Dr. Stonehill (Harrison Ford) and John Crowley (Brendan Fraser) at odds over dealing with corporate suits in "Extraordinary Measures." (CBS Films Inc.)
He’s famous for playing iconic movie characters like Indiana Jones and, of course, rebel space fighter Han Solo in the “Star Wars” franchise.
What you might not know about Harrison Ford, though, is that the notoriously stoic free spirit who grew up in – and rejected – the old Hollywood Movie Studio system has always remained on the lookout for worthy movie roles off the beaten, mainstream path.
Ford, who turns 68 in July but looks at least 15 years younger, has found such a role in “Extraordinary Measures,” a heartfelt medical drama co-starring Brendan Fraser and Keri Russell.
A somewhat odd co-mingling of actual and fictional characters, “Extraordinary Measures” (Opening Friday) focuses on a battle of wills between two men. Dr. Robert Stonehill, Ford’s character, agrees to help a desperate father, John Crowley (Fraser), and his wife (Russell) develop a drug to battle Pompe disease, which threatens the lives of two of their three children.
After settling in to take questions from a small group of film journalists in Dallas recently, Ford (sporting an earring in his left ear and soft-spoken as ever) said his preparation for “Extraordinary Measures” was much like preparing for “Witness” (1985).
He played a policeman going undercover in an Amish community to protect a boy who witnessed a murder in that one, and drew a best actor Oscar nomination for his effort.
“I didn’t want to learn anything about the Amish. I wanted to learn everything I could about the police and I let (director) Peter Weir do all the research on the Amish and left it at that,” Ford said.
“In this case, I had the same ambition. I went and met with scientists and saw their labs and invested in the process of learning for myself what was necessary to express the science; the background the audience would eventually need to understand the story, but also to find ways to objectify the science.”
Ford, who said he often gets involved in the development process, is listed as an executive producer on “Extraordinary Measures.” Like any actor worth his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame (he actually has two), Ford began this process looking for the right business and personal deal.
“Certainly, every time you get paid to do what I do, that’s doing business. And that’s a good thing. But I set out to make something that I had a passion for. I wanted a part of that deal to be a good part for myself.”
A grumpy loner, Ford’s Dr. Stonehill is a gifted research scientist. His bedside manner, however, can best be described as nil.
“I thought the greatest dramatic potential would be to make this guy, Stonehill, the guy who really had no interest in patients, whose fascination was on a molecular, cellular level and who had likely never met a Pompe patient. This is a guy with an obvious lack of bedside manner, a guy who’s not invested in meeting ill people but is fascinated and focused and passionate about an intellectual puzzle.”
While Ford’s character was a compilation of scientists who rallied behind the Crowley family’s dire need, co-star Fraser’s John Crowley was based on the actual father.
“I thought Brendan was very effecting and very truthful in his characterization of John Crowley,” Ford said.
“He’s a very different guy than John Crowley and he brought his own personality, his own experience to bear. He’s very involving and, I think, very compelling in the part. I enjoyed working with him.”
Speaking of working. Don’t look for Ford to hit the brakes on his career anytime soon. “Morning Glory,” a comedy teaming Ford with Rachel McAdams, Patrick Wilson and Diane Keaton, is due out in July. A new thriller is in the works as well.
But what about another rousing round of “Indiana Jones”?
“We’re trying to wrestle a couple of ideas into shape for another one. I’m happy to do it again. They’re great exercises in moviemaking and I still enjoy them.”
So do we, Harrison. (May I call you Harrison?).
So do we.
