Dan Radcliffe: "We're the French Resistance"
OotP Film
The L.A. Times has a brand new interview with actor Dan Radcliffe about working on the set of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. In this lengthy new feature on the fifth Harry Potter film, which also contains new quotes from director David Yates confirming again his return to the helm of the Half-Blood Prince movie, as well as quips from actress Emma Watson and producer David Heyman, Dan Radcliffe talks about the pivotal battle in the ministry between Lord Voldemort (Ralph Fiennes) and Albus Dumbledore (Michael Gambon)
As these two great wizards parry and thrust their dueling wands, shooting out spells and, for now, imaginary rivers of fire that will meet and crash together like sparking electrical currents, off-camera wind machines blast and tug at their robes. Cowering to one side, Daniel Radcliffe's terrified, ashen-faced Harry Potter recoils from the pyrotechnics exploding above his head, smaller, tributary spells that rat-a-tat-tat the walls like machine-gun fire."It's a very intense scene," says Radcliffe during a break in filming the sequence, part of the climax to "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix," which premieres July 11. "Harry's so out of his depth, he's emotionally pretty much destroyed by this point and given up all hope."
The political under themes of the movie are on the mind of the cast and crew, but producer David Heyman says while it is present, its not the entire focus of the movie, noting ""There's no question there are political aspects to this story." I don't want to give the impression it's a political film. It's an entertainment." However Dan Radcliffe and David Yates have a bit more to say on the nature of the politics found in the fifth movie.
"We're the French Resistance," he explains of Dumbledore's Army, "and Voldemort and the Death Eaters are the Nazis. Obviously, in a magical context." Not that his analogies end there. "Harry's like a Vietnam veteran," he says. "He's seen awful things and come back into a society that's rejected him. That's the main parallel I've been drawing on." Fudge, meanwhile, he equates to Britain's prime minister, Tony Blair."Dan's absolutely right," says Yates several months later in his Soho office. "What Fudge does is he spins everything all the time. He's a great manipulator of information, and there is a bit of Blair about Fudge."
Finally, as reported previously this week, David Yates again mentions his return to direct the sixth film, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, as he says
"I know Alfonso and Mike, when they came out, they were kind of shredded, but I've come out feeling invigorated," Yates says. "And I don't think I'm quite done with this world yet. These can be great films about childhood. The next one's full of sexual politics, and the kids are getting better as actors, and I want to push them even more. This one's quite lyrical and intense. The next one is more fun."He grins. "I've had more fun in the last two years than I've had making anything. The whole thing's slightly addictive. It's difficult to let go."
Well, David Yates, if you bring back John Williams I will love you 100 percent! And that's saying something!
I love that he enjoyed making the movie so much! Barring the special effects, the political tones in this one wouldhave been just up his alley. Can't wait!
True !
Bring back John Williams, at least for the last movie !
His score is part of the movie magic !
Dan's comparison of Harry o Vietnam Vets was, for the most part, appropriate. I don't think he was degrading or lessening the horrors or trauma of the Vietnam War because he was just comparing it in the sense of overall public reaction (I hope that I'm making sense! XP). It took a while for many to welcome and respect the vets with open arms but it surely didn't happen right after they returned. It may be a wee bit of a stretch but I understood it perfectly.
And he IS right about the Death Eaters/Nazi comparison.
Anyway, I'm VERY offended by Hanibal calling the Vietnam Vets Death Eaters. That's just rediculous and absolutely absurd and you clearly DO NOT know the real grit and history of the Vietnam War. Go and educate yourself, please for the sake of everyone else.
And have you ever once considered the fact that many of the young men drafted into the war didn't want to be there and kill people? Go visit some vets at the VA hospital and find out for yourself.
Wow! Equating Tony Blair to Corneilus Fudge ... I cannot imagine Mr. Blair's supporters (apparently they are few and far between) being any to happy with THAT comparison! :-P
sexual politics?
Actually, Tony Blair loves the Harry Potter books and has himself remarked that his administration will probably be most notable for having been the one satirized in Rowling's novels.
"Well, David Yates, if you bring back John Williams I will love you 100 percent! And that's saying something! "
Why shouldn't David Yates be allowed to have a composer of his choosing? He has worked with Nicholas Hooper for many years,they know how each other works, and Hooper has won many awards for his work over the years.
Yes, John Williams has done some wonderful work, and he got the HP films off to a great start with his music, but contrary to what many people seem to think, he is not the only talented composer in the music world. I wouldn't be against him coming back again but let's give the new guy a chance ok?
As for Yates, sounds like he'd love to direct Deathly Hallows as well.
LOL Fudge=Tony Blair? No, no, no. A far better comparison would be that Tony Blair and President Bush are Dumbledore/Harry, wheras the Democrats and deniers of the danger of having not gone to/and/or leaving Iraq are the Fudge and Umbridges.
How assinine. Why can't the people who provide me entertainment refrain from tainting their stuff (which is very good stuff) by shutting their mouths about politics?
Comparing Fudge to Neville Chamberlain would be more appropriate and closer to the Résistance movements that existed in all of the Nazie occupied contries.
I will be curious to see where the lightness is in the sixth film, if I read properly.
I have not read the interviews, yet.
I'll be back!
I think the kid's acting has improved and I'm glad that Yates has pushed them! There are going to be political underthemes to this movie because of Fudge's actions. I do believe that this movie will be the best one yet of all the HP movies and I can't wait to see it! Thanks, Leaky, for the terrific interview!
Ashton, you are putting words into their mouth that they have not said. They are not saying why they compare them or talking about any specific subject, Yates just talks about manipulation of information, you are the one doing too quickly assumptions.
Fudge has been deying the true, and Tony Blair has admitted he has lied many times, about many things, so I can totally see the similarities.
Like KneazleLover says, Blair is the fisrt one who has said he feels these books are like a metaphor of his governement.
And people are free to give their opinions, just because you think you don't agree it doesn't mean they have to shut up. They have not even given their opinion about what you are talking about, they are just doing general comparitions. Jo herself has said many times how Voldemort is like Hitler. It's really sad you can not read an interview without prejudging and respeting.
I think it's a very interesting interview, and I like how the writer describes how they were shooting the scenes. It's so true what they say about Harry, at the end he even asks Dumbledore to kill him, he just don't care anymore.
