Tyler Perry, along with Academy Award-nominated actress Taraji P. Henson premiered their latest collaboration a film written directed and produced by Tyler called Acrimony on Tuesday (March 27th) at New York City’s SVA Theatre.
In the film, Henson plays Melinda who becomes acrimonious towards her husband (played by Lyriq Bent) after she suspects him of cheating. The Knockturnal was in attendance and caught up with Tyler and the cast on the red carpet.
The Knockturnal first caught up with actress Racquel Bianca John at the premiere, and she enlightened us to what she discovered about herself as an actress from playing the younger version of the character June in the film, “Because we filmed it in 8 days I learned that I can literally do ANYTHING and that I’ve trained enough and should trust myself enough to not be afraid of something [done over] a short period of time to commit to and fulfill it very well. So in 8 days, I learned I can do anything.”
Antonio Madison who plays the younger version of Bent’s character in the film talked about what he took away from Perry’s direction: “To be myself, stop trying, don’t think about it, just be you, be vulnerable, be honest, be open. You don’t hear that on set, you hear be characters be in the moment, you know bring intensity, but in such an intense film he was very nurturing to that vulnerability. Once again I’m in the beginning of the movie and it’s all about love, all about trust, it’s all about selling that promise establishing and setting up towards the 18-year relationship. So the question is does his promises come through, does he keep good on those promises or does he do things that make her go hey what’s going on? So it was incredible working with a director that catered towards that vulnerability.”
Madison’s co-star Nelson Estevez who plays Casey, one of Taraji’s character’s brother in laws in the film spoke about what he learned from the Academy Award-nominated actress and mega-producer and director through nonverbal cues, “I received two different messages or sounds of advice from them just by watching them work. Through Tyler just believe in yourself, do it don’t be afraid, don’t makeup excuses, just do it because you can learn from your experiences, you can learn from your mistakes but you can always move up. Then with Taraji, it was just to let go as an actor, as an artist. Just watching her become Melinda and letting go at times. She said it herself in one of the scenes she just threw glass on the floor because she felt like that’s what her character would do, and then when Tyler yelled cut he was like don’t break my sh-t, what are you doing. But she just became the character. So just to see her let go and not have any insecurities about being committed in what she needed to do was very inspiring.”
Kendrick Cross who portrays another one of Taraji’s character’s brother in laws in the film said about Kalvin,”I play husband to Brenda, she’s the type who can’t hold her tongue in this whole relationship. She’s a sister of Taraji’s [in the movie] and I’m more of the laid back like ‘honey no you shouldn’t say that’. In reality, I’m like that for real I’m the cool, calm, I don’t like confrontation chill out type person. So yea it’s closely related to me.”
Perry is known for writing some catchphrases and quotes that leave a lasting impression with his movie and television viewers, when we asked what his favorite line in the movie was and he replied: “Ah I think it’s the one where she says.. the therapist asks do you have an anger problem and her reply is my favorite line in the whole movie,” while the film’s male lead Lyriq Bent had a tough time recalling due to the fast filming schedule, “Because we shot this film in 5 days and there was no time to really think about what it is I was doing. I was just doing. So to try and think about it on the spot is I don’t remember. Why don’t you tell me what the quote is when you watch the film and we’ll make that viral,” Bent stated.
Tyler Perry’s Acrimony will be in theaters nationwide on Friday, March 30th, 2018.
