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I recently had a chance to see CYRUS, starring John C. Reilly, Jonah Hill, and Marisa Tomei. The film is written and directed by Jay and Mark Duplass, and has already made quite a splash at both Sundance and the South by Southwest Film Festivals. It explores a middle-aged single man (Reilly) who falls in love with a middle-aged single woman (Tomei), and then finds out she lives with an adult son named Cyrus (Hill) who is rather odd and strangely possessive of him mom. It’s an interesting and amusing character study, and makes brilliant use of the talented cast (which also includes the great Catherine Keener and UPRIGHT CITIZENS BRIGADE alumnist Matt Walsh). Jay Duplass came through Dallas to do press for the movie, and I got to sit down with him and discuss the influences for the film, and his experience working with the cast. Check out the interview below and tell us your thoughts.
Note: Apologies for the wrongly formatted aspect ratio on me, there was an error in the way that camera filmed the interview. There’s nothing I like more than being stretched out horizontally on film.
CYRUS is open in select cities now, check local listings for showtimes near you.
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. 
