Why Watch That

Top Menu

  • Episodes
  • Movie Reviews
  • Interviews

Main Menu

  • Episodes
  • Festivals
  • Vintage
  • About
    • Jobs
    • Press
  • Contact
    • Advertise with Us
    • Support
  • Episodes
  • Movie Reviews
  • Interviews

logo

Header Banner

Why Watch That

  • Episodes
  • Festivals
  • Vintage
  • About
    • Jobs
    • Press
  • Contact
    • Advertise with Us
    • Support
  • Review: Mayor of Kingstown (Season 2 Premiere)

  • Review: I Wanna Dance With Somebody

  • Review: The Son

  • Review: The Last of Us

  • Review: All Creatures Great And Small

  • Review: Saint Omer

  • Review: BMF

  • Review: Mayfair Witches

Interview
Home›Interview›Joshua Marston (director of Complete Unknown)

Joshua Marston (director of Complete Unknown)

By WWTR
September 7, 2016
1246
0
Share:

The Referee got a chance to interview Joshua Marston, director and co-writer of the just-released “Complete Unknown,” which features a great cast, including Rachel Weisz, Michael Shannon, Kathy Bates, and Danny Glover. In 2004, Marston burst onto the scene with his debut feature film, “Maria Full of Grace” (Oscar Nominee for Best Actress). He also directed “The Forgiveness of Blood.” In addition, he has lots of experience as a director of numerous episodes from some of the best TV shows. (Chances are, if you’ve watched most of the TV shows we’ve recommended, Joshua has directed them!) Take a listen to this engaging interview with one of Hollywood’s most intriguing directors!

About “Complete Unknown”

(To listen to our review of the film, click here!)

Amazon Studios and IFC Films released COMPLETE UNKNOWN in theaters August 26th.

This shape-shifting tale of the perils and pleasures of self-reinvention begins at a dinner party, when Tom’s (Michael Shannon) co-worker arrives with an intriguing date named Alice (Rachel Weisz). Tom is convinced he knows her, but she refuses to acknowledge their history. And when Alice makes a hasty exit, Tom sets off after her. What follows is an all-night odyssey shared by two people, one needing to change his life, the other questioning how to stop changing.

Directed by (our guest) Joshua Marston
Written by Joshua Marston and Julian Sheppard
Starring Rachel Weisz, Michael Shannon, Kathy Bates, Danny Glover, Michael Chernus and Azita Ghanizada

Our Questions

  1. COMPLETE UNKNOWN is the type of film that you’re going to really think about and talk about. One of the reasons is that it uniquely explores a wide range of themes — such as identity, honesty, and change — and how those themes play out in relationships. Tell me, what (or who) inspired you and Julian Sheppard to write the film, and what did that writing process look like?
  2. This cast: I mean, you really have a dream team of actors, here, many of whom are major award winners, namely Rachel Weisz, Michael Shannon, Kathy Bates, and Danny Glover. How did each of those actors become attached to the film?
  3. Rachel Weisz plays the ever-changing, ever-complicated, Alice Manning, while Michael Shannon’s character, Tom, is deeply affected and sometimes influenced by her choices. How did you collaborate with the two of them to draw out their performances? And did their input influence the original script?
  4. Some of the characters in the movie are repelled by Rachel’s [Weisz’s] character’s ability to frequently shift identities, almost seeing her as having an illness, while others see it as a gift. Where do you stand with that?
  5. In 2004, you burst onto the scene with the exceptional MARIA FULL OF GRACE, which got an Oscar nomination for best actress. Now, 12 years later: How has your directing changed since then, and how has it stayed the same?
  6. You’ve directed a lot of episodes for some stellar TV shows, (SIX FEET UNDER, LAW & ORDER, THE NEWSROOM, THE GOOD WIFE, AMERICAN CRIME, and the upcoming BERLIN STATION). How do you decide which TV shows you want to direct? Are you drawn to certain attributes?
  7. We, here on Why Watch That, always close our interviews asking what movies or TV shows our guests are currently watching. So, Joshua, what are you watching?
Previous Article

First Look: Complete Unknown

Next Article

Episode 31 – The Vessel, Operation Avalanche ...

0
Shares
  • 0
  • +
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

Related articles More from author

  • Interview

    Meera Menon & Amy Fox (director & writer of Equity)

    July 26, 2016
    By WWTR
  • Interview

    Jocelyn Moorhouse (director of “The Dressmaker”)

    September 20, 2016
    By WWTR
  • Interview

    Steven Katz (writer-producer of Cinemax’s The Knick)

    June 6, 2016
    By WWTR
  • Interview

    Sharlto Copley

    August 23, 2016
    By WWTR
  • Interview

    Jim Broadbent (Star of “The Sense of an Ending”)

    March 10, 2017
    By WWTR
  • Interview

    Clea DuVall & Vincent Piazza

    August 26, 2016
    By WWTR

  • Episode

    WWT Talks: The Return of Good Girls and Outlander and the Premiere of Hunters and High Fidelity

  • Trailers

    Mary Poppins Returns: Trailer

  • EpisodeReviews

    Goodbye, TIFF 2021!

  • Recent

  • Popular

  • Sundance 2023 has come to an end!

    By WWTR
    February 1, 2023
  • Sundance 2023: Rye Lane, Landscape With Invisible Hand + A Little Prayer

    By WWTR
    January 29, 2023
  • Sundance 2023: Young. Wild. Free., Shortcomings + The Accidental Getaway Driver

    By WWTR
    January 28, 2023
  • Sneak Peek: The Birth of a Nation (2016)

    By WWTR
    October 2, 2016
  • Jack Reacher: Never Go Back

    By WWTR
    June 22, 2016
  • Sneak Peek: The Intervention

    By WWTR
    August 25, 2016

Sponsor

  • About
  • Advertise with Us
  • Jobs
  • Support
  • The Team
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Contact
Why Watch That 2021