www.list.co.uk/film
French toast
t’s quite fitting that on the seat next to Mathieu
Amalric is his motorbike helmet. Having dashed
across London from Pinewood Studios. where he is currently shooting the new James Bond film Quantum of Solace. the French actor knows that come the autumn he may need it for more than just safety. After all. playing the villain in one of the year’s most anticipated films means his so-far carefully guarded anonymity is in danger. ‘That is something I’m a bit afraid of.’ he admits. ‘That I won’t be able to have this normal life that I still have.’
Despite being previously married to French actress Jeanne Balibar. the 42-year-old Parisian. dressed today in a brown corduroy suit. is not the sort of star to grace the covers of Paris Match. In truth. after shooting several shorts and the low-budget feature Wimbledon Stage. Amalric considers himself as a director moonlighting as an actor.
The problem is. while he’s had another script ready to direct for the past two years. Amalric’s suddenly the most in-demand actor in France. Recently riveting as real-life stroke victim Jean-Dominique Bauby in Julian Schnabel’s heartbreaking The Diving Bell and the Butterfly. rightly winning him a French Cesar award. next month Amalric can be seen in Claude Miller’s WWll-set family saga Un Secret. ‘At the same time. you have to look at it like a big joke.’ he shrugs. ‘lt’s like a fairytale but you know it will stop. You’re loved one day and the next day you’re rubbish.’
Not that this is liable to happen with Amalric. who has steadily built a career working with the creme-de- la-cr’eme of French cinema. His latest film. offbeat
'YOU'RE LOVED ONE DAY AND THE NEXT DAY YOU'RE RUBBISH'
V
James Mottram meets France's busiest actor and new Bond villain Mathieu Amalric to discuss the dark side of the Eurostar
corporate thriller Heartbeat Detector. is typical, in that his character offers up another Amalric masterclass in modern-day male angst. He plays Simon. an industrial psychologist assigned to secretly observe his boss (Michael Lonsdale) until the shocking discoveries become all too much.
While Amalric admits director Nicolas Klotz told him to watch the films of Fritz Lang and Jacques Tourneur for research. his best resource was observing CEOs in restaurants and on trains. ‘This language they use . . . even on the Eurostar, in business class. it’s frightening.’ says Amalric. munching a slice of marmalade on toast. ‘For me, it was exactly that. It’s exactly the Eurostar businessman. What are they doing on their computer. with all these lists‘? Each time I see a guy with those lists of numbers. I think. “Check: a hundred people fired!” It’s nothing to them!’
By coincidence. Amalric will be following in the footsteps of his Heartbeat Detector co-star Lonsdale when he does battle with 007 this autumn. Lonsdale famously played Hugo Drax in the 1978 Bond adventure Moonraker. though Amalric promises his character. Dominic Greene. is far different from the Bond villains of yore. ‘l’m playing a guy who doesn’t know how to fight. There’s no secret weapon. or secret technique or kung-fu. I just have my face. No scars. nothing!’ If that’s the case. he better hang onto that crash helmet.
Heartbeat Detector is on selected release from Fri 16 May. See review, page 54. Du Secret will be on selected release from Fri 13 Jun.
LIST >l<
THE BEST FILM 8 DVD RELEASES
* The Last Mletneu Controversial French filmmaker Catherine Breillat (Romance, A ma soeur) bounces back from a recent stroke with this sexy and shocking French aristocracy drama set in 19th century Paris. Breillat’s most accessible and interesting film in years. See review. page 54. Filmhouse, Edinburgh from Fri 9-7’hu 15 May.
it Honeydripper John Sayles heads to 19505 Alabama for this pleasing tale of bankruptcy and electric blues. See interview. page 54, and review. page 51 . Selected release from Fri 9 May.
* XXV lntelligently executed Argentinean drama about what it means to live with a hermaphrodite in the family. See profile, in listings and review. page 51. GFT, Glasgow, Fri 9-7hu 15 May. Filmhouse, Edinburgh, Fn' 16-Thu 22 May. * Heartbeat Detector Challenging but convincing French corporate thriller. See interview, left and review. page 34. Cameo, Edinburgh and selected release from Fri 16 May.
* Caramel Nadine Labaki’s funny Beirut beauty parlour comedy. A little gem. See profile, in listings and review. page 53. Selected release from Fri 16 May.
* Iron Man Impressive Marvel superhero adaptation starring Robert Downey Jr and directed by Jon Favreau. See review, page 50. Out now, general release.
3? 0 Lucky Man! Long overdue UK DVD release of Lindsay Anderson’s meandering but inspired 1973 take on Voltaire’s Candide. An overlooked classic. See review, page 55. Out Mon 19 May (Wamer Home Video).
8-22 May 2008 WE LIST 49