Scarlett Johansson
Interview By: Daniel Portnoy
A few years ago Scarlett Johansson was just a name that people recognized, a name that people could rarely match with a face. Now, this young actress is making herself known. Since her role in 2003's Lost in Translation alongside Bill Murray, Ms. Johansson has been very busy. Last year she starred in the romantic comedy hit, In Good Company, and was a voice for children's television show gone big screen, The SpongeBob Square Pants Movie. This summer she teams up with Ewan McGregor and director Michael Bay in the high paced action thriller, The Island.
In the movie, Johansson plays Jordan Two Delta, a clone of her counterpart Sarah Jordan who just happens to be a famous actress. Jordan Two Delta is an insurance policy for Sarah Jordan. Should anything happen to Sarah, organs, bones, facial tissue, you name it, can be harvested from Jordan and given to Sarah (sounds nice). 'It gets psychologically creepier and creepier as it goes. Once you hit that point when everything is revealed, its so horribly disturbing from that moment on it just doesn't stop, and that's the ride you take.' Once Jordan and her companion Lincoln Six Echo (Ewan McGregor) find out the truth, they must fight to preserve their own lives and the lives of their friends.
Action isn't just action with Michael Bay. The explosions are frequent and excessive, the chases are faster and more elaborate, and the impossible is turned into the possible. The Island is Johansson's first action film. Sorry Eight Legged Freak fans (if there are any); this one is the real deal. 'It was just a really fantastic script. It was exciting, it was adventurous, and it was fun.' What else is there' Michael Bay of course, one of the great action movie mogul's was attached to the film. Needless to say she was on board.
Clones and cloning are a central theme diplayed in The Island. Although this movie makes you lean toward the notion that it's probably not a good idea, the question is there, nevertheless. While in the interview there was some joking back and forth as to what Scarlett would do with a clone if she had one in real life. 'I'd have her do simple household tasks, folding the laundry, maybe prance around in clothing to see what I might look like, pose and that kind of thing, do the grocery shopping'things people just don't like to do,' she chuckles. Following the laughter we steadily changed direction to find out what she looks for when choosing to do a movie.
Sub textual elements, hidden meanings, and miles and miles of subplot do not play a part in Scarlett's decision to do a movie. 'I don't believe movies should deliver messages, I never pick films based on the message they're delivering'when I come out of the theater after all you just want to be entertained, you want to leave and say 'that was cool.'' In action films, 'cool' stuff usually comes with the territory. In this particular film the action plays along nicely with the story. It was nice to see some action that came with a purpose instead of seeing action for the sake of blowing something up. In addition to all the explosions and high speed intensity, the film did have some deeper issues that allowed audiences to question their own morality. Also, this film allowed Scarlett to show a less mature, innocent side that you don't normally get to see in her other movies.
This growing success has come as a bit of a shock to Scarlett, who when she started acting didn't know what was in store. 'It's very surprising, I never had any expectation, and I only hoped and thought when I was younger that I would like to be a working actor.' Working is an understatement. The Island is her second movie this year; the other is Match Point, written and directed by Woody Allen. To top that off she's already working on three films for 2006 releases. 'I'm definitely going to take a nice long, much needed rest after this one. I promised myself that, but the problem is once I start to relax for a while I get very anxious and I have to do something.' When that anxiousness kicks in, you can be sure that we'll see some more of Scarlett.
