Interview with a LAMBpire: Robert of His Eyes Were Watching Movies
Andrew here with another episode of Interview with a LAMBpire where the winners of LAMB Casting get interviewed by moi. Robert of His Eyes Were Watching Movies is this month’s winner.
Andrew: How important you think casting is in film? Does the actor make the role or vice versa?
Robert: I don’t know if casting is the most important aspect of a film - I think the best actors can usually make any role work for them. Then again, it works both ways - sometimes casting can go so wrong, and other times seemingly bizarre choices end up working perfectly.
Andrew: You’re young, who – if anyone – influenced your interest in film?
Robert: Well, my dad was always into classic/foreign cinema so our house was full of movies and thus I was exposed to cinema at a young age. However, it was actually my best friend who turned me into a cinephile - she is so well versed in classic cinema and when we were in middle school she recommended Rear Window to me. Shortly after I watched it, I discovered IMDb - and I’ve never gone back. Andrew: Is it difficult to keep blogging with school and other teenage commitments?
Robert: Admittedly, it can be! Sometimes after an exhausting day of piano practicing and schoolwork, watching and writing about a movie can seem like a lot of work. Blogging is a lot tougher than people give it credit for, and I really admire people like you who post so frequently even with so many other commitments. Unfortunately I’m not quite that good, but I do my best. ;)
Andrew: Ha, my posting has been flagging lately. Life abounds. Speaking of other bloggers, though, to what extent do you allow critics to influence your enjoyment of film.
Robert: As much as I’d like to say that they don’t influence my reaction to a film at all, that is simply not the case. Some kind of prejudice (be it positive or negative) due to critics is unavoidable, I think, and for that reason I always try to avoid reviews before I watch a movie. Sometimes though, I can’t escape it. One example of a movie that I was completely confused about due to expectations was “I Am Love” from last year. The blogosphere was praising the movie incessantly and when I watched it I automatically disliked it at first. After a second viewing and some time to think about it though, I realized that it was actually a pretty incredible film.
Andrew: What role do you feel film plays in this day and age – with specific reference to teenagers like you?
Robert: I feel like film has become such a great medium for artistic expression - these days, there are really no limits to what kinds of themes and ideals can be explored through the medium, and for that reason I think modern cinema is so exhilarating due to the variety of talent making films. For teenagers, I think film has become an indirect form of self-expression and community with others. In other words, the kinds of films that you watch/like become a way that you are able to identify what type of person you are, and this search for a way to “express oneself” is such a trademark of teenage life.
Andrew: Cillian Murphy and Toni Collette are two of the actors in your cast. Both are actors who have vociferous – if small fan bases. What do you think of them individually, and of their chances of becoming more sought after performers.
Robert: I simply adore Toni Collette. I fell in love with her at age 13 when I saw “The Sixth Sense” and she constantly amazes me. Thanks to “United States of Tara”, I never suffer a Toni shortage and I think she has spread her talents around enough (music, theater, film, television) that she’ll always have someone seeking after her. Cillian Murphy is much newer to me, though in the small roles of his I’ve seen, he always seems like such an intriguing actor. You mentioned that he hasn’t quite gotten that breakout role and I think that’s so true - I’ve never been disappointed by his work, he just needs a role with some critical or commercial weight that will break that glass ceiling for him. Andrew: You have a longstanding affinity for Catherine O’Hara. Do you think that O’Hara’s excellence as a comedienne was responsible for her not turning into a leading lady?
Robert: Ah, Catherine! Yes, I do think that her comedic skills have prevented her from becoming a leading lady. However, though I constantly bitch and moan about Catherine never gets big roles, I think her abilities as a hilarious character actress are what make her great and what have given her such longevity (she has been working for such a long time and she’s got plenty of years ahead of her!). Then again, watching her brilliance in big leading roles such as Marilyn Hack in “For Your Consideration” make me wish she would get more chances to do larger roles.
Andrew: Name a film, not necessarily your favourite, but one which you’d like to take credit for (writing or directing, or both).
Robert: Hm, great question. Well, I wish I could take credit for writing All About Eve or The Social Network. Totally different movies, but both are such brilliantly written. When it comes to directing, Magnolia is a movie I think of immediately, actually - P.T. Anderson is brilliant, in my opinion. Oh, and Rear Window. I don’t think anything could match up to being able to say that I directed a film as brilliant as “Rear Window”. Andrew: Hitchcock, Fincher, Anderson, Mankiewicz - now that’s an eclectic mix.
Robert has dynamic tastes, doesn’t he?
(If you have any questions you’d like me to ask in the next interview email me at dangerous.liaison231(at)yahoo.com
