The Massie Twins recently had a chance to sit down with acclaimed star Marisa Tomei (My Cousin Vinny, Before the Devil Knows You're Dead) to discuss her latest film "The Wrestler."
Massie Twins: Due to the nature of your character’s lifestyle, your role in The Wrestler must have been pretty challenging.
Marisa Tomei: It was a great experience and it was challenging. I like being challenged. It was really cold though – that was the worst part about it for me. I usually take jobs based on where it’s going to be warm (laughs). I really don’t like to be outside in the freezing cold in the middle of Jersey, but it was worth it to be able to work with Darren and Mickey.
Twins: Were you a fan of Darren Aronofsky’s work before taking the job?
MT: I really liked Requiem for a Dream but it was more of a personal connection because of the Brooklyn thing, and we went to the same high school and he knew my brother.
Mike Massie, Marisa Tomei, Joel Massie
Twins: You also do a lot of theater. Do you have a preference?
MT: I like theater better. The actor has more control and there’s no edit really. One of the good things about being on this tour is that I get to experience being with an audience right after they’ve seen the film and it’s great. And that’s one of the best things about being in the theater because you’re right there and you get to experience it together and you get the reaction right away. Getting to see the audience reaction right away – whether it’s positive or negative – positive is always nicer though (laughs).
Twins: Have you seen The Wrestler with an audience already?
MT: No, but I have come in at the end to do a Q & A.
Twins: Did you get to go to the Venice Film Festival with Mickey and Darren?
MT: No, I didn’t go.
Twins: What was your reaction to the film winning the Golden Lion?
MT: I couldn’t believe it when they texted me from there. I had this weird feeling beforehand. I asked my agent if I should be getting on a plane. Should I just go to this thing?
Twins: What kind of training did you do to portray a stripper in the film? Did you take exotic dancing classes?
MT: We went right to the source, right to the real thing. We just went and watched a lot and Darren took me to the club I’d actually be dancing in, which was good because I wanted to see the space, how much room I’d have and be able to plan accordingly what I might be able to do moves-wise. I had a friend who teaches pole dance classes, so I asked her to teach me that.
Twins: So how do you treat the internet when it comes to feedback? Do you go check out what people are saying about the film?
MT: I never do.
Twins: We recently saw on a message board
that people are saying you should be Harley Quinn in the next Batman
movie. Would you ever consider doing a big budget superhero film like
that?
MT: That would be really cool. I don’t know who
Harley Quinn is, but… (laughs)
Twins: She’s the Joker’s girlfriend. She’s a villain.
MT: A villain? That’s cool! (laughs)
Twins: Did you have a favorite scene you did in The Wrestler?
MT: I liked the scene when she goes to the thrift store with Randy and then goes with him to get a drink afterwards. I liked those kinds of scenes of interaction between our characters.
Twins: What kind of relationship do you have with your movies? Do you stop and watch them if they’re on TV?
MT: No. I don’t really watch them. I just wanted to see this one because I wanted to see if I looked alright (laughs). And to see what the tone was. Part of it is theater training where you just don’t read reviews. Early on when I first did movies, I thought since it was done, it’s not going to affect my performance to read reviews, which is the whole reason you don’t look when you’re working in the theater. But then I still found that I don’t really want to know. There’s nothing I can do about it, so I don’t read them.
Twins: One of our favorite films from last year was “Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead”. Now with this film, do you feel a bit of a preference for darker dramatic roles?
MT: That is really just luck of the draw. It just happened that way. It’s more about what opportunities are going to come, and I just got lucky with those really good directors and they just happened to be doing this really dark material. Maybe it’s the public and not me (laughs). Maybe they’re drawn to the dark things now that I think of it.
Twins: Wild Hogs was a big success though.
MT: Wild Hogs was a big success, and it can’t get any lighter than that! (laughs)
Twins: I heard they were going to be doing another one.
MT: I heard that – you guys probably know that from the internet! (laughs). They haven’t told me yet. And perhaps I’m not going to be in it – maybe that’s why they haven’t told me yet.
Twins: But you’d return if they wanted you to?
MT: I would! I had such a good time and it’s a really cush job. (laughs)
Twins: Is the atmosphere on set different between a comedy like that and a drama? Do they try to keep it lighthearted and fun?
MT: I was shooting Wild Hogs at the same time as Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead, so I was going back and forth and it was really bizarre. One movie there were no snacks and no time for an extra take and it was very bleak and dark. And the other set we’d do maybe two lines in one day. We’d hang around and there was all the time in the world. There were basketball courts set up for us to use and homemade pies. Professional chefs were catering. It was pretty awesome.
Twins: Was it as awesome as being interviewed by twins?
MT: Sure! (laughs)
- The Massie Twins
Read the Interview with "The Wrestler" director Darren Aronofsky HERE!
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Great interview! Way to go Massie's!!!
