Wes Bentley has some Boy Scouts-like advice for anyone working with Kevin Spacey: Be prepared.
The twentysomething co-star of "American Beauty" said he wasn't prepared for Spacey's intensity and at first was daunted at working with the Oscar- and Tony-winning actor."Over the course of the shoot, Kevin eventually makes you a better actor . . . by encouraging you to be better than you thought you ever could," Bentley said during a telephone interview from New York, where he was helping publicize the film. "But initially you're afraid he's going to blow you away. In fact, I was starting to fear coming to the set just because he was going to be there."
("American Beauty" opened in New York and Los Angeles last weekend and expanded into other markets, including Salt Lake City, today.)
In the film, Bentley plays Ricky Fitts, the sociopathic, drug-dealing neighbor of the Burnham family. Ricky keeps the object of his affection -- high school student Jane (Thora Birch) -- under constant surveillance with a handheld video camera, and he provides drugs for Jane's father, Lester (Spacey), who experiences a second adolescence during a mid-life crisis.
In real life, the self-described spiritual actor (who studies Taoism) said he couldn't be more different from his character, though he does understand some of his frustrations.
"To play a character you've got to go inside him and see what makes him tick, really understand what motivates him. Fortunately, (screenwriter Alan Ball) wrote him as a flesh-and-blood character. There are reasons Ricky acts the way he does, and his outlook on the world is really quite incredible. He sees beauty where you'd least expect it."
Bentley has nothing but admiration for Spacey and Sam Mendes, a Tony Award-winning theatrical director who makes his feature filmmaking debut with the film.
"I don't think the movie would have worked with another director, at least not one with as much experience in theater as Sam," he said. "He's so skilled with ensemble casts -- to be able to make them one big family that acts in concert. It's just amazing to watch how he works."
Though his credits include the film "Beloved," Bentley's prior film work is mostly in such little-seen independent productions as "Serendipity Lane" and "Three Below Zero." As a result, he was a bit surprised to land a fairly meaty supporting role in a major studio film like "American Beauty."
"When I got the script I was amazed," he said. "I wanted to do this movie. But I didn't think there was any chance I'd wind up opposite someone like Kevin, much less get a part that was this substantial."
Of course, Bentley may have had a leg up on others who auditioned since he attended the Juilliard School in New York like Spacey and because he had extensive theatrical experience like Mendes.
"Well, I'm sure that probably helped," he said. "But those two guys assured me that it was my tryouts that won me the part and not just some sort of fraternal favor they felt they owed me -- not that I wouldn't have taken the part if that has been the case."
Judging by Bentley's work in "American Beauty," it was a smart decision on Mendes' part. In fact, Hollywood seems to have noticed and has already come calling.
"A lot of scripts are coming my way as a result of the film, which is unbelievable," he said. "But I think I've been spoiled now, so I'm trying to be selective. I've already agreed to do a thriller, but nothing else seems to measure up."