With three movies released this fall (The Alamo would've been his fourth had it not been delayed), Billy Bob Thornton is one of the busiest actors working in Hollywood today. His latest, Bad Santa, is directed by documentarian-turned-comedic auteur Terry Zwigoff (Ghost World) and co-stars comedian Bernie Mac, senior "Gilmore Girl" Lauren Graham and the late John Ritter. This darkly comical holiday farce casts Thornton as a down-and-out swindler by the name of Willie T. Soke, who uses Christmas as means to the con. The film came out last week. Prior to its release, he was kind enough to sit down and chat with myself and a few other collegiate reporters via phone. What follows are excerpts from the conference call interview.
What initially drew you to your character in Bad Santa?
I try to play a different part in every movie -- that's sort of my bag. When I read the script I thought it was wonderfully written, I laughed on every page and I hadn't played a character exactly like that before. I also wanted the opportunity to play a character where I didn't have to hold back whatsoever in any way. I could just commit to being this nasty-talking guy and go ahead and do it.
Was working with Bad Santa helmer Terry Zwigoff different than working with other directors because he's from a documentary background?
Actually, one of the great things about working with Terry was that he likes actors to just do their thing -- just to be natural, and I think that comes from doing documentaries since he's dealing with real people. He doesn't come ask you to do goofy things as an actor. He doesn't come up and say 'Maybe, if you'll move your eyebrows here,' which some directors will do sometimes. I loved working with Terry for that reason, but there are other directors I've worked with who are the same way -- Sam Raimi, the Coen Brothers, people like that. I think his documentary style gives him the confidence to let actors just be themselves.
Do you relate to Willie's character, and if so, in what way?
Well, I guess when I was a kid I wasn't exactly popular. Willie grew up without much of a life and kind of felt like a loser, and I think I felt like a loser when I was growing up at certain times. I definitely related to him there. The other thing is that he likes beer, cigarettes and women.
You do a lot of drinking in the movie. How drunk were you while shooting Bad Santa?
I wasn't actually drunk. I sure looked like it though. All I had to do basically is not get much sleep the night before and I'm pretty sunk for the day. Sometimes before a scene I would actually go to sleep in the Santa chair while they were setting lights or talking to the kids, and when they'd call action, they'd give me a nudge and let me know we were ready. On a 1 to 10 scale, how drunk was I like in movie world? I'd say I was at least a 9.
A source close to Michael Eisner recently said the following in relation to Bad Santa: "nothing appears sacred anymore" and "this movie is not in the spirit of Walt Disney." How do you respond to the controversy?
I can't imagine that they said that. I know these people. They knew what this movie was, it's not like it was a surprise suddenly. People like to say things. They've got to stir up controversy about anything. There will be controversy about The Alamo. There's going to be controversy about this. Anytime people think that they can get something going they do. I can't believe that these people would be that unaware or unhip to actually say something like that about a movie that's intended to be a black comedy.
What was it like to work with John Ritter on what became his last movie?
It was a joy to work with him as it always was. I started working with John in the early '90s. We did a sitcom called "Hearts Afire" for three seasons and then I put him in Sling Blade. We were really close friends -- almost like brothers over the years. When I heard that he was going to be in the movie I was thrilled, although we only had a couple of scenes together, it was like the old days. Even though I saw him all the time socially, it was amazing to work with him again. He cracks me up. He always did. He actually played a character in the movie that he used to play for me all the time just hanging out called Chuck Hurly, who was a guy that was on the verge of vomiting all the time.
What was it like working with Bernie Mac, and would you ever appear on his TV show?
I loved working with Bernie. He's a great guy and a really talented guy. They've actually asked me to be on the show before, but I wasn't able to because I was doing The Alamo or something. But sure, I'd go on there.
Since I can't see you right now, could you please describe your setting?
I have a room in the back of my house, which is where I stay most of the time. I'm either in the bedroom, the kitchen or in this room here. This room has got a widescreen TV, a stereo, a foosball table, a pool table, a jukebox and I'm sitting on the sofa right now. I bought this house from Slash (former Guns N' Roses guitarist), and the only thing Slash left here was this U-shaped sort of couch, but it's got scratch marks all over it from those reptiles he had. I'm wearing black tuxedo pants, a blue T-shirt, lace-up shoes like your Grandpa used to wear, a skateboarding hat my kids gave me and I'm watching the 1992 USC/UCLA Rose Bowl on the Classic Sports Network while I'm talking to you all
What is your attitude towards Christmas?
I'm sort of the opposite of the character in the movie. I'm very sentimental about Christmas. I have two little boys who are 9 and 10, and I'm really close to them. So close that when we're watching a movie together I always have my arm around them both and kiss them on the forehead all the time. And they're like, 'Dad, we're practically teenagers, leave us alone.' I'm really sort of emotional about the holidays, and we have real traditional Christmases.
If you could work with any actor, actress or director whom would you work with?
I would love to keep working with Cate Blanchett. I've done a couple things with Cate, and I think she's the best actress in the business. In terms of directors, I think every actor would like to work with Scorsese at some point in their career.
I was wondering what the atmosphere onset was like, especially with all the kids around?
It was actually pretty loose. The kids were great. Everybody was worried with all this language and what was going on in the movie that we'd have to be so careful around the kids, but the kids and the parents were all really cool about things. It was a pretty carefree mood there.
There's been some controversy about Bad Santa being an R-rated holiday movie. Do you consider this a family film?
Yeah. I don't consider it a family film in terms of taking your 7-year-old to it. I think anybody 16 or 17 and older, whatever it takes to get into an R-rated movie -- I think it's for any of them. At the test screenings, people from 17 to 75 are laughing their butts off, and a lot of families go. I don't understand controversy with movies. We're not in the Dark Ages. I wish they'd all shut the fuck up.
How do you feel about The Alamo being delayed until next year?
I think it's one of the best decisions that Disney's ever made. They didn't have time to get the movie cut by Christmas, and it didn't finish up until the end of June. I wouldn't even try to put an independent film out that quickly, and we're trying to do a huge epic. Finally, they realized that it's not worth it to cram it out there for Awards Season. Let's give the guy (director John Lee Hancock) time to cut his movie. Plus, I'd much rather come out with the movie in April than December.
What do you hope the audience will come away with after seeing Bad Santa?
I wish they'd have the shit entertained out of them, and maybe make them smile when it's all said and done.
