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Actor Interview
DOWSE Guide to the
Movies
Any Given Sunday:
Are you a big football fan?
"I am, though I don't know the game as well as I know baseball. But I played football
as a youngster. The game has changed now, it's much more complicated, so I don't know
the inner workings of it but I enjoy watching it. The machinery of football, the inner
workings of it are much more complicated than I ever realised or imagined. The
playbook has 130 plays, and these coaches work all year, seven days a week to put
this together."
Isn't that part of the fun of acting for you, researching different worlds that
you then get to recreate on screen?
"I believe in a good, healthy preparation about things, you go out and consume as
much information as you can get, you get out there and read all the coaches and get
out on the field. You do that, and it's the real fun of it, to go out there and spend
the time with whoever. I got to find out about things in that way, and I look forward
to the next project where I can find out about a new subject."
There were some rumours of tension on set between Jamie Foxx and LL Cool J?
"I think it invariably happens where actors and actresses somehow take on the role
and it mirrors their lives a little bit, and it's effective in it. LL and Jamie were
competitive in the movie, and I think that unconsciously they carried that off screen
but it was a very minor thing."
Are you aware of an aura you bring with you of a famous movie star that other
people you work with might find intimidating?
"I certainly don't feel that when I'm working with them. I approach my work and do it
the same way I always did. I couldn't possibly act if I felt that way, that they had
this feeling of being intimidated by me. We have to get in there and do this thing
together - it's as though we're an orchestra and playing together, so you don't really
have that sense of what someone's thinking about you. But when I go to do a movie, I
feel I come with, I guess 30 years of experience, you come with your past and all the
movies you've made, so people have a tendency to respond to where they've known you.
A lot of people here in this room sort of grew up seeing pictures of you, there's an
image instilled in people that comes out of all this time. I know I have it when I
meet someone who I've known just through movies. I always have an image of them, but
through the years I've learned it's a good idea to let that go because it's never
what you think it is, they're never what you think they are. So in answer to the
question, I think it's built in anyway and they soon get over it."
There seems to be an ongoing controversy about how much top professional sportsmen
get paid, something that is touched on in the film. What are your feelings on the
subject?
"When one looks at the lifespan of an athlete, and takes into account the kind of
money that's generated from their playing of the game, you have to just step back and
take a look at it and determine what you think. I believe that athletes are well paid
because of what they generate and the people who know about that are usually their
gobetweens, between the league and the player, there's a go-between who seems to
understand the nature of the outcome, you can get hurt. It's a dangerous game. I
never thought much about the price they receive, I'm sure it's relative to how much
they bring in people, so I would imagine it's fair. It's a funny thing, because
there's been such an outing of prices, of how much movies make and all. I try not to
pay much attention to that."
How difficult is it, given the choice of scripts you must have, to pick roles that
will challenge and excite you rather than roles that are simply not matched to your
abilities?
"For most actors the instinct is to go with the role, any role that they'll have you
in. But along the way one has to remember there's a point in a career where, if you
do make it and have a lot of attention, there's a tendency for people to want to use
you, and sometimes not in the right role for you. You have to be careful when you
choose a part, because you really enjoy the idea that people want you, and you start
thinking that maybe you can play whatever role it is. But you really are wrong for it.
You think you can do it though, so you go in. Whereas if you weren't famous they
probably wouldn't take you for the part. You have to really be careful of that."
You must have come into contact with Oliver Stone 17 years ago, when he wrote
Scarface - have either of you changed much in that time?
"I don't think Oliver's changed at all, he's as wild as ever. That's wonderful. He's
the same guy I knew back then. I guess only he can tell you if I've changed. I hope I
did a little, in that I don't feel as laboured about things any more, I don't labour
over them in the same way."
How do you think Any Given Sunday will play in countries like Britain,
which does not have the tradition in American football?
"I don't know, that'll be interesting to see. It's a game, it's a sport, it's kind of
interesting to get into the philosophy of it, how it impacts on peoples' lives and
personalities, so maybe that is relatable. The excitement and chaos of it."
There seems a vibrancy to a cast that includes people like you, rapper LL Cool J,
a comedian like Jamie Fox, James Woods, Cameron Diaz - people fiom diverse acting
backgrounds.
"All the styles just came together. LL is a natural, he has a natural gift. And of
course Jimmy Woods is a brilliant actor, we've seen it. We all do it together, but
the approach when Oliver is at the helm there, calling the rehearsals, some actors
like to rehearse more than others. What I remember about the football picture is that
we got together in a room with Oliver and we would discuss the scenes and who we were
in relation to one another, and all of that was pretty much as usual. Then we played
ball."
What do you feel are your weaknesses as an actor?
"My weaknesses... ... ... ... ... ... I wish 1 could come up with something. I'd
probably have the same pause if you asked me what my strengths are. Maybe they're the
same thing."
Any Given Sunday is released on rental video, and DVD retail, by Warner Home Video on 27 November 2000
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to Movies on Dowse index.
........................................................................
by Tony Lee editor of
Pigasus
Press
syndicated interview with Al Pacino
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