Theres a fine line between turning a romantic film into something unique and letting it slip into the void of Hallmark cheese. Thankfully, The Disappearance Eleanor Rigby aims for the former. In order to separate it from other like-minded projects, writer-director Ned Benson got risky. He split the film into two separate narratives, titling them The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby: Him and The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby: Her, respectively. The finished product gives us a glimpse at the depths of heartbreak. Overall, its a tragic, emotional and ambitious project, anchored by two wonderful performances from actors Jessica Chastain and James McAvoy. (For those un-interested in watching the full 202-minute version of the movie, a combined two-hour cut, entitled Them, is also getting a release this week.)
I spoke with McAvoy (the films 'Him') in New York recently about the film(s). We discussed everything from the storys dark material to the difficulties of shooting two scripts at the same time (something McAvoy didnt realize was happening until he got on set) to his upcoming role in " Frankenstein. " I also shamelessly asked the Scottish-born actor about the enduring legacy of Braveheart in America, which seems to be shown every weekend on TNT.
I feel like we mostly hear you do English accents on screen. It was fun hearing you with an American accent in this film.
Yeah, when was the last time I did an American one?
The Conspirator, I think?
The Conspirator. And Wanted. I think thats the only other one. Oh and Band of Brothers.
" I dont know why, but I have the most fun playing the most fucked up people."
Is it fun doing an American accent?
Yeah. Its kind of weird doing it when youre amongst the Americans. Youre sort of like Ohhh fuck. But you know theres no better place to test yourself, I suppose.
Youre in the atmosphere.
Yeah, and it sort of helps you as well. I mean I hardly play any Scottish people. So doing an English accent or doing an American accent really is not that much of a difference in terms of the head fuck.
Yeah you had the Scottish accent in Filth.
Yeah, and The Last King of Scotland. But just those two movies I think and Trance. So three movies in 18 years.
Eleanor Rigby takes place in New York City. I live here and I am always shocked when a film is able to actually shoot seemingly unimpeded.
I know. I thought New York would be a nightmare to film and traffic would be terrible and it would be so expensive. And we had no money. But we found it amazing to shoot. I loved it. Id love to make every movie here. And I am not just saying that because I am in New York. Its amazing, and the energy of this place is unbelievable. And all the clichés are true. You walk out of your apartment building and you feel like something might happen. Maybe if youve lived here for a long time it kind of wears off a bit. But for me, visiting as irregularly as I do, its an exciting place to be. So when youre making a movie, it makes it an exciting place to make a movie.
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Did you get a lot of folks stopping you on the street during production?
Yeah, a fair bit.
I guess being in an X-Men movie does that.
Yeah, totally man. Its just an issue of sort of putting yourself into that sort of movie. Youve got to expect it. Strangely, though, on the plane here, I got it more than Ive ever got it in a closed environment in my entire career. The entire business class cabin were fucking on me. And Ive never once had that. So maybe thats [switches to an American accent] The Powerrrr of X-Mennn. Or maybe its the power of Eleanor Rigby.
Eleanor Rigby is a powerful film. Was it tough to play someone that goes through such an exhausting, emotional loss?
It was quite joyful playing him, because we had an amazing cast and we had a lot of fun, even though [our characters] are going through something quite tragic and incredibly sad. I dont know why, but I have the most fun playing the most fucked up people. Connor [in Eleanor Rigby], Macbeth, and the guy from Filth, Bruce Robertson. Those people have been the most fun Ive had recently in terms of playing characters, and yet they are going through the most harrowing and fucked up and disgusting things at times. So its very strange. I dont know what that is. I play people who are suffering and I will be having a great old time. Maybe to improve my own personal happiness [laughs].
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Interview: James McAvoy On Eleanor Rigby, Playing Frankenstein & Watching Braveheart
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