Jeff Goldblum has reminded everyone why we love him after breaking down in tears during a recent re-watch of Independence Day. Directed by Roland Emmerich, the 1996 sci-fi action blockbuster sees Goldblum co-star alongside Will Smith as a hostile race of aliens invade Earth. Goldblum played David Lavinson, a radar technician who becomes crucial in Earth’s fight against the alien race, as he is the only person smart enough to disable their ship’s deflector shields. Judd Hirsch plays Julius Levinson, David’s father, and the two have a strong relationship in the film, bonding over games of chess. The pair share one of the film’s most poignant scenes, saying their potential goodbyes before David flies off on Earth’s last stand against the aliens.
During an interview with Vanity Fair, Jeff Goldblum was shown the scene between David and Julius Levinson. The typical format for the interviews is for the actor to watch the scene and recall a memory from the production. But, much to the surprise of everyone, Jeff Goldblum became incredibly emotional while watching the clip. The actor said his perspective on the scene has changed exponentially since having kids. The actor broke down after Julius said to his son, “I’m proud of you.” The actor then explained:
“Wow. Sweet. Now having kids myself, I’ve got a 7-year-old and a 9-year-old, I can’t imagine what it’s like, if they took a risk as radical as that seemed to be. And have to possibly say goodbye to them for the last time. It would be excruciating. Excruciating. And it’s a sweet moment. Boy, you really got me. I don’t know what you do. Why’d you do it to me?”
Jeff Goldblum Reveals His Favorite Judd Hirsch Movie
Hilariously, Jeff Goldblum didn’t discuss working on Independence Day during the interview. After being emotionally deconstructed by the scene, Goldblum kept the emotional train running by reflecting on his favorite performance by his co-star Judd Hirsch. Goldblum loved Hirsch’s performance in the 1980 drama Ordinary People, directed by Robert Redford, which he described as a “cry fest.” Goldblum said:
“I’d seen him in many things, including Ordinary People. Talk about a cry fest. You see how easy I am and mushy I can be. When Judd Hirsch’s character, the therapist helps. They meet at the office and he’s hysterical, and he has a kind of epiphany. And then, Tim Hutton, he says, ‘Are you my friend?’ Judd Hirsch says, ‘Count on it.’ And they hug.”
Everyone loves movies for different reasons. After all, like all art forms, cinema is subjective. Some go for big action blockbusters that get the adrenaline going, others enjoy a heartwarming underdog story, and some people go to the movies for a good cry. Jeff Goldblum is one of the latter. The actor embraces his emotional side, and shares with his kids the importance of letting out your emotions, especially during a heartbreaking movie (nobody should show Jeff Goldblum Aftersun). He explained:
“It’s fun to go to movies that make you cry. And I show movies to my kids, and they see me ‘boohoo,’ and they go, ‘Dada, what’s the matter?’ I go, ‘It’s so sad.'”
Independence Day
is streaming on Hulu.
