Vera Farmiga on Henry's Crime, Source Code's Ending and Awards Overload

It doesn't feel like you've been around that long. Was it a shift for you in Up in the Air, all of a sudden playing the seasoned veteran? It was quite a shift from what you even did in The Departed.

Well, you assume seasoned veteran because it's someone who is unapologetic. And you think behaving without regard for anybody's ideas, sticking to your needs and your own desires and doing it without apology because that's what you need seems seasoned vet. Like wisdom [laughs], or a quality a seasoned vet would posses.

The Academy Awards has changed so much over the last few years. By studying the results of other awards, the Oscars have almost become a forgone conclusion. Mo'Nique was such an overwhelming favorite headed into the Academy Awards that year...

Yes, and so well deserved. That was an obvious win. I think the nature of the roll, the range; the transformation was obviously to be rewarded, hands down.

But going in, are you conscious of her being a front-runner or is your attitude more "it's anyone's game"?

There are so many awards shows. So many of them these days. They come a dime a dozen. And, you know, people care for those two weeks after and then it all fizzles out. And it really isn't so much about acclaim or a nomination or an award, it's who sells the most magazines -- on the cover of magazines. That's the mentality, still. There's so much speculation, so many awards. Everyone who is nominated at some point wins an award because there's just so many venues. But that's not to say it's not nice being a part of that.

You don't make it sound like your favorite process.

Well, no, I really do love the confirmation. I love confirmation. It's nice to get a pat on the back for work that you're proud of.

Return to Paradise was one of your first big films. It's interesting to look who's in the cast...

Right. Vince Vaughn, Joaquin Phoenix... Oh, sure, some burgeoning careers in that film. Anne Heche
. I remember that was a massive surge of Anne Heche.

Happy experience for you?

I have no memory at all. I check in and out. I have to keep copious notes about a film. Rarely do I remember. I could probably talk about a couple of films. Down to the Bone is one that's vivid. Breaking and Entering -- those films are few and far between. I punch out at the end of the day and I actually have to revisit when it's time to do press. I revisit notes and ideas that I jot down.

Right -- basically you've moved on to new projects, but you have to discuss a project you filmed a year ago.

Films are like those dreams that become distant sense. Some people have that brain, that memory. But, for me, I punch in and I punch out. Sometimes I didn't even remember the plot to a film.

Like the plot of the episode of Law & Order you were on?

That's so funny. I don't! I know it had something to do with my father but I don't know what.

Well, not remembering was basically the plot. Your character couldn't remember being at the crime scene which was the same defense her father used a few years before.

[Laughing] Too funny! I really don't! I remember vaguely something about my father. Daddy issues!

Can you explain the ending of Source Code to me?

I was hoping that you could explain it to me. And I think it's OK not to know. The numerous times I've asked Duncan Jones what happens in the end, he says that it's a Choose Your Own Adventure novel, of sorts, is the way I've been expressing it. That's certainly what drew me. I feel like every reality is a viable reality and it's basically which one you choose -- whichever ending you think is most fulfilling for yourself. It is ambiguous, but pointedly so, I think. Because it's all theory and philosophy and if anything was absolute then we would have a tidy answer. But I think the ambiguity works. Duncan will say that all the realities that he's been in are true. That's vague... Vagary! [Laughs] Vagary doesn't explain it to me, so I don't know how to answer.

Has the Buffalotto contacted you yet to sing the jingle?

The Buffalo Lottery has not come to me yet with an offer.

It is a catchy tune.

The first scene up was shooting that jingle; I don't think I've ever panicked so much about how I was going to attempt a scene as I did with that.

That's surprising, you've been in some pretty intense scenes.

See, I didn't realize that someone was actually going to write the jingle, because I was told that we would just try a couple different things. So I thought, "Oh, you're leaving it up to me to write the jingle and the melody." So, I did come with several versions but, in the end, it's fine. They had one prepared.

What was your version?

Oh, no... [Laughs]

You don't have to sing it.

There's a video of it, of my husband and I after a bottle of wine in the Four Seasons workshopping that very moment. But... [Laughs] It's even funnier to watch and see my shady husband.

[Top photo: Getty Images]

Follow Mike Ryan on Twitter

Follow Movieline on Twitter

Pages: 1 2