Russell Crowe and Leonardo DiCaprio are spymaster and spy in Body of Lies, a movie which harks back to espionage thrillers of the past but reflects the geo-politics of the present. MICHELE MANELIS reports
KEY POINTS:
Reminiscent of the gritty spy movies of the 70s, where good guys are not always easily distinguishable from the bad, Body of Lies is a ride through the questionable workings of the morally ambiguous, paranoia-filled world of the CIA, set against the grim backdrop of contemporary terrorism in the Middle East.
Based on the best-selling novel of the same name, the movie reunites Oscar winner Russell Crowe and three-time nominee Leonardo DiCaprio, in this twisty, espionage thriller.
The actors previously worked together when they starred in their first big-budget Hollywood movie more than 12 years ago, The Quick and the Dead. Clearly, they have travelled an interesting road to this point in their careers. And although much has changed for them, their sense of humour has remained intact.
"Leo isn't a virgin anymore. And he can drink legally," jokes Crowe, typically. Evidently, the two actors enjoy each other's company offscreen.
DiCaprio pointed out, later that afternoon, "Russell doesn't know what he's talking about. But this seems to be his schtick so I'll let him have it."
Directed by Ridley Scott, the movie is set in the unpredictable and chaotic Middle East where DiCaprio plays a CIA operative who infiltrates terrorist networks and lives - frantically at times - on the edge. He hides behind a pair of brown contact lenses, and adapts to local customs and language in an effort to blend in. Crowe plays the ruthlessly multi-tasking CIA strategist who manages a tight network of field agents, and conducts assassinations throughout the Middle East, effortlessly playing puppeteer from his cellphone in Washington using spy satellites and laptops.
Says Crowe: "This movie is like Three Days of the Condor, or The Spy Who Came in From the Cold. That's what Body of Lies owes its history to - and as much as this alludes to the world as we know it now, it isn't a film specifically about current world events. It's an espionage movie."
"Ridley doesn't have a political agenda, nor did he want to make any specific political comment. He puts us in a position as the audience to think about what may unfold in our future."
Explains Scott: "I was completely seduced by the book, written by David Ignatius, a man who loved and knew the Arab culture, and I love the Arab culture, having shot four films there. I liked the density of the story and I recognised the parallels that are happening, not just today, but since the Gulf War. For the last 20 f****** years this has been going on. And before that, Vietnam and then after in Beirut," he says.
"And yes, it's set in Iraq. But remember, it's a movie. It's not a commentary. This is a great spy movie borrowing from the events of that world and actually making a movie that ultimately is the same genre as Michael Caine's Ipcress File, or my brother's [Tony Scott] Spy Game. We love spy movies. We love the puzzle."
It's not unusual for Crowe to physically transform himself for a role (he gained 27kg for The Insider and he hit the gym for Gladiator). For this role, he donned a grey wig, and gained a hefty 23kg.
Recalls Crowe: "Ridley called me up and said [imitating Scott's English brogue], 'I need you to gain a large amount of weight for this role'. So, I did. It wasn't hard. I chose a sedentary lifestyle over an active one and the weight piled on."
Although he's lost a lot of the weight, he still cuts a hulking figure walking through the ornate corridors of the hotel. Despite his movie star wattage, he looks a little out-of-place with a scruffy ponytail dangling behind him. "Oh, the hair? "he says, offhandedly. "It's my dead koala look. It's for my next role, in Nottingham" [a new Robin Hood movie also helmed by Ridley Scott].
So into Errol Flynn's old green tights then? Says Crowe, straight-faced: "They hadn't invented tights in the year 1194. And, mate, I'm really happy about that."
Much has changed for DiCaprio and Crowe over the last decade. Crowe has won an Oscar (Gladiator), become a married man with two children, and of course, he's had his well-documented brushes with the law. DiCaprio, now 34, endured the "Leomania" heat from the monumentally successful, Titanic, and morphed from pin-up movie star idol into legitimate actor, earning Oscar nods for Blood Diamond, and The Departed this year.
"Not many people survive that kind of thing," says Crowe. "Leo was on every pencil case and every poster, but he came out unscathed. He's the same fella, he has the same heart as he did 12 years ago when we were both new to the game. When we were on the set of Quick and the Dead, people looked at me like, "What's he doing here?' and Leo got the same treatment. We bonded over that."
DiCaprio returns the compliment. "Russell is one of the greatest actors around. When I met him, he'd just come off Romper Stomper and I'd come from What's Eating Gilbert Grape. We were both on the set of the Quick and the Dead saying, 'how do we conduct ourselves on a big movie set like this?' A dozen films later, Russell hasn't changed. He's still got the same sense of humour and work ethic."
As mentioned, Crowe will begin Nottingham soon. Meanwhile, there was much ado about him bowing out of the highly anticipated epic, Australia, starring Nicole Kidman and directed by Baz Lurhman. Jackman replaced Crowe in the starring role. "I have talked to Baz about this film for years. Years. I was ready, at his request, November 2005. He started making the movie in April 2007. Somebody's got to earn the milk money in the meantime and if I did that movie I would have thrown away the ability to do American Gangster, and 310 to Yuma. Australia is a fabulous story. No doubt he'll make a great movie, but I have to make decisions that are right for me and my family."
Crowe has a lot on his plate, and like his character in Body of Lies, has learned to multi-task, keeping all his plates in the air. "I run a football team [South Sydney Rabbitohs], I run a charity for indigenous people attached to that football team, I run a farm, I'm in a band, I'm a father of two, and I make movies. So, any given day can be quite an intriguing mix of decisions and information I have to take in," he says. "But my central business is being an actor."
Clearly, his role as husband and father has taken priority over his career.
"I'm 44. If something interests me, I'll go and do it. But I don't have any grand plans or grand designs as an actor. I enjoy it, I love doing it, especially when I get to put on a funny wig and speak in a funny voice. That's fun," he says.
"But I'm not desperate to prove anything to anyone anymore."
LOWDOWN
What: Body of Lies starring Russell Crowe, Leonardo DiCaprio and directed by Ridley Scott
When and where: Opening at cinemas today
