The director who tried to teach Jack Nicholson how to act: “I don’t remember asking”
Not many people enjoy being criticised, but especially not for something on which you have built an international reputation. Jack Nicholson is one of the most critically acclaimed and respected actors in the business, with the sheer magnitude of his on-screen presence leading to a widely acknowledged position as one of the ultimate greats in Hollywood. After leading roles in classic films such as The Shining, The Passenger, Five Easy Pieces and Chinatown, the actor cemented his legacy within the New Hollywood movement, working with many great auteurs as they were establishing their voices and ringing in a new cinematic era.
The actor is self-assured and astute in his creative instincts, leading to wildly unpredictable yet authentic performances that beautifully mirror the interior world of the characters he inhabits, no matter how complex or misunderstood. Given his status in the industry, the idea of offering advice to Nicholson on how to act seems preposterous and borderline insulting, with one director crossing the line by instructing him on how to perform one of his most iconic lines.
Everyone loves a courtroom drama, whether it be the recent success of Anatomy of a Fall or old-school classics such as The Verdict, My Cousin Vinny or 12 Angry Men. However, perhaps one of the most influential from this genre is the Aaron Sorkin-penned drama A Few Good Men, starring a young Tom Cruise alongside Nicholson.
Directed by Rob Reiner in 1992, the film is a classic story of corruption within the U.S. government, following a military lawyer assigned to a murder case who discovers that a high-ranking official is responsible for the fatal attack. The infamous line of “you can’t handle the truth” is one of many standout moments, alongside the committed performance from Cruise as the eager young lawyer intent on cracking a corrupt system.
However, with such an accomplished cast and well-polished script, you’d perhaps imagine that few notes would be required from the director in order to complete his vision, especially after becoming known for cult classic films such as The Princess Bride and When Harry Met Sally. But annoyingly for Nicholson, the director had many thoughts to throw into the ring when it came to his final monologue, offering his own version of the speech and getting carried away with his suggestions for the actor.
Kevin Pollack stars in the film alongside Nicholson, and described the moment when Reiner tried to give some pointers on how to perform the scene, with the director reading the lines back to him and performing the scene in the way he wanted to see it. This is not a method that actors respond well to, with most hating being shown how to say a line.
However, while Nicholson could easily have been insulted about such a taboo approach, when Reiner had finished performing the scene, the actor dismissed it with a light-hearted joke, saying, “I guess I’m not there yet”. This helped diffuse the tension on set, with everyone expecting an outburst or display of frustration from Nicholson, proving that even the most celebrated directors can fluff up their approach.
