A ‘Happening’ rap with Wahlberg

INTERVIEW. We got Mark Wahlberg to spill on his old Marky Mark persona,  those “Brokeback Mountain” and “Ocean’s Eleven” rumors, and his unlikely role as a science teacher in  the new M. Night Shyamalan directed, supernatural thriller “The Happening.” We love his unapologetic honesty.

Mark Wahlberg, science teacher?!
I don’t think I ever passed science in my life — and I left school after the eighth grade. I did a lot of homework to understand how they work. I liked this role because I needed to play a simple person, but there was a lot of acting involved.

M. Night Shyamalan has a controversial reputation. How did you like working with him?
No other director who I’ve worked with is as prepared as him. I always heard that Gary Oldman said that Ridley Scott is a Swiss watch, well M. Night is like that, too.

Do you think that this kind of natural crisis [in the movie, plants release suicide-inducing deadly toxins] could happen in real life?
I totally think that these kinds of things can happen. Just look at what’s going on in the world today. But I don’t think it is too late. I think if we do our part, everything will be alright.

These days, you’re known as an actor. Would you ever record music again?
No. I’ll leave it to the young ones. They can do it better.

Is it true that Ang Lee offered you a part in “Brokeback Mountain” but you turned it down because of the “sensitive scenes?”
I met with Ang Lee, but he never offered me the part. It would have been a huge challenge, but he never offered it.

What about your rumored bid for Matt Damon’s role in “Ocean’s Eleven”?
That’s true. I didn’t get the role. The first one was good, but the second one isn’t good. You guys can tell George Clooney that it was great, but it wasn’t. I made two bad movies instead of it, but they were still more valuable in spirit.