Matthew McConaughey
courtesy of Paramount Pictures
"Matthew McConaughey Is Spreading the Word"

Matthew McConaughey has a new movie "Sahara" in theaters this week. A few weeks ago he decided to spread the word about this film by traveling around the country and talking with people. It seems to have worked as "Sahara" opened number one at the box office.

I had a chance to speak with McConaughey when he dropped in at Robins Air Force Base, Georgia to meet and greet the troops. When I commended him on taking the time to come out and meet the troops he responded, "I wanted to do this. I mean they are working to protect me and I wanted to tell them thanks. I think that is the least I can do."

When asked why he was pulling an airstream trailer behind his truck and using it as a camper on his cross-country tour he smiled and said, "This is just fun for me. You know if I wasn't working I would be doing this anyway - getting out and meeting people, or camping. That's what I like to do. It's fun, man. And to get to go all around the country and meet people and talk with them, well that is not work at all."

"Sahara" is based on the Clive Cussler novel of the same name and Dirk Pitt, the role McConaughey plays, is the hero of all the stories. I asked him if he smelled franchise. "Oh man, I would love it," he quickly replied. "Clive Cussler has written a zillion books so the material is there. I would love for audiences to respond to this movie in such a way that we could line up more of them. I love the books and I love this character so yes if it could be a franchise I would be all for it."

In the film Pitt's love interest is played by actress Penelope Cruz. It is reported in the tabloids and elsewhere that Cruz and McConaughey are a real life item. Taking a deep breath I decided to risk asking him about this relationship. He answered without the least hesitation, "Oh yes, we are still a couple. She's a great actress and a wonderful person. And isn't she beautiful? I mean all she has to do is stand there and just look beautiful, but she can act too."

McConaughey first caught the public's eye in the 1993 Richard Linkletter film "Dazed and Confused." That film about slackers has stayed in everyone's mind. "They still holler that name when they see me. I'll be driving through a town and when they see it is me they will yell 'Dazed and Confused.' It certainly has stuck around."

Matthew McConaughey is not sitting around resting on his "Sahara" laurels. He has four or five new movies lined up, one of which co-stars him with Al Pacino. That is pretty heady company and McConaughey knows it. "Yes I am in awe of him. Who isn't?" he said. "He has been one of my idols for years."

Well if they click on the set maybe Al can be convinced to do a role in the next Dirk Pitt adventure. With "Sahara" blowing sand in all the other movies' faces at the box office, it seems a sure thing there will be more movies made in this series. And who knows, maybe Matthew will take that Airstream camper back out on the road.

 

 

 

 

 

©2005 Jackie K. Cooper

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