The Break-Up - Jennifer Aniston interview
Interview by Rob Carnevale
JENNIFER Aniston talks about uniting with Vince Vaugh for anti romantic comedy, The Break-Up as well as appearing naked on-screen.
Q. What kind of reaction have you had from other women to this film given that it makes lots of salient points about the selfishness of men?
A: [Laughs] I’ve had nothing but positive comments from women and men truthfully. It’s not just about pointing out how men have their downfalls because I think women have their downfalls as well. It’s also about how men and women communicate differently – or the lack there of – and what the results are due that lack of communication. Things fester and grow so that an argument about whether someone has bought three lemons as opposed to 12 [as seen in the film] becomes the straw that breaks the camel’s back. People have loved it. They come up to me and say it’s like having a mirror put up to their relationship and reflecting on their own past arguments and how silly they seem.
Q: On the face of it, you seemed to be joining a cast and crew made up of Vince and his buddies? How was it fitting in?
A: It was great. I knew that they were all friends but it never felt like a hard clique to penetrate. They were all really warm and welcoming.
Q: This is very much a character-driven part rather like your role in The Good Girl. Was that part of the appeal – to do something that was not a typical Jennifer Aniston’ part?
A: I honestly don’t look at things in terms of whether they’re “Jennifer Aniston parts”. I just try to pick something that I respond to and that interests me and I’m moved by. Of all the parts that I’ve picked, I never walk into them knowing whether it’s going to be a success or a failure. We all hope that something will work. But this one attracted me because, quite frankly, there had been a lot that I’d read that were so far fetched, outrageous and unrealistic. I’ve done them and I don’t feel I performed very well in them.
So it was way overdue for me to do something that I responded to and which had such a wonderful story. It’s just such a simple story about two people which was very equal, male and female. They just don’t come along very often.
Q: Is there less pressure on you as an actress when performing in independent movies rather than commercial films?
A: I actually don’t feel that much of a difference. It’s more fun or it is more relaxed on an independent film because you don’t have the pressure of the studio. You also don’t have a lot of time or money, so you have to go by the seat of your pants. There’s not a lot of time for beauty and set-ups and all of that. It’s more raw. I personally don’t feel a difference in pressure.
Q: One of the most excruciating scenes in the film is the dinner party near the start. So what’s the most awkward dinner party you’ve ever been to?
A: I’m sure I must have been to some. I come from a Greek family, so there’s many big dinners. So I’d say it’s pretty much all of them at some point.
Q: How was it improvising with Vince? Did you find it hard?
A: It’s easy but that’s what’s so fun about working with him. You do feel like you’re acting with a tennis pro and there a nice little volley back and forth. There were sometimes I’d just get entertained.
Q: Did you feel more exposed in the post wax scene where you were walking around the apartment naked or during the more emotional scenes?
A: I would say the nude scenes.
Q: Why did you choose to take your clothes off for this film?
A: Well, I was getting paid money to do it and I didn’t really have a choice because Vince wrote it! [Laughs] When I read it, truthfully, it was so long and extensive, I thought there’s no way they could film it. It was literally, she walks down the hallway, through the living room, in front of the TV, goes into the kitchen and opens the fridge, takes out a coca cola, etc etc. I thought well this is going to be an NC-17 [or certificate 18], there’s no way they can shoot that. But sure enough, they figured out a way to shoot it very tastefully. But it didn’t feel gratuitous in any way. I would never do that. I don’t walk around my own house naked for that long!