The Interview
The Interview is a comedy about two Americans in the tv business (James Franco and Seth Rogen, their chemistry is easily seen) that get an interview with North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un and are recruited by the CIA. After the film’s premise was criticized by the actual North Korean government, the film’s studio Sony Pictures had their computer systems hacked, and detailed information (including salaries, emails, and several other unreleased movies) were released online. A tv star (Franco) lands an interview with the controversial leader (played by Randall Park, who also appeared in Neighbors with Rogen in 2014) and goes with his producer (Rogen) to take him out. The movie is rated 14A (must love potty language and humor), was filmed primarily in Vancouver, British Columbia, and was hurt theatrically by the hack with the wide release limited to a select number of theatres (ultimately appearing in video on demand services). The film had the 1960’s Columbia logo at the start, had multiple cameos (especially noteworthy is rapper Eminem who turns 45 today on October 17th), and enjoys a montage of Rogen in China. Co-director Evan Goldberg also worked with the two leads on This Is the End (2013 comedy also co-directed and starring Seth Rogen). Seth Rogen would next appear in Steve Jobs (2015 drama with Michael Fassbender) and The Night Before (2015 comedy with Joseph Gordon-Levitt). James Franco was in many other projects in 2014 including Good People (crime thriller with Kate Hudson), The Sound and the Fury (drama with Tim Blake Nelson), Nation Theater Live: Of Mice and Men (drama with Chris O’Dowd), and I Think You’re Totally Wrong: A Quarrel (drama about a debate on the making of a film). The Blu-ray has a commentary, deleted scenes, a gag reel, and multiple featurettes.
2014, 14A, 1h 52m
Distributor – Sony/Columbia
Budget / Worldwide Box Office (in millions) – $44 / $11
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