Currently in theaters from Netflix is director Martin Scorsese’s The Irishman, which stars Robert De Niro, Al Pacino, Joe Pesci, Jesse Plemons, Anna Paquin, Harvey Keitel, Stephen Graham, Bobby Cannavale, Jake Hoffman, Jack Huston, Kathrine Narducci, Ray Romano, and Domenick Lombardozzi.
Based on the novel I Heard You Paint Houses by Charles Brandt, Robert De Niro headlines The Irishman as mob hitman Frank “The Irishman” Sheeran, reputed to have carried out more than 25 murders. Al Pacino will portray infamously slain labor leader Jimmy Hoffa in what will mark the Academy Award winner’s first time working with Scorsese. Joe Pesci portrays Pennsylvania Mafia boss Russell Bufalino, who may have had a hand in the disappearance of Jimmy Hoffa.
For Plemons, who plays Hoffa’s adopted son Chuckie O’Brien, he gets to work and act opposite some of the greatest actors in the last 50 years. Best known for his TV roles in Friday Night Lights, Breaking Bad and season 2 of the FX anthology series Fargo, he received an Emmy nomination for his performance in Netflix anthology series Black Mirror “USS Callister” episode. He recently reprised his Breaking Bad role in its sequel, the television film El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie.
Blackfilm.com had a chance to speak with Plemons recently when the film had its World Premiere at the New York Film Festival and he spoke about joining this film with the best of actors.
Can you talk about the character you’re playing Chucky and whether or not he’s fictionalized?
Jesse Plemons: I play Jimmy Hoffa’s adopted son and the movie itself is somewhat fictionalized but adapted from the amazing book, “I heard you paint houses.” As always, when you’re adapting something like this based off of a true story, even though the movie is 3 1/2 hours long, you could keep going with that. There’s a story with Frank’s daughters. There’s more of a story with with a lot of these characters and there’s more to the story with Chucky but for the purposes of the film, I think that was what was needed.
How would you best describe him?
Jesse Plemons: I think he felt a real strong love and devotion to Jimmy who took him in and treated him as his own. He was his bodyguard protector for a long time and just wanted to do right by him. As as he got older he went down some troubling paths. I read that he had somewhat of a gambling problem. But that was the main thing that I took away from the book. The script was this is unflagging devotion to Hoffa.
How much did you know prior to reading the book about Jimmy Hoffa?
Jesse Plemons: I was just talking to a journalist who is about my same age and she referenced the nurse at the end of the movie and I hate the say but that was about the extent of my knowledge. I had heard the name and there were many theories as to how he was murdered and where he was buried or disposed of. As soon as I was approached with this, I devoured the book and everything else I could get my hands on, but not a lot.
When you read a script, how long does it take you before you start envisioning yourself as the character?
Jesse Plemons: I try not to judge it immediately, especially something like this that is based on a real person. There’s a sense of obligation to get it right and to bring it to life and capture the essence in whatever way you see it. The trickiest part for me was being so excited to be on this project and constantly having a wheel myself in and and ask myself what purpose does this character serve in the film. There were times where I definitely overcomplicated things and asked Marty ten or twenty questions in a row, which I think does help in some way. It probably took a while. The best way I can explain this experience is I felt like a kicker at the Super Bowl. I was on the sidelines waiting just to get in and not screw it up.
How did the role come about for you?
Jesse Plemons: Casting director Ellen Lewis I guess put the bug in Marty’s ear. I was here in New York working on something else and found out I had a meeting with Marty and Bob (De Niro) and before I knew it, I was there. I don’t know what I said in the meeting, but they were both very nice and I think a day or two later I found out it was a go and that was that.
What was that feeling like on your first day of set and knowing who you’re interacting with?
Jesse Plemons: It is exactly the thing to aspire to when you’re starting out. I started when I was really young, but it wasn’t until I was probably 18 or 19 that it occurred to me I might be able to do this for a living. I had no timeline. I had no five year plan. I just wanted to work with people that I admired, that inspired me and work on interesting projects and play interesting characters. To find myself on that set surrounded by all these people I’ve looked up to for such a long time, it’s the dream.
When you’re working with Scorsese, De Niro and Pacino, is there anything you’re learning from them that you could take on to your next project?
Jesse Plemons: I think it’s the sense of ease. I’m not saying that they just show up and immediately have it. I know they work incredibly hard, but the ease in which they inhabit these these characters and the confidence and the drive to find it and to find the most interesting way in. I guess I’m still trying to figure that out. I don’t know how they do it.
Have you seen all of Scorsese’s films and which one is your favorite?
Jesse Plemons: I guess mobsters genre type movies, Mean Streets, The first 20 to 30 minutes of that is just so incredible. The super eight montage of De Niro’s second scene in the bar where he checks his pants. But then, I think if I had to pick one movie of his it would be The King of Comedy just because it’s such a standalone movie in his line of work and it’s such an interesting part for De Niro and that’s one I’ve seen several times.
What goes into the projects you take? Is it the role, the film itself or the story?
Jesse Plemons: All of that but I can tell you that if Scorsese calls there’s not a part in this film that I wouldn’t have taken.That’s the whole point, to work with the best, and learn from the best. The people involved, the script and sometimes it depends on the timing of the character. If you just did something that feels similar to whatever project they’re presenting you with, I always try keep swinging back and forth and challenging myself in some way. I don’t want to get redundant.
Official Trailer
Loading…