Like a shoot-out during a sex scene?
The film starts with a shoot-out while a woman is giving birth. Then it’s me making love to Monica Bellucci and everyone bursts into the room and there’s this shoot-out while I stay in the sack.

So, not as politically motivated a movie as Cuarón’s. And does all this mean you’re done with theater?
No, no, not at all. I’m actually thinking about doing something.

You should do a play with David Mamet. He’s called you “the enigmatic impersonation of restraint.”
He’s incredible … I’d really love to do a play in New York.

Speaking of which, do Julia Roberts fans ever give you dirty looks on the street? I saw Julia way after the film [Closer], and she said, “One of the things that really pisses me off about Closer is that people seem to really enjoy you calling me a bum. If we found a script where all of you really abuse me, people would really enjoy it.” And it’s true. People come up to me and quote it!

For years, everyone’s been asking you about James Bond. Now that Daniel Craig is 007, here’s my theory: You knew all along you weren’t going to do Bond, you never wanted to do Bond, but you knew it wouldn’t hurt for people—especially studio execs—to think that you might, so you let the rumor linger. Am I right?
[Laughs] It’s your theory.

Well?
[Six seconds of chuckling] I’m very happy doing what I’m doing. The films I’ve done are very varied, and I’m very lucky.

I thought you might say that.

Related:

• Archive: “Movie Features”
• Articles by Logan Hill
• Table of Contents: December 25, 2006 issue of New York | Subscribe!