Interview: Carter Burwell on Composing "Carol" and "Hail, Caesar!"

Carter Burwell gives great soundtrack. The proof is all around us. His scores are everywhere right now, in movie theaters with Charlie Kaufman's Anomalisa and the Coen brothers Hail, Caesar! and in the Oscar mix; his work on Carol brought him his long long overdue first nomination for Best Original Score.

The 60 year-old composer started his music career in the punk scene but after that fateful first collaboration with the the Coens on Blood Simple (1984) he quickly become a film regular. He's composed every Coen brothers score since then with the exception of Inside Llewyn Davis. They aren't the only filmmakers who steadily rely on his gift. He's worked frequently for Bill Condon, Michael Caton-Jones, Spike Jonze, John Lee Hancock, and Todd Haynes among others.

I asked him how he keeps his work fresh with so many projects and how he approached the recent challenges of the "ridiculous" comedy of Hail, Caesar! and the restrained drama of Carol.

Our interview follows after the jump...

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Colette vs. Mary Magdalene

Here's Murtada speculating very early on the 2017 Oscar race.

There’s usually a real life person in the best actress lineup. It’s not as prevalent as it is in best actor - 4 this year. But we do have Joy Mangano (Jennifer Lawrence). Last year there were Jane Hawking (Felicity Jones) and Cheryl Strayed (Reese Witherspoon). Recently we got everyone from Philomena Lee (Judi Dench) to Marilyn Monroe (Michelle Williams) and Edith Piaf (Marion Cotillard) and most famously The Queen (Helen Mirren) and her 80s nemesis Margaret Thatcher (Meryl Streep). Now we have two more possible candidates for the 2017 Oscar race as two interesting biopics were announced this week with two actresses well known to the Academy. French writer Colette (to be played by Keira Knightley) and Jesus disciple Mary Magdalene (Rooney Mara). 

Colette in 1920s

Colette is the more intriguing figure, at least to this non-believer. Born in 1873 she was a journalist, an actress, a mime and of course most famously the writer of the novel Gigi which became an Oscar winning film and a stage musical. Colette and her first husband Willy Gauthier-Villars, also a writer, were pivotal figures in the salons of the turn of the century Paris and collaborated on several novels. The rumour is that the writing was all Colette’s - shades of Big Eyes. Colette also had sexual and romantic relationships with women. And based on the people behind this film, we know they won’t shy away from telling that story.

The film is written by Wash Westmoreland and the late Richard Glatzer (Quinceañera, Still Alice), with Westmoreland directing. It will be produced by Christine Vachon and Elizabeth Karlsen who most recently produced Carol. With lukewarm reviews for her Broadway debut in Therese Requin and a small forgettable part in Everest being her only 2015 credits, this looks like a juicy part that Knightley can sink her teeth into and possibly get her career back on the upturn it was on with 2014’s double bill of Begin Again and The Imitation Game.

While I’m not into religious movies, actresses are my religion and after Carol I would follow Rooney Mara anywhere she wants to go. She’s choosing to collaborate with Garth Davis (Top of the Lake) to tell the story of Mary Magdalene. The actress - director combo is exciting especially when it’s noted that they have recently worked together on Lion (2016) - with Nicole Kidman and Dev Patel. They must have really enjoyed working together to choose to do it again so soon. Wonder who will be cast as Jesus? It’ll have to be someone fantastic if they are to replicate the explosive chemistry Mara had with her Carol co-star Cate Blanchett. This tweet says it best.

Hollywood Reporter: "Rooney Mara is in talks to play Mary Magdalene."
Me: "Jesus will NEVER love her like Carol did!"

— Heather Hogan (@hhoagie) February 3, 2016

Who would you like to see play opposite Knightley and Mara as Gauthier-Villars and Jesus?

"Brooklyn" Bounces to TV

The big screen to TV spinoff window keeps getting smaller, now with an adaptation truly worth fawning over. Brooklyn producers Finola Dwyer and Amanda Posey are bringing a spinoff of the Best Picture nominee to the BBC.

As if that wasn't enticing enough, the series is to center around house matron Mrs. Keogh with star Julie Walters set to reprise her role. We're well on the record about adoring those boarding house scenes, from the charmingly tart to the emotionally resonant. If the show can be as inspired as everything we got from the time spent under Mrs. Keogh's roof, we're in for something special indeed.

The concept of the show itself leaves much to obsess over as details develop on this one. Will any of the original ensemble members be returning along with Walters? Has Dolores found any chill? Who is *ahem* trustworthy enough to inherit the basement room from Eilis? We want answers and we want them now!

Walters is the only returning talent so far, and who knows if director John Crowley and screenwriter Nick Hornby might contribute. While it's too much to ask for Saoirse Ronan to commit, it'd be sinful to recast the undersung minor actresses from the film if their characters continue. Whose story are you most hopeful to see more of on the small screen?

Birthday Beauty Break: Charlotte & Jennifer & Barbara & Laura

February 5th is a big day for Actress birthdays. Two of this year's Oscar nominees are celebrating birthdays today! How about that? Charlotte Rampling, Best Actress nominee, is 70 today and Jennifer Jason Leigh, Best Supporting Actress nominee, is 54. And to round out the 1-time nominee party, it's also Barbara Hershey's special day. She's 67.  Finally, since  The Lovely Laura Linney, turning 52, is one of our most beloved actresses we can't leave her out if we're talking Oscar love.  

HAPPY BIRTHDAY OSCAR BEAUTIES!

After the jump, I've selected 7 of their most important performances each (excluding current roles) and, to make it more fun, they're in chronological order so you can see how the careers overlap. Sound off on these beauties in the comments.

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"To enter the mind of a killer she must challenge the mind of a madman."

Oh...um... If this door should fall down or, ha ha, anything else, this is the number for our Baltimore field office. 

I love Clarice Starling's little 'I mean... what could happen?' nervous chuckle just before she slides under that fateful "Your Self Storage" facility door, don't you?

Remember when we tag-teamed Alfred Hitchcock's Rebecca? We're doing the same for Jonathan Demme's thriller classic Silence of the Lambs (1991) for its 25th anniversary next week. Be here Monday through Friday at 12:30 PM EST next week for each continuing chapter of the retrospective!

For maximum pleasure, if we may use such a word for this macabre event, rewatch 1991's Best Picture with us and join the conversation!