Mark Feuerstein chatted about starring in the film “Guns & Moses,” which will be released exclusively in theaters on July 18th.
This neo-western action thriller was directed by Salvador “Sal” Litvak and written by Nina and Salvador Litvak.
The film follows Rabbi Mo, a quiet spiritual leader in the high desert, who is forced into action when a violent assault on his synagogue turns his world upside down.
What unfolds is a modern-day tale of faith, resilience, and the unyielding fight to protect one’s community.
Feuerstein on being a part of ‘Guns & Moses’
On being a part of “Guns & Moses,” Feuerstein said, “It was so great; we had such a wonderful time. This was written before October 7th, when a synagogue in California had a shooter come in but a rabbi charged him, ran at him, got his finger blown off, but managed to save most of the congregation.”
“When the rabbi spoke to the press, he told people to not give money or anything but instead to go and do a good deed (a mitzvah)… and that’s a beautiful message,” Feuerstein noted.
Feuerstein on his character Rabbi Mo
“Sal came up with this character, Rabbi Mo, as a symbol of learning how to protect yourself, and also ‘in a place where there is no man, be the man’. Take responsibility for yourself and your community.”
“My character becomes a detective, where Rabbi Mo becomes someone who searches for the truth, and looks deeper,” he noted. “What I liked about Rabbi Mo is that he won’t settle for the easy answer.”
Working with Neal McDonough
On working with Neal McDonough, Feuerstein said, “Working with Neal was great; I love him. It was so special to have Neal in the film because this movie is Jewish and obviously about faith.”
“Neal is an ardent and devoted Christian who makes movies with a religious theme; he is all about devotion to God,” Feuerstein said.
“Neal lent that spirit to our movie, and it didn’t matter to him that it was about a different religion because to him it’s all about devotion to faith and God,” he noted.
“Also, having the deep virtue of humility before God as a central tenet of anything he makes, and that’s an integral aspect of this movie,” Feuerstein added.
Working with Christopher Lloyd
On collaborating with Christopher Lloyd, Feuerstein exclaimed, “Christopher is a legend! He was so great in ‘Back to the Future’ and ‘Taxi’.”
“To see him — at his age — just get in there and play this dramatic role with such heart and brass humor coupled with this Polish accent that he did. It was just an honor getting to work with Christopher,” he elaborated.
Working with Dermot Mulroney
On working with Dermot Mulroney, he said, “Dermot was awesome! I’ve loved him since ‘My Best Friend’s Wedding.’ He was only on set for a couple of days, but he made himself known. He is so funny and so great!”
Feuerstein on ‘Royal Pains’ and ‘Sex and the City’
On starring in “Royal Pains,” he recalled, “It was one of the great jobs of my life… We filmed it for eight years on Long Island. Strong Island. We hope to do a reboot and come back.”
On being a part of “Sex and the City,” he said, “I loved ‘Sex and the City.’ I was thrilled to work with all of those actresses.”
Lessons learned from this screenplay
On the lessons learned from this screenplay, he reflected, “Being an outspoken Jew at a time when not everybody is willing to stand up (and proudly announce that we are Jewish and we won’t stand for antisemitism), I’ve become a bit of an activist, and it dovetailed so beautifully with this movie where I play an Orthodox rabbi.”
“So, this movie teaches me about how we have to search deep within… we have to listen to that little voice inside telling us whether it’s a moral thing to do or not, so I try,” he noted.
“My character Mo is trying to be a good husband, father, and a good leader of his community,” Feuerstein said.
“Mo refuses to ignore his own instincts and that’s what makes him a great detective, and suddenly he finds another level in his life that he can do a better job than the mayor, the police and the entire community at rooting out evil,” he elaborated.
Closing thoughts on the movie
For fans and viewers, Feuerstein expressed, “I hope viewers get the thrills of a thriller, and the action of an action-packed movie, but the message that we are all in this together.”
“It’s important to listen to each other, and search for the real truth, and not just accept what we hear on social media,” he acknowledged.
“Dig deep into the misinformation and remember to pick up the phone and get together with people in person as opposed to just sending a text,” he concluded.
To learn more about Mark Feuerstein, follow him on Instagram.
For more information on the film “Guns & Moses,” visit the official website.
