by John Wildman,
AFI FEST Daily News

James Brolin stars in the bait-and-switch comedy, LIES & ALIBIS, screening November 10, 9:30 PM, and November 11, 4:00 PM, at AFI FEST 2006 presented by Audi.

LIES & ALIBIS also stars Steve Coogan, Rebecca Romijn, Selma Blair, Sam Elliott, John Leguizamo, Debi Mazar and Henry Rollins.

James Brolin's son, Josh Brolin, stars in THE DEAD GIRL, which made its world premiere at AFI FEST 2006.

AFI FEST Daily News: How did you become involved in LIES & ALIBIS?

James Brolin: I had a script submitted to me through normal agency channels with an offer. And after a read, I had a hunch I could refine an old favorite character that I'd wanted to explore.

At one time my mirror was my best friend, and I would explore people that I had seen during my life that had tickled me, and others that I would invent. I have a collection of glasses, hats, and teeth to help me pass the time.

So anyway, I met with Matt and Kurt, where we discussed that I would create an off beat character, if they would help me refine Bob Hatch and help me keep him movie real as we shot, and we all agreed.

AFI FEST Daily News: LIES & ALIBIS was directed by the team of Matt Checkowski and Kurt Mattila. How was that different from just having one director?

James: Basically I think Matt and Kurt do what Joel and Ethan Cohen do, where they agree between themselves which one will deal with the actors. It omits rumor concepts, and "he said, she said" communications.

There is nothing like a director hiring an actor for what he is and dares himself to do, along with the loving support of that director. Whatever decent work I've done has been in that environment. And for whatever they're worth, awards are made that way.

On THE REAGANS (2003) I had one note from director Bob Ackerman in three months of shooting. The rest of the time he totally supported my deepest instincts with a lot of laughing and culturing discussions. Matt and Kurt work in a similar way.

AFI FEST Daily News: Have you seen (your son) Josh's film, the harrowing drama THE DEAD GIRL (also at AFI FEST 2006), in which he plays the tattooed cocaine-abusing lowlife?

James: No, I have not seen Josh's performance in THE DEAD GIRL, or much else that he's done in a couple of years.

Josh is very private about his work, and I sense that when he's done with a character, he flushes it down the toilet and steps beyond it.

Many times I have discovered his work by search or by accident. Neither of us likes public display, only the successful love of our jobs. We do have that in common.

AFI FEST Daily News: Josh seems to take great pains to go from one extreme to the other in his roles, versatility-wise. What are your thoughts as to how he has built his career?

James: I have only had one bit of advice to young artistic performers. That is: start your own university, and graduate magna cum laude.

I told Josh the same thing a long time ago. Rely on no one. It's up to you! If those thoughts sap your energy, find something else.

Josh started his career 24 years ago, pretty much on his own. Living in LA at the time, I told him about a seven-day, late-night film training school that I had hung out at 20 years earlier. He disappeared every night after that, studying his ass off.

When he became emancipated, he headed for New York and Paris to study French literature, poetry and stagecraft. I was lucky enough to catch his stage work at the Giva Theater Summer Stock in Rochester. On stage he was someone else I didn't know.

He is a committed studying fool when it comes to his craft, and it pisses him off to be distracted from his missions.

AFI FEST Daily News: Is there a role of his that you could have seen yourself play at a similar point in your career?

James: No, we laugh at each other's character concepts. The fun of morphing into something semi-recognizable has always attracted both of us. It always starts as a joke before we start looking at it as a real movie or stage character.

We both have the tackiest sense of humor, as does our extended family. Too irreverent to discuss here. We did do the first Turner Network film ever shot together, and we had our moments.

AFI FEST Daily News: What has your wife, Barbra Streisand, had to say about your role in LIES & ALIBIS?

James: My wife has simple and fun tastes when she's watching other peoples' work.

She's excited when she sees me excited about the work on a character that I want to try. Especially a character who is in his own lost trip, who can't identify with the rest of the world.

Bob Hatch is one of those people. She had fun at the screening. (She) likes guy flicks and talks to the screen. It's fun to go to the movies with her.

AFI FEST Daily News: How much conversation do the two of you have, or advice do you give to each other, regarding roles and projects?

James: We talk about work things, especially when we need input that may not have occurred to us. Then we're off on our own to use those thoughts as our instincts tell us.

We're very helpful to each other. We may have different thoughts about a film we've just seen, and have great respect for each otherÕs reasons and opinions.

AFI FEST Daily News: Do you ever ask for Josh's thoughts about potential projects?

James: The same goes with Josh. I will call and ask him directly sometimes about projects and characters (and) he'll give me his thoughts. Filled with new info, I go off and listen to my gut, as he does.

We're all pretty opinionated and are good at making our own concrete decisions. It's indecision that always causes unrest. You decide, then you win some and you lose some.

It's all an educated crap shoot in this business.

AFI FEST Daily News: Will you be going to each other's premieres at AFI FEST?

James: I have just returned from Sarajevo and Croatia shooting Miramax's SPRING BREAK IN BOSNIA with Richard Gere and Terrence Howard.

And stopping at Philadelphia, I have joined up with my wife's concert tour, as the lacky, till November 21. I am a great husband.

If Josh's premiere is after that date, I'm in. But I'm sending him my tickets to my premiere, to take his lady (Diane Lane).

See, we are married to two great dames. Period.