The porn drama, also starring James Franco, is out now
Fans of Christian Slater onMr.
(The story is based on the real-life case of Bryan Kocis, who was murdered in 2007.)
ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: How did this project come to you?
Credit: Larry Busacca/Getty Images
And he presented me with this and I got excited by it.
What were you excited by?
I was looking for something to do that scared me.
Jesse Korman
Something that was out of my comfort zone.
It didnt feel stereotypical and there were aspects of the character that I felt I could really identify with.
It really spoke to me.
Jesse Korman
What did you really identify with?
Most deeply with his vulnerability.
The other line I identified with was, Just make me feel wanted.
And then the line, Dont judge me, I dont judge you.
Those are some wonderful, very human topics to have incorporated into a character.
Did you have any qualms about the raciness of the subject matter?
But weve all matured as the country has matured and I saw this as only an exciting opportunity.
Yeah, the things we incorporated were subtle.
I certainly wasnt interested in any bang out of caricature.
I mean, this is a guy whos been in the closet for his whole life.
Even his sister [played by Molly Ringwald] didnt know.
She was still trying to set him up with girls.
Shes either in denial or hes just done such a great job of hiding and covering.
You know its been 31 years since your film debut inThe Legend of Billie Jean.
And 30 years sinceThe Name of the Rose.
Well, theres a human-ness there, yeah.
Its a performance you probably would have been too young for 10 years ago.
True, and I certainly appreciated that aspect of this.
You know, at a certain point, you have to start playing adults and behaving like an adult.
When youre a kid, youre immature and silly and judgmental.
So its nice to get to a point and not shy away.
Your performance reminds me of Burt Reynolds inBoogie Nights, and not just because of the porn connection.
Were there any touchstones that you were thinking of while making it?
In the back of my mind, as we were going along during filming, I hadGypsy.
It slipped out a couple of times.
I just found out that theres an outtake now where I did a full-on Ethel Merman impression.
It was a bit expensive for our film, but maybe itll be on the bonus reel.
But you really went for it?
Just belted it out?
Yeah, it was full improv.
And he did feel like Gypsy Rose Lee and I felt like Mama Rose.
And I was excited and he was my star.
So I was just like, Youll be swell, youll be great!
Everything is coming up roses!
Garrett Clayton is 25-year-old and mostly known as the star of Disney Channel movies.
So did the Mama Rose thing mirror real life?
But I was so impressed with how Garrett basically carries the movie.
And his fearlessness made me feel extraordinarily safe.
If anything, while we were filming, he took care of me.
Sounds like Justin Kelly encourages a certain spontaneity on the set.
Freedom, without a doubt.
Its so great to work that way.
Thats also how I felt when working with Lars Von Trier onNymphomaniac.There was a great deal of freedom there.
Just freedom to allow the camera to roll.
He ended up capturing a lot of human, real honest moments, even in between the scenes.
OnKing Cobra, were you able to ad lib?
I was thinking to myself, like, Geez, is that for real?
It felt like an appropriate question to incorporate into the story.
[Laughs]
Where did the filming fall inMr.
Right after season 1.
We had screened at South by Southwest and won the Audience Award there.
And actually, right before this, I had doneSpamalotat the Hollywood Bowl.
So things, as they still are, were going really well for you.
And they sent a chopper to get me back into the city on time.
Oh, wow, very James Bond.
It wasnt a round trip deal, but well, what are ya gonna do?
