by EMILY MELTON
Lifestyles Editor

The Appalachian participated in a college conference call with Director Richard Kelley, Actress Cameron Diaz and Actor James Marsden of “X-men” and “27 Dresses” Wednesday.

The call regarded the Nov. 6 release of “The Box,” the story of Norma and Arthur Lewis, a 1970s couple that stumbles upon financial trouble and receives a box from Arlington Steward – a man with an ultimatum.

After appearing on the couple’s doorstep, Steward, who lost part of his left cheek after being struck by lightning, offers $1 million in exchange for the push of a button.

If pressed, however, someone in the world, whom the couple has never met, will die.

So, the question remains: would you push the button? Would others push it?

Dillon Laird: …this movie poses a big moral question about our human nature. In your opinions, do you think that the majority of people would push this button given the opportunity?  

James Marsden: I think that – probably. 

Cameron Diaz: In today’s society, I think we’re already proving that we’re pushing the button more than ever by, you know, taking out credit cards and mortgages and the stock market...

JM: Dumping stuff into the ocean. 

CD: Dumping stuff into the ocean. Doing all of these things that we think that we aren’t going to have to be responsible for and take responsibility for. But, ultimately, it does have an effect, you know, and we do have to, you know, suffer the consequences of that. Our economy is doing so, right now, based on all the buttons that were pushed over the last few years and, you know, so I think it’s very relevant. I think it’s obvious that people do sort of put forth the idea of having monetary, you know, a – having monetary wealth over any other wealth, especially in our culture and society.

Katie Grubner: So, what would you say was the – one of the funniest things that happened on set? 

JM: The funniest things? I remember laying in bed having a heart-to-heart scene with Cameron, then getting up and vomiting in the bathroom and then washing my mouth with soap, then coming back and asking if it was OK if we finish the scene and Cameron being really gracious and sweet and saying “it’s totally fine.” It wasn’t really funny – it’s kind of funny now more than it was then. And they were able to fix my green face in post. 

CD: I forgot about that.  

JM: I remember that. 

CD: I remember it now.  

(Mae Wildman): How is this 1970s-set film relevant to our society today? 

Richard Kelly: Well, I think it’s a film – kind of puts in the crosshairs the idea of the nuclear family. In our film, it’s, you know, a married couple, under the age of 40 with a single child, and they have a lifestyle that they really can’t afford and they’re sort of living on credit and they have a mortgage that’s beyond their means and they’re, you know, driving a car – or, Arthur is driving a car that’s a little bit too expensive and they have a son in private school with a tuition that’s a little too much for them to handle. And so…looking at our economic crisis right now, the film, I hope, feels like it resonates with the audience of today, despite the fact that it’s set in 1976, because these are – you know, these are things that we can identify with and that we can see and realize that we all are trying to live a better life and to achieve a better life, but it’s ultimately, you know, a lot of times it’s all about the things that we strive to possess and this lifestyle that we want to achieve. So, hopefully, that’s something that resonates with modern audiences, I hope. 

(Alexander Sessa): …how much of your own personality would you say that you put into this character? Like, how much of you goes into who you’re playing? 

CD: Well, all I have is me. You know. And I think – and James would agree – that you really have to use – you try to understand what other people are going through even if you haven’t gone through it yourself. You just try to get to feeling what you think it would feel like to be in that position. But you never really know. So, as much as you want to feel that you’re being somebody else, there’s always – you’re only working from your own, you know, toolbox and experience. So, I would like to think that it’s nothing of me in there, but really, I can only contribute with what I have, so. 

JM: …for me, you know, you wouldn’t be responding to the material and to the story and to the character if there wasn’t a part of you in that…so, there’s always going to be a piece of you, you know, that is going to be inherent in your performance, or, my performance, anyway. 

(Alan Jones): This is a question for Richard. The story in the movie is obviously a little bit more complex than the – the original short story. So, I’m just wondering, how did you go about elaborating on the original premise and what kind of inspiration you had?

RK: Well, the – the short story was almost like a – a great set-up for act one of a movie. And there was one line in the short story that just, you know, sent my – my mind racing, and it was when they asked who Mr. Steward worked for, and he said, “I can assure you that the organization is large and international in scope.” And that, to me, was just so fascinating, because I had all these questions. I wanted to know: who does Mr. Steward work for? Why did they build the button unit? What are their intentions? Why are they, kind of, approaching these married couples? You know, what’s the – what’s the point of it all? What’s the agenda at work? And I thought that was just such – those were such amazing questions and I – and to be able to kind of explore all those answers in act two and act three and make – and make it a story of redemption was really exciting. And so, we were able to really spend a lot of time to just get it right and figure out what act two and act three were – were going to be.

RATING:
2.5 out of 5 stars – Though the style of the film is reminiscent of an old Alfred Hitchcock thriller, the story is confusing, the plotline develops slowly and the acting seems a tad unnatural. And somehow, after each couple is presented with the same scenario, the woman, every time, succumbs to the pressure of pushing the button. The film does, however, pose the opportunity for deep psychological questioning, allowing the viewer to reflect on what he or she would do if placed in the same situation.

“The Box” is playing at Regal Boone Cinema 7 at 12:20 p.m., 4 p.m., 7:10 p.m. and 9:50 p.m. today. It is rated PG-13.

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