Reminiscence, the feature directorial debut of writer-director Lisa Joy, was released on August 20 in the United States. Hugh Jackman, Rebecca Ferguson, Thandiwe Newton, Cliff Curtis, Marina de Tavira, and Daniel Wu feature in the sci-fi thriller, which is set in a well-known film noir genre.
The film follows Nick (Jackman) and Watts (Newton), a buddy and fellow soldier, running a business that allows individuals to relive their fondest moments. Newton told up about her friendship with filmmaker Joy and how her role affected her viewpoint on how women are portrayed in films during a recent interview with Hey U Guys.
On Almost Leaving the Business
Newton was on the verge of quitting acting when she was cast in the hit HBO series Westworld in 2014. Because of mistreatment, she left her position in the Canadian police drama Rogue and focused on writing and humanitarian work.
Lisa Joy Took a Chance
Joy originally intended to cast someone with a large, strong physique in the role of the ruthless veteran since that is how every film depicts a powerful lady. When we look at female figures like Black Widow, Captain Marvel, and others, we understand that we are only seeing from the male vision.
Newton was a small woman, but she was the most fearless woman Joy had ever met. As a result, she decided to change up Watts’ role and offered her the part right away. Reminiscence was ready to get down to business in less than two weeks. Newton was ecstatic at Joy’s willingness to take a chance on her.
My pride in playing that part has become even brighter. It was a fascinating trip for me when I realized that my own discrimination against myself while playing the character stemmed from internalizing the male view of what a woman may be. Joy’s bravery was hailed by the 48-year-old actress, who expressed optimism that the endeavor would not be “a death note” due to the risk.
Regarding the Role’s Casting
Joy was looking for a cast for Reminiscence that could play Watts’ ferocious character. She wanted Newton to play Watts, but she couldn’t see a little woman like Newton playing such a scary character. Their retrospective, on the other hand, helped Joy and Newton reflect on their own internalized stereotypical perceptions of women in movies. According to Newton,
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In retrospect, we realized that we were internalizing the male gaze’s view of women. That’s why it was difficult for us to imagine small women serving in the military. There are hundreds of women in the military who are just like me.
The actress stated that it was critical to reflect women’s viewpoints on female characters.
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