• Interviews

Laura Dern on Wilson and Trying to Keep the Biggest Secret in the Galaxy

Woody Harrelson all but redefines misanthropy in Wilson, Craig Johnson’s adaptation of the graphic novel of the same name by Daniel Clowes (Ghost World). Harrelson’s title character is an eccentric loner who lacks all trace of social filters, which make for interesting interactions in his daily life. It also has made for a train wreck of a marriage with Pippi (Laura Dern), not exactly socially adept herself. When he discovers that they have a daughter he did not know about (she was given up for adoption after the couples breakup) Wilson tries to rekindle the relationship with predictably awkward and painfully funny results. The indie comedy debuted in Sundance and relies on its two veteran stars to make it succeed. The HFPA’s Scott Orlin spoke to Dern about working on the intimate film … and how it compares to the other little movie she has coming up: Star Wars: The Last Jedi.