StudioLA's Suzanne Kai interviews Sir Anthony Hopkins star of Hearts in Atlantis

Sir Anthony Hopkins kindly takes a moment with us to talk about Hearts in Atlantis

In one of the first movies released since the terrorist attacks hit America, movie-goers are treated to a beautifully crafted film about a boy whose friendship with a mysterious stranger forever changes the way he sees the world. Oscar winner Sir Anthony Hopkins plays the role of Ted Brautigan opposite Anton Yelchin ("Along Came A Spider") who plays 11 year old Bobby Garfield.

It is 1960, the last summer of Bobby Garfield's childhood, as he becomes aware there is a bigger, more complicated and sometimes darker world out there. "Hearts In Atlantis" is directed by Scott Hicks ("Shine," "Snow Falling On Cedars"). The Stephen King novel was adapted by Academy Award winning screenwriter and novelist William Goldman. StudioLA's Suzanne Kai chatted with Sir Anthony Hopkins, Scott Hicks and Anton Yelchin on September 21 in Los Angeles.

Suzanne: Sir Anthony Hopkins what a pleasure and honor to talk with you today. There's a certain gentle, soft, thoughtfulness about this movie. It felt good to be back in the theatre to see this movie, would you agree?

Anthony: Yes, I thought that when I saw it. I saw it two weeks ago in Toronto [at the Toronto Film Festival]. I think it's a beautiful movie.

Suzanne: What inspired you to take this role. Can you describe a little bit about your role?

Anthony: The film is about a little boy coming of age, by his meeting with this man that I play, Ted Brautigan who happens to have a giftof psychic, normal psychic experiences, which I guess most of us possess.

There's a story I'll tell you briefly, I was reading a book by William Goldman who wrote the script and he mentions Stephen King. He talks about his work with Stephen King as a writer.
I thought I'd like to do a Stephen King novel. Two days later my agent offered me this script. It was wonderful serendipity.

Suzanne: When I saw the movie, I found some personal correlation with young Bobby's last summer of his childhood? It seems like it was also America's last summer of its innocence.

You became an American citizen last year. Why did you become an American and how do you feel about all that is going on now.

Anthony: Well, I've always wanted to come to America. I've always been interested in AmericaI've read as much as I could about American society.

One of my favorite books is about baseball, about the Last Days of Summer, days of innocence in the [40's and] 50's about the Brooklyn Dodgers? I've always been interested. I'm very proud to become an American citizen.

Suzanne: Do you feel some correlation with the movie and its message, and what we are all feeling now that we [too] are growing up?

Anthony: Yes, I think it's a big, powerful wake-up call...I hope, and I don't say this from a commercial point of view, but I do hope this movie will bring solaceof the moment. It's about a lost age. It is about an America that was different.

A little township in America that was different. Days of innocence, the young generations growing up. The post-Eisenhower years, the early Kennedy years.

So I hope it brings some comfort to people.

Suzanne: Thank you very much.

Anthony: Thank you.