I’ve talked with celebrities on international set locations, on red carpets and in four star hotels, but it wasn’t until Stanley Tucci that I held a celebrity interview (via phone) from my mother’s kitchen in New Jersey.
Considering that I instantly (and will always) flash upon the great love letter to family and food Big Night the minute I hear Tucci’s name, it couldn’t be more appropriate. Besides, where would I go if I wanted to dwell solely on his most recent role, that of the murderous Mr. Harvey in Peter Jackson’s adaptation of The Lovely Bones?
Below are some highlights of our talk:
Jordan Hoffman: I like that I’m talking to you from my mother’s kitchen. It feels Big Night to me.
Stanley Tucci: That sounds very comforting.
Jordan Hoffman: I’ve loved so many of the roles you’ve done, but I think many people have a synaptic response to Big Night when they hear your name. How does that make you feel?
Stanley Tucci: I’m comfortable with that. I’m extremely proud of that film.
Jordan Hoffman: This role of Mr. Harvey in The Lovely Bones is, to say the least, quite striking. And you seem like such an affable guy. What was it like, you know, simply existing off-camera during the time you were shooting this role? Particularly the moments in the underground hideout?
Stanley Tucci: Well, we did save that scene for the end. And I did ask Peter if we could do it all in one day, for exactly those reasons. We wound up doing it in a day and a half. And, well, you do the scene, go home, eat, wake up, exercise, go back to work. . . you know, you force yourself to do the work. The hard part, really, was the research I did. That was more troubling that shooting the scenes themselves.
Jordan Hoffman: What kind of research did you do?
Stanley Tucci: Read books about killers. Watched documentaries, read transcripts. I read a lot about the BTK Killer. I spoke at length with [FBI agent and criminologist] John Douglas who literally wrote the book on the BTK Killer. This was the “bind, torture, kill” guy . . .I read a lot about him and, yeah, that was pretty disturbing.
Jordan Hoffman: Did you learn to make dollhouses?
Stanley Tucci: No. Fine woodwork is not in my ken.
Jordan Hoffman: So much of what makes The Lovely Bones remarkable is the elaborate use of special effects. If I’m not mistaken, you aren’t in too many of the effects shots, are you?
Stanley Tucci: Just a little here and there, but not too much.
Jordan Hoffman: How much did Peter Jackson share with the actors what the finished product would ultimately look like?
Stanley Tucci: As best as he could, I think. But, Pete, himself, he wasn’t sure.
Jordan Hoffman: It wasn’t special effects, but the light is really striking in the moment your character is in the cornfield luring Susie down into the hideout. It is right at the tail of magic hour, right before it gets too dark. Was this something that the crew was going nuts to grab at just the right moment?
Stanley Tucci: You know, that’s a good question. I don’t remember feeling rushed, but it does nail that specific look.
Jordan Hoffman: Maybe by not rushing you they ensured they got the take and didn’t have to worry?
Stanley Tucci: Could be.
Jordan Hoffman: The other striking thing is the recreation of the 1970s. Was that a trip for you, going to that mall set?
Stanley Tucci: Oh, yes. The houses. The hat, the bag with the buttons. The Partridge Family. You know, when the movie is set, is right when I would have been Susie’s age – so that definitely had quite a resonance.
Jordan Hoffman: Did you take anything from the set?
Stanley Tucci: Ha! No.
Jordan Hoffman: We’re getting close to the Holidays. I know because I am hearing the songs in stores. If I were a genie and could grant you the ability to never hear one X-mas song again, which would it be?
Stanley Tucci: Oh, wow. So many to choose from! You know, it isn’t necessarily the songs that are bad, it is the renditions. Because, let’s face it, Perry Como doing “Frosty the Snowman” is great – but other versions are just dreadful. And anything Sinatra did. I suppose I have a very complicated relationship with these songs – I both adore and despise them.
Jordan Hoffman: You have a unique distinction, Stanley Tucci. You are, I believe, the only person to have been directed by Woody Allen (Deconstructing Harry) and to have directed Woody Allen (The Imposters.) At least I think that is the case.
Stanley Tucci: Yes, that’s true.
Jordan Hoffman: So, you know, you can get a hat that says this in bold letters and walk around town with this.
Stanley Tucci: Yes, that’s a very good idea.
Jordan Hoffman: So, well, The Imposters was a while ago, but what was it like directing Woody? And did being on his set aid you in any way?
Stanley Tucci: Well, it’s funny, because he has his famous way of shooting. He shoots very simply, he uses beautiful master shots – very cohesive master shots that move at the right pace, and I’ve tried to do this as well. Also, he’s well known for getting done early and wrapping early -
Jordan Hoffman: He wants to go and watch the Knicks –
Stanley Tucci: Yes, and, I’m also a strong proponent of this. On his day to shoot, he had a massive block of dialogue – a big speech really. He had it 100% memorized when he came in and we shot it very quickly and we were done with him by lunch. We thanked him and dismissed him, but he was very nice and offered to stay to shoot his reverses [e.g. cue the other actors offscreen] which was really quite nice.
Jordan Hoffman: I like to ask directors this: what’s your favorite Hitchcock movie and why?
Stanley Tucci: Oh, gee, wow, so many great ones. Probably. . . .To Catch a Thief. I mean, uch, come on. Cary Grant is the coolest person – the person you most want to be. And Grace Kelly was so stunning.
Jordan Hoffman: That’s the one where fireworks literally fly when they make love.
Stanley Tucci: Exactly. Such a memorable image.
Jordan Hoffman: The Lovely Bones is loaded with memorable images, too. Which sticks out for you?
Stanley Tucci: I suppose it would have to be [KINDA SPOILERY] when Susie is led by the other girls off. . .led off to heaven. It’s a, it’s a striking moment. You know, I lost my wife earlier this year, so this moment definitely resonated for me.
Jordan Hoffman: The pain and loss of a loved one is something of a universal constant, yet is oftentimes only dealt with in, you know, the ghetto of “Lifetime Movies.” I think that’s one of the more remarkable elements of this movie.
Stanley Tucci: Yes, exactly.
Jordan Hoffman: I see you are going to be in the movie Burlesque. Do you have any song and dance numbers with Cher?
Stanley Tucci: I haven’t shot my scenes yet, but I don’t think you are going to see me doing any of that.
The Lovely Bones opens in limited release this weekend and in general release January 15th.
You can watch my video of extreme mixed reaction here.
