What attracted you to “Taking Lives?”
What I was attracted to was initially when I heard that Angie was interested in the script. That was probably the number one attraction. Also for me, I think with identity theft being so huge right now. This was like identity theft being taken to the nth degree. This was a guy who not only took your wallet and your credit cards but he took your life and lived your life. Then he trades in these lives as soon as he gets caught in one life, he kind of keeps moving on. It was like the theme of identity theft taken to another degree is what got me.
What sort of research did you do on serial killers for this film?
We did a lot of research, particularly with books. We had Robert Ressler, who is one of the guys who came up with “Silence of the Lambs” and the true stories, he was our technical advisor on this picture. He gave me, I think, 50 books to read. It was like getting into the mind of a serial killer. We had a 2 day course with Angie and I where we basically had a profiler come in and show us photographs and say, “Alright, tell me who you think the killer is and why.” We’d either be way off or right on. And we basically learned that these killers - obviously there is something chemically that triggers in their heads - but behind every killer, there was sort of a monster, whether it was the mother or the father. And we have that portrayed in our movie, as well. It was something you kind of always said that if you had a screwed up childhood, you could end up doing. But these guys literally – every one of the killers that I read about had some kind of parental issues or problems, or things like that.
Were you a fan of the book prior to making the movie?
I was a huge fan of the book – but not prior. I read the book about two months before I even read the screenplay because I heard they were going to send me the screenplay. The book is awesome, but there is no female profiler in the book. Have you read the book?
No, I haven’t.
It’s pretty interesting. I don’t think there’s a film in the book, but it’s a great psychological study of what this guy does and why he takes a life and ultimately what happens. It’s a really fascinating book but it needed a little help in order to get into the cinematic realm.
What do you think about inserting a female profiler into the story?
I think putting a female profiler into it is interesting. First of all, it’s Angelina so it makes it that much more interesting. But secondly, there’s only about 4 or 5 really good female profilers and we met one of them. It added another element, plus bringing her in with an entire male police department up in Montreal that weren’t used to having females working with them. It obviously gave you that dynamic. But I think ultimately, a female profiler and particularly Angie with her character, she wanted to have this sensitivity that a woman would have towards these victims and not just be someone who would be cold. Like television, you get “C.S.I.” and this stuff is fantastic but you notice there’s really not a connective element going there. It’s all very kind of Jack Webb-ish. I think Angelina made it a lot more human, and the female perspective is interesting.
This really had an international cast and you filmed in Canada. Did you end up picking up any French?
Actually no, not even after all of this. Tcheky Karyo and Olivier Martinez would have these deep conversations about their characters and they’d be speaking in French. I’d say, “Please guys, please can you speak in English because I don’t know any French?” They were trying to teach me but we got so thrown into it all. I think it’s the most beautiful language that there is, by the way. But no, I speak very little French. Olivier and I always had conversations about Québécois French versus pure French, and all that interesting stuff.
What was it like working with this French cast?
Jean-Hugues Anglade - ever since “Betty Blue” which is one of my favorite, favorite films - he’s been such an endearing actor. He’s a guy that I’m like, “If I ever get a chance, I just want to work with him.” So I got that opportunity. Then Olivier came in and read and I didn’t realize how dynamic and electric he was. He’s really dynamic and so that worked out. And Tcheky Karyo, he’s so solid. He was sort of like the pro of the cast. It was very interesting because French actors – and they’re big movie stars, these men – Olivier is very sort of loud and strong and fun. I found that it was a really good dynamic because Jean-Hugues is the most humble man I’ve ever met in my life. Directing him was just wonderful. He was always with his script just working and working. And Olivier could just come on and just snap it in. And Tcheky is very mannered. He’s very, very mannered. He likes to be in control of his performance.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:
"Taking Lives" Interviews: Angelina Jolie / Gena Rowlands
"Taking Lives" Photos, Trailer, and Credits
