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Michael Haneke Plays Funny Games With Naomi Watts
Writer-director returns to the scene(s) of an earlier crime
(Page 2)
MM: Why, specifically, Naomi Watts? She’s obviously quite talented, but surely there are other actresses who could have played the role?
MH: I’d seen her in a number of films, and she’s one of the few performers who can really negotiate through extreme psychological situations. If you look at her work in 21 Grams or Mulholland Drive, she’s quite extraordinary, and the movie really revolves around someone who can pull that off. So she was my first and only choice. That isn’t the first time that’s happened, however. I wouldn’t have made The Piano Teacher (2001) with anyone but Isabelle Huppert; I wouldn’t have made the film at all if she’d said no, frankly. It wasn’t a story I’d come up with but an adaptation of a novel, and those sort of projects tend not to interest me. But I wanted to work with her, so… you do what you have to, right? (laughs)
MM: Right. The fact that Funny Games U.S. is in English—and stars Naomi Watts—means that this will probably reach a larger audience than the original. But because of the nature of the film itself, do you honestly think the large multiplex audience you’re targeting will go and see this?
MH: I hope so. I’m gambling on it, aren’t I? (laughs)
MM: Warner Independent Pictures became involved after production had already begun. I’m assuming someone at the studio had seen the original and knew what they were getting into?
MH: I would hope so. But the mindset of those who run movie studios… that’s far beyond my limited comprehension. (laughs) Working with the studio has been okay, though the production itself… that wasn’t so pleasant. All the unions you have to deal with make the whole apparatus around filming way too huge to manage. I’m used to the European way of filmmaking, in which you can do set-ups quickly and work with a smaller crew. Here, it’s way too cumbersome. It was an experience I don’t plan on repeating.
MM: Having seen both films back to back, I have to say that—even though the shot set-ups and story are identical—the U.S. version’s actors give vastly different performances than their predecessors. Once you start concentrating on what they bring to these roles, you really do see a different movie.
MH: I agree. That was the intriguing part of remaking it, really—to see what this cast would bring to the table. I’ve always said that the best part of making movies is working with actors. Some of them did take a look at the original beforehand, naturally, to see what they were getting into. But I told everyone: Do not watch it again once we start filming. The tendency would be to either slavishly imitate or base an entire performance on being reactive to the original. You know, to be different just for difference’s sake. I didn’t want marionettes; I wanted people who would contribute.
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COMMENTS | POST A COMMENT 
- Comment by Kaela on 4/01/08 at 8:26 pm
I spent 16 dollars on this movie. It was boaring and predictable. Not interesting or thirlling. A waste of my time and money. I don’t know how I would get ahold of someone to get my money back but If anyone knows please contact me.
This story was published in the Winter 2008 MovieMaker Magazine. The headline was:
Match Point
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