`NATURE' GIRL; LESS FRENZY, MORE DOWNTIME FEELS RIGHT TO SANDRA BULLOCK.Byline: Glenn Whipp Daily News Film Writer Sandra Bullock bullock a mature castrated male cattle destined for meat production or draft. swears that she's not trying to leave her male fan base behind, but it sure looks that way from her movies. Last year, Bullock starred in ``Hope Floats'' and ``Practical Magic'' (``Chick flicks n. 1. A sentimental n. os>, movie. chick flick n (col) → filmetto rosa both,'' she readily admits with a laugh) and now she's back with ``Forces of Nature,'' a romantic road picture co-starring Ben Affleck that won't be causing too many testosterone testosterone (tĕstŏs`tərōn), principal androgen, or male sex hormone. One of the group of compounds known as anabolic steroids, testosterone is secreted by the testes (see testis) but is also synthesized in small quantities in the surges in theaters. ``This is more a comedy with unconventional romantic elements,'' Bullock says brightly. ``It's `Midnight Run' meets `The Odd Couple.' There's a lot of guy stuff in there. But who knows? I don't know Don't know (DK, DKed) "Don't know the trade." A Street expression used whenever one party lacks knowledge of a trade or receives conflicting instructions from the other party. anything about who will like what.'' And she doesn't much care, either. After being on the fast track with big-budget movies like the ``Speed'' films, Bullock is following her heart, thinking less about pleasing others (``I had the people-pleasing disease for a long time,'' she says) than about satisfying herself. She's producing short films at a furious rate, and her company, Fortis Films, recently finished a $3 million indie in·die n. Informal 1. One, such as a studio or producer, that is unaffiliated with a larger or more commercial organization. 2. titled ``Gun Shy,'' starring Liam Neeson and Oliver Platt. On a personal level, the 34-year-old actress says she has never been happier. She has lived in Austin, Texas, for the past two years, redesigning a sprawling French provincial French provincial n. A style of architecture or furniture characteristic of the provinces in 17th- and 18th-century France. farmhouse to her dream specifications. And, like Sarah, her character in ``Forces of Nature'' (a wildly free-spirited woman always on the run because of insecurities), Bullock feels like she may finally have reached the point in her life where she might actually be good for somebody - as a wife. ``I don't drive people crazy anymore,'' the 34-year-old actress says. ``Or at least, not as much.'' Here the always-charming Bullock talks about her increased sanity Reasonable understanding; sound mind; possessing mental faculties that are capable of distinguishing right from wrong so as to bear legal responsibility for one's actions. SANITY, med. jur. The state of a person who has a sound understanding; the reverse of insanity. , why she would rather be naked than have to sing on camera and why the guy who wrote ``Tuesdays With Morrie'' should be sending her his undying thanks (not to mention an autographed au·to·graph n. 1. A person's own signature or handwriting. 2. A manuscript in the author's handwriting. tr.v. au·to·graphed, au·to·graph·ing, au·to·graphs 1. copy). Daily News: After playing restrained women in ``Hope Floats'' and ``Practical Magic,'' it must have been a relief to be offered a wild child like Sarah. Bullock: It's fun to play somebody who's struggling to get out and pop open those buttons, but it has been done to the nines by me. I've already popped all my buttons. It was time for a change. DN: If anything, Sarah seems to be more like you than those other mopey women. Bullock: Her energy is more who I am in my private life than anything I've ever done before. You got a little bit of that in ``A Time to Kill,'' too, but I'm thought of more as the girl next door than the girl who's going to wreck somebody's marriage. DN: You also make your singing debut here, crooning a little Etta James. Bullock: While sitting, half-naked, in a bathtub. That was very embarrassing. But I'd rather be naked than have to sing. That's how strongly I feel about my singing. DN: You kind of caught the producing bug with ``Hope Floats,'' and, unlike most stars, you actually seem to enjoy the grunt work. What's the appeal? Bullock: The satisfaction of seeing something through from start to finish. The satisfaction of getting things going for other people. I love watching somebody breaking ground and surprising others. I love working on soundtracks and breaking new artists, and now I live in the perfect place, Austin, to do just that. I listen to hours and hours of music on cassettes given to me by musicians, and I never get tired of it. I love the thrill of discovery. DN: And you seem to love Austin. Bullock: Every second I'm not working, I'm there. Artistically, it has a great independent-movie support system, the music scene is incredible, and the art community is great. The city is progressive, smart, diverse, eclectic e·clec·tic adj. 1. Selecting or employing individual elements from a variety of sources, systems, or styles: an eclectic taste in music; an eclectic approach to managing the economy. 2. , racially integrated, socially integrated . . . young, old, college, they're all there. Plus, 10 minutes outside of town, you can be on a lake, chilling. DN: Sounds pretty good. Do you know any real-estate agents Real-Estate Agent A person with a state/provincial license to represent a buyer or a seller in a real-estate transaction in exchange for commission. Most agents work for a real-estate broker or realtor. ? Bullock: (Laughs) No, no. People in Austin keep telling me, ``I'm glad you're here, but please, don't tell anybody else.'' DN: Is this going to be home for good? Bullock: I feel very settled. Before, I was always manically running around. And I think you do that if you're running away from stuff and from whatever insecurities you might have. And, eventually, I had to stop and think, ``What am I missing here that I need to address? What is making me this frazzled bundle of manic man·ic adj. Relating to, affected by, or resembling mania. energy that drives people insane INSANE. One deprived of the use of reason, after he has arrived at the age when he ought to have it, either by a natural defect or by accident. Domat, Lois Civ. Lib. prel. tit. 2, s. 1, n. 11. ?'' DN: Did you come up with any answers? Bullock: Yes - after about a year and a half. It was very unsettling un·set·tle v. un·set·tled, un·set·tling, un·set·tles v.tr. 1. To displace from a settled condition; disrupt. 2. To make uneasy; disturb. v.intr. . I had no idea of who I was or what I was about. It was always whatever everybody else wanted me to be. So I had to stop worrying - about things that are out of my control and about what other people think. My circle of friends has gotten smaller because of that, but those people are amazing a·maze v. a·mazed, a·maz·ing, a·maz·es v.tr. 1. To affect with great wonder; astonish. See Synonyms at surprise. 2. Obsolete To bewilder; perplex. v.intr. and more honest with me. DN: ``Forces of Nature'' addresses a lot of this stuff. That can't be a coincidence. Bullock: It's the main reason I took the movie. And what it says about marriage, too: Who's to think that once you make that decision that you'll never look at another person, or never be stimulated by someone of the opposite sex or same sex, whatever your preference. We make marriage too clean in movies and don't bring up some of the scarier issues and the mistakes we make. This movie isn't afraid of that and dives right in. DN: So you're not a big believer in monogamy monogamy: see marriage. ? Bullock: I've been in two four-year relationships and others that have lasted two years. So I feel like I've had certain marriages, marriages I would now be divorced from. And that scares me so much, maybe a little too much. DN: But now that you've done a little thinking and you know what you're about . . . Bullock: Now I'm at the point where, if I meet someone, I'll meet an incredible human being, not merely an excuse or the best person I could find. I know I'll be doing it for the absolute right reasons, and who knows in the end if it will work, but it will be for the right reasons. DN: Sounds pretty pragmatic. Bullock: I've never been one of those girls just pining to meet the right guy and be a bride. I would love to be a romantic, but I'm a very literal and pragmatic person. For instance, I hate Valentine's Day Valentine's Day: see Saint Valentine's Day. Valentine's Day Lovers' holiday celebrated on February 14, the feast day of St. Valentine, one of two 3rd-century Roman martyrs of the same name. St. . It was invented by Hallmark, for crying out loud. It's so stupid. The pressure is so insane. To me, that isn't romance, it's forced intimacy. DN: Prospective suitors should forget the flowers and chocolate boxes then? Bullock: Three Valentine's Days ago, I had a serious breakup breakup The division of a company into separate parts. The most famous breakup to date was the 1984 division of AT&T (formerly, American Telephone & Telegraph Company). This breakup was intended to increase competition in the communications industry. . It was very heartbreaking heart·break·ing adj. 1. Causing overwhelming grief or distress. 2. Producing a strong emotional reaction: heartbreaking loveliness. . We made a great dinner, and it was a beautiful night, and, right in the middle of it, we realized it wasn't working. It looked perfect on the outside and very romantic, but on the inside, things were falling apart. DN: OK, then, what is your favorite celebratory day? Bullock: New Year's Eve is my favorite My Favorite is an independent synthpop band from Long Island, New York. They released two CDs: Love at Absolute Zero and Happiest Days of Our Lives. My Favorite broke up on September 14, 2005, when singer Andrea Vaughn left the band. day of the year, period. There is no pressure. It's about the joining of friends and just playing. This year, I'm planning a big party at my place. There will be barbecue and a great Austin band and just dancing, dancing, dancing. If the world's going to end, you might as well be dancing. DN: That's a sound philosophy. Bullock: That's what Morrie from that book ``Tuesdays With Morrie'' was about. He loved to dance, the liberation of it. I've bought thousands and thousands of copies of that book and given them to everyone I know. It's like a life gift. It helps people see life a new way, because here was a man, a philosopher, who applied his teachings during the worst time of his life. You can't look away from that. It's so genuine. And I think that's why the book has affected so many people. It all comes back to living in the moment, something I'm trying to do every day of my life. CAPTION(S): 3 photos PHOTO (1) ``Her energy is more who I am in my private life than anything I've ever done before,'' says Sandra Bullock of her character, Sarah, in the new film ``Forces of Nature.'' (2) Sandra Bullock and Ben Affleck become unlikely traveling companions on the way to Savannah Savannah, city, United States Savannah, city (1990 pop. 137,560), seat of Chatham co., SE Ga., a port of entry on the Savannah River near its mouth; inc. 1789. , Ga., in ``Forces of Nature.'' (3 -- color -- cover) It's just her `Nature' |
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