Bobby Cannavale
Interview By: Stephen Snart
StephenSnart@TheCinemaSource.com
'For me the movie is called, 'The Guy on the Ground,'' jokes Bobby Cannavale about his role in the internet-induced sensation, Snakes on a Plane. The film stars Samuel L. Jackson and an airplane full of venomous snakes. Not since The Blair Witch Project has a film utilized the internet to generate hype of this magnitude. Most of the interest has stemmed from the iconic title that wears its plot on its sleeve. So, fans of Cannavale might be taken aback to find out his character, Hank Harris, doesn't actually spend any time on the titular plane. 'I'm Sam's partner in this movie. I've gotta find the bad guy and find the anti-venom' in 20 minutes or less,' he says with mock urgency before emitting with a chuckle.
Cannavale, 35, first started receiving serious attention for his role as the loveable Joe Oramas in the 2003 quirky independent film, The Station Agent alongside Peter Dinklage and Patricia Clarkson. Since then, he's garnered household recognition through recurring roles in HBO's Six Feet Under and NBC's Will and Grace as Will's boyfriend, Vince D'Angelo.
Looking at his resume, which consists largely of television and independent film credentials, it's quite surprising to see Snakes on a Plane suddenly pop up. But as Cannavale explains, it's almost like he's in a different movie altogether. On set, he and Todd Louiso (who plays the snake expert) would joke about the nature of their scenes. 'I said this is like our buddy action / comedy movie, so let's just do our own thing. We just had a blast. David [Ellis] was really great in letting me know that I had room to really just have fun with it' a lot of comedic license' we riffed a lot' just had a good time with it.'
The surplus of hype surrounding the film hasn't come as a complete surprise to Cannavale. 'I kinda had a feeling that a movie called Snakes on a Plane starring Sam Jackson was gonna probably get a lot of buzz. Quite frankly, I've never been in a movie like that.' He admits that he was slightly apprehensive about doing an action movie after working on so many smaller, quieter films. 'I thought it was gonna be a lot of work and a lot of long hours but it was none of that. David is the most laid-back guy in the world. We had like 8 hour days; it was the easiest job I have ever had. And I got to jump out of helicopters!'
The exuberance with which he talks about his stunts charmingly reveals his inner child, 'That's what's great about these kind of movies; you get to make believe in the most extreme ways possible.' While he enjoyed getting to jump off helicopters and shoot guns himself, he knew there was one person who would get even more enjoyment out of watching him. His 11-year-old son.
'I asked my son and he said, 'yeah you should totally do it!' I really did it for him' so that I could be in something he could see.' The film was originally shot to be PG-13 but after some online petitions stated they wanted more violence and some of Samuel L. Jackson's trademark foul language, the filmmakers went back and reshot it for an R rating. After the rating was changed, Cannavale justified taking his son to an R movie quite simply, 'He's a New York City kid.'
You can tell what a loving father he is by the excitement in his voice when he proudly states, 'It worked exactly the way I thought it would. He's excited about it. All the kids in his school think I'm really cool.'
His son's interest in Snakes on a Plane is a welcome change from the usual apathy that meets with his father's work. 'He did not see The Night Listener. I took him to the premier of The Station Agent, and as much as people love that movie ' it's hard to find people who didn't like that movie, my son was completely bored. I have a feeling he'd be bored watching The Night Listener too,' he chuckles humbly. 'He's a kid! I try to get him to see movies I liked growing up but he's his own kid. He likes action movies and anim'. When a chance like [Snakes on a Plane] comes up, you take it.'
The flighty nature of the material also turned out to be a welcome reprieve from the bout of serious films he had been doing up to the production. 'I had a meeting with New Line right after Station Agent came out. They took me very seriously and were pitching all these very serious movies to me. Then at the end, it was like they were saving it, he said 'Oh, one more thing! You have a kid right'' They totally hooked me in.' The project he was talking about was, of course, Snakes on a Plane.
Like everyone else, Cannavale was immediately intrigued by the title. The film was in the very early stages of pre-production at the time but Cannavale's interest was peaked. He told them to send him a script when it was coming together. 'Then it was like perfect timing. I was doing this play here in New York, Hurlyburly. I was five months into and I was losing my mind. It was the most serious thing I'd ever done and I was dying to do something light. And that's when they sent me the script.' Cannavale read the script backstage and it didn't take much longer for him to sign on. With his son's approval, he was ready to play Hank Harris.
Next on the horizon for Cannavale is a series of projects he's very excited about. He just finished shooting a movie in Chicago called Quebec which he describes as. 'a very funny comedy with Seann William Scott and John C. Reilly.' Next year, he'll also have a gritty crime drama called The Take with John Leguizamo, Tyrese and Rosie Perez about an armored truck driver seeking vengeance against a criminal.
More immediate is Richard Linklater's adaptation of Fast Food Nation, opening in limited release on October 20. Cannavale appears very passionate about this project in particular. 'That book changed my life in a lot of ways. I haven't touched fast food since I read that book; my son doesn't touch it either. I was really honored to be asked to be in the movie.' He expects the film to wallop a sociological punch on audiences. 'The last ten minutes of this movie is unlike anything I've ever seen in a movie. I know a lot of people who've read that book haven't eaten fast food since then. I think more people go to the movies than read books nowadays, which is sad, but if enough people go to see it, hopefully the fast food industry will change.'
Cannavale is clearly proud to say he's a cast member in Snakes on a Plane, even if it was just for a lark. Most importantly, his son will be eternally grateful for it. With The Night Listener having opened two weeks ago and Fast Food Nation scheduled to bow in just over a month's time, Cannavale proves that it is possible for a good actor to oscillate effortlessly between independent and mainstream fare.
