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LIST >l<
THE BEST FILM & DVD REl FASES
‘LEGALISE DRUGS AND i YOU TAKE CONTROL AWAY
FROM THE GANGSTERS'
Badass Lieutenant
Brazillian soap heartthrob and film star Wagner Moura talks exclusively to Kaleem Aftab about going to the dark side to play a brutal police officer in a new thriller
irls swoon when \Vagner Moura wanders
through his old haunts in Sao Paulo. The 32—
year—old graduate in journalism with boyish good looks is in the process of going global thanks to his role as the captain of the shoot—first—ask— questions-later elite police squad l$()l’li in .lose [fus- I74 l’adilha's new lilm li/i/c Squad. The story is set in the same Rio slums that served as a backdrop to (Try of (int! and (Try (ill/('11. .\lauro acknowledges that it's not just the location that connects the lilms: ‘\\'hat’s interesting is that where ('r'tv o/timl shows the point of view of the drug dealers. ('i'lv o/flllr'n is from the perspective of those who live in the favelas and our film is from the perspective of the cops.'
It turns out that the long arm of the law as practiced by the real B()l’li is an Ania/on forest away from any popular image of the friendly bobby on the Beat. The brutal depiction of an immoral police force created a ftii'ious debate when it was released in the land of the samba. a reaction which Mauro is ecstatic about: ‘I think one of the reasons that I wanted to act in this film is becatise we have to understand drug dealers. we have to understand the people who live in the favelas who are the main victims of the violence
and we have to understand the cops. I know a lot of
cops and former cops and they‘re good guys. but they really think killing people is the solution to violence.’
As shocking as Mauro finds this kill—or-be-killed perspective. his solution to the problem will also
raise a few eyebrows. He continues. ‘When you get ;
famous. people listen to you. so I have to be careful. but I really like to say what I feel. and one of those things is that drugs should be legalised in Brazil.
That would be an important step in stopping the
violence. because such a move would take control away from the gangsters.‘
Mauro is a clearly man who doesn't pull any punches. although his face turns green when he starts to recall the training he had to do to transform himself from romantic lead to Dirty Harry style cop: “We spent three months working with BOPE cops. It
was crazy. We went through a training regime like i the one that you see in the film.‘ Although Mauro admits her didn‘t have to eat maggots and muck
however.
‘l‘ve never done anything in my life as an actor like
that. The cops were really proud and they didn't care
that we were actors. They wanted us to be perfect '
and represent them perfectly. After a certain period of time. I forgot that l was an actor and [just wanted the training to end.”
It seems that Mauro's inner Rambo wouldn‘t let ?
him quit. Strangely. given his attitude. he seems far
more frightened by his latest acting challenge. that of
playing the mad prince Hum/er on stage.
Elite Squad is on selected release from Fri 8 Aug. See review, page 24.
3!: Elite Squad Following the international success of City of God, Brazilian filmmaker Jose Bus 174 Padilha takes us back into Rio de Janeiro’s troubled favelas, this time in the company of vicious secret military police. This naturalistic thriller is wantonly reactionary but absolutely electrifying. See interview, left and review, page 24. Selected release from Fri 8 Aug. 2, 08
* Elegy Interesting adaptation of Philip Roth novella The Dying Animal about a college lecturer in the throes of late onset midlife meltdown. Ben Kingsley, Penelope Cruz and Patricia Clarkson (pictured) fill out a superb cast and Isabel My Life Without Me Coixet directs. See review, page 24. Selected release from Fri 8 Aug.
* Man On Wine Experience some seriously high times with tight rope artiste Philippe Petit in this thrilling documentary. Out now on general release.
* The Dark Knight This Batman Begins sequel is breaking all kinds of box office records and with good reason. It’s easily the best of the summer blockbusters. Out now on general release.
* WALL-E Robots have feelings too you know. Delightful Pixar sci-fi pastiche. Out now on general release.
* Derek Issac Julien’s fascinating new documentary about artist and filmmaker Derek Jarman. Showing as part of the London Lesbian & Gay Film Festival on Tour. Fi/mhouse, Edinburgh, Fri 8 and Sat 9 Aug.
=lt Angel Face Welcome DVD release of Otto Preminger’s underatted 1952 film noir starring Robert Mitchum and Jean Simmons at the top of their form. See review, page 25. Out Mon 11 Aug (Blackhorse).
7—14 Aug 2008 ml List 21