Happy Sad Confused - John David Washington

Episode Date: September 16, 2020

It's been an impressive last few years for John David Washington, starring in "Ballers", then Spike Lee's "BlacKkKlansman", and culminating now with the lead role in Christopher Nolan's latest spectacular, "Tenet". John David joins Josh to talk about his journey, growing up being known as Denzel's son, and of course a deep dive into one of his favorite films, "Coming to America"! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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Get after him or have you shot You mean blow up the building From this moment on None of you are safe New episodes every Wednesday Wherever you get your podcasts Prepare your ears, humans. Happy, sad, confused begins now.

Today on Happy, Sad, Confused, John David Washington on Tenet and his comfort movie Coming to America. Hey, guys, I'm Josh Horowitz. Welcome to another edition of Happy, Sad Confused, new guest on the pod this week. It is Mr. John David Washington. You know his name by now. You saw him in Black Klansman, and you are seeing him. If you haven't seen him yourself in Tenet yet, you've probably seen the trailers, the posters, the commercials.

He is, of course, the lead in Christopher Nolan's newest ginormous spectacle that I haven't seen. I'll be frank. I haven't seen. I'm in New York, guys. What can I say? I haven't been to a movie theater like many, many of us. This is a weird. circumstance, but John David Washington is promoting Tenet, which is in theaters, and if it's

where you're at, if it's done in a safe way, if you feel comfortable with it, then Godspeed. Sadly, I'm not in a place where I can see it or see it comfortably or see it safely, but that doesn't take away anything from the fact that John David Washington is having a moment and has been having a moment the last couple years. he uh for those that don't know he is of course denzil washington's son so he's got it in the jeans his mom is it is an actor as well um and you know his first career as it were wasn't really in the arts he made a go of it in professional football that didn't end up panning out as it doesn't for many people due to injuries shifted back into acting got a big part on ballers on hbo joan johnson's show

and since then has been transitioning into big films and really has transitioned in a big way relatively quickly. Black Klansman Spike Lee's film from a couple years back was a big moment for him, giving him the lead role in that. And now he's in Tenet, which, as I said, I mean, this is a big deal because this is a Christopher Nolan movie, and Christopher Nolan can basically cast whoever he wants in the leads of his films. And he chose John David Washington,

And I get it. This guy's got charisma seeping out of every pore, and he's clearly got the goods. So I was psyched to catch up with John David Washington for my first kind of substantial conversation with him about Tannin, about his film tastes growing up. And indeed, his comfort movie, which I was delighted to find out, was the wonderful coming to America, which I haven't seen in a bit, though it is kind of in my bones. I've seen it many times. one of Eddie Murphy's classics. It was fun to revisit that one and fun to hear John David Washington talk about why he loves Eddie Murphy and why he loved this movie in particular. And, yeah, it was a good movie to kind of, to reanalyze, as it were. And we didn't even talk about it in the course of the conversation, but there's a sequel coming to America. I don't know. When it's

coming out, it was supposed to come out this holiday season. Again, everything's in flux. But But at some point we are going to see Eddie Murphy and Arsenio Hall back into coming to America sequel, which is crazy. So other things to mention besides the main event, which is my conversation with John David Washington. Some cool stuff. Stir Crazy. The Comedy Central series, this week's guest is the hilarious Nikki Glazer, very funny comedian.

She was awesome talking to me from her parents' home in St. Louis, Missouri. It's funny to talk to so many of these folks. that have like gone back home. So she's, she's living that life right now, even as she starts to do stand up, frankly, in some cases, you know, in outdoor venues, et cetera. So that was fun. You can check that out on Comedy Central's YouTube page and Facebook page. Oh, I do want to mention this. I've got a very cool event coming up for Metaverse. If you've been listening to the podcast recently, you probably remember that I did a special event with Georgia Miller recently, a fifth anniversary look back at Mad Max Fury Road. This was done in conjunction with

the folks at Metaverse, which is kind of, it's basically the company that does New York Comic-Con and other big cons like that. So since there can't be a New York Comic-Con in person this year for obvious reasons, they are doing another one of these things they call Metaverse, which is going to be on YouTube. All of the content is going to be free. It's from October 8th through October 11th. As part of that, I've got two things coming up. One I can't mention quite yet, but you guys are going to really dig what it's going to be. I'll talk about that soon. But the one I can mention right now is I am doing a 10th anniversary since the end of Lost panel with Damon Lindelof and Carlton Kuse. So it's been 10 years since the end of Lost, one of the most popular influential

important shows in the history of television, talking to Damon and Carlton, the showrunners of that show, all about Lost. And it's going to be a fan Q&A, meaning maybe I'll throw in some of my own questions, but for the most part, I am asking your questions. So I want to hear from you guys. I know there are Lost fans out there. All you have to do is tweet at me with the hashtag Lost in the Metaverse. Doesn't even need to be to me or it can be to your Comic-Con or whoever, but use the hashtag. That's how we're going to find these questions. Lost in the Metaverse. M-E-T-A-V-E-R-S-E. Ask your questions. I will ask as many as possible. I will say that I know Damon and Carlton want to answer everything. They also want to answer stupid, bizarre, weird questions. So the

weirder, more random, crazier, esoteric lost questions, the better chance you're going to have of me actually using them. Hashtag lost in the Metaverse, hit me up on Twitter, on my Instagram page, wherever. Just use that hashtag. We'll search it out. And again, I will use as many of those fan questions as possible. The deadline, I believe, will be this Sunday, this Sunday. So that's, let's see, September 20th, like noon, eastern time, something like that.

So get your questions in ASAP. By this Sunday, use the hashtag Lost in the Metaverse, special event, Carlton Kuse, Damon Lindeloff, and we're going to talk all things lost. That is really exciting for me and hopefully for you guys. Not much else to say watching all the usual things, just like everybody else. I finally watched, I May Destroy You, which as advertised, was very powerful and fascinating. I think I've mentioned this before. I am obsessed with the HBO series The Vow.

I'm way ahead on that one. I've seen some screeners of that one. I highly recommend that docu-series about the nexium cult. Oh, my God. I'm obsessed. And starting to see some cool fall movies. Weirdly, we're starting to get into award season, whatever that means now. But yeah, the festivals are happening virtually,

so I'm starting to get a chance to see some really cool movies that I'll talk about on future episodes. Okay, that's enough of me rambling. Let's get to the main event. John David Washington, Tenet is the movie. You know where it's at. You know if it's playing near you. You know if you want to do it. That's up to you.

But in the meantime, I hope you enjoy this conversation with one of our newest, brightest stars out there, Mr. John David, Washington. John David, welcome to the weird version of my podcast in 2020. But I guess everything is weird in 2020. What can I say? The new norm, man. This is the new norm. Let's hope it's not the norm for long. But yeah, thanks for doing this, man.

I appreciate it. Congratulations on all the success, man. It's been a hell of a couple of years for you. And I'm sure you were looking forward to this summer. And it's maybe not gone quite according to what you'd envision. But talk to me a little bit about, you know, at the start of the year, you're probably like, this is the year. This is going to be a big year for me.

And you're enjoying it, I'm sure. but it's a different kind of enjoyment. Talk me through it a little bit. Yeah, I definitely, even this time last year, saw the whole rollout going another way. Definitely, beginning of the year in January, I was looking forward to traveling the world and selling a Christopher Nolan film.

Obviously, circumstances have changed that reality, but nonetheless, I'm still very excited and super proud and happy about coming out and getting to the people. you know just a little more uh difficult than yeah were you like everybody else i would imagine like the last few months obviously the release date kept shifting etc and you must i can only imagine when you put to be in your head space like you must have been just so anxious for the world to see this and to um and to like just get on with it give me a sense was it frustrating for you the

last few months or what oh i wouldn't say frustrating i was but i was you know it was it was sad It sadded me from time to time. In the unknown of it, you're just not knowing if, you know, even when it became when, even though there was a delay, but when felt better. But the if was hard to take, you know, not knowing if it was going to just go straight to streaming, if we'd have to win a whole other summer.

So I was definitely, you know, it was tough for me to deal with. But, I mean, just not, you know, just not that tough, Everything's relative, obviously, nowadays. Obviously, it's not like, yeah. It was just so, it was, you know, you had this idea of how it was going to happen and what was going to, how the role I was going to be and everything like that. And, you know, it was just a huge film. It was one of Chris, it was Christopher Nolan film.

So it was just the idea of what you think that's going to be took some adjustment, adjusting to, obviously due to the pandemic. You're in L.A., I know. So are you still in the parents house? Has that gone? Has that gone? No, I'm I'm living. I'm off the reservation. So so you did spend some time there though, right? So like at what at what point did it go from oh sweet nostalgic? This is kind of sweet to oh, we're all going to murder each other if I don't get out of here. See, I got to be careful about how I answer this. But I'll put it like this. It was a smooth transition out. It was very smooth.

Everybody understood, well, my mom's still, she's like, no, I just, you can, it'll be different this time. I'm envisioning you like, literally, like, opening a window in the dead of night and just, like, jumping out and be like, peace, see you guys. But I do, like, if you see the trailer of us jumping, rappelling, propelling onto it, and then jumping up, that's what happened, just in the thick of night.

I'm glad I'm glad tenant prepared you for escaping from your house. Absolutely. Yeah. Yeah, I needed their training. So I'm curious. I want to, you know, as I was telling you, you know, this podcast is usually a more of a kind of a career conversation. We'll get into some of that. But we're also kind of talking about film taste and movies that we've come to view as comfort movies.

I'm curious before we dive into like the comfort movie you selected, just getting a sense of how your movie taste was formed. Obviously, we all have unique upbringings. You certainly had one, having parents that were both artists, your dad, one of the biggest movie stars on the planet. Did your relationship to movies and acting, would you say it was a unique one growing up, or was it not that much different from anybody else's, you think? I guess that's relative, too.

I guess it was unique, but like my parents, surprisingly, weren't the only influence. My uncle, Rick Weaver, North Carolina, had all these movies back in the VHS days when I was a kid. And my cousins would go to school. I'd stay at my uncle's house or my cousins were at school. And I just watch in his basement just hours and hours of movies. He would have like five movies recorded on one tape, on VHS tape.

So like the credits would start and then it would like scramble a bit and then morph into the next film. So like there was a film like a band of the hand. I used to watch that religiously. I know, right? It's like, I wouldn't even escape. I consider myself something of a cinephile, John David, and I don't even know that one. You beat me.

Yeah, yeah, take a look at early, early days. It's like it was in the, I think was it, who makes an appearance in it? Lawrence Fishburn makes an appearance in it. You know, Leon is in it. So I used to love, I used to love that film. But yeah, just, so I just, you know, all the horror, the horror genre. I used to be so scared of it because North Carolina, he lived around the woods,

so it used to scare me. But it was the movies I had to watch. So it was between that and then, yeah, my folks, obviously, they'd get some of the Academy Award films brought home, and I'd watch those. I mean, Glory, I watched religiously. Ninja Turtles, I'd watch religiously. I would say from Glory to Ninja Turtles, because only one of those, I think, had your dad in as far as I remember. But they were at the house. I was just saying, like, you just don't understand where my it is, white it is, you know, like Tim Burton films. So I just, I watched all kinds of things growing up. Who were the first?

Sorry, who were the first actors or directors he became obsessed with? Do you remember like an actor? Actually, Ed's Wick, probably because of, because of glory. I was just obsessed with him. And I mean, all the Star Wars, you know, so, so, you know, but, yeah, Spike Lee was another one, but I wasn't really allowed to watch his movies early on. on so so that was a thing um but yeah did you see Malcolm X when when your dad did

Malcolm X did you got a chance to see it I did I did get to see it um I didn't see that so I was just I was just I love Spike Lee but I just wouldn't allow to see all like I wasn't allowed to see more better blues when I was a kid you know another the movie he collabed my father with so they they would actually strange I didn't get to see that I didn't see it until I was like in college so really I was late to the part yeah what what about being just on film sets Does that change? Like you saw how the sausage was made as a kid, I would imagine. Does that change?

Because so much about going to movies when you're a kid is about escaping and just and buying into that fantasy. Was any of that ruined for you, considering you knew a little bit of how it was all done? No, I think it added to the excitement, like knowing there was something about my dad being able to transform, like he knowing, especially with Richard III, when he did that, Shakespeare in the park. I remember being in New York when I was a kid and him reciting his lines. And then when I remember seeing him on that stage with the limp and the mullet and the tights

to Richard III, I thought it was like a magic trick. And I've said that before. It just did something so special and captivating about him being able to morph into this guy because I know he didn't really talk like that. Right. So being on set was sort of an extension of that feeling I had when I saw him transform into Richard the 3rd, just seeing how everything's, everything's were done. And I never thought it was slow or this is like the pay.

I never was bored on it. I just loved the activity level of everybody. I remember, there was a memory I have of his shooting glory. And it was the war scene, the battle scene on the beach. And we were sitting like deep, deep video village, I guess, with my mother. It was nighttime. And so the war scenes happened to see the sparks flying and, I guess, the fireworks and bombs going off for the scene.

And so he comes up out of the ashes, my father. It was like pitch black, and he's coming up out of the ashes where it's flat. And he's like, he looks at me, and he's like, you want to come down the set? And I was just, I was just super. And I was like, yes, yes, yes, let's go. Mom, can I go? And she hated on me. She didn't let me go down there.

So I'd never forget that. I was so upset. But that's one of my favorite scenes in movie history is just that final war scene in glory. And I was there, but I wasn't there. But I just loved that. I always love being on set. I feel very comfortable on set, hearing, cut, and yelling action. See, I remember sitting in the courtroom in Philadelphia with Tom Hanks and pops. I remember Tom Hanks for like, he would tell jokes in between takes and then he's so serious when they yelled action. So I just thought that was like magic. Like, how did he do that? How did he change his personality that fast?

Amazing. So, I mean, again, another example would be Russell Crow. He gave. gave me a Jonah Lambo jersey, a New Zealand athlete, because I happen to know the All Blacks, New Zealand All Blacks, and seeing, you know, set on virtuosity, and you know, him acknowledging me and seeing and giving me, he gave me the World Cup tape and a Jonah Lambo jersey. I never forget it.

So all that just, it was just, I just loved it. I always embraced it. I love that you mentioned those Edswick films. I mean, again, I'm sure your relationship to them is different, but like literally, I will, I get sucked into, if I see like the last 30 minutes of glory, I cannot turn it off. Because it just, it reaches such an emotional crescendo. And it's just so powerful.

And frankly, current, under fire, too, like, always wrecks me by the end. Like, those are, those are great stories. It's a great film. Great movie, great movie. So the comfort movie you chose does touch on transformation a bit. There's a lot of transformation in this film. I really appreciated your pick, man. We haven't mentioned this actor, but he is a huge influence for those of us that came of age in the 80s or 90s.

Talk to you about Eddie Murphy and coming to America. Why was this your pick? What do I start? Again, talking about, I guess, magic tricks and seeing how people can morph in the care. Well, he played, you know, he and Arsenio Hall. Arsenio Hall doesn't get credited enough for what he did in that film. But just all these characters that they played, I didn't know they were the same person. person as a kid, even though the credit showed

Eddie Redder, I didn't really put it together. It was like, there's no way that the Jewish fellow in the barbershop is Eddie Murphy. Like, you know, so I mean, it's just one of the funniest movies ever made. The writing is phenomenal. And just this sort of this early, early days in the 80s, this celebration of black excellence of, you know, the fluence of royalty, you know, being highlighted.

But they didn't, they didn't, I don't know, They didn't, they didn't sensationalize it in a way. It was just normal. The whole point was him trying to be normal. Being a regular guy, not showing his identity. I just, I loved it. And him going to all places, it was kind of a practical choice. Where do you go?

Look for a queen in America. Queens. Like, it's, I thought it was brilliant. But just how they, they managed to display such rich culture and sort of the difference. Like what Black Panther did in a lot of ways, the African-American culture, the African culture. And that's sort of the connection between the two and between like Arsenia Hall playing the preacher,

you know, with that terrible wig and the edges in the teeth. I just, they just, they nailed so many cultural, like, touchstones and, and, I don't know, um, situations. They brought it to the forefront. they brought it and they made it mainstream and people that uh people that don't look like like me that get it you know what i'm saying people for the it there's a universal connection

that that you just get these characters but it's so specific to a culture to our culture i just loved everything that's about it you you mentioned like literally a half a dozen different points in there that i'm totally with you on board and we can kind of dive into each of them i want to give a little context i mean everybody knows coming to america of course but it opened on June 29th, 1988. You were pretty young then. I can't imagine you saw it when it first came out. Do you remember?

I didn't go to theaters, no. I saw it later. I saw it later. Yeah. Do you remember it being like a big deal to see? It's probably an R-rated film, I would imagine just from the language. Do you remember?

Yeah, I mean, yeah, him and it's just screaming. In fact, talking about my uncle, my North Carolina, there was, I saw, that was the first time I saw it. My uncle who had it on the VHS tapes. That's still, so I saw it later. There you go ahead. No, no, obviously that answers the question. We need those uncles in our lives to expose us.

of the stuff that maybe we're not ready for or we, you know, it's how we form our taste. So I, you know, I've, of course, seen this movie many times, but I checked it out again last night. I mean, for those that don't know, of course, Eddie plays among other characters, the main character as a team, who is, of course, the crown prince of Zamunda, who's, yes, coming to America. Zimunda. So, yeah, I mean, you nailed it. I mean, I feel like, and you can speak to this better than I can, presumably. Zimunda Wakanda

are probably the two most influential, important fictional African nations, like, ever put on screen. Like, it's insane, but it's true, don't you think? I mean, I actually never made the connection to just talking about it, but yeah, huge, like, very,

very important in the, in the, in the, in the theater community, in the movie community, for sure. I just, what they, again, like I was talking about, what they were, represent, but Samunda, well, I guess like, what kind of, I was to be so young, and I imagine, but see, you know, it's rated R and it's a comedy,

but it's something about the, the, how, I just, I wouldn't use, I remember the scene you just saw. So when they go to the, to the Knit Game, and the vendor stopped and drops his drinks, I am a loyal citizen of Samud. I mean, it was such a precious moment for me, because it was just, again, celebrating such black excellence in America, in like,

like in this, in this common area, you know, just the man I met to the restroom. Like, he was, it was almost a throwaway, you know. One of the best deliveries of a wine. Yeah, just that, the way he throws away. Just the man I met in the restaurant. Just the man I met in the rest room. Like, Eddie, in my opinion, if that movie comes out now, he gets nominated, you know? Maybe even Arsenio as well.

I mean, it's one, I think it's, I think it's slow, it's slept on, like, scared. I mean, it's kind of crazy to think. But I think that movie slept off. And, but yeah, I think just what that moment represented. represents for me was here's a man who's sort of trying to suppress his royalty, his greatness, his black excellence in this country, not because of anything that has to do with like, I don't know, social unrest or social, you know, it was more about he's trying to find love. It was more on a personal level, you know, in his life. And I just thought that's such a unique perspective about a character, especially ones that look like us. my hot take in watching it again last night was, and as I was reading on it, is I think it's more autobiographical than we think.

I mean, you think about where Eddie was in his life. He was one of the most famous human beings on the planet. He was Pete Eddie Murphy. It was Beverly Hills Cup, Robill's Cup, too. Raw had come out the year before. And I'm sure this was the point

where he was being treated like a god. And that's where Akeem is in the beginning of this film where he wants to, he's looking to be treated. like a semi-normal person and I think on some level this is this started as a story that Eddie wrote on some level this is about Eddie Murphy you know wanting to still feel like a like a relatable human being my hot take I don't know if it's true or not but that's great I you should when you when you see him you bring that up because I mean I could that I totally buy

that I mean I can imagine does Eddie Murphy wake up and get his teeth rushed for him and I mean like the wipers you think he has wipers around the wipers like the bath seat it's just even up and I love the homage that there was a great video from Buster Rhymes that sort of did a take on it like a sort of parody that I love just I mean there's so many things in that film it's a smart it's it was directed by John Landis who of course he had worked on trading places which was really the movie that launched him his film career um it's it doesn't feel like actually a huge budget movie when I'm watching it again, but it's actually, where they spent the money is great. Again, when I was

watching it last night, there were like two elephants and one zebra. You see just like at the perfect spots whenever they're walking around some Monday. It's like, it just always makes me laugh. And the giraffe, too. The draft got as close up, but really tight. Like, hey, we spent money on this. We're going to show the giraffe. Right. Right. So what about that, but that, that, that, that, that dance sequence, though, I mean, of the wedding. Yeah. I mean, that's like, I went to a Black, historically black college. And that theme plays all the time in our games, a halftime shows.

I mean, that was, I mean, talking about budget, I wonder, you know, how much that cost that day, how many days they took to shoot that. Yeah. Because, again, it talks about the allure of the, it gave it scale, too, you know? Like, this was a big event. This is just like, they rule, like,

this corner of Africa, that is a big deal. I love that. Well, and to think about it, like, there aren't many white people in this movie. And yet this was a movie that was, like, mainstream this cut across every demo and was just a blockbuster hit and that's that's an important point to make that like this cut across it was it didn't it wasn't a niche movie it wasn't a quote-unquote black movie it worked for all audiences um and that can't be discount that's what i yeah

and i love that's a good point i just um i love that they didn't it wasn't sort of a self-reclaimed this is for the people this is for our people this is for this is for the community this is for the community the movie girls who love Eddie Murphy, who enjoy comedy, who enjoy good storytelling, you know, it was universal. And I think a lot of that is due to the origins of the movie, which is Africa, you know, and that sort of relationship between Africa and African-Americans. But that being said, though, the appearances on here, what's my man's name? Now I'm on lettuce, right? That's work at the McDonald's. Yeah, yeah, yeah. I'll be on fries.

What was it, Louis? Louis Anderson. Anderson, man. Like, ha. Yes. That's when the big bucks start rolling. I mean, he's dropping gyms right there. You know what I'm saying?

Well, the big players, it is a well-cast movie. As much as it's dominated by Eddie and Arsenio, down to Vondi Curtis Hall, who pops in Sam Jackson, who is like, must have been one of his first movies, but it's like, it's like,

full-on, like, oh, that's Sam Jackson at 11. Like, it's like he did the part yesterday, and it's just, it's still, Yeah, it's perfect. I mean, Vanessa Bell, Vanessa Bell-Calaway, like, whatever you like, it's, like, you know, there's all your, Cuba Gooding Jr. in the, in the Barbershop, you know, in the Barbershop. So, I mean, it's, yeah. So you alluded to, yes, I mean, both Eddie and Arsenia are playing a host of characters,

particularly in that Barbershop sequences, which is now legendary. Yeah. What's your, I mean, you've done comedy, but you haven't done this kind of comedy. No, not, yeah, that's. Is that in your wheelhouse? Is that even something that feels like you could tackle? Or give me a sense of what your attitude is about that? I don't think.

I don't think so. I mean, what comedians do, I mean, stand up to me is like the hardest form of entertainment. To stand up there with a mic and make people laugh for two hours or whatever, depending on how long the special is. That's a different kind of animal. That's a different kind of beast you have to be. And what they pulled off, I would like,

I like to think that I can be different characters. and find the humor in things and subject matters that are relevant. But what they did to fully commit like that, like the sexual chocolate band leader, like Eddie Murphy, I could, you have to go all the way or it's not going to work. You have to commit to that, yes. You know, there's no halfway and I don't know if I'm secure enough in my funny bone to pull something.

And I'd want it, that's what I'd be chasing. I could be chasing a movie like that. If it's going to be something, I have to be at that level, you know what I mean? So I don't know if I'm, yeah. What's, um, there's a special, special artist. Well, you're just getting started. It's a long career. We'll see.

Maybe in the fifth or six decade, well, you'll don't on the prosthetics and do six roles, you know, don't count it out. There you go. I mentioned John Landis. They infamously didn't get along, Eddie and John, even though they ended up working together. Oh, really? Yeah, on Beverly Hills Top Three, they reteamed. But I guess from what I read, you know, Eddie at trading places has

something to prove, and like John Landis is the established director, it kind of had reversed by the time they made this. Eddie was on top of the world. So there was a little bit of a power problem. I'm just curious. I've talked to actors and directors about this a lot. You know, fun sets, harmonious sets don't necessarily make great movies and vice versa. Do you, I mean, in your career so far, do you see a correlation between like getting along with a filmmaker and making a great movie, or does it not really matter? I know, this is an interesting topic. And talking to other artists, I've heard, I have surprisingly heard, you don't have to get along

still be great, you know, make a great film. They don't have to be the nicest people, but damn, they're really good at what they do. Yeah. So you kind of, you endure. I've been lucky with most of the things I've been on that I've gotten, not only have I gotten along with the filmmaker, we've been able to make something significantly, presentable, you know, to the audience. So I could speak for specifically to Spike Lee and Christopher Nolan, which was a surprise.

You know, I'm kind of prepared to be, you know, we'll work for food. I'm active for hire. You tell me how to say it. I'll do it. That's what I was kind of expecting. And they were the opposite, you know, they really made me feel like a colleague, you know, like a part of the team and only just a part of the team leaned on my instincts, encouraged my instincts and my spontaneity.

I would exceed my expectations. I was a bit surprising to me because of where they are in their careers and how consistent they've been and these juggernauts of artists that you don't expect to hear that, especially when I've heard it from artists, you know, not on that level, but they do want you to say it a certain way and do want you to do it a certain way. So, you know, you kind of protect yourself

and prepare yourself for anything, especially with people like that. But when artists like that encourage you to really add what you do what you do and add on to it and be in addition to the team and be really a teammate, it's encouraging moving forward that there is a world that exists where you can work with people that are great that really love what they do. And it can be harmonious. I mean, relative, you know, sets are crazy and there's always something. but for the most part, the overall that you can work together and be cohesive in that way. Yeah, I mean, I've talked to other actors, and I've talked, Chris Nolan's been on the podcast, and I've talked to other actors that have worked with him. Like, he's remarkably, by all accounts, pretty calm in the middle of that storm,

especially on the scale he's working. He kind of, like, has a focus that is, I guess, necessary, or at least you want it in that kind of craziness, because otherwise, how are you going to get shit done? It's going to get, like, just a mess otherwise. us. Before we get to 10. I think you hit it on the head, though. You hit it on the head, though. I think the want, he really wants to be there. You know, and I think he, you know, and some people can handle pressure. He gets calm under pressure. He, he likes, I think, especially with Spike Lee, too. I think they like a little bit of chaos. Let's see what the crew can do. Let's see, let's see what the actors do.

Let's see how they handle it, you know, and like a good coach, like a Bill Parcell or Bill Belichick, I think, or Phil Jackson, that's when you're tested. That's when you know what you're really made of. So I think he embraces. those moments and but you have to want to be there to be able to embrace those moments the way he does and to know that a Spike Lee and a Christopher Nolan who are at the top of their game who have been doing this for such a long time have been doing quality work for such a long time still feel this way still have this approach to it like this almost like this first time approach to it um it's encouraging to know and it's humbling to know that all right you get you should stay in place you know

there's no room for egos on a set like theirs they're really number one on the call sheet but don't act like it. You know what I'm saying? It's just the respect is there due to their actions, how they exemplify leadership. I guess too, given your background as an athlete, like that athlete mentality probably helps, like similar to the way you're talking about, the coaches, a player that can maintain focus and, and yes, be ultra prepared, but also kind of like maintain that kind of Zencom in the middle of, you know, just adjustments. That's invaluable and on a film set. So before we move into like a little bit of tenant talk

and some just general things, I always like to bestow some arbitrary awards to our comfort movie. I think I know where this is going, but the best performance in this film, got to give it to Eddie, is that just a no-brainer? Yeah, Eddie Murphy, yep.

Best scene in this film. What's your favorite scene in coming to America? Oh, best scene. Well, I want to give a shout to Arsenio, though. I know best performance, but like, you know, I got to say supporting Arsenio Hall. Okay, but let me see, the best scene. See, that's not fair.

That's like picking who your favorite kid is. Like, because the club scene when I was John the welcome, my former, like, when they're in the club, I mean, I guess, like, all in terms of purposes, I guess it's the sequence is in the barbershop. Yeah. I guess I'd say it's either that or the McDowell's auction when it went with sexual chocolate comes on stage. but I go with the barbershop because there's more time with the barbershop stuff. Do you have a favorite line or a line that you've most

quoted over the course of your life from this movie? I don't have a favorite line but I quote this one a lot. You ain't met no Martin Luther the King. When he says I forget that actor's name, but when he says I ain't never heard the King before, you ain't met no Martin Luther the King.

Like now you just, it just applies whenever somebody's line. Like, oh, I did it. You ain't met no Martin Luther the King. Shut up. Like, it's, that is classic, classic, classic. I have a favorite that doesn't really work in any context, but it just always makes me laugh. It's, it's the way Eddie delivers. I have recently been placed in charge of garbage. His entire, the way he delivers, you know what it reminded me of when I was watching it, actually?

I think Will Ferrell and Elf owes a great deal of gratitude to this performance. It is such an open, happy performance. Like, Eddie grins in this movie more than you. You've ever seen him. You're right. He's just a light spirit in the middle of like, kind of like the dank scariness of New York. Similar to the way that Will does it, it just works. You're right.

No, when he announces himself, like, remember that morning, yes. You, you too. Like, he's so proud. You know, right? Yes. On the fire escape. Fuck you, Queens. Yeah.

Yes. Yes. Yeah, absolutely. Yeah. And then what, wait, what's so? So, wait, what is he, wait, what was that scene, wait, what's that scene? Which one? In the McDowell's or in the fire escape?

Oh, so, yeah, he's talking to his perspective bride at the time. That's right, okay. I recently been in place in charge of garbage, do you require any or something like that? Yeah, I don't know. Right, right. When you think of garbage, think of a key, like. Exactly. Oh, and then another, you know what?

And another one, too, though, when he's, and that's sort of saying, but he's talking to her father, like, he's sweeping, and he's like, the, he talked about, the way he described, American football, right? The Texas of Green Day they took on the Giants of New York and they kicked this like, I was like... The oblong balled into it, yeah, yeah, yeah. I was like, oh my God, this dude is brilliant.

He's brilliant. Eddie Murphy, he killed that. I love that scene, too. He has never worked with your dad. Has there ever been talk? Have you ever said, Dad, what's up? Why are you not working together? Oh, man, I have not, but I want them...

I want them to do... It has to be the right thing, though. I don't want them to just do it for the sake of. It depends on who's coming with it, you know. But I hope that they do one day. I hope that you do too with him one day. I mean, now that you're really well into this, man. So we talked a little bit about Tenant.

Sadly, by the nature of it, as you know, I'm in New York, this is killing me, but I haven't seen the movie. These are bizarre times. I couldn't be more excited about this. I'm totally in the tank for what Chris Nolan always does. I'm particularly excited because, you know, I've been avoiding spoilers, of course, but I know his fondness for James Bond. Like, he's talked about it with me on the podcast and others. Like, was Bond evoked a lot in the course on set?

Did you guys talk about the Bond movies? No, we talked about Star Wars a little bit, though. Really? He was a fan of that, but we stayed, at least I did, stayed away from Bond. I had a different approach. And honestly, I didn't, I wasn't thinking of it as spy, globetrotting spy thriller.

I was thinking of it, thinking of it as a, as a Christopher Nolan genre, quite frankly. Yeah. You know, and this is something nuanced. This is a new, this is a new territory in cinema is what I thought. I mean, the guy didn't even have a name, you know. Right, you're the protagonist, right. Yes.

So there was so much, I mean, that, that, that, that, what that entailed for me was that there's so much possibility for who the character is, that there's a way to sort of maybe break the mold. Like, there's a way to do a character like this. And he invited another way. I wanted to, we wanted to bring humanity to, to the character. We wanted to, you know, I felt like his insecurities, his sensitivities were his greatest strain, you know, that he wasn't so cold, but he was quite the opposite.

So I felt like that was a superpower of his and would, you know, distinguishes him from other people in his, in his arena, you know, that if everybody knows how to professionally snap a neck, can get information, can, can hold out. in the torture scene, but what makes them, what's the difference then? And we were able to explore that through the character, through his words, to what he wrote on the page and standing up and give it life. I'm fascinated in the arc of your career in the last few years. I mean, you've obviously, you know, most people probably either saw you on ballers or in Black Klansmen, and that's sort of,

those are the two things that really kind of kick started the career into another level. I mean, it's also unusual, frankly, to see an actor kind of get the moment you're having, at the age you're having it. It's like you're a, you're a man, you're a guy, you've lived a life already. Like, did you, did you, do you think that informs a little bit or helps you a little bit in kind of jumping into being the leading man now? Because you, you know, you have a collection of work,

but you haven't done 30 movies. You've done more like five movies, and yet you're able to still hold the screen on a film of the scale. I guess my question is like, were you worried about a learning curve and jumping into these, where you had to be the guy in the Spike Lee movie. You had to be the guy in a Chris Nolan movie. How do you make that leap with not that huge a resume, frankly?

Well, well, thank you. I consider myself a man. So I'm always impressed when I'm talking to a man because I'm still a child at 44, so you're at me. I'll tell you. I mean, I've become like a child when these films come out, and I just geek over. or like, you know, Christopher Nolan's just talking to you.

I'm just like, so it's kind of, I'm still, that has, that's not lost upon me. But I, my experience, I've been told know a lot in my life, you know, I've basically failed in the whole other industry. So, you know, I have a wealth of experiences that were very influential in how I'm motivated, how I operate and appreciate things in this world and in my life. And when things do happen for me, when things are positive, it for me. I don't take it for granted. And more than that, too, I just, I felt like I was prepared for, I didn't look at it as the movies on my shoulders, the leading man, maybe because of my

football career. I've seen guys get cut the last week of the season. I've seen guys get, I've seen guys come in and leave out, you know, so every day on that call shift, my name's still there. I got an opportunity to be my best. I got another opportunity to be there. Nothing's guaranteed. That's what I've learned from football. football, an NFL, not for long. So I have that mentality, and it's not lost on me. That's kind of how I see things and how I, you know, advanced.

Now, because of those experience, because of other experiences I've had as child and, you know, just what I've collected in life, the good, bad, and the ugly, that all informs me on what I do, you know. And I think being able to tap into certain things, for a character is in combination with the experiences that I've accumulated to this point. Yeah. So, you know, the old adage, you know, life imitates art life.

It's quite applicable, you know, specifically to my life and my career. And that's what I want to continue to do moving forward. So it's not like the moment's too big. I don't even know if I'm having them or whatever the moment is. I just know that, you know, Spike Lee, Christopher Nolan, these people believe in me, these, you know, I've been, I got an opportunity to collaborate. some artists that I really believe in. And God willing, I get to continue to do that.

You're also working with some of the best actors out there, whether it's Elizabeth Debicki or Robert Pattinson, Pattinson talk about a guy having a moment and just sort of see how he's, there you go. I mean, a movie star, totally, right? Like, I mean, you know, I spent a long time at MTV. So I interviewed Rob like a thousand times through the whole Twilight thing. And to see where he is now, given where he was, is just it breaks my brain in half.

It's fantastic. He's such a good guy. just love the way he's put in the work. Were you with him when he got the news about Batman? Was that something that he confided in you at the time? Oh, I don't know if I'm supposed. Yeah, I guess it's kind of out there. Yeah, yeah, I was.

I mean, he's gonna, what I'm excited about for him is how his approach to Bruce Wayne. To me, that's the key, you know? And I love Michael Keaton's Bruce Wayne. Bruce Wayne is the key to it for me. And his Bruce Wayne is going to be bazaunkers. Like, it's going to be great. It's good.

I mean, he's such a phenomenal actor. And I'm glad you mentioned Elizabeth as well, to Becky. I think she is like, in a way, like, she's been doing this for a minute. Now, she's been in, it's like, you look up like, oh, I didn't realize that was her. She knows how to morph, though, is the point of me. When I saw her in widows, she's such a, what she did, widows, it was like who, I knew who she was, but like, that's a character actor. That's somebody that can, as you say, transform. Amazing.

She just, she has this ability to do that. So she's been in these films, these, a lot of these. big budget films too that you forget like oh that was her huh right I can't believe it like she's just she isn't she's like your favorite actor your favorite actor's favorite actor you know I mean she's that talented so you know being being able to work with somebody I mean Adam driver is another one you know you know I just you know Corey who was Kwame Tarray like what he did with that speech I'm just fortunate to be able to to be able to work with somebody I just worked with

with a lovely actor, you know, not recently, that that is fantastic. So I just saying, you're, yeah, and it's just, it's just, I've just been lucky to see these great talents. And more importantly, to me, what's been really great is their attitudes are good. Attitudes are correct. No egos, you know, either one of these people we've named when we just talked about, they're all here for the right reasons. So there is a formula, there is a reason that they keep doing and they keep, they're this successful, I think, you know, And I think that's a part of it. They got the right energy.

You're saying none of those people came with the wipers. You're saying they, or if they did, the wipers were being hidden in the trailer. Oh, man. Let's talk about it. I'm saying that they had the right attitude emotionally. I feel like that was like a non-denial denial. I feel like you were admitting somebody had wipers just by the way you didn't respond. I know nothing about no, nothing about nothing.

You're not to witness that, my friend. Don't worry. What is your relationship with superhero stuff? I mean, it's the question I ask every, I have to ask every actor nowadays because it's the genre of the day. Did you grow up into comic books and to superhero movies? Well, I, I had this action figure.

It was Sunman, who this, this is an action figure who looked like me that had superheroes, that had superhero power. But Black Panther was one of them with Batman. I really, I loved Batman. I just everything about Gotham City and that world, I just, I just was obsessed with it, obsessed with Batman since Tim Burton.

Yeah, Tim Burton, I mean, again, a little older than you, but I always say like I think the first time I skipped school was when Batman opened on June 23rd, 1989. I was 13 years old and I had to see, I had to see that movie, I had to see it. Nice, good on you. And the fun fact, like Prince did the entire score, like did the soundtrack.

And they're crazy, like... Amazing. Amazing. What an artifact of the time, but perfect. I love that movie. But yeah, I mean, as you well know, you've been like fancasted, Green Lantern, John Stewart, other characters. Do you have you had those kinds of meetings, like for... Is that something that interests you, like those kind of characters?

I mean, who wouldn't want to be in the DC or Marvel Universe? But no, they haven't asked me. Well, this is how it happens nowadays. As you know, you just keep talking about it and we manifest it. We make it happen. I'm just trying to help you out, buddy. I appreciate that. Hey, Alexa, give me a meeting with you.

Alexa, call Kevin Feige. Right. So you mentioned you've been able to not only do a bunch of press during the last month or two, but actually produce some art. You were able to you shot something, given the circumstances. What was that like? You worked with Zendaya, with Sam Levinson of Euphoria of Fame.

Was that a nice kind of way to kind of channel all your energy in a time when a lot of us were just not knowing what to do with ourselves. Right. Well, it was therapeutic in so many different ways. Yeah. Maybe even chief among those ways where the fact that you can't, there was a bit of normalcy in the horizon, you know, it was like, oh, there is a way that we can get back to how things were or are with the right protocols. I shout out to our producers, you know, Ash and, you know, Sam's the producers and Dave and who I'm most proud of. is Katia Washington, who, you know, an African-American woman who really set the rules of

safety for a film that there was, that we were able to film and that we were able to do it. And maybe it could be the brew plant moving forward in our industry, that it could be hers. I mean, I think it was a historic moment. And I'm very proud of her for setting those rules and doing what she did for the film. So it was, yeah, it was therapeutic in so many ways. And the fact that we can still create something that we really believe in. I mean, this takes indie to the next level, like super indie, whatever. underneath that. Yeah, how many people were on the set? Is this like a, like, is this a handful of people

on the set? A handful of people. Yeah, it was, you know, it was, it was, it was very intimate, you know, which, uh, which was appropriate given the theme. Yeah, it must be like, yeah, just juicy material for an actor, wouldn't because I assume it's just the two of you or the only two actors. Oh, I mean, I think Sam is, is, I mean, he's, he's incredible. I mean, his, he, his pin game, his writing, you know, what they're doing, what they're doing in Euphoria is just, it's next level it really is so i was lucky that uh to come over and be a part of it well it speaks to what you've been able to accomplish that we're talking things from like tenant which is as big as movie making gets to something kind of down and dirty like this recent endeavor with sam levinson

and zendaya so whatever you're doing man you're doing it right i you know i've been i've been wanted to talk to you for a while i'm sorry it's under these insane circumstances but um i know we'll get together in person at some point and uh i can't wait to talk to you about tenant when when i'm allowed to see it safely and and um please do i will i'll be there trust me i'll be there um thanks man for your time i really appreciate it oh thank you and so ends another edition of happy sad confused remember to review rate and subscribe to this show on iTunes or wherever you get your podcasts i'm a big podcast person i'm daisy ridley and i definitely wasn't pressured to do this by josh I'm Amy Nicholson, the film critic for the L.A. Times.

And I'm Paul Shear, an actor, writer, and director. You might know me from the League, Veep, or my non-eligible for Academy Award role in Twisters. We love movies, and we come at them from different perspectives. Yeah, like Amy thinks that, you know, Joe Pesci was miscast in Goodfellas, and I don't. He's too old. Let's not forget that Paul thinks that dude too is overrated. It is. Anyway, despite this, we come together to host Unspooled, a podcast where we talk about good movies, critical hits.

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