A couple of weeks ago, HBO released two teasers for its upcoming adaptation of Cormac McCarthy’s play in novel form, The Sunset Limited – and it looked glorious.
Today, we receive a more in-depth look at the film, which will take place entirely inside the apartment of a black, uneducated Bible-thumping ex-convict as he tries to prod the mind of a white atheist professor whose life he just saved moments before the professor tried to kill himself by jumping in front of a train. In the story, McCarthy refers to them simply as White (who is played in this by Tommy Lee Jones, who also directs) and Black (the great Samuel L. Jackson). If you enjoy films that will rely solely on the strengths of the writing and performances, this one is for you.
The Sunset Limited premieres Saturday, February 12 (9:00-10:30 p.m. ET/PT) on HBO.
Tommy has never been a great interviewer, but his interview about this film with the Wall Street Journal definitely is up there in one of the most awkward interviews I’ve read: http://blogs.wsj.com/speakeasy/2011/02/08/tommy-lee-jones-on-directing-the-sunset-limited/