After supporting turns in films including Robin Hood and The Bourne Legacy, Oscar Isaac looks set for stardom with his performance as a troubled folk singer in Joel and Ethan Coen’s Inside Llewyn Davis.
You have a musical past, right?
I started playing guitar when I was 12. Later, I had soft rock bands, hard rock bands, punk bands – I’ve been all over the gamut. But never, as Llewyn would say, in a careerist kind of way. It was only about expression and recording.
Were you keen to work with the Coens?
They’re my favourite filmmakers. I had a poster of Miller’s Crossing in my room and I’ve seen Raising Arizona more than 20 times. Anyway, I was able to get a video to a casting director of me playing Hang Me, the opening song, and she liked it enough to send it to the Coens, and they brought me in.
The character of Llewyn was inspired by the late folky Dave Van Ronk. Did you try sounding like him, because you definitely didn’t try impersonating him?
There’s no way I could’ve, I’m not that talented. I knew that this was based on him when I went in, so I knew it was a long shot because Dave Van Ronk was a 6’ 4’’, 275-pound Swede, and I’m like a little guy with curly hair.
Did the Coens surprise you?
I expected them to be much more serious and closed off. I didn’t expect them to be as childlike as they are – just from a curiosity place – or as generous as they would be with information. Joel would sit and tell me stories about when he worked with Paul Newman and would talk about what he thinks directing is, which, for him, is just tone management.
You had to act with cats. Were they good collaborators?
Well, you’d think it would be the most natural thing in the world to tie a cat to you and then sprint down some steps and subways, but, apparently, they’re not that into that.
artslife@thenational.ae
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Rating: 3/5
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Rating: 5/5
How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
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Know before you go
- Jebel Akhdar is a two-hour drive from Muscat airport or a six-hour drive from Dubai. It’s impossible to visit by car unless you have a 4x4. Phone ahead to the hotel to arrange a transfer.
- If you’re driving, make sure your insurance covers Oman.
- By air: Budget airlines Air Arabia, Flydubai and SalamAir offer direct routes to Muscat from the UAE.
- Tourists from the Emirates (UAE nationals not included) must apply for an Omani visa online before arrival at evisa.rop.gov.om. The process typically takes several days.
- Flash floods are probable due to the terrain and a lack of drainage. Always check the weather before venturing into any canyons or other remote areas and identify a plan of escape that includes high ground, shelter and parking where your car won’t be overtaken by sudden downpours.
The biog
Name: Mariam Ketait
Emirate: Dubai
Hobbies: I enjoy travelling, experiencing new things, painting, reading, flying, and the French language
Favourite quote: "Be the change you wish to see" - unknown
Favourite activity: Connecting with different cultures
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The specs
Engine: 2.7-litre 4-cylinder Turbomax
Power: 310hp
Torque: 583Nm
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Price: From Dh192,500
On sale: Now