“I wanted to play the role of Charlotte because not only was it very funny and quite a different kind of character than I’ve played before, but it covers some dramatic moments along with comedy,” says Toni Collette. “Also, the script, with its sophisticated dialogue and interesting story impressed me.”
In the story, it’s Alec Baldwin’s character’s job to make contact with the mob in order to secure a deal with the teamsters union. To do this he connects with Tommy “The Black” Sanz, played by Tony Shalhoub. The Golden Globe Award® winning star of the hit television series “Monk,” Shalhoub read the script and was immediately interested in playing the role of mobster Tommy Sanz. “He was Jeff Nathanson’s first and only choice for the role,” producer Hoberman says. “Tony is perfect casting as the tough guy. He’s a chameleon. He inhabits his characters to perfection. Sanz is such an unusual character, and Tony is the only actor I know who could play him so well.”
About his attraction to the script, Tony Shalhoub says, “This is a universal story. Everybody has a dream of accomplishing something big in his or her life. For Matthew’s character it’s to be a famous filmmaker. For Alec’s character it’s to succeed in the FBI. Even my character, who is a real tough guy mobster, wants to be a bigger hot shot in the mob.”
Rounding out the cast is legendary actor/writer/director Buck Henry as Steven’s agent Lonnie, and Ray Liotta as FBI chief Jack Devine. Discussing all the members of the cast Hoberman says, “We did extremely well finding the best actors for each role. We have a stellar ensemble cast.”
With all of their creative efforts and love for this project, as well as working on a relatively short production schedule at thirty-five different locations, the cast and crew completed principal photography on a very optimistic note. “We couldn’t have had a more enjoyable time,” says producer Hoberman. “And the results couldn’t have been better. Everything turned out beyond our greatest expectations.”
“There was no doubt that Jeff Nathanson was a talented writer,” notes producer Larry Brezner. “We had the feeling that he would make a good director too. His movie delivers beautifully on both the writing and directing fronts, as well as being emotional and funny.”
To sum up his experience as a first time feature film director Jeff Nathanson says, “I didn’t want to do a movie that was just sort of an inside joke about the movie business. I try to look at the larger issues and the characters. This is a movie for everyone who has ever had a desire to be special. We watch those television broadcasts of celebrities as they walk the red carpet at awards shows, and for whatever reason, they make us feel like anything is possible. The movie business gives people a certain kind of hope and I didn’t want to make a cynical movie about the film industry. I wanted to make a movie that embraces what I like about Hollywood. And we succeeded.”
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