Keaton hasn’t been making that many movies in the past few years, so what was the appeal of starring in a movie with a Volkswagen Bug and Lohan that made him take on the project? “They sent me the script and I thought it was really well written, and it’s nice to be in a family movie from time to time. Especially when it’s this classily Disney [film] that kind of becomes part of cinema culture, and really American culture. It’s one of those things; they’re still talking abut the old one and this will probably have more impact than those, is my guess. I think it’s a really well made movie, by the way. Really well made,” said Keaton.
Michael Keaton on Working with Herbie: “I didn’t actually work with the car that much. At the end…yes, which was an add-on. They added it but it works. It’s a nice little button to the movie. I liked the junkyard scene. I thought the junkyard scene was very cute but that was before I know he’s Herbie. Besides that—I just really think this was a really well made movie. A really well made family movie. I liked it a lot.
I loved that they didn’t over high-tech the car. It felt kind of old school. 'Beetlejuice' was like that, actually. One of the things - if you ever did it again - is not to use too much digital animation or too many computer tricks. There’s something about that that was primitive. Not homemade, like made in some genius kid’s basement. Some was done physically. When I did the arms, my arms roll—literally it was made of plywood and it had to spin and you had to lay and be helped up. And we had to do 12 takes of it because the arms would fall over.”
Advice to His Young Co-Star Lindsay Lohan: “That’s curious because I actually stay out of people’s way and people have been asking me if she asked me. I wouldn’t talk about to people if she asked me because I consider that private.
I only remember one conversation in a car talking about things and I found it… I kind of held back, frankly, because when people really want to talk to me or really want to ask me, I assume they really want to know. And if I assume they really want to know, then the game is on. That will do it. So I did the best I could, but I didn’t think it was right to get into too much detail with a lot of people around and microphones and I’m really private and discreet. And you have to scrutinize certain situations and you can only talk about so much. But I’d be honored to tell her what I think and if she wanted to listen. That’d be really good. And if I had a different relationship with her, and if I hung with her more or knew her better, then I would, because she’s great. She’s a great kid and she’s enormously talented.
I just tried to [protect her]. I get like that. Even when the guys tease her all the time, I’d get [protective]. They were all teasing each other and sometimes I’d say to the guys, and I was kinda serious, I’d tell them not to talk to her like that. She’s a girl. And they’d laugh at me.”
Speaking of Young Co-Stars, What’s His Take on Katie Holmes?: Keaton played Katie Holmes’ dad in the romantic comedy, “First Daughter.” With all the hype surrounding her relationship with Tom Cruise, Keaton had a little advice to help keep her grounded. “Here’s what I think: I love that kid. She’s the greatest. I think she’s the greatest. I really like her. And all I’ll say is, my hope and my wish and the vibe I send her way is that she remembers where she came from and who she is and who her mom and dad are and that’s all she’s got to do. Because she’s a very well-rounded girl and I like her a lot. [She] has talent that people have seen yet and that’s a lot of stuff to have going on in your life and it probably feels like a whirlwind. And whatever good stuff in there I hope she gets. And whatever bad stuff I hope she rejects.”
Michael Keaton on “Batman Begins:” Holmes co-stars in the latest “Batman” movie, “Batman Begins.” Keaton said he had not seen the movie but thought it looked decent. “I’d think it’d be good. I do. ...I’m not at all surprised. That’s a really good cast and he’s a really good director. I would think it probably is good. I don’t see that many movies frankly.” Told “Batman Begins” is actually very good, Keaton says, “Now that you say that, I would go. …Maybe I will get around to seeing it. I’ve never seen anything since I did mine. Not interested. I have no interest. It’s not complicated. People don’t seem to believe me. I’m just honestly not interested.”
PAGE 2: Michael Keaton on the Possibility of Another "Beetlejuice" and His Favorite 'Michael Keaton' Films
