Best known for his career-defining role as Michael Dawson on the phenomenally successful TV series LOST, actor Harold Perrineau has been giving impressive performances on television and in film for more than twenty years. The gifted actor has appeared in such popular movies as Smoke, Romeo + Juliet, 28 Weeks Later, and The Matrix Trilogy, as well HBO’s ground breaking TV series Oz, and ABC’s short-lived but critically acclaimed series The Unusuals. While Perrineau will return to television this summer on the new TBS series The Wedding Band, first he will be seen on the big screen opposite Oscar-winner Nic Cage, and Guy Pearce in Seeking Justice, which will open in theaters on March 16th.

In the film, which is helmed by veteran director Roger Donaldson (No Way Out, Thirteen Days), Nicolas Cage (Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance) plays Wil Gerard, a man that’s wife (January Jones) has been brutally attacked. While she is in the hospital, Will is visited by a mysterious man named Simon played by Guy Pearce (Memento). Simon says that he represents an organization that helps people who are “seeking justice,” and makes Wil an offer that he cannot refuse. Simon will arrange to have a complete stranger exact vengeance on his wife’s attacker, in exchange for a favor from Wil in the future. He agrees to the deal, and unwittingly puts himself into a dangerous underground vigilante program. While continuing to protect his wife from the truth, he quickly discovers that his quest for justice could lead to deadly consequences and that all is not as it seems. Perrineau plays Jimmy, Wil’s best friend and confidante who has a big secret of his own that may be closer connected to Wil’s mysterious organization than he ever could imagine. Actress Jennifer Carpenter (TV’s Dexter) and veteran actor Xander Berkeley (TV’s 24) round out the film’s talented cast.

I recently had the pleasure of speaking with actor Harold Perrineau about his role in Seeking Justice. The talented actor discussed the new film, his character, why he wanted to do the movie, working with director Roger Donaldson, Nic Cage’s unique approach to acting on and off the set, playing a character with a secret and creating his back-story, whether he would “seek justice” or not if given the chance, his next film; which is Kathryn Bigelow’s Untitled Bin Laden Project, his upcoming new TV series, and how he feels now looking back at his time on LOST.

It's Presidents' Day weekend, folks and in anticipation of the day commemorating revolutionary ass-kicker his Excellency George Washington, the American moviegoer showed some love to another cool, though historically less significant Washington.  The actioner Safe House starring Denzel Washington is squeaking out a victory in its second weekend of release, as current estimates have it making just a bit more than fellow holdover The Vow.  Both films managed to best three new releases, though.

Opening in theaters on February 17th is the long awaited sequel to 2007's Ghost Rider entitled Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance, which is based on the popular Marvel Comics antihero. The new film is directed by Mark Neveldine and Brian Taylor (Crank), and once again stars Academy Award winner Nicolas Cage (Leaving Las Vegas) as Johnny Blaze, as well as the role of Ghost Rider, which was portrayed by a stunt actor in the previous film. Besides Cage, the film features a cast of actors who are all new to the Ghost Rider franchise including Idris Elba (Thor, The Losers), Ciaran Hinds (Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy), Violante Placido (The American), Christopher Lambert (Highlander), newcomer Fergus Riordan, and Johnny Whitworth (3:10 to Yuma) as the villain Blackout. 

IAR's very own Heather Newgen recently had a chance to sit down and speak with both Idris Elba, and Johnny Whitworth about their work on Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance. The talented actors discussed the new film, their different roles, Elba's original character's connection to the Marvel universe; and why he is attracted to comic book adapted material, Whitworth's dual role; and how the actor was able to portray such a dark character, the directors unusual filmmaking techniques, and hot monks.

Directing duo Mark Neveldine and Brian Taylor, otherwise known as Neveldine/Taylor, made a name for themselves in 2006 when they released the adrenaline-pumping, low-budget action movie Crank. The stylized action and punk rock tone of Crank, its follow up Crank: High Voltage and their more recent Gamer have earned Neveldine and Taylor a cult following. The two have also earned a reputation for their daredevil approach to filmmaking, often shooting the camera while on rollerblades or hanging from wires. Now Neveldine and Taylor return to the big screen with a reboot of the Ghost Rider franchise entitled Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance, which opens in 3D and 2D theaters on Friday, February 17th.

Oscar winner Nicolas Cage (Leaving Las Vegas) reprises his role as Johnny Blaze in a much darker and grittier vision of the Marvel Comics antihero than its 2007 predecessor. This time Cage also plays the Ghost Rider character, whereas in the earlier film that character was played by stuntmen. The film focuses on Johnny Blaze, who is still struggling with his curse as the devil’s bounty hunter. Blaze is lying low in Eastern Europe when Moreau (Idris Elba), the leader of a group of rebel monks, approaches him and promises to help Johnny rid his curse if he, in return, helps protect a young boy (Fergus Riordan) from the devil (Ciaran Hinds). What follows is a high-octane, explosive, roller coaster ride of intense action.

I recently had a chance to sit down and chat with directors Mark Neveldine and Brian Taylor about Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance. The directors discuss their new film, the iconic Marvel antihero, Nic Cage’s brilliance, their brand, the proper way to use the “F word,” the film’s missing sex scene, utilizing the characters in the Marvel universe, making people puke, a secret sock puppets movie, an action-packed remake of Debbie Does Dallas, Crank 3 in 3D, and the real reason why they dropped out as the directors on Jonah Hex.

Since How to Train Your Dragon, my interest in the output of DreamWorks Animation has piqued considerably on account of that film's all-around quality.  While DreamWorks labors on sequels to that film, though, there are some new properties they're introducing into the cinematic wilds, and now we have looks at promotional artwork for two of them, Rise of the Guardians and The Croods.  Neither image is quite polished enough to be a final poster ready for display at a theater near you, but they provide good ideas of what their respective worlds and characters will look like.

Opening in theaters on February 17th is the long awaited sequel to 2007's Ghost Rider entitled Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance, which is based on the popular Marvel Comics antihero. The new film is directed by Mark Neveldine and Brian Taylor (Crank), and once again stars Academy Award winner Nicolas Cage (Leaving Las Vegas) as Johnny Blaze, as well as the role of Ghost Rider, which was portrayed by a stunt actor in the previous film. Besides Cage, the film features a cast of actors who are all new to the Ghost Rider franchise including recent Golden Globe winner Idris Elba (BBC's Luther), Ciaran Hinds (Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy), Violante Placido (The American), Christopher Lambert (Highlander), newcomer Fergus Riordan, and Johnny Whitworth (3:10 to Yuma) as the villain Blackout. 

IAR's very own Heather Newgen recently had a chance to "Get In The Cage" with Nicolas Cage himself to discuss Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance. The Oscar winning actor talked about the new movie, his iconic character, why it was important for him to play both roles this time around, the challenges of embodying a character that is undead, his different look and voice for the sequel, why it takes place in Europe several years after its predecessor, cobras, and the directors willingness to "risk their lives to entertain you!"

A recurring feature on Saturday Night Live's Weekend Update newsdesk under head writer Seth Meyers is "Get In the Cage." The occasional bit pairs a fictionalized Nicolas Cage, played by SNL regular Andy Samberg, with recognizable stars to discuss Cage's acting style and his ambition to appear in every movie ever made.  Having appeared with the likes of Bradley Cooper, Jude Law, and Jake Gyllenhaal, Samberg's Cage has finally met his perfect match: Nicolas Cage.

Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance is just a bit more than a week from its 3D theatrical debut here in the states, and in anticipation of the Marvel character's second cinematic outing, a new official clip has landed online.  Contrary to what you might expect from a Ghost Rider sequel directed by Neveldine/Taylor, the clip is a quiet dialogue scene of nuanced and observant character interaction focusing on one man haunted by his unforgivable past.

With just three weeks until the sequel actually arrives in theaters, a big haul of images from Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance have appeared online.  There are over seventy-five total, so we're just providing a sampling here, but even so, the stills give a sense of how different the film will be from its predecessor, 2007's Ghost Rider.

At the San Diego Comic-Con panel for Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance way back in July of last year, the highlight wasn't actually the first presentation of the sequel's trailer, it was a brief two-and-a-half minute behind the scenes featurette.  Now, with less than a month to go for before the film's release, that featurette has emerged online so that you can take a peek even if you didn't make the annual pilgrimage to Southern California.