Maltin on Movies

Brian d'Arcy James

A five-time nominee for the Tony Award, Brian is a young Broadway veteran who has performed in every imaginable kind of show, from Macbeth to Hamilton. He also played the leading character in Shrek the Musical for one full year. Filmmaker Edward Burns has just cast him as a sibling in Finnegan's Foursome, which you can watch now on Video on Demand; it marks their fifth film together. Brian is the kind of actor other actors and directors want to work with, and our lighthearted look behind the curtain will tell you why.

Drew Goddard

Drew Goddard is having an exceptionally good year. He wrote the screenplay for the hit movie Project Hail Mary and is in production for a third season of the TV series High Potential. But he is the first to say that "good luck" is often the a result of hard work. This has been true from the beginning of his multifaceted career, writing shows like Buffy the Vampire Slayer and movies like Cloverfield. He has directed for both media, as well, but gives Ridley Scott credit for taking his script for The Martian and making it come alive. Goddard is a role model for any novice who's paying attention: work with people you like on projects you love.

Kevin Nealon

If you still associate Kevin Nealon with Saturday Night Live, it's no wonder: he was a vital cast member for nine years. But he's also an author, video producer, banjoist, savvy second banana (on such series as Weeds and Man With a Plan), dedicated standup comic, and member of Adam Sandler's comedic stock company. And if you haven't seen his spectacular caricatures, you're missing out: his book is called I Exaggerate: My Brushes with Fame. He talks about the adventure of playing supporting roles in indie films of all kinds. His latest, Mermaid, drops on digital platforms May 26.

John Pyper-Ferguson

As admirers of "working actors" who bring their experience to each new assignment, Leonard and Jessie are pleased to share their chat with John Pyper-Ferguson, who is now on theater screens in Casa Grande, a feature based on a popular miniseries starring Lou Diamond Phillips. Jon has made a vivid impression in shows like The Adventures of Brisco County Jr. and Suits as well as features including Unforgiven, where he was directed by Clint Eastwood. You've seen him in Agents of SHIELD, The 100, and The Last Ship. Now meet the man who fills those roles so well.

Bruce Davison

It's been a long time since we caught up with Bruce Davison, a lifelong actor whose latest film, Casa Grande, is now available on digital platforms. He talks about the pride and perils of guiding a career that incorporates theater, films and television—and how he keeps that fire burning within. From Ozark and The Lincoln Lawyer all the way back to Willard (where he worked with a rat named Ben, sung about by Michael Jackson) to X-Men, he continues to distinguish himself as a performer of enormous skill and range. He also shares the career-defining advice he got early on from Robert Aldrich, who observed him trying to compete with the charismatic Burt Lancaster.