.
.
I have always really enjoyed Andy Garcia as an actor. There’s a realism and vulnerability to his performances that seems to hit home every time. One of my favorite films of his is THINGS TO DO IN DENVER WHEN YOU’RE DEAD, which I’ve always felt was an under-appreciated classic of the 1990’s. His new movie CITY ISLAND (directed by Raymond De Felitta) finds him in the role of Vince Rizzo, a correctional officer just trying to raise a somewhat dysfunctional family, and secretly pursue his dreams. It’s a charming family comedy, and at times a little dark, but overall incredibly satisfying. Garcia came to Dallas to promote the film, and participated in a roundtable interview with select members of the press. The following clips highlight my questions and his answers during that discussion. This was a real thrill for me – I genuinely hope to have another chance to talk with Andy down the line.
.
And being that I’m a hardcore fan of the film THINGS TO DO IN DENVER WHEN YOU’RE DEAD, I simply had to bring it up before we finished. If you’re unfamiliar with the movie, there’s a recurring theme where characters touch palms and say “Boat drinks” – which symbolizes that if things don’t work out for them in this life, they’ll be having boat drinks in the afterlife. It was a real treat for me to do “Boat drinks” with Andy. I even used his character in that film, Jimmy the Saint, to bring the discussion back to CITY ISLAND.
CITY ISLAND is now open – check local listings for showtimes and tickets
Born and raised in Dallas, Mark has been a movie critic since 1994, with reviews featured in print, radio and National TV. In 2001 he started the Entertainment section of the Herorealm website, where he contributed film reviews and celebrity interviews until 2004. After three years of service there, he started Bigfanboy.com, which has become one of the Dallas film community's leading information websites. Bigfanboy hosts several movie screenings in the Texas area, and works closely with film and TV studios and promotional partners to host exciting events and contests. The site also features a variety of rare celebrity and filmmaker interviews, and Bigfanboy.com regularly covers the film festival circuit as well. In addition to Hollywood reporting, Mark has worked for many years as an advertising and sci-fi/comic book artist. Clients have included Lucasfilm Ltd., Topps Trading Cards, The Dallas Mavericks and The Dallas Stars. From 2002 until 2015 he managed the Dallas Comic Con, Sci-Fi Expo and Fan Days events in the DFW area. He currently catalogs rare comic books and movie memorabilia for Heritage Auctions, and runs the Dallas Comic Show conventions, but remains an avid moviegoer and cinema buff. 
