The Middletown Press (Middletown, CT)
Bana talks ‘Dirty John,’ football here and there
If you’re surprised to hear that Eric Bana is a seriously funny guy, then you’re likely American. Not surprised? You’re Australian.
That’s because the Australian actor started out in stand-up, starring in an Aussie TV sketch comedy show before becoming known internationally for dark, brooding roles in films like “Munich,” “Troy” and “Hulk.”
In his latest role, Bana plays John Meehan, a suave medical man just back from a stint with Doctors Without Borders in Iraq, who woos a Southern California businesswoman, Debra Newell (“Nashville’s” Connie Britton). But as the title — “Dirty John” — of this new true-crime limited series suggests, there’s something a little funny about this guy. As in odd. And — as Debra’s kids (Julia Garner, Juno Temple) soon learn — dangerous.
The series, premiering on Bravo today, is based on the popular “Dirty John” podcast, and covers all the details of this twisted con game, from psychological manipulations to (yes) zombies. Bana, 50, who lives in Melbourne, Australia, with his wife and two children, recently spoke with Newsday contributor Joseph V. Amodio.
Q: It’s hard to tell at first if this guy you play is genuinely creepy or just misunderstood.
A: That’s definitely deliberate. Without realistically establishing a definite bond between (Debra and John) that has passion and genuine affection, we’d be dead in the water. So we worked hard to ensure that the audience understands the attraction and what Debra sees in John, so we can then move forward.
Q: What’s it like working with Connie Britton?
A: Connie’s wonderful. I’ve been a huge fan of hers for years. She was on board and attached first, so it was easy for me to visualize John and Debra together. I felt strongly that we’d work well on screen.
Q: I hear you’re a big Aussie football fan. What could the NFL learn from you Aussies and your “footy?”
A: I used to struggle with your game, I actually really enjoy watching it now. I think both sides could learn a bit from each other. The one thing I notice when I watch your game is you never have any shots of the crowd. I don’t know if it’s because the game is so commercialized that that kind of casual air has gone away. We do a lot of close-ups of our crowd. That’s part of the game. I always feel weird when I watch an American sport — there’s a crowd there, so why aren’t we seeing them? It’s weird. It sort of dehumanizes it. They give you wide shots and, in baseball, they do that stupid “kiss cam.” But we really, really, really embrace the crowd. That’s something that American sport doesn’t seem to do.
Q: And what can you learn from us? A: We have the same issue with concussions as the NFL. I feel like maybe the NFL is slightly more aggressive dealing with that. We don’t wear pads and helmets. And it’s a 360-degree game. You can be mowed down from all directions. And we have an inherent machismo thing — we laud players who run into oncoming traffic at full speed.