Johnny Depp? He's a pain in the arse...
"Office" boy and sometime Pirate of the Caribbean Mackenzie Crook is currently causing a controversy with his new film Three And Out. Screenjabber's Neil Davey caught up with him to discuss suicide, injuries in the line of business, sleeping with Bond girls and, of course, what Johnny Depp is really like.
It says something about Mackenzie Crook's ability as an actor that the the (slightly nervous) figure on the hotel couch bears remarkably little resemblance to Gareth, his breakthrough role in the office. However, while Gareth may have upset a few Territorial Army types, it's nothing compared to the outrage surrounding his new film Three And Out.
The film has got the goat of Bob Crow — although, frankly, that's not tricky — and assorted Tube unions, not to mention the Samaritans and assorted charities, for allegedly making light of suicide and the effects of “one unders” on the train drivers. However, while that's sort of the initial premise of the film, it soon goes off in unexpected directions and becomes a strangely moving road movie about love, life and friendship.
'A lot of people have been surprised,' Mackenzie agrees. 'The advertising campaign is a bit of a mystery but you can't flag up the poignancy in a poster very easily. It's not a film about people jumping under trains. I think the controversy is unfounded.'
He's also concerned that the film's anti-London stance will be taken too seriously. Early on, Mackenzie's character refers to London as “an ant hill where nothing work” but that's not the actor's own opinion.
“I love London. I'm passionate about London, and that's a line in the movie I was, well, not uncomfortable with – because I'm acting, obviously – but I totally didn't agree with it.” And, he adds, “I think he Tube is great.”
Mackenzie plays Paul, a tube driver with dreams of leaving the rat race behind and becoming a novelist in a remote cottage in Scotland. After a shocking month that's already seen two people fall — accidentally as it happens — under his train, he's told of the secret Underground policy of “three and out”: one more one-under in the same month and it's early retirement, with ten years money as a lump sum. So Paul tries to find a willing third victim and his search brings him in contact with Tommy (Colm Meaney), a suicidal vagrant. Tommy agrees to jump in return for a final weekend of the high life, and a chance to make things right with his long estranged wife (Imelda Staunton) and the daughter he's not seen for years (Gemma Arterton). Cue great poignancy, some laughs and a somewhat unlikely sex scene between Mackenzie and the new Bond girl.
It's this weekend that forms the bulk, and the heart, of this unusual film. It's also the reason that Mackenzie, who'd remained injury-free through three Pirates movies, broke a rib.
"I had been planning to do weights or something before I took my clothes off in front of Gemma,” he admits, “but that didn't happen.” And, as he explains, it might have been useful during a tussle he has with Tommy.
Mackenzie's character is held over a bridge by Colm Meaney (well, Colm's stunt double to be accurate) and, as Mackenzie explains, “the padding on my chest was too high or something and when I went down, I felt something snap. It was only later that I realised I wasn't just winded, I'd broken a rib.”
At least there was the bonus of a love scene with Gemma to take the pain away. Or not.
“It was nerve-wracking. I wasn't looking forward to it because it's a very awkward thing to do with someone that you're not actually in love with."
He did at least he did have some consolation in the fact that he beats James Bond to the girl.
"Exactly.” he laughs. “I wonder if Daniel Craig's been asked, 'What's it like to follow in Mackenzie Crook's footsteps?!'"
The actor's lack of bulk hasn't impacted on his career — "I do tend to get the parts of skinny weirdos but the great thing is, most film scripts have parts for skinny weirdos, so I'm cleaning up" — although the downside is he's now so busy that he rarely gets the chance to catch up with Ricky Gervais and Martin Freeman outside of awards shows.
"I'd love to see more of those guys,” admits Mackenzie, “we were so close and had such an amazing time, but we're now always so busy in different places."
Mackenzie has though found new people to hang out with. Johnny Depp, for example, who he became close to during the filming of the Pirates movies, particularly the lengthy back-to-back shoot for parts II and III. With Mackenzie and his wife expecting their first child during the filming, family man Johnny was keen to give advice.
Mackenzie's wife Lindsay has recently given birth again, to daughter Scout and Depp has, apparently, been offering his wisdom by phone.
“He's a pain in the arse...” jokes Mackenzie before setting the record straight. “He's a family man, he adores his family over anything else and he told me what to expect and had some good advice."
• Three And Out is now showing across the UK ... and you can read our review HERE