He always said he’d be back, and now, after a brief delay caused by the events of Sept. 11, he is.
That’s Arnold Schwarzenegger we’re talking about, the man who was–and bicep-wise, probably still is–the biggest action star in the world. A very ebullient Arnold shed his Terminator scowl and put on a happy face on the red carpet for the premiere of his latest film, Collateral Damage, a terrorism-themed explosion-fest whose original October premiere date was shelved following the attacks on the World Trade Center.
In the movie, Schwarzenegger plays a firefighter who seeks vengeance against a Colombian terrorist after a bomb blast destroys a skyscraper and kills his family.
And while several A-list stars–including a leather-jacketed Tim Allen, Jon Voight and Selma Hayek (in what may be her biggest, floppiest hat yet)–strolled down the velvet-roped carpet outside the Mann Village Theater in Westwood, Arnold was clearly the main attraction.
Scores of fans lined the corners of Broxton and Weyburn, awaiting a glimpse of their favorite screen hero as rock music from Guns ‘N Roses blasted through the streets and handlers passed out T-shirts and plush snake toys (in the film, a slithery reptile takes center stage in a pivotal scene). And when the man finally arrived, their screams nearly drowned out the rock soundtrack blaring behind them.
“I paid these people a lot of money, and they’re screaming now,” Arnold joked. The Austrian-born actor was dressed in a sleek black suit with open-collared white shirt, complete with his own special accessory: a huge ring in the shape of the Terminator’s cybernetic skull. On his arm, radiant wife Maria Shriver dazzled in diamonds.
Arnold told me he was very pleased that the film was finally making it into multiplexes across the country after the delay. “I think it’s terrific that the movie’s coming out…and that everyone’s enthusiastic about it, and we’re having a good time.”
He also sidestepped the recent criticism of the movie that had been leveled by Colombian activists who, while they objected to the film’s depiction of a Colombian terrorist cell, admitted they had yet to see it.
“I’m very happy that we made a movie about collateral damage, about innocent people losing lives because of crazy terrorists and crazy guerillas and all the stuff’s that’s going on,” Schwarzenegger said.
“Attacking each other, causing damage to each other…I think it is terrible and I think that no one has talked much about collateral damage to the innocent people who lost their lives,” he continued. “This movie focuses on that, but at the same time it’s also an entertaining movie, an emotional roller coaster ride, and I kick some serious butt in this movie.”
[PAGEBREAK]
“I think people are more aware of what the term ‘collateral damage’ means today…I think the movie was significant to me before Sept. 11 and it’s more significant to me now,” said director Andrew Davis, who fell in love with Colombia while working there as a young cameraman and now, as it’s torn by civil unrest, finds himself unable to return.
“Columbia’s a very tragic place and America’s really involved down there,” Davis added. “Hopefully, people will see this movie and it will bring more attention to Columbia. I hope some lives get saved by this movie…I think the message is ‘violence begets violence.’ If you hurt somebody, if you kill their child or kill their wife, they’re going to come back at you some time…. The cycle of violence has got to stop.”
Producer David Foster pointed out that several pictures with intense war and action themes have come out since Sept. 11, including Black Hawk Down and Training Day have proven successful “tests of nerve” since the tragedy, making the timing right for Damage. “People are going to see strong movies,” he said. “I think there’s something to be learned…. People, if they pay attention, they can get something out of this. I don’t think the world will ever be the same, though.”
Foster also said he expected the public to embrace Arnold as an onscreen hero fighting back against terrorism. “He worked really hard on this picture because it allowed him to be a real character, a person. And it meant a lot to him to act, to be accepted as an actor.”
Buzz on the red carpet speculated that former California Governor Pete Wilson–a high-profile fellow Republican with whom Schwarzenegger was spotted dining recently at Beverly Hills’ The Grill–would make an appearance, but the only major politicos to show were pundit Ariana Huffington, arm-in-arm with Politically Incorrect host Bill Maher. Other celebs in attendence included Tom Arnold (vamping for as much time with Arnold as possible to ensure he gets cast in the upcoming True Lies sequel, he said), Rob Reiner, Olympian Carl Lewis, Christine Lahti, NYPD Blue‘s Charlotte Ross, Gary Busey and Maria Conchita Alonso.
