Robert Downey Jr. is Iron Man’s MVP

If movies were like sports, instead of Oscars we would have Most Valuable Player awards. So the early leader for the 2009 MVP award would be Robert Downey Jr., since Iron Man, which opened last weekend, appears to be that cinematic rarity: a critical and financial success.

The film had a $100-million opening weekend in the U.S. and Canada and made about the same amount in its international opening. So how important was Downey Jr. to the movie’s success? His costar Terrence Howard said in a New York City hotel room that even though Downey Jr. knew he was a controversial choice to star in a film based on a comic book, given the personal baggage the former convict and self-admitted drug addict brought to the film, he made his opinions known. Howard said Downey Jr. has an advantage over most people in show business, because he has come back after having fallen so far.

“All of his scandals are out of the closet,” Howard said. “Most of us in this business spend time trying to mask our concerns, but he is completely true to himself. And he is a true leader. He is one of the most gifted actors I have ever worked with. I said, ”˜I will follow you.’ He would say things like ”˜This is a pretty good script. We can do this and be out by lunch or we can fix the bullshit. So let’s rewrite it.’”

Howard, who plays Jim Rhodes, the best friend of Downey Jr.’s character, Tony Stark, says that his favourite day on set was one when the script called for Stark, a weapons dealer, to hold a press conference to talk about how he had been changed by being held hostage by terrorists in Afghanistan.

“Robert walked out on the set, which was ready to go. Jon [director Jon Favreau] had it lit perfectly and Robert was just supposed to go to the podium and start talking to the extras, who were assembled in front of the stage. Instead, he comes out and says, ”˜I believe I want to sit down [on the stage]. And I want everyone else to sit down too. I want us all to become like children here. I am going to my trailer to think about it and I will be back when it’s ready.’

“It took them about 90 minutes to re-light the set so it would work the way he wanted it, but it looks great on film.”