The Golden Globe winning Back to the Future trilogy legend and New York Times bestselling author Michael J. Fox was joined on the stage at the 18th Tribeca Film Festival this week by his good friend actor, comedian and writer Denis Leary. In an often hilarious discussion the pair touched on their mutual love for ice hockey, working together on Rescue Me, fundraisers for The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research and of course Fox’s iconic role as Marty McFly in the Back to the Future trilogy.
Denis Leary: “I love those movies, him and Chris Lloyd, just comedy dynamite! I remember seeing Back to the Future and being like ‘that guy’s timing is unbelievable!’ You’re timing is unbelievable, but also the two of you when you were on screen together is just ridiculous!”
Michael J. Fox: “Chris did this thing in Back to the Future, there’s this thing that we call in acting ‘laying pipe’, when you’re doing the exposition. It’s a really a shitty thing to do, it’s very boring to do, no one wants to lay pipe! But Chris Lloyd elevated laying pipe to something higher. All he did way say ‘here’s the rules, here’s how this works’. He got that out in the most entertaining way. It was a job he had to do and he did it as spectacularly as it’s ever been done.”
Denis Leary: “You didn’t even realise that was laying pipe, you thought that was a comedy scene between the two of you!”
When it came to questions from the audience, Fox was asked which of the three Back to the Future films was his favourite.
Michael J. Fox: “It’d have to be the first one. One day I’m fifty and I realise I’m in a version of Wizard of Oz, a movie that’s going to be around.”
Denis: “Way better than Wizard of Oz! All three of them. I never liked those flying monkeys! But that flying car and that shit was funny!”
There was also an audience question about how Fox landed the iconic role of Marty McFly.
Michael J. Fox: “They wanted to go goofy, so they looked me up!”
For the full Tribeca Talks conversation head to Tribeca’s Facebook page. The 18th Tribeca Film Festival continues in New York until 5th May 2019. For the schedule and to purchase tickets visit the official Tribeca website.
