FOREST WHITAKER

FILM INTERVIEW IRONY MAN

A Funny Thing Happened to Forest Whitaker on the Way to the Set One Day: He Became One of Hollywood’s Most Unfailing Actors

OREST WHITAKER DOESN’T JUST ACT. The man transcends. With your own eyes you’ve seen him re-position the camera on himself and tell his co-stars Okay, I got it from here, guys. Whether the project had a healthy budget (Vantage Point, Street Kings) or no budget (The Crying Game), an iconic character (jazzman Charlie Parker in Bird) or cult figure (Ghost Dog), Forest put a memorable spin on it all. But the odd thing about the 46-year-old who got his big breaks in 80s hits Fast Times at Ridgemont High and Platoon is that it’s only been the last decade that he says he’s gotten a real hang of acting. With a Best Actor Oscar from Last King of Scotland in his possession and the Hurricane Katrina-centered sports drama Patriots and the eagerly-awaited Where the Wild Things Are on the horizon, Whitaker seems to have hit a stride only a select group ever feels. We recently caught up with the talented Texan to see how the ride was going. BY DEMARCO WILLIAMS F

Was Street Kings the first thing you did after Last King of Scotland?

No. With Last King of Scotland, there was a lot of time before it came out. One of the first things I did was Vantage Point. There was another movie called The Air I Breath. Then I think I did [Street Kings].

Did you think about your experience on The Shield while filming the movie?

I did, but you know, it’s interesting because the character on The Shield has a hard time because when he finally crosses the line, it destroys him. He’s almost like an arch angel; he can only work one way. That line destroys him. When he tries to [cross it], his character falls. He has to admit it and can’t handle it. With this character, he’s clean, clear and on the other side. To me, they’re two different people.

Did the great work on The Shield create an itch for more small-screen stuff?

I did have a good time working that character ‘cuz it’s kind of cool to get to do a character that long. You get to build it. You have enough time to develop it and change. You say, “ This is what we’re gonna do and you have a half a year to do it.” I like that. I wanted to do a character where you didn’t always know what was going to happen. I couldn’t plan so meticulously. I could only root him in what he thought and what he believed. That was kind of cool. And then, right after that, I did ER for five episodes. I don’t know when [I’ll return to television]. I’m not saying I won’t though. If it’s the right character, I’ll do it.

PG 14 • insiteatlanta.com • May 2008 Have you started Patriots yet?

No. I was with the director (Tim Story) yesterday. I met with the Westchester coach. I’m gonna go watch the USC team practice with [head coach Tim] Floyd. I’m going to work with the team a lil’ bit here and then I’m going to go work with the kids in New Orleans. Basketball wasn’t the sport I really played, so I gotta go learn it.

Is their a role in a movie you’ve played that you wish you would have had that kind of time to explore?

One time I stepped into a movie where I played a hitman for two, three days. But I think it was the right thing to do in a way. [The roles] always work out. In that case, I just went to Philly and met with this guy and he dressed me, told me what he thought and how he lived his life. In two days, I was able to understand. It depends.

Now that you’ve won an Oscar, do you think about roles that could get that kind of recognition again?

I think that Patriots has a lot to say. I think it’s a populist movie, too. It talks about hope and it talks about people not being left behind and being disenfranchised and people believing in themselves. I don’t know if it’s an Academy [Award winner]. I don’t really think about it that way.

Does winning one whet your appetite for winning more awards?

I think I’m just trying to play great parts. I’ve been trying to play great parts my whole career. I’ve got a chance to play some really interesting characters. That’s what I’m gonna keep doing. It’s about growing and learning and stuff. Nobody can say whether this character will [lead to anything]. That’s not the way to go.

I THINK I’M JUST TRYING TO PLAY GREAT PARTS. I’VE BEEN TRYING TO PLAY GREAT PARTS MY WHOLE CAREER. I’VE GOT

A CHANCE TO PLAY SOME REALLY INTERESTING CHARACTERS. THAT’S WHAT

I’M GONNA KEEP DOING. Are you developing an interest in directing?

I’ve been trying to get Craig Howard to work on this project based on Children’s Soldiers. It’s really about a journalist who’s interviewing this guy who handles these children soldiers. He’s like a messiah-like character who’s in this war. The writer goes into this war and decides when to step in and when to not. When you do step in, did you really help or did you harm? That’s the movie I’ve been working on to direct. There’s no script really. Will Geer asks him, “What’s going to happen at the end of time? I know you’ve seen it.” Ultimately, he has to leave a certain time. Something about the movie I liked as a kid. When did you first know you wanted to be an actor?

In college I started acting. I didn’t act in high school or anything. Honestly, around Ghost Dog I was like, “Oh, okay. I think I’ve figured this out. I might be able to do this. I think I’m gonna be able to do the kind of work that will make me feel comfortable being an actor.” Something changed inside of me. I started to understand something different. Up until that time, I was feeling uncomfortable about my characters. Even though people would say, “That doesn’t mean it’s the character…” For me, it wasn’t exactly what it should be. Something happened where that started to change. Bird taught me something. Ghost Dog taught me more. Last King was when I was able to bring some things together I had been trying to figure out in my career. I’m not saying my [earlier] parts were bad. I’m just saying that, for me, I could have always gone and done something else.

Was there an early movie that got you to realize how powerful they could be?

As a kid, I don’t think I was thinking in those terms. I think I was just impressed by certain movies. I was impressed when I saw Sidney Poitier or something starring in a movie. I had no thought of being an actor. As a kid, it wouldn’t have been conceivable that it was something I could do and make a career of. It was hardly anyone else doing it. There were movies that made impression on me, but more in my soul than how it impacted the world.

How do you go about choosing new projects?

The goal’s been the same. The goal’s been to get inside of these characters and find that spark that kind of connects me with them. I understand more about them and really understand more about myself by exploring that character. That’s really what my journey is. Whatever ways that get me to that understanding is what my goal is. I know what my real goal is.

Any other historical characters out there you’d like to play some day?

I don’t have any characters like that. I’d be cool to play Hannibal.