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Holy Rollers

Coverage by Nobuhiro Hosoki

Story : In Brooklyn, a youth from an Orthodox Jewish community is lured into becoming an Ecstasy dealer by his pal who has ties to an Israel drug cartel.

Opens May 21, 2010

Runtime:1 hr. 29 min.

Interview with Justin Bartha and Jesse Eisenberg

 

(Q): I was wondering what you thought of the different punishments for each of your characters. I know that they’re composites of real-life people but did you think the punishment really fit the crime?

(Justin Bartha): In your mind what are the punishments of both characters besides obviously the jail time?
 
(Q): The jail time, that’s what I meant.
 
(Jesse Eisenberg): Well his character is much more aggressively criminal. My character, I feel, is roped into it, at least according to the story we tell, I feel is more innocent. So I should be let off immediately.
 
(Justin Bartha): I think that my character’s stuck in a bit of a purgatory and there’s a sense of dread at the end that you think something bad will happen to him. Even though Jesse’s character does end up possibly in prison, there is a strange sense of hope, in my mind, when you see him with his father in this prison. There is a sense of hope and a sense that he will get back to a place there he should be.
 
(Q): What was your first impression of the script?
 
(Jesse Eisenberg): I was really excited about the possibility of playing the role and I thought the script was wonderful. I thought there was no other way to tell this story well than to do it through characters, as opposed to having a greater emphasis on the criminal aspects. Justin’s mantra on set and during rehearsal was that no one cares about who owes who fake money.

The emphasis in the movie was this man trying to break in and burglarizes us. We never wanted to focus, both as actors and as story tellers for the writer and director, to never focus on the criminal aspect of the movie because that was always less interesting to us than the characters. Also we didn’t have the resources to make a big thriller movie so the thriller that we could have made would have been not thrilling.
 
(Q): You had a guys had a great rapport in the movie; how much did that take to develop between you two?
 
(Justin Bartha): It took years of stomaching his presence.
 
(Jesse Eisenberg): We were friends for like six years maybe before the movie started. I had read the script a little before Justin and as soon as I read it it seemed to me the dynamic that we have, abusive, he tries to rope me into selling drugs. I mean I was so happy when he read it and also like it.

Then as we developed the characters during the rehearsal process, which was really a year and a half, two years, that was enriched even more so. And then during the filming, just the nature of the filming, we were given leeway to improvise and to do scenes several times because it was just the nature of how we shot. So that was also informed by a personal relationship.

(Q): How much research did you do into the Hassidic community, or at all?
 
(Justin Bartha): There was quite a bit of research done in the Hassidic community, especially by Jesse. We went a few times mainly to observe, but within the community there was a lot of research. And also, just because of the fact that we had so long to develop the characters and the script we could really hone in on who these characters are and where they came from and had a lot of time to read and study exactly what we were doing when we were trying to raise the money.
 
(Q): How do feel the movie will be received in the community?
 
(Justin Bartha): I don’t think they’ll see it.
 
(Jesse Eisenberg): Yeah the Hassidic community doesn’t see secular movies. I imagine modern Orthodox Jews will probably see this. I think if they’re probably out to criticize it, and I know a lot of people will criticize it before going into it just because it touches on something sensitive, I can understand that.

But if you watch the movie, and I know a lot of people have, and have had the reaction that it treats the characters respectfully and they just happen to be Jewish. It’s not a commentary about Jews; the characters happen to be Jewish rather than setting out to tell the story of Jews who deal drugs, that’s certainly not the case.
 
(Q): How was the experience of working with your own sister Hallie Kate Eisenberg?

(Jesse Eisenberg): Oh it was great. She came into the movie at the last minute to play my sister. Similar to me and Justin being friends, that personal relationship is able to resonate in the story that much more powerfully because of the nature of the relationship we have. And then also she was cooperative on a small set; we tried to get as many people as we knew involved because of the kind of movie that this was, you want to have people that are there for the right reasons.
 
(Justin Bartha): She’s a fantastic actress.
 
(Jesse Eisenberg): She’s also wonderful.
 
(Q): That’s the first time you guys have been in a movie together right?
 
(Jesse Eisenberg): Yeah, because she doesn’t want to act anymore. She acted when she was younger of course but she doesn’t want to do that anymore so she did this really as a favor. She doesn’t like going to sets so she did this as a favor to me and she’s so wonderful in it.
 
(Q): What surprised you the most about making the movie?
 
(Jesse Eisenberg): You mean because it’s about Jewish people?
 
(Q): Just in general, whether it be the subject matter about family or just the fact that obviously there’s a drug dealing aspect to it.
 
(Jesse Eisenberg): My biggest surprise, a good surprise, was that you can make a movie with what they would refer to as a high concept like this, which is Hassidic Jewish people dealing ecstasy. This is a high concept that could serve a bigger thriller type story, and my biggest surprise is that if you tell the story from the perspective of the characters and tell a modest story about multi-dimensional people then you can do both.

You can fulfill those bigger elements and tell an entertaining story that would appeal to people who are on the telephone while they’re watching it and serve the people who have higher-brow interests.
 
(Q): My favorite scene is when your character starts negotiating for the first time. Can you tell me a little bit about that scene, about the preparation?
 
(Jesse Eisenberg): With the suitcase and he throws up?
 
(Justin Bartha): What was interesting about this movie, because of the size of the budget and the fact that it was a fairly ambitious movie to make for a million bucks and in a short amount of time in the winter of New York, every kind of scene, including the drug dealing scene, had its very specific challenges and there was nothing really easy about it. I’m not even answering the question.
 
(Jesse Eisenberg): That scene was one of seven scenes that we filmed that day, so even though it plays like one of the bigger set pieces, quote unquote, in the movie, we didn’t have the luxury to film is as though it was.
 
(Justin Bartha): That was a tough day.
 
(Jesse Eisenberg): Q-Tip was in the movie; I think that was his first day with lines. But again, he is somebody who’s very famous and everything but he was so comfortable being on the set that didn’t have any of the perks that you see.
 
(Q): Can you talk about the collaboration of working with director Kevin Asch? He’s relatively knew in this town, he’s only made “Characters.” Did you happen to see it?
 
(Jesse Eisenberg): I didn’t see it. Justin really liked it.
 
(Justin Bartha): Yeah, it’s great.
 
(Jesse Eisenberg): Kevin and Justin and Art and Mark and Jason, a lot of the actors, we had a lot of time to rehearse with Kevin, and my favorite thing about working with him is that he’s always looking for the humor of the situation, which is my interest, and I know Justin’s as well. We have a great story, the characters are real, all the actors will be dramatically real, emotionally honest, but how can we also find the humor in it?

I think that’s why the movie is as fun to watch as it is, because there’s real humor coming from the family; it’s not just this stodgy, isolated, Hasidic Jewish family, it’s a family with humor, which is an honest portrayal of these kinds of families. Justin’s character is, to me, such a dark and dangerous character and yet he brings so much humor to it but never compromises how dangerous he potentially is. And I credit a lot of that stuff to Kevin encouraging us to take it there.
 
(Justin Bartha): The movie was a very collaborative effort. Everyone contributed. When you’re working with first-time directors usually a lot of people have to step up, the cinematographer and the producers, and Kevin did a wonderful job. I think everyone had such a passion for this film and for the story that we all held each other’s hands and just did whatever we could.
 
(Q): 2009 was a big year for both of you in terms of your hit movies. I was wondering how your life has changed; are people recognizing you? And also if you could just set the records straight on any rumors to “Zombieland” and “Hangover.”
 
(Jesse Eisenberg): I assume we both probably get recognized on the street maybe 10% more than the previous year. But we both live in New York; people don’t care as much. In terms of broad-stroke career stuff it seems to me any time I’ve been in something that people like or is successful commercial or something, which has been rare, I don’t immediately feel the great residual effects. It seems to me like you’re just trying to do something else that you like doing, and it’s always a struggle to find the thing that you really love to do, and those are few and far between.

(Q): I was just curious because “Zombieland,” which seamed like a lot of fun for you to make, that was like your first really horror sort of action type of film, and I was wondering if you’re getting more scripts now that are like that.
 
(Jesse Eisenberg): I get a lot stupid scripts. All of those movies are terrible. What made “Zombieland” good was that the characters were good, the dialog was really good, and the other actors were great. Those movies by design are terrible in general; they have to come together in a special way to be good.
 
(Q): And that’s why it was such a big hit. People loved it. We were talking to Emma Stone and she said she’s totally on board for the sequel. I know nothing’s really been written yet as far as a finished script.
 
(Jesse Eisenberg): I don’t think they’ve started the script yet, but if it’s good of course everybody has an affection for it that worked on it because it turned out well.
 
(Q): I wanted you, Justin, to set the record straight because there are so many rumors on the internet about the next “Hangover” movie taking place in Thailand and Todd kind of shot down those rumors. What do you know about it?
 
 
(Justin Bartha): No one’s read a script yet, so only Todd knows. Not even the studio has read a script so whatever is on the internet is hearsay. I couldn’t tell you. I’m fairly confident it won’t take place in Las Vegas, that’s about all I can tell you.
 
(Q): Is this the beginning of like a De Niro, Pesci thing for you guys?
 
 
(Justin Bartha): Who am I? Am I Pesci in this? I’d rather be the Harvey Keitel/De Niro.
 
(Jesse Eisenberg): I think it’s Daniel Stern and Joe Pesci.
 
(Q): Would you guys like to work together again?
 
(Justin Bartha): Jesse’s one of my favorite actors so I would do every movie with him if I could. Unfortunately, not every movie can be a Jewish movie.
 
(Jesse Eisenberg): Justin as well; not only is he one of my favorite actors but I write roles for him in things because I am just bowled over by not only his acting skills but his perspective on the work on set but also the way the final product should be. He wanted to bring so much humor to this but never compromising the drama; that’s my desire as well in terms of work and so I would love to do everything with him. Unfortunately, his schedule and price don’t always comply.
 
(Q): I know that you’re really busy right now with your movie career, but do you have any desire to do any theater in the near future? And if so, what would be your ideal project?
 
(Jesse Eisenberg): Well I want to write plays and I’ve written plays and a musical; hopefully it will happen next year.
 
(Q): Is it a dramatic musical, a comedy musical?
 
(Jesse Eisenberg): It’s a satirical musical.
 
(Q): Can you say the title?
 
(Jesse Eisenberg): It’s called “Me Time.” It’s a satire on modern self indulgence. But there’s a limited amount of theaters and the plays are bad so it’s hard to get them on.
 
(Q): And you went to film school so do you have any desire to direct?
 
(Justin Bartha): I’m fairly interested in kind of every aspect of movie making and theater and everything. So yeah, I do eventually at some point, probably. Hopefully with Jesse.
 
(Q): Could you briefly talk about your next project? I know you’re in “Social Network” with David Fincher so could you briefly talk about what you guys are doing next?
 
(Jesse Eisenberg): Yeah it’s that movie, it comes out in October, and it’s about the creation of the website Facebook.
 
(Q): What kind of part do you play?

(Jesse Eisenberg): I play the guy who made it, Mark Zuckerberg.
 
(Q): What about you Justin?
 
(Justin Bartha): I just have this movie coming out and then I’m doing a play right now until August. After that maybe your local barista.
 
(Q): What was it like working with Michael Douglas?
 
(Jesse Eisenberg): He’s great but I actually wanted to work with him because just before I did the movie Justin was with him a lot because Justin did a romantic comedy with his wife, Catherine Zeta-Jones, called “The Rebound,” and Justin was telling me he’s so great.

End.