The Boys Are Back

Clive Owen

Scott Hicks was acutely aware that, much like Shine had, this filmÕs entire essence would hinge on a singular performance Ð that of the actor playing Joe Warr, who had to all at once be falling apart, raging against the darkness, indulging in black humor, covering the finals showdown at the Australian Open, and re-connecting with his sons on the most primitively playful level. It would take an intense performance from a highly skilled actor and Hicks thought early on of Clive Owen, who had never taken on a role quite like this one, but clearly had the depth to do so.

Owen first grabbed international attention in Mike HodgesÕ tough, smart, modern noir, CROUPIER, playing an aspiring novelist who gets caught up in a heist scheme at a London casino Ð and deftly revealing his struggle to remain coolly detached even as he is seduced deeper and deeper into trouble. Soon after, Owen was awarded the Golden Globe for Best Actor and an Academy Award¨ nomination for Mike NicholsÕ adaptation of the Broadway play CLOSER As Larry the doctor, Owen played a man driven by desire yet yearning for intimacy and the The New York Times cited his Òemotional self-exposureÓ as one of the filmÕs most powerful elements. More recently, Owen led the savvy bank robbers in Spike LeeÕs departure thriller INSIDE MAN and drew widespread critical praise as the world-weary, accidental hero of Alfonso Cuar—nÕs shattering dystopian fantasy, CHILDREN OF MEN. More recently, OwenÕs seductive intensity lit up Tom TykwerÕs thriller, THE INTERNATIONAL, and Tony GilroyÕs spy-versus-spy romance, DUPLICITY, reuniting him with Julia Roberts.

Even though he had never played someone like Joe Warr Ð a family man whose journey in THE BOYS ARE BACK takes place almost entirely under the skin Ð Hicks intuited that Owen would get to the bare core of the role. ÒClive has a tremendous strength on screen, a great stillness about him that speaks of under-the-surface emotions. He is enormously subtle in his expressiveness so much of his performances comes from his eyes and the thoughts that radiate out of them, which make him very compelling to watch,Ó says the director. ÒHe is also someone who clearly enjoys life and has a great sense of himself and, again, that radiates out of him. And like anyone who is at the top of his game at that level, he makes it all look easy.Ó

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