Life Of Crime- In Theaters August 29th
Based on Elmore Leonard’s novel “The Switch,” Life of Crime is a dark caper comedy starring Jennifer Aniston, Tim Robbins, John Hawkes, yasiin bey, Isla Fisher and Will Forte.
The wife (Jennifer Aniston) of a corrupt real estate developer (Tim Robbins) is kidnapped by two common criminals (yasiin bey and John Hawkes), who intend to extort him with inside information about his crooked business and off-shore accounts. But the husband decides he’d actually rather not pay the ransom to get back his wife, setting off an unbelievable sequence of double crosses and plot twists that could only come from the mind of Elmore Leonard.
Life Of Crime in Theaters Friday, August 29th, 2014
The Rich Girl team sat in at the press conference for the film as some of the cast answered questions from the media. In attendance at the conference was Jennifer Aniston (plays Mickey Dawson), John Hawkes(Louis Gara) Will Forte(Marshall Taylor) and writer/director Daniel Schechter.
It was clear that the group had a great time working on the film, the press had an opportunity to ask questions below is a sample from the press conference.
Question: Jennifer how did you like filming a 70’s genre film and what look would you want to bring back from that period in today’s fashion?
Jennifer- Well I loved the era and it was a lot of fun. I did have to wear a lot of polyester and scarfs around the neck but I think the look would be the sunglasses that I wore in the film. It’s funny I basically looked like my Mom, I pulled out a lot of her old pictures so I could rock the 70’s look.
Question- Jennifer you were also Executive Producer on this, what made you take on the task as Executive Producer on this film?
Jennifer- It was because of Daniel he really impressed me and then I read the book and it was such fun what Elmore does with his characters. I thought Mickey’s character had such a beautiful, powerful arc and at that time for him to write about a woman in the 70’ s in that way was pretty awesome. The package was so great and the fact that I would get to work with Daniel and such great cast.
Question-John you made such a lovable criminal. How did you find that balance for your character?
John- A lot of it just came right from the page, but I was most interested in the relationship between Mickey and Louis. There is a scene before Mickey decides to go home Louis touches her slightly and we think something might happen between them and when it doesn’t Louis handles it with such grace. When he does run into her again, he is just happy to see her. I didn’t want the audience to say Louis is just a cuddly bad guy, I wanted him to have a rough side yet vulnerable and still care about Mickey.
Daniel- John always wants to be sure a scene makes sense and there is a scene where he decides to give Mickey the racket at the tennis court. There is no motivation for it it’s just a reckless thing that he does ,so I asked why would he do that? John said because she’s beautiful.
Question-Daniel would you adapt another Elmore Leonard book?
Daniel- I don’t think they all make great films even though they’re all good books. This one just felt right. When I was reading it I saw it as a movie. It’s a basic crime, but it’s how the characters roll off each other that’s intriguing. There were these roles I wanted to see cast and it was a highly adaptable book, in eight days I had my first draft.
Question- Jennifer during the kidnapping scenes in the film you had to wear a mask over your face and you get roughed up a bit. What was that like and how did you prepare for those physical scenes?
Jennifer- I didn’t prepare, I figure it’s best to get hurt it’s more realistic. And the ski mask was just great; I had to emote with my face all hidden.
Question-Jennifer the chemistry between you and John was great and the chemistry with Will, the way you both dialogued just with your eyes. How did that develop for both of you?
Jennifer- I think that just happens naturally, you can’t force it or create it. When I met John we got along instantly. We are both interested actors and the characters have such odd moments it’s sort of a love story and you let that unfold. Chemistry is chemical you can’t fake it. And when you are working with a great actors it makes you look even better.
Will – Jennifer and I have worked together long ago and we met a couple of times before. Also it’s nice when someone is open and game it just make the work so easier. You’re only a good as the people around you.
Question-Daniel how was it writing the roles as we see the women ultimately are in control and manipulating the situation?
Daniel- Women have to find power where ever they can find it and we see that throughout history. One of the main things that attracted me to the book was the men who had their own self interest and they would abandon it through lust for a beautiful woman. Either consciously or unconsciously these women are controlling them. Most women are further along than Mickey’s character so it’s interesting to see her gain power as the story moves along.
Jennifer- Mickey is living this repressed life with Frank being abused emotionally and no way of how to get out. Oddly enough the kidnapping is her way out. As the story progressed and the situation became dire she found that strength.
Daniel- that is one of the pleasures when you read the book. Mickey is putting on these masks, for her husband, child, women at the country club. When she gets kidnapped she doesn’t have to put on airs for the criminals who kidnapped her she can be who she is in that environment.
Question-What was it like working with Tim whose character is such a jerk?
Jennifer: Tim is great to work with, he is lovable and all around nice guy.
Question: Jennifer your energy is amazing, were like that on set and how do you maintain that energy?
Jennifer- I don’t know I am just happy to have opportunities, I don’t know.
Will- Jennifer is great, she makes you feel comfortable, she is just wonderful. Overall it was such great cast and quick friendships were made on set. John I had never met before and Daniel is great to work with so it was a really great experience.
John– One of the joys of working in movies is getting to know the other actors that get hired. I was so nervous to meet Will I am such a fan.
Question-Jennifer what would you want to do next?
Jennifer- Directing would be next for me. I have done a few shorts so features would be next. I like family drama, relationship oriented scripts that would a genre of interest.
Question- John did you realize your character was like the one you played in Jackie Brown? And did you read The Switch?
John- I read The Switch and I liked the characters. It’s a curse to me when a director makes a reference to a film they think I should have seen I don’t know it; so I was really glad that I had read the book.
Question- Will ,how did you find the balance for your character? And what was it like whaling on that car?
Will- It was a cold day when we shot that scene, it was therapeutic fun but physically painful. As for balancing my character, it was right off the page the characters are there and it was workshopping with Daniel to find the right tone. We definitely didn’t want to make it too goofy so we just had to make sure we found the right level for the essence of the character.
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