OLIVER STONE - STONE PRAISES FARRELL

STONE PRAISES FARRELL

OLIVER STONE has lavished praise on Irish actor COLIN FARRELL - and insists any criticism he was given after playing the lead role in ALEXANDER was misplaced. Stone, who directed the 2004 movie about the ancient Greek ruler, was shocked by the star's commitment to the project, and believes he was maligned for no reason. He says, "The guy literally, and much to his credit, could tumble into the makeup chair in the morning with no sleep. He'd sleep for an hour during makeup and then be perfect, and alert, and then he'd know the other person's lines as well as his own. There's something extraordinary in his makeup. "Colin really killed himself in that performance and he did a great job. He was shattered (by the criticism). But I hope he comes back and I think he will. It was a rough as any young actor could have to go through."