6 months ago 16th May 09:00
They felt that there was no voice that they related to, and he took that as a challenge, to write a movie for those kids that he hoped would be authentic to them.
I read over 100 scripts trying to look for the one that would really connect, and in that time I read two I really liked. One was Juno ironically.
Charlie Bartlett had a lot of humour and a lot of heart. I liked the challenge of making a film with a lot of mixed tones that had serious issues. And it was optimistic. The humour in it is so truth-based.
We live in a world of a lot of cynical, clever, smart filmmaking 'Tarantino-esque' if you will. And here we find this character who is not afraid to wear his heart on his sleeve. Ultimately, people relate to that kind of character and situation.
I don’t think it was a bold choice, but it’s a different one in today’s climate. I liked that it’s not straight comedy, it’s not a gritty indie, but a little bit of everything.
What I ideally wanted was Bud Cort a couple of years before Harold and Maude. It was David Duchovny, who had just worked with Anton, who suggested him.
82 different young actors had tried for the part, but nobody had the ability to portray Charlie’s depth and be all the different elements that Charlie could be. Then Anton came in and just blew me away instantly.
What made me realise he was perfect is when he said it was the honesty and optimism of Charlie that drew him to it. If anyone was ever destined to play a part, I think it was Anton as Charlie Bartlett.
Was it a risk casting Robert Downey Junior as an alcoholic? It was never really about him or his history. One of the first things he said on that phone call was “I know this film is about another character and I am here to support that character”. He was very brave about dealing with his own issues and how they are reflected back through the film. He was not afraid of that - you know, it's a movie about people making mistakes
Hal Ashby has always been my favourite filmmaker. I was trying to make a movie that felt like a '70s picture. There are funny scenes that have poignant moments, and I think that there are serious scenes that have funny moments.
I am really encouraged by the fact there’s another idiosyncratic teen movie with an oddball lead character that's kind of smart and goes their own way.
It’s interesting the comparisons come up more than expected. I have a great respect for John Hughes, and I take it as a compliment, but Ferris was never on my list of influential characters and films, and there was never a connection for me.
I can see how some people might make comparisons as both kids are manipulators and movers-and-shakers. But tone-wise, Harold and Maude was more of an inspiration. Ferris and Charlie do both become the oddball messiah leaders in their school, but Ferris pulls it off and Charlie fails miserably.
This is a film for everyone who was a teenager or still is. We’ve found all ages and genders have related to the movie. We want people to leave the theatre feeling a little better, maybe listening a little more to their kids, and adopting parts of Charlie as I have. I certainly hope that I can find the honesty and optimism to move my life forward as he does.
It was R-rated in the US simply because there are kids giving other kids drugs. But ultimately the film is a very hopeful, positive one. It is a film for mature kids who come with their parents; and I think they'll really like it.
I knew we weren’t going to get away from it (the R rating). People were shocked at the MPAA’s decision, but we just couldn’t take out the drug element. It was too integral to the whole movie and without it I don’t think we would’ve had a movie that anyone would have liked.
However 18 out of 20 people would probably say it was PG-13 like Juno because, ultimately, it's got such an incredibly hopeful message and a character who is such a hopeful optimist.
Charlie Bartlett is released 16th May
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