If nothing else, Christmas always seems to bring out the verybest or the extreme worst in a person, and not even Santa Claus isexempt, as Billy Bob Thornton discovered.
Thornton, while kicking back in his Los Angeles home that wasonce owned by Slash of Guns N Roses, talks about his new movie BadSanta, along with some other off-the-wall things.
The Coen Brothers production, set to hit theatres Nov. 26,starring Lauren Graham, Bernie Mac, John Ritter and Tony Cox, is adark comedy about two demented con artists. Dressed as Santa,Thornton and his elf (Cox), go around to shopping malls across thecountry ripping stores off.
Thornton plays a womanizing alcoholic, who hardly holds histongue, makes it his job to spread more grief than Christmascheer.
A character Thornton said he could somewhat relate to.
"He likes beer, cigarettes and women," Thornton said.
And despite some differences, getting into the role wasn't hardfor him.
"To get ready, all I had to do was disappear into a characterI've seen before," he said. "I know many guys like this."
However, the crazed St. Nick is far from Thornton's real lifepersona.
He also has a quirky fear of Victorian and European styleantiques and he collects records.
He loves baseball and the St. Louis Cardinals.
In high school, he was scouted by the Kansas City Royals beforebreaking his collarbone.
And he loves the holidays. He said he plans to spend them withhis mother and kids in Little Rock, Ark.
"I'm very sentimental about Christmas," Thornton said. "I have 9and 10-year-old boys, and when we're watching a movie, I'll alwayshave my arm around them and kiss them on the forehead and they'llsay 'Dad, come on we're basically teenagers.'"
Well, what could you expect from a man, who was gradually coaxedinto believing Santa didn't exist?
"I believed in Santa way too long," he said. "I was one of thosekids who was in total denial."
Thornton's favorite Christmas movie, besides this one, is AChristmas Story.
He's even had his share of trash worthy gifts, like littleRalphie Parker from the '80s classic, but instead of socks, he andhis brother got a sweater from a friend's mom.
"It was one of the ugliest things I've ever seen," he said."They were really sad looking."
Even though working with some of the most talented actors inHollywood is nothing new for him, Thornton still gets excited abouthis co-stars.
The late John Ritter, famous for his role as Jack on Three'sCompany, played the mall manager in Bad Santa.
"We were really close friends," he said Ritter. "Almost likebrothers over the years. When I heard he was going to be in themovie I was thrilled. (Bernie Mac) is a great guy. A reallytalented guy and I'd love to keep working with Cate Blanchett. Ithink she's the best in the business."
Despite some critic's negative opinions about the movie,including Disney, (the producers of his next film Alamo) Thorntonsaid he isn't fazed and wishes they'd all just shut up.
He said Bad Santa is a great movie and the audience willhopefully enjoy themselves.
"I wish they would have the shit entertained out of them,"Thornton said.
