The 1996 movie Woody Harrelson called the hardest he’ll ever make: “Not just acting but every respect”
Woody Harrelson’s toughest acting role was an immersive experience.
A singular actor, regardless of the quality of the film or show that he is in, Harrelson can always be counted on to give a memorable performance. He’s in a rare era for a star because he is well-known for having a distinct personality whenever he appears for press and interviews, and it tends to mirror some of the characters that he plays onscreen. While some would claim that Harrelson is an actor who is just ‘always playing himself’, he’s done some particularly intense roles where he had to completely transform.
Although he had become a notable name thanks to Cheers, his most significant breakthrough as a serious actor came in The People vs Larry Flynt, which was directed by Miloš Forman, the filmmaker behind the ‘Best Picture’ winners One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest and Amadeus. In telling the story of the world’s most famous and controversial publisher, Forman called upon Harrelson to replicate Flynt’s mannerisms based on what footage existed of him.
It was a performance that was well-received and got critics back on Harrelson’s side, as it had been only three years prior that he had been torn apart for his appearance in the hated erotic drama Indecent Proposal. However, the actor said that making The People vs Larry Flynt was the biggest challenge of his career.
“I don’t think I’ve ever worked that hard in my life,” Harrelson said, “Not just acting in it but every aspect, from helping the writing to improvising scenes”.
Improvising wasn’t something he had much experience with in his prior work, as sitcoms like Cheers had to stick to a tight shooting schedule. He said that working with Forman allowed him more access to the filmmaking process.
“Miloš got me to work with the editor,” he said, “It was a scene where I talk about violence versus sexuality, how you’re allowed to show graphic violence but not nudity. He let me write the scene itself and work on the editing. I was even calling and talking to the agents for some of the pictures in the background, literally negotiating on the phone with agents.”
Given that Harrelson has appeared in more than a few controversial films that attracted significant public discourse, most notably Natural Born Killers, he was the perfect person to play Flynt. Rather than simply feeling like a celebration of excess, the film makes an important point about the complexities of freedom of speech that is perhaps even more relevant today than it was 30 years ago, and Harrelson’s performance is a large part of why it works, earning him an Oscar nomination, which, in hindsight, he probably should have won over Geoffrey Rush in Shine.
What’s interesting is that Harrelson mentions getting to learn about directing, writing, and editing from Forman, but hasn’t yet done much significant work behind the camera on his own since. Although he has been a credited producer on all seasons of True Detective, of which he starred in season one, and directed the mockumentary Lost in London, it would be interesting to see what he would have to say if he follows in Forman’s footsteps to become a full-on filmmaker.
