NEW YORK — Last week, Hollywood returned to Chicago. This time, it’s for Matt Damon, Kate Winslet and Gwenyth Paltrow’s “Contagion,” directed by Steven Soderbergh. Shooting started at the Shedd Aquarium and the Palmer House Hotel. The old Sherman Hospital in Elgin and sites in Wilmette and Downers Grove may also be used between now and the end of the year.
Damon’s latest movie, “Hereafter,” takes a soulful look at what could be waiting for us when we die. The film reunites Damon with Oscar-winning director Clint Eastwood. Last year, Damon played a South African rugby player for Eastwood in “Invictus.”
When Damon and I talked in New York City, he gave all of the credit to the 80-year-old master.
Q: What is it that Eastwood gets in his storytelling that most directors don’t seem to understand?
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A: He’s a very soulful guy, and he’s just a brilliant filmmaker and storyteller. He’s been doing it for 60 years, and he’s got so much knowledge about how to make movies. He loves telling stories so much that he just waits for great stories to come his way, and he goes, “Yeah, I’ll go do that.”
Q: Eastwood’s power is usually in a slow, methodical way of storytelling, but then he begins “Hereafter” with this tsunami scene that is one of the great special effects sequences on film.
A: Yeah, yeah … and he’s never done effects like that, either. I mean, he’s had effects in his movies … so he’s up to speed on all that stuff, but that tsunami set piece is remarkable. It required him to approach that sequence differently than he normally does. He usually shows up and does some storyboard planning, but he wants to see what’s going to happen; he’s very flexible, kind of feeling his way in a scene. With obvious CGI like the tsunami required, you have to really map out your shots beforehand, so he’d lock down the sequence exactly.
Q: It’s also kind of interesting that for the past few films, Eastwood seems to be telling stories that are specifically relevant to him at that moment, sort of taking us through his life phases.
A: That’s a great point because that is the exact truth. On “Invictus,” I asked him about his whole theory of directing, and he said, “Look, I’m the tour guide, and you’re on my tour. If you don’t like this particular tour, you can get off the tour bus.
He said, “That’s fine if you don’t. I’ll invite you on the next one. These movies … I’m making them because this is where I want to go.”
Q: I saw your wife and you on the red carpet for the premiere of this movie. This is going to be your third child together. Have you gotten to the point where the pregnancy is kind of blase?
A: We’re definitely a little more blase than we’ve been in the past, but it’s still a serious thing. We’re thrilled and really, really excited, but right now, we’re just anxious to meet the baby.
Travel expenses were paid for by Warner Brothers Pictures and WGN-TV.
Watch my interviews 5 to 9 a.m. Monday through Friday on WGN-Ch. 9 Morning News. My radio show airs 9 a.m. to noon Sundays on News 720 WGN-AM and wgnradio.com. You can also hear more by going to wgntv.com/deanslist.