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What was it that attracted you to Enough?
I liked the script very much, and the fact that it was
dealing with a woman's empowerment. I have done a
lot of films, and if there is any theme to them it is
that. Dealing with strong women, or making political choices.
I found that is one of the most interesting things that
has happened in my lifetime, the way a woman's place
in society has changed. So the idea of doing a good thriller
I liked, and one that had some emotional content as well.
It seemed to fit in to things that had interested me during
my whole career.
Was Jennifer Lopez already attached when you accepted
the project?
No, she wasn't. Sandra Bullock was actually attached.
Then she moved on - and hopefully because I came
on - so it was kind of in limbo. Then Jennifer got
a hold of it and expressed an interest. She and I met,
and she basically "approved me" (laughs) and
that was that.
It was actually somewhat of an alarming thought, because
she had a pretty bad reputation of being a diva and all
that. But I must say that none of that proved true. She
was very good to work with, very industrious and focused.
Really there for me and the other actors. It was kind
of a surprise. Whereas Enigma, which I thought was going
to be terrific fun, but it was a nightmare from beginning
to end. (laughs) Enough, which had all the makings of
being a nightmare, turned out to be really enjoyable despite
the subject matter.
I thought the casting of Billy Campbell was inspired
and certainly against type...
That was the idea. It seemed essential to me that the
audience shouldn't be ahead of the game. If Jennifer
was going to fall in love and marry someone, that person
could not in any way give off a vibration of being violent.
It was written that the character was sweet, but more
importantly I didn't want to use an actor who brought
that sort of baggage with him, who had done a lot of action
movies or the audience was familiar with playing a bad
guy.
What effect do you think playing off of preconceptions
has on an audience?
I knew I wouldn't even have a movie if the audience
sat there in the first five minutes shouting, "Don't
do it, Jennifer! Don't marry him!" It was essential
to find someone who brought a sweetness to the role and
whose reputation as an actor could support the idea that
she wasn't an idiot, but just fell in love with someone
she thought was a perfectly fine and decent man. Every
relationship that doesn't work presumably goes through
the same thing, when the person you marry or fall in love
with isn't who you thought they were.
So it seemed important for the story's credible for the
casting to work; and I needed a big guy, who was physically
intimidating. I knew of Billy's work on television, and
fortunately he was both available and interested in doing
it. A lot of actors weren't interested. They didn't want
to play second banana to Jennifer, and didn't want to
get their asses kicked by her, either. But Billy was up
for all of it. (Laughs)
Okay, gotta ask you some DVD questions. Why are there
no extras on either Enough or Enigma?
We're doing special editions for both of them. I've already
done commentaries and there's deleted scenes for both
of them, and some background on the filmmaking. But for
reasons that mystify me, they are not coming out now,
except for perhaps it takes a long time to do these special
editions and they just want to get the film out there
(now). So they do a straightforward DVD then they do a
special edition.
Oops, I'm getting booted off, so last question. There
are so many of your past films still not on DVD, but that
should be: First Born, Coal Miner's Daughter, Gorillas
in the Mist, Thunderheart...
I'm fighting to get those done. I just did a commentary
for Thunderheart, so that should be out soon, and Coal
Miner's Daughter should be coming up. So I am on
the case of trying to get some of these out, like Gorillas
in the Mist as well. And it is ridiculous that they're
not out!
Special thanks to Michael Apted, Corey
Scholibo, Kavita Smith, and all at Columbia TriStar Home
Entertainment. All images copyright Sony Pictures. All
rights reserved.
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