Michael Cera: The Movieline Interview

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Do you have an inner Francois?

Not really. No.

There's a theory that part of your refusal to commit to the Arrested Development movie stems from your own fondness for trouble or controversy. Have you heard that?

No. I mean, look: I don't have any control over that. I don't have any control over a Web site or a blog -- anything that's written is so out of my hands.

Yet even while everybody else had confirmed, you remained the lone official hold-out.

Yeah, I guess so. But I mean... [Long pause] Well, to answer your question, no. I wasn't intentionally doing anything to get a reaction out of people. That just wasn't on my mind.

Is there a part of you that likes to mix it up? What about Francois made him someone you wanted to tackle -- especially opposite someone like Nick, who seems a lot like you?

I don't know. I just thought the character was really well-written in the book. It's a great character. I just thought it would be fun to play.

How did you approach playing opposite yourself, both technically and theoretically?

It was really Miguel who had to think about the technical stuff: me grabbing myself, me talking with myself. He had a visual effects consultant on set. But the rest of it wasn't really that difficult. We'd have to commit to a take. We'd do one side of it, watch the takes and actually have to commit to one on set. That was kind of interesting. I'd have to act opposite that take as the other character. You have an earwig, and you have the dialogue, and you try to memorize the rhythms as best you can. And then just do it until you get a take that feels like it clicks with the last one.

Does that mess with you after a while?

No. Not really. I had to think about it, but, you know. I can't remember what I was thinking. It just felt like acting.

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Comments

  • Strepsi says:

    No lie: My husband laughed his ass off at Michael Cera's line deliveries in the first 5 minutes of "YEAR ONE" (as did I), then he turns to me and goes "She is hilarious! Who is she?"

  • JM says:

    So this movie is Michael Cera playing Michael Cera also co-starring Michael Cera With A Mustache doing a Michael Cera impression?
    At least of the Hoodie Pack, Jesse Eisenberg shifts vocal registers and facial expressions.
    Sorry...seems like a nice kid but needs to expand his act a bit.

  • Ooooh, I'm gonna have to go ahead and... disagree. I'd gladly take Cera over Eisenberg, who just seems to get roles because Cera said "no". I still think he and Kristin Stewart had the appeal of wet sponges in Adventureland.

  • ben says:

    he was the lone holdout for an arrested development movie?? what so he could advance his career playing the same character in different movies?

  • Strepsi says:

    Name one single star or character actor who did NOT play the same type again and again. From Cary Grant to Bette Davis to the greatest actress of all time, Thelma Ritter, having a type and a style of delivery is an asset.
    Team Cera, he makes me laugh. And I have cleared up his gender with my husband.

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