the future.

“Would I adopt a kid? Maybe one day. But would I adopt a baby? Maybe not. It might be a kid that’s a little older.”

In the meantime, Licorice is a lucky pup.

“My life revolves around him,” she tells me. “It’s all about making Licorice happy. Since I got him, he’s brought me such love and joy that I thought the only thing I can do is to make this creature happy, comfortable and spoil him as much as I possibly can, and that’s what I do.”

Josh, Mary-Kate, Olivia Do ‘Wackness’

July 3rd, 2008

Coming-of-age dramedy The Wackness opens today. The eagerly-anticipated flick takes place in 1994 NYC, and I caught up with the film’s stars at The Regency Hotel.

Was it tough for Josh Peck, who got his start on Nickelodeon’s Drake And Josh, to do nude scenes?

“It was awful,” the 21-year-old actor tells me. “It was petrifying. I was completely scared. Everybody’s got body issues, but especially when you transform onscreen, it’s very difficult. Olivia [Thirlby] and I didn’t talk to each other the first part of the day. We shot around 5:00 – that magic hour of when the sun was going down. We were right on the beach. I didn’t eat any lunch ‘cause I didn’t want to be bloated. [laughs] I did 100 pushups in my trailer beforehand, and I dropped the robe and went with God.” He adds, “Ghandi was there. That’s as close to God as you can get.”

The actor pretends not to hear when asked three times how he shed the weight he carried as a teen star. Noted!

Where was he in 1994?

“I was eight, so I was watching Power Rangers and rocking Bugle Boy jeans and shoes with lights in them. Listening to Spice Girls, and my first Joey Lawrence album. I remember the things I was saying in ’94. Things like we say now like ‘what’s good’ and ‘that’s tight’ – back then we said ridiculous things like ‘yo, that’s mad crazy b.’”

He was talking like that at 8? “Yeah.”

Here comes director Jonathan Levine, who talks about Sir Ben Kingsley and Mary-Kate Olsen’s fabled love scene.

“It was cool because he’s playing someone who’s so immature and she seems really wise when you meet her … and it was also 3 o’clock in the morning,” he says. “They were having fun with it. They were having a good time.”

Meanwhile, Olivia Thirlby, 21, won’t tolerate Mary-Kate questions, but tells me she would “love to” work with Seth Rogen even though she was replaced by Amber Heard in his forthcoming comedy Pineapple Express. “I was really disappointed because I love Judd Apatow and I love Seth Rogen and I’m a huge fan of their comedy. I was super-pumped to be a part of one. It was disappointing, but I guess I learned a part of the business. Sometimes with casting it’s completely out of your control. You’ve gotta not take things too personally. I still have no idea why, and I’m not sure anybody knew why. It’s just a decision that came down from on high. I actually don’t know Amber. I’ve never met her before. It kind of happens. All my friends are always auditioning for the same projects, if not the very same roles. It’s sort of fun when I go to L.A., and I stay with friends and we work on the same sides together. It’s a fun experience.”

Method Man cracks a joke when asked about his watch.

“My mom hates when I leave the house with her jewelry, but I had to this morning,” the rapper/actor, 37, says. “I’ve gotta give this back to her.”

What’s his favorite thing about NYC in the summer?

“Fashion,” Method says. “Not for me to wear, but I like booty shorts. Sorry. If you have the legs, flaunt them. And those Spartan-type sandals. I love them. Y’all killing them. The women are murdering those sandals that look like Spartan shoes.”

The Wackness is in theaters now.

OK! Cookbook: The Wackness Dishes

March 12th, 2008 / Author: cwillett

The cast of the upcoming dramedy The Wackness chowed down on some delectable dishes with OK! at The Leaf Lounge in Park City, Utah, and now you can do the same! Check out the recipes below and hit the kitchen!

Citrus Braised Salmon with Basil Mandarin Creme with Clementine Cucumber Relish

Serves 812

Ingredients
5 lbs. fresh salmon filet, skinned and boned

For Braising liquid:
2 c. fresh orange juice

1 c. Turning Leaf Chardonnay
12 oz. can spicy tomato juice

1/4 tsp. dried Italian herbs
2 small lemons, sliced

1 lime, sliced
1/2 orange, sliced

1/4 grapefruit, sliced
4 dabs unsalted butter

For Basil Mandarin creme:
1 c. creme Fraiche or sour cream
small can of mandarin orange sections, drain well
1/4 c. chopped fresh basil
salt and pepper, to taste

For Relish:
2 clementines, tangerines or oranges, peeled and diced
1/4 c. combined red, green and yellow bell pepper, finely chopped
1 large cucumber, seeded and chopped
1 tsp. fresh chives, chopped
salt and pepper, to taste
1 dash orange juice

Instructions
For salmon:
1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

2. Place filet in a roasting pan; in separate bowl, combine orange juice, tomato juice, Turning Leaf Chardonnay, Italian herbs, and all sliced fruit;

3. Pour over salmon to barely cover and set aside. Put dabs of butter in on top of salmon;

4. Place pan in oven; braise until salmon is slightly firm to touch, approximately 20 minutes.

For creme:
1. In blender place creme Fraiche or sour cream, basil, mandarin oranges and salt and pepper; blend to combine.

For relish:

1. In bowl combine tangerines, bell peppers, cucumber, chives, salt and pepper with dash orange juice.

Remove salmon to platter when done; top with relish and dabs of creme, and enjoy!

Petite Field Greens on an Herb Chevre Puff Pastry with Blackberry Sorbet and a Syrah Balsamic Glaze
Serves 8 -12

Ingredients
2 lbs. petite greens
1/3 cup walnuts
1 box frozen puff pastry
1 c. chevre cheese, soften
Italian herbs
1 pint favorite blackberry sorbet (raspberry may be substituted)
1 lb. plum tomatoes
2/3 c. Turning Leaf Syrah
1 1/3 c. balsamic vinegar
Salt & pepper to taste

Instructions
1. In large bowl, place washed and dried field greens; gently toss with drizzle of olive oil and salt and pepper to taste; Cut plum tomatoes in half lengthwise.
2. Gently toss tomatoes and walnuts with greens; place aside.
3. Defrost puff pastry, cut into 4” x 4” squares; prepare as per package directions.
4. Place on large serving platter to cool to room temperature.
5. In medium bowl, combine Italian herbs with chevre cheese.
6. In small saucepan, combine Turning Leaf Syrah & balsamic; reduce to 1 cup.
7. To prepare platter, spread each square with the herb chevre, place a small amount of field greens on top of puff pastry square.
8. With small (2 oz.) scoop, put 1 scoop of sorbet on top of the greens, drizzle with Turning Leaf and balsamic reduction. Enjoy!

The Cast of The Wackness at Turning Leaf Lounge

March 12th, 2008

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OK! Interview: The Cast of The Wackness

March 12th, 2008 / Author: cwillett

Before you get wacky with The Wackness this summer, OK! caught up with the film’s cast and writer/director Jonathan Levine at The Leaf Lounge in Park City, Utah, where we dined over a fine course of salmon and chatted about the eagerly anticipated film that features that uber-hyped kiss between Sir Ben Kingsley and Mary-Kate Olsen. The film follows the eccentric relationship between a drug dealer (Josh Peck) and his psychiatrist (Sir Ben), who offers therapy sessions in exchange for marijuana and opens July 3.

Jonathan Levine

Can you describe the movie?
The movie is semi-autobiographical as it is centered around the city I grew up in, and the thoughts and feelings I had at that age. So, I would say it is an extension of reality.

The plot is interesting to say the least.
I like to make challenging movies. Take some risks, while filming and using elements that make me a nerd, and somehow making it mainstream.

What was it like working with such a stellar cast — Sir Ben, Mary-Kate, Famke Janssen?
I was so fortunate to have the cast. The casting directors are amazing. Ben Kingsley would be anybody’s first choice, and I can’t believe we got him.

Everyone’s been talking about that kiss between Sir Ben and Mary-Kate. Do you have anything to say about that?
The kiss between Sir Ben and Mary Kate is so insignificant and no way will overshadow any part of the film. People will understand that when they see it and forget that even happened. Although I was quite excited about some of the publicity that it received while we were filming. It helped start a buzz about the film, and gets the ball rolling.

Sir Ben Kingsley
Why did you decide to do this film?
There was something about the movie and Jonathan that was innocent. He was great to work with because he would try new things, and who says he can’t do things. Well of course he can shoot from that angle, why can’t he. He had no limits to what he was doing.

You play a psychiatrist who gets high. How much did this role appeal to you?
I was very drawn to the character. It’s just a very interesting movie that is not forced and where the plot and characters naturally unfold.

You kiss Mary-Kate Olsen in the film. There’s a lot of buzz about that.
You think that’s controversial, wait until my next movie where I kiss Dennis Hopper!

Josh Peck
Everyone, especially younger folk, know you from Drake and Josh. How does it feel to play a such a different and mature role?
My fans are my fans, and I hope they stay that way. Everyone has to grow up sometime. I don’t want to be typecast.

What was it like working with Sir Ben Kingsley?
He has always been my absolute favorite actor, and all you can do is learn from it.

And that kiss?
There’s so much more to the movie that the kiss is insignificant.

For more on The Wackness, check out the gallery and read up on the recipes!

Olivia Thirlby Calls Mary-Kate “Chill” and “Normal”

March 11th, 2008 / Author: cwillett

Ellen Page better watch out! Mary-Kate Olsen is out for her best friend, or celluloid best friend at least.

Olivia Thirlby, who played Leah to Ellen’s Juno in the dramedy of the same name, shares the screen with Mary-Kate in the upcoming The Wackness and cannot say enough good things about her other 21-year-old superstar colleague.

"She is probably the most chill, relaxed, normal girl I’ve ever met," Olivia tells OK! at the Snow Angels screening. "She doesn’t wear her tremendous fame on her sleeve at all."

And despite having been in the public eye since infancy, Olivia, 21, says the younger Olsen twin could not be more down to earth.

"Meeting her, you would have no idea of her stature in the tabloid world," she says. "She’s a really awesome girl."

Equally as grounded is Ellen, who’s fresh off of an Oscar nomination for Best Actress for her turn in Juno, Olivia says.

"She’s a really level-headed person. She’s got her head screwed on tight."

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