The film that turned everything for Jason Segel: ‘Something had changed’
There are few people as influential within the comedy world as Jason Segel, with the actor becoming a staple in the films of Judd Apatow and the silly stories from the 2000s revolving around the likes of Jonah Hill, James Franco and Paul Rudd. Together, they formed an unstoppable troupe in a decade of cinema being defined by an abundance of comedies and slightly ridiculous plot lines, with Segel’s presence leading to the notorious Dracula puppet musical and the nostalgic pull of shows like Freaks and Geeks, perhaps one of the definitive coming-of-age shows from the ‘90s.
However, Charlie Chaplin once said that “comedy is tragedy when seen in close-up”, a sentiment that Segel has embodied in the latter part of his career through his Emmy award-winning role in Shrinking, blurring the line between comedy and drama and showing a natural talent for chuckling at the darker side of life. But perhaps this is an interest that has been there since the beginning, with the actor describing an early cinematic experience that changed the world for the better.
The ’90s were a time of growth and great change within Hollywood, whether it be the technological advancements that led to visual spectacles like Titanic or a resurgence in independent cinema through rule-breaking auteurs like Quentin Tarantino, Claire Denis or Wong Kar-Wai. The entire framework of the medium began to shift, with one moment in particular marking the beginnings of a new era and shattering the young mind of Jason Segel.
The single image of Neo standing on a roof and bending through the air to avoid flying bullets was perhaps the definitive moment of the ‘90s, with The Matrix being heralded as a once-in-a-lifetime masterpiece that was leagues ahead of its time. It shattered box office records and became a cultural touchstone where everyone would quiz each other about their choice of a red or blue pill and the meaning of The Matrix itself. Directors Lana and Lilly Wachowski created something that resonated beyond the confines of time, as it has evolved in meaning over the years.
But surprisingly, the release of The Matrix coincided with the production of Freaks and Geeks, and interestingly, the same cinematographer worked on both productions. While shooting the series, Segel explained how Seth Rogen and he had watched the film the day it was released, which also happened to be the same day they finished shooting the pilot episode of their show—a moment that became a bonding experience for both actors and a significant marker in their filmmaking careers.
When discussing this in an actor’s roundtable, Segel said, addressing Rogan, “We watched The Matrix. And I remember coming out of that movie like legitimately feeling like something had changed. I think you [Rogen] and I started writing harder after that.”
The fact that The Matrix was released just as Segel had wrapped up the show that would kickstart his career is a strange occurrence, with a new era of filmmaking being born at the time when he rose to fame. Everything changed from that point onwards, and perhaps later sparked Segel’s quest to move towards a more dramatic realm of acting, with the impact of that film still pulsating and pushing him to work harder to take risks contrary to people’s expectations.
