Matthew McConaughey

McConaughey plays California Angels outfielder Ben Williams in the comedy-drama. The prayers of a young boy that the Angels will start winning, and his family will reunite, are answered. Co-starring Danny Glover, Tony Danza, Christopher Lloyd, Adrien Brody, and Joseph Gordon-Levitt. McConaughey talks about getting paid to make a film about baseball:

It’s the American dream isn’t it. I’ll tell you what. When they said we’re going to fly him out here to play ball for ten weeks, and I’m getting paid for it! How about that?

McConaughey plays Edward “Ed” Pekurny, a video store clerk who agrees to have his life filmed by a camera crew for a television show, in this comedy drama directed by Ron Howard. Co-starring Jenna Elfman, Woody Harrelson, Elizabeth Hurley, Dennis Hopper, Ellen DeGeneres, Rob Reiner, Martin Landau, and Sally Kirkland.

I was ready to go to a weekend character. This is the lighter side of things. You know, my research was my Friday and Saturday nights with my friends, having a good time, and all of a sudden laughing at something and writing down what we laughed at and going, ‘What if that’s Ed’s sense of humor?

McConaughey plays Steve Edison, a local pediatrician who saves  and pulls Mary Fiore (Jennifer Lopez) away just before the dumpster crashes. They later go out on a date, dance, watch a movie, and almost kiss. This romantic comedy film is directed by Adam Shankman. Co-starring Bridgette Wilson-Sampras, Justin Chambers, Judy Greer, Alex Rocco and  Joanna Gleason.

There’s a real optimism to this film. It’s buoyant, a fairy tale that we’ve all heard one time or another, that you’re going to meet someone and it’s going to be true love and you’ll know it. It’s very innocent. And it’s a comedy set-up, so the thing to do is to play it at an even keel and as straightforward as possible. The dialogue and situations are already comedic, so I was trying to ground it as much as possible. But when I saw it, there were things that were coming out of my mouth where I was wondering, “Did you just say that?”

McConaughey plays Tripp, a 35-year-old man, who is still living with his parents Al (Terry Bradshaw) and Sue (Kathy Bates).  His parents hire an expert, Paula (Sarah Jessica Parker), who builds up his confidence and transfers his attachment from his parents to her and later on developing real feelings for him. This romantic comedy film is directed by Tom Dey. Co-starring  Zooey Deschanel, Justin Bartha, Bradley Cooper.

I wanted to find a way for Tripp’s character to move forward. He’s living at home. His parents think he’s got this ‘problem,’ but he thinks he’s got it figured out. Life’s good. ‘I love my parents, they love me. I’ve got great friends, I’m a good friend to ‘em. Rent’s paid. Mom’s a great cook, folds the clothes. What’s not to like?’ And one of the other reasons you discover he’s staying home deals with the loss of his fiance in the past. All of it gives him a dignified, lighthearted way to move forward.

McConaughey plays Benjamin “Finn” Finnegan, a treasure hunter looking for a treasure from a Spanish galleon, known as the Aurelia, in this adventure-romance film is directed by Andy Tennant. Co-starring Kate Hudson, Ewen Bremner, Ray Winstone, and Donald Sutherland.

A cool and adventurous part of the whole thing in Australia. I mean, everything in the water, in the air, on the land, bites hard, and is somehow poisonous. And you just don’t go strolling out into the jungle. You just don’t go swimming out into the ocean. Everyone there has to know their stuff before heading out. And then, sharks, and I had pythons in my trees in my little beach hut I was living in.

McConaughey plays Connor Mead, a famous photographer who becomes reacquainted with Jenny Perotti (Jennifer Garner), the only girl who ever captured his heart. Connor meets the ghost of his uncle Wayne (Michael Douglas) in the bathroom who informs him that he will be visited by three ghosts who will lead him through his romantic past, present, and future. This romantic comedy is directed by Mark Waters and co-stars Breckin Meyer, Emma Stone, and Christina Milian.

Yeah, the ghosts were a big unrealistic thing, but that’s just one of the things that made this one original. Because usually it’s just guy-girl, guy-girl, guy-girl, you know we’re going to split up, look at the poster, you we’re going to get together at the end but, hopefully, you’re going to be entertained in how we get together at the end. This had a huge twist. Ghosts, we had go back.

In this comedy drama is directed by Richard Linklater, McConaughey plays Danny Buck Davidson, a local district attorney, who charges Tiede (Jack Black) with first-degree murder, accused of killing Nugent (Shirley MacLaine).

I started with Bernie and then talked to Scrappy (the defense attorney) as well. Jack wanted to meet Bernie so we facilitated that. I went to the trial about 15 years ago. I was into it back then. I wanted to see him testify. So yeah, it’s tricky when you do something that’s based on real events, real people. You know, I was concerned about the families and you try to be as accurate as you possibly can.

McConaughey plays Mike Lane, who has big plans for a business of his own but pays his bills through a series of odd jobs, most notably performing as the star stripper at Xquisite Strip Club in Tampa, in this comedy drama directed by Steven Soderbergh. Co-starring Channing Tatum, Alex Pettyfer, Cody Horn, Matt Bomer, Olivia Munn, and Joe Manganiello.

The character was a wonderful capitalist. He was a hardcore capitalist. My mind worked a lot in preparation of this character, in terms of what’s going to make the most money. How are we going to entertain these women for two hours? The music has to be on cue, the lighting, the intros, exits, keep the show going. We’re not going to do any of that goofy stuff with dwarfs coming out. No one is going to be running out with big dildos sticking out of their thongs.