American action film “Java Heat” starring Mickey Rourke and Twilight actor Kellan Lutz is set to hit cinemas on April 18. The movie, which portrays the relationship between East and West while exploring issues such as terrorism and religion, was shot in Indonesia.
Rourke portrays the villainous character Malik who, in the trailer for the film, is seen firing his gun from the top of the iconic Borobodur temple in Yogyakarta.
Meanwhile, Lutz portrays Jake Travers, an American teacher’s assistant who survives a terrorist bomb that kills Sultana (Atiqah Hasiholan), the daughter of the most powerful figure in the country.
As a key witness, Jake is placed under the watchful eye of Indonesian policeman Hashim, played by Ario Bayu (“Dead Mine,” “Catatan Harian si Boy”). However neither see eye-to-eye. Jake feels that he does not belong in Java and Hashim does not appreciate the foreigner who is critical of his homeland. Along the way, the investigation into the bombing spirals out of control.
During a media gathering in Jakarta on Tuesday, star Ario Bayu said that “Java Heat” is a great way to showcase Indonesia’s beautiful landmarks and cultural diversity to foreign audiences.
“[The movie] is not only about Javanese culture, it’s an exhibition of Indonesia,” Ario said. He also pointed out that “Java Heat” portrays a positive relationship between Muslims and American characters.
“I think it’s interesting that an Indonesian Muslim cop and a Western ex-Army soldier can consolidate and work together [in the movie],” he said, referring to his and Lutz’s characters.
To get even more insight into the film, we sat down with director Conor Allyn, who wrote the script with his father, Rob Allyn , also the film’s producer.
In ‘Merah Putih’ II and III, you directed films depicting Indonesian history. What draws your attention to a narrative about combating terrorism?
I wanted to do something contemporary and I think it’s important to talk about today’s issues. The thing is, I don’t want people to get carried away about some aspects in the movie. People have to wait, it’s a complex story and it’s not so much about terrorism as you think it is. It’s surely more like a ‘Die Hard’ kind of movie, where the bad guys are a little more complex than they look.
Does this movie portray your personal views on the relationship between the West and Islam?
It does, but the view portrayed in the movie in the first five minutes is different than the view in the last five minutes. The movie portrays a changing, evolving view of the relationship between America, Southeast Asia and Indonesia. So I think people at the beginning would [think that] Indonesians are angry at the Americans and the Americans are angry with the Indonesians, but by the end of the movie, the relationship has evolved and they learn to trust each other.
Were there any special preferences on how you wanted to portray the island of Java in the movie?
We wanted to portray the two sides of Java as I have experienced them living here. The very modest, religious side, which is what you see during the day. And then there’s also a different Java if you’re in Jakarta at night. There are clubs, drinking and so we have both sides of Javanese culture in the movie, because I thought it was important. If you’re going to show a place, really show it. We show mosques, we show clubs, we show teachers, we show policemen — the whole dichotomy of everything about Indonesian culture. [We didn’t want to] just show Indonesia with Muslims, mosques and that’s all.
In the trailer, Rudy Wowor says that ‘Java Heat’ is about a game of power.
Part of the movie is a political thriller. There’s a fictional sultan of Java [Rudy] in the movie. He and his brother [Tio Pakusadewo] are fighting to gain power of the island. Mickey gets involved, he sort of works behind the scenes. [The quote is] just a reference to the political thriller aspect of the movie.
How did you come to cast Mickey Rourke and Kellan Lutz for the movie?
After his Twilight movies, Kellan wanted to be an action star but he wanted to play a real character too, not just a vampire or a Greek god. He wanted to play a real person. He loved the script. As for Mickey, he just liked the role. Mickey thought his character was unique and that [making of the movie] would be adventurous because he would be traveling to Indonesia and not just shooting in front of a green screen in Hollywood.
You are casting A-list Indonesian actors such as Ario Bayu and Tio Pakusadewo for ‘Java Heat.’ Did you write the script with these people in mind?
I did, yes, although not everyone. I didn’t know we would get Mickey and Kellan, but I was hopeful about it. I can tell you one thing for absolute sure, Ario Bayu and Atiqah were in my head when I was writing down the script. I could hear their voices in my head [as I was writing]. I’m so glad that they wanted to do this movie because I don’t know what I would have done without them. They were the ones I wanted, no question.
Were you nervous when directing Mickey Rourke?
Oh man, Mickey is scary, especially before I met him. He’s so famous and if you think about him back in the ’80s when he had drug problems, he was hell to work with and a pain in any director’s career. And so when we got Mickey, I was so excited but also so nervous because [I thought], ‘Oh my God, what is he going to do? How am I going to tell him what to do?’ And he got to the set and we met each other and he was really excited and wanted to start talking about his actions, what clothes he would be wearing and we started talking and never stopped. It was fine. I think in his older years he’s mellowed, he’s just sort of enjoying the acting and not being as much of a diva.
In the past you’ve worked with top cinematographer Yadi Sugandi in ‘Darah Garuda’ and ‘Hati Merdeka.’ Yet in ‘Java Heat’ you decided to work with cinematographer Shane Daly.
I am blessed to work with Yadi, who is the best [in his field]. But he was working on another movie. Shane is an excellent cinematographer.
There is a lot of violence and religious issues in ‘Java Heat.’ Are you worried it will be controversial in Indonesia?
I’m not worried. People are very hung up about it. When they see the trailer, they are worried that it will be all about terrorism, but it’s not. Mickey Rourke is the bad guy in this movie. He’s not Muslim, he’s French. There is no nudity or excessive gore. I’ve seen ‘Rumah Dara’ and this movie has way less blood. People who are worried about it just have to see the movie and realize it’s not a big deal.
Source: The Jakarta Globe
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