MONEY TALK

Shawn Levy (director of the Night At The Museum trilogy and Real Steel): I was a film student when Jerry Maguire came out in 1996. It knocked me out. It had this almost magical blend of humanity, humour and heart that was uniquely alchemical and moving. It’s a cliché to say a great movie will make you laugh and cry, but Jerry Maguire actually did it. And still does it, every time, probably 50-plus viewings later. If you look at it through the lens of 2019, there’s no IP, no branded title, no pre-awareness, no huge idea, really, beyond, “Sports agent has a crisis of the soul and writes a mission statement.” It’s so low-concept, but it’s high art. And that’s the kind of movie we don’t see anymore.

I’ve revisited it sometimes to get inspiration. In fact, for Free Guy, the movie I’m prepping now with Ryan Reynolds, we’re looking at the way that Janusz Kaminski lit close-ups in Jerry Maguire. The eyes are luminous: you see a humanity that comes through.

I suppose it’s an odd choice as one of my favourite films, because unlike Cameron Crowe, I’m not a writer-director. I’m a producer-director. But it remains one of my touchstones because it is the kind of filmmaking I aspire to. I’m happy with what I’ve achieved so far, but I very much hope to keep injecting my movies — whether they’re action or genre or comedy — with the blend of poignance and humour that I think Cameron has a nose and an eye and an ear for, as few do.

It has also served as a litmus test for future friends. If you’re not a crazy fan of, we probably can’t hang out. If you love it like I do, we’re going to be really good pals.