The comedian got candid about his perception of the city while speaking about his upcoming movie ‘Misty Green’ in a new interview

NEED TO KNOW

• Chris Rock opened up about his “complicated” relationship with Los Angeles in a new interview with Variety
• He got candid about how the city is beautiful but also highlighted its stark contrasts, like wealth alongside homelessness
• His new movie Misty Green explores L.A.’s “wonky priorities” and the challenges of fame and survival

Chris Rock is getting candid about his perception of Los Angeles and the “complicated” relationship he has with the city.

Before debuting his new movie Misty Green as director at the Toronto International Film Festival, the comedian, 61, spoke with Variety about the various themes the film explores in an interview published Tuesday, Sept. 8. Among them is the portrayal of L.A., which prompted Rock to dive into his personal thoughts on the city.

“It’s weird,” Rock said when asked about his relationship with the city. “I just bought a place there so I winter in L.A. I love parts of it,” he explained, before getting into how he perceives fame to be intertwined with the city.

“L.A. is a complicated place, man,” he continued. “Fame’s a complicated thing. I’ve seen the switch in my lifetime. It used to be that everybody wanted to be great — a great singer, great actor, great comedian. Now it’s just fame, and the greatness is almost assumed. I mean, you’re always gonna be outed at some point if you don’t have the goods. But L.A. is the mecca of that.”

He continued to explain how the city is a complex place for him because he can see the beauty in it, but also the harsh reality.

“It can be beautiful,” Rock told Variety. “It’s got the best weather in the world. But it also attracts an underbelly that people want to pretend doesn’t exist.”

Rock revealed how his perception of the city shaped his upcoming movie, which stars Rosalind Eleazar as an actress battling extremes “to keep both her career and brother alive” while on the verge of a comeback, according to an official synopsis from the Toronto International Film Festival.

“The movie is about Misty Green, but a lot of it’s about L.A. L.A. has got very wonky priorities,” he explained. “There’s a real estate office on the same street as The Ivy on Robertson, and in the window, there are houses for $30-$40 million. In the window. But there’s a homeless guy sleeping right outside. The movie is about that crazy dichotomy.”

Rock also spoke about his relationship with money and the issue “most people in Hollywood” have when it comes to spending habits.

“I’ve been lucky. I’ve made some money. I’m not swimming in it. I’m not on jets all the time. I don’t own a boat,” he told Variety. “I don’t own a car. Yeah, I have a place in New York and L.A., but I don’t even have a doorman. I live on a normal block in both places.”

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He then got into why his lifestyle is intentional, as he learned a thing or two about the power that comes with keeping his expenses low throughout his career.

“And I do this purposely, so I don’t have to do things I don’t want to do. There’s meetings I don’t have to take because I keep my expenses down,” Rock added. “Holly Robinson’s mom, the great Dolores Robinson, was a talent manager, and she used to say, “You have to spend income, not if-come. That’s the problem with most people in Hollywood. They’re spending if-come. If-come will ruin your life.”

Misty Green will premiere in Toronto on Sept. 12 before its theatrical release on Oct. 9. The movie is Rock’s first as director since Top Five in 2014.

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