Joe Spinell was an American character actor, mostly unknown, who appeared in “The Godfather”, “The Godfather Part II”, “Rocky”, “Taxi Driver”, “Sorcerer” and “Cruising”. He led a very strange, grungy life and, according to Jeff Sneider, that seems to have interested Quentin Tarantino enough to include him as a character in his upcoming “The Movie Critic.”
Of course, we all know the rule: take these reactions with a grain of salt rather than treating them as gospel. Still, I will say that the film tested like gangbusters earlier this year, and Lionsgate clearly has confidence.