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diversions:
movie review
Macy bursts onto
the silver screen
By Alex Roman
Summer Forty-Niner
Sometimes an actor
seems to burst onto the scene out of nowhere, building and
honing his acting skills on a theater stage instead of a soundstage,
then breaking through to the "big time".
William H. Macy
is one of those actors. While he has gained critical acclaim
for his roles in the Coen Brothers' 1996 hit "Fargo,"
and in Paul Thomas Anderson's "Boogie Nights," Macy
built his reputation on stage alongside what many claim to
be the greatest American screenwriters today, David Mamet.
"He taught
me everything I know, including my aesthetic," says Macy
of Mamet. "He very wisely told us, his early students,
nobody wants to see everything you got, because once you show
them everything you got, there ain't nothing left."
Macy is in a cold
and breezy tent on the Universal lot "doing press"
for his latest film "Jurassic Park III." As he enters
the room and begins to field questions, it only takes a couple
of minutes to realize that there just won't be enough time
to discuss everything you want to with him.
Macy seems to be
able to go on for hours about acting methods, delivery and
the psyche of his characters, and with his quick wit and endearing
personality you're willing to listen for as long as he's willing
to talk.
"I thought
it rocked," says Macy after viewing "JP3" the
night before. "Ten minutes into the thing I was in my
seat and my palms were sweating, I was so tense."
Although he is
most notably known for his work in smaller character-driven
films, Macy is a very recognizable face to audiences of all
types. He has starred in many plays, including originating
the role of Bobby in Mamet's seminal work "American Buffalo,"
and has appeared on hit television shows like "ER"
and "Sports Night."
"If I could
choose, I would choose what I got, which is to do them all,"
says Macy when asked if he prefers stage or screen. "I'm
as hard on television as anybody else, but I got to say in
all honesty some of the best moments, some of the best writing
and some of the best acting I've seen has been on television."
Despite the fact
that Macy has also written and directed various projects,
it is apparent that acting is his passion. You can tell in
the way that he speaks; the emotion and knowledge that he
has for his craft just oozes out of him every time he opens
his mouth.
The love for his
craft and his dedication wasn't lost on his "JP3"
co-star Alessandro Nivola.
"Bill really
has strong ideas about how it should be done," he says.
"He arrives on the set and he's very clear and specific
about each scene and what has to be accomplished in this scene
and what the objectives of his character are and it's wonderful
to watch."
Macy explained
his method that he has come to be known for.
"Acting in
its best sense, I think is always an improvisation,"
he says. "Really, half of acting is reacting, I guess.
You got to listen, that's the hardest thing."
Fans of Macy's
less mainstream work might be a little shocked that he has
chosen to be in such a large franchise picture, but Macy explains
it was a necessary step he felt he had to take.
"It probably
shows how shallow I am, but my wife was about to have a baby,"
says Macy. "I guess all fathers do this and I didn't
realize it at the time, but all I could think of is that I
have no money and that I won't be able to support this child,
so when Hollywood came knocking, I said yes."
Even in a film
that relies less on the human characters than it does on the
technical creations, Macy's character Paul Kirby, a father
who visits the island to search for his son, is played to
perfection.
"Big fat Hollywood
movie, little independent film, I've always found it all remarkably
the same," says Macy of his latest work. "At one
point everybody stops talking and they move away and it's
just you and another actor or you and a velociraptor and you
got to be in the moment regardless of the budget."
Macy is easily
able to explain why "Jurassic Park" is such a huge
franchise and hopes that he can possibly return if there is
a part four to be made.
"Kids love
this franchise. You ask any ten-year-old what a raptor is
and they will know," says Macy. "My daughter will
see this ? of course all kids will see this franchise. They
love it. I'm proud as punch that one day she'll say my dad
was in the third one and hopefully I'll be in the fourth one."
As the time begins
to wind down and a public relations person walks in to usher
Macy to the next set of interviewers, he takes the time to
thank everyone and reflect on his continued success.
"Everybody
gets lucky," says Macy of his success. "Mamet once
said to young actors that the theory is everyone gets a break
and that's not true. Everyone gets lots of breaks, you just
got to know what to do with them."
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