Michael Shannon Sells '99 Homes'5 of 9
You’ve played two other very different characters in films that were released this year: Dane Wells in Freeheld and Mr. Green in The Night Before. What appealed to you about each of the roles?
With 99 Homes, I was basically hungry to work with Ramin because I admire Ramin, and I think all the movies he makes have a huge social consciousness without being preachy. I just really appreciate his work. It didn’t even matter necessarily what parts in the movie that he wanted me to play. I just wanted to be in it.
With Freeheld, it was an incredibly moving story. What hooked me with that was seeing the documentary that the script’s based on ... It’s impossible not to be affected by that story. I got the opportunity to meet Dane, and I just thought that he was a great guy and somebody that I admire a great deal, and I wanted to represent him in the movie.
The Night Before, it was pretty much just something that was fun to do. I know people think I‘m typically very serious, but I have a lot of improv in my background. I’m from Chicago. I like goofing around as much as anybody.
With 99 Homes, I was basically hungry to work with Ramin because I admire Ramin, and I think all the movies he makes have a huge social consciousness without being preachy. I just really appreciate his work. It didn’t even matter necessarily what parts in the movie that he wanted me to play. I just wanted to be in it.
With Freeheld, it was an incredibly moving story. What hooked me with that was seeing the documentary that the script’s based on ... It’s impossible not to be affected by that story. I got the opportunity to meet Dane, and I just thought that he was a great guy and somebody that I admire a great deal, and I wanted to represent him in the movie.
The Night Before, it was pretty much just something that was fun to do. I know people think I‘m typically very serious, but I have a lot of improv in my background. I’m from Chicago. I like goofing around as much as anybody.
PeopleMichael Shannon
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