Billy Bob Thornton is the modern Jed Clampett. A hard-working good ol’ Arkansas boy, Thornton has been married five times (including a heavily publicized, bizarre stint with Angelina Jolie), is a country music singer/songwriter, prefers manual labor and talks fondly about his Ma (a former psychic). PLAY4 spoke with Thornton about Christmas traditions, drinking and his role as the inappropriate shopping mall Santa Willie T. Soke in the new pitch-black comedy “Bad Santa.”
PLAY: How drunk did you get while shooting “Bad Santa?”
Billy Bob Thornton: I wasn’t actually drunk. I sure looked like it, though. All I had to do was not get enough sleep the night before. Sometimes before a scene, I would go to sleep in the Santa chair and when they would call action I’d get up and act. On a movie drunk scale from one to ten, I’d say I was at least a nine.
PLAY: What about Disney’s decision to delay “The Alamo,” in which you play Davy Crockett?
BBT: It’s one of the best decisions Disney has made. We finished shooting in June and they wanted a Christmas release. I wouldn’t even put an independent film out that quickly. They’re not going to cram it in there for the awards season and instead will let [director John Lee Hancock] cut his movie.
PLAY: How was it working with John Ritter in his final film role?
BBT: It was a joy to work with him. I started working with him in the early nineties on “Hearts Afire,” and I put him in “Sling Blade.” We were close friends, almost like brothers.
PLAY: In “Bad Santa,” a blood-stained wooden pickle is the symbolic center of Christmas. What’s your symbolic Christmas gift?
BBT: My old writing partner Tom Epperson once gave me a rock. He wrapped it up and everything, and I think that just symbolized a friendship where it didn’t mean anything. Either that or he was yankin’ my chain.
PLAY:What are your Christmases like?
BBT: I’m sort of the opposite of the character in the movie. I’m very sentimental. This year I’m going to have a big Christmas with my Ma; she’s coming from Arkansas. It’s gonna be me and my kids and the guys from the band and Dwight Yoakam, who’s my best buddy.
PLAY: Do you relate at all to Willie?
BBT: When I was a kid, I wasn’t very popular. Willie grew up without much of a life. And I feel like I was a loser for most of my life. And another thing: we both like beer, cigarettes and women.
PLAY: It’s been reported that Disney is furious about “Bad Santa.” What’s your response to that?
BBT: I can’t imagine they said that. I know these people, they knew what this movie was about, it wasn’t a surprise. People like to say things. People like to stir up controversy. I don’t understand controversy about movies, we’re not in the dark ages, I just wish they’d all shut the fuck up.
