war, inc.

11 Things: 'War, Inc.'

Thursday, June 12, 2008

"War, Inc." is a farce, much like war itself. In an effort to peek behind the film's curtain, we caught up with two of the writers via phone - John Cusack in London and Mark Leyner in New York. One was serious, the other satirical. The differing identities summed the film up nicely. "War, Inc." opens Friday at various Bay Area Landmark theaters.

1. Can you tell me one true thing?

John: "Bo Diddley Is a Gunslinger."
Mark: "I should get a prize for writing the scene where Hilary Duff puts a scorpion down her pants."
Tim: I miss Hunter S. Thompson.

2. How'd you meet?

John: "New York ... over jalapeño drinks."
Mark: Johnny contacted me and said he liked "Et Tu Babe."
Tim: Cusack owed me "two dollars!" Leyner was "My Cousin, My Gastroenterologist."

3. What's become of protesting?

John: "Exactly."
Mark: "No draft."
Tim: Excellent question.

4. Will Obama end the war?

John: "I would hope so."
Mark: "I'm not an enormous supporter of politicians."
Tim: Define end.

5. "Brazil," "Catch-22" or "Dr. Strangelove"?

John: "Dr. Strangelove."
Mark: "Japanese lesbian pornography."
Tim: All of the above.

6. Satire is the only response to the last five years - agree or disagree?

John: "Disagree."
Mark: "Agree somewhat, but the film is about more than Iraq."
Tim: Screaming also helps.

7. What sort of cultural graffiti do you and Robbie Conal have planned?

John: "A painting of one of the movie's characters ... I can tell you that much."
Mark: "I try to stay away from marketing and advertising concerns."
Tim: Aqua Teen Banksy Force.

8. Any plans to expand?

John: "We're getting the word out ..."
Mark: "I'd like to force everyone to watch it, like they do in North Korea."
Tim: I'd like to suggest Houston.

9. Why such a limited release?

John: "We assumed the big corporate companies wouldn't back it."
Mark: "See No. 8."
Tim: See www.myspace.com/warincofficialsite or www.myspace.com/johncusack.

10. How does one cover absurd topics without seeming a bit absurd?

John: "Hey, if it makes you think more."
Mark: "Protean, tawdry, poignant."
Tim: That's absurd.

11. Any future political projects?

John: "If this is successful, then yes."
Mark: "If the Valley secedes from L.A., Johnny and I will start a junta."
Tim: Meet Leyner for drinks in New York.

- Tim Sullivan, tsullivan@sfchronicle.com

http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/06/12/NSUM115QDB.DTL

This article appeared on page G - 3 of the San Francisco Chronicle