All About Al: The Pacino podcast

Two for the Money is written by Dan Gilroy and directed by D.J. Caruso, it see's Matthew McConaughey play Brandon Lang, a former college football star, who aligns himself with one of the most renowned touts in the sports-gambling business, Walter Abrams (played by Al Pacino). It is loosely based on the true story of Brandon Link, a former college footballer turned sports broker.The film celebrates it's twentieth anniversary on 7th October 2025. Podcaster Petros Patsilivas joins the podcast to celebrate the film's milestone and talk about his feelings towards having never seen it before. Patsilivas discusses the boxset the film randomly appears in, why he was hoping it would go bigger and what he thought to the surrogate father/son relationship between Pacino's character and McConaughey's.All About Al: The Pacino Podcast is written, produced and presented by Mark Searby. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dog Day Afternoon tells the story of a man, Sonny (Played by Al Pacino), and his best friend, Sal (played by John Cazale), as they decide to rob a bank to pay for Sonny's lover's sex change operation. But things don't go according to plan, Sonny & Sal end up taking hostages in a stand-off against the Police. Based on real events, this film features one of Al Pacino's greatest ever performances. It is still seen as a masterpiece fifty years after it was released.Film Critic Sheila O'Malley was exposed to Dog Day Afternoon from a very young age and it stayed with her through the years. She joins the podcast to explain why the film means so much to her, what going to the Actors Studio did for her to understand movies like this in greater detail and how Pacino's performance is full of vulnerability. All About Al: The Pacino Podcast is written, produced and presented by Mark Searby. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The film is based on the murder trials of record producer, songwriter and musician Phil Spector. It details the complicated relationship Spector had with his defence attorney, Linda Kenney Baden. Written and directed by playwright David Mamet, this HBO movie has Al Pacino starring opposite Dame Helen Mirren in a movie that said it was "an exploration of the client–attorney relationship". TV critic Jacqueline Cutler joins the podcast to talk about Pacino's second TV movie, why Pacino would have been aware of Spector from a young age and how Pacino once sang to her during an interview.All About Al: The Pacino Podcast is written, produced and presented by Mark Searby. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Chinese Coffee received it's world premiere at the Telluride Film Festival in 2000. So this podcast episode is celebrating it's 25th anniversary. Sort of. As it's a film that had three screenings and then disappeared. Directed by Pacino and based on the Ira Lewis play. It featured a small cast including Jerry Orbach, Susan Floyd, Ellen McElduff.One other actor who did appear in the film was Libby Langdon. But she left the film industry behind decades ago to become a successful interior designer. However, she joins the podcast to discuss appearing in Chinese Coffee. Libby talks about the audition process, the confusion over the start/stop filming schedule and why she will always have a soft spot for Al and his work.All About Al: The Pacino Podcast is written, produced and presented by Mark Searby. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

88 Minutes is a real-time thriller that saw Dr. Jack Gramm (Al Pacino) receive a phone call from a mysterious serial killer informing him that Gramm has just 88 minutes left to live. Directed by Jon Avnet and starring Alicia Witt, Leelee Sobieski, Amy Brenneman, Deborah Kara Unger, Benjamin McKenzie, Stephen Moyer and Neal McDonough.British actor Stephen Moyer joins the podcast to discuss appearing in the film. Moyer talks about how he got the call to appear in the film at the very last minute, why he had to wear a leather outfit and what it was like acting opposite Al Pacino via a telephone. All About Al: The Pacino Podcast is written, produced and presented by Mark Searby. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Donnie Brasco is based on the true story of Joe Pistone aka Donnie Brasco, who goes undercover in a New York mafia gang but finds himself being drawn more into their world thanks to his friendship with enforcer Left Ruggerio. A two-hander between Johnny Depp and Al Pacino ensures this quiet and unassuming mobster flick deserves huge praise. But is it all too often overlooked when talking about New York mafia movies?British film critic Tim Robey joins the podcast to discuss if it is overlooked. Tim also talks about why the film is about seduction, what the relationship between Lefty and Donnie is about and how he believes it is one of Pacino's best internal performances. All About Al: The Pacino Podcast is written, produced and presented by Mark Searby. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nobody was ready for a film about Artifical Intelligence in Hollywood back in 2002. Simone tells the story of film director Viktor Taransky (Al Pacino) who creates a new female lead actress from a computer programme for his new film because the real lead actress has quit. But Taransky is being blackmailed by two reporters who know the truth. The film flopped at the box office and has, over the years, been forgotten about. But now with the advent of A.I. everywhere, is it time to say Simone was ahead of it's time?Film critic, author and disability expert Kristen Lopez joins the podcast to discuss the film. She talks about why it failed to find an audience, whether it has come of age and is this a comedy performance from Al Pacino?All About Al: The Pacino Podcast is written, produced and presented by Mark Searby. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Al Pacino and his producing partner Barry Navidi have been trying to make a biopic of the Italian painter & sculptor Amedeo Modigliani for decades. Either Pacino was too busy or they couldn't get the financing or the script wasn't right. To the point where they both almost gave up. That is until Pacino told his friend Johnny Depp that he should direct the film. Depp stepped up and made Modigliani: Three Days on the Wing of Madness starring Al Pacino, Stephen Graham, Sally Phillips, Antonia Desplat and Bruno Gouery.Starring in the lead role as the legendary Modigliani is Italian actor Riccardo Scamarcio, who joins the podcast to discuss the film. Scamarcio talks about how he became involved in the film, why it meant so much to him personally to play Amedeo Modigliani and what it was like doing twenty-seven pages of dialogue with Al Pacino.All About Al: The Pacino Podcast is written, produced and presented by Mark Searby. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Warren Beatty's adaptation of Dick Tracy was a huge success at the box office when it was releases in 1990. It had an all-star cast including Madonna, Dustin Hoffman, James Caan, Catherine O'Hara, Dick Van Dyke and many more. It also went on to win three Oscars including one for best make-up. To celebrate the film's 35th anniversary, Doug Drexler recalls his time working on the film as a make-up artist. He talks about working directly with Al Pacino, why that scared him so much and how, for the first time, he was star-struck.All About Al: The Pacino Podcast is written, produced and presented by Mark Searby. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Based on True Events. The Ritual is the harrowing true story of the exorcism of Emma Schmidt, and the two priests (Al Pacino, Dan Stevens) who went to war with Satan to save her soul.Director David Midell and Producer Enrico Natale (they also co-wrote the film) join the podcast to discuss making an exorcism film based on the most well documented cases in North American history. They talk about how they spent time with Pacino, at his house, figuring out his character, who decided to change the beard style of Al's priest and why filming the ending terrified some of the crew.All About Al: The Pacino Podcast is written, produced and presented by Mark Searby. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Now recognised as one of the great crime films of all time, Scarface had a struggle getting to the big screen initially. And even upon release it never found an audience and disappeared without a trace pretty quickly. However, over time it has grown into the now legendary film about the immigrant Tony Montana coming to America to seek his fortune.Scarface producer Peter Saphier discusses what it was like trying to get the film made as an independent producer working at a major movie studio, how he had private reservations about the finished film and why Pacino was so fantastic in the lead role. All About Al: The Pacino Podcast is written, produced and presented by Mark Searby. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Al Pacino loves Chinese Coffee. Not coffee imported from China. Instead he loves the play by Ira Lewis. So much so that he performed it many times on stage. Then decided to make a film of it starring himself and Jerry Orbach (Dirty Dancing). That's when Pacino started to struggle. Chinese Coffee is a film with an unusual road to release.To talk about the film actor Sarah Lynn Dawson (I Lost My Body) joins the podcast to discuss what it was like seeing Chinese Coffee for the first time at a screening with Al Pacino in attendance, how it got her thinking about her own acting style and why she was so interested in the dynamic between Pacino and Orbach in the film.All About Al: The Pacino Podcast is written, produced and presented by Mark Searby. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

To celebrate Al Pacino's 85th birthday on 25th April 2025, writer Lawrence Grobel joins All About Al: The Pacino Podcast to discuss his book Al Pacino: In Conversation with Lawrence Grobel. He talks about their first meeting, how their friendship developed over the decades, why he bet Al money about some cookies in a jar and what really happened when Pacino went to meet William Friedkin during the editing of Cruising.All About Al: The Pacino Podcast is written, produced and presented by Mark Searby. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Michael Mann's Heat is, arguably, one of the all-time great crime movies. It's a film that constantly invites new discussions and criticism. Bringing together two of the greatest actors of any generation - Al Pacino and Robert De Niro - for the first time ever on-screen. Heat is a triumph of realism. The film is as well known for its actors and story as it is its location, right in the heart of Los Angeles. Film Critic, moderator, broadcaster and writer Scott Mantz joins the podcast to discuss this legendary crime film. He talks about living in L.A. and how the film surrounds his every day life, how many times he watches the film a year and why he is so impressed with Pacino's acting choices.All About Al: The Pacino Podcast is written, produced and presented by Mark Searby. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Heathcote Williams' play The Local Stigmatic was made into a feature film by Al Pacino. However, it took over five years for it to be finished and then was only shown in a handful of select screenings including it's first showing at New York's Museum of Modern Art in March 1990. The play is about two British sociopaths wo spend their days wander the dog tracks of London while also being obsessed with celebrity culture. The film see's Pacino play Graham opposite Paul Guilfoyle's Ray. It's a film that very few people have seen.British actor Wilson James played Graham in the 2016 London stage production. He joins the podcast to discuss how he tackled Williams' play & the character, why he felt he was becoming Graham the long the play went on and what he saw in the character that made Pacino become so obsessed with making the film. All About Al: The Pacino Podcast is written, presented and produced by Mark Searby. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Danny Collins is a comedy with a real family drama at the heart of it. It see's Pacino's Danny Collins, a one-hit wonder from decades previous, try to rekindle his relationship with his estranged son while also playing to sold-out crowds. You'll laugh and cry at it. But sadly it is an underseen Pacino film.Now, on it's 10th anniversary (it was released March 2015), the inspiration behind the initial story of Danny Collins joins the podcast. English Singer-Songwriter Steve Tilston is the original Danny Collins. Well, sort of. He explains how the film came to be based on his much delayed letter from John Lennon, why he was so pleased to be involved and what it was like getting a hug from Al Pacino.All About Al: The Pacino Podcast is written, presented and produced by Mark Searby. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Upon release in 2011, Jack And Jill was reviled by most film critics. However, it did exceptional business at the box office. Starring Adam Sandler (in both titles), Al Pacino, Katie Holmes and Eugenio Derbez, this comedy has become the stuff of internet memes thanks to one segment of the film - the Dunkaccino advert. Dancing alongside Pacino in that advert was comedian/writer/actor Andy Goldenberg, who joins the podcast to discuss his experiences of appearing in the film. Goldenberg talks about how he was cast, what it was like acting opposite Sandler and Pacino, and why the reaction to the film hit him very hard. All About Al: The Pacino Podcast is written, presented and produced by Mark Searby. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Cruising was a notorious movie upon release. It stoked up a lot of controversy over its footage and themes of homosexuality and violence. It also bombed at the box office and started Pacino's slump for the next few years. It derailed director William Friedkin's career for a couple of years too. However, over the past decade it has started to be re-assessed by film critic and cinephiles.Joining the podcast to discuss the film and it's legacy is film critic and podcaster Dion Baia. Not only does Baia discuss the film and it's themes, but he also talks about a man named Randy Jurgensen, who was instrumental in helping get the film made and worked closely with Friedkin on the film.All About Al: The Pacino Podcast is written, presented and produced by Mark Searby. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When Al Pacino became obsessed with Oscar Wilde's Salome, he didn't make it easy on himself when trying to put it on camera. Salome is a filmed version of the stage production that featured Pacino as King Herod and Jessica Chastain (Interstellar, Zero Dark Thirty, IT Chapter Two) as Salome. Wilde Salome is a behind the scenes look at trying to stage the production. While also trying to make a feature film, or at least scenes from the play. Directed by Al Pacino, it took years before it appeared on the festival circuit. And then even longer before it was available to watch at home. To try an unravel what Salome & Wilde Salome is all about is entertainment journalist Emily Murray, who is one of the few people that saw the documentary on the big screen when it had a one-night-only showing in the UK back in 2014. Emily explains why she went to see it, how she was hoping for more as to why Al was obsessed with the play and what she thinks to Jessica Chastain's performance.All About Al: The Pacino Podcast is written, presented and produced by Mark Searby. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Author! Author! was released in 1982. It is an autobiographical film written by playwright Israel Horovitz (The Indian Wants the Bronx) and directed by Arthur Hiller (The Out-of-Towners). It starred Al Pacino as Ivan Trevalian, a playwright trying to fix his play on Broadway while also looking after his five children after his girlfriend leaves him. It's a comedy of errors mixed with a bit of romance that saw Pacino finally do some comedy. In a World Exclusive, ex-actor Elva Josephson (The Blue Lagoon) joins the podcast to talk, for the first time ever!, about appearing opposite Pacino as one of his daughters - Bonnie - in the film. Josephson talks about how she was cast, why she enjoyed working with the other kids and how Pacino reacted when they had to stage a huge food fight. All About Al: The Pacino Podcast is written, presented and produced by Mark Searby. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.