‘Mercy’ Interview: Jon Voight Talks New Motion Thriller

Opening in select theaters on May twelfth and on digital May nineteenth is the brand new motion thriller ‘Mercy,’ from director Tony Dean Smith (‘Summerhood’).

What is the plot of ‘Mercy?’

‘Mercy’ tells the story of an ex-military physician named Michelle (Leah Gibson), who finds herself in a lethal battle for survival when the Irish mafia household, the Quinns (Jon Voight and Jonathan Rhys Meyers), seize management of the hospital at which she works. When her son (Anthony Bolognese) is taken hostage, she is pressured to depend upon her battle-hardened previous and deadly expertise after realizing there’s nobody left to avoid wasting the day however her.

Who is within the solid of ‘Mercy?’

‘Mercy’ stars Leah Gibson (‘Rise of the Planet of the Apes’) as Michelle, Jonathan Rhys Meyers (‘Mission: Impossible III’) as Sean Quinn, Oscar-winner Jon Voight (‘Heat,’ ‘Mission: Impossible,’ ‘Transformers’) as Patrick Quinn, Sebastian Roberts as Ellis, Anthony Konechny as Ryan Quinn, Patrick Roccas as Johnno, Anthony Bolognese as Bobby, Bradley Stryker as Mick, Caitlin Stryker as Agent Cruz, Mark Masterton as Danny, Ryan Russell as Nurse Kevin, Bobby Stewart as Dr. Terrence, and Marc-Anthony Massiah as Frank.

ECinema News lately had the pleasure of talking with Oscar-winner Jon Voight about his work on ‘Mercy,’ what he brings to a mission, performing violent scenes, performing with an Irish accent, his character’s relationship along with his sons, working with Jonathan Rhys Meyers and Leah Gibson, collaborating with director Tony Dean Smith, and his work on acclaimed filmmaker Francis Ford Coppola’s upcoming ‘Megalopolis.’

Jon Voight as Patrick Quinn in ‘Mercy.’

You can learn the total interview under or click on on the video participant above to look at the interview.

ECinema News: To start with, Patrick Quinn is a good character so that you can play, did you acknowledge that if you first learn the script and what had been among the facets of the character you had been excited to discover on this movie?

Jon Voight: I believe as a result of I’ve gotten to a sure age, individuals are coming to me with roles which are appropriate, and that I’ve to play a patriarch of this type, regardless that he’s a really damaging type of character or comes from that tradition. But it was thrilling to me in a sure sense, it appeared like an excellent alternative to precise many issues. An alternative to work with Jonathan Rhys Meyers, who I believe is a sensational actor, and an excellent expertise. Then we launched this glorious gal Leah Gibson too. So I used to be excited to work on this piece. I believed I might assist it. When I got here into it, I stated, “Well, I believe I can do one thing with this factor.”

MF: Can you develop on that concept? Are there sure tasks that you’re supplied that you just really feel like your presence within the movie may help elevate the movie?

JV: Well, I believe I’m very collaborative with the administrators and producers to do one thing that has a which means for me. I believed that I might enrich the household dilemma and never make it so black and white in a sure sense. These individuals are human, you need to discover out what their humanity is and see what their considering is. So you’re actually attending to know these individuals, and after we get to know individuals, you root for them somewhat bit. You hope they will pull issues off. Then you see any person who’s going means off the street like Jonathan’s character, my son Sean, within the image. Yet he is very thrilling as a result of he is so good at this type of negativity, this character. He can convey it forth, he can scare you, and that is what he does on this movie. He’s actually a superb actor and this can be a position very appropriate for him. So we had issues that we might do after which I used to be in a position to, I believe, add one thing to it as effectively.

Jon Voight as Patrick Quinn in ‘Mercy.’

Related Article: Adam Driver, Nathalie Emmanuel and Forest Whittaker will Lead ‘Megalopolis’

MF: I beloved the Irish accent that your character has within the movie. Was that already in your actor’s bag of tips or did you’re employed with a vocal coach to get it proper?

JV: No. We labored with individuals. They have individuals who work with accents, and the younger lady that labored on it with us, I discovered to be wonderful. She was in a position to work with the entire individuals in our group, which was a staff of this household of criminals. She obtained us all as much as a sure degree. But we had been working with Jonathan Rhys Myers, who’s from County Cork, and is aware of these accents. He can do any type of accent, and we needed to be genuine subsequent to him, which was a giant problem. But he was all the time encouraging and useful.

MF: You have a very violent scene the place your character is threatening one other member of his crew. Was it enjoyable to shoot that sequence and act actually menacing in that second?

JV: Yeah, it was enjoyable, truly. But I imply, I stated, “We need to have this within the image.” I stated, “Because it’s a must to know who he’s. He must be harmful. You need to see why he is the top of this group.” Do you see what I imply? And he establishes that in that one gesture. So then you definately say, “Oh, this man, there is a motive why he is the top of this wild group.”

Jonathan Rhys Meyers as Sean Quinn in ‘Mercy.’

MF: Do you search for moments like that if you’re studying a script, a second that basically explains who the character may be very clearly for the viewers?

JV: Well, it is within the storytelling of issues, sure. It’s essential that individuals know who he’s. That’s a seminal second. That’s a step, “Boom, there he’s, like that.” He can go like that. He can flip and, “Boom, he is harmful.” Of course, with a view to run a mob, it’s a must to be that harmful. You need to have that type of capability to scare the hell out of all people else. To say, “Well, you play video games with me and it should be a sure type of violent ending.” That type of factor. That was an essential second, truly. But the opposite factor is that every of the younger males in it who performed my staff, the muscle in that piece, they did an excellent job. They labored exhausting on it, and so they did their accents superbly, however they actually cared about it. They’re good little items of that movie which are given over to those cameos, and I actually thought the solid got here as much as the problem.

(L to R) Jon Voight as Patrick Quinn and Jonathan Rhys Meyers as Sean Quinn in ‘Mercy.’

MF: Patrick has two sons, Sean and Ryan, and he clearly favors Ryan over Sean. Can you speak about that household dynamic and the way it’s the catalyst for what occurs on the hospital?

JV: Well, he has two sons within the image, and he is a fellow that got here from Ireland as an alien to this nation and located a house right here at one level. He got here from a violent background in Ireland, however he actually was involved about his older little one, Sean. He was involved about this little one as a result of he was going within the improper means. That’s actually one thing as a result of he is from a household that is equated with some violence too. But he was going off the deep finish, getting concerned with terrorists, alcohol and all these items. So he got here to this nation, got here to the States to truly change the route of his son, and his different son, Ryan caught the thought and was on his option to a wholesome life other than the household and was inspired by his father. But Sean went the opposite means and have become a damaging issue. That’s what we see within the movie, a person coping with a son that is harmful to himself and to others. I believe it is an fascinating dilemma. So you are feeling for the daddy that he is misplaced his son to this, and that turns into a richer a part of the movie. I used to be excited to discover that dimension and to work with this nice actor, Jonathan Rhys Myers, and naturally Leah Gibson, who performs the American army hero of the image, and is a substantial actor and a really new face.

MF: Did you realize Jonathan Rhys Meyers earlier than making this movie, and what was it like working with him on ‘Mercy?’

JV: I had made one movie with Jonathan, and we each preferred one another a lot. We had been so appreciative of one another’s expertise. Steven Paul, the producer of this movie, had labored on the opposite movie and with a view to get this movie made, he referred to as Jonathan and stated, “Well, Jon Voight’s going to do it.” Then Jonathan stated, “Well, if he will do it, I’ll do it.” Steven then instructed me, “Jonathan Rhys Meyers goes to do it.” So I stated, “Well, if Jonathan Rhys Meyers goes to do it, then I’m going to do it.” So he captured us each by utilizing our affection for one another to get this movie made. I’ve an affection for Jonathan that ought to be stated. I actually like him, and I do know him solely somewhat, however I do know quite a bit about him and I do know his expertise. So quite a lot of it’s actual, it is simply the best way I take care of him. His response to me is actual in a sure means as a result of he sees me as a sure type of determine, and I might be his father. Do you realize what I imply? What does a father imply to him, you see? So we had quite a lot of thrilling vitality there. I actually like this fella, and I hope I work once more with him. His efficiency right here is basically fairly superb.

Leah Gibson as Michelle in ‘Mercy.’

MF: The movie is type of like ‘Die Hard’ in a hospital, and in these phrases, Leah Gibson undoubtedly performs the John McClane position. What was it like working along with her and watching her lead this mission?

JV: Well, she’s a terrific particular person. The first time I met her, I advisable her to Steven Paul, the producer. I stated, “I believe she will be able to do that.” I laughed along with her, I need to say, I used to be simply delighted in speaking to her the primary time I spoke to her. But since then, I’ve seen work she did on a stage piece that was completely phenomenal. So she’s a giant expertise, and she or he had by no means performed a component like this, truly. So it was an uncommon transition, however she had all of the bodily functionality and she or he’s a severe actor. So it was an excellent factor for her to be the movie star on this piece.

MF: What was it like collaborating on this mission with director Tony Dean Smith?

JV: Well, this director, Tony Dean Smith, he thinks of himself as a author, basically. He’s written a number of scripts. He’s younger and he is searching for methods to precise himself. He was modifying an image that we had completed earlier than, an image referred to as ‘Dangerous Game: The Legacy Murders’. The director of that movie, Sean McNamara, is a superb filmmaker, and he advisable Steven to me and stated that he was gifted. He stated, “Look at this fellow, as a result of he is obtained some expertise.” There was a number of issues about him initially in ‘Dangerous Game,’ his understanding of the music of the movie, and his selection of the music for the Temp Dub. Well, he was superb at that, and he was an excellent editor. He knew movie. He had a pleasant means about himself with actors. You might inform he had quite a lot of presents towards this, very sensible, very hardworking, and all these items. So Steven gave him an opportunity to direct it and I believe he got here by very superbly with a restricted schedule and all of that too. So it’s a must to be fairly sensible about the place you place the digital camera and the way you take care of it, and the way you keep on level and keep on schedule. But, he did an excellent job, and that is fantastic. I’m so glad for him as a result of I believe he deserves to be on this enterprise and do extra items now.

Director Frances Ford Coppola on the fiftieth Anniversary of ‘The Godfather’ occasion and historic avenue naming ceremony the Paramount Theater in Hollywood, CA on February twenty second, 2022. Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for Paramount Pictures.

MF: Finally, what was it like for you working with Francis Ford Coppola on the upcoming ‘Megalopolis,’ and watching the acclaimed filmmaker execute his imaginative and prescient for the mission that he has been engaged on for over 40 years?

JV: Well, it is a very bold movie. It’s uncommon on this time to see any person step out and do one thing that no no one’s ever seen earlier than. This is a time when all people’s making an attempt to observe any person else, and he did not. He’s saying, “This is my imaginative and prescient.” People would possibly attempt to take him off that over time, however he stated, “No, that is what I need to do.” I used to be very honored to be a part of it, that I might work with him once more, as a result of I labored with him on ‘The Rainmaker,’ John Grisham‘s movie with Matt Damon. We obtained alongside very effectively. So he stated, “Well, there is a half on this for you.” He caught by his weapons too, as individuals most likely stated, “You’re working with Jon Voight, are you out of your thoughts?” Whatever it’s. He stated, “No, he is an individual I’ve labored with earlier than. I get together with him. I like him.” So I used to be honored to be engaged on the movie. Then they’d these nice actors. Adam Driver is a superb actor, a really distinctive character, and a severe artist. The similar could be stated of Shia LaBeouf. Shia LaBeouf, in fact, I labored with him on ‘Holes’ and on his breakthrough efficiency in ‘Transformers.’ I actually love this fellow’s work, and he has a really highly effective position in ‘Megalopolis.’ Then I used to be in a position to work with Aubrey Plaza, who was any person I had no actual reference to, I hadn’t seen among the issues that she had completed. But boy, I believe she’s such a gifted particular person and has monumental expertise and potential. So these three are three of the highest actors of this era. So Francis was very intelligent about that. We’ll see what occurs. This is an uncommon piece. No one’s ever seen something prefer it earlier than. I’m to see how it should end up.

Jon Voight as Patrick Quinn in ‘Mercy.’

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‘Mercy’ is ready to launch in choose theaters on May twelfth and on digital May nineteenth.