Toronto Film Festival 2007

The stars, the movies, the parties! Get the buzz from this year's event (Sept. 6-15)

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Talkin' Trash With Garner and Bateman

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ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: I was just about to say — that's what surprising about your performance in Juno, Jason. You're reined in. Your character's a serious guy.
JASON BATEMAN: It came from reading the script. There's so much style to the dialogue, I just thought probably the most invisible I can get as an actor, the better. Because I just know from going to watch movies myself — you know, it's like putting an outfit together. If you want the shirt to pop, you have to dress down the pants. And you can't wear a really funky pair of shoes.
JENNIFER GARNER: You can't do a strong eye and a strong lip. You gotta do a nudie kind of look if you're gonna do a heavy eye.
BATEMAN: [To EW] You see? You probably understand that analogy a little better, hearing about your weekend, the way you like to get yourself all dolled up. So I just tried to do my part, which was to try to do nothing.

Jennifer, what about you? You've got a few killer scenes in this movie. People are gonna cry.
GARNER: [To EW] Did you tear up?

You know, uh —
BATEMAN: Do not say yes.

Definitely not. [To Garner] But your character has a great arc. How hard was the part?
GARNER: There's somebody I was basing it on who maybe came across as cold or controlling, but was really just trying so hard to do the right thing. What happens in this movie forces the character to open up bit by bit. I think she just wants this baby, and she thinks the way to go about it is to be as appealingly Leave It to Beaver as possible. And she just forgets to add the human being in there.

Will you guys work again?
BATEMAN: Never! [Pauses] Oh, you mean together?
GARNER: I would love to work with Jason Reitman again. [To Bateman] We're over and out on this one.
BATEMAN: That's true. But things do happen in threes. So ... maybe a rom-com?
GARNER: Oh, I'd love to do a rom-com, Jason! Except, I'm scared of ever having to actually kiss you, because I think that's weird.
BATEMAN: Yeah, we've done two films, and there's no mashing in either of them. [To EW] Tell me if it looks real for us to kiss! [Gets up and jokingly lunges toward Garner]
GARNER: Seriously? I hope we get to work again. I'm just going to put it out there.
BATEMAN: She's the one that's got all the scripts and all the power in Hollywood, so when she sends me something, then it'll be a reality. To your readers, if they want to see it happen, tell them to pressure her.

What are you going to do next?
BATEMAN: I'm glad you asked. Upcoming for me, is — I dunno. I'm just going to try to stay employed. That's the tough part in this business.

You're doing well lately.
BATEMAN: Well, all right. But you've got to keep that rolling. Keep thinking ahead, do smart things like theater in New York to keep up the old cred or cachet. [Gestures to Garner] She's not stupid.

Are you guys friends for life now? You hang out, do day-care together ... ?
GARNER: I don't have his e-mail, I don't have his phone number. [To Bateman] I could not get a hold of you if I wanted to.
BATEMAN: I had to call three publicists — my publicist called your publicist who probably contacted your agent who probably contacted your assistant to find out if you were bringing [your daughter] Violet on The Kingdom trip to Europe.
GARNER: Oh, are you going to that? I thought you weren't going to that.
BATEMAN: I'm going. But no kids, right?
GARNER: No. No. No. I wouldn't do that to her.
BATEMAN: I don't think [Jamie] Foxx is going. We got an extra seat. [To EW] Wanna go to Europe?

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Posted Sep 12, 2007 | Order Article Reprints