George Clooney calls him one of the best actors in Hollywood. He’s an absolute scene stealer in the hit movies “Charlie’s Angels,” “The Green Mile” and “Galaxy Quest.” And his portrayal of “Gong Show” creator Chuck Barris in the critically-acclaimed “Confessions of A Dangerous Mind” was flat-out brilliant. So why isn’t Sam Rockwell a household name like, say, his pal Clooney?
“I think you’ve got to star in movies that make a lot of money to get on that list,” is how Rockwell explained his inexplicable anonymity during a recent press junket. Well, if that’s the case, Rockwell may soon be joining the A-list. The versatile actor’s latest film, “Matchstick Men,” is considered an Oscar contender and teams him with two of the biggest names in Hollywood — Nicolas Cage and director Ridley Scott.
QUESTION: Are you ready for your close-up?
SAM ROCKWELL: I don’t know about that yet. You’ll have to check back with me in a few weeks.
Q: You play a slick con artist in “Matchstick Men.” What did you do to prepare for the role?
SR: I didn’t do a lot of preparation for this, actually, but I did talk to a cop who has arrested some of these con artists. He gave me a videotape of an ex-con artist re-enacting some of those phone scams. It was very obnoxious — I mean, his tone of voice was like that of a gameshow host. I thought, Q: Was working with Nicolas Cage an adventure? He’s got a reputation for being a bit of a loose cannon.
SR: Nic’s really well prepared. He knows his lines, shows up on time — he does not mess around. He was loose, though. He likes to play, to color outside the lines. And he wants other actors to bring it. He’s not a linear person. It’s his willingness to be a bit off-balance, I think, that makes him such a special actor.
“Man, do people really buy this s---.”
Q: Did you “bring it” to the “Matchstick Men” set?
SR: I try to bring it every time. But Nic welcomes that, whereas some actors might be threatened. He wants that. And any good actor really wants that.
Q: Your co-star, Alison Lohman, said that between takes the two of you did a lot of dancing. Can you really cut a rug?
SR: Can I dance? Have you seen “Charlie’s Angels,” man? (laughs) I’m not a trained dancer, but I can dance. I like to dance — been doing it since I was a teenager. I can groove, though. I can shake a tailfeather.
Q: Miramax is re-releasing “Confessions of a Dangerous Mind,” a really well-made film that surprisingly generated very little heat at the box office. What do you think audiences missed the first time around?
SR: Well, they missed the movie. They didn’t go see it. (Miramax head) Harvey Weinstein really likes that film, so he’s responsible for the re-release. It didn’t make a lot of money, but I maintain that “Confessions” is an arthouse film. They tried to sell it in a commercial way, but it’s not a commercial movie. George Clooney didn’t get enough credit for what he did with that movie. Whether you like it or not, it’s crafty.
Q: You’ve got a nice balance of big and small movies on your resume. What differences do you, as an actor, notice most between making big studio pictures and independent films?
SR: You just have more time on a studio film. People seem more relaxed because they have more money. Independent films are quicker, and in some ways that’s good creatively. But at the end of the day, it’s the same process creatively. Either way, what I do for a living is a lot of fun.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on September 12, 2003. Read the original PDF.