STACK NZ Apr #61

FEATURE

DVD & BD

It’s clear that the way Crowe encouraged this approach – sowing the seeds and then inviting his actors to nourish them – rings significantly in Corr’s mind. “He’s had that [style] his whole career, I think, and it’s a huge part of the reason for his success,” he says. “He’s an incredibly driven, incredibly hard working individual. It’s not just the background research for the role but physically what he does to his body and that

best job to prepare and relate it to things that we do know, and then take on the responsibility of playing one of these soldiers, one of these people that lost their life.” Crowe had a huge hand in the preparation stakes, taking Corr and his co-stars to his farm where he invited students of Political Science to give lectures, while also sharing photographs and other documents. But Corr had some personal

history at his disposal as well. “I’ve got some friends who are soldiers, so I [looked to them] in understanding that camaraderie, and the training, and how you very much rely on the mateship. Also, my grandfather’s father was a major in the war, so I went and picked my grandfather’s

commitment – he does it for every role.” The praise which the film has received regarding its even-handedness and the manner in which it embraces the Turkish perspective is something Corr also feels is a definite Crowe design. “He’s very well versed in history, particularly with wars,” the actor says. “He seems to collect memorabilia and be that sort of person who is interested in delving into the past. He’s a bit like a walking encyclopedia, so I think it’s interesting that he chose this for his first project, and to do it not just as some big patriotic tale.” Corr acknowledges the way Crowe’s dual duties overlapped, but it sounds as if there were more benefits than drawbacks in the ensuing work practice. “For me, directing is being able to answer thousands and thousands and thousands of questions,” he says. “And he was very good at that – being able to negotiate and work through all the questions that were coming from the crew and the camera, and setting up his shots, and also being available to us [actors]. It’s a pretty big task. I think it’s just years of experience, and the fact that he’s worked with some of the greats, that’s made it such a fluent process. It’s an interesting dynamic – he was in it with us.”

brains and raked up all these old medals and searched my family history,” he explains.

• The Water Diviner is out on April 24

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