Summary

• Dakota Johnson shines in the contemplative character study Daddio, proving the indie scene is where she thrives.
• Girlie's mysterious toxic lover is the true villain, and her connection with cab driver Clark is a refreshing break from that dynamic.
• Daddio explores human connection with NYC as the thriving backdrop, showcasing Johnson and costar Sean Penn's depth as performers.

Daddio, written and directed by I Am Not Okay's Christy Hall, is a contemplative character study that could easily be mistaken for a thriller at first glance. Dakota Johnson plays Girlie, a young woman who takes a cab out of JFK at night, and then spends the next 100 minutes in a vehicle with Clark (Sean Penn). The driver is particularly chatty and not particularly circumspect in his opinions — which might make someone less self-assured than Girlie feel ill at ease.

But Daddio's only villain lurks on Girlie's phone, in the form of her mysterious but clearly toxic lover whose text messages only serve to make her uncomfortable. Clark's conversation, on the other hand, sparks an in-depth sharing session that leaves an indelible mark on both souls throughout their long ride together. Johnson may be best known for high-profile movies like 50 Shades Of Gray and Madame Web, but Daddio and 2022's Cha Cha Real Smooth prove that the indie scene is where she really shines.

Screen Rant interviewed Johnson about how she got into character for Daddio, why she found Girlie's unseen boyfriend such a poignant and terrifying presence, and what she looks for when selecting her projects.

Dakota Johnson’s Preparations For Daddio Included A “Mirror Duct Taped To A Broom”

Screen Rant: You give such a beautiful performance in Daddio. So much of the movie rests on real communication between you and Sean Penn's character. Can you talk about the preparation before filming that helped you get into character?

Dakota Johnson: Yeah. A lot of it for me was Girlie's look and her clothes, and a lot of just imaginary stuff for her. And then Sean and I did spend some time together beforehand working with Christy and reading through things together, but it was kind of solitary prep for me.

We did [rehearse] a little bit at Sean's house. He made a little fake car situation with a rearview mirror; a little hand mirror duct taped to a broom that was duct taped to a chair. And that was how we rehearsed.

It's fascinating to me that there's a third character in the film who's only introduced via texts and your expressions in responses to those texts. Can you talk about what goes through your mind and how you play those scenes when you're reacting to essentially no one?

Dakota Johnson: Yeah, he was really the villain. He's the bad guy in the story, and it's so interesting to me. It was so interesting to me even reading the script to begin with. It's such an amazing way to have a dark energy be present when you don't know what he looks like, what his name is, or anything about him really. It makes you feel deeply disturbed, and I just found it so powerful. I understood how twisted and complicated that dynamic can be, and how at the end of the day, Girlie really wants to be loved. I found it so heartbreaking and special.

But also there's a fourth character, which is New York. To have these other elements at play while it's just seemingly a conversation between two people felt [like it brought] more flavor and more things to play with.

Daddio Is Part Of Dakota Johnson’s Career Motto Of “Human Connection And Honest People”

You trade secrets and revelations back and forth throughout the movie. Was there any one detail about Girlie that stood out to you most?

Dakota Johnson: I think I loved that she has this underlying mischief the whole time. She is in a cab with a man, he's a stranger, and he's saying fairly inappropriate things occasionally. And she's like, "Okay, great, let's go." She's not threatened by it. She's not going to jump out of the car and be traumatized by it. She's curious and mischievous and can really herself in this dynamic.

I love seeing you work with so many amazing women in the industry, and I'm very excited for your team up with Celine Song in Materialists next. What is it that you want to bring out of audiences with these projects that you do?

Dakota Johnson: It's kind of different every time I work. But I guess it is becoming more and more clear to me as I continue to work in this industry and broaden my career that [I want to] tell stories about human connection and honest people — women, men. Being true, even though it may not be popular or acceptable, is becoming more and more important to me.

About Daddio

New York City. JFK airport. A young woman jumps into the backseat of a yellow taxi, the cabbie throws the vehicle into drive as the two head out into the night toward Manhattan, striking up the most unexpected conversation resulting in a single epic remarkable journey.

Check out our other interview with filmmaker Christy Hall.

Daddio will be released in theaters on June 28.

Source: Screen Rant Plus