INTERVIEW WITH ADRIEN BRODY:
How does a role like this impact you?
It takes some time for the experience to be absorbed always. And some are more important than others, more relevant than others, of the roles that I’ve done. Initially I thought it was a really cool movie about this guy put through this wringer who’s basically a survivor – a cool, temporary character. But there was a lot of socially relevant issues involved as well.
John Maybury is a creative director so I learned things that I admired about him as a filmmaker. I learned things with the process for me as an actor of understanding the difficulties that this character faced. It’s what I enjoy about the work, the chance to do that.
How do you leave a role like this on the set at the end of the day?
This, I didn’t. This I didn’t. I’m not the kind of person to deliberately behave differently for the sake of behaving differently, but there are certain things that you have to kind of be true to and sacrifice your own freedom at that time to do. I mean, there was research that was necessary while I was doing it. I tried to do a very specific physical interpretation of this character, rather than doing an overtly muscular thing and bulk up. I felt that he wouldn’t be getting the nutritional levels like that. And he’s been injured, he’s been in the hospital, but he’s ultimately strong. He’s served in the Army so I did this kind of 'jail house' workout every day in a very confined space - so no trainers. None of that. 'Confined space' meaning the space of what I would be able to do in a hospital room.
What’s your attraction to these darker roles?
Well, life isn’t simple so I am attracted to things that are complex and ambiguous, just like life. And characters that are flawed – just like all of us. That’s more interesting to me.
I would do an interesting kind of lighter, comedic role if it was compelling enough. Or just fun and there’s some aspects of it that I like, and not worry about the emotional depth. But it’s a wonderful opportunity to explore all these things and get a better understanding about myself and human nature, and experiences that people are going through that I’m not. This character is a GI who’s injured and who’s released. That’s very relevant for today. He’s wrongly tried inside the judicial system – that’s very relevant. He’s sent through the mental institution and kind of mistreated. That exists in today’s world. That is people’s reality so, in a sense, I get to learn about this, expose this, and then have a wonderful time being creative along in the process.
After the Oscars this past weekend, I’m sure you had some time to reflect on how your life changed since winning the Academy Award.
I did, but I kind of had a blessing of having a very laid-back year. I’ve been in New Zealand shooting “King Kong” so I haven’t been here for all the hype. I basically watched it in my underwear eating a hamburger in my hotel room. So it was fun.
ADDITIONAL INTERVIEWS FROM "THE JACKET" PREMIERE:
Massy Tadjedin / Kelly Lynch / Brad Renfro / Kris Kristofferson
