The second season of “Landman” has come to an end, and while the dramatic focus of the series shifted from oil business to family matters, Billy Bob Thornton‘s character Tommy always remained the central focus. Brash, brilliant and funny, Tommy is always able to keep cool under pressure and speak what’s on his mind, which is very reminiscent of Thornton’s real-life energy. The veteran actor spoke with Variety about his biggest challenges this season, how the show speaks to so many different fans, and why writer and co-creator Taylor Sheridan‘s shows are sometimes snubbed in awards conversations.
What would you consider your most challenging scene to shoot this season?
Maybe not every actor is this way, but I can’t help it because I’m so codependent. Some of the hardest stuff I had to do was when I had to be abrupt to, or even mean with, Sam Elliott. Sam and I are old, old friends. He’s been like a pop to me since I’ve known him in the ’80s. He’s been a mentor, a friend and everything. Sometimes, knowing the other human, it’s not as easy to just go for it, but you have to. You have to go 100%. When I did “Bad Santa,” it’s not like I could be really sweet with the kids. I actually explained that to the kids on that set and to the parents. But I would say that was the most challenging thing.
This cast has such great chemistry, and it was instant chemistry, which is awesome. But Sam, Andy Garcia and Demi [Moore] and I all go way back. Ali [Larter] and Michelle [Randolph] and Jacob [Lofland] and Kayla Wallace and James Jordan, none of us knew each other. But somehow we had a chemistry that was there from day one. It’s also a tribute to Taylor, because he knows who to cast and for what part. He really does. Some writers write with their own voice for every character, but each person on this show is their own thing. I love that. So when you have chemistry like that, but not everyone’s talking the same … One of the most brilliant things Taylor’s done with his shows is he has very strong individual characters with their own voices.
You mentioned Andy Garcia. The scenes this season where your characters are feuding are really electric. How do you find that spark together and find the rhythm of those big arguments?
Andy and I are both sort of known for that. I grew up as an actor doing that, and so did he. Andy probably improvised more than I did in the scenes that we did. We stuck to what Taylor had written, but there are things we would throw in there at each other now and then. There’s one where Andy is putting in his office while we’re having our talk. That was Andy’s deal. It’s real easy to do this with Andy, he and I both have played a couple of bad guys, too. When you get into a confrontation, I think the adrenaline of the moment just takes over and can help you forget that you’re talking to your buddy. Whereas with me and Sam, they’re more sedated moments, more personal moments. So with Andy, that was a lot easier, knowing that this is my nemesis and he knows I’m his.
Why do you think “Landman” speaks to such a broad group of fans?
It’s interesting because we were very surprised it became an international hit. We thought it was going to appeal to Middle America, maybe not even the coasts. Now we have fans from Africa, South America, Canada, Australia, England, wherever it is. I think a lot of it is because the characters are unabashedly who they are. I think people like it that we just say and do whatever we do. There’s no walking on eggshells because we’re worried of what someone’s going to think. I think sometimes people like to see that freedom if they don’t have it in their own lives. Also, you’re taking a peek behind the curtain of a business that’s not normally portrayed.
You’ve spoken candidly in the past about award shows in Hollywood. Compared to its success, it seems that “Landman” and other Taylor Sheridan shows are sometimes underrepresented in award conversations. Why do you think that is?
I think a lot of it’s political. I really do. I think some people assume Taylor is some sort of right-wing guy or something, and he’s really not. Even with this show being about the oil business, he just shows you what it’s like. He’s not saying “Rah, rah, rah for oil.” It’s just the people who work in this business or who are affected by this business, the people on the periphery and within the families in the business; this is what happens. These are the kinds of problems and joys and triumphs and whatever happens in this world. It’s a world of gambling, and you never know what’s going to happen. But I think people got the wrong idea about that.
Acting is not a sport. If you run the 100-meter dash in the Olympics and you break the tape first, you win. There’s no question about it. Everybody saw it. How do you say in the artistic world who won? It’s an intangible thing. Then people say, “Well, any one of the nominees besides me could have won this. They’re all wonderful actors.” Not only them, some other actors in the audience who weren’t nominated, some other ones who aren’t even at the show, some other ones who aren’t even known by people have done an amazing job. If you put your heart and soul into something you love, and you’re satisfied with your work, and it works in the thing, there’s the award. I look at it that way. I’m too damn old now to worry about stuff like that. I got enough awards. I’m good. I’m sure the people that I work for or work with me don’t like to hear that. But I guess when I said I’m too damn old, I guess I’m too damn old to not tell the truth.
This interview has been edited and condensed.
