Jason Statham Interview, The Bank Job

MoviesOnline caught up with Jason Statham at the Los Angeles press day for his new movie, “The Bank Job,” directed by veteran filmmaker Roger Donaldson (“No Way Out,” “Thirteen,” “The Recruit”). Statham stars opposite Saffron Burrows (“Klimt, “Enigma”) in a highly-charged heist thriller inspired by an extraordinary true event that tautly interweaves high-level corruption, murder and sexual scandal in 1970s London. “The Bank Job” exposes the startling secrets that the British newspapers were forbidden to cover in 1971 when the UK Government conspired to bury the crime by issuing a ‘D’ Notice.

A car dealer with a dodgy past and new family, Terry (Statham) has always avoided major-league scams. But when Martine (Burrows), a beautiful model from his old neighborhood, offers him a lead on a foolproof bank hit on London’s Baker Street, Terry recognizes the opportunity of a lifetime. Together with a team of small-time thieves, Terry targets a roomful of safe deposit boxes worth millions in cash and jewelry. But what Terry and his team don’t realize is that the boxes also contain a treasure trove of dirty secrets – secrets that will thrust them into a deadly web of corruption and illicit scandal that spans London’s criminal underworld, the highest echelons of the British government, and the Royal Family itself.

Born in Sydenham, England, Jason Statham was one of the best divers on the British team. He placed third in the Olympic trials on three different occasions, eventually placing 12th in the world. While training at the famed Crystal Palace National Sport Center in London, film crews and photographers pursued him as new talent for commercials and print campaigns. One of those jobs was a French Connection print ad where he met the owner of the company, who was also executive producer of a film in preparation, “Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels.”

Jason had a meeting with the director, Guy Ritchie, who gave him a role. He went on to work with Ritchie again in his next film “Snatch,” starring opposite Brad Pitt and Benicio Del Toro. Next came “Turn It Up” with US music star Ja Rule, followed by a role in the sci-fi film “Ghosts of Mars” and Jet Li's “The One.” In 2002, he was cast by Luc Besson in the title role of Frank Martin in “The Transporter.” He starred as Handsome Rob in the summer 2003 blockbuster remake of “The Italian Job” and as the adrenaline-compromised action hero of “Crank.” Statham returned as Frank Martin in “Transporter II” and re-teamed with Jet Li in “War.”

Jason Statham is a fabulous guy and we really appreciated his time. Here’s what he had to tell us about his latest film, “The Bank Job”:

Q: You’re way too young to remember this, did your parents tell you about it?

JASON STATHAM: They couldn’t remember much about it. My parents remember – they go, ‘Oh yeah, maybe there was something that I do remember.’ But literally there was three days of exposure and then it was all like hush hush, there was a whole blanket put upon the press. So unless you were around reading the papers on those particular three days, you wouldn’t have heard much about it, you know. And it’s quite interesting. I’d never heard of a D notice until Roger told me about what the implications of one of these were. I think he might have explained to you what one of those is, yeah? Not many people that I knew remember, and I certainly don’t remember, ‘cause I was yah [ie: this] big.

Q: What’s the secret to achieving permanent 5 o’clock shadow?

JASON STATHAM: Yeah, you see, I’ve got such sensitive skin that I can’t have a proper shave because I get a rash (he laughs) No, you have to have one of those beard trimmers, if you really want to look like that, which I’m sure you don’t.

Q: But you maintain a similar look across certain movies, is that your choice or the director’s choice?

JASON STATHAM: I was trying to compensate for the lack on top, just grow a bit more hair it sort of balances everything out.

Q: Roger told us he came across one of the real robbers, who is now about 75 years old, and was really surprised to see that he looked like a 75-year-old Jason Statham.

JASON STATHAM: People said, ‘Is that your dad?’ He was walking around on set, and we were told that we were not supposed to say who he is, I think there were three of us, me, Roger and Steve, that’s the only people that knew what his job really was, or what used to be. Anyway, so people would ask me, say, ‘Who’s that guy that you was talking to? It’s not your dad, is it?’ Literally, so it was a common feeling throughout the set that people thought I was talking to my dad.

Q: He didn’t pinch anything while he was there, did he?

JASON STATHAM: I think he’d tried his hand at pinching a long time ago. Nothing to steal from a film set, bunch of cheap cameras and a few lenses, that’s it.

Q: Was he able to tell you anything that would inform your performance?

JASON STATHAM: You know, you try and pick their brains as much as possible, and you try and give them a certain amount of respect. I mean, you find yourself in a position where you don’t want to be, you know, sort of, so tell me about this, how many years did he get? And did he get nicked? What did you steal? Where are all the jewels? I mean, you don’t want to go down that line and behave like a bit of an imbecile and a bit of an idiot. So you try and make them feel comfortable about the fact that they’re even talking to you about such a thing. I think he’ll be at the premiere. It’ll be nice to see him covertly, might be in a disguise.

Q: Since you’ve become so well known for action movies with a lot of your martial arts, how important is it for you to find non-fighting movies?

JASON STATHAM: It’s hard, because every time I do find a non-fighting movie, they always write a fighting scene in. So I find them and it’s like, ‘Oh my God, I don’t even clench my fist in this.’ Next thing you know, two weeks into the movie, ‘Yeah, we’ve got this scene, and just hit him.’ And so there’s always something that comes. I think this movie always had a moment of violence towards the end because there’s so much at stake. And I think people want to see this guy get kicked on the floor and bashed. Our best mate gets killed, and he’s responsible for that, and I think it’s a good payoff. Although I wanted to do a movie without throwing a fist or a kick or anything, I think it sort of warrants a happening at this particular time; although I’m still looking for that complete romantic comedy where I don’t hit anybody. One day.

Q: We talked to Sylvester Stallone recently and asked him what he thought of his successors and he mentioned you. How does that feel?

JASON STATHAM: Did he?

Q: Well, I know what he said.

JASON STATHAM:: Tell me what he said.

Q: He said that Rambo could take on the Transporter.

JASON STATHAM: (he gives big laugh) I’ve always liked Sly’s sense of humor. You know the fact that he’s even talking about me makes me very happy. I mean, I’ve watched his movies for years, and to think that he would even know who I was would be very cool. I love his films and I can’t wait to go and see his new one.

Q: Maybe you could fight Rocky in part 7 or 8.

JASON STATHAM: Me and Rocky, huh? I’m not bad, I’m better without the gloves though. He might have to – one glove and one no glove to make both of us happy.

Q: With this movie, how much did you want to get it right from what the script was and talking to the --

JASON STATHAM: Well, originally Dick and Ian, Dick Clement and Ian La Frenais, they do tremendous work on British TV and in movies, and a lot of their stuff I know so well as being great comedy writing, so the script when I read it was quite a funny script, and it was very, very comical, and once Roger started doing all his research, and [finding] all these facts, the scandal side, it just took a complete turn and became this, more like, thriller. I think it was something I was quite pleased about, because I’ve made a few comedies, and even the Guy Ritchie stuff in my opinion, very sort of black comedies, and I’ve never really done anything in the tone of The Bank Job, something quite scandalous and a great, true story. As the weeks progressed, and we started finding out all these facts, new pages came, new scenes started to come, and it was great. It took a turn in the direction that I wanted it to.

Q: How much input did you have into the script because you were there right at the beginning?

JASON STATHAM: Well I’m not particularly a great writer of stories or scenes. I was just there to express some sort of comments, if you like. You know, is it improving, are some of the relationships within the story good for me? So I had my fair share of input but it’s not like I was at home with a pen trying to contribute in any way but I think that’s the collaboration with all actors. I mean at the end of the day they have to try and bring to life what’s on that page. So, if it resonates as you’re reading it and you can feel…I think the way you have to be able to make is, you know, is that the way that I can articulate this and be truthful to it. A lot of the dialogue that we tried to stay away from you know with the rhyme and slang and all the East end stuff…we didn’t want to make it too English. It can start falling back along the lines of the Guy Ritchie stuff if you start giving it too much of a peppering of that kind of dialogue. A lot of the time some writers they’re writing very quickly and they think that that’s the way that these people talk. A lot of the time they don’t so you just go in there with a sieve and sort of sweep up and try to make the dialogue a bit more authentic and I think that’s a great contribution that I gave Roger. You know Roger comes from Australia. The way that we speak back in England has a certain rhythm to it so sometimes you can make the dialogue a little bit more truthful.

Q: How excited are you for “Crank II” with the idea of the electric heart?

JASON STATHAM: Electric heart? How do you know about the electric heart?

Q: Oh, it’s out.

JASON STATHAM: Is it out?

Q: That must sound exciting for you to take a new angle on it.

JASON STATHAM: It is, but you know it’s hard to talk about this script because you look at The Bank Job [which is] a true story that is full of intrigue, surprise and deceit and Crank is just like from the fucking stratosphere. It is so out there, it’s so wacky, it’s so unbelievable, but at the same time it’s the Neveldine and Taylor edgy, mad filmmaking that they do so well. It’s fun. It’s entertainment. Some people think it’s sheer horseshit but every person that I’ve met has actually said it’s terrific. I’m sure there’s some people that don’t like it. You can’t please everybody but there’s a lot of people that love it and I particularly love it.

Q: Was it something where you missed Chev and you’re excited to get back to him?

JASON STATHAM: I said to the Chevs (DOES HE MEAN NEVELDINE AND TAYLOR??)… They said to me ‘You know we’ve written Crank II.’ And I said, ‘There’s no way!’ And they literally sent it over. They write very, very quickly and they sent me the script and I was thumbing through it with a box of tissues just laughing and crying, going, ‘This is absolutely silly. When do we make it?’

Q: Can you talk about this balance of doing more serious fare? What’s the appeal of something like Dungeon Siege for an actor?

JASON STATHAM: I did that 4 years ago, you know. I was in a completely different spot back then. That’s a long time ago when I made that.

Q: With this film and also “In the Name of the King,” you’re playing kind of a family man, in different eras, but you’re a father and a husband.

JASON STATHAM: It’s a kid’s thing. You know it’s for the kids and I wanted to work with Tony Chang who is one of the most predominant action choreographers in the world. If you’ve ever seen House of Flying Daggers or Hero, you only have to look no further than that, an opportunity to work with somebody like that stands for itself. Things change, time changes, you do things for different reasons at different periods of your life and that was back then.

Q: Did you ever consider getting in the ring with Uwe Boll when he staged that fight?

JASON STATHAM: [laughing] Would I like to get in the ring with Uwe?

Q: He had a boxing match with all his critics. Were you ever tempted to try him out?

JASON STATHAM: No. I don’t fight other people’s battles. You know I’ve got enough on my plate. I’ve got to try and get ready to do two films in the next five months. I don’t want to be fighting anybody. I do my fighting on the camera. Why would you want to do it …beat up…? I don’t know. People have their own reasons.

Q: What’s the other film you’re doing in the next five months?

JASON STATHAM: I’m doing Transporter 3.

Q: Luc Besson says he’s writing another one.

JASON STATHAM: Yeah. It’s pretty much done. So we’ll be on a plane to Paris.

Q: I think you had said you had some issues with where the second one went. Is it more back to the tone of the first one and did you have any input on it?

JASON STATHAM: You know what? I’m not going to say too much about it but it’s in a spot that I’m very happy with if that makes sense. It’s got a bit for everybody in it. I think it’s a decent script.

Q: Is there another movie in another franchise that you would like to jump into?

JASON STATHAM: Yeah, a few. There’s a couple of things out there. No, I’m not going to start giving you the names of them ‘cause it starts sounding a bit like sour grapes that you haven’t gotten them or you know, ‘Why didn’t I get that part?’ Or ‘You said I was going to get this part and you haven’t given it to me yet.’ But there’s a few cool things that I know that I’d be really good for. There’s a possible chance that they might come my way and if they do, then both of them have a great potential to be great franchises and it’s always good to do franchises, all the big action stuff. Sly’s done a few. They work well. The Die Hards, the Lethal Weapons. You get a good one and you can keep ‘em going.

Q: How far along is “The Italian Job” sequel? Is that still floating around?

JASON STATHAM: Yeah. I’ve been talking about that for two years, you know, ‘Tell us about The Brazilian Job.’ I think someone should just erase it from imdb and save us all a problem and just put it back on there when it’s fully due and ready. I don’t know. It’s just one of those things. It’s just sitting around.

Q: So what’s the order of your next five months?

JASON STATHAM: I’m gonna do Transporter 3 and then I’m gonna do Crank and I’m gonna have a little hunger now.

Q: Do you have a romantic comedy after that?

JASON STATHAM: Hey, me and Hugh Grant. [Laughs]

Q: Your voice is very distinctive. Have you ever thought of lending it to an animation project?

JASON STATHAM: Yeah. I really have tried. I’ve auditioned a few times for animation. Yeah, I have and I never quite got it. Every time I got picked to the post, but I would love to. Love to. Any of those big animation films I love. It’s something that’s on the list of things to do.

Q: Is one of the franchises you’re interested in “The Equalizer”? They’re making a movie of that.

JASON STATHAM: Isn’t that funny you should say that? I saw Harvey the other week and he was talking to me about that.

Q: Michael Sloan created it.

JASON STATHAM: It’s a great one.

Q: He thinks you’re good.

JASON STATHAM: That is one of them actually.

Q: Do you follow American football and do you have any Super Bowl pick?

JASON STATHAM: You know what? I haven’t really had enough time to get busy with that, you know. One day. [pretends to throw a ball] Every time you see me throw one of them balls, people go ‘Whoa! He’s English, isn’t he?’ Because it goes like this [throws a crooked ball], instead of this [throws a straight ball]. That’s a hard one to catch.

“The Bank Job” opens in theaters on March 7^th.