“It was really just a matter of having experienced the political system for so long and getting frustrated with how redundant and corrosive it feels,” Stewart says of what inspired him to write and direct the film.
Jon Stewart faces both sides of the political spectrum in his second feature film Irresistible starring Steve Carell, Rose Byrne, Mackenzie Davis and Chris Cooper.
The film Focus Features sees Carell play Gary Zimmer, a Democratic strategist who worked on the Clinton campaign in 2016. The film follows Zimmer when he decides to help a local Wisconsin candidate, Cooper’s Jack Hastings, run for mayor in the Small, conservative town of Deerlaken, after a video of the retired veteran and farmer defending immigrant rights at a town hall meeting goes viral, all in an attempt to, as Zimmer says, “test a friendlier message for rural zones”.
Filmmaker Stewart and several of the movie stars sat down with Hollywood reporter to discuss his satirical film and the state of politics in the United States, as well as how the country can advance in the fight against racial injustice.
“It was really just a matter of having experienced the political system for so long, and being frustrated by how redundant and corrosive it feels,” Stewart said of what inspired him to write and direct the film.
“And that type of media, the industrial complex that surrounds it. And see how it grows and gains strength and moves away from what you imagine its positive impacts should have … You know, our electoral process seems to be going more removed from the needs of the people he serves than ever before, so I wanted to try to see him from a systems perspective rather than the day-to-day type he had been dealing with The daily show“
Stars Byrne, Davis, and Cooper also spoke about what made them want to be part of the project.
“I’m a big fan of the writing drama genre, whether it’s documentary or movies,” said Byrne, who plays Faith Brewster, a Republican campaign strategist. “It’s a great backdrop for the characters and theatricality. So for a long time it’s been kind of a fantasy of mine to do something like that, and then working with Jon and Steve was really obvious.”
“Well, I’ve been a huge fan, I probably never missed an episode of[Stewart[Stewart’s[Stewart[Stewart’sThe daily show]”said Cooper, who portrays the retired veteran and Wisconsin farmer Hastings.” I just wasn’t going to miss out. “
“Jon Stewart by himself doesn’t make a lot of movies and he was making one that he could possibly be in was enough of a reason for me,” said Davis, who plays Cooper’s Jack’s daughter Diana Hastings. “And then, reading the script, it was one of the best scripts I’ve read in years. I found it really amazing.”
While all of the film’s stars say the film’s message is “vote,” Stewart goes one step further, emphasizing that the film encourages viewers to question the country’s current political system.
“You know, part of all of that about the two parts is that they’re actually just a substitute, they’re kind of bogus,” Stewart said. “It’s there to lure you in and lure you in, so when the mat is finally rolled to the end, you step back and say, ‘Oh sure, why do we allow it to continue? Why do we allow it to continue? Why do we allow the electoral process never ends and that we continually strengthen divisions, rather than work to alleviate them? ”
Irresistible, Now available in premium VOD, it comes as the 2020 presidential election is fast approaching.
“I thought, ‘Hey man, it’s in the middle of a pandemic. It’s an election year. The streets are full of social change. Let’s drop a box of chocolate in the middle of that and see what happens,” Stewart said.
Stewart, who recently made headlines for his comments on police brutality, also opened up toTHR on the country’s continued fight against systemic racism.
“The problems we have created have taken years to create and … it will require resistance and will, and I think we have it,” Stewart said. “And I am very encouraged that the new generations are really active and focused. And I am excited to see what comes from their efforts.”
Watch the video above for more information.
