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Mobster and cop are 'the same'
04/05/2006 09:23 - (SA)
New York - Not since The Godfather has there been an actor so closely tied to his role as a mobster, but James Gandolfini, star of HBO's The Sopranos, is breaking the mould in his new film - he is playing a cop.
Lonely Hearts, which premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival this week, puts Gandolfini alongside his old friend John Travolta.
The two play 1950s detectives tracking down serial killers, who snare their victims using a lonely hearts column.
The film also stars Jared Leto and Salma Hayek as the murderous couple.
It is based on a true story, and was written and directed by Todd Robinson, the grandson of the police officer played by Travolta.
"For once I'm not the guy losing my temper all the time," said Gandolfini of his role.
He said playing a cop was not so different to playing mob boss Tony Soprano.
Gandolfini looked up to Travolta
"They're the same, they're all strong men," he said."They're trying to do the right thing and help people, but they have certain characteristics of strength and being able to get people to do what they want them to do."
Gandolfini, now in his sixth season of The Sopranos, said he enjoyed being reunited with Travolta, who he has worked with on three previous films.
He recalled looking up to the Saturday Night Fever star - when he used to get his tyres changed at a car repair shop owned by Travolta's father in New Jersey.
Travolta plays a detective whose wife commits suicide, leaving him struggling to connect with his teenage son and with his job.
Atmosphere of time recreated
When one of the victims of the Lonely Hearts killers reminds him of his wife, he makes it his mission to bring the murderers to justice.
Travolta said the director had made a huge effort to reproduce the atmosphere of a time, when emotions were barely expressed by hard-bitten police officers.
"I grew up with these kind of men," said Travolta.
He said everything from the costumes to the wall-paper and the cars and airplanes in the film helped recreate the age.
"Not really since The Godfather have I felt anyone tried to nail the era so well," said Travolta.
- Reuters
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South Africa
