Transcript for Steve Buscemi on his role in the new satirical comedy 'The Death of Stalin'

No matter what happens I will never. Ever let any harm come to you or your brother. He said and you go home. No that's what she has a new installment is going to be tell me if someone who want to know just I should not be used to work hard if speaking mention went home and how life. Any. Tries to. You don't have to get through me first. I'm scared to death I'm gonna continue to look up and I mean unable to shoot myself Obama. Spent time and we need to be strengthened to implement Chan. We need to be strong. And never trail I was afraid now I am afraid no no don't be because of any harm I've gone. Lol everybody I am Peter Travers and welcome to popcorn we we tell you what's happening at the movies and there's a movie out called the death of stuff on. Which you might think if going to be too heavy for you. That you can't possibly deal with such a thing and you people are crazy. B cuts. There is even though there's a theory is part of it. What happens in here is that you laugh until. You can't stand it anymore it's so great. My guest today. And I'm gonna make him introduce himself. So that I have it on record exactly the correct way to say he's named the pronunciation of which. He changes frequently. To just baffled people like me. Who are well there yeah this is there's always comes up right and I say. I save the semi you do growing up. My family should be used to use and accident that I think my dad came up with that but the correct. You know X Sicilian pronunciation is bush Cheney. And but so when people say Buscemi. That's very close to how I think what the real solution so I don't usually correct people if they say Buscemi. There we are then that's where it's going to be from now it evolved because I go through this. All the time but I did it by fewer and fewer ornament and great and that there's a message I'm gonna say. Hey ask me now are you doing there might have been happening. Anyway Steve or Steven as the case maybe. I've always thought because you would in my favorite actors that you can just laid basically. Anyone. Khrushchev. In this I think I'm yeah what the hell does this mean to get. You wouldn't be the first person that came to mind when I think I'd be the first second third or fourth or maybe even fifth person. Q a particular issue up and bankrupt. It could happen though he could happen to sentence and you could you. That when I read the script and when I was first told about it you know honestly Khrushchev like like I thought it was a mistake like. That's not who they want me for. And did you Russian background I think you had all. Now. Hum and you know I read the script then and it was a very thick script. You know in it was the second epic you know I mean it was funny but it there was a lot and there. And I was just intimidated by the whole thing you know. The only thing that communities was it was a note in the beginning that said that we wouldn't that none of the actors would be required to do a Russian accent. Which I think is great everybody I talk in the way they talk yeah I mean that would have been the last straw for me I was like not an attack. Him. And but still I just thought I don't know how could pull this off and that made them manager I'm flattered and that's you know but I don't think it can do this. Some one a few at least have a conversation with Armando in which. I'm really thought I don't McCall Armando and and how ominous element at tellem I don't think you know on number not right I don't know why it's it's. And we just had the most easygoing lovely conversation. By the end of I was just you know he says look I would not be offering you this part of I didn't think you can do it. And and he was just such a lovely guy I thought this is crazy I have to do this site and you know I have to get over my own fear. I think it's good sometimes you have fear of doing something that's those are probably that things that you should be doing you know what taking on roles that aren't counting. Well because we see him I mean there are a lot of British actors in this as well yeah now were always accustomed to brits let me. Any kind of Nash now right which they could do to British accent. But to hear the American and the brits Michael paying some progress you know BO all of these wonderful. Interpret them more everybody in this. Movie. Yeah that you would say. Does it fit right and yet it does it teach you about five minutes to adjust to it and you're just I think once you sort of. You know are on board. Live it. And it's obviously a comedy very dark comedy and it's not comedy threw out a mean that does go to some you know dark place where people are dying you know stock did kill list yet truth. That's a very serious subject but I thought it was brilliant that. You know the original producers want to. Armando it's it's from a graphic novel. So it has this you know like comic book. Graphic novel fields to do it. And it reminded me of like. You know like Dr. Strangelove. A lot like it and Andrea. And is that. Yeah and then if your ember at the time. You know the other movie that came out about you know nuclear or you know that the threat of nuclear war was fails. Another great director Sidney who met. But for some reason strangelove is the one I think that has endured and Cooper whose. Genius but I also think it's because of the humor. I think he humor you know it. It lets people in. In a way that. Sometimes if the subject matters seems overly serious I think people can you know maybe not not one goat goes yeah. But if their humor and that there is biting humor you know and that that's. You know like if they're satire and and I love the fact that they were taking you know they were taking silent down you know like in this in this. In this film it's it's a totally irreverent. But I'm you know toward trail I'm glad that she wasn't a tricky situation. Of course I know it yet but it could have been a serious drama and now beaten. But I love the fact that it was. Now. I'd love the early part of the movie to wears down three everyone watched John Wayne movies you know that was true I mean you know heat. Towards the end he just know would invite them all to his you know his country home. And if things wouldn't start to look 1 in the morning you know like they eat dinner 1 in the morning you know and then quietly to a three you know anything. Let's watch another job for it was Saint John ordinarily whatever was. And they'd have to you know they have to be up all night until dawn. And during what was with him you have to stay away as you say that brought thing he could be excuse murder. And I think what Christian figured out for himself was at Stalin. Stalin liked him you know and I think he genuinely like Stalin. But. He knew that cute if he could make style laugh that if he could you know that that's had he stayed in his good graces. He was a good storyteller. He was a good talker. And he wasn't you have a book of if Stalin wanna and then took you know. Do some. They danced some folk dance if you need you get up and fine he couldn't say no yet. You just don't do any of that do with used the U played villains who played. Many peanuts he Thompson is has a little Stan. I think he's he was. About talent wasn't yet to hand back control not yet I mean that was such an interest in character to playing weakness. He loved being a politician. Not and he. Accidentally wire to board look at. Yeah this empire and for him you know he'd light I think he genuinely like to be among the amongst the people and do favors. And you know kind of that's how he's sort of operated. Was that you know he was a very social guy. And he could you know he was sort of like a fixer Nina can do you do things and then when prohibition. Canon to effect he saw that there was a way to make all of this. But I think his downfall was is that he really had them to become. You know not just politician but he had to become against you know and that was his downfall because it. He really wasn't up for now and he's so we sort of lost touch with. People and became very sort of inward and secluded and paranoid and and in the end you know he he won an all this power and money but. That he didn't did and then we'll losing touch with the people. Is it problem politicians. General yet but that anybody half as he reaches that kind of position right there some talent that comes and you always that you started basically I don't know in a fireman was the first thing. Without it. Was. One of the best jobs ever had the earliest jobs but I had a lot of jobs before the watch but what was inside of you that made you say I wanna do discuss it such. A job of serving. And for it really it. Yeah so dangerous job done for me it you know I have to say it wasn't like. When I was a kid I wanted to grow up and yet firemen and save people and help people. It was more that. My dad was a sanitation worker. And he really believed in civil service service jobs if they were good paying jobs you had security. He understood that I wanted to be an actor but he thought. Acting so tough job. You know and lot not a lot of security show business. And so. When my Brothers and I turned eighteen he made us take whatever civil service test came came up and for me it was fire department. And so I really took it just to please him to sort of you know. Get a mop my back. And took four years for them get to mine. And by that time I was working as a furniture mover. Was really doing much acting like it's not gonna take this job because. I want to do something different than it was a good paying job. And I think while I was on the job. I've been really learned what it. Great and important job it is and what it means to be a firefighter. And that's something that stuck with me you know it's still. In me even though I only did it for four years believes is a chunk of time and I feel privileged you know that I was able to. Do that job. Be amongst those people who did it. And and out to be re connected with them because after 9/11 I'd. Or during. 9/11 that whole time I reconnect with wild fire house I'm still in touch with you went back to did not during guessed it. Is it is it added that terrifying job I mean going into fire it just seems it's it would be W I end up making. Liz guard us tonight the director will wind up making a film a documentary about the fire department and. You know one thing that firefighters we'll tell you that there's no such thing as a routine fire. You know. Every anytime you want her burning. The building and are how many times you've done it. She can turn on a dime and you can find yourself. Life and death. Situation. Now. In movies and TV you basically are faking it situations sometimes but that all the time yes. Pet you have beach spirited that it formed what you wore what you became as an act. You know. They're something similar I've talked about this before when I was doing at that one when I was on the fire department. I was also doing a lot more theater. And I would I found myself that I would go through this the same anxieties. That I went through as an actor. And that's a firefighter. Three there is reporting yeah I mean and there are I have firefighter friend to tell me I'll run into a burning building anytime I could not. Go up onstage and on it. It's scary it's chaos but you know to do live. Fit theater. Is sometimes terrifying. And I remember I would feel that same terror you know lake. Right before it would go on stage. And then what would carry you through where we're would carry me through was the teamwork you know being with other actors. The same thing with firefighting you know you're depending on your fellow who. Firefighters recently. Do this. And one shirt you know once you're doing it. The nervousness kind of goes away because now you're at it and once you've completed it. If you've completed successfully. There's no greater feeling than than in the world and it's a shared feeling you know you you have now you have a bombed you do with the people that you went through this incredible experience. So that's where I found it. You know acting and fire packing similar. When people recognize you do they recognize you for certain roles and they do saying. You're the guy in the wood chipper in Fargo what does he said what it ate it picking and I shall I mean certainly reservoir dogs. Coen Brothers homeless. Although recently. I was on a flight in the flight attendant was you know she recognized him but she did know from from one. And issues and huddling know you what you know I know you're in something what wasn't and imminently because when that happens and usually if I start reeling off night resonates now known that I have to them I had that I think of like. OK so what did this person see it and I just I went. I said Fargo and ally just one. Some Fargo and she looked at me she went. TV series. I think he thought I was lying to him issue watchers felt like. An alert and that she didn't know was a film. And then later she went and boardwalk empire as a local KEU we found was this it was yeah yet. Before we got to go all right. What that. But you have a son. Yes growing up with you with the loose and with people recognizing you knowing you what what is was his take on having a bomber who was in this business. I don't know I I always tried. Two. Shield him from the business as best I could you know I remember who can in the film Armageddon came in and out. He was only in first grade. And I just thought it would be weird for him to see my. Face you know on like a bus stop because they were doing like all these. In other these groups shots and Wallace but then they also had easily single shots of each character with like saying you know like. Ben Affleck he and his character. He's doing it for mom. And Bruce Willis he's doing it for the glory or something and my character's head rock count he's doing it for the money. Ultimately have to invest as little chocolates that are like it now Harrison really well paying job and and I loved it was a lot of fun to do. But I didn't necessarily want to see increased now. In bright you know like at the local bus stop in Brooklyn and I actually I called my name manager and publicist said. To think they can not put those posters up flagrant Brooklyn. And we've never gotten a request like that you were usually actors. Why they like this you know that knowledge to stone I just don't wanna be walking him to school and having it explained like this and so why so I don't know what you know he. You have to ask him that we really feels about it but I would try and. Protector but he's older now he's protect yes yes I would just imagine seeing you and con air would be more despair. It wasn't allowed to see at the time but after he seen it sends him. He actually he. You loved him for the move it means you'll do you funny movie Adam Sandler movies. The Condit did the big steadying things like that the indeed he directed. You did when you were on this to project directed. Name one of the great pieces I cannon that why you woody who said Owen Mahoney. I get into this business because I love acting I love actors and I'd love. Writers and directors and you know I'm I would never want to limit myself. You know I mean I was doing a lot of independent film at one time. I love doing independent film but for a while I was you know known as just like the indie guy you know. And so I was nervous you know to take a movie like. Airheads you know that was Weaver's movie I did is Michael. Layman found but this first time I worked with Adam Sandler. I thought. It's gonna change my reputation is in the woman who caters I don't want to always be the Andy I wanna do what I do all that different work. But you also are and in a musical career. Do you get icy dip we talked I don't voice yeah heights I did Stanley Tucci and has on the impostors. He had anything. In that moment with a character named happy franks who was he. Entertainer on accretion. Was very depressed. And would start the song and then break down crying. I am. And you you mentioned before. You know everything we are running waiting you know on the Reagan. Stance you know what it reaches the one day and say what you need to do a thing on mine I don't know what you know will hit the producer Hal will there. I don't know what that you know why they thought that I could actually. Thing you know they. And how has done this to me. On another occasion. He had an evening. In Brooklyn. Weird he invited all these you know wonderful singers and me beaten to sing Disney songs. And I sacking. Hi ho hi ho it's off to work we we go excellent well this is your first time in the show it always and then thaw. Yes what every senior head you know terrorism he could be what it Khrushchev was actually harming you know on its way to work I wish I knew a good Russia she worked his own food good and there is a song you know that I remember. It's like a World War II. Song. About world war two and that's about you know dictators and so. I'm gonna change it a little bit okay because this is not Stalin I don't think was a part of the song. And okay it's okay at I don't know if you gotta DK and I'm gonna put noticed there's three of them so yeah I'm sure you know the song and I'm sure you know. You know liked to dirty version and it. Other Tibetans and Kate Snow and it's. We're school while you work Hitler is a jerk. Must he knew was meaning and Stalin. Not much worse connect cleaned it up if. It really did I'm sure you got that back. But you can get that people. He did with them and things that gave me. With the song Lear I think would be huge that. See it's a pleasure. So much really is great in this movie everybody needs to be eaten because it's gonna be good for your soul. Thanks so much thank you act.

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