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Credits - Production Details
Apr. 7th, 2005 01:15 pmWhen Jonathan Rhys-Meyers arrived for the audition for Velvet Goldmine he felt he hadn't a chance. He was convinced the beautiful man he passed leaving the audition had just snagged the role. We fans are used to that yin-yang of absolute conviction and wild insecurity Johnny expresses in interviews. Both Todd and Christine Vachon often mention that he was only 19 years old during the shoot. He has subsequently played many diverse roles, ranging from the fantasy of Gormenghast, to the historical epic of Alexander to the 'average Joe' of Bend it Like Beckham. He'll soon be wowing us with his performance of Elvis.
Todd: "Jonathan understood the role of Brian intuitively. He tried very hard to do something of his own and not simply to play a famous person. He is really just incredible. Being 19 is a full-time job as it is, and here he is, playing this role that demands so many different aspects: vulnerability as an actor, transforming completely from era to era in Brian's life, performance skill and singing ability."
Christine Vachon, in her book Shooting to Kill, elaborates on her role as a producer and talks about the necessity of providing some actors with an assistant, "Jonathan Rhys-Meyers ... always needed to feel he was in a safe environment. He's a terrific actor, and I'd work with him again in a second. But he was nineteen years old, playing a role that required him to leap onto chandeliers and kiss a man. It would have been rough going for a seasoned pro, and Jonny was a boy. He'd get upset with himself if he thought he'd done something wrong, even when that error was all in his head. His assistant made sure he was at the set on time and that he had what he required to relax and give a performance. Great actors are worth the extra effort. The one day Jonny thought he was a bit of a brat – it was no big deal, actually – he bought roses for the entire crew. He understood it was important to show respect for the people you work with. Not all actors do. He's a really nice young man – I hope he stays that way."
Christian Bale: "Jonny's got a fantastic voice: He's done three songs including Brian Eno's 'Baby's On Fire'. I think the film's version is better than the original and actually Eno said that as well - he said if he'd done it the way we did it, it would have been a hit."
Johnny himself: "I read the script and it stayed with me. It's a very exceptional movie. Brian is a lover. If love is a size 8 shoe, he's a size 9. He wanted anything but where he came from. It was all about newness and doing things loudly. It's been a little taste of being a rock star. Every night I was really tired, but I would have a smile on my face knowing I was coming back to work the next day."
~ Miramax Films Press Kit
"It's very hard for somebody to wear all those different haircuts and look well in every one of them. That was the challenge -- was I willing to let vanity take second place to courage? I decided I'd take a risk."
~ NY Times, Sept 13, 1998
"Ewan's a good lad, he's good fun. We had to do a lot of lovey-dovey stuff but I never felt uncomfortable with that. In fact, it was interesting playing a bisexual for ten weeks without being criticised as a human being..."
~ Empire, November, 1998
"When the actor finally saw the finished movie, at Velvet Goldmine's May premiere at the Cannes Film Festival, he was stunned by Haynes' rich, tender treatment of the Slade-Wild heart play. 'It blew me away,' Rhys Meyers raves. 'I really wanted Curt and Brian to be in love. I'm sure there were people sitting there going, 'Oh, it's a nice love story, but they're gay.' But it was beautiful.' "
~ Rolling Stone, November, 1998
Todd: "Jonathan understood the role of Brian intuitively. He tried very hard to do something of his own and not simply to play a famous person. He is really just incredible. Being 19 is a full-time job as it is, and here he is, playing this role that demands so many different aspects: vulnerability as an actor, transforming completely from era to era in Brian's life, performance skill and singing ability."
Christine Vachon, in her book Shooting to Kill, elaborates on her role as a producer and talks about the necessity of providing some actors with an assistant, "Jonathan Rhys-Meyers ... always needed to feel he was in a safe environment. He's a terrific actor, and I'd work with him again in a second. But he was nineteen years old, playing a role that required him to leap onto chandeliers and kiss a man. It would have been rough going for a seasoned pro, and Jonny was a boy. He'd get upset with himself if he thought he'd done something wrong, even when that error was all in his head. His assistant made sure he was at the set on time and that he had what he required to relax and give a performance. Great actors are worth the extra effort. The one day Jonny thought he was a bit of a brat – it was no big deal, actually – he bought roses for the entire crew. He understood it was important to show respect for the people you work with. Not all actors do. He's a really nice young man – I hope he stays that way."
Christian Bale: "Jonny's got a fantastic voice: He's done three songs including Brian Eno's 'Baby's On Fire'. I think the film's version is better than the original and actually Eno said that as well - he said if he'd done it the way we did it, it would have been a hit."
Johnny himself: "I read the script and it stayed with me. It's a very exceptional movie. Brian is a lover. If love is a size 8 shoe, he's a size 9. He wanted anything but where he came from. It was all about newness and doing things loudly. It's been a little taste of being a rock star. Every night I was really tired, but I would have a smile on my face knowing I was coming back to work the next day."
~ Miramax Films Press Kit
"It's very hard for somebody to wear all those different haircuts and look well in every one of them. That was the challenge -- was I willing to let vanity take second place to courage? I decided I'd take a risk."
~ NY Times, Sept 13, 1998
"Ewan's a good lad, he's good fun. We had to do a lot of lovey-dovey stuff but I never felt uncomfortable with that. In fact, it was interesting playing a bisexual for ten weeks without being criticised as a human being..."
~ Empire, November, 1998
"When the actor finally saw the finished movie, at Velvet Goldmine's May premiere at the Cannes Film Festival, he was stunned by Haynes' rich, tender treatment of the Slade-Wild heart play. 'It blew me away,' Rhys Meyers raves. 'I really wanted Curt and Brian to be in love. I'm sure there were people sitting there going, 'Oh, it's a nice love story, but they're gay.' But it was beautiful.' "
~ Rolling Stone, November, 1998
