Brendan Fraser Interview, InkHeart

MoviesOnline sat down recently to talk with Brendan Fraser about his new movie, “Inkheart,” directed by Iain Softley. Based on the best-selling book by Cornelia Funke, Inkheart is a fantasy adventure that sends a father and daughter on a quest through worlds both real and imagined. The film also stars Eliza Hope Bennett, Paul Bettany, Helen Mirren, Jim Broadbent, Andy Serkis and Rafi Gavron.

Mortimer "Mo" Folchart (Fraser) and his 12-year-old daughter, Meggie (Bennett), share a passion for books. What they also share is an extraordinary gift for bringing characters from books to life when they read aloud. But there is a danger: when a character is brought to life from a book, a real person disappears into its pages.

Brendan Fraser is a favorite of film audiences. He most recently starred in the third installment of "The Mummy" franchise, "The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor." Fraser had previously starred with Rachel Weisz in the blockbuster action/horror adventure "The Mummy," Stephen Sommers' ambitious retooling of the 1932 horror classic. He re-teamed with Sommers and Weisz for the film's hit sequel, "The Mummy Returns." The three films have, to date, grossed more than $1 billion worldwide.

Fraser also starred last summer in "Journey to the Center of the Earth," the first live-action, narrative motion picture to be shot in digital 3D. He’ll next stars in the upcoming actioner "G.I. Joe," which reunites him with Sommers and is set to open in Summer 2009.

Brendan Fraser is a fabulous guy and we really appreciated his time. Here’s what he had to tell us about his new movie, “Inkheart”:

MoviesOnline: Eliza told us that you're such a wonderful, humble guy that even though the second book was dedicated to you and inspired by you, you went up to the director and said if you don’t pick me for this movie, I'll be fine with it. Is that true?

A: Yes, because it's a good story and it deserves to be made. And those come along rarely and under weird circumstances in Hollywood. It's not like you get a novel written and they hand it to you and go “Let’s see if we can make a movie out of it." Let alone get the wheels rolling in cash and all that to get the thing off the ground. It's like a rocket launcher every time you make one of these things.

MoviesOnline: How did it come to your attention?

A: Well, I hit a dry spell or call it a wall or quicksand or something like that after the Looney Tunes debacle. Keep laughing! C’mon, I don't like turning down work. Give me a break. [laughs] It was a cartoon rabbit and duck.

MoviesOnline: I thought you liked cartoons?

A: I do. Bugs is an awesome guy. He really is. People ask “What's an actor really like?" But he's cool, he's cool. Daffy Duck is an asshole.

MoviesOnline: You’re not supposed to say stuff like that.

A: I just did. I don't care. I'll take the mail on that one.

MoviesOnline: You’re honest.

A: That hurt me here and here (points to head and heart). So I get this book. It shows up in the mail. “Dear Brendan,” it’s inscribed. “Thank you for inspiring this character." I can feel my leg getting pulled already. “What? Where’s Ashton Kutcher?” I hope that you get a chance to read this aloud to your kids one day. Best wishes, Cornelia Funke.” I had no idea from a bar of soap who she was, so I Googled her. Wow, so much work, she’s prolific. I think part of the story is that a little girl who was bilingual, I think she was a Brit but she spoke German fluently, had discovered a copy of Tintenherz which she loved and read and wrote to either it was Cornelia or the publisher and asked why isn’t this published in English? And I think Cornelia probably wanted to know the answer to that question, too. So once it was, it just became a snowballing thing and then that really got her out there and led to the acclaim and popularity of her work.

So you've got a novel now. How are you going to get it on the screen? Will you be able to? It doesn't happen every day. I read the book and thought “Wow! Great idea, original for sure.” Let’s just say it didn't have an overt message that said “Hey kids, put down your video consoles, step away from the TV and read a book” in a sort of ‘eat your vegetables’ kind of way. Each chapter is introduced with a quote from prose or a lyric or something from literature that predates the world of the book that we’re following the story of. Let's just put it this way. Cornelia has a vast knowledge of literature and is the living embodiment of an author. She has been able to make this story compelling and keep it down to the essentials which is about a family being reunited. And that's what I got from it. All of the fantastic elements aside, that’s the thrust of it and I think that's what gives it its heart, its Inkheart.

MoviesOnline: You have a tendency to play characters who either escape from or retreat to these sort of anachronistic worlds like George of the Jungle, Blast from the Past, and even this.

A: Yeah, the district attorney from Crash was really not with it. [laughs]

MoviesOnline: But that’s been sort of a theme over the course of your career?

A: [pretends to fence and parry with a saber sword] Touche.

MoviesOnline: Do you feel that's a product of having done that successfully and then people offering you similar kinds of roles? Or is there something about that type of role that attracts you?

A: I think it's kind of a magnetic thing where they follow me around like those little metal shavings toys we used to be allowed to play with, magnets. [laughs] It's an area that I'm comfortable in because I never grew up and there’s still a little kid in me who likes to play with big toys and nowadays in films, as we all well know, if you can imagine it, you can put it on screen. You do it in 3-D.

MoviesOnline: Are you surprised that you had two big summer hits last year? It seemed with Journey to the Center of the Earth 3-D, everybody was like wow.

A: Yes, that was important. It really worked. For one thing, it was like “Oh my goodness, it actually worked." It's not bad. It’s on airplanes and stuff like that and you can see that as a film, it holds up on its own without having the technical innovation. It’s good of you to say that, thank you.

MoviesOnline: The practical stuff was really cool.

A: But when you get that, it’s like “Do you want to go econo or do you want to fly first class?” [laughs] That's where the technology is headed. I just got back from Singapore and they had this – I don’t know what it was – it’s called a convention, a film festival, a trunk show. (He’s referring to the November 2008 3DX 3D Film Festival in Singapore) The keynote speakers were there and were they really talking about where 3D is or were they just sort of tub thumping for their next movie coming out. I'm not naming names. [stage whisper] Jeffrey Katzenberg. [laughs]

MoviesOnline: We’ve all seen his dog and pony show.

A: Woof!

MoviesOnline: Are you done with GI Joe? Have you finished everything?

A: Bra’, I was there for a morning, okay? It was a cameo that I begged to be in.

MoviesOnline: Last night they said you were the star of G.I. Joe.

A: They said that last night?! [fall off chair backwards from mock surprise]

MoviesOnline: Yes, on the Broadcast Critics Awards. They didn’t even mention Inkheart.

A: You’ve got to be kidding me.

MoviesOnline: No, they didn’t even say Inkheart. Didn't you hear that when you were coming out? They said “The star of G.I. Joe.” 

A: No, all I heard were the producers going, “No, No, cut the rapper. Richard Gere is talking with Diane Lane.”

MoviesOnline: That was a great pratfall by the way. That was good. That’s why you were so great in Looney Tunes.

A: That’s why I get paid the big bucks. They said G.I. Joe?

MoviesOnline: Yes, the star of the upcoming G.I. Joe.

A: They didn’t say Inkheart?

MoviesOnline: Nope. G.I. Joe. Everybody wants on the Brendan Fraser bus.

A: Okay.

MoviesOnline: All aboard the Brendan Fraser bus.

A: Alright. Let's get something straight about this G.I. Joe thing. I’m in the Shanghai Studios in China and we’re miserable because it’s 10 o’clock in the morning and it’s raining and we’re all having certain digestive issues, let’s just say. Bob Ducsay, Stephen Sommers’ producing partner, who did all the other movies, the first couple Mummy movies, he’s there and he’s kind of keeping everyone from jumping the rails or whatever and he’s got this big old grin on his face. And I’m like, “What do you have to be so happy about?” and we’re freezing to death. And he’s just got off phone, the time zone, he’s like (trying to restrain himself) and Bob’s a pretty poker faced kind of guy but he's grinning like he just ate the canary. He says “We just got the go on Joe. Paramount greenlit the movie.” “Hey man, that’s cool, great! Congratulations! You suck! Can I have a job? Please? I will wash your car. I will walk your dog.” My G.I. Joe wound up in a tree dangling from his parachute strings all winter on a count of I threw him out a window from a second story apartment.

MoviesOnline: You didn’t save him?

A: With a rake in the spring.

MoviesOnline: You left him there the whole winter? That’s a long time!

A: I know, but it's cold outside and my mom wouldn’t let me climb the tree. Anyway, so, you know, I’m a fanboy when it comes to Joes. Can I just get something straight? I’m not Gung Ho. Alright? I don't know what you’ve read. That is not the name of my character. If you look him up, in all due respect, he looks like a refugee from the Village people and no, I did not attire myself as such.

MoviesOnline: But it does reflect your attitude about the movie? Young Hawk.

A: Precisely. Thank you. With your permission, I am ripping it off like they told me in school.

MoviesOnline: So who is your character and what are you wearing?

A: You’ll have to go and stay until the end of the movie. But I'll tell you what, they gave me a really cool motorcycle ride. [laughs] It's a site gag. I show up and you’re supposed to go, “Hey, isn’t that…?”

MoviesOnline: Are you one of the Dreadnoughts (Dreadlocks?)?

A: I’m not telling. [laughs]

MoviesOnline: You have kids, don’t you?

A: Three.

MoviesOnline: Girls, right?

A: Wrong! Three sons: 6, 4 and 2.

MoviesOnline: So they must love the stuff you’re doing now? Journey and …

A: You know, they’re more all about Sponge Bob to tell you the truth.

MoviesOnline: Really?

A: Now wait a minute, don’t be banging on the Sponge Bob. Okay? He may wear square pants but he lives in a pineapple under the sea. (raises voice) I said under the sea. My kids have seen very few of the films I’ve been in. I don't know if they understand or are really that interested in what I do.

MoviesOnline: Have they seen Journey?

A: They did not. They saw the commercials and that's all they kind of needed because it was flashing all over the TVs while they’re in between Sponge Bob. They were showing product placement and advertising campaigns for Batman products. So they were like, (high pitched, shrill voice) “Buy me that! Buy me that!” “Yeah, pal, I’ll take care of that.” “Buy me that!” “I’ll do that, alright?” “Buy me that!”

MoviesOnline: So you need to be in a Sponge Bob movie to be the hero of the year, huh?

A: I think so. I think if I do do that and they learn that I was and I didn't introduce them to Sponge Bob, they’ll probably never speak to me again.

MoviesOnline: Is there a literary character that you would like to bring to life?

A: No, are you kidding me, man? I'm with the character, Eleanor, that Helen (Mirren) played, who says at one point that she's going to go back to her place to set things in order and where the characters have the good sense to stay on the page where they belong, thank you very much. History may have taught us otherwise. Fictional characters? Nah, I don’t know. I’d like to maybe meet some living people. I think Billy Connolly would be fun to have lunch or dinner with. [laughs]

MoviesOnline: Is there a book other than the one that was dedicated to you that you’ve been obsessed with in the same way as your character is with Inkheart?

A: Wow, interesting question. Early reading for me started with Roald Dahl so maybe that tainted my brain for the right reasons.

MoviesOnline: Was it like The Witches or James and the Giant Peach?

A: Danny, the Champion of the World, Fantastic Mr. Fox, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Glass Elevator, and then there was one collection of short stories -- they were a little bent. He really had more in mind than my 9-year-old imagination was prepared for, I think, but they were interesting nonetheless and I think important regardless because, calling this as a father and maybe this comes a little bit later, but I think kids need an edge to push up against in my view. They need to know what the barriers are so they can decide to go over them or stay within them and they need a formidable foe. That’s why in Inkheart, at the end, the Shadow is a pretty creepy entity. It shows up and it actually frightens. I know that, for instance, it would scare my kids. I would chapter search through it if I ever show them the movie because I don’t want to flip them out. I’m repeating myself, but I think it is gives them a sense of right/wrong, up/down. It’s important.

MoviesOnline: But you’re not starring in G.I. Joe, have you done anything else? Are you getting ready to do something?

A: I'm looking for a job.

MoviesOnline: Do you think there will be a Journey sequel?

A: I'm waiting to hear. The studios are in such a funny place right now, you know, all the elements – potential strike, bad economy… I really don't know the answer.

MoviesOnline: Have they talked to you about it though?

A: You know, people speak about it anecdotally, the “wouldn’t it be great” kind of moment, but if I had news to share with you, I would. I don't know at the moment.

MoviesOnline: What did you enjoy most about making Inkheart and how was it working with such a great cast in Italy for 6 weeks?

A: Bummer! [stage whisper] Truffle season too! White truffle season! Barolo Blue Teeth! [regular voice] While everyone was doing that, there’s Eliza Bennett, the most talented actress of her age group…

MoviesOnline: She’s unbelievably well poised.

A: Well said. …who would sit in the lobby, go through her script and prepare herself for the next day’s work, and we would all show up to get the lines painted out from underneath our eyes and, as Paul and I would say, “Look, just point the camera at Eliza. We’ll be over here off camera reading our lines.” And the movie is there anyway. It is. It’s a story about a little girl who’s looking to meet her mom again. And what was the best part of it? Working with an ensemble because of that reason.

MoviesOnline: And Helen…

A: She’s a team player. I promise you, she is. C’mon, I’ve been in love with her since Excalibur. C’mon. Morgana. Remember that chain maille?

MoviesOnline: How was working with Iain as a director? How was he?

A: Brilliant. He is up there with the good ones who are like what, and I agree, Ian McKellen told me once, and I sat in on the Actors Studio, but he said the good directors are the ones who say “Look, it’s over there.” Like they direct you, “Just go over there.” And if you go over there, you get a good result. He wasn’t in any way precious about the material – ever, ever, ever. He never lost his cool because he’s a career director, he’s a proper director. He’s kind of like…I was watching Obama’s speech before I came over here this morning and he’s like, “Hey, if it’s a good idea, I want to hear it. I don’t care where it comes from. I’m the last word, but, you know…” In a way, but you have to have that for that reason. He has that sensibility.  

MoviesOnline: For the kids that read Nickelodeon Magazine, is there anybody you know who is like a cartoon character?

A: [Brendan points to himself, then tips his chair backwards until it falls over with him in it, then rolls out of it, smiles and exits the room]

MoviesOnline: Thanks, Brendan. You can’t top that exit.

“Inkheart” opens in theaters on January 23rd.