Thumbsucker is a neat little film with some great acting. The movie is based upon a book of the same name by Walter Kirn. The cast is large and diverse and includes such luminaries as Tilda Swinton, Vince Vaughn, Keanu Reeves, Vincent D'Onofrio, and Benjamin Bratt.

The real revelation of Thumbsucker is Lou Taylor Pucci, he looks like one of the best new actors in a long time. I sat down with both him and Director Mike Mills for some Q&A about their innovative new film.

Question: How much did you work with the author of the book, Walter Kirn?

Mike Mills: Not a lot. We got the option to the book, and I didn't even meet him until after my first draft of the screenplay. He was of the philosophy of having to let go. He was a really nice guy, really supportive, he taught me a lot, but he didn't insist on being a voice.

He knew that my screenplay was going to be different. It was nice because I could call him when I wanted to, but he said to me "You're going to have to make it your own thing." I think it worked out well for him too.

Question: What are the overall themes of Thumbsucker?

Mike: I think we're trying to explore how his character, this kid (Pucci as Justin) is taking on the role of an adult. Everything's kind of flopped around. When you're an adult it doesn't mean you're done or finished.

Question: There is a line in the movie, something to the effect of "you can be surrounded by family and still be all alone"

Mike: Tilda (Swinton) says it, "The myth that with your family you'll never feel alone again." That's very Tilda. That actually came out of an improvisation. Tilda's good at finding a deeper way into the themes that are already there. That's definitely one of them.

Tilda also says this thing, not in the movie, but I've heard her say it where sometimes in life you're playing a role you feel like you're miscast for. Whether it's the son, or the journalist, sometimes the director. You gotta do it but you don't know your lines. You are trying to catch up to your role.

Question: The two female leads were great (Kelli Garner & Tilda Swinton), but they play really complex characters. It seems like they both are capable of building you up or tearing you down.

Lou Taylor Pucci: Tilda's great but she can definitely freak you out pretty easily. Kelli is the weirdest, the absolute strangest, she can freak the shit out of me. Her character can be very manipulative. She's good at it.

Question: Have you had relationships like that?

Lou: Yes. That's the thing that got me into the script, the whole Kelli part. It was just something I was going through for a long time. I had this one relationship that just boggled my mind. I got stabbed in the heart with something blunt, and I stayed kind of dead for years.

Question: Was this movie therapy?

Lou: Yes. I always kind of treated it as my second chance with that girl, which is pretty fucked up. I didn't know enough to know she wasn't giving me the same amount I was giving her. That's what the character Justin learns, or he will learn later. That's what got me into the script.

Mike: I think Kelli too. In preparing with her she touched on things that had happened to her which made it really charged for her. I hope that comes across.

Question: What about the medication angle on this film, it didn't seem preachy…

Mike: It comes from the book; I was trying not to have an easy answer. I have many friends on medication, they feel like they are benefiting, but it is way more complicated than a subplot in a movie. It's something that would happen to a kid like Justin (Taylor Pucci). Part of what the movie is about is things being so gray. We want to have this idea of the magical pill.

Question: All of Justin's relationships, besides Rebecca (Garner) are with adults. He doesn't really have peers does he?

Lou: I am somebody who for some strange reason never really got along with people my age. All my best friends were way older then me. Even when I was 10, my best friends were 50.

Question: Did you feel like an outsider?

Lou: No, I felt cool, privileged. It was how I got through it. I just felt different because I was working on a show on Broadway when I was twelve.

Question: Can you talk about Vince Vaughn and Keanu Reeves in the film?

Mike: I think they wanted to be part of an ensemble; they wanted to do something a little different. I think they both liked being side players. They are both amazingly cool. Keanu is one of the more easy going guys you're going to meet. Very casual.

Vince is always fucking with you, but you'll take it because it's always funny. He thinks more like a filmmaker, from doing Swingers and Made. He's real smart about it; he gave me a lot of advice about independent film.

Question: Can you talk about your choices for the music in this film? Elliot Smith and the Polyphonic Spree really made your transitions great.

Mike: Harold and Maude was a big influence on this movie, the way the Cat Stevens soundtrack is used. I wanted Elliot to be used in the same way. I knew him from a while back; I did a record cover for him. He was into the script; it was a big honor for me. He was going to do a series of covers. He did "Trouble", and he had a cover of "Thirteen." He was working on "Isolation" by John Lennon when he passed away.

Months later I went to a Polyphonic Spree show, not thinking about the movie at all and I felt so in to it, I realized we needed that in the film. Tim Delaughter from the Spree did the score; he was making music to a finished film which was cool.

Question: Lou, here you are as a male lead and you can't even drink yet.

Lou: Yeah, that is stupid. I just want to beat people.

Question: Are you still filming Southland Tales?

Lou: Yeah, I'm filming tomorrow.

Question: Where are you filming?

Lou: Los Angeles.

Question: Are you doing any scenes with Kevin Smith?

Lou: No, it's such an ensemble cast it's ridiculous. I work with 2-3 people. Huge cast, Christopher Lambert, Jon Lovitz... weird cast. Kevin Smith plays the funniest looking character. It's really funny so far. It could be great, it's the strangest script I've ever seen, but it will be promoted well and people will see it because of Donnie Darko (Richard Kelly wrote both, and is directing Southland Tales).

He's making 6 graphic novels to promote the movie. It's the coolest idea. He's also said he's making the biggest website for a movie ever. So many of the cult Donnie Darko people are kids online.

Question: How about you Mike?

Mike: I'm writing an original screenplay. I learned a lot during Thumbsucker.

Question: Lou, I've already saddled you with the "Next Johnny Depp" label.

Lou Taylor Pucci: Well, if you're going to saddle me with something, it's a good one. I've never met him; I don't know what the hell he's like.

Question: Judging from the Oprah interviews he's just like you.

Lou: He does Oprah? No shit?

Question: Yeah, everyone sells out for Oprah.

Lou: I won't!

Thumbsucker opened in Los Angeles and New York September 16th.