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Interview
Jai Courtney
From Packed to the Rafters to
Jack Reacher, Jai Courtney joins
an auspicious club of Aussie
action stars. By Drew Turney
Jai Courtney looks mean when he
sits down with Time Out. Not that
he’s in a bad mood – the NSW-born
actor is affable and friendly. But
Courtney carries a very subtle sense
of underlying menace, like he could
be laughing at a barbecue one
minute and unloading a high
powered rifle at innocent
bystanders the next.
That’s exactly what he does in Jack
Reacher, the new film by Christopher
McQuarrie (The Usual Suspects)
based on Lee Child’s bestseller One
Shot. McQuarrie explains he was
‘blown away’ by the actor’s video
audition. “He did two versions, one
with his natural accent and one as an
American. His American was so
effective I thought he was pretending
to have an Australian accent.”
McQuarrie emailed it to his leading
man – Tom Cruise – who emailed
back with two words: ‘cast him’.
Trading blows with Cruise in one
blistering fight scene, Courtney
plays a cold, clinical sniper who sets
a conspiracy in motion in the
opening scenes. “You’ve got to find
compassion for your character
somewhere,” he says of playing a
(very) bad guy. “Obviously he’s
capable of some pretty nasty things
but it’s easier to work on a character
when you understand where they’re
coming from.”
Courtney is a commanding
presence in the film, and Hollywood
agrees. After small roles in Packed
to the Rafters and All Saints, he
secured a coveted role in TV’s
Spartacus – one that showcased his
stellar abs. After Jack Reacher, he’s
joining an even more iconic
franchise as Bruce Willis’ son in A
Good Day to Die Hard. “I hope this
opens up a lot more opportunities.
It’s been awesome the last 12
months and I’ve worked with some
incredible people. I feel privileged.”
Jack Reacher opens Thu Jan 3.
Life of Pi From Jan 1
Dir Ang Lee, 2012 (PG) USA
Pi Patel (Suraj Sharma) is adrift at sea with a Bengal tiger for company. Ang Lee directs this 3D adaptation of Yann
Martel’s Man Booker-winning novel that has been wowing overseas critics.
ParaNorman From Jan 10
 Dir Chris Butler, Sam
Fell, 2012 (PG) USA
This beautifully detailed stop-motion
animation about preteen Norman
(Kodi Smit-McPhee) and the quest
to save his town from zombies
has a warm beating heart despite
abundance of undead nasties.
Django Unchained From Jan 24
Dir Quentin Tarantino, 2012 (TBA) USA
Expect long dialogue stretches, sudden
violence and filmic in-jokes in Tarantino’s
latest effort, a civil war era revenge flick.
Jamie Foxx stars as the titular Django.
God Bless America From Dec 6
 Dir Bobcat Goldthwait, 2012
(MA15+) USA
Frank (Joel Murray) goes on a murderous
rampage against irritating people, from
cinema talkers to American Idol hosts.
Liberal Arts From Dec 13
 Dir Josh Radnor, 2011
(TBA) USA
Writer/director and co-star Josh
Radnor (How I Met Your Mother)
takes a sentimental journey, falling
for Elizabeth Olsen at a Midwestern
college. She’s 19 and he’s 37 – but
is age just a number?
Love Story From Dec 6
 Dir Florian Habicht,
2010 (M) NZ
Kiwi filmmaker Habicht meets fantasy girl
Masha Yakovenko on the NYC subway.
Part documentary, part romcom, what
follows is an ode to romance and sex.
Quartet From Dec 26
Dir Dustin Hoffman, 2012 (TBA) UK
Hoffman directs a cast of septuagenarians
(Maggie Smith, Michael Gambon) as
retirees staging a show for Verdi’s birthday.
Hitchcock From Jan 10
Dir Sacha Gervasi, 2012 (TBA) UK
Anthony Hopkins plays the late, great
master of mystery and suspense in a pic
set during shooting of 1960’s Psycho.
Rise of the Guardians From Dec 13
Dir Peter Ramsey, 2012 (TBA) USA
Santa (Alec Baldwin) and friends band
together to stop the Boogeyman (Jude Law)
bringing darkness upon the land.
Les Miserables From Dec 26
Dir Tom Hooper, 2012 (TBA) USA/FRA
The film adaptation of the musical from
Oscar-winning director Tom Hooper (The
King’s Speech) stars golden boys Hugh
Jackman and Russell Crowe.
Sightseers From Dec 26
 Dir Ben Wheatley,
2012 (TBA) UK
A Midlands couple (Alice Lowe and Steve
Oram) go on a caravan killing spree in a
dark comedy from the director of Kill List.
The Man with the Iron Fists
From Dec 6
 Dir RZA, 2012
(TBA) USA
A village blacksmith must become a
‘living weapon’ to confront a
murderous warrior. Wu-tanger RZA
turns his hand to directing in this
overblown but entertaining schlock.
This Is 40 From Jan 17
Dir Judd Apatow, 2012 (TBA) USA
Debbie and Pete (Leslie Mann and Paul
Rudd) take centrestage in Apatow’s belated
sequel to Knocked Up.
Trouble with the Curve From Dec 6
 Dir Robert Lorenz, 2012
(M) USA
Clint Eastwood is an ageing baseball scout
who takes his daughter (Amy Adams) on
the road for one last time.
Wreck-It Ralph From Dec 26
Dir Rich Moore, 2012 (TBA) USA
An arcade game villain (voiced by John C
Reilly) breaks out of his game in an effort
to be a hero. Sarah Silverman co-stars.
Zero Dark Thirty
From Jan 31
Dir Kathryn Bigelow, 2012 (TBA) USA
The team behind The Hurt Locker returns
with a film chronicling the hunt and killing
of Osama Bin Laden. Aussies Jason Clarke
and Joel Edgerton feature in the cast.
Want more? Time Out online has your moviegoing covered. For
reviews of all the latest releases plus extra features, interviews
and news, go to timeout.com/sydney/film
44 Time Out Sydney December 2012–January 2013
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20/11/12 5:37:54 PM