I’m going full bore on my “Movie Love” segment of the site, as I ask actors/filmmakers to briefly discuss one of their favorite films. During the Puzzle interviews, Kelly Macdonald chose The Apartment and David Denman chimed in on Apocalypse Now.
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Puzzle centers on Agnes (Kelly Macdonald), a sheltered but strong willed housewife who learns she has a knack for puzzle solving thanks to a fateful birthday present. David Denman (The Office, 13 Hours) is her hard working auto mechanic husband Louie, a dude who, though filled with good intentions, takes advantage of Agnes. It’s a well written film powered by solid performances (The Lunchbox’s Irrfan Khan co-stars as Agnes’ puzzle partner). You can find my review here.
Directed by Billy Wilder, The Apartment was released in 1960 and focuses on C.C. Baxter’s (Jack Lemmon) rise up the corporate ladder by opening up his domicile to executives for their affairs. Shirley MacLaine is Fran, the elevator girl who catches his eye and, upon further discovery, ends up being his boss’ mistress (Fred MacMurray). The Apartment is #80 on AFI’s Greatest American Films of all Time.
Kelly Macdonald on The Apartment:
My favorite movie of all time is The Apartment. (Directed by) Billy Wilder. And I just love that it’s a comedy . It’s a quirky little sort of love story. Jack Lemmon and Shirley MacLaine who’s the most adorable woman that ever graced the screen. I love that it’s a comedy but it’s very dark as well. She tries to kill herself. Yeah, it’s a genius little film.”
Audio version:
Based on Joseph Conrad’s novel Heart of Darkness, the Vietnam set Apocalypse Now features Martin Sheen as Captain Willard, a soldier who’s tasked with journeying to Cambodia with the sole purpose of assassinating the gone-rogue Colonel Kurtz (Marlon Brando). During my early years as an interviewer, I interviewed Scott Glenn about living with the Ifugao tribe in the Philippines during the shooting of Apocalypse Now. He was promoting the 1995 flick Tall Tale, and his recollection was a memorable (wish I still had that audio!). For a look at Glenn’s experiences with the Ifugao check out this in-depth A.V. Club profile piece.
Photo by Linda Kallerus, Courtesy of Sony Pictures Classics
David Denman on Apocalypse Now:
When I was a kid I loved watching Apocalypse Now. I don’t know why – the imagery and everything that was in it was just so captivating and I was terrified by Brando. That movie has just stuck with me ever since.”
Audio version:
Here’s the full video of Kelly Macdonald (Goodbye Christopher Robin, Boardwalk Empire) and David Denman (The Office, 13 Hours) talking about The Apartment and Apocalypse Now.
Puzzle opens July 27 in New York and Los Angeles.
Photo by Linda Kallerus, Courtesy of Sony Pictures Classics
“Movie Love” is part of our CinemAddicts universe. To listen to our July 2018 episode, take a listen below: