Cillian Murphy plays a charming seatmate turned captor in a story that seemingly brings his and Rachel McAdams’ characters together for a potential romance. Soon, the man forces the hotel manager, who’s smitten by him, to help him in a plot to assassinate a politician.
Reflecting on his experience portraying the character, Murphy revealed in a cover story for GQ that ‘Red Eye’ doesn’t hold a special place in his heart. He explained:
“I love Rachel McAdams, and we had fun making it. But I don’t think it’s a good movie. It’s a good B movie.”
Why Did He Accept The Part?
In addition to appearing opposite McAdams, the ‘Oppenheimer’ actor revealed what drew him to the role by saying:
“I think it’s the duality of it. It’s why I wanted to play it. That two thing. The nice guy and the bad guy in one. The only reason it appealed to me is you could do that. That turn, you know?”
Despite Murphy’s personal dislike, his performance, along with McAdams’s, received generally positive feedback. Notably, film critic Roger Ebert praised the duo for their on-screen chemistry by saying they were ‘very effective together.’
His Co-Star Appreciated Their Work Together
Rachel McAdams’ fond memories of working on ‘Red Eye’ supported the critic’s words. Also, talking to GQ, the actress shared her experience and off-camera relationship with Cillian Murphy as follows:
“They say the nicest people sometimes make the best villains. We’d listen to music and gab away while doing the crossword puzzle, which he brought every day and would graciously let me chime in on.… I think the number one question I got about Cillian way back then was whether or not he wore contact lenses.”
Murphy Didn’t Like His Performance
Unlike McAdams, the actor wasn’t happy with his own performance in the film when he talked to Uproxx about it in 2021:
“I remember when I saw it, [I] was like, ‘Oh, that’s kind of a schlocky B movie. Rachel McAdams is excellent in it.’ But I didn’t think I gave a very nuanced performance in it. But, listen, if people love the movie, then that’s great. I’m pleased with that. I’m less hard on myself now when I look at stuff.”
Regardless of Murphy’s critical stance, ‘Red Eye’ was well-received by critics and audiences alike, grossing nearly $100 million worldwide against a $26 million budget.
