Anghus Houvouras chats with xXx: Return of Xander Cage director D.J. Caruso…
xXx: Return of Xander Cage is a movie that surpassed my expectations when it was released earlier this year. Like many, there was an ounce or two of skepticism after Revolution dusted off the franchise from the early 2000’s which launched with an extreme amount of energy and stumbled after a nowhere near as successful sequel. The third film is kinetic, energetic, unapologetic action movie where rules and physics are jettisoned in favor of over the top thrills and fun. I had an opportunity to talk with director D.J. Caruso about the latest (and most successful) film in the series.
Anghus Houvouras: When you were first approached about coming on board to direct a xXx movie, what drew you to the material?
DJ Caruso: I remember really responding to the spirit of Xander Cage and the character. He was a rebel and a patriot. That was a really interesting idea to bring that character and that attitude into ‘modern cinema’. I liked that he had a lot of fun and it was a great excuse to create some great action sequences and eclectic characters.”
AH: After a decade plus of Jason Bourne and Bond being deadly serious, it feels like the spy genre has gotten back to big thrills days of Roger Moore era 007 movies with films like xXx: The Return to Xander Cage and Kingsmen: The Secret Service.
DJ: You can always tell Roger Moore was having fun making those movies. It was a time when Bond was more tongue-in-cheek and more fun. The action was spectacular. You still gasped but at the same time it was enjoyable because you knew how much fun they were having. That’s the same thing we were trying to capture.”
AH: As a director, what’s the difference between telling a smaller story like Disturbia and a globetrotting big action film like xXx?
DJ: They are completely different. Each movie and each character speak to you in a different way. Disturbia is almost the antithesis of xXx. You have a character working his way inside out, trapped in this world. looking out trying to find something that is beyond where he’s at in his life. xXx is the opposite side of the spectrum. The characters are out there in the world seeing everything,experiencing adrenaline, taking changes, being rebellious. Cinematically, Disturbia is one camera in a room with your character and you’re capturing his plight. xXx, you’re out there with four cameras in these beautiful locations. Your whole dynamic, approach, and style are different. You adapt to the movie you’re making.
AH: Of the many big action sequences in the movie, is there one in particular you’re the most proud of?
DJ: The thing I’m most proud of in the movie is the sequence in Act Three when you’re juxtaposing the zero G gravity fight in the plane… intercutting with the shootout happening in the factory. You have Tony Jaa and Michael Bisping working together in a way that works with their styles. You have Deepika Padukone and Ruby Rose doing this sort of beautiful balletic gunplay juxtaposed with Vin Diesel doing zero G action in a plane that’s diving. I was the most proud of that sequence cinematically because what we were able to accomplish editorially. It got to showcase each individual actor and their characters’ expertise.
Many thanks to DJ Caruso for taking the time for this interview.
xXx: Return of Xander Cage is available now on Digital and Blu-ray & DVD from Monday 29thMay.
Anghus Houvouras
Originally published May 24, 2017. Updated April 16, 2018.
