J.K. Simmons is a worker, or as he calls it, a “journeyman actor.” The J.K. Simmonses of the world feature epic sized filmographies, even for an individual year. In 2009 alone, the actor appeared in 10 movies. Most were small parts, but 10 movies? He’s a busy man. One would think with that type of work ethic, Simmons would be an actor that cared more about the checks than the quality of the work. From speaking with the character actor, that didn’t seem to be the case. Simmons has, finally, got a starring role film under his belt — recently, anyway — that we can see. The Music Never Stopped (out now on DVD) is one of those small, non-cynical, heart-string yanking dramas. It’s a father/son story, so if you’re sucker for daddy issue movies, this one’s for you, kid. Here’s what actor J.K. Simmons had to say about appearing in nearly everything, being Jason Reitman‘s good luck charm, and naturally working off of Diablo Cody-isms:

A van rolls through the night with fraternity members at the wheel and hopeful pledges packed in back. The initiation rite is simple and suitably stupid… they pull up to a random gas station, the pledge runs in with a ski mask on his head and a gun in his hand and demands the cash from the register. What could possibly go wrong? Especially since the pledges are stopped by another member before entering and handed a small bag of cash to bring back to the van. They never see the inside of the store as the test is simply to see if they have the balls to do it. Kevin (Lou Taylor Pucci) is understandably nervous, but heads in anyway when it comes to his turn. Only they’re at the wrong station, there’s no one there to stop him, and he’s about to be shot in the chest by an equally nervous store clerk. Movies featuring college fraternities usually fall into one of two categories. There are the comedies that focus on panty raids, frat house competitions, and the protein value of fried semen. And there are the dramatic thrillers about conspiracies, date rape, and hazing. Brotherhood falls squarely on the thriller side, but it does so with a breathless pace, a smart script, and far stronger acting than these types of films usually deserve. It’s quite possibly the best of the genre… and yes, I have seen The Skulls.

A straightforward romantic comedy about bringing a know-it-all author to his knee’s, director John Hindman’s first film is surprisingly charming and incredibly well-written. As if we should have expected any less…

Every year the Sundance film festival delivers at least one film that I absolutely loathe. Last year it was Downloading Nancy. This year it is The Informers, a self-indulgent, lifeless glamrock drugfest from the mind of Bret Easton Ellis.