The Film Forum

Mario's Way: Van Peebles Talks about 'Power'

by Kevin Polowy

From drug lords in the mean streets of the early '90s ('New Jack City') to his own father's struggle for success in 1970s Hollywood ('Baadasssss!'), Mario Van Peebles' career has been defined by directing and acting in films that illuminate worlds and eras rarely explored. 'Carlito's Way: The Rise to Power' the prequel to the popular 1993 Al Pacino gangster drama (and starring Jay Hernandez as the future crime boss, plus supporting turns by Sean "Puffy/P.Diddy/Diddy" Combs and Luis Guzman), is set in a similarly symbolic milieu (a racially divided New York in the late 1960s), but Van Peebles was never tempted to offer advice to director Michael S. Bregman. Van Peebles compares acting in a film he didn't direct to being a plumber vacationing in Hawaii: "the last thing [you] want to do is look under the sink." Van Peebles felt so passionately about the source material, however, that he wrote the foreword to Edward Torres' novelization. Moviefone caught up with the cooler-than-cool actor-director-writer for his take on 'The Rise to Power.'

Moviefone: Tell us a little bit about your character in 'The Rise to Power.'
Mario Van Peebles:: I play this character "Early Earl" Bassey, and he's the brother that sort of teaches Carlito Gangsterism 101 and how to elevate his thug life into gangster life, and take advantage of the underworld, which was racially divided. And so these three cats, Puerto Rican, black and Italian, decide the most important color is green to them. And by taking these different elements and crossing the racial divide, they're able to make a killing, so to speak. Earl is an unusual cat in that he knows when to hold 'em, knows when to fold 'em. He tries to steer young Carlito in and even out of that world. So he's sort of a mentor figure.

Moviefone: From your foreword to the novelization it sounds like you were really drawn into the project by this kind of urban odyssey that Torres created.
Mario Van Peebles: Yeah, Torres has got a really great voice. You kind of wonder if he had some other life [before he became a judge]. But he really captures the voice well, and with a great authenticity. So I was very drawn in by that and bringing all those textures and colors into the character. Whenever you have a book to refer to, and I had a book on 'Baadasssss!' to refer to, you have a much richer text to draw upon and reference. It's not always verbatim, but you have a good starting off point.

Moviefone: Carlito's story was authored by a practicing judge. Do you think the film finds the same balance between social commentary and entertainment value that you've written about the book achieving?
Mario Van Peebles: That's an interesting question. I would hate to pretend to be film critic of something I'm in (laughs). I think there's parts that do and reference something bigger. You know, to see yourself in the play as a character, to be in the world but not of the world, is something that old souls do best I guess. Because there's just a different perspective there. And that's going to be an interesting thing to see to what you feel the perspective of the movie is. But I think that's definitely there in the book. And with what I did with my character in particular, you'll feel Earl has a bit of wisdom. As I (wrote) in the foreword, cats like Joe Kennedy were able to take advantage of prohibition and yet still have a son that became president and know when to parlay that empire into something else and say, 'Let me change it up a little bit now.' You know, America was started by gangsters, cats who wanted to avoid paying taxes. Gangster some land from Indians. There's a long history of gangsterism in this country. Gangsters of oil, right quick.

Moviefone: In terms of storytelling, what do you think is the key to a successful prequel?
Mario Van Peebles: Hmmm, the truth be known, I don't have any f---ing idea. But the truth be known, no one really has any f---ing idea. And if we did we'd make hit films. I think part of the fun of a good prequel is when the pieces drop in place and you go, "Oh that's why Darth Vader goes this way." And that's why Carlito goes that way. And this starts off that rhythm, and this is where is he learned that from. So it's like a good flashback where it not only entertains you in its own right, but lays the groundwork or illuminates what comes later.

Moviefone: Did you help corral any of the 'Carlito' cast?
Mario Van Peebles: Not really. I think by being involved with something you help or hurt, depending on if people like you or not. So I like to believe it's a help and not a hindrance. But not specifically. They asked me to write the foreword but that was after they heard me riffing I guess. Like, "Oh this negro loves to talk, let him write the foreword" (laughs). "Maybe he can put it out on paper."

Moviefone: Tell us the truth, were you ever confused as to what to call Diddy on set?
Mario Van Peebles: Uh, yeah, well really what was interesting with him was he came there to do his job. He didn't come there to be whatever name that he may or may not have, and that's fun ya know, but I really just started to think of him as [his character] Hollywood Nicky. He was taking it seriously. He came in to do his thing, and he knows that he's coming from a different world, but he's not lazy. I gotta say that the brother is definitely not somebody that just fell into the pot. He is not a lazy guy, which I appreciate. He came with it.

Moviefone: Who would you say is the most badasssss character you've ever played?
Mario Van Peebles: Well, there were two of them, the two M's. I'd say Melvin (in 'Badasssss!') and Malcolm [X in 'Ali']. They were, in very big ways, very cathartic to play. And I think in some ways playing Malcolm prepared me to play Melvin. There's that line in [his] autobiography where Malcolm says, "Whatever I felt passionate about I had to take action with." And after playing that role in 'Ali,' I thought more and more about whatever film I really felt passionate about is what I will direct next. And that was 'Badasssss!'

Moviefone: So who would play a young Mario in 'Mario's Way: The Rise to Power?'
Mario Van Peebles: (Laughs) I have no idea. Really when I write pieces and when I cast, I leave it open and people come through the door. I had no idea who would play me in 'Badasssss!' But [Khleo Thomas] came through the door and I had seen him in 'Holes' and he was able to do a lot with a little. And even though he didn't really look like me, you knew there was something going on. That this kid was motivated. So I guess I'd cast it open.

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