Jennifer Aniston
Interview By: Dan Portnoy
DanielPortnoy@TheCinemaSource.com
She's most well known for her part as Rachel in the hit television sitcom Friends, which recently ended, much to the disappointment of the show's many fans. But since then and even during the show's triumphant run, Jennifer Aniston made her move into film, primarily through such comedies and romances as Office Space, Bruce Almighty, and Along Came Polly. This year, however, Aniston tries her hand at the high intensity thriller, Derailed, which will have audiences looking at her in a different light. Not a bad one of course, I mean, seriously, its Jennifer Aniston here. Nevertheless, the story which unfolds around Aniston, takes an ominous look at an unexpected romance.
The film tells the story of Lucinda Harris (Aniston) and Charles Schine (Clive Owen), two strangers whose lives have settled into mediocrity. A chance meeting on a train and an instant attraction is all it takes to jump start their ordinary lives. The two begin an affair and one night arrange to meet in an inconspicuous motel room. Unluckily, some unpleasant people discover their infidelity and interrupt their rendezvous. This sets off a disastrous chain of events. In order to save their lives and the lives of their loved ones, Lucinda and Charles must dig themselves out of trouble by gaining the upper hand on their soulless blackmailers.
As a result of her past roles in more 'family friendly' material, Aniston has been referred to by many as America's Sweetheart. Never heard the label placed on her' Well trust me, it's out there. It does make you wonder though, whether or not that label contributes to the roles she chooses. 'The America's Sweetheart label that gets put on a lot of people, I don't really pay much attention to that. I'm just sort of following my instincts and doing work that I feel is coming to me and I'm grateful for it and I'm just trying to do my job the best that I can.' All one really can do is give it their best and in Aniston's case I haven't heard many complaints. At this point Aniston is pleased with the work she is receiving and is pleased with the direction her career has taken. 'I think you're always looking for good work, you know dramatic, comedic whatever it is'it [Derailed] came along at a perfect time.'
If you ask Jennifer how she would categorize a movie like Derailed, she would tell you, 'this is a sexy psychological thriller,' which would be followed by her charming laugh and a smile powerful enough to melt the hearts of many. Her character in the film, Lucinda, wishes for something spectacular to replace what has become a boring, uneventful time in her life. Sadly, the seemingly spectacular turns into the highly volatile very quickly and Lucinda is left fighting for what she was originally willing to turn away from. 'She's a very normal woman who's in a very mundane phase in her life and she meets this very intriguing lovely man on the train and she succumbs to a temptation.' Ah temptation, so many are powerless before its might. When will people learn'
Working on Derailed, was a pleasure for Aniston. And who could blame her when Clive Owen, Vincent Cassel, Melissa George, RZA, and Xibit are all a part of the laundry list of talent present in this film. 'It was great. It was instant ease and comfort and that doesn't always happen. It was very easy to work together and we sort of had similar sensibilities on how to approach what it was that we were doing. It was just all very easy.' Getting along makes the experience of creating the film that much easier, and the chemistry behind the scenes transfers onto the screen as a result. With the suspense and intensity that Derailed contains, that chemistry becomes the life blood of the film and without it, well you get the idea.
'It's good to have a creative outlet, I love having work to go to.' With the way things are going for Jennifer Aniston, I feel that a shortage of work is not in the cards for her. She does, however, want to relax after the film dies down and take a break from all the stress and media coverage that has surrounded her life lately. 'As far as what I'm doing next, there's nothing that's definite. I'm probably actually going to take some time off, truthfully, unless of course something really wonderful comes along.' I guess we'll have to wait and see'
