In a recent interview with Entertainment Tonight, Knives Out director Rian Johnson called Jamie Lee Curtis his “cast MVP,” saying that “she’d beat all of us to set. Sometimes she would show up on set when she wasn’t even supposed to be in the scene and just be hanging out.” In a recent sit-down, The A.V. Club asked Curtis about the comment, and about why that kind of professionalism is important to her, even after all these years in the game. We also queried Curtis and co-star Daniel Craig on their favorite little on-screen Easter eggs in Knives Out, which boasts a set so deeply layered with things to look at that both agree the film should merit multiple viewings.
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I hear Timothy Dalton was the same way on the set of Hot Fuzz, showing up even when he wasn’t scheduled for the shoot, supporting the other actors, and doing his lines even when he wasn’t on camera.
It’d be hard to decide on a single “best” element of Hot Fuzz, but Timothy Dalton’s performance is a STRONG contender.Also, do they have something against putting a mic on the interviewer here?
I loved him in that. Dalton is an underrated actor. He’s actually one of my favorite Bonds. It’s not his fault the movies he was in were bad.
I didn’t actually like him as Bond (tho he was certainly better than Brosnan) — but possibly I’m unable to separate him/his performance from those shite films. After Hot Fuzz, I wanted to see him in EVERYTHING, ALL THE TIME.
I think part of the problem was he wasn’t allowed to be funny in the two films he made. They put him in silly Bond-esque situations but seemed to insist on him being grim and brooding. (It didn’t help that Maryam d’Abo had all the acting talent of a wooden plank, and License to Kill went completely off the traditional James Bond rails.)But when you put him in something like Hot Fuzz and allow him to be snarky and funny he shines. Apparently the cheesy mustache in Hot Fuzz was his idea as well, and it works on so many levels.
Agreed. I thought my headphones were busted because I was only getting sound from the left, but it’s clearly because Daniel and Jamie are the only ones miced.
“Oh oops, I need to turn my volume up” and then suddenly Jamie Lee is SHOUTING AT THE TOP OF HER VOICE, AHHHHH WTF.
She’s got a good shout, though. If you have to hear someone shout, she’s a proper choice.
A proper silent-movie era villain type performance.
For serious, that was some grade-A Malevolent Moustache-Twirling.
“My my, here come the Fuzz.”Such a great delivery.
“I’m a slasher and I must be stopped!”
I’m having a good week of seeing movies with amazing houses in them. I saw Knives Out on Friday night, and then Parasite on Saturday afternoon. I would live and die in both those houses.
I saw both of them today, this year’s Thanksgiving double feature picture show.
You as well? My only complaint is I’m so fascinated by the houses I get architecturally distracted while watching the film.
I’d love a LEGO version of the Parasite house.
All those clean lines–it could be done!
Absolutely. The Knives Out house would be a lot harder because of all the detail, but the sparseness and minimalism of the Parasite one would be perfect for it. I’m surprised it hasn’t been done yet. Ghost and all.
I woke up this AM and thought about another great house on film, the Ex Machina house. Along the lines of the Parasite house with much grander surroundings.
Another great one! Good call.
the family castle in the movie “Ready or Not” is right up there with the one inn “Knives” haven’t seen Parasite yet
Eh, I like the Knives Out house more because it had a bit more personality. Sure, it had a giant ring of knives and axes in the living room, but it also seemed a bit more lived in. I’d kill for that upstairs den that Harlan kept.My favorite parts of houses like the one in Ready Or Not are the more ‘normal’ rooms that fit into it. The kitchen, the security room, that sort of thing. I’m not much into the castle aspects of big houses.
I have to admit that I’m a sucker for dumbwaiters, hidden doors and secret passageways, tho.
Oh, of course. Who isn’t? I wish they had played more into the central plot of Ready Or Not. I was almost sad when they took things outside the house.
“Well, it’s a choice.”Jamie-Lee Curtis is hilarious. Also, she’s got ten years on Craig and sure doesn’t look it.
Stop this extreme panning of voices left and right. It’s extremely frustrating to listen to in headphones. I noticed this on your podcasts as well.
Sounds like your sound editor is trying to have too much fun with a 3D panner.
Really excited to actually find out what their favorite easter eggs were, because there is not one mentioned in this interview.
Right? They say there are Easter eggs but they don’t mention ANY. How provoking. Bad article title.