YOU TALKIN’ TO ME?
Film quotes pose as questions. Film stars try to cope.
Are you talkin’ to me?
I suppose it’s a version of me, talking to a version of you. I mean, the preposition is key, really. I’d rather talk with you than at you. But talking to you? I suppose, yes, I am.
You talk the talk. Do you walk the walk?
Well, walking in LA is a weird thing. People look at you quite strangely if you walk anywhere too far. But I do like to get out and hike, and I do miss pounding the streets of a city like New York or London. I really like a good urban hike.
Have you ever danced with the devil in the pale moonlight?
Yes, I have. They are an excellent dancer, and they have all the best tunes.
Do you have an “off” switch?
Yes. It’s usually activated by lying in a hammock. [I have] a couple of quiet weeks [over Christmas] where I will be trying to spend as much of it in a hammock as possible. But with three kids, two cats and a dog, that is not always easy [laughs].
How much can you know about yourself if you’ve never been in a fight?
You can know that you don’t really like getting in a fight. But that said, I do quite enjoy fighting on screen. The Guest was pretty full on. There was an extraordinary fight scene that we choreographed and filmed for Call Of The Wild where Harrison Ford and I just went at it for… it felt like days. It was really bitter night shoots. And he’s really intense, and likes to do things pretty much for real. And then I watched the movie, and they pretty much cut the whole thing [laughs]. Days of torture for nothing.
What will you be drinking, sir?
Mostly coffee with some kind of weird milk. Whatever you’ve got. Macadamia nut, I’ll try. Every time I go in a store, there’s a new, weird milk. Things I didn’t realise you could make milk from, appear in cartons. But, yeah, I don’t do well with milk from animals, so I’ll try any version of a weird milk.
What kind of man are you?
Father. Brother. Husband. Uncle. Son. Hopefully a kind one.
Do you think there’s anything wrong with your mind, really?
No. It’s filthy and fascinating, just the way I like it. I try to keep myself in check, physically and mentally. And occasionally I’ll tune into The Archers. I haven’t listened to it every day for years and years, but there have been spells in my life where I will sort of lean on it as a sort of audio comfort blanket. It’s very useful.
Is life always this hard, or is it just when you’re a kid?
Well, I think being a kid this year has been pretty weird. I think there’s going to be studies and books and all sorts written about the impact that this year has had on all of us, but especially kids. I’ve had a couple of things [filmed under Covid restrictions]. It’s pretty strange, you know, just everybody in masks and visors. I think I had nine tests in one week at one point. It’s good to know, I suppose, that you have, or haven’t, got it. But it did feel a bit mad. And my nostrils felt very violated.
What’s your favourite scary movie?
The Witch is mega, mega scary, I think. It’s a brilliant film. One that endures is The Shining on VHS when I was nine. I taped it off the telly, and then watched it during the day, on my own, and completely terrified myself. Just scarred myself for life.
Why do we feel it’s necessary to yak about bullshit in order to be comfortable?
[laughs] That is a good question. I think it’s just human instinct to want to blather and whiffle. It’s one of the great joys of being a human, really, and I’m always seeking out good conversationalists, really, who are happy to yak about all sorts of bullshit. That is definitely my jam.
Is there anyone on the other side that you think of?
Yeah. I was lucky enough to work with Robin Williams, and then devastated to lose him. I think of him every time I set foot on a film set. And I was also really honoured to work with Chadwick Boseman, and I’ve been thinking about him a lot recently as well. So, yeah, I would say those two.
ETA | 15 JANUARY / BLITHE SPIRIT IS IN CINEMAS AND ON SKY CINEMA THIS MONTH.
‘HARRISON FORD AND I JUST WENT AT IT FOR… IT FELT LIKE DAYS. AND HE’S PRETTY INTENSE’