In the new action movie from STX andMGM, Gyllenhaal plays U.S. Army Master Sgt.
And what was it that he ultimately sold you on that made you want to do it?
So, he came to me with this and it was like a 50-page script treatment.
Dar Salim and Jake GyllenhaalJon Kopaloff/Getty Images
It felt like a parable.
And I knew Guy is going to make great action; it was going to be tense.
Im curious what made you interested?
What made you chase the role?
They had me at hello to be honest.
Its not like a documentary and it doesnt point fingers or take a stab at teach you anything.
Its really entertaining and it keeps you emotionally engaged from beginning to end.
GYLLENHAAL: It was a lot of, I made a lot of military movies.
DEADLINE:Ive got you next, Jake.
Oh, I got you.
GYLLENHAAL: I dont understand, Justin, what are you talking about?
I can pretend to fly a plane.
SALIM: What matters is that hes knows thats youre really good thats why.
DEADLINE:Yeah, exactly.
GYLLENHAAL: Right, right.
SALIM: Ive got you, Justin, thats all right.
Was it easier to jump in for this film or was it a different feel?
And then inJarhead, yeah, we went through that too.
And so, yeah, all of that.
We also had incredible technical advisors.
So, understanding the difficulty of the process, where we are now.
Theres also a wonderful documentary about interpreters.
But mostly it came from my personal experience.
DEADLINE:Dar, did you?
And you know I think all research is done, for me, just by being around people.
And whats so special about this movie is that it perpetuates that idea, you know?
It made me feel like, Oh, thats the American I want to be.
DEADLINE:WhatI found great about this film is where the viewer is almost waiting for the action.
It reminded me ofHurt Locker the suspense.
Like, when Ahmed picks up the Taliban and youre just wondering how hes going to go about that.
When you guys were going over those scenes with Guy, how did you discuss handling them?
The suspense of the film plays almost better than some of those full-on action scenes.
GYLLENHAAL: I agree.
SALIM: Well, I dont think we did go over them.
You have to trust.
They were kind of developed and born on set on the day.
GYLLENHAAL: Yeah, but in that 50-page treatment script there was a real sense of structure, right?
Like, what youre talking about is structure.
And you could feel the movement and it was correct and it was packed with tension anyway.
But I agree with you, I think it is, its the waiting the movie is so tense.
To me, that is the actual barometer of whether a movie actually keeps your focus.
The action sequences are also really emotional, and I have never felt that way.
I got really emotional in some of the action scenes.
SALIM: Im not going to say yes unless you are.
SALIM: Thats not true.
GYLLENHAAL: Hes this strong, you know.
One of the things about it is there were moments.
- But one of the things I think, Guy, its his M.O.
Yes you push yourself, but you also have a good amount of fun.
I mean, he had his barbecue out near set at all times.
DEADLINE:Wait, the barbecue scene where theyre eating.
But yeah, its an homage to his barbecue, I think, inspired by us.
SALIM: And we get to taste a little bite, you know, yeah.
After doing back-to-back movies with Dar and Connor McGregor, whos the biggest badass?
SALIM: Say Connor, otherwise were both going to get our asses kicked.
GYLLENHAAL: I will probably say Connor.
Connor said to me before we began, Im a white belt in this and Im here to learn.
With Dar I felt the same way.
SALIM: No offense taken.
I would take me.
GYLLENHAAL: Id take you over Connor too I think thats smart.
SALIM: And you would beat me as well, actually.
GYLLENHAAL: Yeah, right, right.
Especially when it comes to these interpreters that are so important to our military.
GYLLENHAAL: We should say, first and foremost, this is an action movie.
So, I hope theyre really entertained, because thats a huge part of it.
SALIM: Yeah, exactly, entertained.
And this is an issue that is still ongoing and hopefully can be resolved.
GYLLENHAAL: I also think its a movie about doing good.
And I think sometimes movies can portray doing good.
Its like we watch the good guy versus the bad guy.
So, thats what moves me about this movie.
GYLLENHAAL: I like this guy.
SALIM: Thats just plain facts.
You are about the work and you are about the project.
So, I think thats part of why this movie works as well.
GYLLENHAAL: I agree with that.
We like each other.
