He has already won the Golden Globe twice and has been nominated on two other occasions, but the fact that his work in Alexander Payne's Sideways, the film that made him known as an actor, has been ignored for that award and also for The Academy gives special importance to the fifth nomination he received for Those Who Remain, the film that marks his reunion with the great director and that has made him a potential candidate for a second Oscar candidacy. Paul Giamatti is overflowing with talent in his portrayal of a peculiar teacher at a junior high school who must be left in charge of a small group of straggling students during the Christmas holidays. Along with him, two revelations shine, newcomer Dominic Sessa and rising Da'Vine Joy Randolph, also nominated for a Globe for best supporting actress.
While filming Those Who Remain, did you feel like you were creating something special on that set?
The truth is that you never know. As Alexander was, he imagined that it was going to be something special, at least for those of us who participated. We all loved the story and that's why we had a great time filming it. Obviously one hopes that the audience also enjoys the result. And when things like this happen, where the public responds as they have done until now, it's wonderful. I think the key to Alexander's films is that they all essentially have a lot of humanity. His characters are real people, with whom one can identify. That's what happens with this film, it has a message of connection, empathy, caring for others. The world is completely crazy right now, and to be able to immerse yourself in a drama as simple as this, with these three people who are alone in such a big place and discovering each other, is truly beautiful.
19 years ago he played one of the most unforgettable drunks in cinema in Sideways by Alexander Payne. At what point did he join this new project of his?
I guess he was working on the script for a while before he contacted me. When he spoke to me, he simply told me that he had been preparing something that he imagined would interest me, inspired by a French film from the 1930s called "Merlusse", which has basically the same story: a man who has to take care of a group of students during the Christmas holidays. Then he sent me a first version of the script, which then didn't change much by the time it was time to film. Alexander told me that he had me in mind from the beginning for the role of Paul Hunham, I suppose because there are many elements in my personal life that coincide with what is shown in the film. We tried to shoot it a couple of times in previous years, but we couldn't get the schedules to match, until finally, the third time was the charm.
Do you feel your background influenced the way you played Hunham?
Totally, and in ways that even I didn't realize. It's funny, everyone in my family is a teacher and that was a huge influence. Also what I feel about teachers and professors. I was inspired by teachers I had at the school I went to, and by people who worked with my parents. The other day a high school classmate wrote to me and told me that he was obviously imitating the librarian at our school. And the truth is that I didn't even remember him. But this fellow was right. I never realized how similar this character was to the librarian. It was something totally unconscious.
Even in his gestures?
Yes, I guess the way they described the character in the script led me to be inspired by this man. And I also incorporated gestures, because he also had the same eye, which is pure coincidence, but there was something of him in the way I moved while I played him and also in the choice of costumes.
How would you describe your relationship with Alexander Payne?
It is the best working relationship I have had in my entire career. Plus we are friends. It is a friendship that has grown over the years. He is the best director I have ever worked with. It's a lot of fun, and when we're making a movie together, it's something that's happening to us, we don't talk about it too much. He gives instructions and proposes simple ideas, but the goal while filming is to have a good time.
Paul Hunham appears to be a bitter and pedantic man, but you managed to make him both attractive to the audience and very charismatic. Was that in the script or was it the result of your preparation?
It was both things, but also, it also has to do with my personal experience with people like that. They are people who have a lot of charisma if they are good at what they do. And I think Hunham is for many reasons: he is usually right in many of the things he says, he just doesn't know how to express it correctly. So from the beginning I liked the character, because he was not wrong. It's not bad that he tries to put these young cretins back on track and correct their often racist views. He does not belong to the same social class as them. He probably comes from working class backgrounds, something that is alluded to very briefly in the film. But the truth is that he does not belong to that world. Furthermore, it seems to me that he is a funny man and that he knows that he is. He enjoys his own jokes. I remember when we first started telling Alexander that this guy was a dick and he enjoys being one. I think when he reacts to certain things he gains the audience's favor. There are many who would tell these guys to go to hell. That's why the audience enjoys the fact that this man doesn't mind making others dislike him. A person like that can be wonderful. Plus, he's kind. Beyond his pose, he is a good person who cares about others. He cares about the boy who has been left in charge of him and he also cares about being good at teaching. Saying goodbye to this boy at the end, knowing that he will never see him again, breaks his heart.
In what way do you feel your character evolves throughout the film?
I think he realizes many things, he finds a connection with other human beings, but there is no transformation. And that goes for all the characters in the story. They're not different people about the ending, which is a very difficult thing to do in a story like this. And that's Alexander's talent, that they haven't changed the essence of him, but they find their way in life. They have helped each other. In a way, Those Who Remain is the story of a man who manages to shed the armor that he has created around him to protect himself, and to feel that it works. That school is the only place in the world he feels comfortable, and it doesn't even work very well there. But he has built a very elaborate façade, which includes his righteousness and everything he says about Rome. But throughout the film, that facade begins to crumble. And he begins to make connections that he desperately needs, much more than he imagines, especially with this boy who reminds him of what he was like at that age. Maybe there is a paternal feeling, but even he doesn't realize how much he would have wanted such a connection in his life. He is heartbreaking. And that leads him to perform an act of generosity that involves leaving his comfort zone. He sacrifices himself for someone else, which is a huge thing for him.
What was your relationship with Dominic Sessa like during filming?
I spoke to him for the first time on zoom. They showed me the test footage of him, and there was also another guy they were considering, but they were more interested in Dominic. When I saw him, I thought he was amazing for many reasons. I suggested that they introduce him to me. We did it on Zoom and I thought it was great. He is very intelligent, a little shy, with a strong emotional connection. An adorable boy. I thought he was the ideal candidate to play the role of Angus Tully. In some ways it is very similar to him. It was a great pleasure to see him work.
This was his first film. Did you see an evolution during filming?
It was very solid from day one. It's true, I saw how he relaxed as the filming progressed and I felt how he enjoyed it more and more and dared to do different things. But that's true for all actors who work on a movie. At first they are all nervous and they relax as it is filmed. That's why I didn't feel that it was different in his case. He was very professional from day one.
Many of the characters you have played are grumpy, and yet in person you are the exact opposite. Why do you think they offer you these roles?
I don't know, but curmudgeons are great characters to play. They are complicated and interesting. Many times they are funny, which is also very good. They generally say and do things that I would never do. I'm not like that, thank God. If I were, I guess no one would hire me. I suppose that for some very strange reason they are papers with which I can give myself permissions that I would not otherwise give myself. I don't know if I'm the one looking for these roles or if I attract them. Maybe I bring something personal to these characters. What I'm sure of is that when you've done something well, especially if it's a leading role, they want you to do it again, which is fine. I dont complain.
