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About the film

"In real life, the 47-year-old action star laments that not enough credit is given to the nation's military. ``These guys are the real heroes,'' he said. ``I'm just an actor.''

As a small gesture of support -- and at the urging of his youngest daughter, Tallulah -- Willis had 12,000 boxes of Girl Scout cookies shipped to American soldiers stationed in Afghanistan last year.

The New Jersey-raised actor and outspoken Republican said he wouldn't mind spending the rest of his career playing military men on the screen. Entertainment News

Mixed reviews on this film, but if planning to see a movie this weekend; let's put out money down at the box office and support Willis in 'Tears of the Sun'.

Willis, who turns 48 on March 19, sits down with journalists for what turns into a casual, civil and thoughtful conversation about his new film Tears Of The Sun, which opens today. It was shot a year ago in extremely rugged conditions on a remote, rain-soaked part of the Hawaiian island of Oahu.

QUESTION: Why talk at all?

BRUCE WILLIS: "I don't avoid it. Look, to be honest with you, the whole system of sending actors out to promote films is something that I've always found a little awkward. If I could get away with not doing it, I wouldn't do it. But it's part of the culture of films and part of the business of what is a huge, huge business that you're (the media) part of as well. It's part of promoting a film and I'm very proud of this film."

Q: What makes Tears different from most action movies?

BW: "I don't think this is just an action picture. It's a drama, I guess, at heart. And it's a rescue mission. It's about a group of eight Navy SEALs who try to help people get out harm's way."

Q: That could still be played as action cliche. What distinguishes this one from all the others?

BW: "Well, there's a lot of heart in this film. Look, all films, except for comedies, are really about good triumphing over evil. It's all basically the same story. (But) I'm glad you saw the subtleties that we got into the film. We worked very hard on it. This is, by far, the hardest film I've ever done, both physically and emotionally."

Q: You play the commander of the SEALs. If you did not become a movie star, could you see yourself as one?

BW: "I don't know. But those guys are my heroes. I did a lot of research on the Navy SEALs, and what they have to go through, and I'm not sure I'd be able to survive that. It's a pretty tough training program they have to go through."

Q: Choosing the real military pack and not the fake "Hollywood" pack stuff with foam and rubber, you trained for the film with retired SEALs vet Harry Humphries, who also worked on Black Hawk Down. Describe the sessions.

BW: "If you want to lose about 18 pounds, put on a 65-pound pack, go to Hawaii and run through the jungles in 100-degree heat."

Q: What is the most impressive thing about the real deal?

BW: "Just the code of ethics of the Navy SEALs -- how strong that is and how anonymously they do their jobs. I mean, they are heroes, but they are unsung heroes."

Q: Your co-star, Italian Monica Bellucci, said you were extremely generous as a co-star. What about her?

BW: "I think she's a terrific actress and, I think you would agree, she is very easy to look at. Even with that mud on her."

Q: Speaking of mud, and the tough conditions of the shoot, what was the most difficult scene to mount?

BW: "You know, I don't think there was one easy day, one easy scene. But we got to do some really fun things. We actually got to go on an aircraft carrier. That was really an amazing experience. That is one of the cool things about the job that I have -- I get to go places and see things and do things that a lot of other people don't get to do. I was standing probably 10 feet away from an F-16 taking off on this aircraft carrier deck and it was a singular experience."

Q: You don't sound jaded about being an actor. Is that true?

BW: "I still love acting. I'm still challenged by it. I still get a big kick out of it. If I could paint, I would paint. If I could sculpt, I would do that. But one of the things you guys seldom write about is the fact that acting, for actors, is an artistic expression. It's a way to express yourself creatively and I still enjoy it. I still enjoy acting a lot."

Q: After the failure of Hart's War, which was set in World War II, was making another war movie a concern?

BW: "I don't think you can tell enough stories about soldiers and the very, very difficult job that soldiers all over the world have. And that is to keep the bad guys on the other side of the line."

Q: Does your action-hero image get in the way of acting?

BW: "No. I think people make that association less these days. And it doesn't bother me. I work hard on every film that I do. I have so little control over how a film is received or perceived."

Q: What role does your blues-rock band play in your life?

BW: "You know, music is the last thing I get to do that I don't have to assign any financial reward to -- for (what are) apparent reasons: I'm not a very good singer. But I have a ball playing music and it's nice to have something that is really a hobby that I still get to do. It's just a hoot." -- BRUCE KIRKLANDINTERVIEW-- Toronto Sun March 7, 2003

I'd like to let you know that you have convinced one man. Haven't been the movies in a while. Will go see this one. I'm committed to it. Thanks.

I wouldn't support a movie star at the box office, because of his politics, though I reserve the right to refuse to plunk down my money for one whose politics I despise. If I thought this movie was any good, I'd consider seeing it, but since even the trailers look like horsepoop, and Steve Sailer said it has virtually no screenplay, AND that Willis is lousy in it, I think I'll spend my money on something else.

BRUCE BUMP........

P.S. Maybe ten years ago, the New York Post smuggled a party crasher into some exclusive soiree, miked him, and had a photographer follow him around. He said hello to the Willises. When Mr. Willis found out the guy was just an ordinary Joe, he lectured him about not knowing his place, before storming off.

I guess Willis had forgotten that not too long before, he had been working in a factory. I wonder how he would have appreciated some Hollywood producer lecturing him that he didn't know his place, and that he should go back to the factory in Jersey.

Fortunately for me, when I see Willis performing in a movie, being interviewed on TV, or sitting in for David Letterman, I rarely recall what a pathetic snob he really is.

Indeed, I wish I didn't know anything about any performers' politics or stupid personalities. Such knowledge makes it much harder to enjoy them as performers (think Barbra Streisand, Vanessa Redgrave, Tom Cruise, et al.). Unfortunately, they insist on letting the whole world know how human, all-too-human they are.

A Die-Hard Hollywood Republican bump.

I think we need a page to honor those in the entertainment industry who support our nation. Willis is a good guy. I support the idea that we spend some bucks on his film this weekend. I'd also like to see him and others highlighted on a web page for their loyalty.

If folks will send me names, I'll take care of it.

Those who like Willis' other movies will probably go to see this one.

It is much the same as the others, only noticeably slower.

Belluci displays generous, uh... virtues. According to a brief net search (watch out for the pop-ups) she will be in Matrix Reloaded too.

Hart's War was a much better movie, although it was also slow (too slow, imho) in places. But Hart's War had some real characters, and a better plot, while Tears had just cardboard characters and a predictable plot.

The aircraft carrier scenes (landings and takeoffs) were cool for hardware junkies, and the jungle scenes made one wonder where it was actually filmed. Tom Skerritt gives a good supporting role as Willis' commander on the carrier.

It think most of those predisposed to like Willis will still like the movie.