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Getting close to the 'Knockaround Guys'

By Meriah Doty
CNN

writer/directors
David Levien, right, and co-director/co-writer Brian Koppelman confer on the set of "Knockaround Guys."

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(CNN) -- They claim their film contains "one of the coolest beatings in cinema history." And "Knockaround Guys" writer-directors Brian Koppelman and David Levien may know what they are talking about. They not only make gangster films, but avidly watch them too.

"We turned it up to 11 for Vin Diesel," Koppelman says of a poignant scene in the film in which Hollywood's most popular tough guy pummels a lesser tough guy to a bloody pulp. "It's twice as long as the beatings Joe Pesci gives in both 'Casino' and 'GoodFellas.' "

But the pair doesn't bother to boast too much about "Knockaround's" all-star cast, which includes veteran actors Dennis Hopper and John Malkovich, as well as younger hotshots Diesel, Barry Pepper, Seth Green and Andrew Davoli. After all, the list seems to speak for itself.

"The first day John Malkovich and Dennis Hopper were scheduled to come on set, I woke up and became aware of the enormity of it," Koppelman admits.

"They have so much experience and are so talented. They're really supportive to us," Levien adds.

Rounding out their resume

crime bosses
Dennis Hopper and John Malkovich play crime bosses who question Matty Demaret's (Barry Pepper) ability to take charge.

The two filmmakers are so far best known for writing the screenplay for "Rounders," the poker film that starred Matt Damon, Edward Norton, Malkovich, John Turturro and Martin Landau.

"We learned to take the long view," Koppelman says. "The initial reception to 'Rounders' was mixed ... [but] over the last four years it has become a cult classic."

It was after the film was released in 1998 they came up with the idea to write a script about the sons of New York gangsters. "We grew up with some of these sons of notorious wise guys. We saw how they were frustrated," Levien says.

The first cast member to sign onto the project was Malkovich. He has said his work with them on "Rounders" helped make the decision.

"I agreed to do it very quickly ... I liked the story and the characters," he says in the film's press notes.

Dueling genres

Knockaround Guys
From left: Andrew Davoli, Seth Green, Barry Pepper and Vin Diesel

"Knockaround Guys" is a coming-of-age gangster film set mainly in a small Montana town. The filmmaking duo says they mixed elements of the Western with the gangster genre.

Pepper plays Matty Demaret, the son of a crime boss. He and his buddies take a job for the father, played by Hopper, to prove they can cut the mustard. The result is a fish-out-of-water story where New York City boys clash with the culture of small-town folks.

The two tried to use the mix of genres to create some interesting dialogue.

"We grew up watching gangster movies. We wanted to make a film that people would quote to each other like 'Diner' and 'Godfather,' " Koppelman says.

But the film almost didn't see the light of day. It was made before Vin Diesel was a household name and remained shelved for almost two years.

"It was studio politics at New Line," Koppelman maintains.

"We just do our part, then it's up to the studio to sell it the best way they can," Levien adds. He also admits that since the movie was made "all the actors' profiles have gone up."

Friends and foul shooters

Koppelman and Levien have been friends since they met as teenagers at -- of all places -- John F. Kennedy Airport in New York.

"It's been 20 years," says Levien. "We've been like brothers since we were kids," Koppelman adds.

Koppelman, the son of music industry mogul Charles Koppelman, is credited with discovering singer-songwriter Tracy Chapman while he was a still a student at Tufts University. That led to a career in the music business -- before he decided to go into film.

Levien was already there, writing screenplays and fiction -- including the 1999 novel "Wormwood" -- before teaming up with his longtime friend.

The two have developed a reputation in Hollywood as thorough researchers and take on jobs as script doctors in their spare time.

"We just rewrote a script based on John Grisham's 'The Runaway Jury' starring John Cusack and Gene Hackman," Koppelman says.

"We're [also] working on a movie called 'The Storm Returns' for DreamWorks," Levien says of the film they are writing, directing and producing.

"We're great jugglers," he adds.

"Of all working screenwriters, I'm a foul shooter," Koppelman claims. "I would take any screenwriter on in foul shots."



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