Director Alex Lehmann made his narrative feature film debut with the critically-acclaimed “Blue Jay” in 2016, a film that was shot with just a sketch of a screenplay in just under seven days, with actors Mark Duplass (who also wrote the sketch) and Sarah Paulson improvising the dialogue. His sophomore feature, “Paddleton,” which also marks his screenwriting debut, is a much similar, bare-bones production.

Continue reading ‘Paddleton’: Director Alex Lehmann On Rooting For The Underdog, Grief & Working With Ray Romano [Interview] at The Playlist.

It’s been less than a week since the 2019 Sundance Film Festival projected its final film, but it already feels like a million years ago. That might have been because overall it was strangely quiet in Park City this year.  No uplifting Women’s March like the last two years.  No crazy snowfall.  No massive stars.  Honestly, the biggest controversy was over the Michael Jackson “Leaving Neverland” documentary which saw two grandmothers, er, protesters show up and all they really cared about was getting a TV interview.  

Continue reading Oscar Comes To Sundance & Six Other Takeaways From A Workmanlike Fest at The Playlist.

Alex Lehmann’s “Paddleton” opens on a decidedly (and deceptively) serious note. Michael (Mark Duplass) sits in a doctor’s examination room, looking drawn, haggard, and worried, and for good reason; he has cancerous lesions on his liver, and while his physician won’t come right out and call it terminal, it’s hard to miss the inference. But his neighbor and best friend Andy (Ray Romano), who’s come along for moral support, tries to get some clarity; he proposes an elaborate code wherein the doctor will correct him if he says anything wrong about his friend’s prognosis.

Continue reading ‘Paddleton’: Mark Duplass & Ray Romano Make A Great Odd Couple In A Moving & Funny Cancer Comedy [Sundance Review] at The Playlist.

Mark Duplass is a bit of a Sundance regular. And this year, the filmmaker comes back to the annual film festival with a new film that he co-wrote and stars in, titled “Paddleton.” And he’s bringing comedy legend Ray Romano along for the ride.

READ MORE: 18 Sundance Film Festival 2019 Premieres That Already Have Our Attention

In the first trailer for “Paddleton,” we meet Duplass’ character, a middle-aged man that was recently diagnosed with terminal cancer and decides that he doesn’t want to let the illness destroy him and will take matters into his own hand.

Continue reading ‘Paddleton’ Trailer: Mark Duplass & Ray Romano Go On An Odd Road Trip In New Sundance Film at The Playlist.