FEBRUARY 2009 25
Where did the idea for Two Lovers come In the film, Brighton Beach is a very bleak I obviously never worked with Brando, but in
from? character the stories I’ve read about him, he sounds in-
credibly similar. Look at the way Brando tried
I was waiting for the financing and casting to I guess that does come from my childhood and to turn the idea of publicity into a joke. Joaquin
come through for We Own the Night and so teenage years….Queens has a certain sadness is the same way. He has a healthy disdain for
one day I pulled a series of short stories by and melancholy and a class distinction that I what he sees as the sillier part of the art. In
Dostoyevksy from my bookshelf and started think shapes my vision of New York a little bit. some respects it’s frustrating for me because
to read White Nights. I thought the novella was Some people say my vision of New York is out- you say, ‘Joaquin, the New York Times is not a
very interesting. There was a movie made by dated now but issues of social class are still as ridiculous part of the joke.’ You just have to get
Luchino Visconti, starring Marcello Mastroianni. important and relevant as ever. If you were to that when you hire him.
The movie was really good but it is not really go to certain areas in the Bronx and Queens,
about the story. I also wanted to commit myself they are the same as 20 or 30 years ago. In today’s box office obsessed environment,
to something that didn’t have a genre element. the thoughtful adult dramas that you enjoy
I didn’t want to do something that made me This film is quieter and more exploratory directing seem more and more difficult to
trapped by generic convention. I wrote it very than your last three films, which are harder get made.
quickly in three weeks…It is my favorite movie and grittier…
I have done so far… I was hoping to make a It is the death of them. It doesn’t allow the word
small film and an intimate film that had an idea It is different—there is no question about it. It is of mouth and the appreciation to build. The pat-
to it. also the same in many ways. There is still a pre- tern which movies are released now is so radi-
occupation with social class and a certain mel- cally different than it was 30 years ago. Movies
What about the story of White Nights ancholy. The genre element is just an excuse to played for a long time and perhaps you could
appealed to you? tell the story about one kind of love or another. experience the movie by having been told
But I was anxious to shed the genre part of it. about it from your friend. Now they blow it out
It is very difficult to say. There are elements that in 5,000 theaters and if it doesn’t take hold you
attracted me on a personal level…It treated hu- With such a strong cast, do you just stand are done. It is awful.
man emotions and love with seriousness. In the back and let them do their thing?
United States we tend to view a state of love Your next movie, The Lost City of Z, is sup-
as being completely preposterous and so it is Yes and no. I have been very lucky in working posed to star Brad Pitt and sounds like a big
easier for comedies to treat it. It can easily be with excellent actors. Everybody can be great studio picture, unlike any you’ve ever done.
misconstrued as funny. I thought the challenge but they can also stink. You have to set up a Yet the synopsis reminded me a little of Wer-
was interesting. The emotion of the story felt context where they feel free to do great work. ner Herzog’s classic Fitzcarraldo…
close to me. Joaquin works very differently from Gwyneth.
He loves exploring and improvisation and she I think it might be closer to Aguirre, Wrath of
Did the idea of a listless dreamer also is very precise and wants to it do two or three God. The story of The Lost City of Z is so amaz-
appeal to you? takes. I was worried they would hate each oth- ing. It’s about what it means to be a civilized
er. But he wound up loving her and she loving person…
Well sure. If Dostoyevsky were writing today he him. The two acting styles meshed very well.
would be saddling his characters with a whole How did Brad Pitt come into the picture?
host of terms like bipolar disorder, manic de- You have worked with Joaquin three times
pression and he’d be taking a whole list of pills now… His company sent it to me. We had been look-
to address his problems. In the 19th century he ing for a movie to do together for a long time. I
was seen as just a little weird. He is genius that kid. thought Percy Fawcett was an incredible guy...
He was filled with a God complex and he kind
Did you have financing in place when you And now he is also retired… of went nuts in the end.
started writing it?
I will get him out of retirement. Maybe. I would Have you been to the Amazon?
I didn’t have any money attached. I was going come to set some days. He would be there be-
to write it for Joaquin and I thought if he didn’t fore me—which is very unusual. He would be No. I am very curious to go. But I am also
want to do it, I wouldn’t make it. Then I wrote it sitting in a corner with tears coming out of his scared to go. I’m a wimp and I’m afraid I might
with Gwyneth in mind. I wanted complete cre- eyes. I would say, ‘are you ok?’ And he would get eaten by mosquitoes.
ative control. When the casting was in place, just say he was preparing for the day. You know,
2929 Entertainment financed it. They had want- he is tired. He has acted for 30 years. But I think Tell me about this honor you received in
ed to make another film with me because We I can get him back. France…
Own the Night worked out well for them.
Are you planning something in particular? It was so ridiculous. God love the French but
Did you grow up in Brighton Beach? I kept telling them, ‘guys, come on! You make
I may find one. Who knows. Certainly if my next me feel like I am 150 years old. I have made
I grew up in Queens about nine miles away. But movie, The Lost City of Z, happens I would love four movies. I am just getting started!’
my grandparents were form there so I spent to work with Joaquin again. He is so intelligent.
a fair amount of time there. As a teenager we He has a real emotional sensitivity. Just a top-
would go there a fair amount of the time be- notch talent.
cause you didn’t have to be 18 to get drunk.
My brother and I loved Nathan’s Hot Dogs and He seems very tortured and talented, like
the aquarium. Marlon Brando…
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