Elizabeth Banks; Ray Liotta.Photo: Allen Berezovsky/Getty; Vincent Sandoval/Getty
Elizabeth BanksrecallsRay Liottahaving a blast makingCocaine Bear.
The late actor makes one of his final big-screen appearances in the action-comedy about a drug-fueled wild animal that Banks directed. In acover story forVariety, Banks, 48, recalled working with Liotta, the movie’s villain, before hissudden death in May at 67. (According toVariety, he died one week after re-recording some audio for the movie’s post-production.)
“He came to Ireland with the best attitude. He had a great time. He came for ADR and saw the film, and was like, ‘Oh, my God, the bear looks so good!’ " she said.
Back in May, Banks remembered Liotta in anInstagram tribute, saying they shared a “special bond.”
“We met on a little film,The Detailsand he blew me away. I always admired his acting but I genuinely enjoyed him as a human,” Banks said at the time. “He was a charmer. We have been collaborating onCocaine Bearthese past few months. I just saw him, hugged him, heard about his summer travel plans. When any actor of Ray’s caliber puts trust in you as a director, it’s a gift. But Ray gave me so much more.”
Art Streiber for Variety
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Elsewhere in theVarietyinterview, Banks, who previously directed 2019’sCharlie’s AngelsandPitch Perfect 2, talked about why she wanted to make the goryCocaine Bearmovie.
“I definitely wanted to make something muscular and masculine. I wanted to break down some of the mythology around what kinds of movies women are interested in making,” she said. “For some bizarre reason, there are still executives in Hollywood who are like, ‘I don’t know if women can do technical stuff.’ There are literally people who are like, ‘Women don’t like math.’ It just persists.”
Cocaine Bearis in theaters Feb. 24.
source: people.com
