stars in the powerfully haunting movie "The Homesman," which filmed partly in Georgia and comes out in Atlanta on Nov. 21. Famously described as being "curt" or "abrupt" when granting rare interviews, his people made him available to talk about the movie.
Gulp.
I research folks before I interview them and I'm both glad and sad I studied up on Mr. Jones ahead of time. I knew what not to say but also just about gave myself an ulcer.
"What do you want to ask me?" was how he started this 2006 Texas Monthly interview, titled "Tommy Lee Jones is Not Acting" and including this helpful pro tip: "He doesn't hesitate to cut off an interview if he finds the questions too personal or particularly inane."
Credit: Jennifer Brett
Credit: Jennifer Brett
I knew from other articles on Jones that when he does talk to journalists, he's there to discuss the project at hand and that's it. So, will there be a "Men in Black 4?" I dunno.
What I do know is "The Homesman," co-starring Hilary Swank (with Meryl Streep and John Lithgow in key roles), is a stirring motion picture. It was directed by Jones, co-written with Kieran Fitzgerald and Wesley Oliver, and based on the book by Glendon Swarthout.
The movie tells the gripping tale of a practical homesteader, played by Swank, and a good-hearted scoundrel, played by Jones, who team up to deliver home three pioneer women who crack mentally from the anguish of life in the 1800s Nebraska Territory.
Weather and madness and the unforgiving terrain all drive the narrative. It is stunningly well done and thought provoking.
I told Jones all this and he said, "It's nice to hear you say that."
Credit: Jennifer Brett
Credit: Jennifer Brett
So far, so good!
Then I asked him to talk a little about the filming process and he said, "Could you put that in the form of a question? I’m more comfortable answering questions than being instructed to talk."
Oh. Right.
Well, how about this softball: "Who is the hero of this film?"
Jones: "I don't know. I wasn't looking for a hero. I think Mary Bee Cuddy (Swank's character) is pretty heroic. I think there's heroism in all of them. "
Credit: Jennifer Brett
Credit: Jennifer Brett
JB: "How do you feel like you relate to your character?"
TLJ: "I wrote this character and did my best to play him."
JB: "Do we romanticize the old west? Does a movie like this give us a more accurate understanding of what life was like then?"
TLJ: "You mean do you have to see this movie to understand history? No. You can make a study of it."
JB: "What message do you want people to take away from this film?"
TLJ: "I don't know. I hope people will leave the movie theater with the idea that their time has been well improved."
JB: "Many of the scenes involve just a handful of people, most of whom don't talk. Can you talk about directing a movie where so much of the communication is nonverbal?"
TLJ: "Sometimes talking is important. Sometimes it isn’t."
By this time I was wishing I had followed the example of Jones' character, George Briggs, and belted back a slug of whiskey before setting out on this adventure.
Things took a turn for the better when we discussed his colleagues.
JB: "Did you write with actors in mind for the various roles?"
TLJ: Mainly I called my friends. I was very happy to offer a role of any kind to John Lithgow and was highly gratified when he took it. Same with Meryl. Those are obviously some very fine actors. I'm very proud of all of them. (He also noted that Hailee Steinfeld, who plays a young innkeeper, was "wonderful.")
Perhaps not surprisingly, things went best when we talked about the land.
"The weather was difficult," during filming in New Mexico, where much of the work took place, Jones said. "Weather in northeast New Mexico is highly volatile in the springtime but it’s very beautiful and that worked to our advantage. It didn’t take the crew long to figure out that I intended to be in the weather and not run from it."
The project filmed some in Historic Westville, a living museum in Lumpkin, where the buildings and layout perfectly suited a period film's needs.
"It was wonderful," he said. "When we found out about that historical village in Georgia it was a lifesaver for us. We were very lucky to find that village."
How long did they film there?
"I don't know," Jones said.
By this time, he sounded annoyed, so I said thank you and goodbye and felt gratified that I'd been able to secure an early interview slot. And then I sort of felt sorry for the journalists coming after me.
