With directorGabriela Cowperthwaite’sOur Friendnow playing in select theaters and On Demand thanks to Gravitas Ventures and Universal Pictures Home Entertainment, I recently got to speak withCasey Affleckabout being part of such an inspiring movie. If you haven’tseen the trailer,Our Friendis based on the Esquire article“The Friend: Love Is Not a Big Enough Word”byMatthew Teagueand is about a family (Dakota Johnsonand Affleck) dealing with terminal cancer and the close friend (Jason Segel) that moves in to help them out. I recently watched the film and thought it was incredibly well done and featured terrific performances from everyone in the cast. In addition, as someone that has lost a number of close friends the past few years, the film was a beautiful reminder about the intricacies of friendship and the importance of making each day count.Our Friendalso starsJake Owen,Gwendoline Christie,Cherry Jones,Isabella Kai, andViolet McGraw.
During the interview, Affleck talks about what it was like filming in the real town where the story took place with the actual family members watching, what it was like on set when filming the cancer scenes, why Dakota Johnson had to do a lot of the heavy lifting in the film, how the film weaves in a lot of levity even though it’s dealing with serious subject matter, how directing has changed the way he is on set, and more. In addition, for fans ofThe Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford, he shares a story from the making of that film.
Check out what he say to say below and further down is exactly what we talked about and the official synopsis.
Casey Affleck:
Here’s the official synopsis:
Our Friend tells the inspiring and extraordinary true story of the Teague family—journalist Matt (Casey Affleck), his vibrant wife Nicole (Dakota Johnson) and their two young daughters—and how their lives are upended by Nicole’s heartbreaking diagnosis of terminal cancer. As Matt’s responsibilities as caretaker and parent become increasingly overwhelming, the couple’s best friend Dane Faucheux (Jason Segel) offers to come and help out. As Dane puts his life on hold to stay with his friends, the impact of this life altering decision proves greater and more profound than anyone could have imagined.
