One Hour Photo
In this thriller, Williams plays Sy Parrish, a lonely photo store clerk who becomes obsessed with a family whose photos he develops. Directed by Mark Romanek, this is one of the few movies starring Williams that do not offer any comic relief. Co-starring Connie Nielsen, Michael Vartan, and Will Smith.
It might be the work is just so precise so as a whole piece, I think it is the best I have done in a long time.
Insomnia
In the crime thriller directed by Christopher Nolan, Williams plays the murderer of a teenage girl in Nightmute, AK, during summertime when there is 24 hours of daylight. Co-starring Al Pacino, Hilary Swank and Martin Donovan. Nolan:
We’d been looking for somebody to play opposite Al who is not only a tremendous actor, but who also has a similar kind of audience identification with his star persona.
Cadet Kelly
Duff stars in the Disney Channel original movie Cadet Kelly. Duff plays character Kelly who gets sent to military school by her new stepfather. The film also features Disney Channel actress Christy Carlson Romano as Kelly’s school rival.
I had to learn how to twirl these big riffles, stand up straight and salute. It was so hard.
John Q
Washington plays John Quincy Archibald in the drama, John Q. After collapsing at his baseball game due to his enlarged heart, Archibald’s son, Michael is left no other option but to undergo a heart transplant. After being told that his insurance doesn’t cover his son’s transplant, Archibald takes the hospital hostage and demands the doctors save Michael’s life.
My character is a very sweet guy, a positive family man. One of my producing partners said, ‘If they don’t like you in Training Day, John Q can be your apology to your public.’
Ocean’s Eleven
Pitt stars in this Steven Soderbergh remake of the 1960 film. He plays Rusty Ryan, the loyal sidekick of con-man Danny Ocean, played by George Clooney. Together with several other cohorts, the two men plot a heist at the casinos of Terry Benedict, who also happens to be the boyfriend of Danny’s ex-wife Tess, played by Julia Roberts. Other cast members include Andy Garcia, Matt Damon, Don Cheadle, and Carl Reiner. On his character’s constant eating:
It was just something that started, and couldn’t stop. I don’t know what happened. It’s just the idea that you never have time to sit down and have a meal while you’re trying to pull off this heist, so he’s grabbing food all the time.
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone
Watson makes her screen debut in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. She stars as Hermione Granger, Harry’s brainy, bossy friend born to non-magic, “Muggle” parents.
Hermione sounds like me and behaves like me. She’s self-assured, irritating, emotional and loyal. Playing her doesn’t involve an awful lot of acting.
Training Day
Washington plays detective Alonzo Harris in the crime drama Training Day, alongside costar Ethan Hawke. Hawke plays rookie Jack Hoyt on his first day on a Los Angeles police narcotics team being trained by Harris. Hoyt quickly finds out that Harris’ methods are nothing close to ethical.
A lot of credit goes to Antoine Fuqua, the director. He brought the gangster aspect into it. That line ‘King Kong ain’t got nothin’ on me…” I made that up. The character’s ego, he just did not think he could lose.
Serendipity
Beckinsale plays Sara Thomas in the romantic comedy Serendipity opposite actor John Cusack. The story revolves around Sara’s strong belief in love and destiny. Throughout the movie, Sara conducts many tests of fate to see if she and Jonathan are really “meant to be.”
They saved all the kissing scenes up at the end of Pearl Harbor and the Serendipity ones were right at the beginning, so I was literally going from one man to the next.
Joy Ride
Walker plays Lewis Thomas in Joy Ride, a thriller road film. Lewis, in an attempt to win his childhood friend’s heart, offers to take her home from college. On the road, they encounter a murderous truck driver, Rusty Nail, and take it upon themselves to bring him to justice.
Joyride was an awesome script, I liked John’s shots…Steve Zahn’s awesome, I loved doing stuff with him, I laughed my ass off.
Don’t Say a Word
Bartusiak plays the young daughter of Dr. Nathan Conrad (Michael Douglas) in this psychological thriller, written by Patrick Smith Kelly and directed by Gary Fleder. She is kidnapped in attempt to get her father who is a therapist, to unlock crucial pieces of details from one of his catatonic patients. During an interview when asked if she enjoyed making the film
I love working with Brittany Murphy. And Conrad Goode, who plays the bad guy in Don’t Say A Word, taught me to play blackjack and poker.
America’s Sweethearts
Zeta-Jones plays Gwen Harrison in the romantic comedy America’s Sweethearts. After Hollywood’s favorite couple, Eddie Thomas and Harrison break up, it is up to a high profile publicist and Harrison’s ex-assistant Kiki, to get them back together. But things get hairy when Kiki starts to fall in love with Thomas. Co-starring Julia Roberts, Billy Crystal and John Cusack.
It’s so nice to be part of an ensemble piece where there’s so many great stars.
Lara Croft: Tomb Raider
Jolie plays Lara Croft, a young woman born into English wealth, who spends her days traveling the world searching for lost treasures. One day she stumbles upon an artifact that may give her clues about her deceased father. She embarks on the mission and is able to travel through time. Other cast members include Chris Barrie, Jon Voight, and Ian Glen.
This was a side of myself that I didn’t think was in me. But it wasn’t a surprise to people who know me. You spend so much time in your head as an actor, living in the dark, you forget to be free. And I’m the first person to be looking for what freedom means and to feel trapped and in a cage.
Pearl Harbor
Beckinsale stars as Lieutenant Evelyn Johnson in the 2001 romantic drama Pearl Harbor. Lt. Johnson is a nurse who is caught in a love triangle between two American fighter pilots played by Ben Affleck and Josh Hartnett. The film is directed by Michael Bay and produced by Jerry Bruckheimer.
I really didn’t know the details of Pearl Harbor, and I think that there is extraordinary poetry to a loss of innocence like that.
The Mexican
Pitt stars in this romantic comedy film directed by Gore Verbinski. He plays Jerry Welbach, a man traveling around Mexico with his girlfriend to find a valuable antique handgun called The Mexican for a local mobster named Arnold Margolese. The film also stars Julia Roberts, James Gandolfini, and Gene Hackman. On his on-screen romance with Roberts:
There was a Hepburn-Tracy quality to it, their relationship – the bickering and the relationship they had was funny. And also, bantering.
Queen of the Damned: Behind the scenes
Aaliyah describes the makeup process and shares bloopers of her role as Akasha on Queen of the Damned.
I have been bitten.
Queen of the Damned
Aaliyah plays evil queen vampire Akasha in this horror directed by Michael Rymer. Akasha is awakened by Lestsat (Stuart Townsend) when he becomes a rock star.
It’s fun to be that mean, evil person. I myself have always loved the dark side as well.
Traffic
Zeta-Jones plays Helena Ayala in the crime drama Traffic. Four different stories intertwine in a film about the war on drugs in America. A conservative judge is appointed by the President to lead the war on drugs, but quickly finds out that his own daughter suffers from cocaine addiction.
When Steven Soderbergh called me to be in Traffic, that was such an amazing opportunity, because it wouldn’t be what would be typically given to me. I just try to keep mixing it up.
Miss Congeniality
Bullock plays FBI agent Gracie Hart in this comedy directed by Donald Petrie. Hart goes undercover as a contestant in a beauty pageant to prevent a bomb attack on the pageant, but first, she gets a head-to-toe makeover. Co-starring Benjamin Bratt, Michael Caine, Candice Bergen, and William Shatner.
They don’t have many roles like this for women in Hollywood. They had them in the 30s and 40s and then Lucille Ball sort of left with it. This is sort of my Dumb And Dumber phase.
Remember the Titans
Washington plays Coach Herman Boone in the biographic drama Remember the Titans, alongside actor Will Patton. The film is based on the inspiring true story of Coach Herman Boone and his 1971 high school football team. The film covers topics of athletics, youth, and racism and is produced by Jerry Bruckheimer. On taking on the role of Coach Boone:
And I read it and thought, Hmm. Interesting story. Interesting character. What really nailed it for me was meeting Coach Boone.
The Mim Rose
Aaliyah makes an appearance in her brother Rashad Haughton’s short film, The Mim Rose. Aaliyah as Melissa:
Does she love you or love you not?
