By Ruth Ferguson, NDG Director
Kevin Macdonald might just make nautical dramas cool again with his latest film, Black Sea. He visited Dallas to discuss the making of the film and the surprising Jude Law.
Black Sea features Law, who believe it or not was not Macdonald’s first choice for the lead role in his film. But after his experience with Forest Whitaker and The Last King of Scotland, Macdonald has learned to not rush to judgement.
“If someone wants to come see me, I will meet them,” Macdonald shared, always leaving the door open for a performer to surprise him. Apparently Law did.
“He was so enthusiastic,” and according to MacDonald in preparation for filming Law even spent time living on board a submarine with a unit of the British Navy.
Law has had less attractive gritty roles such as the killer pursuing Tom Hanks in the 2002 film Road to Perdition, but he is usually better known as the handsome leading man. In Black Sea as Captain Robinson Law is certainly the man in charge, but not this is not a typical role for him.
Macdonald pointed out that for this film, “Jude turned himself into a character actor.”
Apparently the crew in general became very entrenched in the feeling and vibe of this movie. Originally a set was built leaving them with the ability to remove the walls, the intention was this would allow the filmmakers to mimic the tight quarters even on the set. However, because they worked on the submarine first, Macdonald changed the game plan. He indicated the crew pushed back and even though they could remove the walls, they did not.
The story revolves around a rag tag team of Russian and British seamen on this search for gold, with a single American. Some may see the American Daniels played by Dallas native Scoot McNairy as the bad guy, but not Macdonald.
Yes Daniels is, “more slick, more cosmopolitan, and privileged,” but like the other men Daniels was seeking an opportunity for redemption too.
“Men define themselves by their money and work,” Macdonald pointed out and Captain Robinson is looking back on his life choices and regretting the fact throughout the years he chose the job. Like the others men, there is this sense of hope that if Captain Robinson and Daniels can complete their mission, they can make their lives have meaning.
Macdonald was in Dallas the day Oscar nominations were announced. While his name is not on the roster for 2015, he was celebrating the fact his wife, Tatiana was nominated for Best Achievement in Production Design for her work on The Imitation Game.
Black Sea is a tense character study, showcasing not only solid performances by the cast, but the deft hand of director Kevin Macdonald. It is rated R and opens Friday, Jan. 30 in Dallas.
