In a role that's a serious stretch for the nice-guy singer/actor, Tim McGraw plays the alcoholic, abusive father of one of the Permian football players. Tim McGraw's character is a former athlete, a tough guy who relives his own football glory through his son and shows no mercy when his son's performance on the gridiron doesn't live up to his expectations.
Fans may have a tough time getting over the shock of seeing their favorite country star play such an unlikable character, but director Peter Berg knew McGraw could be believable in the role. Producer Brian Grazer wholeheartedly backed the casting choice, having met Tim McGraw once before while working on "The Grinch." While the role's a drastic departure from McGraw's good-guy image, after watching the movie it's easy to see what Berg and Grazer saw in the singer that made him the perfect choice to play the film's only real bad guy.
INTERVIEW WITH TIM McGRAW AND FAITH HILL:
You play a very rough character, unlikable and totally different from your public persona. How hard was it to play a guy like this?
TIM McGRAW: For me, it would have been harder to play a role that was closer to my personality. I think that Charlie Billingsley, who was opposite to my personality, it was easier for me not to get involved. I think if it was a character that was closer to me, it would have been a different story.
How hard was it to see him play this character?
FAITH HILL: It wasn't him so I totally separated the two. It was difficult to watch someone so [destructive] onscreen. And he did an incredible job. I didn't think it was him. I don't see that in him.
Are you surprised at how good an actor Tim is?
FAITH HILL: I’m not surprised at all. I knew that he’d do a great job. This particular role is a departure for sure, but I knew that he could do it - definitely - but he went beyond that.
Did you get any acting tips from Billy Bob Thornton?
TIM McGRAW: First off, Billy Bob’s probably the greatest actor of our generation. Anybody who has ever seen his movies knows that he is super talented. And I tried to get him to coach me but he wouldn’t do it. I think he was nervous (laughing).
Did you teach him anything about singing?
TIM McGRAW: I don’t need to tell him how to sing. If you listen to Billy Bob’s records, he doesn’t get credit for how good his music is.
Are there more movies in your future?
TIM McGRAW: I hope so. Billy Bob and I want to do [another] movie together. Faith and I want to do a movie. We’d love to do a movie together.
So you must have had a good time working on this movie.
TIM McGRAW: It was awesome. I mean, there’s some great football in the movie. We got to watch a lot of great football and throw the football around. But I didn’t want to step on the field with these guys. There were some [large guys] out on the football field.
But you can handle your own, can’t you?
TIM McGRAW: (Laughing) I’m 37 years old and I’m not stepping out there with those kids. Are you kidding me?
Speaking of football, who's your favorite team and why?
TIM McGRAW: The Titans. We love the Titans. And we’re Packers fans also because Brett Favre is one of our best friends. But we live in Tennessee so we’re Titans fans.
On Monday night when the Titans take on the Packers, who do you root for?
TIM McGRAW: I love Brett, I hope Brett does great, but the Titans have to win (laughing).
