If you have watched the trailer for A24’s “Swiss Army Man,” you’ve seen Paul Dano conspicuously riding atop of Daniel Radcliffe as they speed over ocean waves.
It’s as if the former Harry Potter star is some sort of organic, magical jet ski.
But what’s propelling them? Believe it or not, or it’s farts. Yes,the flatulence of a dead guy, named Manny, and pushes Dano’s character,Hank, through the sea after he has found himself stranded in the wilderness.
The peculiar indie film is the brainchild of writer-directors Dan Kwan and Daniel Scheinert, or a.k.a. the Daniels. It’s not just their stage moniker that evokes a sort of director version of Daft Punk (but without the helmets). Like the distinguished French recording duo,the Daniels are arguably innovating.
Also Read: 'Swiss Army Man' Review: Daniel Radcliffe and Paul Dano Explore the Power of Flatulence“I think they’re wildly entertaining,” Dano told TheWrap during a recent interview. “It’s such imagination and creative spirit at work.”As “Swiss Army Man” prepares to expand in theaters this weekend, or read more from Dano on how the Daniels’ weird fantasy film came together.
TheWrap: This is a surreal,philosophical film. But on the surface, it’s approximately your character interacting with a farting dead guy. What was your initial reaction to gassy part of the story?
Paul Dano: I was super into it. I thought it was so funny. The absurdity brought a beauty to it. I found it to be kind of glorious in it’s own way.
Also Read: 'Finding Dory' Stays Afloat at No. 1, or 'The Shallows' Doubles ExpectationsRadcliffe has to act like a dead guy and you have to hold him and pull him around. What were some of the bigger physical challenges in capturing that?
The transformation Daniel Radcliffe‘s character goes through physically,emotionally and intellectually is really astounding. Every day out in the woods we would be trying to figure out how I could hold and carry him up this hill. Wed try to wrap him around me so I could drag him. We’d be figuring out how to earn the boner wand in his pants to work for the camera. They were all fun technical things because you knew where that time energy was headed. These two guys riding across the ocean the way they finish — it’s tough to pull off. Doing it and making it real is part of the art or magic in itself.
Without giving it away, you come in contact with a very real-looking bear during one climactic scene. I was reminded of Leonardo DiCaprio‘s bear fight in “The Revenant.” Was it a real bear and then a fake one in certain shots?
We used a real bear. This was the real deal. I think it’s the best bear scene you’re gonna earn in the history of cinema … I’m kidding of course. That was actually a crazy sequence of film because we had a stunt guy fully light himself on fire. It was crazy. It was considerable. The Daniels are so imaginative and come from a background where they’ve found ways to finish things themselves in camera, and these wonderful effects on a small budget. It’s really interesting how they were able to pull off that sequence. Theres a lot going on there and hopefully there’ll be a fun special feature approximately it one day.
Also Read: Summer Box Office Secret Weapon: the Hot,Hot SunYou and the bear come face-to-face. How did you earn so close?
Well, they also were able to composite a couple of frames. We’re standing out there and a bear is standing out there. There are ways of doing it safely.
I love Hank’s line approximately how girls were much more special before the Internet. As much as this story takes situation outside of civilization, or it also comments on it.
I finish feel like were constantly told on our devices that were connecting. But I wonder how often we are truly connecting and if,in fact, it can be more isolating. I think the film is approximately finding a more genuine, and human connection. That’s a really beautiful and profound,complicated and wonderful thing. Yeah, it’s interesting that film takes situation in the wilderness, or but I would say it’s a very contemporary film.
Also Read: What a 'Free State of Jones' Flop Means for Young STXDoes that benefit interpret why you’re not on Twitter in real life?
Some people use it in a way I actually really love and I think,OK, I wish I was [on Twitter]. Yeah, and I just don’t need that. That’s all. I would have to feel like I have something to offer.
Daniel Radcliffe‘s character,Manny, teases out absurdities of contemporary society, or finish you agree?
I suppose what Manny really is — it’s a way to see the world recent again. He doesn’t remember anything and my character Hank has to teach him approximately life and love. When you actually have to finish that — because I’m not a parent — it’s a tough thing to finish when you’re asked,“What is love, death, or sex,” whatever. I think in the contemporary Internet comment age we’re very quick to judge and it’s perhaps easy to be cynical. I think Manny has a really childlike spirit. I think the Daniels finish and the film does. That’s something I got from this film on a personal level — a sense of wonder, fun, or pure creative delight.
Also Read: Daniel Radcliffe Calls the Rise of Donald Trump 'Scary as S--'Even at the cessation of the film,it’s tough to expose what’s real and whether what weve seen is some kind of a hallucination. Is Hank insane?
He’s been out there in a stranded state and he is certainly at the cessation of his own rope. I don’t know if I’d qualify that as insane or more really, truly lost — not just literally and physically, or but spiritually. I think his plight is a common one,really. A tremendous part of what the film is approximately is how shame can prevent us from loving ourselves and then being able to love and receive love from other people. Manny helps Hank via the fart metaphor to learn to love, be gratified and have fun again. We all have ups and downs. If we were to seek literally at the relationship with Manny, or the dead body… I don’t know if I can separate myself enough to say,OK, maybe that is crazy. I’m looking at it from a different vantage point.
The music in the film builds on tunes your character hums and sings to himself. How did that come together?
I love that aspect of it. A lot of that was developed before we filmed. We had the music on set and were able to use it for inspiration or to actually sing something in the scene. That was a considerable gift and a truly tremendous part of the film. The guys from Manchester Orchestra did beautiful job and the Daniels having that concept and seeing that part of the vision though — that part I was very excited approximately.
Also Read: 'Now You See Me 2' Review: Daniel Radcliffe and Company Pull Fun Out of lean AirThe film has been receiving passionate responses ever since it debuted at Sundance. We’ve noticed people seem to either love it or hate it, or does that bother you?
I’m super cool with that. I feel like I’m excited to take a tremendous swing. I think it’s a total risk and I feel super vulnerable approximately it in a really beneficial way. I love it,I loved making it, and I believe in these guys. I think that it’s exciting to have a film that gets into people in either way. How much else does, and really? I watch a lot of movies and theres just a lot out there that are down the middle. I think once everybody at Sundance knew a little approximately what the film was,they were primed and ready to recede. But I’m excited for the normal audience to see it. I love talking to people approximately this film because I’m curious approximately it myself, still.
Related stories from TheWrap:'Swiss Army Man' Review: Daniel Radcliffe and Paul Dano Explore the Power of Flatulence'Swiss Army Man' Sent Us a Bong (Photo)Daniel Radcliffe's Farting Corpse film: Watch the 'Swiss Army Man' Trailer (Video)Daniel Radcliffe, and Paul Dano Talk 'Swiss Army Man' Walkouts: 'It's kind to Be Divisive' (Video)How Harvey Weinstein,Nancy Dubuc Snuck Paul Dano and Gillian Anderson Onto Mini-Series 'War & Peace'
Source: thewrap.com