Richard Linklater did something crazy and ambitious in creating his 2014 indie darling Boyhood, filming over many years in order to capture his lead actors maturation in real time. As Ellar Coltrane grew, so did his character Mason, creating one of the most unique viewing experience of the year – but filmmaker Ned Benson is looking to challenge Linklater’s creativity with an equally ambitious romantic comedy.
The Disappearance Of Eleanor Rigby is a tragic love story starring James McAvoy and Jessica Chastain, which doesn’t sound all that outlandish, right? How about if I told you Benson filmed his entire story three separate times from different perspectives?
Yes, while I’ve currently seen The Disappearance Of Eleanor Rigby: Them, we’re still getting a version from McAvoy’s perspective (Him) and also Chastain’s perspective (Her). Their joint story acts as an introduction to Benson’s story, building dramatic tension as we get a balanced focus between lovers Conor Ludlow (McAvoy) and Eleanor Rigby (Chastain). From here, we’ll now get the full story re-told by our leads, understanding how different people respond to the same life-changing events.
I had a chance to catch up with the film’s stars while they were promoting Benson’s film in New York City, which lead to a very lively chat as both McAvoy and Chastain continued to impress with their dynamite chemistry. Both performers were an absolute pleasure to converse with as we discussed what it takes to build such a seamless relationship, the craziest thing either has ever done on a date, and the current status on a few long-gestating projects.
Check it out in the video above and be sure to catch The Disappearance Of Eleanor Rigby: Them when it opens on September 12th!
