Director Doug Liman seems to be in awe over Aaron Taylor-Johnson’s performance in his new movie The Wall, which sees him as an American soldier pinned down behind a wall by an Iraqi sniper. The director recently described to CinemaBlend the challenge that the Taylor-Johnson faced, bringing his character to life:
“[Aaron Taylor-Johnson] is extraordinary. He’s extraordinary in the movie, and his performance is that much more extraordinary when you understand that there is nobody there. He’s performing against sometimes it’s me talking to him, sometimes we had an actor talking to him, sometimes we had a script supervisor talking to him. Whatever sort of worked for the moment. Nor is there anything out there. Everything that was out there was added in post-production. All he had was that wall. The whole world around the wall was added later. But the fact that you… I don’t even realize it anymore! Every time I watch the movie I forget that, that everything’s not there, because he makes it all so real.”
Movies, while more expansive than live theater, are also a lot more deceptive. Often shot out of order, with incomplete sets (many backgrounds are added in post) film actors sometimes have to truly suspend disbelief to be believable. This is a good example of what makes film such a unique medium.
SEE ALSO: Watch the trailer for The Wall
The Wall, starring Aaron Taylor-Johnson, and director by Doug Liman, is hitting theaters on May 12th. Doug Liman is also directing the upcoming DCEU movie Justice League Dark, along with the Edge of Tomorrow sequel Live Die Repeat and Repeat.
Originally published May 11, 2017. Updated November 30, 2022.
