Ray Nicholson Reveals Why Playing Villains is His Ultimate Thrill

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As a passionate cinephile, I’ve noticed an intriguing pattern in my conversations with actors who have embodied villainous roles: “You know, there’s just something exhilarating about embodying the antagonist.” It’s fascinating how some of our beloved performers can make us sympathize with their adversaries in certain movies. In fact, on occasion, the villain steals the show and even takes center stage over the hero. This trend is evident if you look at various Batman films throughout the years. For instance, Arnold Schwarzenegger was billed above George Clooney in Batman and Robin, while Jack Nicholson outranked Michael Keaton in Tim Burton’s 1989 interpretation of the Caped Crusader.

Concerning Jack Nicholson, it is his son, Jack Quaid, who has been making a name for himself as a menacing antagonist in two recently released films. The first one is “Novocaine,” where Quaid portrays an ordinary man with a unique condition that renders him incapable of feeling pain, only to find himself ensnared in a lethal bank heist masterminded by none other than Nicholson’s crooked character. Additionally, Quaid appears in the new movie “Borderline,” where he plays the role of Samara Weaving’s stalker. MovieWeb had an opportunity to chat with Nicholson during his promotion tour for “Novocaine” in Los Angeles, and during the conversation, he shed some light on both intriguing characters.

In his comparison of his recent roles, Nicholson said, “I can’t say they were identical, but there was a similarity – the characters gave me a lot of freedom to express myself. They were both delightful parts to perform, each unique yet equally twisted, which seems to be my preferred acting territory.

Ray Nicholson Says the Action of ‘Novocaine’ “Comes at You in Waves”

A key aspect of the storyline in Novocaine revolves around a bank robbery that becomes increasingly intricate. Prior to filming, Nicholson prepared by revisiting several highly-regarded films that also depict dangerous heists – like The Dark Knight and Hell or High Water. He feels comfortable comparing the quality of Novocaine to these masterpieces. ” frankly, I’m quite proud of the film overall,” said Nicholson. “When I first read the script, I thought it would be good, but it turned out even better than anticipated.” He went on to say:

This film keeps unfolding layer upon layer, with no sign of slowing down, and that’s what makes it so thrilling. It’s as if your feelings towards a character change, along with the storyline. Every aspect of this movie is in a state of flux. In essence, it’s not just about non-stop action.

From Paramount Pictures, Novocaine will be released in theaters Friday, March 14, 2025.

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2025-03-14 03:02