EXCLUSIVE Interview: Christian Slater about playing ‘The kind of guy you love to hate’
Christian Slater attended the world premiere of The Public at the Toronto Film Festival earlier this month where he spoke to Ikon London Magazine about playing ‘the Kind of guy you love to hate’ and about working together with Emilio Estevez.
The American actor and producer, known for his breakthrough role as Jason “J.D.” Dean in the satire Heathers (1988), has been in demand in recent years. He appeared in seven different series in 2017-2018 in addition to appearing in three feature films. Nonetheless, the three-time Oscar nominee (Mr. Robot; 2016, 2017, 2018) Slater found time in his busy schedule to attend the world premiere of the latest directorial-acting project of Emilio Estevez – film The Public. He was joined by the high-profile cast of Alec Baldwin and Jena Malone.
The actor stepped out on the red carpet in a jovial mood as he posed for photos and spoke to the press about his role in the film in Toronto. The film touches upon very serious issues of homelessness, mental health… and libraries.
Watch Ikon London Magazine team speaking about Christian Slater’s appearance
The Public – plot
After learning that emergency shelters are at full capacity when a brutal Midwestern cold front makes its way to Cincinnati, Ohio, a large group of homeless library ‘patrons’ – led by Jackson (Michael Kenneth Williams) – refuse to leave the downtown public library at closing time.
What begins as a non-violent ‘occupy style’ sit-in and ragtag act of civil disobedience quickly escalates into a standoff with local riot police, led by a no-nonsense crisis negotiator (Alec Baldwin) and a savvy district attorney (Christian Slater) with lofty political ambitions, as two librarians (Emilio Estevez and Jena Malone) are caught up in the middle of it.
Christian Slater about his role in The Public
The American actor plays the role of Josh Davis, the district attorney for the city of Cincinnati who attempts to manage the negotiations with the homeless. At the Toronto premiere, Slater told Ikon London Magazine: “He is definitely the character in the movie who represents that side of politics where he is not as open-hearted as you’d like him to be. He is definitely the guy who feels “this is all a mess.” And he is a law and order politician in this movie. So hopefully, he is the kind of guy you love to hate,” he said laughingly.
“He is definitely the character in the movie who represents that side of politics where he is not as open-hearted as you’d like him to be. He is definitely the guy who feels “this is all a mess.” And he is a law and order politician in this movie. So hopefully, he is the kind of guy you love to hate,”
Christian Slater about Emilio Estevez
Speaking of the director Emilio Estevez, Slater admitted that he admires him as a director. “One of the things I truly admire about Estevez is his abilities, his passion for writing and directing to take on real issues and raise people’s awareness and shed some light on issues that might not otherwise be played so close attention to.
“Every time he writes something, it is so easy to read immediately. And I can let him know how I feel and I decided that I wanted to be a part of it.”
Slater was one of the last in the cast to be confirmed for the role – the news came in in January 2017, a month after it was confirmed that Alec Baldwin, Jena Malone, and Taylor Schillingt would be joining Emilio Estevez in the film. And if no awards come for Christian, at least he really enjoyed playing the guy you love to hate.
Speaking of which, after having called an intrusive journo a ‘salacious cunt’ in November last year, Slater couldn’t be more professional at the premiere of The Public. In good mood and with great manners, he was attentive to the press and made sure to answer all questions before heading to the screening accompanied by the ‘bouncers’ AKA publicists.
Editor in Chief of Ikon London Magazine, journalist, film producer and founder of The DAFTA Film Awards (The DAFTAs).
