Video:Malin Akerman and Patrick Wilson Interviews - Watchmen
with Rebecca MurrayPatrick Wilson and Malin Akerman share a tender moment or two in 'Watchmen,' an action drama based on the critically acclaimed graphic novel. At the film's U.S. premiere, Wilson and Akerman talked about what else audiences can expect from 'Watchmen.'See Transcript
Transcript:Malin Akerman and Patrick Wilson Interviews - Watchmen
Rebecca Murray from About.com Hollywood Movies at the U.S. Premiere of Watchmen.
Patrick Wilson – 'Nite Owl II' in Watchmen
We just talked a couple of days ago, but I want to know about the fight scenes. How difficult was that for you?Patrick Wilson: "It was difficult. We had trained for it for… We got there about a month before shooting so luckily we had a great stunt coordinator and stunt team that we could really work on specific moves that were even right for your character. So that was sort of fun coming at it from an actor's point of view because the comic actually informs a lot about the fighting styles."
But you're also inside that costume that doesn't give much, right?
Patrick Wilson: "That's very true. Yeah, it felt like a bit of a rubber band trying to… It was quite a workout once you got out of it."
I hear that you were dripping sweat the entire shoot.
Patrick Wilson: "I was. Well the only thing that was showing any sort of skin was right here and then I would get… Actually, because the prison fight was our first fight sequence that we shot, but I remember I could only get about seven seconds in before my goggles fogged up and then I couldn't see anymore. By the other fight sequences we had sort of mastered when to put on the goggles and all that stuff. But it was very hot in there."
How bizarre is it to be inside of an Owl Ship?
Patrick Wilson: "It's awesome. I just feel like it should fly. It's so detailed you feel like, 'All right, let's go."
For people who haven't read the graphic novel, how does this really turn the whole genre on its head?
Patrick Wilson: "Well because you're taking every cliché, every metaphor and turning it upside down. It's really deconstructing it. Every violent act is met with a repercussion so if it's really violent and you see the blood and gruesomeness of it, that's sort of on purpose. You're taking all these to the extremes. There's a real love scene and there's a real sexy scene that you don't usually get in this sort of genre, so those are just two of the sort of polar opposites. But beyond that it paints them all as flawed people, like very human. If you really had people who put on costumes and tried to fight crime, what kind of people would you have? So that's sort of what the comic set out to do."
How tough was it to play Nite Owl/Dan as schlubby? That's a big change for you.
Patrick Wilson: "Well, it was really exciting. That was what was so fun. I don't usually get those sort of roles so for Zack [Snyder] to give me the opportunity to do it and be supportive of me wanting to gain a little weight and look a little schlubbier than I usually do…"
That must have been fun.
Patrick Wilson: "Oh, it was great. I felt like college being able to stretch out."
Malin Akerman – 'Silk Spectre II' in Watchmen
What was it like being the only woman pretty much on the set?Malin Akerman: "It was phenomenal. I had such a great time. I love hanging out with the boys. I mean, I've always been sort of a guy's kind of girl, so it was nice to have, you know, the ensemble cast and me being one of the boys as opposed to the girlfriend or the wife. And it was all mutual respect and mutual teasing as well."
What was your reaction the very first time you saw the finished film?
Malin Akerman: "I was beyond… I was speechless. It took my breath away. I thought visually, for me, visually it's a masterpiece. I think it's beautiful and it was so cool to see everything put together, because I hadn't seen what everyone else had been doing. It was amazing to see it all finished."
What do you think people who haven't read the graphic novel are going to get out of this? What are they going to connect with?
Malin Akerman: "There's so much humanity in this movie so I think it's easy for everyone to connect to one or a few of these characters. They're just going through real situations but in an alternate sort of strange world. But they're still real and there's so many through stories so I think you can get at least one or a few stories out of it that you'll enjoy."