Movie Talk with Stellan Skarsgard
Description
Swedish actor Stellan Skarsgard discusses working with director Lars von Trier on the film Nymphomaniac, Skarsgard always enjoys the pleasant experience he has even though they are sometimes working on very dark material. Skarsgard discusses how he became an actor, working as a child and then studying acting in college, although he never actually decided to become an actor, it naturally happened. He loves working, being on set and around the crew, he likes to have a nice life. His breakout films The Hunt for the Red October 1990 with Sean Connery and Breaking the Waves 1996 with Emily Watson propelled his career from Scandinavian cinema to Hollywood. Next is Good Will Hunting 1997 starring Robin Williams whom he describes as constantly funny, he loved the freedom of being directed by Gus Van Sant because he gives actors room to create, this also applies to Pirates of the Caribbean 2006 director Gore Verbinski, Skarsgard doesn't prepare for roles. He then reflects on working on 'Popcorn films' and how much they have improved by attaching better directors and actors, not just relying on special effects. Ronin 1998, a high energy film, shot in Paris with director John Frankenheimer. Skarsgard discusses the rise in Scandi-Noir dramas and the re-make of The Girl With a Dragon Tattoo 2011 directed by David Fincher, he doesn't mind re-makes as long as it's with a talented, conscientious director who doesn't want to sanitise the project. A clip is shown of Insomnia 1997 - Skarsgard reflects on this film being the original scandi-noir film. He makes more Norwegian and Danish films than Swedish, but still resides in the country of birth. A clip of the the Norwegian film King of Devil's Island 2000 is shown. Skarsgard discusses how he's happy being an actor and has no ambition to get behind the camera. Next is Dancer in the Dark 2000 with Catherine Deneuve, he enjoys working on comedies but ones that have human qualities at their core. Entourage 2008 is an American TV series in which he plays a director, a series about the entertainment industry in L.A, fast paced 'where you just walk and talk'. Angels and Demons 2009 in which he loved acting alongside Ewan McGregor. Following this Skarsgard talks of Mama Mia 2008, all with it's female heavy cast and crew where the men were featured as 'the bimbos'. The Railway Man 2013 starring Colin Firth is the last film discussed,in which Skarsgard plays a dark and complicated character.