GUNG-HO FOR GODZILLA
Actor Aaron Taylor-Johnson shoots movie monster in Vancouver
British actor Aaron Taylor-Johnson refuses to live in a fantasy world, but acting in one seems to work for him.
He played Kick-Ass in the two superhero flicks and he’s Quicksilver in The Avengers: Age of Ultron, currently shooting in London. On a break from the Avengers shoot, Taylor-Johnson discusses his starring role in the Vancouver-shot reboot of the monster movie Godzilla.
In the Gareth Edwards-directed special effects extravaganza, Taylor-Johnson plays U.S. Navy Lt. Ford Brody. He is assigned to help stop the mammoth beast from attacking San Francisco and does this with his previously estranged father (Bryan Cranston), a nuclear plant engineer.
Here are some Taylor-Johnson thoughts on Godzilla:
On starring in the creature feature:
“I was gung-ho about it,” the 23-year-old said. “I never really saw any of the (Godzilla) movies, but (Edwards) wanted me to embrace the 1954 (movie) origin story.”
On portraying a U.S. Navy lieutenant:
“I had to get into the mentality and the head space of the guy — the way he talks, carries his weapon and behaves.”
On preparing for the role:
For instance, did he go to a boot camp? “I thought I would just wing it,” said Taylor-Johnson, smiling.
Really? “No, I spent two or three months with a great (former) Marine who has been on a bunch of film sets, so he kind of understood how to work with actors.”
On emoting in a monster movie:
“I am proud of the results,” he said. “I think it is a brilliant emotional journey in what feels more like a natural disaster. It all feels pretty believable to me, like it could happen.”
On acting opposite Cranston:
“I’m a fan of his and I do love Breaking Bad,” Taylor-Johnson said. “I think that he’s quite brilliant.
“He’s a super-sweet guy and really funny. It’s brilliant working opposite him.”
On playing an estranged son:
“In a way, it mirrors where my character is at with his (four-yearold) son,” the actor said, “because he is trying to come to terms with not being around as a father and as a husband.”
On the fantasy genre:
“I don’t marry myself into any genre,” he said. “I ride on the back of the filmmaker and the character. I have to feel that character. I have to believe that character.”
On the intense parachute jump near the climax:
“We jumped out of the plane when it was still on the landing strip,” admitted Taylor-Johnson, chuckling. “They had some crash mats. It really was pretty intense.”
On receiving a skydiving gift card for his birthday near the end of filming:
He hasn’t used the card yet. “The more I think about it, the more I am starting to question it.”