Travolta Goes Parisian

By ENTAction Staff Writer

US Release Date: 2 / 5 / 10

Rating: R

“He's the kind of guy that would be hired, for a lot of money, to go into very dangerous situations, war zones and so on, to do espionage type of work, undercover type of work, and he’s got it nailed,” says John Travolta about his character in the thriller From Paris with Love. “He’s not afraid of death. He has the war mentality.”

Travolta’s persona in director Pierre Morel’s new release is Charlie Wax, a senior level CIA agent with an itchy trigger finger. As it turns out, the character sprang from the mind of French filmmaker Luc Besson, when Besson envisioned a scenario charting the activities of a reckless CIA agent in Paris.

Besson pitched the idea to screenwriter Adi Hasak, who, in turn wrote a five-page treatment and eventually a full script. When his script reached Travolta - the star of titles such as Saturday Night Fever, Grease, Pulp Fiction, and Get Shorty - the actor saw an opportunity to hit new territory.

“As an actor I’m first attracted to what I can do with a character that’s different than what someone else can do with it,” he says. “This was an outrageous character and it gave me a lot of opportunities to stretch.”

When it came to the character’s look, the star thumbed through some pics of soldiers of fortune, also known as mercenaries.

“These guys are almost stylish now for some reason,” says Travolta. “We looked at pictures of these guys with guns and scarves and leather jackets and parachute pants and they looked glamorous and it was so bizarre to see this dichotomy of glamour with guns.”

In an attempt to mimic the apparent trendiness sported in the photos, Travolta shaved off his hair and sprouted a goatee.

“A bald look gave me the freedom to be bald,” he explains. “Just like in Pulp Fiction where this unusual kind of Dutch haircut gave a kind of euro-trash feeling to the character, this heroine hit man. It’s very important because film's a visual medium and all you know is what’s on screen, so you have to have a look that you are completely happy with. It satisfies the character.”

The bald headed Wax hits Paris and promptly zaps into the life of James Reese, a personal aide to the US Ambassador to France, who yearns to become an agent and see some real action.

However, when he becomes Wax’s unwitting partner and finds himself in the middle of a shooting spree in the Parisian streets, he yearns for his old desk job back.

“Jonathan and I both have a similar attack on acting, so we both approach it in a very naturalistic way,” says Travolta. “Our energies are similar in that we keep the fire lit throughout a scene and if we don’t, we make it happen. So having that agreement where we trust each other and we’re comfortable with each other allows for a scene to come alive.” 

The star also enjoyed working with Morel, who previously helmed the Liam Neeson thriller Taken.

“Pierre has a high intelligence, a good sense of logic and a desire to really make a good movie. He’s a very elegant man and a good communicator. He’s filled with good ideas, and the crew respected him and worked very hard for him. He has a very strong passion for this.”

Working alongside Morel also afforded Travolta the opportunity to star in what he believes is the most action packed film he’s ever been in.

“I laugh at the idea that I’m allowing myself to do half the things I do. Every time I do a stunt where I’m rolling over, jumping over a table or jumping in the air with two guns, I giggle because theoretically you should be winding down at my age and not winding up!”

Source: Lionsgate Films’ Press Notes

From Paris With Love Info:

Studio / Distributor: Lionsgate Films

Director: Pierre Morel

Stars: John Travolta, Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Kasia Smutniak and Richard Durden

Screenwriter: Adi Hasak. Based on a story by Luc Besson

Executive Producer: Virginie Besson-Silla

Co Executive Producers: Anson Downes and Linda Rae Favila

Image Info:(This Page) John Travolta stars as 'Charlie Wax' in FROM PARIS WITH LOVE. Photo credit: Rico Torres. (Home Page) Photo credit: Magali Bragard. Both images are © Copyright 2010 Lions Gate Entertainment. All Rights Reserved.

This ENTAction Special Feature was posted on: 2 / 3 / 10