Wednesday, February 17, 2010

Exclusive Interview: Hugo Weaving on THE WOLFMAN


By Lee Gambin
Universal’s eagerly anticipated update of THE WOLFMAN was unleashed in cinemas everywhere this past Friday, and one of its stars, the MATRIX films’ Hugo Weaving, gave Fango some of his time to talk up the lycanthropic epic. We spoke to him while he was in the midst of the Melbourne (Australia) Theatre Company’s production of the acclaimed play GOD OF CARNAGE.

FANGORIA: Are you a fan of the horror genre?

HUGO WEAVING: I like things that are well-written. If the script is good, then I’ll enjoy it. If the script is bad or loose or silly, then I can’t get into it. However, I believe genre pictures such as horror films should be allowed to have a sense of freedom in the writing. But sadly, those pictures tend to be looked down upon or overlooked as serious pieces of art. The Western, the musical, action films, horror films, fantasy films—I mean, they are the founding and starting point of great American cinema, yet even though they’re commercially successful and often critically well-received, they are never given the proper respect they deserve just because they entertain. There’s a weird resentment toward escapism in intellectual circles, which happens not only in film, but in theater too.



FANG: What can you tell us about your character in THE WOLFMAN, Scotland Yard’s Inspector Aberline?

WEAVING: Well, he’s a no-nonsense detective who comes into the lives of the Talbots by investigating the strange murders that are somehow happening around the family. He was not in the original film from the ’40s, although after watching that film with Lon Chaney, I kind of liken him to the Claude Rains character. I even tried to do a Rains-style voice in preshoot rehearsals, but it didn’t work [laughs].

FANG: On that note, how did the original WOLF MAN troupe—Lon Chaney Jr., Rains, Evelyn Ankers, Maria Ouspenskaya and Ralph Bellamy—feed the performances of your fellow cast members?

WEAVING: Everyone seemed to bring their own interpretation of their character to this film. It’s a far grittier movie than the 1941 film, as you could imagine. The original is loaded with that glamour of the Universal horror pictures of the golden age. In this film, everything is on show, and that includes the blood, sweat, and tears, and that most definitely alters the mood and style and totally feeds the performances of the actors. Geraldine Chaplin, who is the legendary Charlie Chaplin’s daughter, was a hoot to work with and brought so much of herself to the role created by that great character actress Maria Ouspenskaya. But listening to her, it’s as if she had channeled Maria. There was something truly haunting about her performance. But I believe Benicio Del Toro [playing Lawrence Talbot] did the most studying of Lon Chaney Jr. There are points in the film where he looks remarkably like him.



FANG: He also kind of resembles Oliver Reed in the Hammer classic CURSE OF THE WEREWOLF. Do you have a favorite werewolf movie?

WEAVING: I remember seeing AN AMERICAN WEREWOLF IN LONDON when it first came out, and that was really good. A great combination of horror and comedy.

FANG: What was it like working with legendary makeup artist Rick Baker? Were you in the chair for any prosthetic work?

WEAVING: Rick Baker was charming, and a soft-spoken gentleman who excelled at his craft. It is dumbfounding what that man could do with materials that have been with the industry forever. His work on the werewolf sequences was astounding. And yes, I did get to have some work done, but I won’t tell you too much. Let’s just say that this film has a healthy amount of blood and guts, so the makeups go beyond fur and fangs.



FANG: How much would you say Lon Chaney’s Wolf Man design was a reference point for Baker?

WEAVING: He had images galore of those old Universal werewolves, the one with the bad case of sideburns too…who was he again?

FANG: Henry Hull from THE WEREWOLF OF LONDON?

WEAVING: Yeah. Rick wanted to put his own mark on the design but still pay homage to the Lon Chaney Wolf Man. He came out looking amazing, truly amazing. Rick Baker is possibly one of the most modest yet talented people I’ve met. He is his craft. It’s phenomenal. He is definitely the master of werewolf makeup artistry, and it was cool to work with the man who originally did the FX for AN AMERICAN WEREWOLF IN LONDON. We shared a few stories and I was kind of like a teenager again, asking him how he did what he did on that film.

FANG: Was THE WOLFMAN a fun experience overall, and will you return to the horror genre in the future?

WEAVING: It was a good experience; I just wish the studios and distributors and press and everything that has nothing whatsoever to do with us actors had gotten their shit together and brought this movie to the eager public sooner rather than later. Films lose momentum, and this one has been whetting the appetites of moviegoers, especially horror fans, for too long now. I also want to make note that the fans of horror are possibly the most hardcore and fanatical and lovely. Ever since doing this film, I’ve had more conversations than ever. So yep, for sure, I would love to do more horror films, just as long as they’re the right projects.

20 comments:

  1. Are you enduring verifiable earnings? If you happen to taken care of straightaway on the far side any doubt therefore you may every the of these troubles then you will be eligible for getting some type of arrange Mortgage practice u. s. of America day cash enhancements. For those who have getting some type of bank-account the item will enable you to contain u. s. of America all debit obligations from the thought simply just in case a investigate happens. Or maybe, simply just in case you decide on, you may visit all of our firm most adjacent nstallment loan a non-public and you may facilitate to make your register funds. Monthly a non-public would possibly take but you would like that is investigate getting been ready.

    ReplyDelete
  2. This implies, until you don't have a huge number of bucks sitting tight for you in the bank, all that you have to do to make it all reasonable for you is apply for a basic auto fund. These auto funds are effortlessly accessible simply like shoddy auto protection on the web, all that you have to do is request citation from these organizations, and they will reach you themselves for further procedures. check cashing near me

    ReplyDelete
  3. Subsequent to choosing the sort of credit to acquire, the time comes to locate a suitable advance organization that could undoubtedly make you accessible the measure of advance obliged suitable interest rate. Online administrations have made life simple, so as opposed to approaching to somebody for help it is an awesome choice to discover them on the web. payday loans chicago

    ReplyDelete
  4. Rest guaranteed that they won't take a gander at your reputation and they can even give the best client service.After harsh times, an insolvency auto credit can be your best associate. The snappiest approach to revamp your financial assessment is by focusing on an automobile advance and making the installments in a dependable manner. Check Cashing

    ReplyDelete
  5. The Internet is a developing inclination for best advances. Shoppers can get onto it effectively and helpfully as and when they like to locate the obliged data. There is no stress of advance operators' badgering to finalize the negotiations until the purchaser is prepared. payday loans costa-mesa

    ReplyDelete
  6. Bicycle admiral can and abode accumulation diminishments from the banks/moneylenders, we see accessible to us upwards of 10 adjustment specialists possibly all the included now and by the day's end allurement for that we abutment business to their case or bread-and-margarine foundation. auto title loans

    ReplyDelete
  7. Since this article has by and large inspected the Pros and Cons of the auto advance industry, it is subordinate upon the borrower to settle on the beast position money related choice. An unmistakable choice is the hardest part. The last step is unendingly the hardest part in light of the way that the borrower now needs to settle on an official choice whether he or she needs to take out a vehicles title push or utilize another budgetary response. Cash Advance San-diego

    ReplyDelete
  8. The moneylender will accordance the acceptance board the bike acceding accreditation and will affirmation them abashed you see paid abashed the improvement. You can drive the bike till that time. Anchored bike advances are advantaged for included huge borrowings and lower account rate. So these are below flush accumulated pushes. Payday Loans San-diego

    ReplyDelete
  9. Le posizioni possono essere modificati, a volte con l'aiuto di ingresso di un fisioterapista. I medici possono anche discutere di rimedi per la disfunzione erettile, o fare riferimento ad uno specialista. nuove pillole per disfunzione erettile

    ReplyDelete
  10. Per legge l'ufficio deve rispondere in modo tempestivo in modo tale conferma registrato sarà una prova legale avete contro di loro. Il Fair Credit Reporting Act è stato passato per proteggere il consumatore. Questa legge dice uffici devono indagare e rimuovere i segni inesatti o non verificabili. il cv in inglese facile

    ReplyDelete
  11. Un traduttore traduce da una lingua di partenza in una lingua di destinazione. Si dovrebbe tradurre solo nella vostra lingua madre (lingua di arrivo). Assicurati di menzionare tutti gli altri gradi si possono avere o esperienza lavorativa nel settore. Dire come si produce il proprio lavoro e se è possibile comunicare via e-mail o fax. scrivere un curriculum vitae inglese come fare

    ReplyDelete
  12. Quando si consumano l'RDI (assunzione dietetica consigliata) di magnesio, che è compresa tra 360 e 410mg al giorno, assorbiamo circa il 50% di magnesio, ma quando l'ingestione di quantità sub-ottimali possiamo assorbire fino al 75%. Assorbimento diminuisce rapidamente quando più di 200 mg è consumato in una sola volta, quindi l'importanza di prendere magnesio in dosi divise nell'arco della giornata. novita per cura problemi erezione

    ReplyDelete
  13. Awesome blog about gift idea. This is exactly what I was looking for! thank you so much for posting.Limo To Airport

    ReplyDelete
  14. This is a great article thanks for sharing this informative information. I will visit your blog regularly for some latest post. I will visit your blog regularly for Some latest post.COMPANY CAREER PAGES

    ReplyDelete
  15. Congrats employing a process well reached. This order of situation is frequent synchronous ohydrates worthy vulgars recreation so that you can pity. Whereas i already-in-a-day sum you nice really on this usher.perfume dior sauvage

    ReplyDelete
  16. They can more often than not credit up to $250,000. Not at all like bank credits, there are no regularly scheduled installments. A rate from all future Visa deals will go towards the adjust of the loan. This rate draw will seek after until the credit is forked over the required funds. Payday Loans

    ReplyDelete
  17. However all great things reach an end. Your settled rate term terminates and it begins to glide. For a few, the rate truly expands up and afterward you think about whether you ought to renegotiate now. https://www.aaa1autotitleloans.com/chicago

    ReplyDelete
  18. This article is very nice as well as very informative. I have known very important things over here. I want to thank you for this informative read instagram viewer

    ReplyDelete
  19. True story, I'm one of the people who have benefited from Dr. Ogbeifun Love Spell. Dr. Ogbeifun appeared in the middle of my life when all hope was lost. I gave up on life and thought the best way to care for my broken heart. I have several experiences with my husband who have been working with me for many years. I made up my mind to continue with my suicide before a strange spirit. Afterwards, Dr. Ogbeifun Temple, I reluctantly looked for and found testimonials and recommendations for him via his email. He answered and asked me to go away and take my life; he said that my case is solvable after consulting his Oracle. Well, here I am today thanking Dr. Ogbeifun for saving my life and bringing back my Husband. We are so happy today and happier than we have ever been. He also helped me stop my cardiac arrest problem. I am grateful for being among the people sharing this testimony. Contact him at this email ogbefunhearlingtemple@gmail.com call or add him on whatsapp +2348102574680 website

    ReplyDelete