Al Pacino explains why he's never seen a real Sumo wrestling match.

By: The Dude

We never thought Al Pacino would pay a visit to the DVDetails bunker – and we were right. So he phoned in this interview with The Dude in which they discuss various issues while trying not to upset a stern publicist.

THE DUDE: Al Pacino! The man among men. The actor's actor. The great thespian. How you doing man? There’s so much I wanna ask you, but I gotta stick with the rules or Katie from Roadshow will kill me. So… these here Oceans flicks are pretty cool, yeah. What do you reckon?
AL PACINO: I was a fan of Ocean’s Eleven, which I saw, but I never got to see Twelve, which I’m looking forward to seeing.

What? You never saw 12? What’s with that, man? What, didn’t you like 11 or something?
Well, it was a good story and they played it really well.

Geez, man, talk it up! If you didn’t like it, why did you decide to do Ocean’s 13? Why even read the script?
That’s the reason I did it, because it was a good script. Not that I was surprised; it was just that you don’t expect something that good in a film that is part of a franchise.

Um. Okay. Fair enough. Tell us a bit about your character, Willy Bank, in this one?
Well, he’s a sort of megalomaniac-type guy. Everything is his work; everything is the hotel, to the point where it has blinded him to everything else that’s going on around him. So, eventually, it’s that one track that is his undoing. I like playing someone that puts the blinders on. That was fun to play.

Willy is the villain of 13, yeah?
Oh, no. I think he is an unconscionable person, the things that he does, yeah. But when you play a part like this you try to at least find that balance where you can see some of his foibles. I’m not talking about his humanity; it’s not that kind of picture. But at the same time, you want to give a slant on it. He could go both ways, and there’s something about him that is vulnerable even though he’s not.

I gotta admit Al – can I call you Al – I have no idea what that answer meant, so without making eye contact, I’ll just ask you something else. Tell me about the hotel, The Bank.
The Bank. It’s sort of a warped version of the Bellagio. What they did with this movie, they’ve taken everything and just upped it a little so it’s almost garish. It’s wonderfully orchestrated and thought out. I appreciate that.

You’re character has done several hotels before this and they’ve all been very successful but each one just keeps getting bigger and grander. Is there something in that? Is he compensating for something, you know?
It’s just how far can you go, you know? He, in his own way, is pushing the envelope to his own destruction. He almost sees his fate and has this crazy dance with it. What is his final outing going to be? Steven and I both talked about a character who is, at the same time, almost clownish in some ways, but also a formidable power. That is the whole idea of the game – to take on someone who is not easy.

It must have been cool filming on the sets for The Bank?
It’s spectacular. It opens the world for you. It’s refreshing and at the same time it’s stimulating. It’s Vegas but it’s got an energy to it that’s different.

And it musta been a blast hanging out with Brad, George, Matt and the gang. They look cooler than the other side of the pillow.
Oh, yeah. When you’re around people who do this the way they do it and they want you in, it immediately makes you comfortable. I did know some of these guys from before but it’s just a warm, wonderful feeling they have. I’ve met Julie a couple of times, Brad, and having met Matt, he’s just a great guy, Don Cheadle, and all of them. It’s wonderful. Elliot Gould is a friend of mine. He’s a card playing buddy, Elliot.

Steven Soderbergh has made some great flicks. What was it like to work with him?
He’s a great director. I had heard how great he was and, of course, saw his great movies. It was one of the great experiences, being around him and working with him. He makes scenes come alive in such a way for you and at the same time you never feel as though you’re in a movie. It’s just so easy. To the manner born, as they say, and that’s him. He creates this ambience, which is one of the great things directors do, and feel that place of comfort, which frees you up as an actor. You know that he’s watching. I never worked with him before, but I met him and talked to him a little bit, and knew he was a sensitive person. But to work with him was a real treat.

I got to ask you just a question about your sidekick, Abigail Sponder, played by Ellen Barkin. Who is she to him?
Well, she’s someone who for some reason is enamored with Willy, because this guy does have certain gifts. Anyone who gets this far has gifts and I think she respects those gifts. I think she’s also someone who has a certain look which she appreciates for business because everything is for business with these people. I don’t think he knows much about her personal life or anything. I don’t think he could tell you the colour of her eyes, but she’s there and he knows somehow that she looks good in a dress because people have told him. She gets the job done, though. Other people sort of don’t exist for him, really.

Hey, I nearly peed my pants during that sumo match scene. You know, where Willy comes out and gives a speech?
Owning a place like this is also getting to reap some of the benefits of it – just hanging out, seeing the beautiful people who look at you like you’re somebody. I think he enjoys the attention, in a way. And he fancies himself some sort of bon vivant.

You ever seen a real sumo match before?
No. That was impressive because when they go at each other like that, it’s quick and strong. So it was impressive, yeah.