Audiences might think they’ve seen it all before in Hollywood Homicide (opening this Friday), a rather generic buddy movie about mismatched detective partners who must overcome one heck of a comedically contrived generation gap on their way to nabbing some bad guys. That the young, free-spirited whippersnapper is played by Josh Hartnett (Pearl Harbor), 25, may come as little surprise. But casting 61-year-old Harrison Ford in the role of the grizzled veteran sheds a new, decidedly goofy light on an actor heretofore best known as a stalwart action hero (The Fugitive, Air Force One) or a stoic romantic figure (Sabrina, Random Hearts).
The once and future Indiana Jones spoke about the latest addition to his lengthy resume, as well as his phenomenally successful career in general, during a recent interview in Los Angeles.
Creative Loafing: Hollywood Homicide seems like such a comedic departure from most of your other films, but (director) Ron Shelton says you have more in common with this wild-and-crazy character you’re playing than people probably realize.
Harrison Ford: I don’t know about that, but it’s true I haven’t played a lot of characters who have quite as many comic opportunities as this one. The comedies I’ve done are mostly romantic comedies, where I’m more of a straight man, but this was the kind of comedy where I could push it to the edge, a chance to go a little further, and I enjoyed that.
Why do you think you aren’t given more comic opportunities like this? Or are you given opportunities but the scripts just aren’t any good?
I think that’s probably fair enough to say. There have been opportunities from time to time, but I only do one film a year and I try to do a mix of different genres and types of characters. When this came along, it seemed like a real good idea at the time, a nice contrast to my last movie (K-19: The Widowmaker). I definitely got to smile a little more in this one.
How would you describe your own tastes in comedy?
I like all kinds — the quiet, more sophisticated kind, but the Jim Carrey sort of stuff, as well.
Josh Hartnett calls you an “icon” and admits he was a bit nervous meeting you for the first time. Do you find yourself always having to break the ice like that?
In this case, it was perfect for the relationship between our two characters, so I didn’t do all that much to make him feel any more comfortable. (He smiles.)
(Co-star) Lena Olin says you’re a perfectionist. Does that ever get you into trouble?
I guess it just doesn’t bother me that much, if it’s something I really believe in. Earlier on in my career, people weren’t all that eager to hear what I thought because I wasn’t someone who was pivotal to the film. You have much more influence when you’re key to the success of the project.
At what point did you sense that changing for you?
Probably around the time of American Graffiti. I remember (director George) Lucas wanted me to get a crew cut, but I suggested wearing a cowboy hat instead, and it was the first time anybody ever listened to what I was saying and thought it might be a good idea.
How do you account for such a durable, successful career?
It happened one day at a time, with a lot of good luck. There were a lot of people as talented as I was who never got the opportunities or had the luck that I’ve had. I’m well aware of that, but I’ve worked hard and I’d like to think I’ve made some reasonably good choices, because I have a pretty clear idea of how the business works and how to take care of myself.
Which of your own films or performances mean the most to you?
I don’t really have any personal favorites. My brain just doesn’t work that way. Each film is a complicated experience for its own reasons, with different people and circumstances and ambitions. Each one is received in a different moment of history.
A lot of actors say that. But it’s hard to believe something like Witness wasn’t more rewarding for you than something like Six Days, Seven Nights.
Well, I’m here to sell this new movie, rather than anything that happened 10 or 20 years ago.
By all accounts, you seem to be very content in your life and career. Does being in a great relationship (with 38-year-old actress Calista Flockhart) open you up or change you somehow?
Come on. I’m not going there. I’ve never been comfortable talking about my personal life. It’s a little too late to start now. But thanks for the thought. I’m very happy, and we’ll let it go at that.
So you don’t want the public to know anything about you as a person? Can’t you offer a little snapshot of who you are off-camera? A lot of readers would be interested to know.
Well, then go see my movie. The movies I make tell people a little bit about who I am. I’ve been in the public eye for 30 years, you know? If people still don’t have a sense of who I am, then that’s OK with me. I feel all I have to do is offer a good product, and I’m quite happy to take advantage of this opportunity to do interviews and bring it to people’s notice, but my private life is none of their goddamn business, frankly.
What’s the first thing that came to your mind after opening the Best Director envelope at the Oscars this year and seeing whose name was inside?
It was a pretty stunning year, wasn’t it? Between Eminem and Adrien Brody and Roman Polanski. I was very happy for Roman (who directed Ford in Frantic). He’s a very talented artist, and I was very pleased that the Academy decided to separate his professional life from his personal life, acknowledging the work he’s done. I think that’s entirely appropriate.
Have you seen a new Indiana Jones script?
I haven’t actually seen it yet, but we’re about 80 percent of the way through the process. (Steven) Spielberg has received a script from (George) Lucas and (Frank) Darabont, and I’ll probably get my hands on it in a couple of weeks, so it looks like it’s definitely going to happen.
This article appears in Jun 11-17, 2003.
