Peter Travers and Jason Schwartzman Talk Ego Trips and the Joys of Being an Asshole

From Max Fischer in Rushmoreto Jonathan Ames on Bored to Death, Jason Schwartzmanhas built a career out of playing sweet, driven, if not also highly neurotic characters cursed with a few annoying quirks. But his latest role finds him putting on a new mask: that of a totally unrepentant jerk. In Listen Up Philip,Schwartzman plays an insensitive, self-absorbed novelist, and Rolling Stone movie critic, Peter Travers, is on the hunt to find out if the character and actor arent so different as they share tea at New Yorks Shun Lee West restaurant.

Since we shot this movie, Ive been in a lot of altercations with people, Im not lying, Schwartzmansays. And I dont know if thats a coincidence, or if some meridian thing was opened and Im just letting it go.

Its not all about uncovering the actors dark side, however, as Travers and Schwartzman talk about everything from his fascination with fashion he citescostume-lovingWhodrummer Keith Moon as a sartorial inspiration to his love of rock documentaries and concert bootlegs.

But when push comes to shove, Travers wants to see the nasty, gritty side of Schwartzman, and he doesgetthe actor to own up to his most unlikeable trait: Hes not too good at getting back to people. But dont worry, even when he snaps just like we all do every now and then Schwartzman is still the same sweet boyyouve always loved.Im an asshole, Schwartzmansayswith a laugh. I yelled at someone recently, it was so embarrassing. Ive never done that, I almost fainted.