Monday, July 20, 1998
Getting to the point
FILM: Suave serenading and swift swordfighting
keep Antonio Banderas on his toes in
‘The Mask of Zorro’
By Lonnie Harris
Daily Bruin Staff
As Antonio Banderas nervously lights up a cigarette, he glances
around the room, making sure that no avid non-smokers are offended
by this decidedly controversial action.
"Just for the sake of the anti-tobacco league, I have to tell
you that I’m trying to quit," Banderas said with a laugh.
Perhaps the actor will be forgiven for this one vice, having
every reason to be a little on edge these days. Banderas is doing
publicity for his new film, "The Mask of Zorro," the star’s biggest
and most important American role to date. For the first time, the
Spanish heartthrob is being asked not to romance a better-known
leading lady or sling guns in a small, independent feature. Rather,
TriStar is counting on the versatile actor’s star power to give
"Zorro" the jolt needed to compete in the the over-stocked
Hollywood summer film market.
It is an admittedly tough sell. This summer especially has been
filled with big action films, laced with explosive stunt sequences
and lavish special effects. "Zorro’s" sensibilities are quite
different and more comparable to Errol Flynn adventures than Jerry
Bruckheimer productions.
The film follows Mexican hero Zorro, who was originally a
creation of pulp novelists in the 1920s. Initially, Zorro is the
alter-ego of the wealthy and influential Don Diego de la Vega,
played by Anthony Hopkins. Eventually, de la Vega becomes too old
to continue his quest against those who would endanger the lives of
the citizens of Alta, California, forcing him to train a new Zorro,
played by Banderas.
For both Banderas and Hopkins, "Zorro" represents a significant
change from the norm. It will mark one of Banderas’ first forays
into true action movies, despite the immense 51 films to his credit
produced in both his native Spain and America.
"Many of the movies I have made (in America) aren’t even
possible in Spain," Banderas said. "Just because of the budget, big
action movies can only come from America, period."
All of this put together makes "The Mask of Zorro" a big gamble
for Banderas, but he is not the only one hoping for a big opening
for the film in the coming weeks.
The producers are counting on audiences enjoying the film’s
throwback attitude, even though both producers Laurie MacDonald and
Walter Parkes were both involved in last summer’s special
effects-laden "Men In Black." They see the film as a refreshing
departure from the intense, explosive summer shoot-em-up
movies.
"I think this movie actually seems fresh," co-producer Laurie
MacDonald said. "There have been so many effects movies, but there
really hasn’t been this kind of movie in a long time."
Whether or not savvy American audiences will be willing to
accept a film with few special effects remains to be seen, but
MacDonald is convinced that children especially will enjoy
"Zorro’s" traditional action.
"There are moments, especially after finishing ‘Men In Black’
when I was thinking ‘Is this the most old fashioned movie in the
world?’" MacDonald said. "(Until I saw the finished film), I wasn’t
sure kids were going to relate to it."
The hope now is that children will be wowed by the film’s visual
flair and sword-fighting sequences, arranged by swordmaster and
choreographer Robert Anderson, who has worked on other films like
"The Princess Bride" and "The Empire Strikes Back."
Certainly, the casting is unique for a film appealing to
children. How often can Sir Anthony Hopkins be found in a movie
that kids enjoy, let alone in a role requiring narrow escapes, fist
fighting and extensive sword play? Hopkins took the role as a break
from his usual dramatic parts.
"It was fun, a chance to cut loose," Hopkins said. "Kind of a
break from ‘Remains of the Day,’ where I mainly stand around and
ask, ‘More tea, sir?’
This sort of enthusiasm was necessary on the set, as "Zorro" was
shot almost entirely in Mexico in scorching heat. Though the
temperature often made shooting action scenes tiresome for the
actors, it gave the movie a more authentic look.
"Shooting the movie in Mexico was a big plus for us,"Banderas
said. "The architecture, the people, the culture, the folklore –
everything that surrounded the production supported the idea of
Zorro."
The only question remaining then is whether or not American
audiences will also support the idea of Zorro. In the great box
office battle between romantic swashbucklers and huge flaming
asteroids, only the public can declare a champion.
Antonio Banderas plays masked hero Alejandro Murieta in "The
Mask of Zorro."
(Above) Alejandro Murieta (Antonio Banderas) and Elena
(Catherine Zeta-Jones) embrace during a dance.
(Right) Banderas plays an outlaw-turned-hero in "The Mask of
Zorro."