Latest news with #TopherGrace
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Vince Vaughn: ‘Nonnas' Is an 'Outlaw Movie' Amid Changing Industry as Netflix Film Extends Hot Streak
Business is booming for Nonnas, as the Vince Vaughn-led Netflix movie continues to connect with audiences. Based on a true story, director Stephen Chbosky's feature centers on Staten Island restaurateur Joe Scaravella (Vaughn), who is grieving the loss of his mom when he sets out to open an eatery with actual Italian grandmothers working in the kitchen. Co-starring Susan Sarandon, Lorraine Bracco, Talia Shire and Brenda Vaccaro, the title topped Netflix's English-language film charts for its first two weekends, collecting 15.3 million views in its initial three days and a total of 33.3 million in 10 days, according to the streamer's internal rankings. More from The Hollywood Reporter Netflix Nabs Robert Langdon Series From Carlton Cuse, Author Dan Brown Titan Submersible Implosion Examined in Trailer for Netflix Doc 'The OceanGate Disaster' Topher Grace (Yes, Topher Grace) Is an Opium Kingpin in Netflix's 'The Waterfront' Trailer During a conversation with The Hollywood Reporter to celebrate the film's popularity, Vaughn discusses how the movie's specificity makes it more accessible, potential sequel conversations and why Hollywood has hit 'an all-time peak of overthinking.' Congratulations on the film's success. What does this tell you about what audiences look for in a movie? These actresses are tremendous, and [it's] like what the real Joe did by taking these women who are phenomenal at their craft. In that case, it was cooking and giving them an outlet to be able to do that and celebrate something that they're terrific at. Stephen, in this movie, really dug that with a lot of these actresses [who] have always been terrific. So the movie, in a way, is an extension and does a similar thing that the actual restaurant Enoteca Maria did. There are always conversations in Hollywood about whether movies should be led by 'women of a certain age.' Do higher-ups have concerns when films like yours are getting made? [The movie is] dealing with a stage of life where Joe loses his mom, and now he's being forced into a new phase of being without a family and stepping into a parent or leadership role, even with these nonnas of having a vision. That's something that all human beings go through. We've exhausted ourselves with these [focus] groups and IPs. It's almost like what happened to the car industry, where everything is so quarterly and broken down and just following these ideas. It feels like we've hit an all-time peak of overthinking and using rules to the point where you step back and see something like this. Everyone has a mom — whatever that dynamic is like — or a grandparent, and [then there's] eating. So there are certain things that are just the human experience that are universal. You make me laugh when you say that because I just started to think, 'Is there going to be a flood of Mother's Day movies?' I don't know. I just feel like it's not that hard. People are really nervous. I always hear stuff like, 'People have a TV,' but horror movies continue to open [at the box office]. The people who go to horror movies don't have a television? Or is it something that's a little more dangerous, and there's an audience that wants that community experience. And if that's true, potentially it wouldn't just be horror or action that people would want that community experience for. It's always nice when you're in something that's working, and what's interesting about Nonnas is, it's really a movie that you could watch with all ages. It's definitely something that's feel-good, and the fact that that's not the norm of a movie to be made, but that's this outlaw movie, is interesting in this moment in time. It is a movie that you could share multi-generationally. Not unlike the film industry, the restaurant industry is facing a tough moment, and mom-and-pop eateries like Joe's appear to be struggling more than ever. Did this film give you insight into that world? The fun of cooking and of making films is that you're doing a creative process that you want to share. Part of the thing that works here is that you're dealing with people really doing their best to cope with these stages of life. The more things are specific, the more they're universal. This happens to be Staten Island and Italian, but that actually makes it more universal to the human experience. In the town that we're in now, sometimes the idea is, 'How do you expand it?' [Kurt] Vonnegut has that great quote that, if you open the window and try to please everyone, you'll catch pneumonia. It's just a reminder that, whether it's Boyz n the Hood or Ordinary People — both really great stories about the human experience — the more it is attempting to reflect of something in an authentic way, I always feel it's more universal, especially in this visual media. Is it now impossible to get a table at Joe's restaurant, given the success of the movie? He had like 350 messages and couldn't return them all. He's a fascinating guy. To go back to your early point about these mom-and-pop restaurants, he really was focused on creating this experience and giving an opportunity for these nonnas to be able to cook. I find it somewhat refreshing that he's less driven by, 'How do I monetize it?' We did make the movie independently, but we were really grateful when Netflix came in and recognized that this is a story that people could connect to. The film's actresses have joked that you were the movie's token male. What was the energy like with all of you? We joked around a lot. Ultimately, the story is Joe's, in that he has this dream to create this opportunity. I really love all of them. I was raised with my grandmother in the house and really enjoyed talking to her. There's so much to take from people who have experience and are also wise and talented, and all of these actresses are definitely that. I really took advantage of just hearing them talk and their thoughts on life, relationships, acting, how they approach scenes, what was it like to make this movie or that movie. Has there been any talk of a sequel? Yeah, Nonnas 2: This Time It's Personal is the working title. (Laughs.) There has been some. There's always that with movies. If there's a story that's great and its own story to be told, then that could be a lot of fun. Speaking of sequels, is there any progress you can share about ? There's always talk of these. Dodgeball, actually, there's an idea that's pretty good, but nothing for sure. I'm going to start the second season of Bad Monkey, which is great, and then I have another thing I'm going to do, but I would definitely … It's always about if the story's right, if the extension is something that makes sense. There are ideas that are good with some of these, but you never know what transpires and if it makes sense for everybody. But I'm definitely open to it. I love a lot of those movies and definitely open if something comes to pass. Best of The Hollywood Reporter Hollywood Stars Who Are One Award Away From an EGOT 'The Goonies' Cast, Then and Now "A Nutless Monkey Could Do Your Job": From Abusive to Angst-Ridden, 16 Memorable Studio Exec Portrayals in Film and TV
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Titan Submersible Implosion Examined in Trailer for Netflix Doc ‘The OceanGate Disaster'
The Titan submersible's doomed voyage is the focus of the trailer for the Netflix documentary Titan: The OceanGate Disaster. Director Mark Monroe's feature is set to premiere at the Tribeca Festival on June 6 before it begins streaming June 11. The film hails from the Story Syndicate team that is also behind such previous projects as Take Care of Maya, Gone Girls and Britney v Spears. More from The Hollywood Reporter Topher Grace (Yes, Topher Grace) Is an Opium Kingpin in Netflix's 'The Waterfront' Trailer Thomas Haden Church Is Here to Help the Shop - and Will's Erections - in 'Tires' Season 2 Trailer (Exclusive) 'Sirens' Review: Meghann Fahy, Milly Alcock and Julianne Moore Star in Netflix's Erratic Slice of Affluence Porn Titan: The OceanGate Disaster examines the mindset of OceanGate CEO Stockton Rush and his determination to become a leader in oceanic exploration. Through whistleblower testimony, audio recordings and footage from the company's beginnings, the film offers fresh perspective on the implosion of the Titan submersible that commanded the world's attention in June 2023. Rush was among the five people who died aboard the vessel while it was off the coast of Canada during a voyage to the Titanic wreckage. 'There was no way of knowing when Titan was going to fail,' one individual says in the trailer. 'But it was a mathematical certainty that it would fail.' Another participant in the project says in the footage, 'I thought Stockton was a borderline psychopath. How do you manage a person like that who owns the company?' Producers for Titan: The OceanGate Disaster include Monroe, Lily Garrison and Jon Bardin. Liz Garbus, Dan Cogan, Kate Barry, Mala Chapple, Tommy Coriale, Jude Gerard Prest, Hannah Olson and Amy Herdy serve as executive producers. Monroe is a filmmaker who won a WGA Award for his writing work on the Ron Howard-directed documentary feature Jim Henson: Idea Man. Best of The Hollywood Reporter Hollywood Stars Who Are One Award Away From an EGOT 'The Goonies' Cast, Then and Now "A Nutless Monkey Could Do Your Job": From Abusive to Angst-Ridden, 16 Memorable Studio Exec Portrayals in Film and TV
Los Angeles Times
31-01-2025
- Entertainment
- Los Angeles Times
How to have the best Sunday in L.A., according to Topher Grace
While it's true that who you know can matter just as much as talent, for Topher Grace, the connection that ultimately launched his career was formed in New Hampshire, not L.A. While attending a New Hampshire boarding school in the late '90s, Grace appeared in his first play and befriended a girl who worked on the set designs. Later, after he had moved to L.A. to attend USC, he got a phone call from the girl's parents, who were 'big-time Hollywood producers.' 'They said, 'Do you want to come try out for this show about the '70s?'' That began Grace's journey playing Eric Forman on the hit sitcom 'That '70s Show.' For a while, before the show was officially picked up, he stayed with one of the producers' kids in a house full of college-age roommates — a place Grace describes as a 'Real World' house. 'I was so green, I had no idea what was going on for the first five years of that show, but it was a wonderful introduction to L.A.,' said the actor, who appears in the Mel Gibson-directed film 'Flight Risk' this month. 'Just going to college in L.A. was cool enough, but the next year, I was driving onto a Studio City lot and starting to do movies. It was just the dream entry to this place.' Today, Grace, his wife and their three kids are settled on the east side of the city, where an ideal Sunday includes a rooftop bar, an outdoor movie and quality family time. This interview has been edited for length and clarity. 7 a.m.: Go big on breakfast We're a big breakfast family: pancakes, waffles, eggs, bacon, syrup and all that stuff. Our breakfast nook in the morning is a big gathering spot for us. [If we go out for breakfast], we love Joan's on Third, [especially] their avocado toast with the poached egg on it. That specifically is the thing to have there. I can taste it right now just thinking about it. 9 a.m.: Be first in line at the farmers market We're big on the Studio City Farmers Market. We're the first ones there, and we're getting all the ripest produce because we are up early. But then you look around and realize that's when all the other people with kids are there too. What's great about the farmers market at Studio City is they also have — I wouldn't say rides, but they've got those blow-up slides, they sometimes have animals, and so it's a really great activity beyond just us buying fruit. 11 a.m.: Activity time with the whole fam On Sundays, the best thing to do is have an activity that both gives us something new and wears out the kids. So we're big on the L.A. Zoo. Do you know Reggie, the alligator? Well, my son does. Or else there's the Skirball Center [which reopens Sunday] right next to the Getty Center. It's got this thing called Noah's Ark, which is really cool. It's like an artistic kids amusement center, but it's beautifully done and the kids love it. There's all these ropes and obstacle courses, but it's like going through a piece of art. Also, the Getty has some really cool arts programs on Sundays. We love a lot of family time. 7 p.m.: Date night begins One night a week, we get a babysitter. Downtown L.A. has a great local food scene. A lot of the emerging stuff is downtown. I didn't spend a lot of time in downtown L.A. when I was younger, but one of our favorite restaurants is Bavel. I think it might be my favorite restaurant in the world. It's Middle Eastern cuisine that is so good, and the atmosphere is really great with the food. It's just unbelievable. They have a lamb neck shawarma that's so good. There's also Badmaash. They have such cool dishes that are mashed up. I hear the chef lived in Canada and India and L.A. I like the chicken tikka poutine. Dama is great for Latin American small plates. We love tapas because the longer you're married, the more you are sharing the meal. It's got this amazing Havana-style dining room, which is very cool. 8 p.m.: Nightcap under the stars Afterward, we're really into rooftop bars. We love Cara Cara just above the Proper Hotel. It's got insane views and a DJ and is just relaxed. It's so great to be on top of a building. What's amazing about L.A. is that you can live in a little valley, but then you're on top of a skyscraper and you get to do it all in one day. You can go skiing in the morning, swimming at night. By the way, we've never actually done that, but theoretically we could. I'm also a big sweets guy. When I was living in Westwood, I'd go to Diddy Riese a lot. I still go there. Perch LA has really good desserts. We sometimes don't do dessert at the restaurant and will go there and that's a great date night for us. Man, I wish it was Sunday right now. 9 p.m.: Late night movie time We love classic movies on the big screen, and our favorites are at the New Beverly Cinema. Tarantino bought it a couple years ago. The American Cinematheque has late night movies on Sundays, which are great. And then Rooftop Cinema Club, their movies are a little more commercial, but it's really fun atmosphere. I definitely was [a night owl] before we had kids, but now we can get between half an hour to an hour of television in. Me and my wife are slowly making it through some series we're binging. You can't even call it binging, we're going so slowly. I don't want to out my wife in the L.A. Times, but she's into some reality television that is just so bottom of the barrel. My wife's a college professor, she's involved in politics, so she's much smarter than I am. But not when it comes to watching TV. I think that's where she relaxes her brain or something. We do 'The Bachelor' together, and it's not something I ever would have done before I got married, but there are some roads I just can't follow her down.
