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We love speaking with filmmaker Andrew Davis. In late 2023 The Fugitive director came on our podcast The B-Side to discuss a slew of hidden gems as well as the 4K release of his Harrison Ford blockbuster.

Davis is back to talk about his novel Disturbing the Bones, a political thriller that reads like an entertaining, extrapolated version of some of his best films. The plot concerns an archaeological dig in Illinois wherein a body is discovered. It leads to a murder investigation amidst a global crisis spurned by a catastrophic, nuclear mistake.

The Film Stage spoke with Davis about the book, his Arnold Schwarzenegger action film Collateral Damage, his upcoming projects, and the state of both the film industry and the country.

You will earnestly learn about a lot of little things if you read/listen to this interview. Enjoy!

The Film Stage: Andrew Davis, welcome back! Today we’re...

While Gene Hackman stayed busy throughout his acting career, he seemingly worked nonstop in the late 1980s, especially in 1988, when he had five films in theatrical release. Whether Hackman appeared in good films during this period, like the great 1987 thriller No Way Out, or bad films, like Superman IV: The Quest for Peace, didn’t seem to matter to the actor, who later admitted that his incessant work schedule was grounded in his loneliness.

One of Hackman’s most underrated performances is featured in the 1989 political action thriller film The Package, in which he plays Johnny Gallagher, a Green Beret sergeant who is given the seemingly menial task of escorting a disgraced sergeant, played by Tommy Lee Jones, from West Berlin to the United States for a court-martial trial. However, after the prisoner escapes his custody, Gallagher becomes immersed in a conspiracy that threatens to trigger World War III.

The Package...

Each week we highlight the noteworthy titles that have recently hit streaming platforms in the United States. Check out this week’s selections below and past round-ups here.

Chaos: The Manson Murders (Errol Morris)

Over half a century later, what new information can be gleaned from the nights of August 9 and 10, 1969? Tom O’Neill and Dan Piepenbring’s riveting (if convoluted) book Chaos: Charles Manson, the CIA, and the Secret History of the Sixties––released in June 2019, between the Cannes premiere and theatrical release of Quentin Tarantino’s cathartic rewrite of that history––argues that while all the evidence of the murders has been gleaned, there’s a complex and knotty web of conspiracies for the motivations, some more plausible than others. To pare down the 528-page book to its most overarching theory, it postulates Manson may have been allowed (and perhaps even directed) by the CIA to concoct a reign...

In many ways, Lostwas designed to be a frustrating show, from the mysteries to the intentionally "bad" choices the characters made. While many fans loved every curveball the writers threw at them, some lost their patience with the series. In fact, some Lost viewers decided to quit the show after certain scenes were just too much for them to take. This list breaks down ten of the biggest.

There are a lot of ways co-showrunners Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse annoyed fans of Lost as the series aired. The vast majority of complaints came when beloved characters met frustrating endings, even if they were narratively profound. Other scenes either raised the level of disbelief suspension to a height fans weren't willing to go. These scenes, and the fallout from them, may have driven some Lost fans away, especially when the show was airing week-to-week.

Sun-Hwa Kwon Losing the Ability to...

Director and novelist Andrew Davis in a long conversation about his new book, and films such as The Package, The Fugitive, Holes and more.

In a very special episode of Film Stories, Simon is joined by Andrew Davis, perhaps best known for directing films such as The Fugitive, Under Siege, Holes and more. Those movies certainly come up in the extensive conversation between the pair.

Davis has also, with Jeff Biggers, written his first novel, Disturbing The Bones (co-written with Jeff Biggers), and there’s a strong movie link to it as well. And the chat also takes in Stony Island, The Fugitive sequel, Steal Big Steal Little and a whole lot more…

You can find Disturbing The Bones for sale here.

Andrew Davis’ website is here.

The post Podcast | In conversation with Andrew Davis – Disturbing The Bones, The Fugitive, Holes, Stony Island, Under Siege and more appeared first on Film Stories.

A24 delivered the “disaster comedy of the millennium” when their film Y2K (you can read our review at This Link) reached theatres on December 6th – but not a lot of movie-goers turned out to see it. The movie has only made $4 million at the domestic box office. Maybe it will be better luck when viewers have the option to watch the movie in the comfort of their own homes… and that option is arriving very soon. Next week, in fact. Y2K is set to receive a digital release on December 24th and is available for pre-order on Apple TV and Amazon.

The feature directorial debut of Saturday Night Live veteran Kyle Mooney, who also crafted the screenplay with Evan Winter, Y2K has the following official logline: On the last night of 1999, two high school juniors crash a New Years Eve party, only to find themselves fighting for their lives in this dial-up disaster comedy.

When Andrew Davis directed Chuck Norris in “Code of Silence” nearly 40 years ago, he established the template for the rest of his career: using the action genre to explore ideas he cared about.

In the case of “Code of Silence,” that meant a deep dive into Chicago racial tensions and the ethical complexities of police work. Davis’ skill at staging and shooting kinetic suspense grabbed audiences in that film and the terrific thrillers that followed, but what really separated him from his peers was the elegant integration of his own social conscience into the material. Whether the subject matter was the threat of nuclear proliferation in “The Package,” the CIA’s complicity in the international drug trade in “Above the Law” (Steven Seagal‘s first and easily best movie), or the moral and psychological cost of vengeance in “Collateral Damage,” Davis’ work has always been as thoughtful as it is dynamic.

Netflix has released a fun first trailer for the upcoming comedy The Package, which sees a group of teenage friends go on a camping trip for spring break. They end up partying way too hard and in the process, there's an "unfortunate accident sets off a race against time to save their friend's most prized possession."

The Package comes from the creators of Workaholics and Tropic Thunder and it looks funny enough and worth checking out. The film was directed by Jake Szymanski from a script written by Kevin Burrows and Matt Mider.

The film was produced by Nicholas Weinstock, Adam Devine, Anders Holm, Blake Anderson, Kyle Newacheck and Ross M. Dinerstein. As for the cast, it stars Daniel Doheny, Geraldine Viswanathan, Sadie Calvano, Luke Spencer Roberts, Eduardo Franco, Michael Eklund, Gary Jones, Alexander Calvert, Sugar Lyn Beard, and Blake Anderson.

The Package comes to Netflix August 10.

When I walked out of Universal’s teen comedy Blockers earlier this year, it seemed clear that actress Geraldine Viswanathan had a bright future. She was one of the funniest performers in a film full of funny people, so I’m glad to already see her popping up in another movie in 2018. This one is called The […]

The post ‘The Package’ Trailer: The Breakout Star of ‘Blockers’ Returns in a Netflix Teen Comedy appeared first on /Film.

Netflix has released the first trailer for The Package. That title may sound innocent and inconspicuous enough, that is, until you realize what's really going on here. For better or for worse, this lowbrow teen comedy may well end up being one of the most talked about releases of the year. Simply put, this movie centers around a teenage boy who winds up literally cutting off his manhood in the woods. Yes, there's a lot more going on but that's very clearly the hook.

This, based on the first Netflix trailer, starts out as your standard, direct-to-dvd type of teen comedy, sort of like several of those American Pie sequels that nobody ever bothered to watch. A group of five young people head deep into the woods so that they can drink, do drugs and not be bothered by the adults who simply wouldn't approve of such behavior. Usually, something...

"I was just supposed to be camping!" Netflix has debuted an official trailer for an indie comedy titled The Package, the latest from Funny or Die filmmaker Jake Szymanski (Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates). The wacky, stupid comedy is about a group of teenage friends who go on a spring break camping trip, but an accident causes them to change their plans in hopes of saving their friend. Yeah, it's dumb and made for teenagers to get drunk and laugh at. The full cast for this includes Daniel Doheny, Geraldine Viswanathan, Sadie Calvano, Luke Spencer Roberts, Eduardo Franco, Michael Eklund, Gary Jones, Alexander Calvert, Sugar Lyn Beard, and Blake Anderson. These kind of dumb comedies are not for me, way too goofy and stupid and just not funny. But if you're into this kind of humor, then have fun. Here's the first official trailer (+ poster) for Jake Szymanski's The Package,...

Exclusive: Billions co-star Malin Akerman, 2 Broke Girls alum Kat Dennings and Jane Seymour (Let’s Get Physical) are set to topline the ensemble comedy Friendsgiving, from first-time film director Nicol Paone. Akerman also will produce with her The Heartbreak Kid co-star Ben Stiller via his Red Hour shingle, alongside Nicky Weinstock and Haroon Saleem.

Written by Paone, the story follows Molly (Akerman), a glamorous, newly divorced actor, and Abby (Dennings), her recently-dumped lesbian best friend, with Seymour as Helen, Molly’s gorgeous Swedish mother. Together, along with their motley crew of close friends and strange acquaintances, they host a dysfunctional, comical and chaotic Thanksgiving dinner.

The pic also co-stars Aisha Tyler as Lauren, Deon Cole as her husband Dan, Ryan Hansen as Molly’s ex-boyfriend Gunnar, Chelsea Peretti as the new-age shaman Claire, Christine Taylor as Brianne and Wanda Sykes and Margaret Cho as Abby’s Fairy Gaymothers.

Endeavor Content is co-financing the project,...

Joan Micklin Silver applies sensitive direction to Ann Beattie’s novel about a lonely guy trying to win back his girlfriend, and going about it in all the wrong ways. John Heard is excellent as Charles, who can’t understand why Laura (Mary Beth Hurt) has gone back to her husband and child. The whole thing plays out during a snowy winter in Salt Lake City… which is not the place to expect unrealistic romantic dreams to come true.

Chilly Scenes of Winter

Blu-ray

Twilight Time

1979 / Color / 1:85 widescreen / 95 min. / Street Date February 7, 2017 / Head Over Heels / Available from the Twilight Time Movies Store 29.95

Starring: John Heard, Mary Beth Hurt, Peter Riegert, Kenneth McMillan, Gloria Grahame, Nora Heflin, Jerry Hardin, Tarah Nutter, Mark Metcalf, Allen Joseph, Frances Bay, Griffin Dunne, Anne Beattie.

Cinematography: Bobby Byrne

Film Editor: Cynthia Scheider

Original Music: Ken Lauber

From the novel by Ann Beattie

Produced by Griffin Dunne,...

Rebecca Clough Jan 13, 2017

Samuel L Jackson, Colin Farrell, Kirk Douglas, Denzel Washington and more, as we explore underrated political thrillers...

Ask someone for their favourite political thrillers and you’re likely to get a list of Oscar-winning classics, from JFK to The Day Of The Jackal, Blow Out to Argo. But what about those electrifying tales that have slipped under the radar, been largely forgotten or just didn’t get the love they deserved? Here are 25 political thrillers which are underappreciated but brilliant.

See related Star Wars: Episode IX lands Jurassic World director 25. The Amateur (1981)

Generally, the first hostage to get shot in a heist movie is considered insignificant; luckily this time the young woman killed by terrorists has a devoted boyfriend who vows to avenge her death. Charles Heller (John Savage) already works for the CIA, so he’s able to use secret information to blackmail his bosses into...

Chicago – The stage play that Harry Lennix is in town to direct – “A Small Oak Tree Runs Red” – is in its last weekend, and is giving the actor/director the best notices of the theater part in his long and successful career. For more information about the play, and ticket availability, click here.

Harry Lennix is a 17 year board member of the Congo Square Theatre – the company presenting the play – while he continues his career as a working actor. Born in Chicago, he studied acting and direction at Northwestern University. He broke into films with 1989’s made-in-Chicago “The Package,” and has steadily climbed the career ladder since then. Film highlights include “The Five Heartbeats” (1991), “Get on the Bus” (1996), “Love & Basketball” (2000), “The Matrix Reloaded” (2003) and “State of Play” (2009). He has had recurring or regular character roles on the TV series “ER,” “Diagnosis Murder,” “24” and “Dollhouse.” He appeared in Chicago on the...

Chicago – Mention the name Harry Lennix, and images of his many character roles are bound to emerge – Harold Cooper in the TV series “The Blacklist,” General Swanwick from “Batman v Superman” and Commissioner Blades from Spike Lee’s recent “Chi-Raq.” The deeply knowledgeable Lennix brings his years of dramatic expertise, as he directs the Congo Square Theatre Company’s world premiere stage play “A Small Oak Tree Runs Red.’

The play is an allegory set in purgatory, the weigh station between heaven and hell. Three African-America characters – two men, and a woman – are in this space, trying to remember what brought them there. They all three have nooses around the necks, the victims of the 1918 Georgia Lynch Riots. With ramifications all the way to the present day, “A Small Oak Tree Runs Red” is a stark reminder of the hatred that has burned in the soul of America since its inception.

It's the classic paranoid conspiracy that won't go away... and that seems less impossible with every passing year. Laurence Harvey is a remote-controlled assassin, and Frank Sinatra seems to be under a little hypnotic influence himself... or are we just imagining it? John Frankenheimer and George Axelrod concoct a masterpiece from the novel by Richard Condon, a movie about conspiracies, that may be hiding more secrets in plain sight. The Manchurian Candidate Blu-ray The Criterion Collection 803 1962 / B&W / 1:75 widescreen / 126 min. / available through The Criterion Collection / Street Date March 15, 2016 / 39.95 Starring Frank Sinatra, Laurence Harvey, Janet Leigh, Angela Lansbury, Henry Silva, James Gregory, Leslie Parrish, John McGiver, Khigh Dhiegh Cinematography Lionel Lindon Production Designer Richard Sylbert Film Editor Ferris Webster Original Music David Amram Written by George Axelrod from the novel by Richard Condon Produced by George Axelrod, John Frankenheimer, Howard W. Koch Directed by John Frankenheimer

Reviewed by Glenn Erickson...

Following are some supplemental sections featuring notable director & actor teams that did not meet the criteria for the main body of the article. Some will argue that a number of these should have been included in the primary section but keep in mind that film writing on any level, from the casual to the academic, is a game of knowledge and perception filtered through personal taste.

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Other Notable Director & Actor Teams

This section is devoted to pairings where the duo worked together at least 3 times with the actor in a major role in each feature film, resulting in 1 must-see film.

Terence Young & Sean Connery

Must-See Collaboration: From Russia with Love (1962).

Other Collaborations: Action of the Tiger (1957), Dr. No (1962), Thunderball (1965).

Director Young and actor Connery teamed up to create one of the very best Connery-era James Bond films with From Russia with Love which features a great villainous performance by Robert Shaw...

Andrew Davis Returns To Stony Island

By Alex Simon

Director Andrew Davis made his name with hard-hitting action blockbusters like The Fugitive, Under Siege and The Guardian, but like most filmmakers, his first effort was a small film with a modest budget and a lot of heart. Davis’ directing debut Stony Island was shot in 1977, helmed by the then 30 year-old who had made a name for himself as a cinematographer, and conceived as a love letter to the South Chicago neighborhood where he grew up. Based loosely on the story of Davis’ younger brother Richie (starring as a fictionalized version of himself), who grew up as one of the few white kids in a largely African-American neighborhood, Stony Island follows a group of young musicians who try to form an R&B group in their racially-mixed neighborhood. Featuring the film debuts of now-notable names such as Dennis Franz, Susanna Hoffs,...

Christmas is supposed to be a time of giving, peace and good will towards men. But in Hollywood, its also a time for death, destruction and nearly every form of mayhem. Throughout the 80's 90's and (soon to be history) 00's more and more action films seem to take place during “the most wonderful time of the year”. Whether it be a heist, monster invasion or assault by pirates, so much onscreen action occurs on this jolly day that it's a miracle ole Saint Nick isn't killed in the crossfire. Here are just a few action films where Christmas is actually the last thing on the minds of characters fighting for their lives.Batman Returns (1992) Set during the Christmas season where a tree lighting ceremony in Gotham City serves as a battleground for the struggle between Batman (Michael Keaton), The Penguin (Danny DeVito) and Catwoman (Michelle Pfeiffer). The film opens...