The big Matt fan went on to say:
The new Premier interview is one of the most beautifully written I've
seen on Matt. Essentially, it portrays him as a driven,
self-sacrificing, painfully self-conscious perfectionist, a young man
who's "willing to work himself to a pulp if that's what it takes to
prove (mostly to himself) that he's qualified for the job he's been
working toward his entire life." The writer meets with him on the
set of Ripley and, after watching a scene between him and Jack
Davenport, discusses his disastisfaction with his own performance and
his determination to get it right. Later, she visits him on the set
of Bagger Vance (though not much is discussed about that film.)
There's a bit of the old rehashing of history: childhood, Harvard,
The Good Ole Boys, Courage Under Fire, Good Will Hunting, etc..
Like the GQ writer, this one also notes the differences
between Matt and Ben (Ben seems to embrace celebrity life while Matt
shuns it). However, what I really love about this piece are the
abundance of quotes. Here are a few:
On the rush of fame while he was filming Rounders: "It was a huge
transition that was so powerful and overrode everything. There were
so many nights were I just wasn't getting any sleep. I was just holding it
together while we were making that movie. It was like an
out-of-body experience."
On his self-consciousness: "I probably care too much what people
think about me. That's probably another reason I'm an actor. It's
not a compliment to myself; it's just being somebody who wants to be
all things to all people, and I actually found a way to do that.
It'll still never happen. It's something I'm working on."
On his opportunities: "I feel you get a couple of chances to be that
guy on the shortlist, where you actually get a role you really like.
I could make a shitty movie that might make money and be unhappy
doing it, or I could make a movie that is really original, with a
complex character."
Minghella: "I think he's probably capable of doing anything because
he's got the will of a machine. What he's got is a very big
instrument, and he can go all over the place and develop."
Billy Bob Thornton: "I honestly felt sort of a big-brother connection
to him instantly. Sometimes you look somebody in the eye, and you
instantly know you're the same kind."
Minghella: "Matt wants to die for you every day. I think he imagines
that the pain is closely connected with the work: Unless you're
dying, it can't be good. Unfortunately, I feel the same way, so we
don't help each other."
Gwyneth: "I think he underestimates how much it takes out of him.
I mean, he was just shot at the end of the movie. Absolutely shot.
It was like he gave every single thing he had. He would never say
it, but I would see it in his eyes. It was like, 'Okay. Uncle. I
want to go home. I want to see my girlfriend. I want my life back.'"
Matt: "I'm out of gas. These last two movies have taken a lot out
of me. I was doing everything I possibly could, killing myself.
This is a lifestyle I just didn't anticipate living. It's too hard.
It's a kind of life in a tunnel. I've been living out of these two
duffel bags for four years, and it's really hard to do. I mean, all
my clothes are like this free shit I got from Reebok. I get up in the
dark and get dressed, and it doesn't matter. I go to the set and put
on a costume. Even when I'm not working, I go to my brother's place,
where I have this air mattress. And it's not like a bed or a room.
It's just my duffel bag sitting there. I need a place, even if it is
is just the mental picture of a home."
The photos are nice, though in ironic contrast to the story. They
depict a boyishly carefree Matt enjoying the pleasures of youth.
In two, a mud covered Matt plays football. In another, he holds up
a bird's nest. One photo shows Matt in shorts stepping off a pier
into a lake. Another is a closeful of him reclining, mid-laugh.
Matt playing football
Matt playing football-2
Matt jumps off the pier
Matt leaning back in the dirt
Next year, Matt could be in as many as seven films (Ripley, ATPH, Titan AE,
Third Wheel, Bagger Vance and Minority Report). He's been
working constantly, which he seems to love. However, you can tell
from this article that it's beginning to take a toll. As much as one
wants to see him in more movies, you can't help but want him to get a
little time off.
