FILM CLOSE-UP

Iron Man

BY JOEY BERLIN Robert Downey Jr. has mounted a career comeback worthy of a superhero. He has transformed himself from a brilliant but unemployable train wreck into a reliable, versatile and sought-after star. Ever since Downey's rehabilitation following a stint in jail several years ago for his drugrelated problems, his terrific performances have mainly appeared in smaller, arty movies. But with "Iron Man,? he has the biggest role of his career in a blockbuster that is sure to remind mainstream moviegoers of his remarkable talent. Downey is utterly convincing in this comic book adaptation as Tony Stark, a billionaire playboy industrialist who becomes a hero thanks to his high-tech metal suit. In "Iron Man,? Afghan terrorists take Downey prisoner but instead of helping his captors build up their arsenal, he builds a souped-up suit of armor for himself. Downey is 43 and married to film producer Susan Levin, whom he met on the set of their 2003 film "Gothika.? He will be back on the big screen this summer co-starring with Ben Stiller and Jack Black in "Tropic Thunder,? a satire of Hollywood war movies. Q: Were you an Iron Man fan in your youth? A: I was aware of him, in those magazine kiosks and stuff. But what I'm loving hearing is these people that say Iron Man was a secondtier hero. The operative word is "was.? Q: Did you ever hesitate in taking this part? A: I met with Jon Favreau and the guys down at Marvel. I realized that we were talking about this property, and on the way out I was looking at the posters of these other properties that have done rather well. There was the merchandising, the books, the kid's toys, the video games, and I thought, wow, this should be cool! Q: You are not generally thought of as a specialist in playing superheroes. Was it always a done deal that you would get the part, once you said you were interested? A: I said to Jon I thought I was the guy for the role, and he said that I was perfect for it but he didn't think it was going to happen. I said that if it all came down to a screen test, it would be my pleasure. And that's how it went down. Q: "Iron Man? had several screenwriters, which sometimes can be disastrous. What drew you to this script? A: Well, having the guys that had just written "Children of Men? was helpful. They had a dark sensibility and had written a good story. But often as not, on the day on the set, and knowing $165 million was going to go down the tubes if we didn't try and enhance it, we just did what Jon and I try to do anyway which is to improvise and think of new ways to incorporate different sensibilities into it. Q: This is just about the most physical role you have ever done, right? A: For some reason, a couple of months before, I'd already been in training. And I've been doing martial arts for about five years. I was almost up to speed. But I figured that if I was ever going to look like I was in shape, I'd better do it before I was too old. It was a physically demanding part so the training helped a lot. Q: Did you ever feel confined by Iron Man's origin story? Did the fans hold you to it? A: Iron Man's origin story is pretty clear. We tried to update it and make it watchable. But pretty much from the time I was cast, the fans' votes counted. We showed them some footage and found that our sensibilities were compatible. But we never pressure-molded our film into what they wanted. Q: Before the film was released, the screening audiences seemed to love it. Had you seen it with them? 31 A: We've shown it around the world, but they always hustle us out after the credits. The best part for me was when we were touring Seoul, Korea, and at the end of a 12-hour day, we went out to a military base and did an impromptu screening for a bunch of servicemen and women and their kids. That really gave us a shot! Q: You have done a lot of edgy films. How strong was the impulse to make a film that your teen son could see? A: I always wondered when actors say, "Well, this was for the kids.? My thing is, when my son Indio saw it I was like, "So what do you think?? And he's like, "It was cool, a little different. And so, Dad, can I go see a concert this weekend with my friends?? Q: You are a very restless and adventurous actor. What would keep your interest if there were several more Iron Man films? A: Well, Jon and I have become brothers in a way. We're practically like each other's wives when the wives aren't there. We'll sit around during downtime and smoke cigars. But what interests me about any project is, who am I working with, and how far can we take it? But if we do it again, we'll have to go deeper in some ways.

the fastest growing newspaper in the coachella valley! dirty laundry aired: to drink or sonic drive-in reopens shriner magic coachella festival 2008 stagecoach 2008 desert hot springs welcomes jiffy lube to their city karista sundown ssundown ssundown ssundown sundown john fogerty review: the judd's and bucky covington review 2008 football el paseo western styling honda of the desert blonde bombshell lands at coachella 17 ground-breaking for cabot yerxa elementary school:

the eagles

at stagecoach: highway dedicated to fallen firefighters celebrity sports teams tee off:they will come: it's only a matter of time...rat lights coming to palm desert correction of public safety reporting palmwood lawsuit goes to trial congresswoman bono mack's father dies latinas rule! comically, that is call the ad person now! 760.288.3599 classified ads 'twenty for $20' extra words 50 cents each acura iron manjoin join join join join today! today! today! today! today!