“I spoke with him a week ago, two weeks ago.
He was in Tennessee for a screening, and he was having a great time.”
Rifkin was working earlier today when he discovered thatReynolds died at age 82.
Gabriel Olsen/FilmMagic
“It hit me hard.
I just didn’t see it coming, and it’s really, really sad.”
The filmmaker recalls that working with Reynolds more than lived up to his childhood dreams.
“He was just as great in real life as you see him on screen.
He was a real collaborator.
He loved the creative process, he loved working with people.
“He was there working harder than anybody else.
He was there earlier, he left the set later, he always wanted to do more takes.
I will go till I drop.'
He was so committed to doing a great job, it inspired everyone.”
“His words: ‘I cried like a baby.’
He said this in the Q&A.
He felt exposed and vulnerable.
But he loved the way it turned out, and he loved the reaction the film got.
“He wassoexcited to be working with Quentin Tarantino,” the director recalls.
Burt was in a great place these last few years, from our movie and Quentin.
Rifkin believes Reynolds' death will prompt a positive reappraisal of his talents.
“He’s a brilliant actor, he’s as good an actor as any of the great actors.
Now that people have a little bit of distance, they can look back on his body of work.
