Billy Bob Thornton
There's an article in the Houston Chronicle about the movie that's worth a glance.
"He's like any coach," [Billy Bob] Thornton says while preparing in his trailer on a parking lot outside. "He's a nice guy but can be a hard guy. He cares about his players but is responsible for his family and can lose his job, so he's fighting for his life."
He's speaking of Gary Gaines who Thornton portrays in the movie. And the site has links to some audio clips of interviews with Peter Berg, Billy Bob Thornton and Jay Hernandez. Here's the actual quote from the audio clip of Billy Bob Thornton talking about Mr. Gaines' responsibilities as a high school football coach:
"This guy, like any of us, is responsible for his family, and he could lose his job any minute. So, winning becomes not only something you have a desire to try to do because you're a competitive person, but you're fighting for your life every day, 'cause in this town if you don't win they fire your a**. You know most people that I talked to say he was a real nice guy, so that's the way I'm playing him. I'm playing him as a guy who cares about his players, cares about the team, cares about his family, and uh, he's just out there to win. But, there's a part of this movie where, as much as he demanded from his players, there's a scene in this movie where he gives a speech at halftime of a championship game, that uh, it's sorta the equivalent of the Davy Crocket execution scene in 'The Alamo'. It kinda sews everything up pretty nicely."
Great link! Thanks to Bob in Houston for the heads-up.
Just a comment on Billy Bob Thorton... FNL was shooting night footage in Odessa... Billy Bob was seen shopping in the Odessa Hastings. One of the managers walked up to him and started a conversation. He asked Billy Bob if he would be interested in reading a Dr. Suess book to children. Hastings was having a children's book reading celebrating Dr. Suess's birthday and the release of the movie Cat in the Hat. Billy Bob agreed to come in and read a book. He read Green Eggs and Ham to the children. It was a wonderful scene. No media... no camera's, just Billy Bob Thorton surrounded by a bunch of young children reading Green Eggs and Ham.
Posted by: Dennis | April 19, 2004 at 11:35 AM
Dennis,
What a great story! Thanks for sharing that!
George
Posted by: George | April 19, 2004 at 06:05 PM