anderswolleck

Its a good time to be Clive Owen. In the past year hes received an Oscar nomination for Closer, had a big role in the groundbreaking Sin City and made out with Jennifer Aniston in Derailed. Now hes starring in the bank heist film Inside Man alongside Denzel Washington, Jodie Foster and directed by Spike Lee.

Check out the official website for Inside Man

Daniel Robert Epstein: You spend 90% of Inside Man wearing a mask. How much of a challenge was that?

Clive Owen: It was very strange and it was a concern right from the beginning. We joked a lot about it. Its unusual because your intent as an actor is expressed through your face and your eyes. I remember when we did the scene where Denzel comes into the bank, he was a bit freaked out by it as well. He was like I cant see this guys eyes. I dont know whats going on there. It was unusual but obviously necessary.

DRE: What drove your character?

CO: It was the idea of playing this guy who pulls off this very extraordinary bank robbery and has his own reasons for doing so. It looks like its going to be very violent but thats not quite the case. Its not a straightforward, clear-cut thing, but I think that goes for every character in the movie. Spike added all that New York flavor that wasnt in the script. There were lots of scenes that were improvised which really fleshed it out and made it even richer.

DRE: You have a scene where you and Denzel tumble down the bank stairs, how was doing that?

CO: Those scenes were fantastic. Ive been a huge fan of Spike Lees for his whole career really and to be in a movie directed by him with Denzel Washington and Jodie Foster is as good as it gets. The past year or two has been incredible and the biggest thing is working with people of that caliber.

DRE: Youve been in a lot of noir type films, Croupier, Derailed and of course Sin City. Inside Man is kind of a noir with its twists and turns. What do you like about noir so much?

CO: I didnt even ever think about it in terms of being a noir. I think that Spike liked what I did in Closer. There was every reason for me to do this film. I just saw a very sharp script with Spike directing and the rest of the people involved, so if thats noir, then Id love to keep doing it.

DRE: How did you prepare for the role?

CO: I just put a mask on my face and just kept going over and over my lines to make sure you could distinguish what I was saying. Im not a great one for huge amounts of research. I use the script as the platform to go and do it and as long as I know what Im talking about, I dont ever feel the need to go off and immerse myself in any world. I think its much more just trying to execute what the writer has intended.

DRE: How is Spike as a director?

CO: I not only liked working with Spike but I respect him as a director. Hes got an attitude and a visceralness with how he makes his movies. Hes incredibly dynamic with the camera and he does the unusual thing where for the last six movies, he shot in two directions at the same time which Ive never done before. Hes very clear about what he wants and always ready to go very quickly. I think. Spike has discovered that it keeps a spontaneity and a liveliness in the scene. Also if anything unpredictable happens you catch it on camera. Spike is a very special filmmaker.

DRE: What attracts you to Spikes movies as a fan?

CO: Right from his early films, he exploded into movies because there was no one doing what he was doing. I love the fact that every time you see a Spike Lee film, hes trying to make a really serious movie. Hes always been true to that and that is very special. Hes opened up a lot for other filmmakers as well and he still seems very true to that same ethic from when he started.

DRE: Inside Man was shot in New York City, what do you like about working here?

CO: New York is the best city in the world. Its the capital of the world. Its the only place Ive ever gone where I can always stay longer. This was the first time I had shot a movie in New York and to be shooting on Wall Street with Spike was a really fantastic experience. Im crazy about this city. I think if it wasnt for the fact that I have a family and kids that are very settled in London, Im pretty sure that Id be living here.

DRE: Would you let children see this movie?

CO: My children cant see any of my movies. [laughs] Theyre nine and six. They came on set and met Spike and they know about this bank robbing film where Daddy puts on this funny mask.

DRE: Bruce Willis says hes doing a sequel to Sin City but that youre doing a prequel. Is that true?

CO: I have no idea [laughs]. Theyve been talking about it, but nothings been sorted out yet. I think Robert [Rodriguez] definitely intends to do two more movies but nothing has been set in concrete as regards to whos in it and when it will happen.

DRE: What made you choose your next film Shoot Em Up?

CO: It is a really incredibly wild original script. I was told that they didnt think it would be for me but it was so inventive and so crazy. Its an incredibly ingenious action movie where the lead character keeps being put in incredible situations and you cant believe hes going to get out of them, but somehow he does and in very inventive ways. It starts with the guy delivering a baby in an alleyway with people shooting at him and it doesnt let up for the next 90 minutes. I met the director and I thought that if he can pull this off, it will be wild and extraordinary.

DRE: Will Children of Men stay close to the novel and be as disturbing?

CO: I think it could definitely be disturbing. [director] Alfonso [Cuaron] has kept the same story but the actual elements of the book have been changed quite a lot. Its still set 30 years in the future and the conceit is still the same, that no one has had a baby for 18 eighteen years and our reluctant hero has linked up with the only pregnant girl on the planet. But Alfonsos really done a really fascinating and unusual exploration of where things could be going. People are assuming its a sci-fi movie but its almost the opposite of that. Its like now but the environment is worse. Things have not ended up that great and were in a world where there are no children, which is a pretty bleak place.

DRE: Would you be interested in doing more BMW films?

CO: Of course. That was an extraordinary campaign. I worked with some of the worlds best directors in a very unusual, very dynamic format. It was great.

DRE: Why did they stop making them?

CO: There were only supposed to be five and then they added some extra ones. Theyre very expensive.

DRE: As you said, youve had an amazing year, how do you keep grounded?

CO: Im a very lucky boy. Ive got a fantastic family back in London and Im having the time of my life in my work. I went to drama school a long time ago and it was always the work that was the important thing. Its about getting the opportunity to work with the best people and I keep working with incredibly talented people. Thats enough for me. I dont need anything more than that, so if it just continues, Ill be very happy.

by Daniel Robert Epstein

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