Leonardo DiCaprio – State Lies: “Ridley and Marty are completely different filmmakers” (interview)
At the end of 2008, Première met the star to talk about State Lies, to be seen again this weekend on TV. But not only that: Leo also discussed other notable films from his career.
Sunday evening, Arte will offer a very effective war thriller, directed by Ridley Scott. When it was released in cinemas at the end of 2008, First liked it a lot State liesparticularly for the performance of Russell CroweAnd Leonardo DiCaprio.
The editorial team was also able to meet the star to talk about this experience, and not only that: Leo also looked back on his collaborations with Martin Scorsese (they had already toured together Gangs of New York, Aviator and Infiltrators at the time), on his reunion with Crowe several years after their western Dead or alive or on his desire to work with a certain Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu… The filmmaker thanks to whom he received the Oscar for best actor in 2016 for the Revenant ! We are sharing this long interview below, to wait until the film is rebroadcast.
State lies: Leonardo DiCaprio, at the top of his form and his game for Ridley Scott (review)
Beverly Hills. End of September. It is there, in an ultra chic palace, that we must meet Leonardo DiCaprioshowing the very exciting State lies. In this explosive spy film, the star plays an American agent involved in an undercover operation for a terrorist network. Al Qaeda, morality and lies are at the heart of a plot full of twists and turns. With this film, DiCaprio confirms his status as a super star and adds the filmmaker to his list of achievements Ridley Scott (After Scorsese And Spielberg). Above all, he rubs against Russell Crowe, raw and thick actor. We were waiting for the face-off of the century, but the script and the action make Leo the big winner…
In the hotel, we understand that Leo is around when we quickly calculate that there are more press officers, agents and bodyguards than journalists (4 in all). Comfortably sprawled on a sofa in suite 106, watching the show ofEllen de Generes and an episode of the new version of Beverly Hills, we see Leo emerge, as cool and attractive as in his films. It can begin…
By Gaël Golhen
After Dead or alivethis is the second time you’ve played with Russell Crowe… How was your reunion?
Leonardo DiCaprio: The experience is totally different. On Dead or alive we were both beginners… It was our first major role in a real studio film. If I remember correctly, Russell had just come out of Romper Stomper and me…me…it had to be Gilbert Grape ? Sharon Stone had seen both of our films and wanted to work with us. In any case, this film launched us both into the business. Since then, we have come a long way. And coming together like this, even briefly, was great. I shot a few scenes in Washington and Morocco with Russell… Honestly, he’s one of the most brilliant actors of his generation; he’s a guy who has real ethics in his profession and who forces you to give the best of yourself. And facing Ridley Scott, you better ensure…
You’re talking about Ridley Scott and Russell Crowe. They form a cinema couple that evokes the one you had with Scorsese…
LD: Their relationship is actually totally different.
Denzel Washington nevertheless explained that he had been very intimidated when he arrived on the set by American Gangster…
LD: Denzel said he was shy? (laughs)
Yes.
LD: Denzel? Shy ? OK, sorry…
In short, he mentioned his “shyness” when he arrived on the setAmerican Gangster facing the Crowe/Scott couple which already functioned like a war machine.
LD: I wouldn’t say intimidated. Quite very excited. With the idea of an additional challenge to take on. Ridley Scott and Russell Crowe have a special, almost fusional relationship. They understand each other immediately and have a bond that makes them move forward very quickly on a project. On set, Ridley mutters something to Russell and suddenly, where you had three scenes in the script, there is only one. You better follow, otherwise, you’re left behind. It’s exhausting, but once you get up to speed, it gives you a boost. That said, the relationship I have with Scorsese has nothing to do with it and Ridley and Marty are completely different filmmakers.
What makes them different?
LD: It has nothing to do. Ridley Scott is very meticulous, whereas Marty is… Marty is obsessed. Ridley plans everything before filming which almost allows him to be able to edit a scene on set. He can run 6 cameras at the same time and organize the scene in his head…. He is an instinctive filmmaker, who has a lot of flair and who creates in the urgency of the shoot. Working with Marty is more demanding over time. More intense. He takes his time, doesn’t hesitate to redo scenes, thinks about his plan for days. Both methods have their advantages, but on the set of State lies, I realized that playing in a hurry provided an extraordinary adrenaline shot. When you shoot for Ridley Scott, you better know his lines like the back of your hand: the cameras are filming you from all angles and he can reverse a scene at any moment. He loves surprising his actors.
Is it for him that you accepted the project?
LD: In part. I did State lies for three reasons: Scott, the subject and the character. I’ve wanted to work with Ridley Scott for years. But most of all I liked the idea of it being a relevant film. A film which reflects the reality of our world at war against terrorism and which also speaks to the way in which the US is perceived outside. State lies talks about the way we lead our fight against Al Qaeda, with a huge difference compared to other films of the genre: we don’t take sides. Ridley is content to present reality to the spectators; he leaves them the freedom to extrapolate what they want… Some will see it as a positive film, others a negative film about the US, but, deep down, the film is first and foremost authentic.
And the character?
LD: Roger Ferris is an exciting guy. He’s an agent who tries to have a very high moral ambition in a world in complete chaos… There was a real challenge in playing this guy who is constantly on the edge, who is filled with doubts, torn between his duty to his country and his own morality.
Did the controversy factor play into your decision to shoot State lies ? What I mean is that after Blood Diamondthis film risks provoking a new debate… Is this a criterion when you choose your films?
LD: Yes and no. No, because a) these films are hard to find, b) a controversial project doesn’t automatically mean a good story or good entertainment and c) it also doesn’t mean that a director I dream of working with will want to turn it. It’s difficult to find a story that can combine all of these criteria. I make very different films, but each time, the question I ask myself is not will it provoke debate, but will it be a good film? Will people want to see it? Because, at the end of the day, you can make political film after political film; controversy after controversy, if it’s crap, no one will see it.
You were talking about the directors who make you dream…
LD: They are numerous : Ang Lee, PT Anderson and the whole new wave coming from South America. Inarritu, Walter Salles, Meirelles…But again, it all depends on the script and the character.
Coming back to the film, what preparation did you follow to slip into the shoes of this agent?
LD: I worked with former CIA chiefs. And David Ignatius, the novel’s author, is no stranger to the problem of undercover agents. His book was already very well documented on the services in the Middle East and based on operations that actually took place… He was of invaluable help on the set.
What did you get out of it?
LD: That the Middle East is a hot mess (laughs). More seriously, we still think that the CIA is an uber-strategic company, which controls everything… In reality, obtaining information on these terrorists is like looking for a needle in a haystack. The CIA is looking for the beginning of information that could lead them to another lead and so on. It’s painstaking work that often leads to nothing. It’s impressive and often frustrating.
Titanic (3D) just celebrated its 10th anniversary; you team up again with Kate Winslet In Revolutionary Road ; when you look at your filmography in the rearview mirror, how do you analyze your post-Titanic ?
LD: This was never clearly considered. At no time did I say to myself that I should avoid having a ” label “ Titanic. I chose the roles I wanted to do and today, I can choose my roles with even more freedom. My career reflects my tastes and these are the films I dreamed of working in as a teenager. I’m not ashamed of anything and my film gives a good idea of what I wanted to do as a kid. It’s quite simple in the end: I’m a guy who likes action films.
We know that you are committed: to ecology, to the Democrats… What do you think of America today, a few days before the elections?
LD: It’s no secret. I would love to see Barack Obama in the White House. But beyond people and trends, I dream that young Americans will take charge and vote; that they express in the next elections what America really is today. They are the ones who will be the first affected by the result of this election. It’s up to them to decide and I’m doing everything I can to raise awareness!
Leonardo DiCaprio: “I want my films to be events”
