Now, Norton is back to grounded reality inJames Mangolds much anticipatedBob Dylanmusical biopic,A Complete Unknown.
EDWARD NORTON: That’s an interesting question.
There are little things that activate a character for you.
Image via Searchlight Pictures
Sometimes, it’s clothes I got a wonderful gift from one of Pete Seeger’s daughters.
Maybe I’ve got something.
You know what I mean?
Image via Warner Bros.
You go, I dont know!
And I called Joan Baez, and I said, Can I ask you a funny question about Pete?
If you didn’t see him, would he hug you?
And she went, Oh my god, no!
So, those are the little details.
Here’s a big detail learning to play the banjo for this movie.
At the Newport Folk Festival in 1965, a young Bob Dylan shakes up his act on the folk music scene by going electric and siring rock as the voice of a generation - defining one of the most transformative moments in 20th century music.
NORTON: The banjo is up there, right up there.
That’s a big jump.
So, it was tricky.
It was very, very tricky.
It was more difficult than my music inDeath to Smoochy, let’s just say that.
The next thing I wanted to hit on was two of your scene partners.
I love the fact that I felt the weight of her presence in every single scene.
NORTON: Its very nice of you to say that.
Toshi Seeger was aforce.
And almost working backward from there, I thought, “Eriko feels like a pillar.”
You know what I mean?
She’s got this ramrod kind of sense.
There are a lot of cuts to her that I like.
Theyre such short shots, but they say so much.
NORTON: I agree.
NORTON: That’s the one I’m talking about!
James Mangold and Timothee Chalamet are joining forces for the highly-anticipated biopic.
We are seeing a shift in their dynamic when he’s trying to figure out what to do there.
NORTON: I think its very astute.
But I agree with that observation.
The other scene partner I needed to ask about was Scoot [McNairy].
NORTON: On all of them.
Yeah, I agree.
And also, I thinkits not insignificant that Jim chose the sound of Woody Guthrie to start the film.
He was a very dysfunctional person in many ways.
And I agree with you, Scoot…
It’s a nonverbal performance, almost, and so much comes through his eyes in assessing Dylan.
There’s a transference that takes place from him.
He was wonderful to work with.
A Complete Unknownopens in theaters on December 25.
