On Saturday night, I took the E train from my (tiny) apartment in Queens down to Chelsea’s Cedar Lake Dance Studio to watch a Q&A session with John C. Reilly. (It was part of this past weekend’s New Yorker Festival, held at various locations throughout the city.) I was enticed by the prospect of seeing Reilly, one of my all-time favorite curly-headed character actors, discuss his career of more than 40 films as well as the chance to see him perform some of the original music from his upcoming spoof of musical biopics, Walk Hard (pictured, with Jenna Fischer). Although I miss his work with director P.T. Anderson — playing such hapless characters as Jim Kurring (Magnolia) and Reed Rothchild (Boogie Nights) — I’m trying to warm up to his newfound status as a card-carrying member of the Will Ferrell/Judd Apatow/Paul Rudd/Jake Kasdan/Adam McKay gang.
Sporting a grey V-neck over a white Oxford, Reilly was engaging, waxing philosophical about his maturation from 1989’s Casualties of War to last year’s Talledega Nights and offering insightful anecdotes of how several of his roles came to pass. (The most entertaining being the story of how he and Anderson would drive around L.A. filming faux episodes of COPS, which would later inspire Magnolia’s police officer Kurring.)
Then came some never-before-seen clips of Walk Hard (including the funniest double-entendre-laced song in film history). Reilly did some singing himself, playing guitar along with New York musician Mike Viola, who helped co-write most of the 33 original songs played in the film. I’d heard Reilly’s vocal prowess in Chicago, but I was utterly awe-struck by his awesome pickin’ and singin’. He rolled through nearly flawless renditions of "Dear Mr. President" and the movie’s title track before Judd Apatow (unexpectedly) showed up with wife Leslie Mann and yelled out a request for the inherently-wrong-yet-oh-so-funny "Midget Man."
So, PopWatchers, what are some of your favorite memories of Reilly’s career thus far? And what do you make of Walk Hard?
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I’d never paid attention to him until Chicago, Gangs of New York, and The Hours came out the same year. Those were three completely different characters. He was also musical in Robert Altman’s last movie A Prairie Home Companion. He picked and grinned with Woody Harrelson.
The theatre where I saw “Chicago” gave the man a standing O after “Mr. Cellophane”…and the man obviously wasn’t even there, so they were applauding a giant screen.
John C. Reilly is one of my all-time faves, but I’d have to say my favorite role of his is Reed Rothchild. All of his scenes with Wahlberg in that movie are priceless. I LOVE this guy!
“People tell me I look like Han Solo…” Seriously classic line.
Mr. Cellophane is one of my favorite performances from Chicago, my second favorite musical (after West Side Story, of course). Ever since that performance in the movie, I’ve been on the John C. Reilly bandwagon.
Mr. Cellophane is one of my favorite performances from Chicago, my second favorite musical (after West Side Story, of course). Ever since that performance in the movie, I’ve been on the John C. Reilly bandwagon.
what an irrelevant story.
Reilly was brilliant as director Mac Forsyth in “The Anniversary Party.” He was alternately funny, frustrated, and scared, really one of the few likeable characters in the film.
When I saw the tagline for Walk Hard on a poster today–”Life made him tough. Love made him strong. Music made him hard.”–I immediately wished I could submit for the “greatest taglines in movie history” poll.
On my copy of the Chicago DVD, it actually decides to skip ONLY during Mr Cellophane. Le sigh.
Reilly’s really great though. And the wait for Walk Hard continues… don’t get it in the UK until January. Dammit!
I think he got robbed of the supporting actor Oscar for Chicago. Mr. Cellophane was a show stopper. Loved him in The Gangs of New York too. And you just gotta love Talledega Nights for pure sophmoric fun. I love that he’s *so* good at both comedy and drama.
i’ve always really liked reilly, ever since what’s eating gilbert grape. that’s when he caught my attention.
Absolute best scene was when he meets Dirk for the first time in Boogie Nights. Sizing Dirk up as his new competition while making him a drink by the pool. “How much you benching?”
I loved his bad guy with morals sidekick character to Kevin Bacon in “The River Wild.” Good stuff, can’t wait for Walk Hard!
All I can say is I can’t wait for another Reilly/Anderson film.
He got my attention in Magnolia. Ignore the overblown, self centered, jumping up and down over the top character played by Tom Cruise and focus on Reilley’s emotional, touching police officer. I’m going to go home and watch it tonight on my double VHS copy.
Off-topic, but thank you for this pic. Reilly looks like he stepped straight out of the 50’s-era Sun Studios building, and this picture of Jenna Fischer is smokin’ hot! Again, thanks.
Welcome to hell John c. fuckface. Enjoy!