May 6, 2008

When the Wachowski brothers, the publicity-shy creators of "The Matrix" trilogy, cast Emile Hirsch in the title role of their new family film "Speed Racer," not only were they getting a talented actor but a big fan of the original animated show to boot. While he had caught many of Racer's adventures in reruns as a kid, he also thought to do his homework and rewatch all 52 episodes before shooting began.

"Big waste of time," Hirsch laments. "I can't take that time back."

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That's because, despite some specific iconic references such as Speed's sexy Mach 5 racing car, the Wachowskis have transformed "Racer" into something that barely resembles its Japanese manga origins. Their version finds the Racer family (Pops, Mom, Speed, Spritle and Chim-Chim) in a candy coated CG animated world where car racing is more like a live-action video game than real life.

Speaking to the press while the Long Beach Grand Prix was in full swing outside, Hirsch isn't the focused and contemplative actor I interviewed when "Into the Wild" premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival. Perhaps it's the less intimate setting, but the 23-year-old is in an odd, teasing mood and it becomes hard to take him seriously after a while. For example, when asked what sort of training he undertook for the role, Hirsh offers, "My buddy Frankie [and I] went to a NASCAR simulator at Universal CityWalk, which was fun, and beat a bunch of tourists. Hollywood: 2; Idaho: 0."

That gets a nervous laugh, but Hirsch eventually reveals that NASCAR driver Jimmie Johnson was kind enough to allow him to spend some time in the pit during a race at the Texas Motor Speedway.

As for the finished product, the actor is obviously proud, noting, "You read the script and it's so descriptive of the whole world, but you have no idea what it's going to be until you see it. And the way they made the colors pop and all the things they did with the focus, and integrating the photographs, it was really quite beautiful I thought."

And that has to be gratifying after the many hours he spent at the wheel of his car in front of a green screen being jerked around on a gimbal.

"All of my anger in the film is so authentic because they were just slamming me around in the simulator for hours," Hirsch says. "It was green and hot and there's lights on you and you can't move because you're strapped in. You get literally frustrated to the point where you want to rip the thing apart with a bat."

(Whoa, tiger. Let's hope they come up with a better system if a sequel occurs.)

Sadly, cars in the real world aren't as cool as the ones the Wachowskis conjure, and while Hirsch enjoys his eco-friendly, black Toyota Prius, he does dream of having his own tricked-out Mach 5.

"Let's all get the studio to get me one," Hirsch suggests enthusiastically. "Can you imagine driving one of those? Especially if it went 180, it would be so much fun. Vroom!"

On second thought, perhaps Hirsch's quirky personality is just a result of some latent childlike enthusiasm.

"Speed Racer" opens nationwide May 9.

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