Ford says action roles are still a good fit

ZOOMING IN ON... HARRISON FORD: But don't ask him when the next 'Indiana Jones' film is coming out

After a late-January preview screening of his new film, Firewall, Harrison Ford took part in a question-and-answer session.

Audience members at Dallas' Angelika Film Center peppered him with a few questions regarding his latest work, in which Mr. Ford plays a computer-security expert who must hack into the bank security system he designed to steal money for the bad guys holding his family hostage. But it was clear that they had more on their minds.

Most notably, the college-age crowd raised on Mr. Ford's movies wanted to know how long the 63-year-old could continue to crank out their beloved action films – his response to a particularly forthright kid: "Wanna step outside?" – and, oh yeah, when is the next Indiana Jones coming out? Answer: not anytime soon.

The next day at the Hotel Crescent Court, Mr. Ford discussed how he's made a career out of playing heroes, his role in making his film successful and how he feels about all those age questions:

Question: You've played as many heroes on film as anybody. Why do you think you've had success in that role?

Answer: Because it's been my ambition to play those characters. To try and engage the audience on an emotional level with those kinds of characters. It's not a distinction that I alone bring, but I try and give these characters recognizable aspects of real people. Let them stumble, let them fall, let them screw up. Let them be proud.

Question: You agreed to do a question-and-answer session after a screening here. Do you cringe at all about what you might be asked?

Answer: No. Because I don't have to answer. I'm not obliged. Somebody last night asked me how I felt about not negotiating with terrorists. I told him he was in the wrong bar.

Question: One question that did come up a few times was: How does age relate to acting? How do you feel when people have an age affixed to the roles actors can play?

Answer: It's manifestly clear that people are worried about aging in their lives. And that transfers to this situation. I'm not worried about getting older; I'm just worried about behaving in an appropriate manner for the character. I don't play 63 any more than I played 53. I just play a character who's got these circumstances and obligations.

Question: When a movie is sold on your name, to what extent do you feel responsible for getting out and selling the movie to the public?

Answer: I feel a great sense of responsibility. I'm in the best position of all the people involved to reach the free press. I mean free in both senses. It's a very competitive marketplace, and we have to compete for people's attention. And I'm a profit participant, so that's one aspect of it as well.

Question: You recently attended the People's Choice Awards and Golden Globes. Do you like attending those ... (Mr. Ford interrupts the question).

Answer: Nope.

Question: Nope?

Answer: Nope.

Question: So it's just part of the deal?

Answer: Yep. (Pauses to consider a few moments.) By the way, I don't dislike it. The truth is: I don't look forward to those things, but then when I get to see some of the people I know in the business who I don't see otherwise, it's kinda fun sometimes.

Question: Do you feel that there's a disconnect between what the public considers a good movie and what critics and awards voters really latch on to?

Answer: I think there probably is, but then, I don't have any problem with that. It's the paying audience who is most important. [Critics] don't proceed from the same instinct and the same point of view that the audience does when it reacts to a film.

Question: If you had one question that you could strike from all future interviews, what would it be?

Answer: "When are we going to see the next Indiana Jones ?" I'm grateful that people are still invested in the character, though.

- By Stephen Becker / The Dallas Morning News