As a seasoned film critic with a penchant for unraveling the nuances of cinematic masterpieces, I must say that Sacha Baron Cohen‘s portrayal of Robert in the gripping miniseries ‘Disclaimer’ is nothing short of extraordinary. The man who made us laugh uncontrollably as Borat and Ali G has now moved to the realm of drama with aplomb, holding his own against acting titan Cate Blanchett.
In a conversation held on the premiere day of his new miniseries, Disclaimer, which is currently streaming on Apple TV+, we spoke with versatile actor Sacha Baron Cohen. This production, based on the renowned novel by Renée Knight, was penned and directed by Academy Award winner Alfonso Cuarón for television. The gripping narrative, a blend of modern journalism and fractured families, presents an intricate web of surprises and turns. Cate Blanchett heads the star-studded cast, with Cohen (from The Trial of the Chicago 7) portraying her complex husband. As film enthusiasts are well aware of Blanchett’s exceptional acting skills, Baron Cohen shared with us how his rich background in critically acclaimed mockumentary films aided him immensely in keeping pace with her captivating performance.
“She’s such an incredible actor. I mean, she’s one of the legendary actors of screen and stage there. For me, it was easier, actually, because a lot of the reality stuff that I’ve done, you know,
Borat
, those kinds of movies,
I’m working with real people. So I’m used to the best actors in the world
— in other words, real people. So when you’ve got one of the best actors in the world in front of you, it makes my job easier and raises my game, hopefully.”
I’m Crying in It, I’m Screaming, and I’m Insulting, and I’m Drunk
Given Cohen’s involvement in both critically-acclaimed comedic and dramatic roles, he found a common thread in his character development: “Actually, it’s quite alike as it involves the same character approach – ‘First, what are the lines? What is that character trying to express?’ And isn’t it fascinating to consider if there’s someone else on Earth who could say those exact words?” During his performance as Robert in “Disclaimer“, Cohen remained consistent with this method.
Regarding Alfonso, there was much debate about Robert’s personality. I found some of it hard to accept. I couldn’t fathom why such a person would undertake that specific journey. He asserted, “This is the journey he embarks upon.” In response, I suggested, “Alright, in that case, we need to subtly insert dialogue or actions that hint at this character’s traits, so as not to lose the viewers without them catching on to these nuances about his personality.
Cohen added, “‘I’d be thrilled to accompany you,’ was the phrase I slipped in, referring to a future event after his award ceremony with his spouse. Though he appears to be an amazing, supportive partner… there might just be a hint of apprehension and maybe a touch of envy hidden beneath.
In the upcoming miniseries by Cohen, Emmanuel Lubezki, who previously won Oscars for his cinematography in Gravity and Children of Men, will once again collaborate with director Alejandro G. Iñárritu. This means viewers can anticipate some innovative camera work in the new series. During our conversation, Cohen revealed that one particularly challenging scene involved a 15-minute take where he had to cry, yell, insult, and portray drunkenness while confronting Cate Blanchett’s character. He mentioned that this scene was quite taxing because of his intense emotional performance.
14 attempts seem to have been made, which, if calculated by any mathematicians among us, would roughly equate to around 2 and a half hours without pause. Then, [Cuarón] declared, “Today is the rehearsal. Tomorrow, we’ll film this properly.” I was taken aback, thinking, “What? I’ve shed tears for most of the afternoon!
Check out the captivating outcomes of your hard work by streaming the show “Disclaimer” now on Apple TV+. Here’s a link for easy access: [Link]
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2024-10-13 04:06