Life in the Slow Lane

As downloaded from Claudia's ARDLHGB - 174 mb version (I assume the content is the same as the 50.4 mb version). I've left out some word repeats and "um"s and put some "um"s in.

Campbell Brown: But first, welcome back to Today, everybody. Campbell Brown along with Lester Holt (previously known as Whats-his-face), and coming up in this half hour, we've got Sigourney Weaver and Alan Rickman.

Lester Holt: They are, in fact, in the house. We have a picture - there they are. Hey, guys! They've teamed up for the new film Snow Cake. It centers on two people brought together by a deadly accident. They're going to join us live a bit later to talk about that and other projects they're working on. Happy to have them here.

CB: And they're like . . . are we really on?

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CB: And still to come on Today, a slice of Snow Cake. Sigourney Weaver and Alan Rickman join us to talk about their new film. That's next, right after these messages.

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LH: She is a 3-time Oscar nominee for her very diverse roles in Aliens, the 1988 romantic comedy Working Girls and Gorillas in the Mist. He made his big-screen debut as the ultimate villain in Die Hard but might be best known as Professor Snape in the Harry Potter films. Now Sigourney Weaver and Alan Rickman are starring together in Snow Cake, a drama about an adult autistic woman and the man who enters her life. Take a look.

At the door scene.

LH: And Sigourney Weaver and Alan Rickman are joining us this morning. Good morning to both of you. Thanks so much for being on. That's one of many uncomfortable scenes in this movie . . . um, because - let me set the stage here - Alan you're playing this closed off, emotionally damaged Brit who gives a 19-year-old girl a lift, she dies in a car crash in his car, you go to meet the mother, and you find out . . . you're not quite sure in that scene, but she's autistic. Is that correct?

AR: She is, but I don't think he knows quite what's going on so that scene, apart from me looking like a drowned rat is, uh, is also somebody who's very confused 'cause there's somebody who's opened the door and a) isn't looking at you and b) seems to be unaffected by the news about what's happened to her daughter.

LH: Yeah, she's just found out her daughter has died and doesn't react as we'd expect, and, Sigourney, this had to be a very difficult part to play.

SW: You know, it took me a long time to find . . . there's such a range of autism and this character, Linda, was very verbal - very high-functioning in some ways and not so in other ways and it is about these three people who don't want to connect, who end up connecting with each other on some level.

LH: And I mentioned the uncomfortable scene . . . there's several moments in the movie when you feel uncomfortable because you're trying to deal with - as a viewer - you're trying to deal with your own perceptions of autism and there are moments in this film that you're playing a part that is no different than anyone else in the movie.

SW: Good. That's good.

LH: That's what you were looking for?

SW: Yes, there should be - certainly there were moments when I was researching the part where, in the right circumstance, where the person feels like they're in control . . . uh, they're so high-functioning that you would never know. Uh, so we did want to show that aspect. I mean, again, there's a huge range. And that was - there's that one scene where we're playing her version of Scrabble - comic book Scrabble, which was a lot of fun.

LH: Making up the words, which we do in my family, too.

SW: And she slays him.

LH: And she slays him. And, Alan, I was interested to find out that you were cast first for this movie. You two, by the way, had played in Galaxy Quest several years ago. The only time you had worked together, and you recommended Sigourney for the role, didn't you?

SW: Well, he told me about it.

AR: Well, no, it's absolutely true, but you know, you read a script . . . a lot of what one does, as an actor, hopefully, is kind of based on instinct rather than anything else. I read the script and Sigourney's face just kept coming off the page at me, but there are specific requirements. You need somebody who's going to be intelligent about it, and have fun, and have absolutely no ego.

LH: It's funny, when we sat down . . . you guys are great together. When we sat down, you asked me what was the first time in the movie I laughed, because you want to laugh at some points but you're not sure if it's ok.

AR: It's very ok. I think it's a very funny film. I mean, the only times I've ever seen it have been with a full audience and there is this kind of - the silence that you're talking about - well, where is this going? And it's probably when I crack my head on the bottom bunk of her . . .

LH: When you find out she's in the bunk.

AR: Yeah.

LH: That was a great scene. I want to switch gears now, Sigourney. As a lot of folks know, your father started the Today Show

SW: Right.

LH: and you're playing in another movie right now called "The TV Set" and I guess you're kind of playing the anti-Pat Weaver.

SW: I am playing the anti-Pat Weaver, absolutely. It's a very affectionate look at the hideous process of getting on a quality pilot, and I put the kabosh on anything that's demanding for the audience.

LH: You're using a little of your inside knowledge of the business, obviously.

SW: You know, I actually based it on a woman who runs a non-profit who is very hard to say no to . . . so I just sort of . . . she just kind of rolls over you, so that's what I based it on.

LH: Looking forward that. Then, Alan, you've got a number of other projects, including - is this the - am I correct? the fifth Harry Potter film now, about to come out?

AR: Uh, that comes out in the summer, yeah.

LH: And I know you know you can't talk much about it - I'm just wondering if playing . . .

AR: "Won't" is the answer to that.

LH: Oh, you won't talk about it! But, playing a part like that - does it get better and better? I mean, do you become more comfortable in the role?

AR: I don't know that - the point is to not be comfortable in that part and the reason I don't talk about it is 'cause I think it's very important to hang on to the, if you like, the mystery of the character

LH: Sure.

AR: And it's important for children not to be figuring out who he is.

LH: Well, I know all

AR: We'll all find out

LH: . . . all of us are expected to see that movie when it comes out. Sigourney Weaver and Alan Rickman, what a great pleasure to have both of you here, congratulations on Snow Cake.

SW: Thank you. Thanks for having us.

LH: And we should let folks know, by the way, it's in theaters right now and will continue rolling out in selected markets throughout July.