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Bruce Greenwood appeared on this Canadian entertainment news show on the same day that Thirteen Days was released, though the actual interview was conducted several weeks earlier during a Canadian press tour, and was clearly done at the same time as the Movie Television interview, that aired on Dec. 26th. On the Arts broadcasts over CBC Newsworld, and is aired throughout Canada. Ralph Benmergui handled the revealing and unusually introspective interview with Bruce.
Introduction In Thirteen Days, Canadian Bruce Greenwood transforms himself into one of America's great icons without skipping a beat. This is a big budget, ra ra American movie about the missile crisis as seen through the eyes of a trusted JFK friend and advisor, played by Kevin Costner.
[Thirteen Days clip]
Now, if you can ignore Costner's appalling accent, and I, for one, can't, the film follows John and Bobby Kennedy's struggle to control their own military and find a diplomatic solution to the crisis.
[Thirteen Days clip]
More than anything, this movie is a big boost for Bruce Greenwood's career. Until now, he's been known in Hollywood as a solid supporting actor, appearing in films like Wild Orchids, Passenger 57 and Double Jeopardy. Here in Canada, he's already considered a leading man for his critically acclaimed roles in the Atom Egoyan films, Exotica and The Sweet Hereafter.
[The Sweet Hereafter clip]
[Thirteen Days clip]
The Interview RB: It's interesting, because it also gives you a different way of seeing the American system. You know, there's the feeling of coup, that this can turn, that the military like in any other country can take over.
BG: Yeah. It's interesting you felt that, yeah.
RB: I really liked that tension.
BG: Yeah.
RB: You know, because I think that people tend to see it as the shining light of democracy, but you can see how the pressure of that crisis...
BG: Yeah, you can see how intelligent people can be moved to grab power if they feel that's the only way out of a situation.
RB: Really.
BG: Well, that's not the presiding theme of this; it's more about judgment and diplomacy and leadership. What you did see was Kennedy, both the Kennedys, trying to suss out what the heart of the man in the Kremlin, trying to figure out what he really wanted, trying to read between the lines, you know, all the war-like talk coming from the other side as well as the war-like talk from this side. Trying to divine the will, the real will, of the human being at the other end. But I think that's something that's not often done. Usually the opposition is kind of demonized to some degree, and I don't think they were in this case. It's amazing how many times within that fortnight they came right to the edge.
RB: Yeah, yeah, and I don't think we think we're there anymore, even though we probably are, you know.
BG: Oh, we're there, are you kidding me? We're there.
RB: Yeah?
BG: SALT II treaties - ratified, never implemented.
RB: Yeah.
BG: Six thousand warheads on this side, six thousand on the other side. We're there, but for exceptional diplomacy.
RB: For whom.
BG: Well of course, now, but for whom. But you know, a fortnight of misinformation and bad diplomacy will put us right there again.
RB: Yeah.
BG: It's a reminder that the people in office, on both sides of the 49th, for that matter, had better be the best we can offer. Superb individuals, you know.
RB: We don't get those anymore.
BG: Well, you know, we don't make the office attractive to those kind of people.
RB: Now let's talk about you for a little while, if that's all right. Like you're turning into this Hollywood, movie-star guy, right? I mean, it's different now than it was five years ago?
BG: Yeah, that's for sure.
RB: So what have you noticed along the way? 'Cause Canadians have a sense of irony and could probably appreciate the ride in a different way than Americans might.
BG: Well, the quiet dissolution of anonymity is something's that's, that's a little strange to observe, you know. So...
RB: But do you like the ability to start being taken seriously in Hollywood as a leading man, parts come to you a little easier?
BG: Sure. Yeah, yeah, what's not to like about that.
RB: Yeah, well, depends what the parts are. I mean, now I guess you have to -
BG: I don't really, honestly, I don't really know how [laughs] seriously I'm taken anyway, you know. You never know, I mean, I still gotta go on meetings and audition and all that.
RB: You still have to prove it?
BG: Oh yeah, yeah. It's competitive at that level, too, you know. I mean, there's a lot of guys who are very capable and want the jobs.
RB: So, did you, your parents came down to visit you on this one?
BG: Yeah, they did.
RB: Did they come to the Oval Office?
BG: Yeah, yeah. Yeah, and it was on a day when, one of the last days of shooting when they had a big ice sculpture, and the food layout was mad, you know, with the seafood and the steak and the lobster, you know, everything, and my mum was just, "Oh my goodness! This is, this is, this is, is this what, this is what you, this is, my, ooh," you know. It was great.
RB: "Bruce, this is better than I thought!"
BG: Yeah! And, um, [laughs] it's funny, actually, the, uh, one of the crew came up to me later. 'Cause my mum and dad were sitting by the monitor, watching the monitor, they had the headphones on, sitting by the director, and at one point, my mum got quite teary. And, um, one of the crew came up to me later and said, "I noticed your mom was really, really moved, you know. It was good, man. She was really moved." And, uh, later at lunch, she said, "You know, at one point, I got something in my throat, and I was trying not cough. [Benmurgui starts laughing] And I got all, I got all teary and everything. I didn't want to spoil anything."
RB: She's choking!
BG: So she's choking, and everybody's going, oh wow, isn't that, isn't that sweet!
RB: You had an effect on that woman! That's fantastic.
BG: Yeah, it's a good day; their son's the president.
RB: Well, take care of yourself.
BG: Yeah, cheers, thanks.
 Thirteen Days Television Interviews |
