I wanted to stay and talk to Spike Jonze some more.
There are a few reasons for this.
One is that Spike Jonze has had a long, interesting career.
Theres a lot to ask him about.
Then, theres that Spike Jonze is so much fun to talk to.
Eloquent, friendly, enthusiastic and inspiring.
Still, being unprofessional in this introduction is one thing, refusing to leave an interview is quite another.
For now, then, heres how my chat with the rambunctious and radical Spike Jonze.
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How are you?
I really liked it.
This is your first feature solo script, right?
So Ive written some films in the past.
Well, excuse me.
Oh, andAnnie Hall.That was my first movie.
[Laughs] How was writing on your own different to your previous directorial films?
Did it give you any different challenges?
But I loved it.
When I brought Dave Eggers on I already had 60 pages of notes.
I technically could have, but I dont think I was ready to.
I needed him to be there and help me.
You picked quite a subject for it.
How difficult was it to make that believable?
It must have been a huge challenge.
[Laughs] I didnt even think that people hate new operating systems.
Thats a great interpretation.
It was definitely the challenge of the movie, to believe that love story.
Like reading a book, you imagine all the characters.
You get to see their expressions shift and their eyes shift, their anxiety build or release.
You see everything happen.
But to me thats exciting.
In our movies we create impossible challenges.
Not impossible, because thats ridiculous [Laughs].
We, er…
You set challenges that most other people wouldnt know how to approach, maybe?
We give a shot to.
I think thats what makes it exciting and makes it dangerous.
Its like jumping off a hotel roof into a swimming pool.
But was that something you were conscious of subverting, or not adhering to?
No, not in that way, although I like what youre saying.
I like people that define their own values.
Thats much more interesting and much more meaningful.
Somebody that has to fight against social norms and somebody who like… did you see Lana Wachowski speech?
I forget what it is, about civil rights; its some society that is honouring her.
Did you see that?
I havent, no.
Look at it and link to it in this article, if you will.
Its so inspiring to me and so beautiful.
[I believe this is the video Spike is referring to.
-I didnt, no.
Youre not a nerd.
Get out of here!
I just didnt get around to seeing it.
Its definitely, definitely worth seeing.
Its so ambitious and authentic and genuine.
I love people that willfully defy what youre supposed to be and create their own definition of their selves.
Joaquin Phoenix is so good in this.
He has a reputation as being quite intense.
How was he to work with?
Well, hes intense in that he cares and that he cant lie.
If hes not feeling something…
[A noise in the hallway]
There he is, right there.
If hes not feeling something, its my responsibility as the director to help him figure out.
Hed tell you himself, he doesnt know how to act.
If hes faking it, he wont do it.
Like, theres not an air of pretension about him.
Yeah, have fun, or at least, whether its fun, enjoy the intensity.
Cause not everything is necessarily going to be fun but it can be rich.
Moving on slightly, youre associated withJackass.
Ive never heard of that before.
No, Im kidding.
They think of you as two separate people.
Does that come up regularly?
I mean, in interviews.
Not in my life.
Knoxville and Tremaine are two of my oldest friends and we make these things together.
Would we ever get Spike JonzesExpendables 4,and what would that be like?
[Laughs] Well…um…what would it be?
You write it, Ill make it.
Pitch me, right now.
I dont have anything for you.
Well, thered be Stallone and… three Nic Cages?
And theyd just be fighting Jason Statham for 90 minutes.
Well, what if it was all Nic Cages?
Now Im on board.
The Expendables 4with all Nic Cages.
I would die to do that movie.
Imagine how good he would be.
And hed play the bad guy, obviously.
Ahh, action movie bad guy Nic Cage would be great.
All right, Ill work on it.
Whats your favorite Jason Statham movie?
I mean, how could you pick?
I wont marginalise that man and his work by picking one.
Thank you, Spike Jonze.
By the time this goes to press I promise I will have seenCloud Atlas.
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