Devon Quince's Man

This week Devon chats with lauded director Mike Nichols in the wake of his latest film, Charlie Wilson’s War.

I was absolutely stunned with delight when RoveDaily informed me I was going to interview one of my all-time favourite directors, Mr. Mike Nichols. I suppose he's most famous for his Oscar-winning directorial turn on The Graduate, but I have so many favourites (whenever I'm feeling down, I always pop on The Birdcage). You can't beat classics like Postcards From the Edge, Working Girl and Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? Oh, and I also love Wolf with Jack Nicholson and Michelle Pfeiffer. Animal instincts- hot!

Anyway, he's on the radar for his new film Charlie Wilson's War starring Tom Hanks, who I'm not keen on (although I didn't mind that retard stuck at the airport picture…and I suppose Joe Vs The Volcano was a bit of mindless fun). Needless to say I wasn’t short of questions, and shaking with excitement when we met in the lobby bar of his hotel.

Devon Quince: Mike, welcome!

Mike Nichols: Yeah, hi. You can't seem to keep your drink in your glass there, Devon…

DQ: Oh, excuse me. As you can see, I'm a little nervous.

MN: Nervous? It looks more like some kind of muscular problem.

DQ: No, no. I just ahh…shake a little when I get nervous.

MN: Yeah, well put the drink down. You're making me nervous just watching you.

DQ: Yes. Absolutely. Now Mike, I'm a huge fan…

MN: OK…

DQ: I want to start with Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? What wonderful performances by Richard Burton and Liz Taylor…

MN: Well, they were the best.

DQ: They were. I was always like, "forget Bogey and Bacall, for me it's Burton and Taylor!"

MN: Were you? That's nice, I suppose.

DQ: Oooh, ooh! Now what about your movie Wolf?

MN: What about it?

DQ: Quite scary wasn't it? With all the wolves and things?

MN: That's quite some analysis.

DQ: Oh, well…you know what I mean.

MN: I'm afraid I don't.

DQ: OK then. How about a few bars of 'Mrs. Robinson'?

MN: What?

DQ: ‘Where have you gone, Joe DiMaggio…’

MN: Oh, please.

DQ: Come on Mike. "Our nation turns it's lonely eyes to you…"

MN: Look, I'm not going to…

DQ: Mike I'm not going on without you. "What's that…"

MN: "you say, Mrs. Robinson? Jotting Joe has left…"

DQ: "…AND GONE AWAY!" Oh, thank you Mike. That was terrific. You made my whole year.

MN: Well, I'm glad you're happy. Now can we please talk about my new film, Charlie Wilson's War.

DQ: OK. Well, there's a problem there you see. I don't like Tom Hanks and I don't know why you’d put him in this film…

MN: Oh yeah. Tom Hanks. Two-time Oscar winner. Why the hell would I wanna work with that guy?

DQ: Right. Exactly. So why…

MN: He’s a great actor you idiot.

DQ: Oh. Well, you've also got that Philip Seymour Hoffman in this movie…

MN: Yes…

DQ: Now, is he a bit of a queer?

MN: Ahh, no he is not. Do you have anymore inappropriate questions?

DQ: No. Just…

MN: Thank god….

DQ: I brought along all my DVDs…do mind if I come up to your room?

Sadly Mike didn't invite me to his room, but I snapped a terrific picture of him after he finally stopped giving me the finger. Which was nice.

-DQ