Catherine Keener interview about DTS

http://movies.about.com/library/weekly/aa032502b.htm

Edward Norton and Catherine Keener play the 'love interests' in Warner Bros. Pictures strange, twisted comedy, "Death to Smoochy." Norton stars as Sheldon Mopes, a man who loves kids, eats only health food and lives a squeaky clean life. He makes a living performing as Smoochy the Rhinoceros, a gigantic, purple dancing/singing rhino. Life is relatively boring for Sheldon until kid show producer, Nora Wells (Catherine Keener) enters his life, offering him the chance of a lifetime - a Smoochy kids show on a major television network. The man who held the time slot prior to Smoochy, kid show phenom Rainbow Randolph (Robin Williams), was fired after being involved in a bribery and extortion scandal. Fearing another scandal, the network hires Sheldon/Smoochy, a man without skeletons in his closet and no known vices. Proving opposites attract, Sheldon and Nora's dislike for each other transforms (through movie magic) into a passionate relationship.

CATHERINE KEENER (Nora Wells):

What was it like working with Robin Williams?

It was a real privilege and I mean that. Edward and I would look at each other and go, "Can you believe we get this front row seat to this incredible mind that we've admired for so long?" He's a really great guy.

This film is very dark. Was it a unique experience to work on a film such as this?

It was unique because of the length you went to get a laugh. It was unique being around this set especially with Robin and Danny and Edward - such great comic talents. The filming was also 5 months long so that was unique for me. The movies I usually do are maybe 3 or 4 weeks because they don't have a lot of money.

You are even involved in an ice-skating sequence.

That was such a blast; it was so great. I never ice skated before so when Danny told me I had to get on skates, they [had to] get me a teacher and apparently it's hard to learn these things as an adult. But I wanted so badly to do it that I learned enough to skate for the 20 yards I needed to and then be hoisted up into the air which was also incredibly funny.

Your character is this high-powered, organized executive. Are you that organized in real life?

I'm pretty organized. I'm pretty controlling. I don't have big plans or designs. But I don't rely on a Palm Pilot or help or other technology - no! I'm barely good with emailing and a fax machine. I organize things in my head; I have a pretty good memory so that helps me out a lot. I rely on my memory, making little notes and lists. I feel that I have a good memory so why not rely on it? I'm not so overly organized that if I forget something, my life goes into a tailspin.

Are you as ambitious as your character Nora is?

No, I'm not even close. In fact, I don't think I'm very ambitious at all. But I seem to play people who have that quality.

Smoochy is a dark, big-budget film that seems very independent. How do you think this film will be received?

God, I don't know. It'll be interesting to see what happens because I think the adults will like this movie and hopefully will laugh at it. But I don't know what they are going for in terms the marketing. There's room for dissenting opinion on it. It might be too much for people or not enough, I don't know. I heard some people say it was mean-spirited but I didn't experience it that way.

It has a great cast of likable stars.

Robin has an amazing, very loyal and broad following. And Edward, you couldn't ask for a better reputation deservedly. And Danny, this is his strong suit, films of this nature. All of the supporting cast, in my opinion, were just fantastic so maybe it will strike a cord with people. I think people are always looking for a good comedy and maybe that's what they'll see in this.

Your character tells people off. Was that liberating for you or uncomfortable?

It was just the story. We kind of functioned as a family - brothers and sisters really - that's how the dynamics were on the set. So yeah, you feel like you're mouthing off to your brother. It's hilarious. It was fun. But liberating, no, because I don't have the desire to talk to people like that, generally. My work environment has always been very safe and very warm so I have the freedom to speak directly to my friends and vice versa so we don't need to get to that point. I mean, this was the world she was in and it was so full of *beep* that's what drove her in an extreme way - corruption and everything else. She didn't know how far it went because she was the person, believe it or not, who was innocent in it. Smoochy just rekindled that. And she's a cusser (laugh). When she found her idealism again through her involvement with Smoochy, I like that her personality didn't turn completely. She didn't become this soft female girl who doesn't swear anymore. She was sort of the same person.

Was she modeled after anyone?

Nobody said and I never asked Danny. I asked Adam [Resnick] if he had always intended to write something on children's television and he just thought it was funny. But I encounter really tough men and women who are just so harsh, you can't bend them. You do come across these kinds of people in every profession - just unyielding.

If you were a child show groupie, who would you be a groupie for?

If Smoochy really were a child show host, it would be Smoochy. I think Edward is really cute. I loved Smoochy's whole method of folky, charming, sincere, kind words that he was trying to spread. I just never fantasized about Mr. Rogers but I like his whole vibe. I think he's very nice and I like his speed with children.

What's next for you?

I shot a couple of other jobs last year. [I did] a movie called "Lovely and Amazing," for Nicole Holofcener - she did "Walking and Talking." I saw it and I think it's a really beautiful film. She just has such a great voice. It's poignant without being indulgent and funny and irreverent and very true. I'm really happy to have been a part of that. Brenda Blethyn is in it and so is Emily Mortimer and so is my husband, Dermot Mulroney…just a bunch of great actors. And I did "Full Frontal" with Steven Soderberg's directing. That was a blast but I could not explain that movie to you. I read the script about 5 times out loud and I still had no idea what it meant. It'll be interesting how people make sense of that. I saw Steven at this barbeque last year and he said, "What are you doing in November?" and I said, "Nothing." He asked if I wanted a job and I said yeah and that was that. He sent me the script and I called him and said I'm sure it's brilliant but I have no idea what it means (laughs). But you know in his hands you'll be alright.

What character do you play?

I play a tough woman, one who's a high-powered executive. It's kind of a day-in-the-life of her and everyone else. It's definitely an ensemble piece and it's everyone's paths crossing. She kind of spins out and has a meltdown.

You and Dermot Mulroney have a rather long Hollywood marriage. What's the secret to keeping your marriage solid?

I think we appreciate the importance of work to both of us and also the importance of balancing it with our home life. We alternate working. For a long time Dermot worked more and I would always go on location with him. For "Smoochy," he was doing an Alexander Payne film called "About Schmidt," starring Jack Nicholson…it's going to be amazing. During that, Dermot did all the work - I think he commuted maybe 10 times between flying to Omaha from Toronto. It takes effort when you're both working but we try not to work at the same time.

[For Edward Norton's interview, go to: http://movies.about.com/library/weekly/aa032502a.htm]