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`Gamer` star Amber Valletta chats about the d... |
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`Gamer` star Amber Valletta chats about the dystopian future of the film
Category:
Film/Movie
Posted 3 months ago by
Indiansummer
 When "Crank" was released three years ago, most critics wrote it off as a formulaic, albeit stylish, thriller. The film, which starred action lug Jason Statham, was borderline surreal in its depiction of a poisoned hitman who must keep his heart rate up to stay alive. "Crank" featured a unique look, courtesy of some resourceful cinematography on the part of co-director Mark Neveldine, who would strap on rollerblades and crunch the camera between his knees for inventive angles.Despite faint praise from critics, the ultraviolent picture built a sizable cult following and spawned a sequel, "Crank High Voltage," released in April. The franchise`s fan base may not include many reviewers, but there are plenty of actors who appreciate the wild and weird vision of Neveldine and his filmmaking partner, Brian Taylor. Amber Valletta is a fan. She plays the heroine, opposite Gerard Butler, in the duo`s new movie, "Gamer." "They`re unlike anybody else in their point of view," says Valletta. "The way they work together, write together, operate the camera is unique. They know all sorts of crazy B-movies, and really their goal is to entertain you. There is a social commentary aspect, but they`re not trying to drive that point home. It`s there if you want to look on a deeper level." "Gamer" is set in a dystopian future where gaming technology has advanced to the point of mind control. Real people are manipulated in place of computer graphics. Butler and Valletta portray husband and wife, each trapped in the parallel universe of gaming, where men are killers and women are playthings. "It`s scary because it doesn`t feel that far off," says Valletta, who gained fame in the 1990s as a fashion model and began acting in 2000. "There`s a darkness to it, and that`s what I like about it. There are moments when my character is getting groped to all ends and she has this level of pain and humiliation that only can be expressed through the eyes. As an actor you look for things like that." The 35-year-old Tulsa native and mother of one acknowledges that some viewers may not see the satire in the film, only the fetish. The directors took heat from critics who felt that "Crank" objectified women. "My heart was in a place of giving this character integrity and not bringing her down to the level of victim," Valletta says. "Am I perpetuating the problem? It`s hard to say. If you want to cross different genres, you have to be willing to go to places you don`t necessarily want to go. I don`t ever play women as victims, even if their circumstances are victim-ish by nature." Valletta`s next film, a family comedy with Jackie Chan called "The Spy Next Door," is decidedly lighter. She`d like to do more pictures that are appropriate for her 9-year-old son. "Being a parent changes your perspective," she says. "I never wanted to be in a cartoon or do animation, but now I`m like, `When do I get to work with Pixar or DreamWorks?`" That would be a change of pace for Valletta, who`s been in front of cameras since she began modeling at age 15. She launched her Hollywood career with the thriller "What Lies Beneath," and has built an eclectic resume that includes "Hitch," "Raising Helen" and "Transporter 2." "To think that you can go from modeling to acting without doing work and getting an education is just foolish," she says. "In fashion, you`re taught to be aware of the camera, even if your back is to the camera. In film, it`s the opposite. You lose the camera. You forget the camera." Still, walking the runway was a valuable experience, and despite her successful second career in Hollywood, she doesn`t mind the "supermodel" label. She says, "I`m not going to complain about it. I don`t have to work 9-to-5 to keep my life going when I`m not making a movie." 
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