Jail bait
‘WE LET OURSELVES DOWN AS A RACE'
Brian Cox plays convict Frank Perry in The Escapist
Jan Gilbert meets the hardest working Scottish actor in the business, Brian Cox
s Brian (‘ox welcomes me into the interview room at London‘s Gibson Guitar Studio. he
points out a picture of Syd Barrett. ‘a son of
Cambridge‘. on the wall. It‘s been just a few months since the Dundee-born actor was treading the boards on Broadway to the sounds of Pink Floyd. playing a communist Cambridge don in Tom Stoppard‘s Roek ‘n'Ru/l.
lirom theatre through television to cinema. from blockbusters (the Bourne and X—Men movies) to indie projects (The Flying .S'mrs‘mun. l..l.l:'). (‘ox has done it all. and he's done it with style. picking up BAFTA and limmy awards. and a (‘Bli along the way. And at ()2 years old. the hardest-working actor on the planet shows no signs of slowing down.
Sitting on a big red sofa. (‘ox looks relaxed. dressed in a casual grey shirt and blue jeans. Although understandably tired after a full day of interviews. he listens attentively and speaks thoughtfully about his career.
‘I was a slow starter in this business] he confesses.
‘thc reason being that I always wanted to be in it for
the long haul and I knew that the roles become more interesting as one gets older.'
As proof. (‘ox points to his two most recent releases: The Iz'seupisr. an action film about a life- term prisoner determined to break free upon learning his daughter is critically ill: and Red. a thriller in which he plays a man seeking justice after his canine companion is killed. The charmingly voluble actor is justifiably proud of these films. both of which see him star as taciturn characters whose stories are connected by redemption.
‘I don‘t usually watch myself] (‘ox admits. ‘but I did watch The Iiseupisr. and l was really pleased with it. The fact Rupert Wyatt lthe film‘s director] wrote
the script for me was a wonderful gift. It’s an iconic film archetypically; it touches so many nerves, so many raw spots. Of a long and bumpy career it’s probably been one of the great highlights.’
‘And Red is a film I‘m particularly proud of.’ he adds. ‘We had a few problems — we lost the original director — but I was determined to get the film made because it‘s a beautiful story.’
For Cox. making films is easy: it's getting them seen that's difficult. 'One of the biggest problems is getting the screens. ()pening weekend all the screens are eaten tip by the schlock that's around. It's like film Valium. And I think people are getting a bit weary of it.‘
‘I love entertaining movies as much as the next man. but occasionally you want something with a vision of the world. something which has courage. and if we don't have that. we let ourselves down as a race.‘ he explains passionately. ‘We need to be reminded of our capabilities. instead of our shortcomings. That’s why the festival circuit is so important.’
So with his lilFF interview around the corner. what does (‘ox think about being described in the brochure as ‘Scotland‘s best-loved and most authoritative acting export“? His face lights up and he replies. ‘As Stanley Baxter once said in a sketch. “()h grandpa. it’s an awfully big job for one wee boy on his own.”
The Escapist is on selected release from Fri 20 Jun. Red, Filmhouse, Edinburgh, Fri 20 Jun, 7.45pm; Cineworld, Edinburgh, Sat 21 Jun, 9.30pm, £8 (£6.40). Brian Cox: BAFTA Interview, part of the EIFF, Cineworld, Edinburgh, Sun 22 Jun, 5pm, £15 (£12).
UST
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THE BEST FILM & DVD RELEASES
* Couscous (Le Gralne Et Le Mulet) Funny, clever and occasionally inspired French/Tunisian drama about a retired Tunisian immigrant in France and his attempts to open a North African restaurant. A huge box office hit in France. See interview and review, page 52. GFT, Glasgow from Fri 27 Jun. * The Escapist Brian Cox is the daddy in this inventive prison break thriller. See interview. left and review, page 50. Selected release from Fn‘ 20 Jun.
31‘ A Complete History Of My Sexual Failures Painfully funny and sad documentary in which slacker actor, writer and director Chris Waitt puts himself face to face with his past lovers. See review, page 51. Cameo, Edinburgh and selected release from Fri 27 Jun.
* The Edge of Love The travails of Welsh poet Dylan Thomas’ two muses during World War ll. Beautifully written (by Sherman MacDonald) portrait of boho love, lust and alcoholic madness. John Love is the Devil Maybury directs. See review, page 53. Selected release from Fn‘ 27 Jun.
* Edinburgh International Film Festival Ten day bonanza of new movies. See features. page 21. Various venues from Thu 79 Jun.
* Gone Baby Gone Ben Affleck’s assured child abduction drama. Out now on general release from Fri 6 Jun.
* California Dreamln’ (Endless) The late Romanian filmmaker Cristian Nemescu's ingenious culture clash comedy drama. GFT, Glasgow from Fri 20—7hu 26 Jun.
3|: Let’s Get Lost New print of Bruce Weber’s 1989 documentary following jazz legend Chet Baker. One of the best films about jazz ever made. GFT Glasgow from Fn' 27-Mon 30 Jun.
19 Jun—3 Jul 2008 THE LIST 49