Director Jonathan Levine talked to All Things Considered host Audie Cornish about his new movie, the zombie romantic comedy called Warm Bodies. Zombies are often used as a metaphor for mindless consumption, but Levine sees them as a metaphor for adolescence, where you're trapped in your own body, totally incoherent and inarticulate when faced with a beautiful girl you want to impress. Warm Bodies is not unlike a John Hughes movie, really.
During the interview, Levine also addressed the inevitable comparisons to the Twilight movies. He says at first he resented the comparisons, and didn't want to be seen as making a cynical attempt to capitalize on the girls-who-love-monsters trend. Levine came to respect Twilight fans, a group that is totally devoted to and loving of the characters, and he feels bad that people look down on them. He's Team Edward, by the way.
Talking to Audie Cornish isn't the only time Jonathan Levine has been to NPR West. He also talked to Weekend All Things Considered for the series "Movies I've Seen a Million Times." His pick is Hal Ashby's Coming Home, a movie he describes as "a love story that's not really that cheesy."
When I asked Levine if he'd mind posing for us, he smiled and said, "Oooh, sure. I got away with not doing it last time, but I guess I should." Which furthers my theory, based on a sample size of just a handful, that directors are a shy bunch, and are much more comfortable behind the camera. So thanks for stepping out of your comfort zone, Mr. Levine, and showing us that you heart NPR.
Copyright 2021 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.