Neal McDonough. Photo Courtesy of Angel Studios.
Neal McDonough chatted about starring in the new Angel Studios film “The Last Rodeo.”
The synopsis is: A retired rodeo legend risks it all to save his grandson. Facing his own painful past and the fears of his family, he enters a high-stakes bull-riding competition as the oldest contestant ever.
Along the way, he reconciles old wounds with his estranged daughter and proves that true courage is found in the fight for family.
Experience making ‘The Last Rodeo’
“I am so excited for this film to the point where it’s hard to even talk about it,” McDonough said.
“I got to write, produce, and star in a film with my wife Ruve [McDonough]. I got Mykelti Williamson and Christopher McDonald, two of my best friends in Hollywood, to be in this film,” he noted.
“I’m so proud of this movie,” he admitted. “I’m prouder of it than anything I’ve ever done. Obviously, because I wrote it, it’s near and dear to me.”
“I got to do it with my best friends and my wife Rufe, and the amazing job that she did playing my wife, and I had my first on-screen kiss. I am very, very proud of this. It’s ‘Rocky’ on a bull,” he explained.
Working with Jon Avnet
“I got the amazing Jon Avnet to direct it; Jon and I have been working together for 25 years. This was a dream team for me,” McDonough said. “I can’t wait for people to go to theaters to support this film.”
“The more people go to the theaters to see this, the bigger message it tells Hollywood that we need to start making more films that address family situations instead of the darker/weirder movies that Hollywood has been releasing for years, and I am guilty for being part of it,” he elaborated.
“This is just a really great movie that happens to have a backdrop of God, faith, and morals,” he added.
Playing his character Joe Wainwright
On portraying his character Joe Wainwright, he revealed, “This character is kind of me… he is as close to me as possible.”
“I wanted to make a great film that the whole family can go out and see in the world of bull riding about a broken family and what we do to rebuild it up,” he added.
Lessons learned from this movie
On the lessons learned from this movie, he disclosed, “It taught me that there is always work to be done. God has given me so much in my life with Ruve, and our five kids, and growing up in Boston, with five siblings of my own.”
“I have one boss, and it’s Him. I will do everything I can possible to make Him and do the right things. It’s the effort of trying to be your best always that really motivates me,” McDonough elaborated.
“I am really looking forward to this movie. Doing this film really made me think about how to be the best version of myself for Ruve, for my kids, and for Him,” he added.
McDonough on Kristoffer Polaha
McDonough had positive words about fellow actor Kristoffer Polaha, whom he starred with in the Angel Studios movie “The Shift.”
“Kristoffer is the dude. Our kids go to school together,” McDonough said. “I love Kristoffer; he is most untapped talent in Hollywood. He is such an incredibly gifted actor, a phenomenal guy, and he is always so prepared. To me, he is Jimmy Stewart.”
‘Homestead’ movie
He recalled his time making “Homestead,” which was also for Angel Studios.
In “Homestead,” a nuclear bomb is detonated in Los Angeles, and the nation devolves into unprecedented chaos. Ex-Green Beret Jeff Eriksson (Bailey Chase) and his family escape to The Homestead, an eccentric prepper’s fortress nestled in the mountains.
As violent threats and apocalyptic conditions creep toward their borders, the residents of The Homestead are left to wonder: how long can a group of people resist both the dangers of human nature and the bloodshed at their doorstep?
McDonough played Ian Ross, and Jesse Hutch portrayed Evan Lee.
“Homestead was pretty awesome too,” McDonough exclaimed. “The best part is that the heartland of America is coming out to support these films. If you want to see more of these films you need to support them by going out to the movie theaters and bringing the entire family with you.
McDonough also complimented his co-stars Bailey Chase and Jesse Hutch. “Bailey is awesome. Jesse Hutch is great too. They are both incredible guys,” McDonough concluded.
To learn more about veteran actor Neal McDonough, follow him on Instagram.
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