Shea Whigham and Carrie Coon embark on an unorthodox road trip where nothing is as it seems in Lake George, a standout entry from 2024’s Tribeca Film Festival. Whigham stars as Don, a man fresh out of prison and completely out of options. In desperation, he turns to the mob boss who got him in trouble in the first place (Glenn Flesher), who offers him a job: kill his runaway mistress, Phyllis, (Carrie Coon) and get a bunch of money. However, when Don and Phyllis finally meet, they wind up going on an even grander adventure.

Inspired by the likes of The Late Show with Art Carney and Lily Tomlin, with a touch of Something Wild with Jeff Daniels and Melanie Griffith, Lake George is funnier than it appears, thanks to the deadpan performance of Whigham contrasted against the magnetic Carrie Coon, for whom the rules of laws and nature simply roll off her back. The script brings a mix of deep characterization, intimate pathos, high-stakes action, and even some delightful physical comedy, resulting in a film noir hybrid that eludes reductive classification.

While promoting the Tribeca Film Festival debut of Lake George, Screen Rant interviewed several of the leading cast members, as well as writer and director Jeffrey Reiner. They talked about the unique leading man qualities of Shea Whigham, the vulnerability inherent in all of Max Casella’s characters, and there’s even a story in there about Lily Tomlin’s shoes in the 1980s.

Tales From The Lake George Red Carpet

Director Jeffrey Reiner Explains Lake George’s Cross Between Noir & Western

Screen Rant: It’s a West Coast affair, but you’re an East Coast guy.

Jeffrey Reiner: Well, I was born in New York, went to college in New York, but I really consider myself a Los Angelean, ya know?

It’s a good place for that great cross-section of Noir and Western. When I think of that cross-section, the first face that comes to mind is Shea’s. Can you tell me a little bit about his vibe and directing him?

Jeffrey Reiner: When you think of these movies, you think of Lee Marvin, you think of Richard Widmark, Warren Oates, you think of these characters who have age and life history. And I wanted an actor… I could have made the movie for more money with a different actor, but I always wanted Shea, he was my first choice. We’d done a little TV show called Dirty John together, he played a small role for me. And I just loved him in Boardwalk Empire. He was just, like… I thought, this is the guy I want to be in my movie.

I sent him the script, and I think he embodies the film noir. A guy who… Not everybody knows him. He’s not a type-A star. He should be! He should be Warren Oates, or Harry Dean Stanton, and he is that guy! But just like Harry Dean Got Paris, Texas, and Warren Oates got Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Garcia, that Peckinpah movie, I think that this is his chance. I think this is Shea’s chance to be the lead and a star.

And he’s a little against type, we could say. He’s kind of a white-collar guy, thrown into… The character is a white-collar guy, thrown into this unusual situation.

Jeffrey Reiner: But you kind of believe him. You believe that he is a… That he can get his hands dirty if he’s desperate enough.

And if I know anything about film noir, he’s gonna get real desperate.

Jeffrey Reiner: He’s gonna get really desperate.

Source: Screen Rant Plus

Max Casella Looks Back On His Work In The Sopranos

Screen Rant: I’ve been a big fan of yours for a long time and watched you on The Sopranos and watching you on Tulsa King. Have you ever felt like you needed to take a break and grow up on your own, away from Hollywood, or is this your love?

Max Casella: No! No. I mean, I would never go away from Hollywood, unless Hollywood told me to go away and I couldn’t work anymore. I always want to work. I love my job. I love acting. I love show business. I’ve been lucky enough to do the thing I love to do for my entire life! There were periods of time where I had to transition from being a so-called “child actor,” playing kid roles, to being a grown-up, so there was a bit of a bump while I went through the change from childhood to manhood.

You get to play a lot tougher guys than you did. You were very vulnerable in The Sopranos. You get to be a lot tougher these days.

Max Casella: No, I think I’m vulnerable in Tulsa King! I never feel like I play “tough.” Sometimes, characters do tough things. But at their core, they’re vulnerable because they’re human. We’re all vulnerable, so that’s always a part of it.

If you ever got the call, would you be game to be Daxter again, or are you over that?

Max Casella: I can’t! I would do it, but my voice doesn’t go that high anymore. I can’t do the voice anymore. I would love to, but I don’t think I can do it.

Would you be okay seeing someone else do it, or would it break your heart?

Max Caseslla: Absolutely, not at all!

Source: Screen Rant Plus

Shea Whigham Keeps Tight-Lipped About Lake George & Mission Impossible

Screen Rant: Agent Carter: you call out of a window and explode.

Shea Whigham: Yeah.

What are the odds that this movie ends with you falling down the Grand Canyon and exploding?

Shea Whigham: …I can’t tell you that! I can’t tell you that, man. I could say they’re pretty good (odds) not doing that in this film.

Your guy, he’s a white-collar guy, but he gets thrown into this situation. On a scale of “Nerd” to “Cowboy,” where does he fall?

Shea Whigham: Don is… I’d say he’s about the middle. I don’t think he’s a nerd in any respect. But he’s not quite a cowboy. Maybe by the end… Maybe by the end.

The next Mission Impossible, have you shot it, are you done?

I can’t tell you that, man! I can’t!

Source: Screen Rant Plus

Lake George Star Carrie Coon Relishes A Lily Tomlin Comparison

Screen Rant: So, tell me a little bit about Shea Whigham.

Carrie Coon: Okay, listen. Shea Whigham. He’s that guy. He’s that guy who’s in everything, and then you see him and you’re like, “That guy’s always so good! I see that guy in everything, he’s so good and cool! He’s a great character actor!” But actually, sneakily, in this movie, he’s the leading man, and he’s great.

Screen Rant: You’ve got that film noir vibe. Do you fit into one of those archetypes? Are you a femme fatale, or has someone done you wrong?

Carrie Coon: I’m like a femme fatale, but with a little Lily Tomlin sprinkled in.

Screen Rant: That is… Wow, as soon as you said that, I was like, I can see that Lily Tomlin glint in your eye.

Carrie Coon: That is the most flattering thing anyone’s ever said to me.

Screen Rant: Would you say she’s one of your acting heroes, growing up?

Carrie Coon: Certainly. Her work in the 70s is so astonishing. I mean, her work now is, too! But she was such a unique presence when she came onto the scene. And, again, not a traditional leading lady, which, of course, I embrace.

Screen Rant: I have a friend, weirdly, who stretched out her shoes for her, once.

Claire Connors: It’s true! Back in 1986, I was working at a Broadway costuming house, and we had a Tony Awards emergency. Lily Tomlin was one of the hosts, and her shoes were too tight. My boss yells out, “Who wears a size 9 shoe?” I raised my hand. And that day, my job was to walk around in Lily Tomlin’s shoes to break them in for the Tonys. Good times!

Screen Rant: Weird. That’s a little piece of info for you!

Carrie Coon: That’s something I’ll take home with me tonight!

Source: Screen Rant Plus