FILM INTERVIEW: MICKEY ROURKE
Wiley Actor Nabs Throne & Adds Crown to Versatile Resume in Tarsem Singh’s ‘Immortals’
Truly believing his Oscar trophy is sitting somewhere in Sean Penn’s house, Mickey Rourke is rather happy to be working in Hollywood nowadays. There appears to be no sour milk in not wrestling the gold statuette away from the two-time Best Actor, as Mr. Rourke has opted for the golden crown instead in Tarsem Singh’s Immortals. Also starring Freida Pinto, Henry Cavill, Luke Evans, Isabel Lucas, and Stephen Dorff, Mr. Rourke talks about how his character in Immortals instigates a war, pitting humans against the titans. Mentioned along the way are his passion project and the rebound of his career.
Parimal M. Rohit: What was your experience like working with Tarsem Singh?
Mickey Rourke: That’s probably the reason I took the movie. I don’t think I would’ve done the material if it wasn’t a guy like Tarsem -- someone who is a visualist and knows how to light, make everything transcend the page... It was great working with him. I didn’t really put that much into this film. I think I worked a total of eight days.
PMR: How did you get into character to play a king?
MR: There’s no particular way to go, "How does a king move?" I mean, look at Prince William. He kind of walks like Stephen Dorph. I just tried to slow it down a little bit. I’d make a choice, then Tarsem would come over and make a better choice. I really liked the fact that I had the opportunity to work with another smart guy.
PMR: Are you a fan of Greek mythology?
MR: Yeah, I like that.
PMR: Speaking of Greek mythology, what did you already know about it, and what did you learn about it in order to enhance your role?
MR: The only research I did was to look at some photographs, which is interesting because I am working on a rugby project, and Tarsem showed me a picture of a French rugby player with a beard and long hair. He says, "This is the look I want."
PMR: Speaking more broadly, what does this film mean to society?
MR: I just think it’s pure entertainment. I don’t think you can go that deep with it.
PMR: Do you have a different approach to your career now, on your second run?
MR: I try not to make the mistakes I made a long time ago, as that’s part of what got me out of work. My career started in the '80s, it was over in the '90s, so I had 13-14 years to think about the mistakes I made, realizing that it’s a political business and I can’t go around telling everybody, "F*** you," and I understand that. I’m okay with knowing that it’s business, it’s not this pure artform that I wanted it to be. I thought everybody was going to be like Al Pacino and Christopher Walken and Harvey Keitel and De Niro -- that kind of actor. I didn’t know there was going to be so much grey, so much mediocrity.
PMR: Are you pickier with your projects the second time around?
MR: No, I’m a real whore.
PMR: At this point of your career, is it all about chasing the Oscar?
MR: I already do have the Oscar -- it’s just sitting at Sean (Penn)'s house, the way I see it. I just have to keep moving and be better than I was the last time. There are jobs you take for the money, and then jobs for the glory. This one was for … I’m not going to tell you.
Relativity Media's 'Immortals' is released on November 11, 2011.
Featured content
You may also like
Recent comments
