Red Lights director Rodrigo Cortes, 39, has nothing but good things to say about his lead actor Cillian Murphy, 36. “He’s the only actor that can turn a romantic comedy to a horror film with the blink of an eye. And I needed these two natures — this innocent guy, usually at the beginning like a young deer. And this very disturbing guy that became so obsessed and almost dangerous at the end of the film,” Cortes told Uinterview exclusively. “So I couldn’t ask for anything better.”
Born and raised in Cork County, Ireland, Murphy first broke onto the scene in 2003 with the U.S. release of 28 Days Later. From there he would receive roles in Girl With a Pearl Earring opposite Scarlett Johansson and Cold Mountain with Nicole Kidman and Renee Zellweger. In 2005, Murphy took villainous turns in both Red Eye opposite Rachel McAdams and Batman Begins as the Scarecrow. He would work with Batman director Christopher Nolan again in 2010’s Inception, and last year he co-starred with Justin Timberlake in the sci-fi thriller, In Time.
In Red Lights, Murphy plays Tom Buckley, a physicist serving as an assistant to a paranormal investigator played by Sigourney Weaver, 62. Murphy was excited about the movie and excited to work with Cortes. “I had seen Rodrigo’s movies before he made our film. You can tell pretty quickly that he was the real deal,” Murphy told Uinterview. “It’s very rare to have someone as talented in writing, directing and editing, and who has that understanding of the vernacular of cinema so intuitively.”
Q: Have either of you ever had a paranormal experience? - AngelicaR
MURPHY: I have not. I'm afraid I'm quite boringly rational. I would call myself a skeptic. I'm not a cynic, I'm open and curious — you know, you've got to be open to these things, but I've yet to experience anything that can't be explained.
CORTES: I'm afraid I'm as boring as Cillian if not more. I would love to see something out of the ordinary, but not yet.
Q: What was the best part of working together in Red Lights and what was the worst one, if any? - MyriamDeLaTorre
MURPHY: I had seen Rodrigo’s movies before he made our film. You can tell pretty quickly that he was the real deal. It’s very rare to have someone as talented in writing, directing and editing, and who has that understanding of the vernacular of cinema so intuitively. And ‘Buried’ was just such an incredible achievement. As an actor, you want to work with people that have a clear, strong vision because then you trust them and then you’re able to be brave in your choices, hopefully. It was a joy in making it.
Q: Hi, I have a question for both Rodrigo and Cillian. Has either of them ever had a paranormal experience? - Nairn
Q: Hi Cillian, I have two questions for you..What do you feel when you see your own movie...Are you proud or a little bit skeptical?And how do you deal with criticism?..Best regards from Germany.Susan - SusenMarek
Q: What made you think of Cillian Murphy as the right actor to portray the character of Tom Buckley? - MyriamDeLaTorre
CORTES: Well, first of all he’s hugely talented. Great actor to play a complex role and he also has another quality; he’s the only actor that can turn a romantic comedy to a horror film with the blink of an eye. And I needed these two natures, this innocent guy, usually at the beginning like a young deer. And this very disturbing guy that became so obsessed, and almost dangerous at the end of the film. So, I couldn’t ask for anything better.
Q: What is your most annoying and most endearing personality trait? - ShannonLMcCarthy
Q: For Cillian, I was wondering if you had done any preparation work for your role in “Red Lights” and if so, what did you do?
- ShannonLMcCarthy
MURPHY: Yes. I did lots and lots of reading. I had to go on and learn a few rudimentary magic tricks and I spoke to a lot of people and Rodrigo gave me a lot of his material. It was fascinating, you have to always do your due diligence in that regard, but ultimately it just becomes about the character, just sort of try and make him as complex and human and contradictory and all these things, you know?
Q: What was the most challenging scene in the movie Red Lights? - Name
Q: Cillian, as a character Tom Buckley has quite a big arc. He goes from being a sort of boy scout to something much darker. How much of yourself went into each side of his personality? - miltoni123
Q: Cillian, You've achieved a lot as an actor in your career. What else do you hope for your future? - valentina
Q: Cillian, you have played a religious zealot in Misterman and are now playing someone who is involved in the paranormal in Red Lights. Does the spiritual outlook of your characters affect you at all, does it maybe make you more understanding of people who have a faith or does it instead reinforce your atheism?
Simone - ListenAndWonder
Q: Hi Rodrigo.Hi Cillian.My name is Sarah and I´m from Berlin/Germany.Cillian,this question is for you.I have read that you are a patron of the UNESCO Child and Family Research.Would you be so kind, and could you tell me a little bit about this project?Thank you in advance for your answer.
Bye.Sarah - sarahgitzen
Q: So I’ve seen the trailer for Red Lights and it seems incredibly fascinating, especially in the psychological aspect and the way frauds are explained. Now, I’ve been wondering, is Red Lights more about adhering to one’s beliefs or trying to understand what is presented to you? - Jenny
Q: Question for Cillian Murphy:
I heard some of your interviews for Red Lights where you describe yourself as a bit of a sceptic towards magic and psychics etc. as you consider yourself to be quite a rational person. I am the same and don't believe any of it . However, I wasn't too impressed with the movie's attitude towards astrology, which is in fact considered to be a pseudo-science and based on a mathematical calculation of the planets at a certain point in time.
Carl Jung used astrology in his work with his patients and I am a great admirer of his. For example, in your birth chart you have
Leo on the 1st House Cusp
Leo energy is expressive, vital and exuberant. Often very artistic, and always theatrical and dramatic, this is the sign of creativity and the arts. Warm and big-hearted, Leo lives in full appreciation and celebration of the finer elements of life, bringing a dynamism and enthusiasm to everything it touches. This is the fearless 'becoming' stage, where things are done for their own sake, playfully and with pleasure.
Not exactly coincidence then, given your incredible acting talents. Given the fact you are a sceptic and a rational person, I was therefore wondering if you would be open to reading more about astrology and then perhaps accepting it as a reality anyway?
Thanks,
Maeve - fitzgeraldmaeve09
Q: cillian why you decide to be an actor and wich of your movies you feel more proud? - Nabil Mejia
Q: To Cillian,
You say that your generation grew up watching actors like Robert De Niro and it was amazing to work with such powerful figures in your line of work. How does it make you feel strange to think that people of my generation (in their 20's) have grown up watching you and are in awe of your work?
Anna - Anna
Q: For Rodrigo, How did you manage to break boundaries? And isn’t it too stressful to do all the steps of a movie production as you did? - valentina
CORTES: It’s hard to explain because I don’t even know how it happened to me. You don’t try to do that. You don’t try to get into any specific place; you just try to create certain kinds of stories. You try them to be challenging, you try them to challenge you too, and do them in the best possible way. If you think that they should be done in English, like in this case, because I can only find them to be believable in the states. For instance, you shoot them in English if it’s another kind of story. You shoot them in whatever you think they needed to be shot. So I don’t know how you do that. I guess there are only two things that you can do; you can do the things you believe in or you can do the things all the people want you to do. And in both cases, you have no guarantees of success. So at least, you should do what you want to do.
Q: Do you feel a sense of pride or are you critical when you see your own films? - SusenMarek
CORTES: I try not to feel too proud about things. Proud is probably not the word, but it is similar to what I have in mind. So, anything you don’t like in the movie is my fault.
Q: The part where Tom wakes and thinks he sees Silver at the end of the bed reminds me of having 'waking dreams' which I've had a lot of. As a kid I believed that it was ghosts that I was seeing because it felt like being awake. Have either of you ever had waking dreams or thought that you have seen ghosts, and if so, what was the weirdest thing you've seen? x - donna
Q: To Cillian Murphy
What work of art, whether on screen, page, threatre, or music has had the most profound affect on you? - MariOHagan
Q: WHY YOU DECICE TO BE AN ACTOR? AND WHATS OF YOUR MOVIE IS THAT YOU FEEL THE MOST PROUD OF? - Nabil Mejia
Q: Cillian, I feel awkward asking this, but I'm doing a Batman novel with Scarecrow, and I was wondering if you would like to assist me sometime, if it's possible. And i was wondering what you looked forward to when you first started filming "Red Lights". - Taya
Q: Cillian, I loved your performance of Misterman in London. After Galway, New York, London, are you planning to reprise this role anywhere else? Or are you planning to perform in another play in the near future, since you have said that you love the immediacy of performing on stage?
Simone - ListenAndWonder
Q: Rodrigo, can you explain us a little bit about the reason for using the camera effects and the mounting that you chose for Red Lights? - valentina
Q: Rodrigo, can you explain us a little bit about the reason for using the camera effects and the mounting that you chose for Red Lights? - valentina
Q: I'm currently studying audiovisual communication in Spain, and to see a "young" spanish director getting recognition really pleases me. How did you manage to break boundaries? Isn't it too stressful to do all the steps of a movie production as you did? - valentina
Q: Cillian, aren't you tired of being asked the same questions again and again? If you could ask you a question what would it be? - valentina
Q: I've heard that "letters from an unknown woman" is one of your next projects. What can you tell us about it? Are you really going to sing? - valentina
Q: Cillian, what's your relation with your fans? - valentina
Q: Cillian, I'm a big fan of your work as an actor. In every film you give us more and more talent. Your performance in Red Lights was outstanding, what's next? What are you wishes for the future, Is there something you want to archieve? - valentina
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