Martin Campbell (“The Memory of a Murderer”): “The original film was excellent, we hardly made any changes”

Martin Campbell is undoubtedly one of the great action film directors of the last few decades. And Monica Bellucci has had the honor of being one of the best-known European names on the Hollywood scene for a few decades. For the first time, they both join forces in “The Memory of a Murderer,” an action thriller starring Liam Neeson and which is actually a remake of the 2003 Belgian film of the same name. In it, a veteran hitman dives into one final mission in which he faces memory loss caused by Alzheimer’s. If you don’t, you won’t be able to put an end to your enemies’ criminal conspiracy.

“The original film was excellent, it was very well constructed”comments Campbell in an interview granted to eCartelera on the occasion of the premiere of ‘The memory of a murderer’, “actually we just changed history”. Sure, when you have fun “all the creative freedom we wanted”some changes were allowed such as the ending or the change of gender of the character of Bellucci, who in 2003 was a man. “With this character I wanted to break the mold of what I usually do”, says the actress, “I got fat, I changed my makeup … everything helped”she explains.

Her character is Davana Sealman, a prominent CEO of an investment fund that weaves a complex web of corruption, lies, prostitution and death for its own benefit. “She is a natural sociopath, she is intelligent, she is intelligent … and she has a dark side, she is cold and manipulative”exhibits Bellucci, “This duality was very interesting for me. On the one hand he is a monster, but on the other hand he is a human being”. Something similar happens to Neeson’s character, which for Campbell is “a morally repugnant killer who is paid to kill people” but in turn “manages to generate empathy” Because he is the hero of the story.

A movie to see in theaters

Between anecdotes and clues about ‘The memory of a murderer’, Martin Campbell wanted to launch an appeal in favor of cinemas so that the viewer does not wait for the streaming but go to the big screen to see this and all the films he can. “There is no comparison. At home you will feel more comfortable but there is no experience like going to the cinema. It literally doubles the pleasure of seeing something. “defends the director.

“The memory of a murderer” comes out in theaters on July 22.