5lbs of Pressure stars Luke Evans as a recently paroled murderer attempting to reconnect with his lost son. His return home to Brooklyn sparks a spiraling series of deadly events as local criminals seek retribution. Alex Pettyfer co-stars as Leff, a dangerous crime lord with a short leash on his lackey nephew, Mike (Rory Culkin), an inept rock star wannabe. The film focuses on families in crisis as differing agendas lead to a violent outcome.
Pettyfer spoke warmly of Culkin, "Rory is a genius actor. Some of the work that we did was life-changing for me. That comes down to a partner in your scene that kind of pushes you. I would do anything for him." He also compliments director Phil Allocco's script as "immaculate" with "key messages of redemption and acceptance." Pettyfer calls the film's characters "a**holes" on a "surface level," but once you "unravel these layers [you] start to have compassion towards them."
Pettyfer discussed his process of maintaining levity, "It's important for me as an actor to have a fluidity and lightheartedness to keep morale on set." He humorously recounts "getting told off for being a joker" for pranking the cast and crew of Sunrise, his previous film, with a water pistol. Pettyfer also shared his excitement about starring with Henry Cavill in Guy Ritchie's upcoming The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare. He couldn't give specific plot details but promised "a wild, wild, wild ride." He teases, "If I was not in the film, I would be the first person in the theater buying the ticket." Read on for our complete interview with Alex Pettyfer.
Unraveling the Layers of 5lbs of Pressure
MovieWeb: 5lbs of Pressure is a densely plotted film. I was quite surprised by where it went. What was your reaction to reading Phil Allocco's script, and seeing what was going to happen to the characters?
Alex Pettyfer: First of all, I find that Phil's writing is immaculate — his juxtaposition, his dialogue, and how the narrative, as you said, surprises you. His thoughtfulness behind these key messages of redemption and acceptance, I found them prolific in the way that he integrates them into the story. I was immediately drawn in to wanting to be a part of the film.
MW: The film has a theme of families in crisis. Leff, your character, and Rory Culkin's Mike, are the only family they have. They have this abrasive, twisted relationship. Talk about working with Rory in these gritty scenes.
Alex Pettyfer: I think that Rory is a genius actor. To be able to be in scenes with him, I'm genuinely saying this, they've been some of the privileges of my career. And I've worked with some people that I admire and love. But in 5lbs, some of the work that we did was life-changing for me. That comes down to a partner in your scene that kind of pushes you. I'm very grateful to Rory for that. I would do anything for him.
Then, as far as the scenes themselves, they are hard. You're seeing people that are put into positions. They're making decisions that I might not necessarily agree with, but we start to understand the layers and dynamics of these characters. Why do they do what they do?
Alex Pettyfer: I think that is the genius of Phil's, not only writing, but also directing as well. Where you are unraveling these layers of these characters and going, 'Wow, okay, on the surface level they are, I will not say the word, but a**holes.' But when you start to unravel these layers, you start to have compassion towards them. You start to understand why they're doing the things that they're doing. That's a really powerful tool that is created by film, and also very fun as an actor. You have this freedom in certain scenes to be wild and have no boundaries. Then you have the scenes where you have to rein it in. You have to kind of go to those places that are very hard. You understand more about the characters and the decisions that they make.
MW: Let's grind down on that a little bit. The scene where Mike comes to you, his uncle, and says that he wants to quit. Your reaction is pretty interesting. Talk about that specific dramatic moment. You're basically saying he's a dog, but a dog that I want to keep.
Alex Pettyfer: This is the first time I've ever done something like this. You have a man, Leff, who has lost his sister, Rory's character's mum. He's looking after his nephew. Here is a human being who's obviously grieving in a certain way. Is he hard on his nephew because of a certain surface level dynamic? Or is he being the way he is because he truly loves this young boy, who is the representation of a woman he misses dearly. Ultimately, it's a lack of control. When Rory's character says, "I don't want to be here anymore," that feeling of abandonment is relatable to all of us.
Alex Pettyfer: When we lose something that we love the most, what do we initially want to do? We cling on to something else. That is something that we shouldn't do. We should accept solidarity. We should accept loss. We should accept that things never stay the same. Here is a man holding on to a bar of soap that is slipping through his hands. He has a grip on everything else around him. Also, he believes the one thing that he truly loves, which he's the hardest on, he can't hold on to.
Alex Pettyfer Is a Practical Joker
MW: Your scenes with Rory are the violent, gangster side of things. But the majority of the film has Luke Evans rediscovering his lost family. You don't share any scenes with him. Did you have any interaction on set? What were your thoughts when finally seeing his performance?
Alex Pettyfer: Luke is a dear friend of mine. I have said this in all the other interviews. I'll repeat myself. I am so excited for people to see his performance. I think that he is a full-rounded actor. He can sing, dance, I saw him on stage recently. He blew me away. But in this film, you have this complexity where he draws you into this relatability, this very strange concept of the actions that he's done in the past are so wrong, but you are feeling for him as a human being, going on this journey, wanting him to succeed, and understanding what his redemption is. And wanting him to find acceptance with himself and with the characters that he interacts with. He's a force, and is the heart of the film. It's his film.
MW: Let's talk specifically about your process. I interviewed director Andrew Baird for Sunrise. You and Guy Pearce were incredible in that film. Andrew discussed your intensity and gravitas as an actor...
Alex Pettyfer: Really? The Irishman, I'm not sure if I believe everything he says (laughs). Not at all. You can't be intense on set. Guy Pearce is also the nicest man on planet Earth. Me and him were joking around. I think maybe Andrew means more in reference to the intensity of the location. When you are in an independent film, it's like the Wild Wild West. You have no time, no money, and you're doing four scenes a day. You're under pressure continuously to beat the clock, because the clock is money. When you're on a big film or studio film, you're doing one or two scenes. Sometimes you can do that one scene for weeks on end. It's important for me as an actor to have a fluidity and lightheartedness to keep a morale on set.
Alex Pettyfer: When I directed Back Roads, my perception on filmmaking really changed. It became a collaborative experience. I wasn't doing a singular narrative of, 'This is my character. This is what I do. This is where I see it going.' It was like, 'Wow, I really care about A to Z.' I really care about what the costume designer has to say, the grip, the DP, the sound, it takes a lot of people to come together to make a good film. Andrew comes from the old school — 'We must be in the trenches. We must have this intensity. This is the work. This is art.' But behind closed doors, it's a very fun set, and he is a very fun director to work with. I would do any movie with Andrew. I'd do any movie with Guy. Guy's one of my dear friends. I love him to bits.
Alex Pettyfer: I'm the one who's pranking people on set to be honest. I'm getting told off for being a joker. I have to give you an anecdote. On Sunrise, I bought a water pistol. It was so cold in Ireland. I would sit in the car close to set. People are walking past. I had a crack in the window. I was squirting little bits of water out. I don't know how I got such good aim. They would land on each member of the crew. I got our DP convinced a bird had pooped on him. I was in tears of laughter. I have videos of me shooting people with water pistols (laughs).
MW: You're in the new Guy Ritchie film, The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare. We'd love to hear anything you can tell us about it.
Alex Pettyfer: The film has an unbelievable cast. Dear friends of mine, Eiza González, Henry Cavill. Henry Golding, Alan Ritchson, Hero Fiennes Tiffin, and it is an absolute wild ride. I can't give you anymore, but it is a wild, wild, wild ride. My favorite films of Guy's, and in general, are Sherlock Holmes, The Man from U.N.C.L.E. This is like meshing these films together with a little pinch of Inglourious Basterds and just a little pinch of Snatch. It's a very good film. If I was not in the film, I would be the first person in the theater buying the ticket. I'm very excited for people to see the film.
5lbs of Pressure is currently available in theaters, digital, and on demand from Lionsgate. Find a theater near you here, and check out the trailer below: