Tommy Lee Jones - Interview

Clad in a dark suit and sunglasses, Tommy Lee Jones epitomises the « man in black. » With a taste for quick –and more often that no cutting- repartee, Mr. Jones makes light sport of the reporters come to interview him. In Deauville on a double mission, Tommy Lee Jones presented Space Cowboys, as well as a preview of his latest film, Rules of Engagement.

Philippine Dautun: was the main difference between working on Space Cowboys and on Rules of Engagement?

Tommy Lee Jones: Mainly the location. Space Cowboys was filmed principally in Florida, under the direction of Clint Eastwood. Eastwood is a guy who doesn’t really like to do very much before eleven o’clock in the morning. But then you look at your watch, it’s 4 P.M, and you think «God, I’ve just done the equivalent of two days’ acting.» and after two thirty. He’s a great actor and a great director; there’s no doubt about that.

P.D: You have a reputation for having a very pragmatic attitude towards your work. What is more important to you: that a film makes money, or to win an Oscar?

T.L.J: It’s a trophy, but it’s a very fine one in the world of actors; it’s a wonderful honour which makes you feel that the world approves of you and all actors seek approval more desperately than the real people do.

P.D: Why did you choose acting as a career?

T.L.J: It’s a lot of fun, I’ve always enjoyed it. I’ve always had a desperate need to make my way through life by using my imagination. There are a few other things that I could do, but I wouldn’t have fun, and so probably would not do as well. To decide to be an actor, you’ve got to be pretty sure that you’re useless at any other occupation.

P.D: What about future projects? Can we anticipate a Men in Black 2?

T.L.J: I’m pretty sure that’s going to happen; the financial negotiations have almost been concluded. But we’ve got to wait for Barry Sonnenfeld and Will Smith to be available at thye same time. There’s already a script, but it has to be reworked, until Barry is happy with it.

Philippine Dautun