Jim Caviezel Talks To AOL On "The Prisoner" Reboot - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

JamesG · 11-13-2009, 08:25 PM

Jim Caviezel is a lot more of a philosopher than most actors. It's that rigorous, philosophical bent that made him ideal to play both Jesus in The Passion of the Christ and the trapped cipher Six in AMC's new remake of The Prisoner.

In the update of the 1967 cult-fave series, Caviezel stars as a man who finds himself trapped in a mysterious village, stripped of his freedom and name. Throughout the six-part miniseries, which debuts Sun., Nov. 15 at 8PM ET, he's fighting to understand his predicament, and to escape, but is repeatedly thwarted by village elder Two (Lord of the Rings and X-Men vet Ian McKellen).

Like the show, Caviezel is thoughtful and enigmatic. His responses are sometimes long and rambling and filled with far-flung allusions to basketball, the Bible, or a vanished golden age before technology and money ruined everything; at other times, his answers are curt, blunt, and opaque.

Here's what he had to say to AOL TV about modernity, terrorism, teamwork, paranoia, his long absence from public consciousness in the five years since the success of The Passion and of course, basketball.

Why do you suppose that, after many attempts, now was the right time for a Prisoner update?

I have no idea. I just looked at the material and said, "Ah, this is great." When great material comes along, you take it because most of it isn't.

As far as why this stuff is important to do, art reflects what's going on in the world. There was some truth in it that hit my core.

What truth was that?

A number of them. Some of it's corporate power, some of it's state terrorism. Back when I was growing up in the '80s, I thought it would be horrible if a nuclear bomb went off, if a missile landed in my backyard. It was quite terrifying. Nowadays, one man walking in, exchanging his life for millions for some ideal is pretty real. People can now identify with that. The beast that was in the '60s has changed, but nonetheless, there's still a beast there.

Also, it reflects on the economy, on the world lack of trust. People become so disconnected. There was a time when people would sit down and have dinner together and they would say, "How are you," and they would have to deal with one another. They don't have to deal with each other anymore. They deal with their iPods and their Blackberries. And they're missing a lot of opportunities here, watching people that they could have met earlier who would have changed their life, that's gone because their head is somewhere else. I'm in Manhattan, New York, and walking across the street with your Blackberry is kind of a death wish, don't you think?

How did you and the filmmakers try to differentiate this version from the original?

It's not a remake. It's a re-creation. It's an homage to the old one, but it clearly stands on its own.

Jerry West was a great basketball player in the '60s. Michael Jordan was a great basketball player in the '80s and '90s. Kobe Bryant is a great one now. The game is continually evolving. The skills of the players are great. The game continues to change.

There are problems in every generation, and what fans want to see, and whatnot. Nonetheless, people are still drawn to love and sexual -- there's a great sexual energy to this. People will be drawn to it as a Disneyland-esque fantasy ride to go on, where everyone's happy. But are they? So it's very clever, how it executes.

It certainly mirrors life. It is an allegorical piece to what's going on in the world right now, particularly in the West.

How easy or hard was it to tap into Six's alienation and paranoia?

The set made it easy. You're out in Africa, in the middle of nowhere, between sand and sea, and suddenly, there's this European village. It's a surreal experience.

Also, in Hollywood nowadays, it's open season on actors. You can't go anywhere. So it was easy for me to ask, "Where am I? Why am I here?"

What was it like working with Ian McKellen? Was it easy or daunting?

He's as far left as I am far right, but we came together in a place of teamwork. We were just guys together on the basketball court.

I didn't come from this business. My family wasn't in this business. So it's a pleasure to be able to learn from guys like him.

Anything else people need to know about The Prisoner?

It's George Orwell's 1984 on steroids.

If the miniseries is a success, will there be a follow-up?

I don't know. That's up to you guys, the reviewers and the audiences.

Why haven't we seen more of you since The Passion five years ago? You've done some serious work, as in this year's art-house docudrama The Stoning of Soraya M., but nothing very mainstream.

Ask the people around me.

Is it because Hollywood didn't know how to cast you after you'd played Jesus?

You play Superman, and from then on, you're Superman. Do you know what I mean?

http://insidetv.aol.com/2009/11/13/j...es-and-basket/

catlover79 · 11-13-2009, 09:25 PM

TMC · 03-12-2024, 09:46 PM

Christopher Nolan's next movie may be an adaptation of 1960s British psychological spy series The Prisoner

Fresh off his Oppenheimer Oscar domination, Nolan is eyeing a movie remake of the 1967 British series created by and starring Patrick McGoohan, reports Variety. Nolan was previously attached to remake The Prisoner, but AMC released its own remake The Prisoners, a six-part miniseries led by Jim Caviezel as the ill-fated agent Number Six alongside Ian McKellen and Ruth Wilson.

TMC · 03-19-2024, 07:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TMC

Christopher Nolan's next movie may be an adaptation of 1960s British psychological spy series The Prisoner

Fresh off his Oppenheimer Oscar domination, Nolan is eyeing a movie remake of the 1967 British series created by and starring Patrick McGoohan, reports Variety. Nolan was previously attached to remake The Prisoner, but AMC released its own remake The Prisoners, a six-part miniseries led by Jim Caviezel as the ill-fated agent Number Six alongside Ian McKellen and Ruth Wilson.

Why The Prisoner Would Be a Perfect Next Film for Christopher Nolan

The cult classic 1960s TV series is a surreal mix of sci-fi and spy thriller – in other words, it sounds like a Christopher Nolan movie.

11-13-2009, 08:25 PM	#1
JamesG Freakshow Moderator Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 01, 2008 Location: Brooklyn, NY Posts: 56,995	Jim Caviezel Talks To AOL On "The Prisoner" Reboot Jim Caviezel is a lot more of a philosopher than most actors. It's that rigorous, philosophical bent that made him ideal to play both Jesus in The Passion of the Christ and the trapped cipher Six in AMC's new remake of The Prisoner. In the update of the 1967 cult-fave series, Caviezel stars as a man who finds himself trapped in a mysterious village, stripped of his freedom and name. Throughout the six-part miniseries, which debuts Sun., Nov. 15 at 8PM ET, he's fighting to understand his predicament, and to escape, but is repeatedly thwarted by village elder Two (Lord of the Rings and X-Men vet Ian McKellen). Like the show, Caviezel is thoughtful and enigmatic. His responses are sometimes long and rambling and filled with far-flung allusions to basketball, the Bible, or a vanished golden age before technology and money ruined everything; at other times, his answers are curt, blunt, and opaque. Here's what he had to say to AOL TV about modernity, terrorism, teamwork, paranoia, his long absence from public consciousness in the five years since the success of The Passion and of course, basketball. *Why do you suppose that, after many attempts, now was the right time for a Prisoner* update? I have no idea. I just looked at the material and said, "Ah, this is great." When great material comes along, you take it because most of it isn't. As far as why this stuff is important to do, art reflects what's going on in the world. There was some truth in it that hit my core. What truth was that? A number of them. Some of it's corporate power, some of it's state terrorism. Back when I was growing up in the '80s, I thought it would be horrible if a nuclear bomb went off, if a missile landed in my backyard. It was quite terrifying. Nowadays, one man walking in, exchanging his life for millions for some ideal is pretty real. People can now identify with that. The beast that was in the '60s has changed, but nonetheless, there's still a beast there. Also, it reflects on the economy, on the world lack of trust. People become so disconnected. There was a time when people would sit down and have dinner together and they would say, "How are you," and they would have to deal with one another. They don't have to deal with each other anymore. They deal with their iPods and their Blackberries. And they're missing a lot of opportunities here, watching people that they could have met earlier who would have changed their life, that's gone because their head is somewhere else. I'm in Manhattan, New York, and walking across the street with your Blackberry is kind of a death wish, don't you think? How did you and the filmmakers try to differentiate this version from the original? It's not a remake. It's a re-creation. It's an homage to the old one, but it clearly stands on its own. Jerry West was a great basketball player in the '60s. Michael Jordan was a great basketball player in the '80s and '90s. Kobe Bryant is a great one now. The game is continually evolving. The skills of the players are great. The game continues to change. There are problems in every generation, and what fans want to see, and whatnot. Nonetheless, people are still drawn to love and sexual -- there's a great sexual energy to this. People will be drawn to it as a Disneyland-esque fantasy ride to go on, where everyone's happy. But are they? So it's very clever, how it executes. It certainly mirrors life. It is an allegorical piece to what's going on in the world right now, particularly in the West. How easy or hard was it to tap into Six's alienation and paranoia? The set made it easy. You're out in Africa, in the middle of nowhere, between sand and sea, and suddenly, there's this European village. It's a surreal experience. Also, in Hollywood nowadays, it's open season on actors. You can't go anywhere. So it was easy for me to ask, "Where am I? Why am I here?" What was it like working with Ian McKellen? Was it easy or daunting? He's as far left as I am far right, but we came together in a place of teamwork. We were just guys together on the basketball court. I didn't come from this business. My family wasn't in this business. So it's a pleasure to be able to learn from guys like him. Anything else people need to know about The Prisoner? It's George Orwell's 1984 on steroids. If the miniseries is a success, will there be a follow-up? I don't know. That's up to you guys, the reviewers and the audiences. Why haven't we seen more of you since The Passion five years ago? You've done some serious work, as in this year's art-house docudrama The Stoning of Soraya M., but nothing very mainstream. Ask the people around me. Is it because Hollywood didn't know how to cast you after you'd played Jesus?** You play Superman, and from then on, you're Superman. Do you know what I mean? http://insidetv.aol.com/2009/11/13/j...es-and-basket/ Attached Images

11-13-2009, 09:25 PM	#2
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,376
	__________________ "Jesus loves you and He approves this message." "I'm alive. I'm feeling good. I'm trying to live every moment as much as I can." - Valerie Harper, March 2013

03-12-2024, 09:46 PM	#3
TMC Member Forum Idol Join Date: Jan 09, 2001 Posts: 124,797	Christopher Nolan's next movie may be an adaptation of 1960s British psychological spy series The Prisoner Fresh off his Oppenheimer Oscar domination, Nolan is eyeing a movie remake of the 1967 British series created by and starring Patrick McGoohan, reports Variety. Nolan was previously attached to remake The Prisoner, but AMC released its own remake The Prisoners, a six-part miniseries led by Jim Caviezel as the ill-fated agent Number Six alongside Ian McKellen and Ruth Wilson.