Friday, November 30, 2012

It's Film Strip Friday! Wreck-It Ralph


It’s Film Strip Friday!
Wreck-It Ralph
Release Date November 14th, 2012

            
FUN FACTS:

Wreck-It Ralph is a 2012 American 3D computer-animated family-comedy film produced by Walt Disney Animation Studios and distributed by Walt Disney Pictures. It is the 52nd animated feature in the Walt Disney Animated Classics series. The film was directed by Rich Moore, who is known for directing many episodes of The Simpsons and Futurama, and the script was written by Jennifer Lee and Phil Johnston. Disney Chief Creative Officer John Lasseter served as the executive producer. The film features the voices of John C. Reilly, Sarah Silverman, Jack McBrayer, and Jane Lynch.
The film tells the story of the titular arcade game villain who rebels against his role and dreams of becoming a hero. He travels between games in the arcade, and ultimately must eliminate a dire threat that could affect the entire arcade, and one that Ralph may have inadvertently started. Wreck-It Ralph had its world premiere on October 29, 2012, and was released on November 2, 2012 in the United States and Canada.

Plot

When Litwak's Arcade closes at night, the various video game characters leave their normal in-game roles and are free to travel to other games. Within the game Fix-It Felix, Jr., the characters celebrate its titular hero but shun the game's villain character, Wreck-It Ralph. At a support group for video game antagonists, Ralph reveals his desire to stop being the bad guy. Back at home, Ralph finds the other characters celebrating their game's 30th anniversary without inviting him. Felix reluctantly invites Ralph to join them, but the others refuse to accept him, saying he would have to earn a medal, just as Felix does in their game.
While visiting Tapper's, Ralph meets a soldier from the first-person shooter Hero's Duty, who tells him the game's winner receives a medal. Ralph enters the game and encounters Sergeant Calhoun, its no-nonsense leader. Between game sessions, Ralph climbs the game's central beacon and collects the medal, accidentally hatching a Cy-Bug, one of the game's enemies. The Cy-Bug clings to Ralph as he stumbles into an escape pod that launches him out of the game. Meanwhile, with Ralph missing, a girl reports to Litwak that Fix-It Felix, Jr. is malfunctioning. Since broken games get unplugged, leaving their characters homeless, Felix sets off to find Ralph.
Ralph crash-lands in Sugar Rush, a kart-racing game. As he searches for his medal, he meets Vanellope von Schweetz, a glitchy character who makes off with the medal, planning to use it to buy entry into an after-hours race. King Candy and the other racers refuse to let Vanellope participate, claiming that she is not really part of the game. Ralph helps Vanellope build a kart. At her home, Diet Cola Mountain, he discovers that she is a natural racer.
Back in Hero's Duty, Felix meets Calhoun, who warns that the Cy-Bugs are capable of taking over any game they enter. As the pair searches for Ralph and the Cy-Bug in Sugar Rush, they separate when Felix, enamored with Calhoun, inadvertently reminds her of her previous romantic relationship, which ended tragically. Calhoun finds hundreds of Cy-Bug eggs underground, and Felix becomes imprisoned in King Candy's castle. King Candy finds Ralph's medal and offers it to Ralph in exchange for keeping Vanellope out of the race, claiming that allowing her would be disastrous for both her and the game. Fearing for Vanellope's safety, Ralph wrecks the kart and returns to his own game, but finds it deserted, as everyone has evacuated in expectation that it will be unplugged in the morning. Ralph then notices Vanellope's image on the Sugar Rush cabinet and realizes she is an intended part of the game, not a glitch.
Ralph returns to Sugar Rush, finds Felix and Vanellope, and asks Felix to fix the wrecked kart. As the race proceeds, the hatched Cy-Bugs attack and Felix, Calhoun, and Ralph battle them. When Vanellope catches up to King Candy, he reveals that he is actually Turbo—a character from an old game who is notorious for having sabotaged a newer game, causing both to be unplugged, and has since taken control of Sugar Rush. Vanellope escapes from Turbo, who is consumed by a Cy-Bug. The group flees the doomed game, but Vanellope cannot pass through the exit. Calhoun says the game cannot be saved without a beacon to attract and kill the Cy-Bugs.
Ralph heads to Diet Cola Mountain, where he plans on collapsing its Mentos stalactites into the cola at the bottom, causing a blinding eruption that would attract the bugs. Before he can finish, Turbo, merged with the Cy-Bug that had consumed him, carries him away. Ralph breaks free and dives toward the mountain, hoping his impact will start the eruption. Vanellope in turn uses her glitching abilities to save Ralph. The eruption starts and draws the Cy-Bugs to their destruction, including Turbo. Vanellope crosses the finish line, restoring her memory and status as the game's lead character while keeping her advantageous glitching ability. Felix and Ralph return to their game in time for Litwak to see it still works, sparing it from being unplugged. Felix marries Calhoun, and the characters of Fix-It Felix, Jr. gain a new respect for Ralph.

Voice cast

  • John C. Reilly as Wreck-It Ralph, the villain of Fix-It Felix, Jr.
  • Sarah Silverman as Vanellope von Schweetz, a 9-year-old racer and glitch in Sugar Rush.
  • Jack McBrayer as Fix-It Felix, Jr., the hero of Fix-It Felix, Jr.
  • Jane Lynch as Sergeant Tamora Jean Calhoun, the lead character of Hero's Duty.
  • Alan Tudyk as King Candy/Turbo, the fake ruler of Sugar Rush who originally came from a game called Turbo Time.
  • Mindy Kaling as Taffyta Muttonfudge, an accomplished racer in Sugar Rush and Vanellope's nemesis.
  • Joe Lo Truglio as Markowski, a Soldier in Hero's Duty whom Ralph impersonates.
  • Ed O'Neill as Mr. Litwak, owner of Litwak's Family Fun Center & Arcade.
  • Dennis Haysbert as General Hologram, a general in Hero's Duty.
  • Edie McClurg as Mary, a Nicelander who lives within the game Fix-It Felix, Jr.
  • Raymond Persi as Mayor Gene, a Nicelander who lives within the game Fix-It Felix, Jr., and a Zombie (based on Cyril from House of the Dead) who attends the Bad-Anon support group.
  • Jess Harnell as Don, a Nicelander who lives within the game Fix-It Felix, Jr.
  • Rachael Harris as Deanna, a Nicelander who lives within the game Fix-It Felix, Jr.
  • Skylar Astin as Roy, a Nicelander who lives within the game Fix-It Felix, Jr.
  • Adam Carolla as Wynnchel, a doughnut that is a member of the Sugar Rush police station.
  • Horatio Sanz as Duncan, a doughnut that is a member of the Sugar Rush police station.
  • Maurice LaMarche as Root Beer Tapper, the bartender from Tapper.
  • Stefanie Scott as Moppet Girl, a young arcade enthusiast.
  • John DiMaggio as Beard Papa, Sugar Rush security.
  • Rich Moore as Sour Bill, King Candy's henchman, and Zanief from Street Fighter.
  • Katie Lowes as Candlehead, a racer in Sugar Rush who works closely with Taffyta and Rancis.
  • Jamie Elman as Rancis Fluggerbutter, a racer in Sugar Rush who works closely with Taffyta and Candlehead.
  • Josie Trinidad as Jubileena Bing-Bing, a racer in Sugar Rush.
  • Cymbre Walk as Crumbelina DiCaramello, a racer in Sugar Rush.
  • Brandon Scott as Kohut, a soldier in Hero's Duty.
  • Tim Mertens as Dr. Brad Scott, a scientist and Sgt. Calhoun's fiancĂ© in Hero's Duty, who was eaten by Cy-Bugs.
  • Kevin Deters as Clyde from Pac-Man.
  • Gerald C. Rivers as M. Bison from Street Fighter.
  • Martin Jarvis as Satine, a devil-like villain who attends the Bad-Anon support group.
  • Brian Kesinger as a Cyborg (based on Kano from Mortal Kombat) who attends the Bad-Anon support group.
  • Roger Craig Smith as Sonic from Sonic the Hedgehog.
  • Phil Johnston as Surge Protector, Game Central Station security.
  • Kyle Hebert as Ryu from Street Fighter.
  • Reuben Langdon as Ken Masters from Street Fighter.
  • Jamie Sparer Roberts as Yuni from Dance Dance Revolution.
Skrillex makes a non-speaking cameo as a DJ in Fix-It Felix, Jr.

Video game cameos and references

In addition to the spoken roles, Wreck-It Ralph contains a number of other video game references, including characters and visual gags. At the video game villain meeting in addition to the above characters include Bowser from the Mario series, Doctor Eggman from Sonic the Hedgehog, and Neff from Altered Beast. Characters from Q*bert, including Q*bert, Coily, Slick, Sam and Ugg, are shown as "homeless" characters and later taken in by Ralph and Felix into their game. Scenes in GameCentral and Tapper's bar include Chun-Li, Cammy and Blanka from Street Fighter, Pac-Man, Blinky, Pinky, and Inky from Pac-Man, the Paperboy from Paperboy, the two paddles and the ball from Pong, Dig Dug, a Pooka, and a Fygar from Dig Dug,  The Qix from Qix, and Frogger from Frogger. Additionally, Mario is mentioned in dialog.
Additional references are based on sight gags. King Candy uses the Konami code to access the programming of Sugar Rush. Throughout GameCentral is graffiti stating that "Aerith lives", referencing the character of Aerith Gainsborough from Final Fantasy VII.

Production

The film, under the working title of High Score, has been in development at Disney in various forms since the late 1980s. It was put back into active development in the late 1990s under the name Joe Jump, and then later in the mid 2000s as Reboot Ralph.
John Lasseter, the head of Walt Disney Animation Studios and executive producer of the film, describes Wreck-It Ralph as "an 8-bit video game bad guy who travels the length of the arcade to prove that he’s a good guy." In a manner similar to Who Framed Roger Rabbit and the Toy Story films, Wreck-It Ralph featured cameo appearances by a number of licensed video game characters. For example, one scene from the film's first theatrical trailer shows Ralph attending a support group for the arcade's various villain characters, including Clyde the orange ghost from Pac-Man, Doctor Eggman from Sonic the Hedgehog, and Bowser from Super Mario Bros. Rich Moore, the film's director, had determined that for a film about a video game world to feel authentic, "it had to have real characters from real games in it".
Before production, characters were added to the story either in places they would make sense to appear, or as cameos from a list of characters suggested by the film's creative team, without consideration if they would legally be able to use the characters. The company then sought out the copyright holders' permissions to use the characters, as well as working with these companies to assure their characters were being represented authentically. The producers could not devise a reason to incorporate the popular character Mario into the film, with director Rich Moore debunking a rumor that Mario and his brother character Luigi were not included due to Nintendo requesting too high a licensing fee, stating that the rumor grew out of a joke John C. Reilly made at Comic-Con. Dr. Wily from Mega Man was going to appear, but was cut from the final version of the film. Overall, there are about 188 individual character models in the movie as a result of these cameo inclusions.
The film introduced Disney's new bidirectional reflection distribution functions, a lighting system distinct from previous technology, with more realistic reflections on surfaces. To research the Sugar Rush segment of the film, the visual development group traveled to trade fair ISM Cologne, a See's Candy factory, and other manufacturing facilities. The group also brought in food photographers, to demonstrate techniques to make food appear appealing. Special effects, including from "smoke or dust", looks distinct in each of the segments.

Release

The film was originally scheduled for a release on March 22, 2013, but it was later changed to November 2, 2012 due to it being ahead of schedule. The theatrical release was accompanied by Disney's animated short film Paperman.

Marketing

The first trailer for Wreck-It Ralph was released on June 6, 2012, debuting with Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted and Rock of Ages. This also coincided with the 2012 Electronic Entertainment Expo, a major video game industry event; Disney had constructed a mock aged arcade cabinet for the fictional Fix-It Felix, Jr. game on display on the show floor. Disney also released a browser-based Flash-based version of the Fix-It Felix, Jr. game as well as an iOS version, with online unity-based versions of Sugar Rush and Hero's Duty. A second trailer for the film was released on September 12, 2012, coinciding with Finding Nemo 3D and Frankenweenie.

Reception

Critical reception

Wreck-It Ralph received generally favorable reviews from critics. The film review aggregation website Rotten Tomatoes reports that 86% of critics have given the film a positive review based on 114 reviews, with an average score of 7.5/10. The site's consensus reads: "Equally entertaining for both kids and parents old enough to catch the references, Wreck-It Ralph is a clever, colorful adventure built on familiar themes and joyful nostalgia." Another review aggregator, Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 top reviews from mainstream critics, calculated a score of 73 based on 33 reviews, or "Generally favorable." The film earned an "A" from audiences polled by CinemaScore.
Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun-Times gave the film 3 out of 4 stars and wrote, "More than in most animated films, the art design and color palette of Wreck-It Ralph permit unlimited sets, costumes and rules, giving the movie tireless originality and different behavior in every different cyber world." A.O. Scott of the The New York Times wrote, "The movie invites a measure of cynicism - which it proceeds to obliterate with a 93-minute blast of color, noise, ingenuity and fun." Peter Debruge of Variety acclaimed the film, stating, "With plenty to appeal to boys and girls, old and young, Walt Disney Animation Studios has a high-scoring hit on its hands in this brilliantly conceived, gorgeously executed toon, earning bonus points for backing nostalgia with genuine emotion." Betsy Sharkey of the Los Angeles Times said, "The movie's subversive sensibility and old-school/new-school feel are a total kick," while Justin Lowe of The Hollywood Reporter wrote, "With a mix of retro eye-candy for grown-ups and a thrilling, approachable storyline for the tykes, the film casts a wide and beguiling net." Conversely, Christopher Orr of The Atlantic found it "overplotted and underdeveloped."

Box office

As of November 25, 2012, Wreck-It Ralph has grossed an estimated $149,278,699 in North America, and $41,200,000 in other countries, for a worldwide total of $190,478,699.
In North America, the film debuted with $13.5 million, an above-average opening day gross for an animated film released in November. During its opening weekend, the film topped the box office with $49 million, marking the largest debut for Walt Disney Animation Studios, ahead of Tangled's opening ($48.8 million).

Soundtrack

The film's score was composed by Henry Jackman. The Japanese idol group AKB48 performed the film's ending theme, "Sugar Rush" for the worldwide release. The soundtrack also features original songs by Skrillex, Owl City and Buckner & Garcia.

Wreck-It Ralph
Film score by Henry Jackman
Released
October 30, 2012
Genre
Film score
Length
70:36
Label
Walt Disney
Walt Disney Animation Studios chronology
Winnie the Pooh
(2011)
Wreck-It Ralph
(2012)
Frozen (2013)
Henry Jackman chronology
Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter
(2012)
Wreck-It Ralph
(2012)
G.I. Joe: Retaliation
(2013)

Track listing

All music composed by Henry Jackman (except 1–6).
No.
Title
Artist
Length
1.
"When Can I See You Again?"
Owl City
3:38
2.
"Wreck-It, Wreck-It Ralph"
Buckner & Garcia
2:59
3.
"Celebration"
Kool & the Gang
3:40
4.
"Sugar Rush"
AKB48
3:14
5.
"Bug Hunt (Noisia Remix)"
Skrillex
7:04
6.
"Shut Up and Drive"
Rihanna
3:32
7.
"Wreck-It Ralph"
1:33
8.
"Life in the Arcade"
0:43
9.
"Jumping Ship"
1:06
10.
"Rocket Fiasco"
5:48
11.
"Vanellope von Schweetz"
2:57
12.
"Royal Raceway"
3:23
13.
"Cupcake Breakout"
1:12
14.
"Candy Vandals"
1:39
15.
"Turbo Flashback"
1:42
16.
"Laffy Taffies"
1:35
17.
"One Minute to Win It"
1:17
18.
"Vanellope's Hideout"
2:33
19.
"Messing with the Program"
1:20
20.
"King Candy"
2:11
21.
"Broken-Karted"
2:49
22.
"Out of the Penthouse, Off to the Race"
2:51
23.
"Sugar Rush Showdown"
4:15
24.
"You're My Hero"
4:16
25.
"Arcade Finale"
3:19
Total length:
70:36

Video games

In addition to the Flash version of the Fix-It Felix Jr. game, Disney released a tie-in game based on the film for the Wii, Nintendo 3DS and Nintendo DS. The arcade style side-scrolling game was produced in collaboration between Disney Interactive and Activision and serves as a "story extension" to the film. Players may play as Wreck-It Ralph or Fix-It Felix, causing damage as well as repairing where necessary. Game levels are based on the locations in the film, like the Fix-It Felix Jr., Hero's Duty and Sugar Rush games. It was released in conjunction with the film's release, in November 2012. In October 2012, Disney released fully playable browser-based versions of the Hero's Duty and Sugar Rush games on the new official film site. A game was also released as an app for the iPhone, iPod and iPad, as well as for Android systems. Ralph also appears in Sega's Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed as a playable guest character.

Sequel

In an interview on October 25, 2012, director Rich Moore said that he and Disney have ideas about a sequel that would bring the characters up to date and explore online gaming and console gaming.


Thursday, November 29, 2012

An Angel Remembers 25 Voices of Christmas ~ Isaac's Story



An Angel Remembers 25 Voices of Christmas



An Angel Remembers 25 Voices of Christmas is a collection of short stories I wrote for my daughter for Christmas. I wrote it as a way to share the story of Christmas and make it more alive for her without changing the story. I wrote them as an advent collection intending them to be read one each day during the month of December leading up to Christmas.
Each story is the account of the events leading to the birth of Christ as told by someone we either know was there, because they are mentioned in the Biblical account or someone we can guess was there.
Last year I decided to self e-publish my book.
It is available at the following bookseller websites:
iTunes Store, Barns And Nobel, Sony Kobo, Disel, Page Foundry and Baker-Taylor's Bilo.
It is also available at Smashwords.com for ALL ereaders and even as a downloadable PDF for the computer.

          Now some people say the Magi saw Jesus at the stable but that is not true. According to the Bible he was between 1 ½ to 2 ½ years old and the Magi came to the “House’ where the toddler lived.” In the time between Jesus' birth and then I am sure Joseph and Mary worked and made friends around Bethlehem. Being a young mother separated from her own mother I think Mary would have reached out to other mothers for help and guidance. Maybe one of Mary’s friends had a child that is older than Jesus but still young. What did that child see? With an innocent heart and open eyes not trained to be blind to the wonder of God what could he have possibly seen? Here is my idea of a possible witness to the Biblical account of the first few years of Jesus’ life.

ISAAC, THE SHOPKEEPERS SON

My name is Isaac. I’m five years old, my papa owns one of the shops on Market Street. We live aboves the shop. Papa got a man to make new tables and things for his shop. Joseph – dats da guy – had a new baby. My mama took me to visit dem. My mama told me I had to be very quiet as we visited ‘em. She said they had a new baby and the new mama must be all tired. All babies need lots of sleep too.
When I walked into da stable where they were staying there was lots of people. There was da shepherds with all those sheep, Joshua, da innkeeper, and all his family and a whole lot of other strange people!
The strange people were mostly very big. Bigger than my daddy!! One of them was very small, lots smaller than me even! I’ve never seen people like them before. They all had the prettiest wings I’d ever see, even da little one! The little one was sitting on the manger softly singing to the baby. The little one called me over to look at the baby! The baby was so beautiful! He smiled at me when I tickled His chin!
I tried to show mama all the people in the stable, but she could not see ‘em. She kept telling me to be quiet and to stop being silly and making up stories.
As the boy got bigger we played together! He was real fun! He could talk to the animals and they would do what He said. Even our big nasty cat liked Him. It scratched everyone but Him! He always had a lot of those strange people around Him. I like Nahem, the littlest of His friends the best. Nahem sang the prettiest songs and told the funniest stories! Nahem would even play games with us. I miss playing with Jesus and His friends.
My mama still says that I need to stop telling make believe stories about seeing those strange people. She does not believe I have seen them around Him. But I know I saw ‘em! Nahem told me who “HE” is. Do you want to know who He is?

©Copyrighted Material By Carolyn Hoagland 1995

Tuesday, November 27, 2012

Every Disney Hero Has a Voice ~ Wreck-It Ralph


Every Disney Hero Has a Voice
Wreck-It Ralph
Jim Cummings
May 24th, 1965

 

John Christopher Reilly (born May 24, 1965) is an American actor, singer, and comedian. Making his film debut in Casualties of War, Reilly is one of several actors whose careers were launched by Brian De Palma. To date, he has appeared in more than fifty films, including three separate films in 2002 that were all nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture. He has been nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role in Chicago and a Grammy Award for the song "Walk Hard", which he performed in Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story. Reilly has starred in Check It Out! with Dr. Steve Brule, a television show on Adult Swim, since its premiere on May 16, 2010.

Early life

Reilly was born in Chicago, Illinois, the fifth of six children of an Irish father and a Lithuanian mother. His father ran an industrial linen supply company. Reilly was raised Roman Catholic and attended Brother Rice High School. Reilly is an alumnus of DePaul University in Chicago.

Film career

Reilly made his film debut in the Brian De Palma film Casualties of War (1989) as P.F.C. Herbert Hatcher. Although the role of Hatcher was written as a small one, De Palma liked Reilly's performance so much that the role was significantly expanded. Also notable in his film work throughout the 1990s was his supporting role alongside Mark Wahlberg in Paul Thomas Anderson's 1997 film Boogie Nights, in which he played the pornographic film star Reed Rothchild. Reilly was a frequent collaborator of Anderson's in the 1990s, including other roles in Hard Eight, Magnolia and a cameo in the video for the Fiona Apple single Across the Universe, which Anderson directed.
He appeared in Days of Thunder (1990) as stock car crew member “Buck Bretherton” – in 2006 he revisited this film’s subject matter as the character of race car driver “Cal Naughton, Jr.” in Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby.
In 2002 he appeared in three of the year's Academy Award for Best Picture nominees – Chicago, Gangs of New York and The Hours. The three movies were nominated for a total of thirty-two Oscars, including one for Best Supporting Actor for Reilly's performance as RenĂ©e Zellweger's trusting husband in Chicago. Ultimately, Chicago won six, The Hours won one, and Gangs of New York won none.
Reilly appeared in Martin Scorsese's 2004 Howard Hughes biopic, The Aviator, as Hughes' (played by Leonardo DiCaprio) trusted business partner, Noah Dietrich. Of the role Reilly said, “Noah was almost a father figure to Hughes... Howard would have a scheme, and it was Noah who had to say, ‘We don’t have the money.’ He was one of his few friends.” He reportedly quit the 2005 film Manderlay to protest the on-set killing of a donkey. He appeared in Adam McKay's Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby in 2006, as Cal Naughton, Jr., the title character's best friend, alongside Will Ferrell. He also starred alongside Woody Harrelson, Meryl Streep, and Lindsay Lohan among others in the Robert Altman film A Prairie Home Companion. In 2007, Reilly starred as the title character in parody bio-pic Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story, singing various songs parodying Johnny Cash, Ray Charles, and others. The next year, Reilly reunited with Ferrell to star in Step Brothers.
In 2008, he was among the many notable actors to perform in the online political musical, Proposition 8 - The Musical.
Then in 2009, he played the role of Larten Crepsley from the motion picture Cirque du Freak: The Vampire's Assistant and provided the voice of "5" in 9. Reilly also appeared in the 2010 film Cyrus.
Reilly has stated that he would be very determined to play the lead role of Nathan Detroit if a revival of the musical Guys and Dolls were to occur.
In March 2012, he was featured in a performance of Dustin Lance Black's play, '8' — a staged reenactment of the federal trial that overturned California's Prop 8 ban on same-sex marriage — as David Blankenhorn. The production was held at the Wilshire Ebell Theatre and broadcast on YouTube to raise money for the American Foundation for Equal Rights, a non-profit organization funding the plaintiffs' legal team and sponsoring the play.

Personal life

Reilly married Alison Dickey, an independent film producer, in 1992. They have two sons.

Music

In 2002, he performed "Mr. Cellophane" in the movie/soundtrack Chicago. His character was Amos Hart, the husband of Roxie.
Reilly performed on two tracks of the 2006 compilation Rogue's Gallery: Pirate Ballads, Sea Songs, and Chanteys: “Fathom the Bowl” and “My Son John”.
In 2007, Reilly starred in the biopic parody Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story. In addition to his acting role, he also performed as a vocalist and songwriter on the movie's soundtrack, for which he was nominated for a Grammy. Reilly went on a concert performance tour in the US, performing as his character Dewey Cox in the Cox Across America 2007 Tour.
In 2011, he recorded two songs produced by Jack White and released as singles by White's Third Man Records: The Delmore Brothers' "Gonna Lay Down My Old Guitar," performed with Tom Brosseau, and Ray Price's "I'll Be There If You Want," performed with Becky Stark. He also appeared as "future Mike D" in the Beastie Boys' video "Make Some Noise."
In 2012, his current band, John Reilly & Friends will be on tour with the Railroad Revival Tour that includes Willie Nelson & Family, Band of Horses and Jamey Johnson.

Television

Reilly provided the voice of himself in The Simpsons episode “Any Given Sundance”. He also frequently appeared on Tim & Eric Awesome Show, Great Job! as Dr. Steve Brule, which role spun off into the short-running series Check It Out! with Dr. Steve Brule.

Filmography

Year
Film
Role
Notes
1989
Casualties of War
PFC. Herbert Hatcher
1989
We're No Angels
Young Monk
1990
Days of Thunder
Buck Bretherton
1990
State of Grace
Stevie McGuire
1992
Shadows and Fog
Cop at Police Station
1992
Out on a Limb
Jim Jr.
1992
Hoffa
Pete Connelly
1993
What's Eating Gilbert Grape
Tucker Van Dyke
1994
River Wild, TheThe River Wild
Terry
1995
Dolores Claiborne
Const. Frank Stamshaw
1995
Georgia
Herman
1996
Hard Eight
John Finnegan
1996
Boys
Officer Kellogg Curry
1997
Nightwatch
Deputy Inspector Bill Davis
Uncredited
1997
Boogie Nights
Reed Rothchild
Florida Film Critics Circle Award for Best Cast
Nominated — Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture
1998
Hellcab
Steve
1998
Thin Red Line, TheThe Thin Red Line
Sergeant Storm
1999
Settlement, TheThe Settlement
Pat
1999
Never Been Kissed
Augustus Strauss
1999
For Love of the Game
Gus Sinski
1999
Magnolia
Jim Kurring
Florida Film Critics Circle Award for Best Cast
Nominated — Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture
2000
Perfect Storm, TheThe Perfect Storm
Dale 'Murph' Murphy
2001
Anniversary Party, TheThe Anniversary Party
Mac Forsyth
Nominated — Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Male
2002
Good Girl, TheThe Good Girl
Phil Last
Nominated — Chlotrudis Award for Best Supporting Actor
Nominated — Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Male
Nominated — Satellite Award for Best Supporting Actor - Motion Picture
2002
Gangs of New York
Happy Jack
Las Vegas Film Critics Society Award for Best Supporting Actor also for The Hours and Chicago
2002
Chicago
Amos Hart
Broadcast Film Critics Association Award for Best Cast
Las Vegas Film Critics Society Award for Best Supporting Actor
also for The Hours and Gangs of New York
Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture
Nominated — Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor
Nominated — Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture
Nominated — Phoenix Film Critics Society Award for Best Cast
2002
Hours, TheThe Hours
Dan Brown
Las Vegas Film Critics Society Award for Best Supporting Actor also for Gangs of New York and Chicago
Nominated — Phoenix Film Critics Society Award for Best Cast
Nominated — Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture
2003
Anger Management
Older Arnie Shankman
Uncredited
2003
Piggie
2004
Aviator, TheThe Aviator
Noah Dietrich
Nominated — Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture
2004
Criminal
Richard Gaddis
2005
Are You the Favorite Person of Anybody?
Short film
2005
Dark Water
Mr. Murray
2006
A
Lefty
Nominated — Gotham Awards for Best Ensemble Cast
2006
Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby
Cal Naughton, Jr.
2006
Tenacious D in The Pick of Destiny
Sasquatch
Uncredited
2007
Year of the Dog
Al
2007
Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story
Dewford "Dewey" Cox
Also writer
Las Vegas Film Critics Society Award for Best Song
Nominated — Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy
Nominated — Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song
Nominated — Grammy Award for Best Song Written for a Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media
2007–10
Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job!
Dr. Steven Brule
TV Series: 25 Episodes
2008
Promotion, TheThe Promotion
Richard Wehlner
2008
Step Brothers
Dale Doback
Also writer
2009
9
5
Voice role
2009
Cirque du Freak: The Vampire's Assistant
Larten Crepsley
2010
Check It Out!, With Steve Brule
Dr. Steve Brule
TV Series
Also writer and producer
2010
Extra Man, TheThe Extra Man
Gershon
2010
Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job! Chrimbus Special
Dr. Steve Brule
Television film
2010
Cyrus
John
Nominated — Independent Spirit Award for Best Male Lead
Nominated — Satellite Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy
2011
Cedar Rapids
Dean Ziegler
Nominated — Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Male
2011
Fight for Your Right Revisited
Mike D (B-Boys 2)
Short film
2011
We Need to Talk About Kevin
Franklin
2011
Terri
Mr. Fitzgerald
Nominated — Chlotrudis Award for Best Supporting Actor
2011
Carnage
Michael
2012
Tim and Eric's Billion Dollar Movie
Taquito
2012
Dictator, TheThe Dictator
Clayton
Cameo (Uncredited)
2012
Wreck-It Ralph
Wreck-It Ralph
Voice role