As a cinephile who’s been fortunate enough to witness the evolution of modern cinema through the lens of some extraordinary talents, I find Adam Driver‘s newfound approach to watching his own films truly enlightening. His decision to embrace this self-reflection process is not only fascinating but also serves as a testament to his dedication towards his craft.
Actors often differ in how they feel about viewing their past work, yet it’s understandable why some would prefer not to see their performances. After all, we are our own toughest judges, so why give ourselves more criticism? Notably, Denzel Washington admits he never revisits his old movies, but for Adam Driver from the film Megalopolis, his stance is evolving. Earlier, he refrained from watching his films, but recently, he’s been altering that habit.
Earlier this month, I had a chat with Driver in Toronto during the Toronto International Film Festival. Towards the end of our discussion about his recent project with director Francis Ford Coppola, I inquired about how he usually watches his own movies. He shared that in the past, he hadn’t viewed his own performances, but recently, he has started to do so.
Instead of avoiding watching things, I’ve recently chosen to change my approach and simply watch everything from now on. It’s not about everything I’ve previously watched, but rather the future. This shift is because at times, you need to justify the choices you make, or perhaps recall events differently. I’ve discovered that directors are open to discussions, even though they hold the final decision-making power. Not arguing as if in opposition, but instead, advocating for your character to ensure they’re given a fair representation.
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It’s thought-provoking to consider this. Typically, a single scene in a movie is shot from various angles and multiple times. The specific moments that stick in an actor’s mind while filming might not match what ends up in the final cut of the film. The only way for their memories and the final product to align is if the actor watches the post-production process, where all the editing magic happens.
It’s worth mentioning that Adam Driver chooses not to watch his own movies, which means he might be overlooking some remarkable films produced by today’s top-tier directors. In recent times, he has been partnering with notable figures such as Martin Scorsese, Spike Lee, Jim Jarmusch, Noah Baumbach, Ridley Scott, Michael Mann, and others. It’s a bit unfortunate that he can’t appreciate the creations of these master filmmakers like the rest of us do.
In his most recent groundbreaking partnership, he teams up with Francis Ford Coppola for the ambitious sci-fi movie “Megalopolis”. This symbolic production sees Driver portray a visionary artist named Cesar Catilina, who dreams of reshaping the world but encounters obstacles from those who wish to preserve the current state. The impressive lineup of actors includes Nathalie Emmanuel, Giancarlo Esposito, Aubrey Plaza, Laurence Fishburne, Dustin Hoffman, Jason Schwartzman, Grace VanderWaal, among others.
Adam Driver, who follows his own introspective philosophy, is among the viewers of the film “Megalopolis” too. However, he mentioned that there’s a condition attached: for a more balanced point of view, repeated viewings are suggested. In other words, he thinks seeing it multiple times can help gain a less biased perspective.
To fully immerse yourself in the narrative and disassociate from your own performance, it might be necessary to view it five times. During the initial two viewings, you may find yourself questioning your appearance, but as you progress, you start to lose sight of your personal involvement. This is because viewing it individually can distract from its broader context within the story. However, it’s intriguing and educational to observe both the positive and negative aspects of self-evaluation through this process.
Following some intriguingly contrasting responses at the Cannes Film Festival over the summer, the movie Megalopolis hits theaters this coming Friday, September 27. Catch a glimpse of all the upcoming films gracing the big screen in the forthcoming months with our 2024 Movie Preview Calendar.
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2024-09-26 04:37