SALT LAKE CITY, Utah (ABC4) — Tomatometer-approved film critic Patrick Beatty sat down with actor Josh Duhamel, star of the upcoming drama “London Calling,” alongside director Allan Ungar, to talk about the creative choices, challenges, and inspirations behind the film. From building authentic emotional stakes to capturing the right pace for fighting, the conversation dug deep into what makes this story resonate beyond the screen.

Patrick: When it comes to these types of films. To me, I think the make-or-break is whether someone is able to follow the action as they’re going. What was it that was most important to you going into this film that made you want to make sure that the audience is following along properly?

Allan Ungar: I think, honestly, it starts with character, and I think that started with Josh. You know, Josh and I had been talking about this film, I got him the script, and, you know, we decided we were going to go make it. When you look at this sort of genre, especially action, if you are invested in the character and there’s something that is an anchor point that’s grounding it, there’s heart, I think everything else becomes that much easier to follow, and it’s more forgiving for audiences. If there are certain flukes or goofs that sort of don’t always add up. And so for me, it kind of will always start with the character, and in this case, the relationship and the chemistry between Josh and Jeremy.

Josh Duhamel: He does like those gunshots, though. Those explosions and gunshots, sometimes I was like “What the? The scene in the room when I fall out the window, or that was there, and like, okay, dude, there’s that’s just too many gunshots. It’s too many. Somebody’s going to get shot here.” But you know, you’re right. He does really map out what the action should look and feel like. So it is easier to follow because I’m with you.

Patrick: Josh, what was a note that Allen gave you for a scene that surprised you in the process, and vice versa? What was something that Josh had done with the character that maybe you weren’t expecting?

Josh Duhamel: You know, you always read something a certain way, and then you see what the director has in mind when we get there. You’ve got to wrap your head around what the director sees. How is this going to make sense? You just have to trust the director that it will all make sense, and sure enough, when I saw the movie, it did make sense.

Allan Ungar: It’s a great question because we established a lot of trust in “Bandit” having worked together before. And so there was room for interpretation and bringing different ideas. So specifically, I mean, there were a lot of different things that we talked about. Early on, Josh wanted to wear a bald cap and an earring, and that was not something I had on my bingo card. And at first, I was a little resistant to it. I felt I was like, okay, look, “Bandit” was all about disguises. This is a different movie. Is this just you wanting to get back into prosthetics again? But it ended up being a great idea, and it worked.

We ended up fighting about the earring, though. I said, “Okay, I’ll tell you what. Maybe not gold. Maybe silver.” That’s where we ended up, like going back and forth and compromising. But again, we were trying to create contrast between London and LA, and what his life looked like to what it is now, and it was just a really great detail. That’s what Josh does. He brings these amazing little details to round out that you, as a director, are not expecting.

Patrick: Well, now I need to know what it was that initially was the reason that you went to the prosthetics. Did you legitimately want to be in a bald cap again?

Josh Duhamel: I think that it was “Visualize the difference in his life and where he thought he was”, you know? Not realizing that he’s probably past his prime and at this point, he felt like he still was. But you shoot the wrong guy at a party, and people have been telling your site’s not what it used to be for years.

Suddenly, like, “Oh, maybe my sight isn’t what it used to be.” Then cut to a year later, he’s not that clean-cut “Jason Statham” bada** that he was. Now he’s a bit of a down-and-out character who’s just trying to scratch out some kind of a life in Los Angeles when he’s really missing his family back in London.

Patrick: Earlier, we were talking about movies that just feel good, right? These 80’s action films and this kind of throwback to that. So I just want to know from both of you, what’s your favorite action movie?

Josh Duhamel: I think of the car chase from “Bullet”, “Die Hard”.

Allan Ungar: You know, there are a lot of action movies that I could I could refer to as my favorite action movies. “The Rock”, funny enough, I live and die by “The Rock”. It’s not a buddy cop movie. I think Midnight Run would be my favorite, which sort of has a little influence here.

“London Calling” is in theaters this weekend and on VOD. Check out more celebrity interviews by watching See It or Skip It Fridays on News4Utah+

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