Mary-louise Parker talks about her fascination for dark comedy, her camaraderie with director Robert Schwentke and her contribution in the planning of buddy cop movie R.I.P.D.
When you were offered R.I.P.D., you were still busy with your award-winning show, Weeds, and filming RED 2. Why you chose to do R.I.P.D.IJ
I was so flattered that Robert Schwentke asked me to work with him again after RED. I like and respect him, and Jeff Bridges and Ryan Reynolds were also attached to the project. Also, my character was one of the best written characters I’ve ever played. I loved the character of Proctor from the second I read it. She was so well-defined yet left room for me to create. With some scripts, you have to make it look like you’re having fun and make it look fresh and make the character interesting. It’s a lot of work to manufacture. The R.I.P.D. script was on the page. The story and the characters were so alive. The writers deserve credit for that and for what’s good about my character.
You also contributed your own ideas, including the costume, which immediately received attention and praise since the trailer was released. How did you choose those white bootsIJ
The boots were actually one of the biggest parts of the character. I wanted her look to speak for who she was because she only has one costume, so it has to say everything. At one point, I had this whole Annie Oakley idea that was silly. Then, I came across this picture of a forest ranger from 1968 and it just felt so right. I sent it to Robert and he loved it. She had those classic go-go type boots. Those boots immediately make the audience envision my character and where it came from. It was one of the keys to her past. The outfit had to look tough but also sexy in its own way. It just came from this one picture that I found after looking forever for the right type of hairstyle, dress and shoes. Sometimes directors don’t give you the freedom or don’t have the time to invest in developing these aspects with the actors. Robert was generous enough to give me the freedom and confident enough to let me come up with ideas and contribute my own bits to the character.
How would you describe your characterIJ
She doesn’t have much compassion or soul or sensitivity. She’s a little cold-blooded and unsentimental. I loved playing her because I didn’t have to worry if she was likeable, although I doubt I could be friends with her in real life. It is fun that she is the first person that these ex-policemen meet in the afterlife. She doesn’t show much sympathy for anyone, which makes for a fun dynamic, considering that she is also the boss of a big police division.
nYou mentioned before that one of the reasons you decided to do the movie was to work with Jeff and Ryan. How was the experience working with themIJ
What a great combo those two are. I am going to sound really phony because I have nothing negative to say about either man. They are both such principled, kind, gentlemen, the kind that you would want your daughter to marry. They’re that kind of man, but they’re also very different. They have a different vibe and they approach work in a different way. They are just so nice and so much fun to be around. I enjoyed watching them both at work even when I wasn’t working. They’re both so funny and I am sure that everyone who meets them can tell that they’re both just nice guys. It’s when you’re that successful, that being humble is kind of rare. They are not guys who have a huge entourage. They are just really nice men.
There’s a lot of action in R.I.P.D. but it is funny how your character seems to be at the epicenter of mayhem and never really gets involved with it.
That was another fun aspect of the character which suits my personality. Generally, the heavy action scenes require a big reset afterwards. Sometimes there are hours in between takes. There’s a lot of technicality that is involved and I prefer getting to interact with the other actors.
How would you describe Robert’s style as a directorIJ
I know Robert very well. Robert is a real perfectionist. He will do a 100 takes and give you a million directions. I like that he really wants to get it right and wants to explore options. He creates a great environment and he encourages you to try anything. Robert has boundless energy and amazing ideas.
looking at your recent choices, it looks like you are attracted to comedy and that you have carved your own niche in terms of style and characters.
What I like in this movie is the irony, the humour. The character is a darker person. I am drawn to black comedy, to the levity within the tragedy. Since I was very young I was always attracted to the dark. I like darker stories, darker characters. It’s more fun.
Speaking of fun, dark elements, what can you say about the DeadosIJ
What a fun concept to have monsters or undead people that pretend to be still alive. Don’t you think that if it was real, it would explain a lot of thingsIJ
It is remarkable how R.I.P.D. combines all of those great elements: Comedy, action, monsters and a police story.
It is one of the great aspects of this movie. I can imagine a group of people going into the theatre together and each person finding something that they like. It’s a film that doesn’t take itself seriously. There are many fun and exciting elements and it manages to balance all of them at the same time. It’s such good old-fashioned entertainment. I think it’s what makes this film really enjoyable.
(The movie premiered on Star Action Movies)