If you read FilmDrunk, you know that Terrence Howard is one of our favorite actor- nay, philosophers. He recently sat down with RottenTomatoes to discuss his favorite movies. As always, it was truly a lyrical journey through the metaphysical fabric of our very universe.  Here are some choice quotes:

[on Jesus Christ Superstar] “The harmony of music with the simplistic style of telling that story, as a framework for it… I love musicals. Always have. I think you have to tell a full story; it’s like asking someone, ‘Do you like black and white films?’ or ‘Do you love 3D?’ Music creates that third dimension.”

[on On the Waterfront] “It was that basic human story, it was watching the fluid way in which Marlon [Brando] directed the wind around him. We were all moved and swayed by him, and it was the first time that I took notice of truth in acting. There was no acting; everyone else acted around him, but he was there.”

“I made a vow never to ‘act.’ Never, ever ‘act.’ If you’re not there, if you’re not the person [whom you're portraying], then get out of the way and let the real person in. If you’re acting like the person… People respect an ambassador, but they honor the king.”

INTERVIEWER: So you’re of the school of acting that really lives in each role, as opposed to just temporarily taking on a character for the time being?

“Yes — or, allow the role to live in you. If you live the role, that world has its consequences when you bring it into our present world. But if you allow the character to live in you, then you are always in control and can direct where he is allowed; you allow the character to become a guest in your gracious space.”

“Every human being is a composite of multiple, multiple atoms. All taking on different roles in the making of that person or that thing. Likewise, the end result of all of those atoms would be like those atoms; so we need a lot of different personalities; but in order to be one personality, you have to be a number of them because of how they balance off each other.”

Poor Terrence Howard, I think his true calling was as the lead singer for a prog rock band.  “Alright, y’all, how ya doin’ tonight?  Hope you got your lighters ready, beause we’re about to take you into… THE FOURTH DIMENSION! With the power of our rocking! …and Love.”  (*breaks into ‘The Final Countdown’ as the laser light show begins*)

On his Sirius radio show recently, Jamie Foxx talked about how awesomely-deep actor Terrence Howard had supposedly dissed Foxx’s music career.  Surrounded by his yes-men, Foxx then proceeded to rip on Howard for four minutes, saying Howard’s album “went plastic,” and telling this story:

“I know one thing, he’s really about his music.  ‘Cause we was at a club at the W one time when we were shooting Ray, and 50 was out.  You know, “In the Club”?  And Terrence had his guitar – and the song was playin, and he had his guitar out in the club. And the song was playing and he was trying to serenade… And I’m like, ‘Dude… We in the club!’”

Terrence is a really cool cat and I’m sure he’s above petty stuff like this. Besides, man, deep down inside, we’re all made up of the same molecules.  The atoms in you – they jump around, and sometimes they’re part of me and sometimes they’re part of the trees, or the wind, or a go-cart.  The particles dance, man.  they dance to the bongo drums of the universe.   They love freely.  And that’s what you and I should do, because we’re all part of the same energy force, man.  And if you came down to the poetry slam this Friday, I think you’d really dig it.

If you read FilmDrunk, you already know how much we dig on Terrence Howard’s wisdom, and hats, man.  I mean this cat truly has the soul of a poet, man. So when he spreads his wings and flies?  We just try to spread around the droppings, man.  To fertilize the Earth. Are you hip?  Here it goes… (*snappity snappity bongo mike hiss hi hat*)

[From press day for Fighting]  “I ride life like it’s a beautiful go-cart. Me and my friends, we’ll get out there and make a go-cart. You spend so much time finding pieces to make the go-cart, and sometimes it don’t work. But then, all of a sudden, you’ve got a go-cart that’s working. And right when you start riding down the hill, your mother calls you and tells you that you gotta come in. The little boy has to stop, right then and there. So, he comes in and he’s angry and sullen in the face. I’m having such a great time in my life right now. I’m making go-carts, you know? And then, when they call me and make me come to work, I walk in there, I slam doors and I do all those things that a little bad kid would do.”

Oh man. A go cart.  With beautiful long hair. And white-washed tires… all full of kids… that you ride with your friends. That’s so deep man.  So true.  You’re like a bottomless pit of wisdom – with a pool at the bottom. Where we wash away our superficialities.  Tell us more, man.

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Not too long ago, Terrence Howard was unceremoniously bumped from Iron Man 2 and replaced with Don Cheadle.  On the press tour for Fighting, he once again opened up about the way things went down. And if you were wondering whether there were metaphors, you know damn well there were metaphors.

“[Marvel] made a choice. They made a very, very bad choice. They didn’t keep their word. They didn’t honor our contract. They sent everyone out into a field and told them to work and produce a great bounty. You produce a great bounty, and then when it’s all in the storehouse, you are not allowed into the storehouse.”

How do you expect to produce more bounty if you’re hanging out in the storehouse all day?  I swear, the guy acts like he’s never farmed.  Anyway, he went on to claim that Marvel initially lowballed everyone in the cast except Robert Downey.

“They did the same thing with Gwyneth, from what I’ve been told. They did it with almost everyone, I think, except Downey. One of the things that actors need to learn to do is take a tip from Friends [whose cast members all held out for higher pay]. You always choose to stick together. One for all and all for one. Our Gang, you know? Let Spanky be our rule.”

Howard then added, “I have more to say, but not through words,” at which point he upended a rain stick and launched into a sort of improvisational ballet.  Skibbity doo bop, skoobity bee dop, uh shibbity shibbity shibbity, hey!  *bongo playing*

[via theplaylist, aceshowsbiz, worstpreviews]