John Michael McDonagh: Master of Dark Comedy in New Mexico
In a swift two-film burst featuring The Guard and Calvary, John Michael McDonagh has established himself as the purveyor of a comedy that thrives in shadows, where laughter ventures into the abyss of revulsion and hilarity.
With his latest offering, War on Everyone, McDonagh shifts his canvas from the lush greens of rural Ireland to the sun-baked reds of New Mexico. This “jet black comedy” is set to world premiere in Berlin’s Panorama section, featuring talent like Michael Peña and Alexander Skarsgård as corrupt cops who could give Satan a run for his money in the extortion department.
The Southwest and the Search for Sunlight
The American Southwest seems a sizable departure from Ireland. Was this an active decision?
Ah, but is it really? McDonagh smirks at the thought, likening his previous films to Westerns. “Why not set this one in the actual West?” he quips, clearly basking in the glory of sunshine instead of the incessant drizzle his homeland serves up. “New Mexico’s vibrant colors and welcoming folks are great, plus who doesn’t like burritos?”
Is New Mexico Like Rural Ireland?
“Visually interesting,” is how McDonagh describes New Mexico, likening its beauty to a painter’s palette splashed in blue and red. Much like his quirky characters, he argues, the comedy transcends geographic boundaries. “Characters living outside the realm of authority? Always funny—” because who doesn’t love a cop on the take, right?
The Allure of Police Corruption
While The Guard‘s Gerry Boyle was just bored, McDonagh’s latest duo, portrayed by Peña and Skarsgård, revels in their corruption. “Characters in authority who just don’t care? Comedy gold!” We get it, the thought of a donut-loving, law-breaking cop gives the giggles like hardly anything else.
Berlin: The Crimson Curtain Call
Upon revisiting Berlin, McDonagh reveals his fondness for “the big red curtains at the Zoo Palast cinema,” where his films were welcomed like long-lost friends. “German audiences appreciate my brand of humor—who wouldn’t want to bask in that confidence?” Perfectly placed, they missed an opportunity to honor Calvary‘s Brendan Gleeson as best actor. “Talk about a missed shot!”
Alcohol and Casting: A Happy Hour Tradition
“Was alcohol at the genesis of War on Everyone?” McDonagh laughs, sipping a cold one on the rocks of irony. Instead, he admits to a “beer-based casting process.” “I specifically sought actors who enjoy a good pub crawl,” he reveals. “I even cast Alexander after watching a YouTube clip of him getting rowdy at a football match.” Talk about taking ‘doing your homework’ to a whole new level!
Budgetary Constraints and the Pull of Hollywood
As for the big-budget film universe? “I’m inundated with scripts,” he laments, “but alas, they’re just not up to par.” His response to television offers? “Too little pay for too much work.” Clearly, the prospect of sipping sun and beer with a “hot blonde” is more alluring than crowding around a writer’s room table with empty coffee cups and dry donuts. Who could blame him?
