To movie buffs out there, the name Robert Zemeckis is equal to cinematic legend. For those who may not recognize his name, maybe this one sounds more familiar: “Forrest Gump.” If even that film doesn’t quite do it for you, how about “Cast Away,” “Back to the Future” or “The Polar Express?” These films are among the many Zemeckis wrote, directed and produced. He’s worked with the best actors and directors out there, including both Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg (multiple times), as well as Halle Berry and Angelina Jolie, with his films grossing over $1 billion worldwide.
With the success of his last holiday film, “The Polar Express,” Zemeckis has gotten back in the spirit to create his latest work, an animated version of “A Christmas Carol.” Zemeckis’ last project, the animated “Beowulf,” taught him that animation is a way to discover an old tale in a new way.
“When I was doing ‘Beowulf,’ I realized it’s a great form for introducing classics to new moviegoers,” Zemeckis said in an interview with The Eagle. “Many of these classic stories have great spectacle which is hard to relegate to the big screen. Obviously, ‘A Christmas Carol’ is a very familiar title and I thought, ‘Why not give this a try?’”
For those who worry that Zemeckis will turn the classic Dickens novel into an unrecognizable Hollywood film, Zemeckis says they should not fret.
“It’s a story of redemption, and we stayed true to that,” Zemeckis said. “We did tinker a bit in the end to give Scrooge some action, but that’s it. One thing that definitely made the studio nervous was to have everyone speak in the language Dickens wrote it in, which I think is very beautiful.”
The director seemed confident in his version of “Carol,” steering clear of emulating other versions that “watered down the suspense and sense of foreboding,” according to Zemeckis.
In the new version, versatile comedian Jim Carrey plays Scrooge. Zemeckis did not have a specific actor in mind when writing the script, which he attributes to his desire to see his characters as “shadows.” After Carrey was tapped to do the role, Zemeckis figured that since the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Future are an extension of Scrooge, he should have Carrey play all three. Carrey has certainly shown a lot of range throughout his career and when it comes to dramatic roleplay, he is one of the masters. Carrey fans have no fear, however — even though “A Christmas Carol” is a classic novel, Carrey was still able to use his trademark improv in the film.
“This role called for a straightforward, dramatic performance, because nobody is going to tamper with Dickens,” Zemeckis said. “[Carrey’s] improv came with physical things to give Scrooge great characterization. His whole body transforms to Scrooge.”
The new “Carol” uses animated special effects that take the actor’s actual body movement and translate it onto the silver screen. Using high-definition cameras focused on literally every part of the actor, every pore is defined. The actor’s movements are three-dimensional, and the sound is pitch perfect; once they get what they want, the animators wrap it in digital skin. The process is complicated and extremely technical, but Zemeckis has perfected it, showcasing his talent for animation in “Beowulf.”
“I try to explain the process to the actors, but there’s no way to explain it until they experience it themselves,” Zemeckis said. “What weirds them out the most is putting on the leotard.”
Zemeckis assured that actors eventually fall in love with the process because it’s all about performance.
“They don’t have fancy clothes or make-up — it’s like doing blackbox theater, and it’s really powerful,” Zemeckis said. “On a typical 20-hour day, actors work for maybe 20 minutes, but with animation, they work all day long and their scenes are not chopped up.”
For Zemeckis, “A Christmas Carol” is his second film dealing with time travel. His “Back to the Future” franchise also had a plot with the subject, something Zemeckis revealed was inspired by “A Christmas Carol.” As one of the first time travel stories he read, it clearly left a lasting impression. Things are coming full circle in Zemeckis’ life while he brings the classic novel to the silver screen in a new way.
“I want people to take that it is one of the greatest stories written, and maybe they’ll go back and read it,” Zemeckis said. “It just has such scale and ghosts and great supernatural stuff. Dickens is just one of the greatest writers in the English language.”
With an all-star cast comprised of Jim Carrey, Colin Firth, Gary Oldman and many more, “A Christmas Carol” is bound to be the perfect Christmas film this year. It opens in theatres everywhere Nov. 6.
You can reach this staff writer at ydesta@theeagleonline.com.
