Press
Last Update
- June 21th, 2003
'Reign of Fire'
Interview
Sean Chavel in Los Angeles, Cinema Confidential, July, 2002
Christian Bale
is one of the most remarkable and versatile actors under thirty
in the movie business. Bales first rise to fame began with the
lead part in Steven Spielbergs "Empire of the Sun,"
playing a British diplomats son who becomes separated from his
parents in World War II while the Japanese are invading Shanghai
and learns to survive on his own in the concentration camps. At
fifteen, he gave a sterling performance in this grand and magnificent
movie that earned him an award by the National Board of Review
for Outstanding Juvenile performance.
The Welsh-born Bale
disappeared for a few years to further his studies, and then returned
as a heartthrob in "Little Women." It became more difficult
to categorize Bale when he went on to test his versatility in
such indistinguishable roles in "Velvet Goldmine," "American
Psycho," "Shaft" and "Captain Corellis Mandolin."
Handsome, brawny and charismatic, he believably inhabits his latest
film with the post-apocalyptic dragonslayer movie "Reign
of Fire," which is more of a summer popcorn movie that you
would expect from him. Such strange but beguiling career choices
have even led Entertainment Weekly into hailing him as one of
the most powerful cult figures of the past decade. Bale tries
to shed light on his career path and making sense out of acting.
What
were you feelings at first when you were approached to make Reign
of Fire?
I had reservations
about making a movie like this. Initially I was very surprised
they were interested in me for it because I didnt expect that.
It was an attraction for me because I hope that I can always do
something that isnt predictable. Theres a great deal of risk
in making a movie of this scale.
Why
do you think that there is some kind of risk involved?
First of all,
it really needs a strong-minded director. I wanted to know that
it was going to be Robs movie at the end of the day, and not
anybody elses. Not somebody who is not there on the set. And
Rob told me that it was going to be exactly how he planned it,
and no tricky editing with [computer generated effects] that was
going to perhaps have one dragon was going to kind of like my
character, or another was going to have a hat on its head, or
make me wear big eyelashes. (Laughs) Or whatever but these things
happen.
Isnt
it true that you had problems with the script?
I had some
concerns about the story, but what was great is that Rob had the
exact same concerns and promised that there were going to be changes.
I did a complete 180 degree turn in the meeting. I went in there
thinking, No, probably not, and left thinking this is something
exciting and different for me to do. And Rob stayed true to his
word throughout, which is no small feat really. There wasnt a
single thing that I was disappointed with.
Was
it new for you to be working with complicated visual effects and
matte photography?
Ive done
plenty of movies where there are no special effects whatsoever
and Im doing a scene where Im doing a scene apparently talking
to somebody and Im looking at a brick wall, because that actor
was not able to fit behind the camera and the lights needed to
be there and the room is too small and etcetera. Blue screen is
not something that is so alien to me really.
Are
there any other action movies that you have liked in the past?
I enjoyed
Star Wars a great deal as a kid. I was never a hard core, science-fiction
fan. I liked it if I found the story is good basically. I dont
seem to be able to enjoy them quite as much as I did as a kid.
I still enjoy them because I cant help it; its part of my childhood.
It may well be nostalgia, but its something about the early ones
that I feel something for.
Has
the concept of acting changed with you since when you first started
acting as a child some fifteen years ago?
Man, Ive
hated it and Ive loved it. I wanted to quit and wanted nothing
to do with it, and everything in between.
Youve
taken some controversial parts before like American Psycho and
Velvet Goldmine. Did you take those roles in order to keep acting
interesting for yourself?
I never want
to turn something down because Im afraid to do it, because of
some idea of image or whatever. That was never anything I set
out to do. In fact, the opposite, I always want to confuse people
in terms of any kind of image and be unpredictable in any kind
of movie I make. I never want to feel that Im playing it safe.
Were
you competitive with Matthew McConaughey on the set?
Competitive?
I kind of thought I was. When we were doing the fight sequence,
I was like, Yeah, were really duking it. And then I watch it
and it was like, What was I thinking? I just get creamed. (Laughs)
I thought I was being competitive, but he just walked all over
me.
Come
on. Tell us what McConaughey was like otherwise.
Matthew was
punching people nonstop in Dublin. (Laughs) No, he was. Down at
the boxing gym, he was sparring with [amateurs]. I did a crazy
undertaking for a couple of weeks where I worked out so I could
be convincing with at least lasting a couple of minutes going
up against Matthew on the screen.
Since
you worked in the theater when you were much younger, have you
ever considered about going back?
Ive thought
about it, but I have no immediate plans to go back. I understand
why stage actors talked about it so highly. Nevertheless, just
as a viewer I have always enjoyed movies more than I have enjoyed
theater. Maybe that has to do with the choices of movies that
Ive gone to see. I have a more natural inclination more towards
movies.
What
gives you the most kick out of life?
I really do get a kick
out of acting when its done really well. When theres a feeling
on the set and working in tandem with everybody and you just know
that everything worked exactly how you wanted it to. Thats the
fantastic part. In everyday life, my wife is the most wonderful.
Were in love with each other beyond belief.
Source - www.cinecon.com
