That is interesting about Brand studying Nic's work in LLV.  I loved Nic in LLV, but feel it is overrated in a way and it isn't his best work even though he earned an Oscar for the role.  I actually think Mickey Rourke's work as a drunk in "Barfly" was just as good of a performance and it was done in 1987.  Also, Nicolas and Sean Penn would go watch Mickey on set to view his acting skills.  Just wanted to throw my view into the ring.

Lol, Russell Brand..well there's a story. people seem to love or hate him..a highly controversial standup comedian-come-presenter-come-writer-come-actor-come-transcendental meditator David Lynchian pal-come activist (though that seems to have dwindled)! He makes me smile, and I like how he pushes things over the boundary then just keeps on going... Arthur (the original with Dudley Moore which was brilliant, not seen Brand's version yet) was more of a comedic drunk than the pure harrowing tragedy of Ben in Leaving Las Vegas.. though there had to be some gravitas considering alcohlism is not a subject that could be lightly or flippantly portrayed. I can see why he studied Nic's performance and since I read this interview I have been thinking of what a movie would be like with them both in it...it kind of makes my head spin...

Nic himself did some very serious research for his role in LLV, I must dig out the biography that has some details on that and post them!

deja vu....I would prefer the topic to stay on topic actually clc, please feel free though to check out the other threads we have on favourite Nic movies for example : http://cagealotcastle.activeboard.com/forum.spark?aBID=136656&p=3&topicID=39121729

One of Nic's strengths as an actor is his diversity, so he cannot 'play against type' becasue he doesn't have a fixed type. He has always in fact kept things fresh by going against the preconceived idea of what he should play (for example going straight from an Oacor for what was considered to be a more actorly role in LLV to The Rock, the general opinion was he is not an action hero) and actually, Jon Turteltaub commented that for Nic persoanally it was less of a stretch to play darker roles than for example Ben Gates in National Treasure.