As a cinephile with an appreciation for unexpected performances and poignant narratives, I must say that Andy Samberg‘s portrayal of David Scherman in “Lee” has left me genuinely astounded. The actor, known primarily for his comedic roles on Saturday Night Live and Brooklyn Nine-Nine, has proven that he can hold his own in a dramatic role that requires depth and nuance.
When you notice Andy Samberg’s name in a film’s cast, it’s natural to expect another round of laughter-filled comedy. However, this isn’t about to be one of the top war films of recent times. Despite his comedic fame from seven seasons on Saturday Night Live and eight seasons as the lead in Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Samberg finds himself alongside Kate Winslet in the upcoming 2024 release “Lee”. This film is a true story set during World War II, focusing on one of the few female war photojournalists. Intriguingly, Samberg plays her regular ground photographer in this production.
In the film “Lee“, Andy Samberg takes on the role of American photojournalist David Scherman, who frequently worked alongside Lee Miller during World War II assignments. After discussing feeling out of his comfort zone while playing a dramatic character, he shared his thoughts about being in that mental state with TopMob, using these words:
As a gamer, I find that if I don’t venture beyond my usual playstyle and take on new challenges, the experience becomes dull, not just for me but for those watching. I believe there’s an essence in creating games, films, or any form of art, where you need to be somewhat daring, pushing boundaries that make you uneasy, so it can evolve. This applies not only to my personal growth but also to the art form I’m involved with. To me, it’s crucial to feel like I have something unique to bring to the table, to engage with it on a deeper level. However, I also enjoy stepping out of my comfort zone, as that’s where true growth happens.
Kate Winslet revealed that Samberg pursued the role of David Scherman fervently. Being a Jewish man himself, he showed great interest in the part and gave an impressive audition. When it came time to cast him, Winslet personally contacted Samberg, and his immediate response was “My mom’s going to be so proud.
In the movie version, it’s shown that Scherman and Miller’s legendary collaboration transpired when they unexpectedly entered Adolf Hitler’s residence in Munich on April 30, 1945 – the same day Hitler took his life by suicide in Berlin. Once they understood their location, Miller opted to take a bath (her first warm water bath in a while), and Scherman captured her pose in that iconic photograph. You can view this photo in The New Yorker magazine.
During the making of “Lee“, the production team aimed to replicate numerous photos taken by Lee Miller. As we discovered during our conversation with Kate Winslet, she picked up film photography using an antique camera for this project. In a chat with Samberg, he opened up about the set atmosphere when they attempted to recreate Miller’s iconic bathtub image featuring Hitler:
Without a doubt, we were all familiar with that particular photo before stepping onto set on that day/evening. Upon entering, it struck us as if we had walked into a scene straight from the photograph – amazingly identical. Kate Winslet and Ellen Kuras had a clear vision and strategy for this sequence, which served as a climactic moment in the film. We knew it needed to be outstanding and charged with a specific energy. Kate delivered that electric, tense, yet thrilling energy, making it feel like an empowering “F-U” to pull off. Interestingly enough, despite the intensity, filming this scene was enjoyable, even though it carried a certain charge.
Kate Winslet’s project, Lee, has been a decade-long endeavor that she’s been striving to bring to life. As an actress and producer for this film, she invited Ellen Kuras, known for her work on “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind,” to make her directorial debut and capture the essence of the photojournalist. The movie is currently playing in cinemas.
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2024-10-03 05:37