By Fred Topel | Image property of Columbia Pictures.
Robert Duvall seems to have no trouble finding work. The Hollywood legend is as prolific now as he ever was. He picks his projects like anyone else might, but his latest film, We Own the Night, came on recommendation from his acting buddy.
Duvall on We Own the Night
"I liked the idea that Jimmy Gray was going to direct," said Duvall. "Jimmy Caan had said he's the best young director he'd worked with since Coppola on The Yards. That interested me. I actually came in after they had started. I don't know what happened but they asked me to come in after they'd started. Working with the guys, but mainly Jimmy Gray, I wanted to work with him. That was the main thing, and a good story and everything. Good people, good talent, but James was the drawing factor."
Gray lived up to his reputation. "It was a very loose set. My wife said the most fun set she's been on. He's very focused and don't step on his toes, but he's very loose and funny, tries many things which is good. I think the looser the set, the more you can do a heavy scene well. You can turn a negative into a positive but sometimes it's better to have a positive for a positive. He's the kind of director that under different auspices, I wouldn't want to do. After two or three takes, that's it, no way. But with a guy like this, he legitimately tries different things."
We Own the Night
We Own the Night
Duvall plays the patriarch of a family of cops. One son decided to run a nightclub instead, but drugs in the nightlife bring the two worlds together. "It's a family thing. It's a family unit drama that melds with the professional aspect and offshoot of the family which makes the whole story. The drama within the family and the drama within the whole police work and everything like that. And the father, the son. It always begins and ends with a human."
We Own the Night opens to theaters
Friday, October 12th.
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