Michael Fassbender

TPF may earn a commission from merchant affiliate
links, including eBay, Amazon, and others

Status
Not open for further replies.
#9,781
Alys said:
I read that there is an embargo on the counselor review. Is it weird that except from Micheal none of them did much promotion for it ? We have not seen Cameron Diaz anywhere doing promotions. Plus, Michael was promoting 12 years of slaves much more even though he is only a supporting character in it. So, I hope that it doesn't mean that the movie is horrible.
Click to expand...
The few things I've read have been pretty positive. It's probably not a masterpiece but I don't think it'll be as bad as some people thought/hoped it would be. And I don't know why Cameron hasn't done any press. She was working in NY so she could have easily done one of talk shows there.
 
#9,783
http://www.details.com/blogs/daily-...of-irish-food-and-working-with-brad-pitt.html

Michael Fassbender on Oscar Buzz for 12 Years a Slave, Working with Brad Pitt, and How Director Steve McQueen Changed His Life


Actor Michael Fassbender doesn't exactly strive to make viewers like him. After getting his break playing Northern Irish martyr Bobby Sands in director
Steve McQueen's Hunger, some of his most notable roles have been as supervillain Magneto in X-Men: First Class, a statutory rapist in the
British indie Fish Tank, and a barely sympathetic sex addict in McQueen's highly-lauded Shame. And yet, thanks to top-notch acting chops and
charisma to burn, Fassbender, 36, has become one of the biggest names in the business.

In the unflinching Oscar front-runner 12 Years a Slave, his latest venture and third collaboration with McQueen, Fassbender plays Louisiana
plantation owner Edwin Epps, a shockingly brutal yet pitiful villain who becomes the master of Solomon Northup (Chiwetel Ejiofor), a free-man-turned-slave whose autobiography inspired the film.

Catching up with DETAILS at New York's Conrad Hotel, Fassbender spoke about getting into character as Epps, living among "ghosts" during the sobering production, as well as how he and close friend McQueen lightened things up between takes. Sporting some light scruff that recalled Epps' unkempt beard, the actor also talked grooming, workouts, the Oscars, and what it feels like to be called "the finest of actor of your generation."

DETAILS: Surely you've been getting a lot of Oscar questions, so let's just get it out of the way. This looks like the film that's finally going to get you a nomination. And while it's clear from the work you do that you're not an actor who's in it for trophies, the question remains: How bad do you want it?

MICHAEL FASSBENDER: I mean, of course—listen, I think all of us appreciate a pat on the back, or just to be recognized by our peers. It's nice to have recognition, and I guess our vanities cause us to like praise. But I've seen this film and I think it's a masterwork.
It's a really important film that goes beyond a cinema experience. And I just feel happy. I'm totally content right now. Whatever comes after this, it's icing
on the cake—a bonus, gravy, whatever. And now I'm thinking about the next project I have to do. I've got to move forward and think about work.

DETAILS: When Details spoke to Steve McQueen in 2011, he mentioned that by the time you and he had your third meeting while prepping for Hunger, you were hitting pubs together on your motorcycle.

MICHAEL FASSBENDER: They don't really go well together, do they? Pubs and motorcycles. [Laughs]

DETAILS: Probably not. But what's the rapport between the two of you like between takes? Because you
seem to have this fun, brotherly relationship, yet you're always shooting devastating stuff.

MICHAEL FASSBENDER: I really consider Steve like a brother. He's like family to me, and I love him. He changed my life. On set, there's a lot of focus, but in between takes, we have fun if there's a day that allows for it. Obviously, some of the scenes in this film deal with very difficult material, and sometimes I just kept to myself to stay focused. But other times, where we could find it, we liked to have a laugh, or have some lightness, or sing a song. We'd break bread together at lunch.
With something like this, I think it's important to find reprieves, grab some air, and raise each other's spirits.

DETAILS: McQueen has gone on record saying that you're the finest, or at least most influential, actor of your generation. And he's certainly not the only person to have said that. What does it feel like to hear that?

MICHAEL FASSBENDER: I just feel so humbled by it, and flattered, and grateful. I mean, there's nothing for me to really say other than that I just feel so blessed to be working with Steve for the third time now, and to be working with the best, and learning from the best. That was the ultimate goal and dream when I started doing this, and, knock on wood, I'm living it now, which is incredible.


DETAILS: It's an age-old tradition for people to label someone the "next this" or the "next that," and I'm sure there have been many out there who've called you the "next Brad Pitt." In 12 Years a Slave and The Counselor, you act opposite Pitt. What's it like working with him?

MICHAEL FASSBENDER: It's nice, really. I first met Brad on Inglourious Basterds, and he was so generous to me on that set. We only had a small scene together, but he was very encouraging. And then he was going back and talking to people in the business about me. That's the kind of guy he is—he's a real champion of new talent coming through. He saw Hunger and went to Steve [McQueen], and said, "I'd like to do something with you." [Pitt is also a producer on 12 Years a Slave.]
So that's his whole spirit as an actor and performer—that generosity. It was a great opportunity to share the screen with him, and then to get to do it again with The Counselor. Brad's practical and straightforward. He comes to work, rolls up his sleeves, gets interactive with all the crew members—a real team player. It's inspiring.


DETAILS: Ostensibly, you're the key villain in 12 Years a Slave, but you also give Epps these layers of ignorance, religious complication, and pitifulness, which actually seems like the least demanding of what McQueen has asked you to do. Did it feel different?


MICHAEL FASSBENDER: I can never really tell, because my process is always pretty much the same in terms of getting my prep right. I was in New Orleans about five weeks before we started shooting—working on the accent, working with the script, reading [Solomon Northup's memoir], and living alongside Epps, basically. I guess the responsibility was high on this one because this is real people, real history.
So I felt that the responsibility was superceding my own input, and that was always very much alive in me. We were shooting on the real plantations, and it often felt as though the ghosts were among us.


DETAILS: Your facial hair is very notably grown out in this film, to the point that you could literally twirl that mustache if you wanted to. What about your own grooming habits? Do you prefer to be clean-shaven or have a little stubble?

MICHAEL FASSBENDER: I suppose I'm rarely clean-shaven. There's often a bit of scruff. Depending on the job, if I need to shave, I'll shave, but in everyday life, I'm pretty much unshaven.

DETAILS: What kind of exercise do you do in your everyday life? What's a typical Fassbender workout when you're not losing 30 pounds or going full-frontal for Steve McQueen?

MICHAEL FASSBENDER: I'm not a great fan of the gym, I gotta say. There's something that really breaks my heart about watching descending red digits on a machine. [Laughs] But I do, obviously, use it as often as I can. I guess jump-rope is always good. Any sort of boxing training I find good, like low recovery time, high-intensity stuff.
I'm not a big fan of using too many weights. I like to use my own body weight. So I'll do a lot of pull-ups, push-ups, sit-ups, running—various forms of that. And a cross-trainer. What a killer. I really don't like that machine, but it's a good one.


DETAILS: Looking ahead at upcoming projects, you've got an adaptation of Assassin's Creed in the works, a film you're starring in and co-producing. Why the passion for that? Are you a gamer?


MICHAEL FASSBENDER: I'm not. I just met up with the people at Ubisoft through a friend of mine whom I was working with on something else. He said, "These guys want to meet you," so we discussed Assassin's Creed, and I didn't know anything about it. I'd heard a bit about it and seen the adverts, but that's it. And they told me the whole bible—the encyclopedia—of Assassin's Creed and I was like, "Wow, this is really cool, and something worth exploring." So I'm very excited about that and we're working on the script at the moment.


DETAILS: And then, at the other end of the spectrum, you have the upcoming Macbeth. From video games to Shakespeare. Do you think of yourself as a renaissance man?


MICHAEL FASSBENDER: I don't know. I don't really like to find labels for myself. But I'm familiar with Shakespeare from the years of going to drama school [the Drama Centre London], particularly. It was a classical-oriented school, so of course we dealt with all the classic Shakespeare. But it's going to be a challenge. I just try to find things that are diverse, and fun, and risky.
Click to expand...
 
Last edited:
#9,785
LeeLooDallasMP said:
Hehe... but what do you mean by challenging, is it on an intellectual level, is it the character i.e. Charlize being a strong headed woman or...?
Click to expand...

All of the above! She comes across as smart, mature, successful and feisty. It seems to me that Fassy is a little gun-shy after ROC, and now just dates women who are younger and less successful than he is.
 
#9,786
Alys said:
I read that there is an embargo on the counselor review. Is it weird that except from Micheal none of them did much promotion for it ? We have not seen Cameron Diaz anywhere doing promotions. Plus, Michael was promoting 12 years of slaves much more even though he is only a supporting character in it. So, I hope that it doesn't mean that the movie is horrible.
Click to expand...

Film reviews are embargoed all the time. I'd be more worried if there were no press screenings at all, cuz that usually indicates a crappy film. I'll watch it nonetheless, but I think it might suck.
 
#9,789
Artica said:
All of the above! She comes across as smart, mature, successful and feisty. It seems to me that Fassy is a little gun-shy after ROC, and now just dates women who are younger and less successful than he is.
Click to expand...

... well ... I don't know ... that night at the pub last year he was saying that Nicole was a trooper, bossed him around and he followed ... and then in an interview he said he liked strong and confident women ... but then again things can be different from what one says ... aaahhh don't know ... :shrugs:
 
#9,790
LeeLooDallasMP said:
... well ... I don't know ... that night at the pub last year he was saying that Nicole was a trooper, bossed him around and he followed ... and then in an interview he said he liked strong and confident women ... but then again things can be different from what one says ... aaahhh don't know ... :shrugs:
Click to expand...

Yeah, strong and confident women who live across the Atlantic and who you only see every now and then, because you are shooting film after film during your 1-year relationship. ;)
 
#9,793
Artica said:
Did you manage to see TYAS during the LFF or have you seen in already? I can't believe it won't be released here until January.
Click to expand...

I did see it at the TIFF and then NYFF, so let's just say I'm full :D

Back to UK, but didn't attend the LFF much, only attended a few screenings such as Labor Day, Under The Skin, Parkland and a few documentaries, as lately we are focused on other markets work wise.
 
#9,794
LeeLooDallasMP said:
... well ... I don't know ... that night at the pub last year he was saying that Nicole was a trooper, bossed him around and he followed ... and then in an interview he said he liked strong and confident women ... but then again things can be different from what one says ... aaahhh don't know ... :shrugs:
Click to expand...
I get the impression he likes a women who are confident and independent but low-key.
LeeLooDallasMP said:
I did see it at the TIFF and then NYFF, so let's just say I'm full :D

Back to UK, but didn't attend the LFF much, only attended a few screenings such as Labor Day, Under The Skin, Parkland and a few documentaries, as lately we are focused on other markets work wise.
Click to expand...
Did you like Labor Day and Under the Skin? I've heard mixed reviews for those and I've heard Parkland isn't good.
 
#9,795
gemini582 said:
I get the impression he likes a women who are confident and independent but low-key.
Click to expand...

Low key is always good but he's getting more and more noticed hehe. And when I read the GQ interview I chuckled because well, the sad thing is most women want to sleep with him more than date him... at least the majority of women in the industry, the lot of PR women, random women etc when they were talking about him, dude was literally objectified in 99% of the time, it was... funny not gonna lie haha!

gemini582 said:
Did you like Labor Day and Under the Skin? I've heard mixed reviews for those and I've heard Parkland isn't good.
Click to expand...

Love Labor Day, the film is darker that Reitman's usual works though you still recognize his touch. The film is raw and subtle, and the actors take you through every emotion. Kate Winslet is terrific as per usual portraying beautifully a woman who's given up on living. Josh Brolin was great as well as a tough convict yet with a tender heart, both characters as the film evolves complement each other. I'm glad I gave the film a chance..but then again, almost anything with Kate Winslet I give it a chance.

Under The Skin, well, it's the same director who did Birth so he keeps that touch very... errr... like you are on the fence.To me it's less of a film and more like a cinematic experiment. It has great visuals accompanied by an intense song. it has some interesting moments, such as when Scarlett Johansson picks a strange looking man.. but apart from that at it became quite repetitive the whole seductve alien and luckily it starts to progress a bit as Scarlett alien stars to feel empathy.. but it still was a bit of a mess. I felt like it tried that David Lynch touch but it really didn't go anywhere as in leaving some big questions in your head à la David Lynch, it felt more like... a mess :D but yes still an experience.

Parkland I er... okay I went to watch because I haven't seen Smallville crush Tom Welling handsome face for a while and I missed the screening back in Toronto, so I was determined to watch it only for his face, silly me I know :D well he's in there only for a short amount of time and, well, it’s probably for the best because his acting is still weak... but overall Parklad is an OK film, this enough if you are still into the JFK assassination mystery... they did a good job with he mixture of archival footage, so you felt that you were really there. The thing that bugged me was how the films highlights those close to JFK upon his death and "forgets" how it also affected normal folks and other individual people in their own ways so many of the characters reactions were so similar that it felt a bit bland. And the ending well it leaves a lot to be desired... But yes, as per usual, Paul Giamatti, Marcia Gay Harden and James Badge Dale are stellar, Zac Efron gives a fairly good performance, same for Colin Hanks. Oh well...
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top