New on DVD

We chat with the siblings about their new film, 'War, Inc.'

By Sean Axmaker
Special to MSN Movies

What's so funny about war profiteering and foreign policy dictated by corporate interests? "War, Inc." replays the American invasion and occupation of Iraq and the selling of the war on terror as a sarcastic, surreal satire. The film has divided critics with its politics and darkly comic tone but has found an audience in its limited release in New York and Los Angeles. On June 13, it opens in Chicago, San Francisco, Seattle, Boston and Austin, Texas. "War, Inc." star/co-writer/co-producer John Cusack and his co-star/older sister, Joan Cusack, were on separate continents when I talked with them, but through the magic of the conference call, I heard a little of their sibling byplay as we discussed "War, Inc.," making movies and what they were watching on DVD.

MSN Movies: What's in your DVD player?

John Cusack: You mean movies? Right now, I'm making a movie ["Shanghai"], and I'm talking about one so much that I'm not really watching any right now. When I make one, I don't usually watch one.

Does watching films get in the way mentally?

John Cusack: I just do it all day, and I only have a couple of hours off each night, so I don't want to think about another movie, I guess.

What about you, Joan?

Joan Cusack: I believe we were watching "National Lampoon's Loaded Weapon."

How was it?

Joan Cusack: Kind of ... not that funny. Really not that funny. But I've got two boys and we're looking for funny movies.

You two have been in many films together. When one of you gets a role, do you call the other and say, "Hey, I just got on a movie and I think I can get you a part"?

John Cusack: No, if I'm producing the movie, I try to get her to do it, and then sometimes I'm just acting in the movie and then the other producers or the studio try to get her to do it. So someone's always trying to get her to do it. But when she's in a movie, I never get in that movie.

Joan Cusack: [laughs]

John Cusack: Like, what's the movie you're doing now, Joan? You didn't ask me to be in that. So it's a one-way street: Everyone wants Joannie, and that's how it works.

Joan Cusack: It's because I can sit around and talk about making a million different movies that I'd like to put John in, but the difference is that John actually makes movies and then I get to be in them. I get parts in things and I don't have any say, and John has say and then I get to go support him.

Is it out of sibling affection, or does he have something on you?

John Cusack: I got stuff on her. I got a lot of stuff on her.

Joan Cusack: [laughs] Yes, it's definitely blackmail.

You must like working with John because you keep on doing it.

Joan Cusack: This is the culture we were steeped in: Monty Python and the Catholic worker. This is a part of who he is, talking about these things and caring about these things. He read this article by Naomi Klein ["Baghdad Year Zero"] and talked about it, so when he was going to do the movie, I was happy to support it, for all the reasons.

John Cusack: It's also fun to do that stuff.

Joan Cusack: It's fun because making movies can be so hard and so painful so many times. Even though it's a luxury to be able to do it, sometimes it can be insipid, if I can use that word. And not that things that can't be entertaining, but when you do get a chance to do something that you believe in and that's meaningful to you, it's incredibly exciting.

John Cusack: One of the things that some people don't like is that it's so strange, but a lot of people love that about the movie, because it shifts from surreality to a soap opera to black comedy to regular sincerity and it doesn't make any excuses about that or explain it. I think some of the actors like being in something that isn't just another romantic comedy or isn't just another cop film.

Joan Cusack: And I'm all for romantic comedies.

John Cusack: Yeah, sure, but what I'm saying is it's nice to be able to do something different.

Joan Cusack: It is, and it's great to be able to go watch something different and go have dinner afterwards and talk about it, especially in this year when it's exciting and there's an election going on and you can go see a movie that's funny and fast paced and will take you on a journey you didn't expect. It's crazy and fun, and then you can have fun talking about it.

John Cusack: It's true. I couldn't have said it better.

"War, Inc." aside, do you have a favorite role or a role you're most proud of in your career?

John Cusack: Not really. I can't think of anything.

Joan Cusack: I can tell you some performances I really like, but they're not mine.

John Cusack: [laughs]

Joan Cusack: I'm a big fan of "What's Up, Doc?" and I'm also a very big fan of "A New Leaf," in particular Walter Matthau's performance. And I'm a big fan of John's ability to get a movie like this made and his entire performance in creating the film itself. You have to perform and make people give you money to make a movie like this. It's an incredible performance, and I'd have to say that ongoing, three-year performance he's given to make this movie tops the list.

Fan of the Cusack siblings? Write us at heymsn@microsoft.com.

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Sean Axmaker is a film critic for the Seattle Post-Intelligencer and a DVD columnist for MSN Entertainment. He is also a contributing writer for GreenCine.com, Turner Classic Movies Online and Asian Cult Cinema, among other publications.