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Nobody’s Cooler

Director Wayne Kramer Leads Macy's Parade

by Wayne Kramer | Published October 12, 2003

Bello, Alec Baldwin and Macy get lucky in Wayne Kramer’s directorial debut, The Cooler.
When Frank Hannah (my co-writer) and I first started talking about the character of “The Cooler,” we immediately latched onto the idea of Bill Macy. I’ve always been a huge fan of Bill’s. To me, he stands out in every role he’s had. There’s a great everyman quality to him, and on top of that, he projects an enormous amount of humanity. At one point years ago my wife and I pointed to him on screen and laughed, “There he is again! He’s everywhere!” We were always delighted to see him, even before we knew his name.

Finally, I had to say to myself, this is ridiculous. I’ve got to remember this guy’s name! He was so wonderful in Mamet’s Homicide and on “E.R.” and later in Boogie Nights and Fargo. I find Bill so much more interesting to watch than the typical A-list star. He doesn’t feel “manufactured.” This guy is the genuine deal.

With regard to The Cooler, I was looking for an actor who could start out being ordinary and “schlumpy” and then evolve into being sexy. I needed to imagine this guy in bed with an attractive actress and not feel like it was a stretch to believe she’d be into it. I’m a heterosexual male and I find Bill “sexy” on screen. By that, I mean, he’s very appealing— those sensitive eyes, that goofy smile. If I was a woman, I’d be into him for all those qualities, rather than just the cookie-cutter, square-jawed features that come off the Hollywood assembly line. I think a lot of women agree with me on that one. Bill is super charismatic. He lights up the screen like few others are capable of. To me, he’s a bona fide movie star. Not just a movie actor, but a real star.

Bill really is that nice guy you see on screen, but he’s no pushover in life, either. He’s a smart, intuitive person with a lethal sense of humor. And he doesn’t suffer fools easily. And, yes, I am running for president of the Bill Macy Fan Club.

I wasn’t surprised with any of the magic Bill brought to the role—because I expected nothing less. From the day he committed to the part, I knew I was golden in terms of bringing this character to the screen. I knew he would deliver on the awkwardness and the humanity of Bernie Lootz.

Bill gets amazingly in sync with his surroundings and the intent of the scene. He also brings a bit more humor to the role than was originally scripted—and that was fantastic. He came up with a lot of great asides or gestures. He’s always thinking, always calculating how to make the performance better. He takes nothing for granted. He’s extremely diligent; the guy learns his lines inside out and backwards. And he keeps his good nature about him until wrap is called. This is a guy who gets out of bed every morning and thanks his lucky stars that he’s a successful, working actor (and writer). I think too many big stars forget how tough it is to buck the odds and make it in this business. Bill Macy never forgets.

I think Bill’s biggest strength is that he doesn’t play into his own ego, and he has an innate understanding of his own ability. He knows he doesn’t look like Cary Grant, but he also knows he embodies something unique, and it’s a quality that is very much in demand. Although he started out in roles as the invisible supporting guy/best friend/office manager, he’s come into his own. Why? Because people notice him now; they’re intrigued. He’s found so much success because people are looking for more than just a pretty face—they’re looking for someone who represents the regular guy, and does it with charm and style.

I think another huge strength Bill has is that he aligns himself with the director. He was my biggest ally on The Cooler. He always had my back, and now it’s my mission to bring him into the studio system as a leading actor. I want to see this guy earning double digit millions. He’s worth it. MM

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MovieMaker Magazine

Magazine cover: Fall 2003This story was published in the Fall 2003 MovieMaker Magazine. The headline was:

Nobody's Cooler / Director Wayne Kramer Leads Macy's Parade

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