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“When I was asked to do it, I said, ‘Sure,’ as long as people were interested,” Cusack said, speaking by phone from Los Angeles. “It’s a good gig, Q&As are easy to do, the theaters are usually nice with good sound systems, and it’s cool to have people cheering at certain points in the film.”
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Cusack recalled that the film was reasonably well-liked upon its original 1989 release, but that it took time to reach the stature it now holds.
“At the time, I knew it had a chance of being something serious because of the people involved,” he said. “(Director) Cameron (Crowe), the cinematographer, John Mahoney, and the connection I had with Ione (Skye).”
Skye plays the object of Cusack’s affection, and Cusack said they’ve kept in touch over the years.
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On the tour so far, Cusack said the Q&A’s have gotten a little rowdy at times.
“I’ve had a number of married couples where the wife tells me I’m her ‘get out of jail free’ card,” he chuckled. “She’s propositioning me in front of her husband. What is that list called again?”
Other responses are a little more serious, even scholarly.
“There are a lot of film buffs who come out,” Cusack said. “People who ask intricate questions about the film, about the soundtrack, whether certain scenes were originally in the script or improvised.”
To get the Q&A rolling, someone will be interviewing Cusack on stage, but he doesn’t yet know who that will be in Cincinnati.
“The worst case is if it’s someone who has just read the first five lines of your Wikipedia page,” he said. “But if they’re good, it will be interesting, and funny.”
WANT TO GO?
What: John Cusack with Say Anything
Where: Taft Theatre, 317 E. 5th St., Cincinnati
When: Nov. 3, 7:30 p.m.
Cost: $52.75-$153
More Info: 513-232-6220 or www.tafttheatre.org
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