Ryan Phillippe’s Role in “Crash:” Phillippe stars as a police officer who is paired up with a racist partner (played by Matt Dillon).
Working on the Scene in Which Phillippe and Matt Dillon Pull Over Terrence Howard and Thandie Newton: “It felt real. I know it was difficult for Terrence [Howard], that situation. You do have to put yourself [there]. You have to go there. You have to look at the ugliness, you have to scare yourself. I saw him go through that process. For me, it was hard to stand there and watch because I’m not that kind of person in real life. I would not stand by helplessly. But I think it was a lot more difficult for [Terrence].”
What Happened After Director Paul Haggis Said ‘Cut:’ “It’s just weird. It’s definitely weird. You want to like each other and you do like each other and you know fundamentally, there’s nothing. But it’s weird, being with Matt all the time and when he’s in character and he’s trying to find the truth of what he was doing, it’s weird. It’s definitely weird when you finish a scene like that and you’re all getting back in the van together to ride back and there’s not a lot of talking. It’s like, I don't know, everyone’s kind of thinking. But we all know why we’re there. We know that we would have to go to these dark places in this movie and it needed to be done. But that’s also exciting at the same time because I love moments in movies that make you uncomfortable. I love moments in movies when you think, ‘Should I be watching this?’ If a film can take you to that place of truth and discomfort, that’s powerful.”
The Atmosphere on the Set of “Crash:” Phillippe says there wasn’t much joking on the set. “Not a lot, man. Not a lot. I mean, we all got along and enjoyed each other but there wasn’t a lot of joking. You don’t do that on this kind of movie too much.”
Dealing with Tough Issues: “We’re actors, man. We’ve got pretty good lives. We don’t have a lot to complain about. We have a great job where you get to put out something positive like this that might make people think, that might make people feel.
I don't know, you can find little things to complain about, but who really wants to hear it? You try to focus on the positive, I think. There’s always difficulties and challenges in every life, I don't care how much money you make, where you live…and that’s something this film speaks to. Race gets in the way, in my opinion, in this film. It’s more about the human condition and how similar we all are when you get down to the basic needs of being a human being.
We could talk about things, 'I hate this about…' 'I hate when this happens to me,' but that’s not really the point. [Be] healthy, try to be a decent human being, and have a great job. It’s nice to be in a situation where you’re talking about a movie you believe in, that you feel like is worthwhile, so I’m staying on the positive too.”
Ryan Phillippe on Life and Family: “Home life’s great, man. The kids are great, happy and healthy. I’ve reached this sort of wonderful precipice. I’ve been in this business for a long time at my age, I’ve just turned 30, and I feel like my wife’s career is going incredibly well, my kids are happy and healthy in schools, we’ve both been able to buy a house for our parents, respectively, in the places they live. And now I’m ready to work on my stuff, my career. I feel like everything’s taken care of. I’m just in a really good place.”
Would Phillippe and Reese Witherspoon Raise Their Kids in LA?: “Where you raise your children isn’t as important as how you raise your children. I think [it’s] what you talk to them about, what you expose them to, what you make them mindful of. And you’ve got to do that anywhere you live. LA can be a very open and accepting creative environment. But it is important, because there is this odd separation here, it is important to make your kids mindful of other people and other people’s plight. I grew up with no money. My kids will grow up with a lot of money and so it’s really important to me, and it will always be a part of my parenting, to keep them conscientious and connected socially to other people.”
PAGE 2: Ryan Phillippe on Why He Choose "Crash" and His Production Company
