Ellen Page and Joseph Gordon-Levitt Interview
With the release of ‘Inception’ a week away, we have an exclusive interview with two of the stars of the film Ellen Page and Joseph Gordon-Levitt. The high octane sci-fi psychological film for the serious-minded action lover stars Leonardo DiCaprio spearheading a cast that includes Ken Watanabe, Marion Cotillard and Cillian Murphy.
Synopsis
Acclaimed filmmaker Christopher Nolan directs an international cast in an original sci-fi actioner that travels around the globe and into the intimate and infinite world of dreams. Dom Cobb (Leonardo DiCaprio) is a skilled thief, the absolute best in the dangerous art of extraction, stealing valuable secrets from deep within the subconscious during the dream state, when the mind is at its most vulnerable. Cobb’s rare ability has made him a coveted player in this treacherous new world of corporate espionage, but it has also made him an international fugitive and cost him everything he has ever loved. Now Cobb is being offered a chance at redemption. One last job could give him his life back but only if he can accomplish the impossible—inception. Instead of the perfect heist, Cobb and his team of specialists have to pull off the reverse: their task is not to steal an idea but to plant one. If they succeed, it could be the perfect crime. But no amount of careful planning or expertise can prepare the team for the dangerous enemy that seems to predict their every move. An enemy that only Cobb could have seen coming. This summer, your mind is the scene of the crime.
Was it as exhilarating as it looked to shoot some of the scenes in this film?
Joseph Gordon-Levitt: Absolutely. It felt sort of like my ten-year-old boy fantasies had come true. I was getting to literally fly and, you know, fight the bad guys. And his whole stunt team, Chris’ whole stunt team, he uses Tom Struthers, the stunt coordinator, who has also worked on The Dark Knight. And they really ingratiated me into their clan and taught me so much. Showed me the ropes and pushed me hard, and it was difficult and I was in pain sometimes. But it was well worth it. I had so much fun.
What was the most challenging scene for you to film?
Ellen Page: When we shot in Alberta, in the mountains, that was definitely a pretty– Probably the most extreme location I’ve ever worked in my life, just because of the altitude mixed with the wind and you’re on a cliff, you know. That kind of was really crazy.
But exhilarating and looks incredible in the film and… Just a very, very surreal place to be filming a movie. And then I think the challenge for me personally was with the fact that I was playing a character that, essentially, is really helping the audience a lot and asking a lot of questions, and enabling those questions to feel real and organic and be able to make that coming from, you know, a very, very honest place. But when you work with someone like Chris, who’s so concerned about every single moment being completely honest. As an actor, like, that’s such a dream and so it was a really, really incredible journey.
Was it physically challenging to do this film?
JGL: Yeah. It’s just about as physically challenging as anything I’ve ever done in my life. I mean, I had to, you know, train. I was sort of, like, being a professional athlete for a few months there. Which I played sports when I was a kid but not to that degree. And… But like I said, the stunt guys were all so cool. And I mean, it was really just me and stunt guys for a while. But they all kind of took me under their wing and brought me in and they never were like, “Oh, no. You can’t do this, actor.” They were like, “Yeah. Come on. If you want to try, let’s see.” And I had a stunt double, his name is Andy. Really cool guy. He was there every day. And I’m proud to say that he’s only in one shot of the whole movie. And so, I don’t want to say that I did every single moment, because there is one second that’s Andy. And oftentimes, stunt guys kind of get– don’t get credit where credit is due because actors like to say they did their own stunts when they didn’t really. But I did the whole thing except for this one shot.
What was it like to work with this ensemble?
EP: Great!
JGL: Yeah.
EP: I don’t think you could ask for a better group.
JGL: It was a big love affair.
Everyone was just– I mean, not only admiring of everyone else– And mostly it comes from the top down. Just… Everyone was so happy to be working for Chris, I think, and be working on material that’s so challenging and inspiring and fun. It was just a pleasure to come to work every day. Everybody was happy all the time. There weren’t any… There weren’t any, like, complaints or freak-outs.
EP: And when you met, you know, like Tom Struthers, who Joe mentioned is the stunt guy or Wally Pfister, who was the cinematographer, and Chris just like… Always like… There was always such a joyous environment. Despite like the scale and the magnitude of what needed to be done that day. Like, incredibly… just pleasant might be the term.
You know? Like, just… So, I think when that environment has been created by Chris and the lovely people he brings together and he works with, he creates an energy that’s just such a joy.
JGL: And I think when you watch the movie you can tell. It’s been made by people who love what they’re doing. They’re not just doing it for the pay-check. They’re not just doing it because they’ll be famous or whatever. Everyone’s there because they’re in love with it. And I think it shows.
INCEPTION ARRIVES IN CINEMAS ON JULY 16TH