e'S 9 ByMICIIAflG lllZ \l\ dltc~" when it wm .. 10 rei "ion DIRECTOR Doug Liman has quietly become one of Hol lywood's most successful directors, but not because he keeps his mouth shut.</p><p> The 40- year-old New Yorker has been an outspoken observer of Hollywood ever since he broke througb with 1996's "Swingers. " He followed that up with 1999's "Go," and then came 2002's block buster "The Bourne Identity," starring Matt Damon.</p><p> His streak might have ended among the whirlwind of distracting pUblicity surrounding the stars of his latest film, the action-comedy "Mr. &.</p><p> Mrs.</p><p> Smith," out on DVD TueSday, Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie's romance got more attention than the movie. but it turned into a massive hit.</p><p> And in the middle of all that, Liman ·· executive-pro duced and shot the pilot for a little TV show called "The OC." "Mr. & Mrs.</p><p> Smith" is all about marital strife, and it never gets easy.</p><p> There was encouragement from the studio to really resolve the film and have them live happily ever after.</p><p> And I felt very strongly ships, there is no happily ever after.</p><p> You live to fight another day.</p><p> You're not manied.</p><p> How do you know it's so tough? I've had some dooues of - fights in my relationship life, and they're all-consuming .</p><p> I have an outsider's perspective; which can be more honest than some body in the middle of it.</p><p> One reviewer said Jofle's Mrs.</p><p> Smith could wipe the ftoor with Pitt's Mr.</p><p> Smith.</p><p> Do you agree? 1 do believe "helJ hath no wrath like a woman scorned." In the minivan when she's just finding out that he's been mar ried before. that's going to pump her up and give her the edge.</p><p> Brad got upset at me, but I always thought she was a slightly better assassin.</p><p> Did the gossip make doing the movie more difficult? .</p><p> No.</p><p> I like to flirt on the edge of danger.</p><p> I ended up amusing myself a little bit with , Director Doug Liman . never pulls a punch how close to the edge of talking , about their relationship I could go.</p><p> I do a lot of adventurous sports, and it kind of tapped into that part of me.</p><p> For people like Brad, Angie.</p><p> Jen nifer -I just can't anything Do you still over· see "The OC?" We're done.</p><p> We were involved the first two years.</p><p> Now I'm directing a pilot for NBC in a couple of weeks.</p><p> Are you ·glad when people say "Boume"'sIiould inspire the Bond franchise to reinveat itself? First of all, you have to know I love James Bond.</p><p> That's my fanta- sy -to direct a James Bond movie.</p><p> It's in my soul They would never even entertain talkingto me.</p><p> It is a little urre- al that this untouchable. gold en franchise might actually change as a result of "The Bourne Identity." Why didn't you direct "The Bourne Supremacy?" I personally hated the script.</p><p> And the "Mr. & Mrs.</p><p> Smith" sequel? Any other studio woUld immediately churn out a sequel.</p><p> I've met with New Regency and we left without a great story.</p><p> They said, "Let's reconvene in a month and see if we have a great story idea." This studio will not just churn out a sequel.</p><p> It was refreshing.
