‘Mercy’ Interview: Jon Voight Talks New Action Thriller

Who is within the solid of ‘Mercy?’

‘Mercy’ stars Leah Gibson (‘Rise of the Planet of the Apes’) as Michelle, Jonathan Rhys Meyers (‘Mission: Impossible III’) as Sean Quinn, Oscar-winner Jon Voight (‘Heat,’ ‘Mission: Impossible,’ ‘Transformers’) as Patrick Quinn, Sebastian Roberts as Ellis, Anthony Konechny as Ryan Quinn, Patrick Roccas as Johnno, Anthony Bolognese as Bobby, Bradley Stryker as Mick, Caitlin Stryker as Agent Cruz, Mark Masterton as Danny, Ryan Russell as Nurse Kevin, Bobby Stewart as Dr. Terrence, and Marc-Anthony Massiah as Frank.

Moviefone just lately had the pleasure of talking with Oscar-winner Jon Voight about his work on ‘Mercy,’ what he brings to a undertaking, performing violent scenes, performing with an Irish accent, his character’s relationship together with his sons, working with Jonathan Rhys Meyers and Leah Gibson, collaborating with director Tony Dean Smith, and his work on acclaimed filmmaker Francis Ford Coppola’s upcoming ‘Megalopolis.’

Jon Voight as Patrick Quinn in ‘Mercy.’

You can learn the total interview beneath or click on on the video participant above to look at the interview.

Moviefone: To start with, Patrick Quinn is a superb character so that you can play, did you acknowledge that if you first learn the script and what have been a number of the elements of the character you have been excited to discover on this movie?

Jon Voight: I feel as a result of I’ve gotten to a sure age, persons are coming to me with roles which are appropriate, and that I’ve to play a patriarch of this type, regardless that he’s a really destructive type of character or comes from that tradition. But it was thrilling to me in a sure sense, it appeared like a superb alternative to specific many issues. An alternative to work with Jonathan Rhys Meyers, who I feel is a sensational actor, and an amazing expertise. Then we launched this excellent gal Leah Gibson too. So I used to be excited to work on this piece. I assumed I may assist it. When I got here into it, I stated, “Well, I think I can do something with this thing.”

MF: Can you increase on that concept? Are there sure tasks that you’re supplied that you just really feel like your presence within the film may help elevate the movie?

JV: Well, I feel I’m very collaborative with the administrators and producers to do one thing that has a that means for me. I assumed that I may enrich the household dilemma and never make it so black and white in a sure sense. These persons are human, you wish to discover out what their humanity is and see what their pondering is. So you might be actually attending to know these individuals, and once we get to know individuals, you root for them just a little bit. You hope they’ll pull issues off. Then you see someone who’s going approach off the highway like Jonathan’s character, my son Sean, within the image. Yet he is very thrilling as a result of he is so good at this sort of negativity, this character. He can convey it forth, he can scare you, and that is what he does on this movie. He’s actually a superb actor and it is a position very appropriate for him. So we had issues that we may do after which I used to be in a position to, I feel, add one thing to it as effectively.

Jon Voight as Patrick Quinn in ‘Mercy.’

Related Article: Adam Driver, Nathalie Emmanuel and Forest Whittaker will Lead ‘Megalopolis’

MF: I cherished the Irish accent that your character has within the film. Was that already in your actor’s bag of tips or did you’re employed with a vocal coach to get it proper?

JV: No. We labored with individuals. They have individuals who work with accents, and the younger lady that labored on it with us, I discovered to be glorious. She was in a position to work with the entire individuals in our group, which was a group of this household of criminals. She obtained us all as much as a sure degree. But we have been working with Jonathan Rhys Myers, who’s from County Cork, and is aware of these accents. He can do any type of accent, and we needed to be genuine subsequent to him, which was a giant problem. But he was at all times encouraging and useful.

MF: You have a very violent scene the place your character is threatening one other member of his crew. Was it enjoyable to shoot that sequence and act actually menacing in that second?

JV: Yeah, it was enjoyable, really. But I imply, I stated, “We have to have this in the picture.” I stated, “Because you have to know who he is. He has to be dangerous. You have to see why he’s the head of this group.” Do you see what I imply? And he establishes that in that one gesture. So then you definitely say, “Oh, this guy, there’s a reason why he’s the head of this wild group.”

Jonathan Rhys Meyers as Sean Quinn in ‘Mercy.’

MF: Do you search for moments like that if you’re studying a script, a second that actually explains who the character could be very clearly for the viewers?

JV: Well, it is within the storytelling of issues, sure. It’s essential that individuals know who he’s. That’s a seminal second. That’s a step, “Boom, there he is, like that.” He can go like that. He can flip and, “Boom, he’s dangerous.” Of course, to be able to run a mob, it’s a must to be that harmful. You must have that type of capability to scare the hell out of all people else. To say, “Well, you play games with me and it’s going to be a certain kind of violent ending.” That type of factor. That was an essential second, really. But the opposite factor is that every of the younger males in it who performed my group, the muscle in that piece, they did an amazing job. They labored laborious on it, they usually did their accents fantastically, however they actually cared about it. They’re good little items of that movie which are given over to those cameos, and I actually thought the solid got here as much as the problem.

(L to R) Jon Voight as Patrick Quinn and Jonathan Rhys Meyers as Sean Quinn in ‘Mercy.’

MF: Patrick has two sons, Sean and Ryan, and he clearly favors Ryan over Sean. Can you discuss that household dynamic and the way it’s the catalyst for what occurs on the hospital?

JV: Well, he has two sons within the image, and he is a fellow that got here from Ireland as an alien to this nation and located a house right here at one level. He got here from a violent background in Ireland, however he actually was involved about his older little one, Sean. He was involved about this little one as a result of he was going within the unsuitable approach. That’s actually one thing as a result of he is from a household that is equated with some violence too. But he was going off the deep finish, getting concerned with terrorists, alcohol and all these items. So he got here to this nation, got here to the States to truly change the course of his son, and his different son, Ryan caught the thought and was on his strategy to a wholesome life aside from the household and was inspired by his father. But Sean went the opposite approach and have become a harmful issue. That’s what we see within the movie, a person coping with a son that is harmful to himself and to others. I feel it is an fascinating dilemma. So you are feeling for the daddy that he is misplaced his son to this, and that turns into a richer a part of the movie. I used to be excited to discover that dimension and to work with this nice actor, Jonathan Rhys Myers, and naturally Leah Gibson, who performs the American navy hero of the image, and is a substantial actor and a really new face.

MF: Did you already know Jonathan Rhys Meyers earlier than making this film, and what was it like working with him on ‘Mercy?’

JV: I had made one movie with Jonathan, and we each preferred one another a lot. We have been so appreciative of one another’s expertise. Steven Paul, the producer of this movie, had labored on the opposite movie and to be able to get this movie made, he referred to as Jonathan and stated, “Well, Jon Voight’s going to do it.” Then Jonathan stated, “Well, if he’s going to do it, I’ll do it.” Steven then instructed me, “Jonathan Rhys Meyers goes to do it.” So I said, “Well, if Jonathan Rhys Meyers goes to do it, then I’m going to do it.” So he captured us both by using our affection for each other to get this movie made. I have an affection for Jonathan that should be said. I really like him, and I know him only a little, but I know a lot about him and I know his talent. So a lot of it is real, it’s just the way I deal with him. His response to me is real in a certain way because he sees me as a certain kind of figure, and I could be his father. Do you know what I mean? What does a father mean to him, you see? So we had a lot of exciting energy there. I really like this fella, and I hope I work again with him. His performance here is really quite amazing.

Leah Gibson as Michelle in ‘Mercy.’

MF: The movie is kind of like ‘Die Hard’ in a hospital, and in those terms, Leah Gibson definitely plays the John McClane role. What was it like working with her and watching her lead this project?

JV: Well, she’s a terrific person. The first time I met her, I recommended her to Steven Paul, the producer. I said, “I feel she will be able to do that.” I laughed with her, I must say, I was just delighted in talking to her the first time I spoke to her. But since then, I’ve seen work she did on a stage piece that was absolutely phenomenal. So she’s a big talent, and she had never played a part like this, actually. So it was an unusual transition, but she had all the physical capability and she’s a serious actor. So it was a great thing for her to be the movie star in this piece.

MF: What was it like collaborating on this project with director Tony Dean Smith?

JV: Well, this director, Tony Dean Smith, he thinks of himself as a writer, essentially. He’s written several scripts. He’s young and he’s looking for ways to express himself. He was editing a picture that we had done before, a picture called ‘Dangerous Game: The Legacy Murders’. The director of that film, Sean McNamara, is a wonderful filmmaker, and he recommended Steven to me and said that he was talented. He said, “Look at this fellow, as a result of he is obtained some expertise.” There was several things about him initially in ‘Dangerous Game,’ his understanding of the music of the film, and his choice of the music for the Temp Dub. Well, he was very good at that, and he was a good editor. He knew film. He had a nice way about himself with actors. You could tell he had a lot of gifts toward this, very smart, very hardworking, and all this stuff. So Steven gave him a chance to direct it and I think he came through very beautifully with a limited schedule and all of that too. So you have to be pretty smart about where you put the camera and how you deal with it, and how you stay on point and stay on schedule. But, he did a good job, and that’s wonderful. I’m so glad for him because I think he deserves to be in this business and do more pieces now.

Director Frances Ford Coppola at the 50th Anniversary of ‘The Godfather’ event and historic street naming ceremony the Paramount Theater in Hollywood, CA on February 22nd, 2022. Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for Paramount Pictures.

MF: Finally, what was it like for you working with Francis Ford Coppola on the upcoming ‘Megalopolis,’ and watching the acclaimed filmmaker execute his vision for the project that he has been working on for over 40 years?

JV: Well, it’s a very ambitious film. It’s unusual in this time to see somebody step out and do something that no nobody’s ever seen before. This is a time when everybody’s trying to follow somebody else, and he didn’t. He’s saying, “This is my imaginative and prescient.” People would maybe try to take him off that over the years, but he said, “No, that is what I wish to do.” I was very honored to be part of it, that I could work with him again, because I worked with him on ‘The Rainmaker,’ John Grisham’s movie with Matt Damon. We got along very well. So he said, “Well, there is a half on this for you.” He stuck by his guns too, as people probably said, “You’re working with Jon Voight, are you out of your thoughts?” Whatever it is. He said, “No, he is an individual I’ve labored with earlier than. I get together with him. I like him.” So I was honored to be working on the film. Then they had these great actors. Adam Driver is a wonderful actor, a very unique personality, and a serious artist. The same can be said of Shia LaBeouf. Shia LaBeouf, of course, I worked with him on ‘Holes’ and on his breakthrough performance in ‘Transformers.’ I really love this fellow’s work, and he has a very powerful role in ‘Megalopolis.’ Then I was able to work with Aubrey Plaza, who was somebody I had no real connection with, I hadn’t seen some of the things that she had done. But boy, I think she’s such a gifted person and has enormous talent and potential. So these three are three of the top actors of this generation. So Francis was very clever about that. We’ll see what happens. This is an unusual piece. No one’s ever seen anything like it before. I’m interested to see how it’s going to finish up.

Jon Voight as Patrick Quinn in ‘Mercy.’

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‘Mercy’ is about to launch in choose theaters on May twelfth and on digital May nineteenth.