Malkovich, who has been nominated for Oscars twice before (for Places in the Heart and In the Line of Fire) but never as best actor, told the festival audience he 'couldn't believe' he received the script, describing it as perfect. The film also stars Sam Rockwell as Lee Chesterfield, Chris's protégé and friend, with Steve Buscemi, Parker Posey, and Tom Waits in supporting roles.
In an interview, Malkovich said his only reservation about filming on the remote island was being away from his two granddaughters for two or three months. He and his partner of 30 years, Nicoletta Peyran, maintain a home in Massachusetts where he spends most of his time walking the neighbourhood and playing with the girls. 'For me, it's nothing,' he told GQ. 'To be an actor, part of you has to remain as a child.'
Malkovich said the remoteness of Rapa Nui suited the film's themes of existential loneliness, which he believes resonates in an age of social media. 'It's a well-known fact that anti-social media leads to mental illness, incredible feelings of loneliness, inadequacy,' he said. The film, set in 1973, depicts characters unable to distract themselves with phones or computers.
Reflecting on his journey from a small coal town in Illinois to international stardom via Chicago's Steppenwolf Theatre Company, Malkovich described his life as 'an accident'. He credited his mother for raising him to be curious about the world rather than frightened by it.
The film received a rapturous reception at Venice, and Malkovich's performance is widely seen as a strong contender for the Academy Awards.