God, I want to throw a shield at somebody.
Tom Hanks!
Can I just watch you as you walk past?
That's it?
I'm on the fly right now.
You would choose a specific colour of sweater?
Captain Hook.
I don't want to be that guy.
Is this a choice?
Sounds just like two horns honking.
Did you get to go to the pub?
No.
Look, congratulations on Captain Phillips. Thank you. I saw it with my brother, and nerves
were shredded. It's a nerve shredder, don't you think?
It's an anxiety filled movie, but everybody says oh my God. Well, you know. It's also
a pretty entertaining film at the same time. You're not... It's not all like a visit to
the therapist couch.
When you're filming it, your character is very distressed throughout the film. Do you
find that off camera when people come up to you and say, hey Tom, would you jump?
You know, the making of the film is one where you periodically just wind it up and pick
up where you left off, and then other times you're comparing notes about what it's like
to live in Minneapolis versus you know, versus San Francisco.
Now, like with all Greengrass movies, there's a social commentary aspect to it as well,
which always gives his action movies a bit more depth. Is that how you felt when you
read the script?
I think yeah... The screenplay was definitely, they had an opportunity in order to go in
almost any direction the filmmaker wanted to take it, and all of Paul's films do...
I don't think they take a necessary editorial position, but they do examine I think a more
complex picture than other filmmakers might want to. Certainly Bloody Sunday and United
93 captures more human behaviour I think than it does make some sort of overt statement,
and that means you're dealing with recognisable human behaviour as opposed to I think you
know, motion picture archetypes. That's just what I myself as a moviegoer is most interested in.
And you shot in Britain, some of it as well.
We shot out in Longcross. Yes we did, that was the stage in which we had the life boat on this big gimbal, which
is this complicated hydraulic amusement park ride which could throw us around and make
the fights even more clumsy than they were.
Did you guys go to the pub?
Oh, I've been to a number of pubs, I must say. I enjoy a nice summer shandy here and
there. It was a lovely way to spend some time.
And Paul Greengrass is an interesting guy. He's very... He's very British, in the way...
He is, yeah.
Was it interesting when you first met? Did you think, I can't hang out with this guy?
No, no not at all. We had talked before years ago about the possibility of trying to do
something together, and no he's a very recognisable type of guy. I must say he's a very calm filmmaker.
He's not one giving over to any kind of fits. You talked to him right now. He's exactly
the same demeanor as when he makes a movie. Dedicated, classy, understanding, and thorough.
Cool. Now, do you mind if I ask you a couple Twitter questions.
I can do... Hey man, it's your interview.
AndieS84 says would Tom consider playing... I'm not sure he's read the synopsis of the
movie... Would Tom consider playing Captain Hook in the Weymouth Pantomime?
Yes.
I would consider it.
Weymouth is on the seaside, so you could have some nice... Well, there you go. Hey, who
cares where it is? Captain Hook? I'm in!
David Walker says: Does Tom look in the mirror and think I'm a movie legend?
No, Tom looks in the mirror and says is that really my nose?
And KirstAVillaForever... Are you really an Aston Villa fan?
I am, I am. I have yet to be at a match actually there in Villa Park, but... Uh, if I'm using
the right word. Football hooligans, help me out here.
No, I fell in love with the name years and years and years ago, and I did see them play
a friendly match in the United States, which was a big deal for me.
Well, she quickly asked: Can you ask Tom why hasn't he done any big superhero movies? Is
this a choice?
No, they don't ask me, man. I keep trying to... Come on, I can do it! I can do it! Even
let me play a bad guy. Let me play the bad guy against Batman. I'll do anything, come
on. Call me. They've never asked. What do I have to do?
I don't know. Academy Award winner. Two times over.
I know. Doesn't happen. God, I want to throw a shield at somebody, you know? I want that.
Can I play... And I don't want to play the guy in the suit who tells the superheroes
what's going on. I don't want to be that guy.
You don't want to be the scientist.
No, I don't want to go: Well, you know Batman... I don't want to Captain American, Iron Man,
here's what we've discovered. I don't want to be that guy. I wanna... you know get in
there. I want to play the Flash or something like that. They'll never give me a chance.