Director Simon Curtis achieved something extraordinary with his latest film, The Art of Racing in the Rain. The helmer exquisitely captured the spirit of the Garth Stein bestselling book and brought it to the big screen in the most touchingly honest and endearing ways. Curtis phoned The Movie Mensch for an exclusive chat about the film that is out now on DVD, Blu-Ray and digital download formats.
The Art of Racing in the Rain is—at its core—a story about a “boy and his dog.” In this case, the boy is a man, Denny Swift (impeccably captured by This Is Us star Milo Ventimiglia), who is a race car driver with aspirations of driving for his dream car company, Ferrari. Fate plays a big role in Denny’s life. First, with him witnessing a “puppies for sale” sign as he drove home one day that fatefully brought an adorable Golden Retriever who he named Enzo (for Ferrari’s patriarch). Second, destiny had him alongside Enzo when he ran into Eve (Amanda Seyfried) outside a grocery store. There was something about Eve that Enzo could not ignore, and therefore, neither could Denny. That little lady would wind up becoming his wife and the pair would soon welcome a little angel named Zoe (Ryan Kiera Armstrong) as our story also becomes a “girl and her dog” tale.
Curtis beautifully captures countless emotional elements from Stein’s novel that had to be so challenging to portray onscreen. Books always do so much better than the cinematic arts at getting into the headspace of its characters and conveying emotions with inflective prose. A filmmaker must use an elusive combination of verbiage and the visual. Helping things for Curtis is one of the things that has endeared The Art of Racing in the Rain to so many is how Enzo acts as a narrator. If you can get screen legend Kevin Costner to vocalize the canine’s view of this world, then you have hit a home run.
The filmmaker (who gave us the stunner My Week with Marilyn, along with Woman in Gold and Goodbye Christopher Robin) shares his approach to the numerous movie milieus that exist all within Stein’s story. This is a love story. It is also firmly a racing movie, a dog flick, a family film and at its core—a tale about fighting for what’s right and finding ways, somehow, to get back up when it seems as if you’ve been delivered a life knockout punch.
Curtis also shares his thoughts on why Ventimiglia was the perfect choice to be his film’s driving force (literally and figuratively), what it was like to have those priceless one-on-one moments with Costner in the recording booth as the Oscar winner brought Enzo to life and even delivers a perfect response to why he believes The Art of Racing in the Rain has resonated so immensely with audiences.
The Movie Mensch: To direct a film is an all-consuming effort. The endeavor takes you away from family, friends … everything. To commit to that type of sacrifice must require something truly special. What was it about The Art of Racing in the Rain that compelled you to undertake bringing it to the screen?
Simon Curtis: I am always drawn to a story that celebrates family. I just love the idea of seeing a family and life from the from the dog’s point of view. The book is a massive bestseller and very popular, and I thought we could make a film which would be the equal of it.
The Movie Mensch: Yes. Well you did that and then some. It is such a delight and so endearing. What struck me the most is casting is so key. I have long appreciated Milo’s work. What did you see in him that you knew he was your Denny?
Simon Curtis: That’s a very good question. I think there’s a reason he’s the most popular father on American TV. He has a sort of integrity and empathetic quality. It’s very striking to me how many times you mention his name to people, both men and women, and they sort of melt. He’s like the fantasy father in a way. It was also interesting when we were filming at the racetrack, particularly when we went to Italy, just how much he felt like a racing driver. Actually … he looks like so many of those guys! I also think that the spirit of this film is not a million miles from the spirit of This is Us, and I felt the fans of that show would like this film as well.
The Movie Mensch: Kevin could not have been a better vocal representation of Enzo, my goodness. What was it like to work with him intimately in a recording studio, just you and him?
Simon Curtis: Well he’s a legend, and an Oscar-nominated, Oscar-winning director as well. I always felt very privileged to work with Kevin. Also, I wanted an iconic American voice to be Enzo, the driver through the film. I feel I lucked out.
The Movie Mensch: You mentioned the novel being an enormous success. What do you think it is about this story that it is so resonant with people?
Simon Curtis: Well, I think that these are turbulent times we live in and there’s something about the love and loyalty of a dog. It seems to me … I don’t know what the facts are, but it seems like more and more people have animals in their lives, don’t they? I think it’s because you can trust them and that purity and their love. And it’s fun to imagine getting into the dog’s mind. I always said that the secret sauce of this story and this film is the voiceover, the dog’s thoughts. Sometimes he’s very brilliant and perceptive and sometimes he’s comedic and incorrect, but it’s always fascinating.
The Movie Mensch: Yes, you nailed it there. I must be honest. Within days of seeing your film in theaters, I went out and got my family a dog. So, there’s one more family that, thanks you and The Art of Racing in the Rain that has a canine joining the family.
Simon Curtis: Oh really?! That’s a wonderful thing to say. Thank you.
The Movie Mensch: Now, when it comes to the actual directing of Racing in the Rain, I was struck by what a diverse palette you had to paint your picture. It’s a dog movie, a family movie, a car racing movie, a love story. What aspects of the filmmaking were the biggest challenge and which element that you thought might be a huge challenge, actually worked out very smoothly?
Simon Curtis: That’s a very good question too. I would say that the two biggest challenges in pre-production were, obviously, delivering world class racing scenes and making a film in which every scene features a dog. I would say both came up higher than my expectations. [When it came to the] dog, two main dogs we used. They were two of the best actors I’ve ever worked with and very often were one take wonders! In the case of a racing, I had great support. I had Patrick Dempsey, one of my producers, [who] is a world class racer on his own right. Neil Moritz, my producer is Mr. Fast and the Furious. They also introduced me to Jeff Schwartz, who is a brilliant racing camera man. So, between the three of them, I had a brilliant team, and I do think the racing is very well delivered in the film.
The Movie Mensch: Yes, it is. It sure is and something that was a very striking about Amanda and her character is that her shadow must loom large, all stemming from not necessarily the most screen time.
Simon Curtis: That’s exactly right.
The Movie Mensch: What was it about her, who I just think is always amazing, that made it perfect for her to capture what was necessary for that character?
Simon Curtis: Well, that’s exactly right. She just has a life spirit. She’s a gorgeous woman, a brilliant actress and a fantastic energy. I do think her spirit lingers over the whole film and of course she is a passionate animal and dog lover. So, one of the greatest acting challenges of her life was being someone who doesn’t love dogs [laughs].
The Movie Mensch: Yes, yes. Very true. I’ve, I’ve done many an interview with Amanda where she’s brought her lovely dog along. Now, I’ve been a longtime admirer of your work. I’m curious. You have such a diverse resume of films. What does a script have to say to you to compel you to do it?
Simon Curtis: I can’t really be specific except it has to say something. I’ve done quite a lot of films and work based on true stories. It was really fun for me to do a popular fiction in this case.
The Movie Mensch: I see that you’re a producer on one of my most anticipated movies coming up, The Chaperone. What would you like audiences to know about that delightful looking film?
Simon Curtis: Well, for lovers of Downton Abbey, it’s a treat. Julian Fellowes has crafted a wonderful story. It’s a mixture of fact and fiction, actually. It’s based on a story of Louise Brooks and her career. I really recommended it.
The Movie Mensch: Lastly, this is definitely a difficult field that you’ve chosen to make your vocation. Way back when, if you can even pinpoint it, what was it that triggered your desire to pursue this artistic way of life?
Simon Curtis: I don’t really know. I suppose I just always loved stories and wanted to be someone who told stories for a living. It’s a tricky journey to go on, but one of great privilege as well. I feel very blessed. In the case of Racing in the Rain, to work with that crew and that cast on that story was a true privilege.