The Badger Herald: ArtsEtc.: Theroux takes on Lynch-isms and role of a lifetime

ArtsEtc.

Theroux takes on Lynch-isms and role of a lifetime

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Also by Adam Duerson:

End of days (May 6, 2002)
David Lynch delivers, makes good on confusing career (October 25, 2001)
"Invincible" settles for mortal status (October 31, 2001)
I wanna be a part of it (November 4, 2001)
Stadium Seating: Northern Overexposure (November 11, 2001)

Thursday, October 25, 2001 12:00 a.m.

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You may have seen him in “American Psycho” or the equally disturbing “I Shot Andy Warhol.” He was incognito as the evil DJ in “Zoolander,” and if his pessimism is accurate, you may never see him again. As far as Justin Theroux is concerned, it may be all for the best if he remains unheard of.

“Once you get too big, you have a tougher time convincing people that you really are ‘that character,’” he says. “The larger the part, the less known the person should be. Does anyone really believe Tom Hanks was on a deserted island?”

By that logic, Theroux, one of Hollywood’s most overdue undiscovered faces, was in line for the role of a lifetime. With his part as the stubborn Adam in “Mulholland Drive,” he may have found it — he just doesn’t know it yet.

A month ago, it seemed unlikely that a David Lynch film would ever give some lucky star’s career the green light. After “Mulholland Drive,” Lynch has left those naysayers second-guessing themselves. With co-stars Naomi Watts and Laura Harring, Theroux makes three potential award-winners. The true test of strength will come at Oscar time, when the Academy assumes the voice of the popular public. Still, history tells us these kinds of films don’t win Oscars (don’t ask what ‘these’ means; there’s no describing it), and Theroux would tend to agree.

“Julia Roberts won an Oscar. So that’s the kind of stuff we’re up against,” he says. “I have some hope, though.”

As for working with Lynch, Theroux seems happy enough that he is, indeed, working. “I am not in the position to choose roles,” he says. Still, he found the experience simultaneously bewildering and exciting. He simply found the role “different,” to say the least.

“David is very intuitive, and he expects the same from his actors,” he says. “He hones in on scenes and not the content of narrative. He makes things very easy for actors.” If only he would do the same for viewers.