Australian director Jocelyn Moorhouse is no stranger to working with some of the industry’s finest actresses. But what about the most fabulous?
Starring Susan Sarandon, Bette Midler, Megan Mullally and Sheryl Lee Ralph, The Fabulous Four is an uproarious comedy about a group of life-long friends (Sarandon, Mullally, and Ralph) who travel to Key West, Florida, to be bridesmaids in the surprise wedding of their best college girlfriend Marilyn (Midler). Over the course of one outrageous trip, sisterhoods are rekindled, the past resurfaces, and there are enough sparks, raunch, and romance to change all their lives in unexpected ways.
As the film arrives in Australian cinemas this week, our Peter Gray spoke with the Australian director about working with a cast she’s long admired, how she approaches filming a script she hasn’t personally written, and making sure to not ruin takes when her stars improv.
There’s always something special about seeing a collection of formidable actresses on screen together. Knowing that you were going to be directing Susan Sarandon, Bette Midler, Megan Mullally and Sheryl Lee Ralph…after all these years of directing, is there any sense of intimidation left?
Absolutely, yes! It was more just thrilled excitement. I didn’t want to disappoint them. I didn’t want them to turn up (on set) and go “Oh, she’s boring.” (Laughs) But they didn’t think that. They loved me. It was a love fest. Susan even handstitched a little goodbye pillow for me, which I was very chuffed about. I was just so thrilled to work with them. Even before I started making movies I was a huge fan of Bette. I had her records, I rushed along to see The Rose, I just fell in love with her. I’ve been a life-long fan of hers. So that was pretty intimidating talking to her for the first time.
And, of course, Susan I have watched ever since The Rocky Horror Picture Show. I feel like I have had this long distance love affair with them anyways, for decades. So, it was beautiful and exciting, and a little scary to meet (my) heroes.
Well on the topic of long distance love affairs, you have worked with an actress that embodies that for me in Michelle Pfeiffer, who I absolutely adore.
Oh, I love her too.
And I was looking at the actresses you’ve worked with across your career. You’ve worked with those that would be considered some of the finest of their generation. Apart from Michelle Pfeiffer, you have Claire Danes, Kate Winslet, Anne Bancroft, Winona Ryder…
I have been extraordinarily lucky.
Do you have a wish list of who you’d love to work with?
Sure. My God. Olivia Colman. Love her! Saoirse Ronan. Who’s that gorgeous creature in that movie Men? Jessie Buckley! Isn’t she amazing? Did you see her in Chernobyl? She’s amazing in that. There’s so many I’d love to work with. I’ve worked with Judy Davis too, and she’s another long time love affair from a distance that I finally got to work with.
When you’re directing something like The Fabulous Four, is there a different approach when it’s material that you haven’t personally written?
Oh, yes. I tinkered with the script a little, and (the cast) did quite a lot. It was a team effort. The women who wrote it (Anne Marie Allison and Jenna Milly) are very talented. They’re new writers and young, and so when “the fabulous four” came along, they had a lot to say, particularly about being of a certain age. They added their own little personal things in, and I was excited for them to do that.
They didn’t change the script radically, but we added in a few things here and there. It felt like we were a team. Just taking the script and making it our own.
When you’re working with these women, I can only imagine the amount of fun that’s being had. You have Megan Mullally delivering all these quips! Is that one of those elements when you have to be careful not to ruin a take from laughing?
Yes! Megan was completely unpredictable. I had no idea what was going to come out of her mouth half the time. And it was always funny. We really had to try to nor burst out laughing because she would just come up with these fabulous one liners. Sometimes, quite bonkers (laughs). Because that’s her comedy. It was really nice, because the others had a different style of comedy. She was the wild card of the group. But we all have a friend like that. You never know what they’re going to say. I’m married to one, actually (laughs).
I actually spoke to P.J. (Hogan) all those years ago for Mental.
You did? Oh, wow. Well you know what I mean then (laughs). You never know what he’s going to say. Or write about.
When you look at the four of these characters individually, is there anyone you feel like you relate to the most?
(Laughs) Yes, absolutely. It would be Lou, Susan’s character. First of all, I love cats. Second, I seem to be the one in my group of friends who everyone thinks is hilarious in…I mean, I’m a bit of a dork. I related to Lou because (the others) are always laughing at her. They love her, but she tries to take herself very seriously, but everyone just thinks she’s being silly. I related to that.
There was one moment of Lou’s that I did find myself relating to. When she’s going off at the group after the parasailing incident, and she’s kind of scolding them for not taking things seriously. She states that she matters, her feelings matter.
I related to that moment too. There’s been times that I have taken myself a little too seriously. My entire family are comedians, so they just make me laugh all the time. They think I’m funny, but sometimes I don’t want to be thought of as funny. It’s like, “Stop it. Stop laughing. It isn’t funny!”
Across your career, you’ve worked with actors and actresses on their debut performance or very early in their career. You look at Toni Collette in Muriel’s Wedding, Jared Leto in How To Make An American Quilt, Russell Crowe in Proof…and in The Fabulous Four there’s a lovely young gentleman by the name of Kadan Well Bennett, who, as a gay man, I was very happy the moment he appeared on screen.
(Laughs) Oh good!
Is there anything you attribute that eye for good talent to?
I am a true fan of actors. I love great performances. I will watch movies again and again for a single moment. Like, Ordinary People, the way Mary Tyler Moore breaks down after Donald Sutherland tells her he doesn’t love her anymore. Or Peter Finch in Network, when he said “I’m mad as hell and I’m not going to take it anymore.” Or All About Eve and Bette Davis, you know? There are these moments in my mind from all my favourite movies, and that’s what is called “a performance.”
Acting just isn’t about being naturalistic. It’s about performing. The same way a dancer performs, or a musician, I’ve always been a fan of performances. And so a lot of my favourite actors, like Bette, Kate Winslet, Judy Davis, Sarah Snook…they perform beautifully. Their whole body is an instrument. And Kadan was one of those.
I mean, he does use his whole body as an instrument.
And what a great dancer! And he’s a funny guy. He would tell me that he couldn’t believe I was making him do what he was, but he just threw himself into it. Bette fell in love with Kadan. She just thought he was absolutely divine. And when she has to do all her TikTok dances, she made Kadan come to the set to help. He was like, “What? Bette Midler has requested me?” He couldn’t believe it. Those two are probably best buddies now.
As you mentioned performing and musicians, we obviously know Bette sings as well, but so does Sheryl Lee, Megan and Susan. That scene at the end of the film where we get a little musical number, was that always in the script? Or did that eventuate because of the actresses?
The original script, they just jumped into the water. And I thought, “I’ve already done that with (How To Make An American) Quilt“, so when I realised who I had cast, I wanted to find an opportunity. Originally, it was just going to be that one scene when they’re in the sky. But when I was having lunch with them, and they were all meeting in person, and I asked them if they knew the song “I Can See Clearly Now”? And, without a pause, Sheryl just burst into the song. The next line, Bette starts harmonising. I’m thinking, “Oh my God, I’m getting a private concert.” Except it wasn’t private because everyone in the restaurant turned around in amazement.
What a beautiful, impromptu moment. And that’s when I knew I had to get these women singing in the film. They asked “Why are we doing this?” And I said, “Because you’re you!” What kind of movie would it be if I didn’t have them all sing? I think Susan and Megan were a bit too shy to sing with (Bette and Sheryl Lee), so they added a few lines, but they let the others take the lead.
Because of your success as a director, do you feel that has helped in helming female-driven projects? How have you personally seen the dynamic shift regarding stories that centre around women in the industry?
People have always loved movies about groups of women. But (now) the women are getting older, which I think is fantastic. But the characters are getting older because our legends are getting older! Why should they stop making movies? Let’s make movies around them. I still want to see them. They’re like old friends. These actresses defy their age. It’s inspiring.
The Fabulous Four is screening in Australian theatres from August 1st, 2024.
