As someone who had the unique experience of working alongside my dear friend Jake Gyllenhaal on the set of “Presumed Innocent,” I can confidently say that our off-screen relationship greatly enhanced our on-screen dynamic. Living in the same house during filming, albeit on different ends, initially seemed like an inconvenience, but as the part grew more substantial and complex, I found myself longing for the familiarity and comfort of my old friend’s presence.
Caution: The following discussion reveals key details from the Season 1 finale of “Presumed Innocent,” which is currently available to stream on Apple TV+.
The day Apple TV+ released the final episode of “Presumed Innocent,” a gripping courtroom drama, actor Peter Sarsgaard, portraying the lead prosecutor, goes missing.
In the heart of seclusion, where reception is erratic, he finds himself alone with his chatty feline companion. This solitary existence suits him well, given the current state of his character, Assistant District Attorney Tommy Molto, in the show.
Throughout the entire season, Tommy has aggressively pursued the prosecution of his ex-colleague Rusty Sabich (Jake Gyllenhaal), who is on trial for the murder of his mistress, Carolyn Polhemus (Renate Reinsve). Both Tommy and Rusty had previously worked together as prosecutors. In the second last episode, it appeared that Tommy was bringing Rusty closer to conviction after fiercely attacking his nice-guy image on the witness stand. However, upon returning home to celebrate his courtroom victory, Tommy is shocked to find his cat and a menacing note, along with the missing murder weapon – a fire poker.
In the final stages of the trial, Tommy relinquishes the poker as evidence to the judges, but it gets rejected. The only option left for him now is to present a compelling closing statement to the jury. He argues that Rusty’s claim of insufficient proof from the prosecution is unfounded. Instead, Tommy emphasizes Rusty’s fixation on Carolyn and history of violent behavior as strong indicators of his guilt. However, despite Tommy’s persuasive speech, the jury votes to acquit Rusty, allowing him to leave the courtroom a free man, though tarnished by the scandal.
In the quiet solitude of our garage late at night, I finally revealed to my wife Barbara (Ruth Negga) the shocking truth about Carolyn’s death. With Carolyn being the only plausible suspect for her murder, I took matters into my own hands and staged the scene to make it seem like she was the one who had met her end at the hands of a convicted killer. The reason behind my actions? To shield Barbara from any suspicion or harm.
Towards the close of the episode, the family partakes in a typical Thanksgiving dinner, despite Barbara appearing subdued due to her husband and daughter’s wrongdoings. As for Tommy, following his boss Nico Della Guardia’s (O-T Fagbenle) instruction for him to move on, he is later seen peacefully watching a Chicago Bears game with his cat by his side.
As his cat Dinna playfully jumped on him – “I honestly didn’t encourage her to behave this way!” – Sarsgaard discussed the finale and collaborating with his real-life brother-in-law Gyllenhaal with EbMaster. They touched upon whether Sarsgaard believed Tommy was guilty, and what the quirky ADA might be doing in his office after hours. (A heads up: You won’t be able to predict Sarsgaard’s surprising answer.)
When did you find out who the killer was?
Later on during filming, I discovered to my surprise that the final product would not be identical to the original movie I had seen years ago. As an actor, I had assumed my character would end up marrying Rusty, but obviously that wasn’t going to be the case for me.
Well, what did you think when you found out who it was?
I’ve always anticipated it would turn out that way, with no other options in sight. This type of narrative is meant to be both surprising and unavoidable, so let’s hope we’ve successfully reached that satisfying conclusion. Speaking of storytelling, David E. Kelly and J.J. Abrams certainly know their stuff.
Was there ever a moment that made you question if it was Tommy?
I didn’t need anyone to tell me that he wasn’t the type. From my perspective, he exhibited certain external characteristics often associated with villains in popular culture. For instance, he lived alone and his pets were his only companions. However, I was relieved to discover that this wasn’t accurate in this case. It’s similar to how some people assume that individuals who enjoy opera music are antisocial.
Based on your comment about the cat, I’d like to point out that Tommy has certain distinct qualities. He is fond of cats and enjoys wearing a bolo tie. Were these traits present in the original script?
As someone who has spent a significant portion of my life in the Midwest, I can relate to the actor’s experience of having elements added to a project as it progressed. In my own career, I’ve worked on projects where the script was a blank slate, and ideas were developed collaboratively with the team.
I’m really drawn to the concept of portraying a character who undergoes growth throughout the series. Small signs of transformation can represent this journey. My friend often says, “A haircut won’t bring about change; you have to change first and then get the haircut as a sign of that transformation.” This idea resonates with many aspects of life, including Tommy’s character development.
You change, and then you mark it with a medal, or in his case, a bolo tie.
If Tom were customized to suit you, does your fondness for cats explain the cat that welcomes him home with affection?
As a lifelong animal lover, I can’t help but be enamored with the companionship and affection that cats bring into our lives. I’ve always had a soft spot for these curious and independent creatures. And right now, as I type this out, my own feline friend, Dinna, is making her presence known by crawling all over me. It’s a feeling I can’t describe – the gentle purrs, the playful nudges, the comforting warmth of their tiny paws.
Greg Yaitanes, both executive producer and director, shared with EbMaster that you and Jake resided together during filming. Being real-life relatives, did these intense courtroom scenes follow you home? Did your brother-in-law bond undergo a transformation as you confronted each other in the courtroom?
Oh no, never. Never. When I leave work, I really prefer not to even mention work. But we did live in the same house. That is true. I lived all the way on one wing on a lower level, and he lived on the other end. For the first part of filming, I thought I could get away with renting a place every time I came into town, but the part got more substantial, to be quite honest. Like I said, it was kind of tailored to me and I didn’t know what it was going to be when I first started. It got more and more interesting, and more to do, so I told Jake, “Can I bunk with you?”
Instead of focusing on much more than memorizing lines together, we hardly delved into other aspects of our collaboration. In fact, our personal connection simplifies things significantly. No lengthy introductions or awkward moments are required. I find it reassuring that I can freely express my opinions, whether in agreement or disagreement, with someone I hold in high regard. This ease comes naturally when people show respect and care for one another. It’s a pleasant experience to tell a cherished acquaintance, “That doesn’t seem right,” without any hesitation. Establishing this level of openness can take time with new partners we have only worked with for a brief period.
In discussing your confidence in calling out Rusty, there’s a part in Tommy’s closing argument where he hints at Rusty’s past history of deceitfully speaking the truth with a sincere expression. You dramatically emphasize this by gesturing towards him and exclaiming, “This appealing façade!” Was that line prepared beforehand or did you improvise it on the spot?
Based on my own experiences and observations, I believe there’s a certain bias in society towards those who appear successful or confident. People seem to be less suspicious of their actions or motives, perhaps because they subconsciously assume that such individuals are less likely to engage in wrongdoing. This phenomenon was brought home to me through the character I portray in our show, where fans have approached me on the streets expressing their suspicions about my involvement in certain events. While I can’t deny the appeal of this theory, I also recognize that there’s no rational basis for it in reality. My appearance or success doesn’t exempt me from being capable of making mistakes or doing something questionable. It’s important to remember that appearances can be deceiving and that everyone, regardless of their looks or accomplishments, is capable of both good and bad actions.
As a fan, I’m often reminded that good-looking individuals can still commit heinous acts. It’s intriguing how this theme emerges when I delve into portraying such characters. People reveal their apprehensions from the most unexpected corners.
In the series, we aren’t provided with much information about Tommy’s obsession and past with Carolyn. Can you guess what their background could be based on what you’ve seen?
Based on my observation of the character Tommy throughout the show, I believe his backstory involves a strong desire to please others and maintain harmony, which unfortunately results in him bending over backwards and often tripping up in the process. Despite this quirk, I’ve always seen Tommy as an exceptionally self-assured individual with an unwavering integrity – he never once told a lie that I recall during the series. However, there seems to be a disconnect between his inner confidence and his ability to enjoy himself socially. To others and especially to her, he comes across as a rigid and perhaps even unsociable person.
Nico Della Guardia urges Tommy to accept Rusty’s not-guilty verdict despite his initial struggle with the decision. Eventually, Tommy appears content with his feline companion. What might be next for Tommy?
If he is satisfied with the outcome and certain that truth prevailed, despite not directly witnessing it, I believe he has the conviction to take on another case. This could prove beneficial for him, potentially leading to his personal growth. However, I must admit, this turn of events took me by surprise.
Based on my personal experience as a writer and actor, preparing for lengthy monologues in a courtroom setting, especially those belonging to a character like Tommy, can be quite an intriguing and rewarding process. It requires a deep understanding of the character’s motivations, emotions, and backstory.
When you have more to express, it’s both an advantage and a challenge. For an actor, speaking excessively isn’t always desirable. However, portraying someone who is a performer holds its own charm. Sharing an engaging narrative with a jury isn’t simply about delivering facts; it’s enjoyable to bring the character to life. I find Tommy to be the type of performer I connect with.
In many of the scenes you feature in, you collaborated closely with O-T Fagbenle. How did you find working with Tommy, who often relied on Nico for advice and feedback?
I have a deep affection for O-T. Most of the actors in this production are familiar faces to me, with the exception of O-T. Despite our shared interest in chess, which isn’t indicative of expertise, we only played a few rounds on set. As we engaged in these games, we often veered off topic, adding a casual feel to our scenes. Not every scene is a matter of life or death, and this dynamic between us evolved throughout the show. I believe they were improvising that relationship as we went along, making it unique to Tommy’s character.
Did it surprise you that people thought Tommy might have been the killer?
In other words, I understood that some might hold that belief, but to me, it was implausible. I believed this individual possessed strong moral principles, albeit with some peculiarities that made dealing with him challenging. However, I would still prefer having him as my legal representative.
In reality, one of the initial courtroom sequences they assigned to me, which they mentioned they intended to film in a continuous take similar to a stage play – it was during this scene that I truly began examining him and his character. With the assistance of an excellent on-set legal advisor, I contemplated his dialogue from a prosecutorial perspective. Through this exploration, I came to understand that he is purely a lawyer. This man simply practices law, just as he feeds his cat and then continues practicing law. He’s like a well-oiled machine. I’ve always admired him for that trait, and I’m taken aback by the criticism some people have directed at him.
It’s amazing what having a cat at home will do to humanize a person.
I’ve had my fair share of intriguing encounters in my life, but the one that stands out is when I was asked an unusual question at work. They wondered aloud, “What do you think this guy does in his office at night?” My initial reaction was a surprised and somewhat amused, “Oh, I don’t know. Why don’t you just leave me in the office, and we’ll figure it out?”
Apple has declared that “Presumed Innocent” is coming back for a second season with a fresh plot. If that new character requires legal representation, would you consider representing Tommy Molto again?
[Long pause] I don’t know. That’s the answer I have for you.
This interview has been edited and condensed.
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2024-07-25 19:50