War - Jason Statham interview
Compiled by Jack Foley
JASON Statham talks about his latest action thriller War, working with Jet Li and making the fight scenes appear more authentic.
Can you talk about your character and the plot of War?
It’s a story of friendship. It’s about two guys that have such a close relationship with each other and life is so rosie and so good, and out comes this train wreck, this massive explosion in their friendship. They’re working in the same job, they’ve both got families that get together at the weekend, but all of a sudden this catastrophe happens and one thing leads to another in a domino affect. It shows you how a guy’s life can get turned upside down.
The film then becomes about one man’s obsession, looking through my eyes to try and catch this guy, Rogue, who is responsible for the death of his closest friend’s family. So, he does whatever it takes to try and catch this guy but it’s like trying to catch a ghost – as soon as he turns up, the guy’s not there.
Did you enjoy working with Jet Li?
You’re only as good as the guy opposite you. I’e had fights with different stuntmen where you go like this [punches the air] and they react two seconds later. So, to be in an action scene with Jet Li, I mean come on it’s like the best there is!
Can you comment on the style of action in the film?
It’s a good action film because all the action is parlayed off the drama, every piece of action that comes is a really emotional fight, and most of my battles are really violent because his life has just crumbled and he’s in a really terrible place. My character has nothing left except for this obsession, so every opportunity that he gets to use physicality he does so in a tough way.
What appealed to you most about doing this film?
First and foremost, I’m a massive fan of Corey Yuen and given any opportunity to work with him, I’d certainly do so. But also it was the chance of working with Jet Li and doing something with a much deeper story and a more meaningful character. For me to come head to head with Jet and bash it out was something I was deprived of in my previous movie I did with him. So, I wanted to make good what was never done.
How did you get on with Phillip G Atwell’s directing style?
His whole motivation was to keep everything real. He was the first person to say: “We don’t want you doing any Kung Fu. If you hit somebody, we don’t want you to hit someone 1,000 times and not have a cut on them. You might hit somebody and knock them out first time.” He wanted it to be as real as possible.
b>Read our interview with Jet Li