By ROBERT DENERSTEIN
Wednesday, October 25, 2006
At age 73 and after appearing in more than 90 movies, Michael Caine doesn't need to work. But Caine found the script for "The Prestige" unlike anything he'd previously read. He took a few minutes recently in a phone interview to talk about the film and acting.
_ On the new crop of young actors: "They're great. I just did a movie called 'Children of Men' with Clive Owen, who I think is wonderful. I saw Hugh (Jackman) on stage in 'The Boy From Oz.' He gave one of the finest stage performances I've ever seen. The new crop of actors is every bit as good _ if not better _ than the one I came from. They work hard. Nobody's just getting by."
_ On watching a complicated movie such as "The Prestige": "You've got to concentrate with this movie. ... It's a massive two-hour conjuring trick."
_ On preparing for his role: "I didn't learn any magic tricks; I never had to perform tricks. The character I play is an authentic character. There were guys who were famous for designing tricks and who were very secretive about what they did ... I'm also playing an older guy who's seen and done everything. I didn't have to do a lot of preparation for that, either."
_ On the limitations facing an older actor: "The only thing that daunts me in a movie is physicality. I wouldn't want to do a movie about climbing Mount Everest. I also don't ever want to do a film where I have massive makeup and have to get to the studio by 5 a.m. I've done all that."
_ On attending the final game of the World Cup in Germany (in which Zinedine Zidane of France delivered a head butt to Marco Materazzi of Italy): "We never saw the head butt; the head butt was up the other end. You follow the ball in a match. That's the disadvantage of being at the game. We came out of the stadium and people asked us about the head butt and we said, 'What head butt?' "
_ On retirement: "In the movie business there's no need to retire. The business, when it's ready, will retire you without a qualm, a sentiment or a tear."
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