By Rebecca Ford

Copyright vanityfair

The film, which is based on a true story, follows Jeffrey Manchester (Tatum), who was sentenced to 45 years in prison for robbing McDonald’s franchises. He later breaks out of jail and into a toy store, and starts a relationship with a woman named Leigh (Dunst)—who has no idea that Jeffrey is a fugitive. Tatum and Dunst deliver outstanding work in the film, creating layered and surprising characters that have incredible chemistry onscreen.
After a strong world premiere at the Toronto Film Festival (including a warm standing ovation), Tatum and Dunst sat down with Vanity Fair to reveal why they didn’t want to meet before making the movie, what falling in love feels like to them, and the one project that Tatum regrets passing on.
Vanity Fair: Were you surprised to hear the audience laugh at any particular moments during the movie’s premiere?
Kirsten Dunst: I wasn’t analyzing anything like that. I had seen the movie before. I watched it with my husband [Jesse Plemons], and I like watching things with him. I can talk through it. But I was starting to critique myself in this screening, so I left – I went to the bathroom. And then it was kind of time-ish for the Q&A, so I was like, I don’t need to go back in.
You didn’t meet before filming your first scene together. Why?
Channing Tatum: It was something that Derek and I talked about early. He’s very interested in performance, and how to set up scenarios that will surprise yourself. So he’s not big on rehearsal. And then as soon as you get something that you love, you fuck it up as much as you can—kind of turn it upside down, just to shake it up and see what comes out on the other end. We both felt that it felt right, because [Jeffrey] wanted [Leigh] to like [him]. And I also just wanted Kirsten just to like me.
Dunst: I hoped we’d get along, because we’re playing people that [fall in love] very quick.
But your characters have such chemistry.
Dunst: It’s harder to create chemistry without it being sappy. I knew in Derek’s hands it would feel authentic, and he kept all our little improv things. He creates an environment where yes, we have the lines, but say whatever you want. But then go back to the lines.
How well did the two of you know each other before this?
Dunst: Not at all.
Tatum: She doesn’t remember it, but I had met her at a screening at a producer’s house the one time, and that was for three seconds. That was it. It was Melancholia or something, and we had a conversation.
Dunst: We didn’t have a conversation! You said three seconds!
What did you learn from your real-life counterparts that surprised you?
Tatum: The biggest surprise for me with Jeff was just how unbelievably warm he was. He was warm and charismatic. I have friends that have been in jail and convicts, and you go in and there’s this heaviness and the sadness. I felt very little of that on the phone. He just felt so optimistic—he didn’t feel like he’s been in jail for years and years and years. That takes a mind that is so strong. And he has so many dreams. He has so many wants for himself still. He took care of me on the phone, in a way, rather than me trying to give him something from the outside.
Dunst: I was surprised that there was zero resentment, but that was how she felt: “I fell in love. He took us on this journey and I’m grateful for it.” And I think there’s so much grace.
Tatum: You could feel that if Jeff hadn’t messed up, she would’ve loved him. She still loves him.
Dunst: It’s still there. You can’t erase that. Also she’s a very Christian woman, and there’s a lot of grace in that.
How are your acting styles the same?
Dunst: What you want is honesty, being open, trust. I don’t like when people want to talk about things for a very long time. I’m like, “let’s just do it.” And he’s the same. And we know when it’s not feeling right instinctually, and what we can try. So we are quick communicators.
Tatum: We just met each other really quickly. Wherever the person wants to go, you just try.
Dunst: And if I was like, “why isn’t this working?” You just give each other what they need. And honestly, because we didn’t have a lot of time, there has to be so much infused into these scenes. Sometimes I would say totally different things to Channing than in the scene—not to manipulate or get a reaction, but to just to shake it up, and also just get different feelings. Derek is interested in the minutiae of humans, that blink or that little crook of the lips. He wants human beings – not acting.
Tatum: Because making a movie is so artificial, obviously, but you’re trying to make it feel like real life. Something like feeding your kids and making them go to bed can look like so many different things, depending on the character you’re playing. And what’s exciting about Derek he’ll be like, “now try it like this.”
You were talking about how you had to fall in love quickly in the movie. What does falling in love feel like to you?
Dunst: That is such a mush question! What does falling in love feel like? It’s very different for everybody. I think if you truly fall in love, somebody could be going through a really hard time, it doesn’t matter. To me it’s a deeper soul connection.
Taum: I’ve had so many different versions of it now. I think overall, safety and peace is what I’m actually looking for. I think earlier, you watch movies and you’re like, “oh, I want to be lit on fire with the passion of love.” And it all feels very violent. Actually, you guys, I just want to feel safe with you.
Dunst: Yeah, you want to feel safe. And that person has your back for sure.
Derek has spoken about how he wanted you to star in Blue Valentine, Channing. Are there other roles like that where you passed because it wasn’t the right time?
Tatum: One of the biggest mistakes of my career: Guillermo del Toro wanted to do Beauty and the Beast, his version of the Beast. And I’d just had a baby, I was on a movie that was absolutely killing me, and the script wasn’t totally there yet. I was just in a place in my head that I was like, “I don’t think I can do this right now.” It was the biggest mistake, because I’m the biggest Guillermo fan ever. And I think Guillermo doing Beauty and the Beast would’ve been the sickest movie ever.
Dunst: And he never did it?
Tatum: He didn’t do it. He’s got a billion other things that he wants to do. He’s such a creator. I’ll probably never forgive myself on that one, but I hope we get to work together one day. Like Derek and I did. I think Blue Valentine time was always supposed to be Ryan [Gosling]’s. At that point in my life, it was such a sad story, and I had not had a sad relationship like that. I just don’t think I could have done it,
Dunst: Some things I’ve not done have been great opportunities for other people, and some things that other people haven’t done have been great opportunities for me. So I honestly believe that the right creatives come together. I don’t have any regrets.