Check out the interview in full over at SeattlePi.com
Chris, what was it like getting into your character Sam. Dealing with the loss of his dad but not having a good relationship with him?
Chris Pine: Jerry was a difficult character because he affects everyone in the film, but he’s not there. I think what was really important, what Alex stressed, and what we had the luxury of having was a longer rehearsal time. We had two weeks to rehearse and the actors would meet in twosomes, all for of us would meet or three of us would meet. We all had enough time together and figure out this incredible past that all of us shared. Especially that first scene when I walk in on Lillian [Michelle Pfeiffer] in the kitchen, there’s so much tension and awkward weirdness. I knew that it had to be charged but all of it unspoken. The whole journey for Sam is to talk and he’s not able to really communicate with anyone.
One of my favorite scenes in the film is when Sam finds the money. He’s so excited and he reads the note [everybody laughs]. How did you do that without a single word?
CP: I love that scene. We talk about that scene a lot. First of all, I love Philip Baker Hall. Philip talks about hanging out with Jerry and the crazy times they had. [laughing] You look at Philip and he looks like he’s always been a great-grandfather. You can’t imagine Philip with the cocaine and the hookers. What I knew going into that is that Sam is so hungry at that point for cash. He’s so hungry at that point because he realizes the biggest deal of his life has gone south and he’s mired in so much debt. It’s like his lies unraveling. I thought two things – the thing that we found day [of the shoot] was that Philip gives me a shaving kit. If you got a shaving kit and someone said that’s what your father left you. Initially you’re like ‘It’s a [expletive] shaving kit. My father who I never talk to left me a shaving kit. What is it? A bunch of razors and a magic hair brush?’ [laughs]. I also thought there was some humor in that. It was knowing at that point of the film, Sam’s driving force is Sam. When he goes in that scene it’s like ‘Great to see you again. It was great. Where’s the money? Show me the money? I don’t care about your stories. I’m sure my dad was a great guy. Give me the money.’ I guess when I dialed into that, I was righteously ecstatic and relived when he sees the cash……
AK: You’re like ‘Maybe my dad didn’t just completely [expletive] me, then there’s this weird ‘What is this note?’ and we watch your face crash.
CP: It was a nice scene. It’s also one of the only scenes when you get a chance to see and hear what Jerry was like. I also thought ‘What a prick’. Here’s this lawyer that’s like ‘Your dad was such a neat guy’. Excuse me? I even get worked up talking about it now [laughs]
We’ve all dealt with people when they pass away and there’s nothing but good things to say about them. You think I knew that guy and he was kind of a dick, but no one can say that.
CP: I’m sort of excited to hear about you two. Your reactions to the film are hopefully why the film plays. You saw it and it made you think about your family. Your dad going home to Jacksonville, and your girlfriend had the same exact experience of what happens in the film. Some of the reactions have been people saying it’s such a unique film and there is a very small percentage of people who have relatives in their family who’ve lived a separate life. If you look into it, maybe the percentages aren’t humongous but it does exist. Lying does exist in crazy forms. Here’s is the scope and the polarity of the film. It makes you think about family.
