This article is translated from Variety magazine
Scarlett Johansson shuddered with joy when he first saw Variety's photos of Chris Evans. It’s like meeting a loved one who has been separated for many years, but it’s not wrong to say that the two met for the first time when they were teenagers, filmed the comedy "Super Perfect Score", and played a couple in "Nanny Diaries". Then they played the leading role in the Marvel Cinematic Universe together, and then reached a climax in "Avengers 4." This winter, the two achieved a shift in their focus: Johnson played a divorced actor in Noah Baumbach's "Marriage Story" and in Taiga Widiti's "Jojo Rabbit" As a mother during the German massacre of World War II. Evans plays the grandson of a famous novelist in Ryan Johnson's "The Knife Out of the Sheath", very conceited. This is a thousand miles away from his image of Captain America.
Evans: I just finished watching "Marriage Story", it's a phenomenal work. You will definitely accept the prize and get soft. But why do you want to tell such a heavy, dark story.
Johnson: About ten years ago, Noah and I wanted to cooperate. We figured out something, but the performance was not very good. When I was about to shoot, I gave up, just not feeling right.
You must have had this kind of experience before, but if you feel that something is not professional, you will think: "Well, this cooperation can't continue." Have you never had such an experience?
Evans: No.
Johnson: All right. Years later, when Noah called me to meet and wanted to talk about something, I was surprised, without warning. We met in New York, and it feels like non-existent in recent years. Both of them immediately plunged into the outline of the story he told me, when I was experiencing divorce myself. Very strange coincidence.
Evans: How many lines did you have in the notebook before signing?
Johnson: Without a sentence, there is only one concept.
Evans: Wow! Do you have any ideas? Divorce is a very sad story. Because when it comes to divorce, you will think of quarrels, anger, and the fact that the former husband and wife will almost become enemies. But in this movie, most of the pages show the couple trying to solve problems.
Johnson: After I received the line, I talked to my ex-husband about our relationship—what is a single parent, our respective families, and all the things that brought us to the stage of divorce. It's complicated, isn't it?
Evans: It hurts very much.
Johnson: I know that when we were still filming the last two "Avengers", you were already preparing for "Blade Out of the Sheath".
Evans: That's right. We were reshooting the last part. I don't remember whether you are inside or not. You always flicker, after all, your character is dead. Let me spoil you.
Johnson: It's terrible. We were making the last two films of "The Avengers" when we were talking to Noah about this new movie. The new movie is something I am more concerned about during that dull time. Because the action scenes in "Avengers" are too scattered.
Evans: When we made this series of movies, we were not all shooting when we were on the set. Every action has to go through the process of starting, stopping, starting and stopping. Moreover, we have played these roles for a long time and are very familiar with them. It's not that I don't disrespect these films. I love this series, but I want to get out of it and play a completely different role. Cooperating with other filmmakers is like exploring an unknown field. It is very exciting to make such a change.
Johnson: How did you work with Ryan (director of "The Knives Out")?
Evans: He is great. He knew what he wanted. I really like working with the screenwriter and director of the movie, because when everyone reads a line, everyone has their own subjective interpretation. But if the screenwriter and director is nearby, they will say, "No, I mean that's it." Ryan is very efficient. Every scene is just two.
Johnson: Really?
Evans: For an actor, it's a bit scary. Because if you allow me to take 50 shots, I will take 50 shots.
Johnson: Why don’t you ask for more shots?
Evans: I spent a few days on the set to get used to themway of doing. Because you asked for more shots, but the effect did not get better, it will be difficult to make such a request in the future.
Johnson: This way is very interesting.
Evans: Yes, but it also makes people feel insecure, too selfish.
Johnson: I think if you have some thoughts about this scene, you should ask for another one. Or you think you have something that you haven't played out, you want to see what it is, you should also make such a request, otherwise you will struggle for a lifetime. This is also a good suggestion for new filmmakers.
Evans: That's right.
Johnson: Noah is the opposite of Ryan. His energy is unlimited, you can take 50 shots. He only uses one camera, and he is very particular about his lines. Every hesitation, every unfinished sentence, and every discussion is completely based on the platform.
Evans: Are there no free lines?
Johnson: Not a word.
Evans: You both need an Oscar and need academic approval. I often "play freely", like a stage play.
Johnson: That's right. I also wanted to ask about your performance experience in this area before, because your performance is very good.
Evans: You seem to be the only actor friend who went to the theater to watch my performance (2018 Broadway "Lobbying Heroes" restart).
Johnson: They paid me to go.
Evans: Okay.
Johnson: Were you nervous before taking the stage?
Evans: Super nervous. After entering this business for a while, the process of making movies will become a bit boring. You will want to discover and try new ways to perform a familiar scene. I think what I want is a scene that lasts for a long time, so that I can explore and experiment freely. But stage play is completely the opposite. On stage you will think, "God!" Because there are too many lines to remember.
Johnson: But I didn't see that you were nervous.
Evans: Original content is not that common. This is the best point of "Knife Out of the Sheath". I felt very fresh when I was reading the script. I also thought about the question of "whether it is a chicken or an egg?" Is the audience only watching things that have no cultural connotations, so we started making films like this? Or did we make such a movie first before we have today's situation?
Johnson: Hey, this is your personal opinion. Coincidentally, someone mentioned to me a few days ago that several senior directors have put forward their views on all Marvel movies and blockbusters, such as "Very Despicable", "Death of Movies" and so on. At first, I thought these were old-school arguments, and I still needed someone to explain it to me, because it sounded a bit disappointing and sad. They said, “I think what these people are talking about is that in real cinemas, there is no place for different forms of movies, or low-cost movies, because they are all occupied by blockbusters.” This makes me reflect on the current audience consumption of literary and artistic content. How did their viewing experience have changed so much.
Evans: I think original content will inspire creative content. Fresh concepts are an indispensable force for driving innovation. The market will leave room for the expression of all forms of works. It's like saying that a certain form of music is not music. What qualifications do you have to say?
Johnson: What do you want now?
Evans: Every few months, I want to stop the shadow, which has become my habit for decades. I always want to quit this circle, but I love acting very much. I now want to move towards the TV industry, because they all have very innovative ideas, so that I can play more freely. I feel that movies are sometimes affected by the suggestions of the producers. Sometimes an original idea, somehow, becomes an overused idea, and then the film that is produced can not stir up any waves and is not the audience’s favorite. , But it's another tepid ordinary movie. I think this is the reason the audience has changed. They are all looking for content on more creative streaming platforms.
Johnson: When I read the script of "Jojo Rabbit", I felt that I had never seen such a work before. But the film found its way through the Fox searchlight. Fox Searchlight does not shy away from shooting such subversive works, and is also happy to make theater releases. Independent films definitely have room for their own play. I think the audience also wants diversity and wants to see different works.
I am most curious about: you willLooking at the issue from the perspective of a director, what keeps you interested? How do you want to be a director?
Evans: I am trying to direct the play, but I still don't have the courage and determination to write the script. The hardest part is finding the story material. Good new material is not just waiting for you to discover. When I was directing the show, one of the most difficult things was that I found some scripts like "Birds with Broken Wings", and I thought, "Well, I will take care of it and restore it to health." Looking back, I too I do think that is the best version I made, but it may be due to the limitations of the film material and the film performance is not good. If it is not the limitation of the material, I may, I don't want to say naively, I hope we can surpass the potential and take the film to a higher level.
Do you know what I am curious about? How was it the first time you met and worked with me? Don't damage it too much.
Johnson: I think about it. At that time, we were rehearsing on the set of "Super Perfect Score", a movie about the college entrance examination scandal. This kind of youth comedy was very popular at the time, but it is also very popular now.
Evans: It's almost 20 years.
Johnson: Yes, it feels like a long, long time ago. We were all kids at the time.
Evans: I still remember one day we all went out to play together, and then you were not allowed to enter the nightclub.
Johnson: Because I am only 17 years old and underage, time is gone forever. You have always been a great actor. At that time, you were really good, very photogenic, and your performance on the screen was brilliant, unlike others. It was an honor to work with you at that time, because I think the chemistry of our partner is great and natural. Then we worked together on "Nanny Diary".
Evans: "The Avengers" is the biggest project we have worked on so far.
Johnson: Is it the biggest so far? Wow, then we should have a good vacation.
Evans: We are organizing the "Avengers" vacation. We do have to celebrate. It feels great to be part of the phenomenon-level pop culture, but the actors that I worked with during this period made me unforgettable. Everyone was great, and none of them were lost.
Johnson: I find it very interesting. Because when you were filming "Iron Man 2," you should have just finished filming "Captain America 1." The two of us worked together again. At that time, we didn't even know what we were shooting, and we couldn't imagine that Marvel Cinematic Universe or "Avengers" would become phenomenal works. You have to seize the opportunity, but as the ex-wife of an actor who has played a superhero role (Johnson’s ex-husband Ryan Reynolds once filmed "Green Lantern", the box office was dismal), there is still pressure. You don't know what the result will be. It seems a bit funny now, but this movie may indeed become the end of our career as an actor.
Evans: Yeah. I feel quite lucky. I will treasure this memory for a lifetime. When filming the first "Avengers", I felt that everyone was very uncertain about the concept of the movie. This concept is too weird and requires huge effort. Unsuccessful, you will become benevolent
Johnson: Were you surprised when you knew the first "Avengers" was a big success?
Evans: After the first one, I know that this series may become phenomenal works.
Johnson: Will you return?
Evans: Back to the Marvel universe? Wow. When the old man stood up, the plot developed smoothly. It will be different if you return to your youthful appearance. But I can’t tell you the truth, I love the role of Captain America. So I don't know.
Johnson: That's not totally impossible.
Evans: It's really not totally impossible, but not necessarily. I'm currently participating in other projects. I think it took some effort to tell the story of Captain America to the full, and they did a good job for the American team to complete their journey. If you want to look back at his story, it can't be purely to make money. Not just to excite the fans. What are we showing? What do you want to add to the story? Many things need to be considered.
Johnson: But the idea of restarting the US team is not very obvious.
Evans: I really can't feel it now.
Johnson: I didn't appear in the last third of the final chapter. I have no idea about the subsequent plot. If the movie has a script, I don't know what the movie will look like in the end. The ending is beautiful, it is relieved and satisfying, and I also like the ending of the US team. I think that is what he deserves, and that is the happiness he wants.
EvanS: It would be a shame to destroy this kind of perfection. I would love to maintain it. (If it happens again) There are ten million kinds of things that may mess up and bring negative effects. I think let it stay as it is.
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