Tom Holland interviews Benedict Cumberbatch for The Power of the Dog, says 'I really hated you'

Marvel actors Tom Holland and Benedict Cumberbatch are good friends, bonded and best-known thanks to their adventures in the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Spider-Man and Doctor Strange. On the heels of an onscreen pairing in Holland’s blockbuster Spider-Man: No Way Home, they combined forces yet again on Wednesday, this time in Cumberbatch’s honour to discuss his turn in Jane Campion’s critically acclaimed The Power of the Dog.

 

Tom Holland interviews Benedict Cumberbatch for The Power of the Dog, says 'I really hated you'

 

Tom Holland quizzed Benedict Cumberbatch about the preparation, demands and challenges of stepping into the shoes of Phil Burbank in the Netflix film, which sees him as a charismatic yet troubled rancher who torments his brother, played by Jesse Plemons, his surprise sister-in-law, Kirsten Dunst, and her young son, newcomer Kodi Smit-McPhee.

 

Benedict Cumberbatch went method for the role and the results have been impressive. He’s currently nominated for a Screen Actors Guild Award and has snagged nearly two-dozen critics group honours, more than any actor this season. But before presenting any questions, Holland had kind words to get out of the way. “Congratulations pal, the movie is breathtaking,” Holland said.

 

According to Variety, he went on to say that he came to watch the film from a “privileged standpoint” because he knows Cumberbatch so well. “When I meet you in the beginning of the film, I’m like, ‘Whoa, that’s not the Benedict that I know. What on earth is going on here?’ For the first time in knowing you, I really, like, hated you. I thought you were horrible and so, just, grotesque and awful. As the film progresses, what I loved about it was that it has these themes of toxic masculinity and gaslighting but it explores the problem rather than the problem just being present. Not that his actions are justified in any way, but you understand why he is the way he is.”

 

Benedict Cumberbatch was quick to give credit to Campion and novelist Thomas Savage, whose book was adapted for the screen by the auteur. He said he’s fielded a range of reactions from viewers, some of whom, like Holland, found the film a hard watch. The pair then did a deep dive into a conversation about toxic masculinity, repressed sexuality, the root cause of Phil’s behavior, Holland’s interpretation of the story and the performances delivered by Cumberbatch’s castmates. Holland asked Cumberbatch to open up about his process in reaching the level of authenticity the role required in that he was playing the banjo, riding horses, rolling cigarettes, tying rope and so forth.

 

At one point, Benedict Cumberbatch took a moment to compliment Tom Holland on his performance as a spiraling veteran in Joe and Anthony Russo’s drama Cherry because of the similarities of the demanding roles. “You’re fearless in what you did in your craft in that film, and so are Anthony and Joe and their uncompromising gaze on it, and so is Jane,” Cumberbatch said, mentioning the Russos, who directed them both in Avengers installments Infinity War and Endgame. He also took a moment to thank Holland for donating the time today, especially now after the massive success of No Way Home.

 

Also Read: Tom Holland recalls his first Spider-Man: No Way Home rehearsal with Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield - "It was a roller coaster that I didn't want to get off of"

Catch us for latest Bollywood News, New Bollywood Movies update, Box office collection,New Movies Release, Bollywood News Hindi, Entertainment News, Bollywood News Today & upcoming movies 2024 and stay updated with latest hindi movies only on Bollywood Hungama.