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Access Atlanta > Blog > Archives > 2007 > September > 19 > Entry
Oscar winners premiere film at Atlantic Station
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The Academy Award-winning filmmaking team of Ray McKinnon, Lisa Blount and Walton Goggins were thrilled to unveil their latest film, “Randy and the Mob” for a packed theater full of fellow Southerners Tuesday night.
Just before the quirky comedy’s Atlanta premiere at the Regal Atlantic Station theater, McKinnon, the film’s writer-director-star told Buzz while dipping into some popcorn: “This is the only place that would have us. No, honestly, this is the perfect fit for us and this film. We love telling uniquely Southern stories. And I finally wanted to do a comedy that I could invite my kinfolk to.”
Inside, family, friends, investors and fans of the trio’s work applauded during the opening credits and laughed throughout the premiere. McKinnon’s story, shot on location in Georgia, depicts a slumping Southern businessman, in debt to both the IRS and the mob, who’s dealing with a carpal tunnel afflicted, baton-twirling teacher wife (Blount) and a designer-suited mob enforcer/clogging enthusiast (Goggins). McKinnon also plays his own more successful, happily partnered gay twin brother in the flick.
Atlanta actress Jill Jane Clements, who memorably portrayed Celestine Sibley’s mother during two recent successful runs of “Turned Funny” at Theatre in the Square, also pops up in the film.
Clements generated laughs as one of McKinnon’s employees who has to inform the boss that her pay check just bounced, explaining with her trademark drawl: “I’ve got a super deep fryer on layaway. We was kinda hopin’ to do a turkey this weekend.”
Naturally, the film’s third act arrives with bullets a flying and McKinnon wearing a hilariously wrong teal pantsuit that Bea Arthur would have cut someone with a cheesecake knife over during her “Golden Girls” reign.
“Randy and the Mob” is dedicated to the memory of Phil Walden, the Capricorn Records co-founder, who executive-produced the film with Macon real estate magnate Benjy Griffith as the debut project for Capricorn Pictures. Walden, the music man who helped introduce the world to Otis Redding, the Allman Brothers, 311 and Widespread Panic died last year.
“We had the honor of getting to know Phil late in his life,” McKinnon told the crowd. “He had a dream to make Southern films as well as Southern music. After he saw what we could do, Phil told me, ‘This reminds me of when I was working with Otis and the Allmans. Except that you don’t have that kind of talent. But we’ll take you to the top anyway!’ “
Outside the theater, Walden’s son, Phillip told Buzz: “Phil would have loved all this. He and Ray just connected on many different levels as Southerners. As soon as Phil read the script, he was sold and they were out scouting locations.”
“Randy and the Mob” opens in Atlanta, Kennesaw, Alpharetta and Douglasville on Friday.
Goggins: Clogging came naturally
At the “Randy and the Mob” after party at Strip, “The Shield” actor Walton Goggins kept busy greeting friends as he took a break from the set of the FX drama in Los Angeles. Goggins conceded to us that he didn’t need any clogging lessons to portray Tino Armani.
“My mother and I actually were a clogging team here when I was a kid,” the Lithia Springs High School grad told us. “There I was at age 7, in my taps and Jordache jeans!”
Accompanying Goggins to his hometown premiere was his girlfriend, Nadia Conners, who is a co-director and co-writer of the 2007 critically acclaimed Leonardo DiCaprio-produced environmental documentary “The 11th Hour.”
So have Conners and Goggins considered working together on a film? Said Conners: “We’ve talked about it. That would be a dream if it happens.”
‘Anatomy’ of a win
Premiere attendee Elizabeth Morgan Spiegel was kind enough to introduce us to local businessman Paul Heigl, the proud papa of new Emmy winner and “Grey’s Anatomy” actress Katherine Heigl Tuesday night. “We’re so happy for her,” said Heigl, who attended an Emmys party in Alpharetta Sunday night. So, was Katherine on the level when she joked during her acceptance speech that even her mother, Nancy, didn’t think she had a shot at winning the trophy?
Quipped Paul: “My daughter doesn’t lie!”
While the actress has disclosed that she and Augusta native singer-songwriter Josh Kelley are planning a holiday wedding this winter, Paul Heigl told us Kelley will be at Smith’s Olde Bar Oct. 27.
‘Dream Concert’ in New York City
Stevie Wonder, Aretha Franklin and an all-star musical lineup poured passion into performances Tuesday night at “The Dream Concert” to benefit a national memorial in Washington for the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. Nearly 6,000 people packed the sold-out event at Radio City Music Hall to hear artists ranging from Carlos Santana and Garth Brooks to Kenny “Babyface” Edmonds and Ludacris.
The King memorial, scheduled for completion in 2009, is to be built on the National Mall.
“We are part of history in the making as this monument becomes a witness to generations yet unborn of the transformational leadership of our father, Martin Luther King Jr.,” King’s youngest daughter, Bernice, said.
The memorial’s foundation is still $18 million away from reaching its $100 million goal, said Harry Johnson, the foundation president.
Before Wonder closed the show with “Happy Birthday,” the song that helped make King’s national holiday a reality, Quincy Jones presented Wonder with a humanitarian award, saying his numerous musical accomplishments pale in comparison to what he has done to advance civil rights.
Wonder said the King memorial is a wonderful thing, but an even better legacy would be unity around the world. Martin Luther King Jr. Day is “not a black holiday, for Dr. King stood for the principles of all human kind,” Wonder said.
OVERSCENE
Actor Bill Nunn, actress Carol Mitchell-Leon, musician Otis Redding III and “Sweet Potato Queen” author Jill Conner Browne at the “Randy and the Mob” premiere at Atlantic Station.
CELEBRITY BIRTHDAYS
Actress Sophia Loren is 73. Actor Gary Cole is 51. Singers Gunnar and Matthew Nelson of Nelson are 40. Drummer Rick Woolstenhulme of Lifehouse is 28. Rapper Yung Joc is 25.
Contributing: David Ho and news services
If you have a tip, call 404-526-2749. Or fax 404-526-5509. Or e-mail: buzz@ajc.com.
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