The director found it in an Aussie: Hugh Jackman.
That seems like the right step forward.
(Ah, the days when alleged sexual impropriety could have such an effect.)
Frank Masi/Sony Pictures
ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: Jason, you first heard about this story on a Radiolab episode about Gary Hart.
Were all looking for stories that give us perspective.
When I heard the Hartscandalstory, I just thought, here was a thread to pull on.
Sony Pictures
I think even if youre a political science major, it could be seen as a blip.
But actually, it is incredibly relevant.
Gary Hart is someone who is historically private and closed off.
Everyone described him as very mysterious, mercurial, enigmatic.
These are all very exciting descriptions and also slightly terrifying when youre playing him.
Because as an actorme, anywayyou wanna know: What makes a person tick?
What are the things in their way?
What are their conflicts?
He was a very interesting, incredibly intelligent mix of contradictions in a way.
So that, to me, was a challenge I hadnt faced.
Has Gary seen the movie?REITMAN:Yeah, he has.
Let me pick the worst week.
[Laughs] Its really scary!
One of the first things that happened was he asked his wife, Do I really talk like that?
And [his wife] Lee said, Darling, thats exactly how you speak.
You wake up, you check your phone, and youre like, F. Right?
[Laughs] But this was a script that was written in 2015.
It was written before the current administration.
Before we started, I thought, This is an important movie to make.
This is gonna start some really great conversations.
Its not telling you how to think.
Its not giving you any answers.
It never tries to, deliberately.
Its like, no, were starting conversations, okay?
Were not trying to divide.
Were not trying to tell you anything.
And I just stayed true to that.
