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With director Ben Wheatley’s Free Fire opening this weekend, I recently sat down with Brie Larson to talk about making the film. During the interview she reveals how they got involved in the project, the benefits of shooting in order, what it was like working with Sharlto Copley and how he’s never the same on any take, her directorial debut Unicorn Store, why she’s excited to play Captain Marvel, and a lot more.
If you’re not familiar with Free Fire, the film takes place in 1970s Boston and it’s about an arms deal that goes completely wrong. It’s also a ton of fun from beginning to end and loaded with an all-star cast made up of Armie Hammer, Sam Riley, Cillian Murphy, Jack Reynor, Babou Ceesay, Enzo Cilenti, Michael Smiley, Noah Taylor, Tom Davis, Mark Monero and Patrick Bergin. While I know Free Fire is not for everyone, if the idea of an almost 90-minute gun battle loaded with colorful characters where no one has any control interests you, I strongly recommend checking it out next weekend. You’ll definitely laugh and see an epic shootout. For more on the film you can read Matt Goldberg’s review.
Check out what Brie Larson had to say in the video above. Below is exactly what we talked about followed by the official synopsis.
Brie Larson:
- Scott Pilgrim vs. the World
- What was it about the project that made her want to be involved in Free Fire?
- Talks about working with Sharlto Copley and how he’s never the same on any take.
- How they filmed the movie in order.
- Talks about her directorial debut Unicorn Store.
- Talks about what she’s excited about showcasing in Captain Marvel.
Here's the Free Fire synopsis via A24:
Bold, breathless and wickedly fun, Free Fire is an electrifying action comedy about an arms deal that goes spectacularly and explosively wrong. Acclaimed filmmaker Ben Wheatley (Kill List, High Rise) propels the audience head-on into quite possibly the most epic shootout ever seen on film as he crafts a spectacular parody –– and biting critique –– of the insanity of gun violence. Everyone’s got a gun, and absolutely no one is in control.
Set in a colorful yet gritty 1970s Boston, Free Fire opens with Justine (Oscar® winner Brie Larson), a mysterious American businesswoman, and her wise-cracking associate Ord (Armie Hammer) arranging a black-market weapons deal in a deserted warehouse between IRA arms buyer Chris (Cillian Murphy) and shifty South African gun runner Vernon (Sharlto Copley). What starts as a polite if uneasy exchange soon goes south when tensions escalate and shots are fired, quickly leading to a full-on Battle Royale where it’s every man (and woman) for themselves.
Packed with witty one-liners, flamboyant characters and remarkable feats of cinematic gunplay, Free Fire is a full-throttle action extravaganza that keeps things fresh and fun with Wheatley’s alternately buoyant and savage sense of humor. Swinging from the madcap to the macabre and back again, the film is an exhilarating experience that will leave you quite literally blown away.
