Michael Broderick is an actor and musician living in Los Angeles. He is a veteran of the Marine Corps and a father. Michael and his wife co-founded http://www.RethinkingAutism.com -- a website devoted to changing the autism conversation one video at a time.
Michael Broderick
REVIEW: ‘The Pacific’ Episode 1 — “The Real Marines are Here!”
by Michael BroderickEvery so often, my father-in-law, Angelo, will bust my chops saying, “Hey, Mike! I talked to a real Marine today!” Then he’ll clap me on the shoulder and chuckle in that Jersey City “you’re a good kid” kind of way.
Full disclosure: I served for four years as an enlisted man in a helicopter squadron at the tail end of the Cold War. My time was spent in the necessary but unglamorous world of logistics and embarkation. I never had to fire my weapon in anger and was never fired upon. Hence, the “real Marine” jab. Hell, with what the Marines today are doing, I sometimes don’t feel like a “real Marine.” I’m sure there are some other peacetime vets out there who know what I’m talking about.
Anyway, when Angelo hits me with the jab, it means he’s been talking to Uncle Pete. My wife’s great-uncle Pete Cavo joined the Marines in 1940. He served as a rifleman in 1st Battalion, 7th Marines. I called Uncle Pete Sunday afternoon to talk to him about his time in the Corps. He answered the phone and his thick, jovial Jersey accent triggered a sharp pang of longing for my old home state. (more…)
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HBO’s ‘The Pacific’: An Interview with Jon Seda
by Michael BroderickUPDATE: “The Congressional Medal of Honor” is now listed as the ”Medal of Honor” and the “Gladiator” film mentioned is no longer listed as the version directed by Ridley Scott. Thanks to our ever helpful fact-checking commenters.
Ed. Note: Starting Sunday, March 14th, HBO begins its 10-part miniseries “The Pacific,” which follows the United States Marine Corps through WWII in the Pacific Theatre of Operations. This $100 million production re-teams a number of those (including Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg) involved in HBO’s unforgettable 2001 miniseries, “Band of Brothers,” which many, including myself, consider to be one of the finest productions about WWII made for television or any other medium.
I’ve asked Michael Broderick, an actor, former Marine, and top-notch writer to be Big Hollywood’s point man on this project. He’ll be snagging whatever interviews he can, reviewing many if not all of the episodes, and keeping the Big Hollywood community up to date and informed on what is sure to be a seminal moment in television, a terrific piece of entertainment, and a worthy tribute to our Veterans. — JN
The Pacific: An Interview with Jon Seda
What a long, strange trip it’s been.
I entered the Marine Corps in nineteen eighty *cough* at the tender age of seventeen, secure in the knowledge that upon completion of my four year hitch, I would move to Hollywood and become a popular and sought after actor.
Instead, I fell in lust and, upon leaving the Corps, followed my John Thomas to New York City. That was okay. They have actors in New York, right?
No contacts, no formal training and no idea what I was doing, I ended up in a fantastic little rock and roll band instead. We made a good run of it through the 90s. In fact, I met my wife while I was playing CBGB in 1998. (more…)
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REVIEW: ‘Dear John’ Understands Military Duty & Commitment
by Michael BroderickThis weekend, on the recommendation of a friend, my wife and I went to see “Dear John”. I know, I know… I’m a little late to the game. It seems this is the movie that briefly unseated the mighty “Avatar” (then in its 8th week) from the #1 slot a few weeks back.
Yeah, it’s a “chick flick” and I’m sure the film did most of its initial box office due to the popularity of its male lead, Channing Tatum. The ladies love them some Channing Tatum. He seems like a nice enough fellow; he’s a believable actor. Aside from the fact that, watching him, I’m constantly reminded that I really need to work my core (we actors are a generally insecure and superficial lot), what’s not to like? I first saw him in the excellent “A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints” and the guy impressed me.
In “Dear John,” Tatum plays Staff Sergeant John Tyree, a Green Beret who meets and falls in love with Savannah Curtis (played by Amanda Seyfried), while home on leave.
Savannah is a pretty and intelligent young woman with a solid set of values. She doesn’t drink, smoke or sleep around and seems at ease in her own skin. She is confident, compassionate and gives freely of her time and energy to her friends and the larger community. (more…)
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REVIEW: ‘Brothers at War’ Deploys on DVD Tuesday
by Michael Broderick[Ed. Note: See below for a special DVD purchase promotion for Big Hollywood readers. Own a great film, save a little money, and best of all, support our troops and their families.]
The moment I saw that long line of soldiers making their way down the tarmac and watched as Joe waved goodbye from the steps of the plane, I knew that I had just witnessed something very important and very special. I had just seen an early cut of Jake Rademacher’s amazing Brothers at War.
I knew Jake from seeing him around the William Morris Agency (they’ve since merged with Endeavor) where we are both represented as voiceover actors. While sitting in the waiting room one day, preparing to read our copy, we got into a conversation about current events and the subject of Iraq came up. It came out that I’m a former Marine and, although I served years ago, Jake was interested to hear my take on things. Soon after, he invited me to watch his film and give him some feedback. Of course, he prepared me by giving me a few disclaimers (it’s still a little long, there’s no music, yet, etc.) but otherwise just let me watch it uninterrupted in a tiny editing room in Burbank.
When it was over, I was blown away.
If you don’t already know, Brothers at War follows the Rademacher family as three of their sons deploy to and return from Iraq. Two brothers, Isaac and Joe, are soldiers. One, Jake, is an actor and filmmaker. Jake wants to know what his two brothers are really doing in Iraq, so he takes a camera to go and find out. The result is the best and most straightforward modern war documentary that I’ve ever seen.
Brothers at War doesn’t take a clinical outsider’s view of the war in Iraq and the men and women fighting it but, rather, feels as if it actually puts you in the boots on the ground among our soldiers and Marines. It is an extremely personal experience filtered through a lens of simple curiosity and a thirst for understanding. (more…)
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