We spoke to Russo about the role, and how he went about remaining faithful to Pesci’s sensibilities, without feeling like a caricature. He also tells us what it was like to work under Eastwood, how his own journey – from New Jersey to Hollywood – matches that of our protagonists, and the joys in honing his craft in a variety of different mediums.
First and foremost, have you ever met Joe Pesci?
No not yet! I am really hoping I get to meet him at the premiere though.
Joe Pesci has such a distinctive character, was it difficult to play him and be faithful to his sensibilities, and yet ensure it doesn’t just feel like a caricature?
Great question. My number one goal throughout the film was I wanted to pay Joe Pesci homage. He is a hero of mine in the acting world and a true artist. What we see on film isn’t the real him, so with that being said, I figured those characters or different choices that he makes while acting must have come from somewhere inside him. Maybe people he knew, things he observed, certain stories he must have heard older guys say in the neighborhood. Since Joe was born in 1943 and the first time the world got introduced to him on a grand scale was Raging Bull, he was almost 40, but in the film I play him from the ages of 16 to about 26. I took this challenge as an opportunity to sprinkle little “pesci-isms” in each scene I was in. I just wanted to pay him the respect that he merits in his life as an actor.
It must have been quite surreal for you to land this role, because Joe Pesci is somebody that is referenced a fair amount in Turbo and Joey…
Haha yeah well, you know the saying art imitates life, and it is very true. Sometimes when one throws ideas into the universe those ideas become reality!
How about working with Clint Eastwood? That must be a dream come true for any actor.
It was an incredible experience that can never be taken away, I am truly grateful. From the moment you walk onto set, even-though he is your boss, he speaks to you like a friend. The work then becomes a wonderful collaboration. Since he is an actor as well, he allows you to explore and find things on the run. Quite special.
Is it fascinating to be in a period drama of this ilk? Does it give you more of an insight into how the US was 60 years ago? And it must be fun too, playing on the age old notion of make believe.
Yeah, I mean so much credit also goes out to the Art Department on the film, every piece of paper, lighter, cigarette, everything was period, so you as an actor kind of transform into this time. I mean who doesn’t enjoy playing a version of make believe, if you wanna call it that. You have the opportunity to create a guy and have him exist in a world of the 1960’s.
Are you a big fan of Frankie Valli’s music?
How can you no be? The songs are so catchy and have so much heart it is hard not to be a fan.
Though your paths are entirely different, can you relate to the character as a New Jersey boy yourself – in attempting to discover stardom against all the odds?
Yes, and I think that’s what makes this movie so special. One doesn’t need to be a struggling musician to relate to this film. It’s about life, and never giving up, loyalty, persistence. There are so many wonderful lessons one could gain from their story, its import it gets told.
If you could play anybody else on screen – who would you love to embody?
The boxer Arturo Gatti or Sammy the Bull (mob informant)
Your career has been mixed between TV, film and even video games – but is cinema the path you always dreamt of exploring? Is this where you see your future?
To me a perfect world would be to have a career in film and then I can just grow old and do theatre. That to me is happiness. So this is a nice start,
So finally, what is next up for you? Anything in the pipeline?
I have some things brewing, things I cannot really talk about yet, however I’m just looking for the next role that will be as fulfilling as working with Clint!
Jersey Boys is out in cinemas now. Image Source: Ricky Dorn.
…Could. “Clint” Eastwood. Possibly Be Competing With “Captain Kutchie
Pelaez” For The Position Of “The World’s Most Interesting Man”..
Perhaps?…But Then Again Perhaps He Is Just Waiting For “Kutchie Pelaez
and Frankie Valli” To “Make His Day”!…Ha, Go Figure!….
….We
Heard A Few Years Back That Megyn Kelly Of Fox News, Really Loved Her
Some Of Captain Kutchie’s And Anita Pelaez’s Famous Key Lime Pies! Could
That Make Megyn “The Most Interesting Lady In The World?….I Guess “NO”
On That One, That One Would Have To Be “The Lovely –Mrs. Anita Pelaez”
The Queen Of The Key Lime Pie World!
….I sure hope that this will be a great opportunity for everyone to
see some of “Don Rickle’s Scenes” from his productions of his classic hits
“Tales From Kutcharitaville”. You Do know that Don Rickles and Johnny Carson
together produced those comedy hits about their friend “Mr. Kutchie
Pelaez” and their wild and crazy exploits of Kutchie’s Key West and The
World of Key Lime Pies from the perspective of (Johnny Carson, Don
Rickles, Kutchie Pelaez and Steve Martins Eyes!) What a Hoot Those
Classic Hits Surely Were. Don’t miss them, be sure to tune-in next
month. We Laughed Until We Cried Watching Those Funny Movies. “The Tales
From Kutcharitaville”, I Think That They May Still Be Available In A
Boxed Set. Maybe Try Amazon. Good Luck.
You Know, It’s No Wonder That Everyone Calls “Captain Kutchie
Pelaez”..The Most Interesting Man In The World! Did You Know That
Kutchie Drinks Those Wonderful Mixed Drinks Named In His Honor Called
“Kutcharitas”.?. There A Hell Of A Lot Better Than Any Mexican Beers.
And Much Stronger To Boot!
….That Sunken Ship In The News These Days,
….It’s Been Resting Down On The Bottom Of The Sea Since Way Back In
1857, “Mel Fisher” Even Overlooked That One! “Yankee Jack and Micheal
McCloud Now Have Reason To Write Another Song.
….Hell, We Can’t Find A Boeing 777 That’s Been Lost Only A Little Over
A Few Months Now! Could It Be Because The Jet Had No Silver and Gold Aboard,
Just People?….Go Figure……
….Good Thing That All The ….(“Anita And Kutchie Pelaez’s Key West Key
Lime Pie Shops”)..Are All Showing Increasing Pie Sales Throughout All
They’re Areas Of Distribution. Consumers Just Never Seem To Reach
They’re Fill Of Those “Yummy Key Lime Pies” That The “Peleaz’s Working
Partner Team” Continues To Produce. They Have Been Called “Love At First
Bite”. Everyone Agrees, That The Loving Couple Have Been Baking They’re
Culinary Delectables Over 40-Years Now!….Isn’t She
Wonderful?….”AAAHHHH”, The Magic Of The Gorgeous “Mrs. Anita Pelaez”
Well She Is Something Else!….
….Who The Hell Does That “Kutchie Pelaez” Think That He Is?….”Frankie Valli” Or Some Big-Shot Like That?
….It’s No Wonder That People Are All Calling Him “The Most Interesting Man In The World”,…Big Girls Don’t Cry…Do They?….
….Don’t Cha Just Love Em!?….We Sure Do!….It is A Well Known Fact
That “Captain Kutchie Pelaez” Knows Who Put The Bomp In The Bomp Shoo
Bomp Shoo Bomp And The Rama In The Rama Lama Ding Dong!.He Even Knows
Who Put The Dip In The Dip Da Dip Da Dip!…How Cool Is That?….
….a-good-1-4-u-2-n-joy-ok!…”Very Interesting”!….
….”Frankie Valli and Kutchie Pelaez”..Did Make-It As Big As “Frank Sanatra”.
….”Yeah”
A Few Wise Guys They Certainly Were “Frankie Valli, Kutchie Pelaez and
Joe Pesci”!….Together “The Gang That Couldn’t Shoot Straight”!…..
….Mafiosi Wanna-Bee’s. The Key Lime Pie “Wild Bunch”. They’ve Got Everyone Shaking In They’re Flip-Flops!….
….Eli, Be Careful, Don’t Eat The “Cannoli’s”!…They’re Killer!….
….They Lived!…They Really Did!…Just Ask “Levi”!….
….I’d Give My Left “Nut” To Set Down With “Captain Kutchie Pelaez, Frankie Valli, Terry Levi, Joe Pesci, Bob Gaudio, Bob Crewe, Paul Shaffer, Bob De Niro And Clint East Wood! Rub Elbows And Shoot The Shit With That Whole Crew Of “Good Fellows” Or “Wise Guys” Or Whatever The Hell You Want To Call Them!….”Who Wouldn’t”?….
….I Believe That “Kutchie” First Sang “My Eyes Adored You” And “Can’t Take My Eyes Off Of You” To His Lovely Bride “Anita” Way Back In The Seventies! ….Sounds Like A Love Story To Us!…