By Remy Crane in Los Angeles

King Alexander, despite living just 33 years, made an impact on history unlike any other military leader. Oliver Stone capitalizes on this military brilliance in the film “Alexander.” The film dazzles the audience with his interpretation and embodiment of Alexander, a man who conquered much of what was then the civilized world to create a huge empire. Stone cast Collin Farrell in this immense part. “The role of Alexander was not an easy task to seize,” said Farrell. “It is a role about a man who was larger than life.” As far as basic history goes, we know Alexander as the tyrant, Alexander as the King. But in this film, Colin and Oliver found Alexander’s mind and heart. Sure, this film is a microcosm of 4th century history, but what makes the film engaging, are the relationships in Alexander’s life. They are layered with softness and gentleness, juxtaposed with his extreme power. For instance, Alexander is on the battlefront fighting like everyone else, not just dictating and giving orders. Plus, the film looks at Alexander’s extreme alliances with his kinsmen, especially with Hephaestion (Jared Leto).

Is Collin Farrell anything like the character he played? He seems a tad cocky, cigarette in one hand, wine glass in the other as he’s being interviewed. He’s a great bad boy. No pretense – what you see is what you get. Despite his reputation for being the Irish rebel, he’s a good actor with a great deal of charm and a leader who knows how to pull it together to steer a movie.

If you like fierce battle sequences with expert weaponry, beautiful actors, gorgeous scenery, elaborate costumes, and the human element, then go see this film. The historical accounts are an added bonus. Here is what Colin had to say regarding the film and his character:

Q: Is “Alexander” the toughest thing that you have ever done?

COLIN: It was quite a challenge. There are not going to be many projects that pop up like this.

Q: You just worked with one of the greatest filmmakers of all time. What was your relationship like?

COLIN: I care about what I do, and Oliver cares about what he does. Oliver is so smart and so articulate. Naturally, you rub up against each other at times, but he loves the process so much it’s worth it. He is a taskmaster and he pushes you regardless if you are the crew or part of the cast. Yet, he would never ask you to do something that he would not do himself…sort of like Alexander.

Q: There is a lot of buzz about the film. Everyone is talking about the sexuality. Can you comment?

COLIN: Alexander never thought about his sexuality, because it was never thought of as a problem in those times. He was not considered a homosexual. And in playing that role, I had to think of what defined who he was. And what defined him was his relationship with his father, his mother and his ideas about destiny and fate. This dictated his choices.

Q: That makes sense in understanding the character. Aside from that, are you still surprised at the amount of discussion about the sexuality?

COLIN: It shows how narrow-minded people are. We always have to boil everything down to sex. But, no I am not surprised at all. People have such a closed off and linear way of thinking.

Q: This was a huge role to play. How difficult is it to overcome the scope of a movie like this and to really take charge of it on screen?

COLIN: You kind of allow it to swallow you up, but you take a deep breath before you jump in the water. And when you come up, you grab another breath. I know that the film is much bigger than me and much bigger than anyone in the cast. But that’s what makes is so good.

Q: Can you talk about some of the days on the set?

COLIN: We had a grueling schedule. It was like boot camp at times. We were tired, working hard, jogging at six in the morning, doing physical training and military drills and battle formations. If you were lazy you might get called out. And then you could be told to drop and give 50 pushups.

Q: It sounds grueling. I’m sure leaning about the historical aspect of the film was difficult too, which has received a great deal of attention. What about the contemporary relevance of this film?

COLIN: Are you referring to what is happening in the world now? I don’t think that Oliver intends to draw any particular correlation between what happened in that time and what is happening today. If you make a film about any part of history, you will always see similarities. For instance, one line that Alexander says, “What disturbs me most is not the lack of respect for my judgment, it is your contempt for a world far older then ours.” That line resonated with me more when I saw the film as opposed to when I read it. I don’t think Oliver intended it to be interpreted as something that relates to today, but there will be comparisons drawn. We must look at the historical context of this film. The Persians and the Greeks had a deep history together, and it was a time of war all over the world. It was a time of setting up nations and cultures. One thing Alexander did was never to impose his culture on another culture. If anything, he adopted foreign philosophy and religion. He took away from his conquests what he could. And when he entered some place that he just conquered, he allowed people to maintain their governments, their taxes and their beliefs.

Q: As far as basic history goes, we know Alexander as the tyrant, Alexander the King. Can you talk a little about his mind and heart?

COLIN: When the Southern Greek states decided to unite and rebel against Macedonia, they thought that that Alexander’s father King Philip II was gone and the country and its military were going to fall apart. At the time, Alexander sent an envoy down and murdered a lot of people. Again, these were very hard times, very unforgiving times. At the same time, Alexander was a very caring and a very gracious conqueror. Upon entering Babylon he did say to the ruler’s oldest daughter, “You will be treated as a Queen, your family will live as my family, your people will remain where they are.”

Q: Don’t you think that a lot of Alexander’s relationships were complicated, mother, father, wife, male lover? And he died when he was 33 because of excessive drinking?

COLIN: Yeah, his relationships were complicated. Actually, no one really knows certain things for sure. We think he was probably drinking heavier toward the end of his life, but I can’t imagine that he drank as much as some thought he might have--or as much as I do.

Q: Can you identify with him?

COLIN: In any role, you need to find somewhere in you a belief in what your character believes. And you have to find something in yourself that can agree with that character’s philosophies. I did this in preparing for the role of Alexander. I read a lot about him and thought a lot about him. I found him to have an incredibly sad and conflicted life, a life that was filled with great glory, promise, great achievement and wealth. He was king of the world. He could have anyone that he wanted. At the same time, I found it to be a very lonely existence. There was the isolation of leadership and the realization of how lonely it is at the top. A great leader is never going to please everybody. He is always going to have enemies.

Q: You seem to handle being a movie star at the top so wonderfully. You are honest with people; you are never hiding stuff from the public. It is so refreshing. Is that how you planned it from the start?

COLIN: You can’t plan. I just go to work and get asked questions about it, and answer them as best I can.

Q: Do you sometimes say things that you might regret after? Is there any part of you that you want to keep private?

COLIN: I’ll never talk about my son that much, and I never talk about his mother. I also never bring anyone else into my business. But I do talk about my past experiences as they relate to me, what happened at the time and why.

Q: You launched your career having this reputation of being this young hard-core, hard-drinking, hard living, profane Irishman, following in the tradition of Richard Harris. Do you regret that early image?

COLIN: I am here five years later! It was never cultivated. I have not changed that much. I have been through a lot since my career really got started. But, for any of us to stay the same is a shame. We have the chance to change. We all have a chance to grow, but that does not mean that I don’t get mixed up in some mischief now and then.

“Alexander” opens in theaters on November 24.