Five Favorite Films with Karl Urban
The Star Trek and Red star also talks about working with Ernest Borgnine and Bruce Willis
Karl Urban isn't a household name... yet. But the rising star has had his share of memorable roles in some pretty iconic movie franchises. Chances are you'll recognize the native New Zealander as Eomer, the exiled leader of the Riders of Rohan in the Lord of the Rings trilogy; or as Dr. Leonard "Bones" McCoy in the 2009 Star Trek prequel; or as Kirill, the Russian assassin on Jason Bourne's tail in The Bourne Supremacy. This October, Urban stars alongside such premiere talent as Bruce Willis, Morgan Freeman, Helen Mirren, and John Malkovich (among others) in the action film Red, based on the comic series of the same name. We were able to sit down with Urban at Comic-Con to talk about his Five Favorite Films, as well as what it was like to work with Ernest Borgnine and Bruce Willis. Read on for the full interview!
Out of the Past (1947, 96% Tomatometer)
The first one I'm going to go with is a Robert Mitchum film called Out of the Past. Classic noir. You've got to see it. It's cool as s---.
Queen Margot (1994, 77% Tomatometer)
It's difficult; I have so many. But moving right along, a French film, Queen Margot. I love the story, and I love the performances. Jean-Hugues Anglade plays the phenomenal character of this sort of sick, dying king. So that's one of my favorites.
Cool Hand Luke (1967, 100% Tomatometer)
One of the inspirational films for me, Cool Hand Luke. Paul Newman. He's just phenomenal. I mean, really. It's the template for many films. You know, Jack Nicholson in [One Flew Over the] Cuckoo's Nest, it's the same kind of thing, the individual against the system. "What we've got here is a failure to communicate. Some men, you just can't reach." I love that film. Love it.
Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981, 94% Tomatometer)
I'm gonna have to say, because of my childhood, and it's such a strong influence for me, Raiders of the Lost Ark. I would define my interest in acting as a long-standing compulsion, and I was interested in pursuing this career since I was five years old. But it was films like Star Wars, or, you know, films that really got me interested. Star Wars, Raiders, Jaws... Alien. Alien I have to put on the list... I feel like... Every time, if I name a film like Alien, I say, "Well, I should really say Blade Runner as well." You can't... I mean, the attention to detail, and the characters. I just can't wait to see where [Ridley Scott] goes next. The fact that he's doing prequels has just got me giddy.
A Prophet (2009, 97% Tomatometer)
I just saw a phenomenal French film recently called A Prophet. Have you seen that? Got to check it out. It's amazing, it was an amazing film. Oh oh, No Country for Old Men. Gotta have that in there. This five is expanding to 10, 12! No Country for Old Men. Phenomenal film. Loved that film.
Next, Urban talks about the experience of working with Ernest Borgnine, Bruce Willis, and whether or not he'll have a part in the upcoming Hobbit films.
Bradley J. Timm on 07-23-2010 06:24 PM
I'm not surprised Karl has taste. Makes me like him even more.