One does not innterview Richard Lewis. One simply listens and hopes to keep up.
Without even a single question being asked, the self-styled "high priest of comic angst" is off on a stream-of-consciousness monologue lasting nearly a half-hour. But, to his credit, he covers all the bases . . . and throws in plenty of gags along the way.Lewis is attending the Sundance Film Festival for the premiere of "Drunks," in which he has his first dramatic starring role, playing a former alcoholic who falls off the wagon.
As it happens, Lewis also has a role in "Leaving Las Vegas," as an agent who reluctantly cuts off a hopelessly drunken friend, played by Nicolas Cage. And while he greatly admires that film, Lewis is glad his "Drunks" character goes in another direction.
In "Leaving Las Vegas," Cage plays a despairing man who deliberately plots to drink himself to death. But Lewis says "Drunks" explores the recovery group Alcoholics Anonymous, and his character wants to live.
"To live the life of this guy is a tragedy, but fortunately it's life-affirming," Lewis said.
"There have been a few movies made about alcoholics now, and the thing is they're all very different. There's never been a movie that's shown an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting like this. It's in-your-face."
"Drunks" is part of the American Spectrum sidebar and has one more screening, Wednesday at 9:30 p.m., in the Olympia Park Theater.
Lewis says this film is the capper for what he calls one of the greatest years of his life. "I did a movie with Jack Lemmon called `A Weekend in the Country,' and I did most of my work with Jack.
"And I finished writing a pilot with Stan Daniels, who did `The Mary Tyler Moore Show' and `Taxi.' We wrote it together and hopefully it will be on HBO.
"And, after three years of hiatus off the road, I went back on the road (as a standup comic), doing `Magical Misery Tour.'
"And the most important thing that happened to me is, Peter Cohn gave me an audition. And, not thinking I had a chance of getting this role, I really didn't pigeonhole him. I mean, sure, I've done comedy for 25 years. I am a comedian."
Cohn is the director-producer of "Drunks," and the film is filled with ensemble work by the likes of Dianne Wiest, Faye Dunaway, Spalding Gray and Amanda Plummber, playing members of Alcoholics Anonymous and all getting a chance to perform scenery-chewing monologues.
"I had done a few dramatic turns on television, but you're not going to get this movie after you play Prince John in `Robin Hood: Men in Tights,' " Lewis said. "But my manager was tenacious in making sure they would not forget me. I filmed an audition and, apparently, Peter said it changed his whole vision of the film.
"I was able to change the protagonist from sort of a young Irish heroin addict to a young Jewish-Italian alcoholic, with less emphasis on the heroin. Because I had never shot heroin, but I had been to bar mitzvahs. I was not about to shoot heroin for research. I made the guy much more of an alcoholic.
"What would I tell my mother? `Gee, Ma, I got a great role. I play a heroin addict.' I can hear the rocking chair falling over.
"I'm just really hoping it gets out there and plays in the theaters. It's about addicts, and it's a story millions of people have. Most of them are in the closet, and in this particular one, the guy I play chooses life. And it's great, and I'm happy that he does.
"You know, `Leaving Las Vegas' is so amazing, it's such a heroic premise.
"But I'm glad that this guy has a little more hope and faith in life, because otherwise I never would be able to speak to my mother again."