Crazy Like a Foxx

Kirk Baird

Tuesday, Jan. 25, 2000 | 10:12 a.m.

Who: Jamie Foxx.

When: 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

Where: Las Vegas Hilton Theater.

Tickets: $55 and $45.

Information: Call 732-5755.

There's a scene in director Oliver Stone's hyperactive movie about professional football, "Any Given Sunday," in which young upstart quarterback Willie Beamen (Jamie Foxx) is at head coach Tony D'Amato's (Al Pacino) home to essentially make peace.

With the chariot race sequence from "Ben Hur" playing not-so-subtly on TV in the background, the beleaguered coach and cocky QB attempt to set aside their differences; however, their contrasting styles and egos continue to clash and Beamen leaves with their relationship in further disrepair.

It's a powerful moment in an otherwise flaccid film, one in which Foxx was required to go toe-to-toe against the powder-kegged and raspy-voiced Pacino in a match of intensity -- certainly a daunting task for many veteran Hollywood actors, not to mention someone who's essentially a virgin to the field of dramatic acting. Nevertheless, Foxx not only succeeded in holding his own in that battle, but he won the war.

Film critic Roger Ebert noted in his review: "In a broken-field role that requires him to be unsure and vulnerable, then cocky and insufferable, then political, then repentant, Foxx doesn't step wrong." Gushed Mike Clark of USA Today: Foxx gives the "standout performance" of the film.

Not bad for someone whose previous body of work consisted of such lighthearted comedic fare as "Booty Call," "The Great White Hype" and "The Truth About Cats and Dogs."

But the Terrell, Texas, native seems relatively unfazed by all the commotion over his dramatic turn. In fact, the actor, whose ubiquitous career ranges from acting on his self-titled TV show on the WB network to stand-up comedy to the occasional foray into music, said that he finds more of a challenge in comedic roles than serious parts.

"In a movie like this one ('Sunday'), I was able to give the character complexity," said Foxx in a phone interview from the WB studios between rehearsals for his show. "The role was straightforward and beautifully written.

"In comedy, people never laugh if the joke isn't funny. You can do a (humorous) movie in July and it comes out in January" and then the joke isn't funny anymore.

What he hopes is funny are some of his observations from the "Sunday" set, which he'll include in his comedy tour, which stops at the Las Vegas Hilton Friday and Saturday. This will include stories on Stone and Pacino, as well as co-stars Cameron Diaz, Jim Brown and Lawrence Taylor.

"The movie (material) alone is 45 minutes," he said. And although his co-stars had no idea that they were potential comedic fodder, he said "they'll just have to weather the storm."

Also included in his "Sunday" material is an incident involving co-star L.L. Cool J. As players on the same team who don't want to share the glory and responsibility of leadership, some of their on-screen fights "got a little too real" for Foxx's taste.

When Foxx said he asked L.L. to cool it, the rapper/actor took offense and pushed and shoved Foxx. Eventually Foxx filed battery charges against L.L. with Miami police, which were later dropped.

"We got it all taken care of," Foxx said, although the two have had no contact since.

As for his future, Foxx said he is busy honing his material, and then there's a "Sunday" press tour next month in Germany. Meanwhile he's looking for good scripts.

"I want to start doing great material," he said. "If it's drama, so be it; if it's comedy, so be it. Good material is what you thirst for."

In the here and now, however, Foxx is remaining grounded; his voice during the interview was surprisingly soft-spoken, in sharp contrast to his on-stage presence.

"I'm glad that what happened to me, happened to me now," Foxx said of his newfound fame. "I look at it as a challenge and as a job -- a very nice job."