Author(s): D.W. Dillon
Location: Las Vegas, Nevada
"Mad About Raft"
Directed by Ian Toynton
Written by Doug Ellin
Music by Elmer Bernstein
Produced by Ian Toynton and Barry Sonnenfeld
Genre: Crime/Comedy
Principal Cast:
Robert Downey Jr. - George Raft
Rebecca De Mornay - Mae West
Clive Owen - Owney "Killer" Madden
Ray Liotta - Vincent "Mad Dog" Coll
Laura Dern - Tallulah Bankhead
Kevin Pollack - James Cagney
Dennis Farina - Hal B. Wallis
and
John Lloyd Young as Benjamin "Bugsy" Siegel
Tagline: "If your best friend dumped a dead body over a bridge, would you?"
Synopsis: Welcome to the fascinating world of Hollywood in the golden age of cinema where stars like George Raft (Robert Downey Jr.) entertain audiences with charismatic characters in such films as Scarface, Each Dawn I Die, and Manpower. Convincingly portraying the dashing gangster to the point of realistic speculation. Though, how does one handle those rumors if they are true? When you got friends like notorious mobsters "Killer" Owney Madden (Clive Owen) and Benjamin "Bugsy" Siegel (John Lloyd Young) it's hard to shake. Now, turning away classic scripts like Casablanca from producer Hal B. Wallis (Dennis Farina), and struggling to end a relationship with heady movie stars like Tallulah Bankhead (Laura Dern), are the least of George Raft's Hollywood problems. Bugsy's creeping down his neck for movie roles, and a stake in some fantasy city in the desert, while Owney's mixed up in a turf war with crazed gun-for-hire Vincent "Mad Dog" Coll (Ray Liotta), who just happens to have a thing for his best friend and co-star Mae West (Rebecca De Mornay). While Mad Dog is mad for Mae, she is mad to get away and there's no one to turn to but good ol' George. With a Mafia contract out on co-star, James Cagney's (Kevin Pollack) head, buddy Raft and his "connections" are his only way out. All hell will break loose when these scrupulous mixed batch of boyhood friends-now grown up thugs and movie stars pursue their dreams, desires, and obligations, all at the behest of one George Raft.
What the press would say:
Note to self: Do not buy or drink a beverage while watching "Mad About Raft", for it will cause uncontrollable bladder issues due to the laughter it brings. Robert Downey Jr. once portrayed Charlie Chaplin so famously, that he has now finally set himself apart, into a brilliant physical comedic actor portraying George Raft, a man in the wrong position to have such notorious friends. Mixing the cast with actors and actresses who are diverse enough to pull off both dramatic and comedic roles that it gives the tone of the film an almost Broadway stage like atmosphere. With Rebecca De Mornay as Mae West, and 'master of impressions' Kevin Pollack doing his best James Cagney, the film hits all its notes on key. It's not until we hear Ray Liotta's signature cackling laughter in the form of the infamous mob hitman Vincent "Mad Dog" Coll, are we truly entranced. And then along comes Broadway star John Lloyd Young who's debonair and exuberant Bugsy Siegel steals each scene with so much style that we have to forgive him because he is that hypnotic on film, just the same. Ian Toynton's major motion picture debut is a breath of fresh air. A proven technical director and storyteller with such notable television credits from hit shows like "24 and "The O.C.", he keeps the pace fast, the drama steady, and the comedy flowing. Based loosely on the life of George Raft, "Entourage" creator and writer Doug Ellin takes a stab at the big screen to compose a script so natural to the classic Hollywood text. You will leave quoting the film and laughing to yourself and with your friends, not even caring that you all had just peed your pants. Now that's entertainment!
Best Picture
Best Director - Ian Toynton
Best Actor - Robert Downey Jr.
Best Actress - Rebecca De Mornay
Best Supporting Actor - John Lloyd Young
Best Supporting Actor - Ray Liotta
Best Supporting Actress - Laura Dern
Best Original Screenplay - Doug Ellin (Entourage)
Best Cinematography - Barry Sonnenfeld (Miller's Crossing)
Best Score - Elmer Bernstein (The Grifters)
Best Editing - Thelma Schoonmaker (The Aviator)
Best Art Direction - Maher Ahmad (Married to the Mob)
Best Costume Design - Richard Bruno (Goodfellas)
Location: Las Vegas, Nevada
"Mad About Raft"
Directed by Ian Toynton
Written by Doug Ellin
Music by Elmer Bernstein
Produced by Ian Toynton and Barry Sonnenfeld
Genre: Crime/Comedy
Principal Cast:
Robert Downey Jr. - George Raft
Rebecca De Mornay - Mae West
Clive Owen - Owney "Killer" Madden
Ray Liotta - Vincent "Mad Dog" Coll
Laura Dern - Tallulah Bankhead
Kevin Pollack - James Cagney
Dennis Farina - Hal B. Wallis
and
John Lloyd Young as Benjamin "Bugsy" Siegel
Tagline: "If your best friend dumped a dead body over a bridge, would you?"
Synopsis: Welcome to the fascinating world of Hollywood in the golden age of cinema where stars like George Raft (Robert Downey Jr.) entertain audiences with charismatic characters in such films as Scarface, Each Dawn I Die, and Manpower. Convincingly portraying the dashing gangster to the point of realistic speculation. Though, how does one handle those rumors if they are true? When you got friends like notorious mobsters "Killer" Owney Madden (Clive Owen) and Benjamin "Bugsy" Siegel (John Lloyd Young) it's hard to shake. Now, turning away classic scripts like Casablanca from producer Hal B. Wallis (Dennis Farina), and struggling to end a relationship with heady movie stars like Tallulah Bankhead (Laura Dern), are the least of George Raft's Hollywood problems. Bugsy's creeping down his neck for movie roles, and a stake in some fantasy city in the desert, while Owney's mixed up in a turf war with crazed gun-for-hire Vincent "Mad Dog" Coll (Ray Liotta), who just happens to have a thing for his best friend and co-star Mae West (Rebecca De Mornay). While Mad Dog is mad for Mae, she is mad to get away and there's no one to turn to but good ol' George. With a Mafia contract out on co-star, James Cagney's (Kevin Pollack) head, buddy Raft and his "connections" are his only way out. All hell will break loose when these scrupulous mixed batch of boyhood friends-now grown up thugs and movie stars pursue their dreams, desires, and obligations, all at the behest of one George Raft.
What the press would say:
Note to self: Do not buy or drink a beverage while watching "Mad About Raft", for it will cause uncontrollable bladder issues due to the laughter it brings. Robert Downey Jr. once portrayed Charlie Chaplin so famously, that he has now finally set himself apart, into a brilliant physical comedic actor portraying George Raft, a man in the wrong position to have such notorious friends. Mixing the cast with actors and actresses who are diverse enough to pull off both dramatic and comedic roles that it gives the tone of the film an almost Broadway stage like atmosphere. With Rebecca De Mornay as Mae West, and 'master of impressions' Kevin Pollack doing his best James Cagney, the film hits all its notes on key. It's not until we hear Ray Liotta's signature cackling laughter in the form of the infamous mob hitman Vincent "Mad Dog" Coll, are we truly entranced. And then along comes Broadway star John Lloyd Young who's debonair and exuberant Bugsy Siegel steals each scene with so much style that we have to forgive him because he is that hypnotic on film, just the same. Ian Toynton's major motion picture debut is a breath of fresh air. A proven technical director and storyteller with such notable television credits from hit shows like "24 and "The O.C.", he keeps the pace fast, the drama steady, and the comedy flowing. Based loosely on the life of George Raft, "Entourage" creator and writer Doug Ellin takes a stab at the big screen to compose a script so natural to the classic Hollywood text. You will leave quoting the film and laughing to yourself and with your friends, not even caring that you all had just peed your pants. Now that's entertainment!
Best Picture
Best Director - Ian Toynton
Best Actor - Robert Downey Jr.
Best Actress - Rebecca De Mornay
Best Supporting Actor - John Lloyd Young
Best Supporting Actor - Ray Liotta
Best Supporting Actress - Laura Dern
Best Original Screenplay - Doug Ellin (Entourage)
Best Cinematography - Barry Sonnenfeld (Miller's Crossing)
Best Score - Elmer Bernstein (The Grifters)
Best Editing - Thelma Schoonmaker (The Aviator)
Best Art Direction - Maher Ahmad (Married to the Mob)
Best Costume Design - Richard Bruno (Goodfellas)
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