by Paul Fischer
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Tobey Maguire |
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Interviewed following his role in Pleasantville, in which he plays a real life teen who gets sucked into an alternate universe based upon a favorite 50s TV show. An outsider in "real" life, he becomes a leader, bringing color to a black and white world. (And, as in The Ice Storm, Joan Allen once again plays his mom). | More StarTalk with the cast of Pleasantville: |
Cranky:
What did you watch when you came home from school?
Tobey Maguire: It varied through my ages, but Three's Company
and shows like Charles in Charge. I just flipped around a lot,
watched whatever. I'm not a big television kind of guy
Cranky:
Are you a big TV watcher?
Tobey Maguire: not all the time it depends. If I'm traveling in
a hotel I'll watch TV. If I'm home I hardly watch any TV at all
Cranky:
So how did you get in the mindset for a 1950s sitcom?
Tobey Maguire: I don't know. It's a fantasy world. Just read the
script and use your imagination; the sets and the costumes — you
go there and you're transported. They built a 20-building town. Everybody's
in costume, as a matter of fact I saw a couple of the 'townspeople' out
of their costumes and hair and stuff, a couple of the girls and they're
like "Hey Tobey how you doing?" and I'm like "Who are you"
"I just worked with you at the soda shoppe" and I'm like "No
way!" You're just transported as soon as you step on the set.
Cranky:
You've played two period teens; one in the 70s (The Ice Storm)
one in the 50s (Pleasantville). Is one harder than the other?
Tobey Maguire: I guess Pleasantville was a little more difficult
in that he wasn't a period teen. He was a modern teen who went into this
world. Maybe his clothes and hair were of that period but he was very
much an outsider. I think it was harder to play the modern day guy than
the guy from the 70s.
Cranky:
Why?
Tobey Maguire: I don't know. There was more research to look at
in front of me to play the guy in the 70s. There was more to read about
the times. It's different when you're actually in something. You don't
have that removed objectivity.
Cranky:
Did you crack open old TV sitcoms for research?
Tobey Maguire: I didn't do much of that. I was definitely asked
if I wanted to see TV shows, but I chose not to go into that stuff because
it was such a particular fantasy world. I've talked to a couple of people
about the times but it's really not a reality. There may be exaggerations
of some things but I decided that I was going to talk with Gary and use
the script.
Cranky:
One of your costars, Don Knotts, was a big star of those shows.
What did you know of him and how did you get a long?
Tobey Maguire: I really liked Don, he was so funny and everybody
was thrilled that I was working with Don Knotts, and so was I but for
me I was working with Mr. Furley from Three's Company. [laughs]
You get to tell people about the film and I'd say I'm working with William
H. Macy and Joan Allen and Don Knotts and they'd say "Don
Knotts!? No way! Can I come down to the set when he's working?" It
was fun. He was just hilarious. When Gary cast him I remember thinking
"Wow, that's an interesting idea." The first day I couldn't
even do my scenes well because I was laughing so hard.
Cranky:
Considering the way the script is laid out, it's kind of funny to think
of Don Knotts as God (!) 'Cuz that's what he is
Tobey Maguire: Yeah. He is God. I think it's unlikely and perfect
at the same time.
Cranky:
You may be on the verge of some real stardom here. Have you prepared for
it?
Tobey Maguire: I've thought about it. I'm just going to do the
best I can. It's really interesting to me, the idea of fame. I think it
can be a real test of somebody of who they are. I've seen some peculiar
as far as a person living their life and these things get thrown into
it. I think some of it's strange and some of it is very appealing. I'm
just going to do the best I can.
Cranky:
You've been grouped in Leo [DiCaprio]'s posse from time to time. Has this ever
come up?
Tobey Maguire: Well, specifically, I've definitely talked to Leo a little;
observed his life. A few weeks ago we went to an art gallery in Pasadena and we're
just walking up the street looking at paintings and we look across and there's
a guy hiding in a parking garage taking photos. There was something in the (tabloids)
like him standing next to my girlfriend, saying how they're an item. None of this
really matters to me. I just feel bad that he can't go and do things like any
normal person can do without people watching him. But then there's a lot of things
he get to do. It's not a big issue I think about it.
Cranky:
This is the second time you've worked with Joan Allen as "your mom."
Was she a better mom this time?
Tobey Maguire: Well I guess as far as the story goes, but she was
great for Tobey both times. She's just so phenomenal. She's a great actor,
no ego. She's so professional and so focused and doesn't get caught up
in anything. Sometimes you need to do that. Sometimes I can goof off and
have conversations and stuff but ... I don't want to let go of being a
kid. There's a certain responsibility to work and her work ethic is amazing.
She has such freedom at the same time. It's great to see her work.
Cranky:
All the descriptions of you say you're a likable guy. Do you ever go home
and kick the dog?
Tobey Maguire: Well I don't have a dog. I'm a human being. I get
pissed off or sad. I don't own any weapons. I think I'm a decent guy a
decent friend. I'm a decent son. Are there things I can improve? Sure
do I let people down? Sure.
Cranky:
Your character finds a perfect life in Pleasantville. Why does he want
to come back to the "real" world?
Tobey Maguire: That's a good question. That's where he belongs.
I think in a way he was done with that place. He knows Pleasantville's
not his home. He wants to go home. He felt like he really got really brilliant
gifts. He gave of himself and had a very unique experience. But that wasn't
his home. I always want to go home. I do films for 3-4 months and then
I'd go well I can't wait to go home to LA. And I complain about LA left
and right but then I always end up wanting to go home.
Cranky:
Were you ever worried about being upstaged by the effects or the symbols
and metaphors in the film?
Tobey Maguire: No. I don't really care about that. The film is
the star. I knew that going in. It's an ensemble movie. The concept itself,
the film is the star more than any actor. I mean the story itself getting
lost in the technical challenges.
Cranky:
Do you think teens will respond to this movie?
Tobey Maguire: I think teens will definitely respond to it. The
character development is strong with Bill and Joan and Jeff and me and
Reese. They're all very different people. I think you're going to get
a lot of people responding to this film. I don't know. It's my opinion.