Interview: Elizabeth Banks and Sigourney Weaver Talk ‘Call Jane’ As Well As The Importance of Getting Out and Voting

This past weekend, Call Jane hit theaters after debuting earlier this year at the Sundance Film Festival. Next week, the midterm elections are being held, with women’s reproductive rights very much on the ballot. So, in between, it felt like a perfect moment to share my recent conversation with Call Jane stars Elizabeth Banks and Sigourney Weaver. After all, when they made the movie, we were literally living in a different world. When we spoke, they were as eager to talk about getting out and voting as they were about promoting their flick, and rightly so. When we hopped on Zoom, the conversation quickly went in this direction, and as someone who is in complete agreement with these two talented actresses, their message is one I hope we all heed…

Below, you can see my chat with Banks and Weaver. We talk about how important the subject matter in Call Jane is, made even more urgent not just by the Supreme Court decision this summer, but with the midterm elections this coming Tuesday. Before that, I did make mention of some of my favorite underrated films of theirs, with Zack and Miri Make a Porno for Banks and Imaginary Heroes for Weaver. However, this movie, and the rights of women, were the focus, so we largely (and rightly) stuck to that.

This here is some of what I had to say about Call Jane back at Sundance, back when abortion was still federally protected:

Women’s reproductive rights are always under attack. Whether it’s the 1960’s like in Call Jane, or here in 2022, where Roe vs. Wade is hanging on by a thread. Those in power are always ready to legislate the female body. It’s an issue that sparks passion on both sides, but it’s also fertile (no pun intended) ground for cinema. Playing at the 2022 Sundance Film Festival, Call Jane is the latest movie to tackle the fight for safe and legal abortions. While it might sound like a potentially oppressively dark and depressing film, that’s not what we have here at all.

Call Jane takes a more entertaining and crowd pleasing route than you might expect. It’s actually quite shocking to see how light on its feet the film tends to be, though it does have sporadic heavy moments. It makes for an unusual feeling. You sometimes even feel on edge, worrying if the issue isn’t being properly respected. That’s not the case at all, but the tone is just very different than what the log-line would suggest.

Elizabeth Banks is very good here, with a more serious role than we usually see her get to play with. She has her fast timing, but it’s in service of a woman having an awakening. Banks gets to depict that well. It’s one of her best roles to date, considering her performance. Sigourney Weaver has the prime supporting role, and she seems to be having a good time. Her vibe steals several scenes. 

Here now is my interview with Call Jane co-stars Elizabeth Banks and Sigourney Weaver. Enjoy:

Call Jane is in theaters now!