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Every Day – Marriage, Kids and Aging Parents
The film stars Helen Hunt, Liev Schreiber with Brian Dennehy, Eddie Izzard and Carla Gugino
Helen Hunt in Every Day
You wake up one morning and you think life’s not bad. You have a lovely wife that you’ve been married to for a long time, two healthy kids, a high paying job and a beautiful home. But all of a sudden you start to notice cracks around the edges. Your oldest son declares he’s gay and comes out at age 14. Your dying father in-law comes to stay. And your boss pairs you up with your sexy, single, live-life-to-the-fullest coworker. Welcome to Every Day, a new film by writer/director Richard Levine. We’ve included a quick q/a with Mr. Levine.
What was your inspiration for the film?
The movie was inspired by a period of time in my life I felt compelled to write about. Although many of the specifics were unique to my situation, I felt that the dynamics of a middle-aged guy trying to navigate the bumps of a long-term marriage, raising kids, and taking care of sick parents, were all things so many people I knew were struggling with. Add to that, a gay son who came out at the age of 14, and a rather colorful job in the TV world that i knew was entertaining and unusual, and it felt like an original movie about ordinary things that so many people are confronting every day as they get older.
What is your favorite scene in the film?
I have two. The first is the scene towards the end when Ned picks Jonah up after Jonah’s been to the gay club, and Ned’s been punched in the pool. I love that scene. I think Liev and Ezra are brilliant in it, each of them knowing the other is lying. I’m always moved by Liev’s loving gesture and the way it affects Ezra in such a deep way. What isn’t said is always important to me as a writer, and what isn’t said in that scene speaks volumes. I also love the scene where Helen massages Ernie’s feet. I think both she and Brian Dennehy are extraordinary in their deeply felt simplicity, and the silences between them are so full and complex.
As the film screenwriter, what do you think the essence of the film and its characters are about?
To quote the Philosopher Marcus Aurelius, “Life is more like wrestling than dancing.” That’s not always an easy ride. People die, people who are close to you. Marriages go through ups and downs and there’s no way to prevent that – it’s how you ride them, process them, embrace them that matters. And having kids is full of the unexpected. No one escapes without going through it. But can you go through it and have the challenges unite you or pull you apart? Always worth exploring.
You both wrote and directed this film. Which process do you enjoy more?
Well, I love writing because when I write I’m directing as well, only everyone in my version does it exactly like i want. It’s a solo process, and for someone who’s as controlling as I am, there’s nothing better. On the other hand, directing is an enormous challenge that I am still in the process of learning. I do love the collaborative part of it because I come from an acting background and I love working with wonderful actors and helping to shape a performance. I’m always so moved by watching such skilled artists translate what’s on the page to a moment that’s charged and full of thought and feeling. And I enjoy being a part of that process.
Movie opens 1/14 at The Beekman Theatre. 1271 Second Avenue.