Christensen Talks Beast Of Bataan Exclusive: Vader on his WWII movie
Most of America is currently eating their own weight in turkey and trying not to kill their relations, so it's a little quiet on the news front (not to be confused with the western front, which is in the other direction). However, we bring you an update on Hayden Christensen's next film Beast of Bataan.
The World War II movie, directed by Fred Schepisi and co-starring Willem Defoe and William Hurt, tells the true story of the trial of Masaharu Homma, a Japanese general implicated in the Bataan Death March, in which around 100,000 American and Filipino prisoners of war were marched by Japanese soldiers to prison camps and violently mistreated along the way. Christensen will play Homma's lawyer and filled us in on a few more details about the movie.
"It's essentially a courtroom drama," he says. "It’s a very powerful story. It comments on how war is wrong and there is no right side and it’s all sort of fucked up...I play an American solider coming back from the war who is assigned to defend this Japanese general simply because he studied law before he went into service. The Americans are trying to set him up for the fall. My character becomes aware of that and really does his best to get him off the hook. Because of the corruptness of war, it doesn’t really work out for him...It felt like a good way of commenting on what is going on around the world without actually saying what is going on around the world.”
This sounds like the toughest role in Christensen's career so far and one that should, if he pulls it off, give him an answer to those who base the level of his acting talent on his performance in the Star Wars movies. We maintain that Christensen is an actor of considerable ability, who just hasn't picked the best scripts. He's a master of understatement in Shattered Glass. We're very interested to see him tackle something of this level.
This article does a very good job of describing Hayden's acting abilities. If you've only seen him in Star Wars, then you have no right to judge his acting, because we all know that he didn't do his best in that film. But come on he was nominated for a Golden Globe for his performance in Life As A House, which I must say is one of my favorite movies. And how many young actors get nominated for a golden globe, when they are so new to the business too? And Shattered Glass is amazing, especially si... Read More
There arent enough courtroom dramas, and this has an intruiging premise. Hayden Christensen is a cracking actor when required (lets just blame George Lucas for poor performances from any member of a Star Wars cast) and yes, you should see Shattered Glass, as it is one of the few indie movies that should be an essential view. Looking forward to this. ... Read More
so this'll be more proof that America - rather than turning up 3 yrs late, having been caught out by a "surprise attack" halfway through a WORLD WAR - are infact the saviours of the world and we merely spectated for the duration of WW2.
same goes for WW1. though (and yes, i know i copied this; makes it no less amusing or true) they do seem determined to start the 3rd one eh? ... Read More
Hey! Chris is Great! please give this guy a chance.
Hayden IS the best actor born in the early 80's bar none. Mr. Lucas did know what he was talking about, shame he decided to do everything in CGI. ... Read More
I think he's good, but everyone suffers when lumbered with Star Wars dialogue. Look at Mark Hamill in the first trilogy, or Ewan McGregor in Phantom Menace. ... Read More
I guess I'll have to get myself the Shattered Glass DVD, as you so adamantly take up the cudgels for Christensen. But the distant memory of Episode II (especially the 'angy Anni' bits - hilarious!) still lingers in my mind. And that recent Awake trailer ('Whatcha doin? Don't cut me open, no, no, nooooo!') didn't help either. ... Read More
