NealArticles

Boston Herald - March 30, 2004

Hyannis' Neal McDonough: Playing bad

For a real sweetie pie, "Walking Tall" star Neal McDonough can play one badass villain! Wherever does the hunky Hyannis homeboy find all that evil?
"Well, people say that the most normal people play the best bad guys," said McDonough, who plays The Rock's nemesis in the remake of the 1973 flick. "But I really don't know what it is. I'm nothing like the characters I play in the movies nor am I anything like David Norris in 'Boomtown', but you pull things from people, I guess. I was never a smoker, yet I know how to do it."

Guess that's why it's called "acting", eh?
"I do enjoy playing bad guys though," said Neal, whose flick premiered last night at Mann's Chinese Theatre and opens in theaters Friday. "Because the more I do it, the more grateful I am for my way of life."

And speaking of "the craft", the mild-mannered McDonough comes out swinging at those who whack his ex-wrestler co-star for his lack of traditional Hollywood training. Not that The Rock needs extra muscle to handle his critics!
"I always say, 'Dude, he was on stage for 10 years and hit his mark every night and there weren't any second takes'," he said. "I think the movies were a natural progression for a great entertainer - and a great guy."

Neal also gave "Jackass" star Johnny Knoxville - who plays the Rock's old pal, Ray Templeton, in the action flick - his props.
"Oh, he's twisted, but does a genuine job of acting in this movie," said his cinematic compadre. "You'll see."

Since wrapping up "Walking Tall", weathering the "Boomtown" bust and kicking back on his Hawaiian honeymoon, Neal's been out straight working on an NBC medical mystery pilot. The series, an "ER"-meets-"CSI" morph, also stars Kelli Williams, a refugee of "The Practice," and "The Handler" gal Anna Belknap. And it sounds like Neal's going to play a good guy - this time.

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Romantic Movies.com - March 29, 2004

So what’s it like being the bad guy and fighting The Rock?
It was fun. No, thank God it was a movie because in real life, it would be a whole different story. It was a terrific time for myself. Rock is so good at the physical but he’s equally as gifted at the acting. That’s what made “Walking Tall” a really great, wonderful film, I think. He’s such a wonderful guy that it was infectious on the set. Everybody worked really hard making sure it was a really good film.

I read in the production notes that you do have an athlete side, though we don’t usually see it in your choice of roles.
Oh yeah, I played football and sports and baseball through college. I still play sports pretty much every day. That definitely helps when it came to this character. I’m not kidding you, I had probably the best time in my life doing this movie. It was really wonderful.

Even though it was a pretty serious drama, it was a fun time on the set?
It was a great time on the set. Rock’s funny and really personable. I’m kind of a quiet guy, I don’t really say too much, and we had a really wonderful time.

Does the theme of one man against the society play as well now as it did back when the original “Walking Tall” was released?
I think more so now. I think when you look at all the small towns in America, all the drugs that are happening, all the corruption that is going on, we need guys like Buford Pusser - or like Chris Vaughn in this instance – to stand up to the guys who are getting away with stuff. I’m very proud of this film, very proud of the message that this film has.

In the final fight scene with The Rock, how much of that is you and how much is a stuntman?
100% of it is me. That was me falling down the shaft. That was fun. It hurt a little bit but it worked.

Any accidents on the set?
No, we got through it unscathed. It was pretty amazing.

What do you think fans of the original will think of this version?
I think fans are going to love it. It holds pretty true to the original. There are a few other elements, Ashley [Scott] and The Rock have a great romance, Johnny Knoxville is really funny, but it holds really true to the original. I think they’re going to be very excited by it. I think the whole Pusser family is going to be very excited about it.

The original spawned a couple of sequels. Will this one?
Boy I hope so. It would be a lot of fun. I’ll come out of prison and hunt The Rock down one more time.

So no one has signed on yet for a sequel?
No, not yet. We’ll see how this one does.

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Boston Herald - February 29, 2004

Hyannis homey Neal McDonough, who the critics thought was boffo in "Boomtown," will be back next season in an NBC medical mystery that he describes as "CSI" meets "ER".

McDonough will star as a doctor who heads up a team of epidemic experts who are deployed when there's an outbreak of SARS or some public health scare.

"It's been pretty scary researching this," Neal told the Track. "There are actual teams like this who are deployed but the public isn't aware of it. Because, of course, if news leaked out, there would be public hysteria."

The actor, who says he will "infuse as much Boston" into his new character as he did in "Boomtown," said when he and his bride, Ruve, return from their belated Hawaiian honeymoon, the producers will cast his team. Filming begins in March.

Neal was back in Boston this week to headline the Mass. Film Bureau's media op the other day where he and MFB exec Robin Dawson revealed plans for the bureau's annual black-tie Oscar Night bash at the Wang Center Feb. 29. Other local Hollywood types heading home for the Academy Awards throwdown include Neal's "Boomtown" and "Band of Brothers" brethren, Donnie Wahlberg; Ken Howard ("Crossing Jordan") and Kevin Chapman ("Mystic River").

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Neal's Super Bowl Prediction - January 30, 2004

"I said it two years ago and I'll say it again this year. It's going to be a whipping. My whole family is going to be on Cape Cod. I could go to Houston and hang out with 100,000 knuckleheads or go back to Cape Cod and hang out with my 10 favorite knuckleheads of all time. New England, 21-14."