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Posted: April 25th, 2005. 
Syndicated Interview – Nicolas Cage
What do you recall of your school days with Jon Turteltaub (National Treasure director)?
- “He was more popular. He was always the one who had all the girls surrounding him as he talked about drama – we were in the drama department together. I was in the corner somewhere trying to figure out how to talk.”
Did you enjoy the classical elements of the role like wearing the tuxedo during the robbery sequence?
- “Absolutely. When I was determining whether or not I was going to do National Treasure, at the time the script came to me there was another project I was considering.
In one the character was working in a gas station wearing overalls, and the other character was wearing a tuxedo. So I thought Id rather wear the tuxedo and steal the declaration of independence. It kind of helped me understand the tone of the movie, because I did think of pictures like To Catch A Thief and Charade. Theyd be dressed very elegantly, and theyd be very playful and comedic.”
Whats the appeal of these kind of stories?
- “I think this is just something thats happening in the culture round the world. But the genesis of this was seven years ago, so its even before things like The Da Vinci Code, so there must be something in the cultural zeitgeist that make people interested in codes and possible conspiracies – they are more interested in the mystery perhaps.”
Do you have any talents like Bens problem solving skills?
- Im not a very good problem solver, so I dont think I share much of his talent there. I do know how to turn a negative into a positive. Ive been doing that all my life, but the way I approach characters is – first and foremost – I try to stay stimulated.
I never want to get too comfortable in anything Im doing. I see myself as very much a student of acting, and I always see the chance to grow in some way. My idea to go into action adventure was uncomfortable in the beginning, but its something thats kept me on my toes, as long as I can stay fresh with it. If I can stay interested – and I have – then I think I can keep audiences interested as well.”
Do you find that the action stuff is getting easier, despite getting older?
- “Yeah, I think so. I feel a bit more seasoned. I feel like I can get from A to B without having to torture myself as much as I did when I was 17 years old.”
What was it like working with these co-stars?
- “I think Sean Bean is a great actor, and I can also say that hes a gentleman, a decent man. He can kick my ass at billiards any day of the week. Hes been to my house and done it.
What I like about our relationship in the movie is that you can see that these are two people who have a shared interest in history. They are intelligent characters and they can talk, they can communicate with one another. The same goes for Diane (Kruger) her character is one who also shares a mutual fascination with history.
Dianes a great actress, shes a lot of fun to work with, beautiful obviously but more than that shes charismatic. She has a playfulness about her which is nutty, like I am, so we had a lot of off the wall jokes off the set as well as on it.
That kind of energy translates to the film, and hopefully to the audience.”
Did Diane really intimidate you in the screen test as has been suggested?
- “Ive been asked this question a million times. I really wanted her to be in the movie, when we all did the screen test she was clearly the one who challenged – not intimidated – me.
However, Diane was doing Peter OToole impressions while relaxing between scenes, so I thought that this was finally somebody I could relate to. I wouldnt say I was intimidated, I was more enthralled at the prospect of working with Diane.”
Youve made interesting career choices, from blockbusters to indie movies?
- “I have very eclectic tastes, and I have to say that both types of films are organic in me, theyre part of my chemistry. I grew up watching adventure movies. Charles Bronson was a hero, Bruce Lee, Clint Eastwood, and I would fantasise that I was in those movies when I was a boy.
Then as I got older I discovered James Dean and De Niro and I wanted to be that kind of an actor, so I tried to find my way. But the truth is I have very eclectic tastes, I dont have an identity, I think my identity is that I dont have an identity. I dont want to be put in a box – I need to stay uncomfortable, I need to stay challenged to keep interested.”
Which of those action movies have you enjoyed working on the most?
- “Im not one who likes to compare movies, I had good experiences on all three. I had a lovely relationship with Sean Connery, we got along great. But on this one specifically, I had a terrific time working with Diane (Kruger) and Justin (Bartha).
I also had a chance to work with Jon Voight and Harvey Keitel, two actors who have inspired me and contributed to my ultimate decision about becoming a film actor. So each and every one of these experiences Ive learned from, and had a good time with.”
What’s new on the upcoming projects for you, like Ghost Rider and The Wicker Man?
- “I had a very successful conversation last night with Neil LaBute, who is the writer and director of The Wicker Man. Its something that I think may happen very quickly.
Ghost Rider is a project that Ive been linked to for about four years now. I love the character, I think hes a fascinating character – very complex. As far as super hero films go, cinematically, hes going to be the most interesting character ever in a movie. But its still something were talking about.”
Syndicated Interview – Diane Kruger
This was you biggest action role so far, were you prepared for it?
- “I thought I was pretty fit coming into this, but I realised I should have gone to the gym more often. It was fun. Ive never done anything this action packed before. It was interesting to hang off a truck for a week. Its really challenging.
I have a whole new level of respect for stuntmen because it is really hard work.”
It has been said that you intimidated Nic in the screen test?
- “I really dont know where thats come from. When I first met Nic I was incredibly star struck, and I was terrified of not getting the job, and that he would think I was a terrible actor. I pretty much avoided all eye contact with him. I think he maybe thought I was a little odd. But otherwise I don’t know where that has come from.”
What the appeal of this film for you?
- “It was lovely – I was sent the script when I was in Mexico making Troy, and I spent six months being really depressed and emotional in every single scene.
This was the perfect movie to come along, something light and contemporary. And I loved that my character was so strong, witty, charming and smart all at the same time. Id never played that before. Nic was a huge lure, the idea of being in a Jerry Bruckheimer film was too and Jon (Turtletaub) was just so funny when I met him on my audition, so enthusiastic, I felt this couldnt have been more perfect really.”
This must have been a head spinning two years for you?
- “Ive only been acting for three years now, and its been an incredible last couple of years. It all happened very naturally, I didnt go out to America to try to get work, it its just sort of happened. I feel incredibly blessed, and lucky, but Im very aware of being the flavour of the month right now.
My ambition is to be recognised as a good actor. I will hopefully get the opportunity to show more range, Im hoping to do more European films, more challenging parts in future. I want to do it all, and I really admire what Nic was saying about his eclectic choice in movies. I share that and I really admire his body of work over the years.
I really hope I get the opportunity to do the same, so I have been making conscious choices about doing those smaller independent films. I cannot thank people enough for giving me the opportunities Ive had.”
Syndicated Interview – Jerry Bruckheimer
QUESTION: The box office success of National Treasure suggests the makings of a franchise. Is a sequel on the way?
- “Id certainly love to do it. Weve just to hope that the Walt Disney Company would like to do it. Ill be there, and hopefully the rest would like to join in again. I dont write the cheques, Disney does, so its up to them.”
So there is no sequel script in development?
- “No.”
What research was needed for making the robbery appear so real?
- “We hired an individual whose job is to work with the government and break into their facilities, to check their security. We had him do that with the National Archives, which he went and scouted.
It was pre-9/11 so the security wasnt the same as it is today, in fact theyve changed everything, remodelling their archives and changing their security system. But the way he does it is the way you actually could break into a very secure building.”
Is he an ex-con?
- “No, hes an ex-Navy SEAL, and thats how theyre trained, to break into very secure facilities.”
What was the idea behind the casting of Christopher Plummer?
- “Hes a brilliant actor, and you try to populate your movies with brilliant actors. Hes at the top of his game, Ive wanted to work with him for a long time and fortunately I think Jon (Turtletaub- Director) shared my ambition.”
Release info:
Credit:
Release date:
Certificate:
Running time
DVD ratio
Price (VHS/DVD) Buena Vista Home Entertainment
25th April 2005
PG
126 mins
2.35:1 widescreen
£19.99
Reviewer of movies, videogames and music since 1994. Aortic valve operation survivor from the same year. Running DVDfever.co.uk since 2000. Nobel Peace Prize winner 2021.