DriveAn Exclusive Interview with Oscar Isaac
By Wilson Morales
September 22, 2011
Currently out in theaters is the pulse hitting film, ‘Drive,’ in which Ryan Gosling gives in an electrifying performance.
Directed by Nicolas Winding Refn, the film also stars Carey Mulligan, Bryan Cranston, Ron Perlman, Christina Hendricks, Oscar Isaac, and Albert Brooks.
Driver (Gosling) is a Los Angeles wheelman for hire, stunt driving for movie productions by day and steering getaway vehicles for armed heists by night. Though a loner by nature, Driver can’t help falling in love with his beautiful neighbor Irene, a vulnerable young mother dragged into a dangerous underworld by the return of her ex-convict husband Standard. After a heist intended to pay off Standard’s protection money spins unpredictably out of control, Driver finds himself driving defense for the girl he loves, tailgated by a syndicate of deadly serious criminals. But when he realizes that the gangsters are after more than the bag of cash in his trunk – that they’re coming straight for Irene and her son – Driver is forced to shift gears and go on offense.
For Isaac, who plays the role of Standard, it’s been a glorious run at the movies recently as his Hollywood status is rising with roles in Ridley Scott’s ‘Robin Hood,’ Zack Snyder’s ‘Sucker Punch,’ and upcoming films such as Madonna’s ‘W.E.’ the ensemble film ‘Ten Year’ with Channing Tatum, ‘Steel Town’ with Viola Davis, and ‘The Bourne Legacy’ with Jeremy Renner.
In speaking exclusively with Blackfilm.com, Isaac spoke about his role in ‘Drive,’ working with Gosling, and his upcoming projects, including Madonna’s film and ‘The Bourne Legacy.’
What was the attraction to be part of ‘Drive?’
Oscar Isaac: When I met with Nicolas I was already a fan of his earlier work such as Valhalla Rising and Perfect Trilogy and notice how cool and a subversive eye he has for films. We talked about the script and the character and the cast was astonishing with Ryan Gosling, Carey Mulligan, Albert Brooks, and Ron Perlman. I wanted to jump at the chance to work with these people and so glad I did it.
‘Drive’ is a genre piece and a lot of times we don’t get really sophisticated genre films. This film has so much artistic merit and Nicolas has such a singular vision. This had a small budget and the fact that he was able to make an explosive movie without crazy cheesy effects is really unique. It’s a fun film.
How would you describe your character Standard?
OI: Standard is a guy that made a mistake and caught up with some bad business and ended up going to prison. He’s really happy to be out and wanting to start a new life. He wants to make amends and unfortunately he got caught up with some bad people again. There’s something very tragic about that.
Because of his past, the audience isn’t sure where Standard is in life. In one scene, we don’t know if he’s on the right or wrong side of things.
OI: That’s what we were going for. It’s a great script. When we first read the script, you were just waiting for him to die so that Ryan and Carey’s characters can get together. Standard looked expendable on page and that was something we wanted to change. It’s still a surprise when you see where he ends up going. The idea was to try to make him human as possible.
How was working with Ryan and Carey on the film?
OI: It was fantastic. Carey and I went over to Nicolas’ house and we had a whole day with Kaden Leos, who plays the son. We spent a lot of time bonding as a family and that was great. Ryan is such a good collaborator and always has great ideas. He’s funny as hell and open to trying new stuff and hungry to make the scenes so any questions I had would be taken seriously. If we had to wait two hours to rework a scene, there was always room to do that.
Did you create a back-story why Standard went to jail?
OI: Yes, we played with the idea that he got into the car business and wanted to open a restaurant. He ended up getting involved with some people who were putting money into his club and at some point they wanted him to hold something, like a package. It was that transaction that brought him down.
From people who I’ve spoke to who also saw the film, they loved it so much they said it was like an unofficial tribute to films of the 80s, specifically Michael Mann films. Would you agree?
OI: I do agree that there are a lot of elements to it; from Michael Mann to John Hughes. There’s the idea that it’s a film where it’s a stylistic world where an angelic driver is mix in the world of violence.
You have another film coming out, ‘W.E,’ which is directed by Madonna. What’s your role in that film?
OI: In that film, there are two storylines. One is a modern storyline where a woman played by Abbie Cornish is in an unhappy marriage and she goes to Sotheby’s and starts looking at all these objects from Wallis and King Edward VIII from their love affair in the 1920s. Their memorabilia is being auctioned off. I play a security guard who works there and we begin a romance ourselves. He’s a pianist and Russian and going through his own tragedy too. At the same time the film bounces back and forth with the affair of King Edward VIII and Wallis Simpson.
How was working with Madonna?
OI: That was wild. She’s such a huge personality. Wherever she goes, people are screaming their heads off. It was a unique experience. She’s such a force of nature and has incredible taste. She’s got a wealth of knowledge and incredibly demanding, but it’s that demanding quality that she has and all the people that work with her that makes everyone work hard. She can be tough at times. We’ve had it out at times on set, but in the end, I was really happy. It was a rewarding experience.
You were recently at the Toronto Film Festival with ‘Ten Year.’ What’s your role in that film?
OI: That was a great role. I play a guy, who after high school became a well known musician. He comes back and finds the girl that he never had the guts to pursue and he ends up trying to do that. What was great about ‘Ten Year,’ is that in the film I wrote a song that’s played entirely in the movie; which is great because I never had a chance to do that. That was really exciting and I was happy with the way it turned out.
You also have two more upcoming films, one with Viola Davis and another with Jeremy Renner? What’s the attraction to working on certain films?
OI: Sometimes, it’s the experience and the cast. With ‘Steel Town,’ Maggie Gyllenhaal and Viola Davis, I’m a fan of their work. I also liked shooting in Pittsburgh. With that film, it’s about the educational system and a woman does all she can to reform that he daughter goes to. I play a teacher in the school who begins a romance with Maggie Gyllenhaal’s character.
Also it’s the director and with Tony Gilroy, I’m such a huge fan of his and he’s an incredible writer and a good guy and I was eager to work with him. I can’t say much on ‘The Bourne Legacy’ because it’s a secretive thing but I’m one of the Threadstone trained assassins that holds a lot of information.
Are you working on anything else?
OI: Yes, I’m working on a play with Zoe Kazan and Betty Gilpin called ‘We Live Here’ and it opens in New York next month and then I’m off to shoot the ‘Bourne’ film.
