Award-winning British writer-director John Michael McDonagh crosses the globe for his much-anticipated third film, 'War On Everyone', a jet-black action comedy starring Alexander Skarsgård, Michael Peña and Theo James.
The buddy crime caper was filmed on location in Albuquerque, New Mexico, with a final week in Reykjavik, Iceland.
John answered some questions about the film.
How would you describe 'War On Everyone'?
'War On Everyone' is a buddy-buddy black comedy with a ‘70s feel to it, outlandish visual and verbal humour, left-field narrative turns, and the music of Glen Campbell.
How did 'War On Everyone' come to be?
I was drunk. I wanted to tell a funny story about two corrupt cops and have the audience be on their side. When I was asked at Q&A’s for 'Calvary' about the projects I was developing, and I mentioned 'War On Everyone' I said that it was 'The French Connection' meets 'Hellzapoppin’'. I was only being partly facetious.
You mentioned 'Calvary'. How does 'War On Everyone' differ from this film and 'The Guard'?
'The Guard' and 'Calvary' were directed in a measured, contemplative style, relevant to the subject matter. 'War On Everyone' has a very different dynamic, one of quick-paced scenes followed by calm, contemplative moments. Stand-out shots are used at certain points as filmic exclamation marks. The tired grammar of shot-reverse-shot is largely dispensed with. Locations and sets are intensely stylised.
Why the Glen Campbell songs? Does he represent an enduring country pop take on Americana for you?
Glen Campbell represents a melancholy ‘70s existentialist mood. Also, the songs are great. I’m always listening to Glen Campbell. They were written into the script – not something that we added later on.
Was it always meant to be set in the American Southwest and what intrigues you about this part of the world?
It’s a contemporary Western, in a sense, so the story was always intended to be set in either Texas or New Mexico. Both 'The Guard' and 'Calvary' have been described as westerns so with this one I thought why not go to the American South West? Such big, bold colours – and the tax breaks available in New Mexico intrigued me more than the tax breaks available in Texas.
And then the film takes us to Iceland.
And we totally switch to a place that’s all blues and cold.
Would you say that at its essence, this is an anarchistic, antiauthoritarian, buddy crime picture?
Um. Yes. Of course, the most important thing here is emphasising the relationships: between Bob and Terry, Bob and his family, and Terry and Jackie. As Bob and Terry’s public actions are often morally suspect, their private interactions become more resonant as a way of creating sympathy for them with the audience. If other people love them, then hopefully the audience will, too.
What unique qualities do Alexander Skarsgård, Michael Peña, and Theo James bring to their roles?
I don’t know. But what I do know is, when I lick them, they taste of candy. The performances are naturalistic and improvisatory, but also slightly surreal. As Stanley Kubrick once said to Jack Nicholson during the filming of a scene in 'The Shining', “It’s true, Jack, but it’s not interesting.”
Are there heroes and villains in this story, or is everyone good and bad, and morality a subjective concept?
No, morality is not a subjective concept. There are heroes in this world, and there are villains.
Which character is most like you?
Reggie X.
