TchatcheBlog

Although My Blueberry Nights has been seen in other parts of the world and is now getting a wider release in North America on April 4, here's what Jude Law and Norah Jones had to say about love and working together on their press tour to promote the film.

Jude Law on Norah Jones as an actress:

"It was clear from the get-go that Norah didn't need any advice or tutoring. She's naturally very smart and very grounded and is a joy to be around. It was interesting for me because every day was a learning curve for me, too. The challenge was to be one's self and be true to the moment and to the director, and she was more than equipped to deal with that. I enjoyed the partnership and enjoyed the ride."

Norah Jones on watching her performance:

"Well, I loved the film and I really enjoyed watching it. I was kind of freaked out watching myself act for the first time in front of a bunch of people, so I'm excited to see it without a bunch of people around."

Jones and how she prepared for her first acting role:

"I snuck in a couple of acting lessons, but then Kar-Wai told me not to take any more. I guess he wanted me au-naturale [laughs]."

Law on what he brought to the theme of platonic love that wasn't in the script:

"Well, [laughs] it's interesting because it felt like a character very much, but I'm trying to remember how and when we started putting it together. It was a very interesting process that through our relationship he was being guided in what he wanted out of me. The more he got to know me, he would say, 'That's an interesting quality.' And I felt also that he was clearly observing what we had done one day and how he wanted to colour it another way, particularly the fight in the cafe - and it was a physical quality and wanted to color in that character."

"But at the same time, the process was never overly discussed. It was a very cajoling, natural, coaxing, easy approach. It was never hours of philosophizing and plotting and planning and analyzing, so it was quite hard to put my finger on. I watched it and I was surprised what a character we had created together. I would also say there was a lot of me in him, and that's quite rare. Either you choose, as an actor, to play a part that is reflective of you, or you play a part where you have to step into. This one felt like it came from me, but it was very much another person, if that makes any sense."

Jones on the intangible of what she brought to the theme of platonic love:

"For me, I had no idea going into it what was going to happen and I did feel like the character developed as we went along in many different ways, and it was partly from him [director Kar-Wai Wong] reacting to me and many different things. So, I noticed the same thing with the other characters. I got to see them develop because I got to work with everybody and I really felt like he did the same thing with all the characters. Once they got on set, they weren't quite sure what to expect either, of course, and the same thing -- he would see the way everybody would react with each other and they all kind of developed in a similar way, and I thought that was cool because who knew what was going to happen? It turned out to be awesome."

Jones on whether she thinks there's a connection between film and music:

"I guess creatively there are a lot of parallels, but technically it's so different. There's so many people working to make this one thing, and with music you can do it very simply, very cheaply and with a lot less people and very quickly. So, it's more that side of it that's very different, and it took a little getting used to. Once you get passed all the technicalities, creatively there were a lot of parallels."

Law on whether he's ever had to work in a confined space but still had to be so physical like his character:

"I've got three kids, so it wasn't that new. I've spent my life wiping up and cleaning up after them. But honestly that was my reference. In the film, don't know."

Jones on meeting Jude Law for the first time:

"For me, all my girlfriends were so excited that I got to work with Jude Law, and I was very excited, too, but I had no idea what to expect. I didn't really have any expectations, but I just hoped he would be nice and he exceeded all my expectations. He was so normal and nice to me, and really giving. My first day shooting with dialogue was with Jude, and I didn't really know him at all and he was so sweet to me, and if it hadn't have been him and wonderful, I don't know if I would have been able to continue. Seriously, because I was so freaked out that first day and throughout the whole shoot he was an angel to me. He was very nice."

Norah Jones on what she learned about love:

"I learned a lot about it. By his [Kar-Wai] take on love -- and we've already talked about platonic love, but I think it's a very different take on it and an interesting view of it. It made me think about it a lot. I can't tell you what I've learned specifically, I guess, but it definitely changed my views on things."

Jude Law on what he learned about love:

"I kept thinking about something I always say to my children, and that doesn't always apply to myself, and that is patience is a virtue [laughs]."