Laurie Munslow looks at Colin Farrell's fast and furious career so far
Colin Farrell must be one of the busiest actors in Hollywood. Whilst the media creates a frenzy around the seeming profusion of Leonardo DiCaprio movies that have recently played at multiplexes nationwide, Colin Farrell will quietly infiltrate our cinema screens no less than four times during 2003. Currently to be seen starring as Ben Affleck's nemesis, Bullseye, in superhero movie DareDevil, Farrell's star-power may finally be set to soar into the Hollywood cosmos. And it's about time, too. The past few years have seen 26 year-old Farrell touted as the Next Big Thing amongst those in the know. One of his most ardent admirers appears to be director Joel Schumacher, with whom he has already worked three times during his relatively short Hollywood career. However, whilst praise has been heaped upon his acting abilities, box office success has so far eluded the aesthetically-pleasing Irish actor. Farrell's portrayal of reluctant Vietnam-era hero, Bozz, in Tigerland (Schumacher, 2000) may have failed to woo cinema audiences but it certainly earned him the critical accolades. The London Critics Circle and the Boston Society of Film Critics awarded him 'best newcomer' and 'best actor' for his role, respectively. Similarly, Farrell's turn in Hart's War (2002), another war-time film - this time set during World War II - in which he stars alongside Hollywood stalwart Bruce Willis, earned him the 'best actor' tribute at the Shanghai International Film Festival. So far though, Farrell's most successful film, in terms of box office takings, has been the summer 2002 sci-fi blockbuster Minority Report, yet the movie was most notable for the pairing of Steven Spielberg and Tom Cruise for the first time and thus, did not warrant a top-billing for Farrell. But Farrell's upcoming films prove that all that may be about to change. Hailing from Castleknock, Dublin, Farrell's acting rites-of-passage include the obligatory appearance in BBC1's popular series, Ballykissangel. Whilst treading the boards in a production of In A Little World of Our Own at London's Donmar Warehouse, Farrell was spotted by Kevin Spacey, who was so impressed he helped secure him a role in his gangster flick, Ordinary Decent Criminals (2000) as the youngest member of the gang. It may not have been a starring role (nor a hugely successful film), but coupled with a previous stint in Tim Roth's The War Zone (1999), it propelled him into the limelight and brought him to the attention of Joel Schumacher, who duly cast him in Tigerland and has remained enthusiastic about him ever since. In fact, two of Farrell's latest films feature Schumacher at the helm. The first of these, Phone Booth, is set entirely within and without the phone booth of the title, and features Farrell in virtually every second of the movie. The film revolves around Farrell's character Stu Shepard, a low-rent media consultant who is trapped after being told by a caller (Kiefer Sutherland) - a serial killer with a sniper - that he'll be shot dead if he hangs up. After the shooting of an innocent passer-by, the police, lead by Captain Ramey (Forest Whitaker), believe Stu to be the shooter and promptly surround the phone box, unaware that by doing so they place more people at risk from Sutherland's twitchy trigger finger. At first convinced he is the random victim of a criminal it soon becomes clear that the caller knows much about Stu's own crimes and misdemeanours. "The caller sees himself as invincible," explains Schumacher. "He has a master plan, and he's chosen Stu for many reasons." "Stu's placed too much importance on things that have little value," adds Farrell. "He's full of himself and wears blinkers, living in a life of his own. He thinks the world revolves around him." Unfortunately for Stu, the world will revolve around him for a day - but not in the way he had imagined. The arrival of the media, with Stu's wife, Kelly (Radha Mitchell) and prospective mistress Pamela (Katie Holmes) in tow, begins a circus that Stu has no control over. "Stu's the puppet," Farrell continues, "and the caller is the puppeteer. He's pulling the strings. He strips Stu of everything, for reasons that Stu cannot initially comprehend." It's "a fresh and unique story," says Schumacher. "I was particularly interested in its exploration of a fundamental fear - that someone is watching you - and the loss of privacy in today's world. The most frightening part of the story is that it could happen to anyone. It's a strong tale of urban paranoia." The film promises to be a claustrophobic experience for the audience as well as for the characters on screen. "It's a unique place to be trapped - right in the middle of the city, surrounded by thousands of people," says writer Larry Cohen."I imagined a scenario in which you couldn't get out of the phone booth, that it would become like a glass coffin." Farrell's interest in the role stemmed not only from the opportunity to work with Schumacher again, but also because of the strength of the character and the script. "The story really moved," Farrell explains, "it was a real page-turner. But it's more than a big thriller; it explores a complex character's life-and-death struggle for redemption while undergoing this terrible ordeal" Filmed in no more than ten days in New York and Los Angeles, the film has not been without its problems. Originally due for release in the United States in November 2002, the film's release date has been pushed back repeatedly due to the Washington Sniper murders which seemed to echo the film's own plot, and is now expected to open in the US on April 4 2003 with a planned release in Britain on April 11. The Recruit teams Farrell with Hollywood royalty - in the guise of Al Pacino. Farrell plays the young CIA recruit, James Clayton, to Pacino's veteran, Walter Burke. Directed by Roger Donaldson (Thirteen Days), the film follows Farrell's character as he undergoes extensive training by Pacino, who teaches him the rules of the game. Farrell's character quickly rises through the ranks and is given a special assignment to root out a mole. But who exactly is the mole - and who is Farrell really working for? Due for release in the UK March 28, expect the film to be most notable for the pairing of Pacino and Farrell, particularly as Farrell has variously been hailed as The New Pacino and The New Brando. The second film this year to utilise the Schumacher-Farrell combination is Veronica Guerin. Starring Cate Blanchett as the title role, the film is based on the true story of the murder of an Irish investigative journalist. Killed in 1996, Guerin was the victim of the organised crime she attempted to expose. A series of articles she published in the Dublin Sunday Independent exposing organised drug crime in Dublin, lead to three attempts on her life - the third of which achieved its purpose. Leaving a 6 year-old son, Guerin's death at the age of 37 caused public outrage and propelled the Irish Government to revise current legislation. More than 150 arrests were made due to the government's subsequent crackdown on organised crime. For Farrell, the future looks rosy. Currently filming SWAT with Samuel L. Jackson - based on the 1970's television series - Farrell is due to begin filming for director Oliver Stone this summer. Cast as the lead in Stone's epic Alexander, the film chronicles Alexander, the King of Macedonia, as he conquers much of the known world. With filming set to begin in June, the movie will rival Baz Luhrmann's version of the historical figure's life. Alexander the Great will star none other than Leonardo DiCaprio as the somewhat homosexual Macedonian King, with Nicole Kidman set to co-star as his mother. Elsewhere, there are rumours that Farrell has been targeted for a role in Batman vs. Superman (2005), with Wolfgang Peterson (The Perfect Storm) at the helm. However, Farrell is not above starring in little-known small-budget films - as his role in Intermission will attest. Set in Ireland, the film pairs Farrell with Kelly MacDonald - previously seen in Robert Altman's acclaimed Gosford Park, and centres on petty criminals in Dublin. With so many films starring the delectable Farrell, rest assured that this Irishman looks set for his own version of world domination. Laurie Munslow |
