Paging Edward on the movie set

Natasha Stoynoff
Toronto Sun
November 8, 1998

Is that Furlong or Norton?

FAST EDDIE: What's there to like about Toronto?

"Hmmmmm," ponders actor Eddie Furlong, in town shooting the feature film Detroit Rock City. He can't really think of anything. Nope.

What's there to not like about Toronto?

"It's cold. Too cold," Furlong says. "And it's not home."

Shooting American History X, Furlong had other problems besides weather conditions.

There were two Eddies on the set, the other being Oscar-contender Ed Norton. And since the once Eddie (Furlong, when he was in Terminator 2) is now called Edward, and the once Ed (Norton, when he was in Primal Fear), is now called Edward, there was much confusion.

"Acually ... I was called ... shoot, I don't remember, man. How did we keep each other straight?," says Furlong. "I dunno. Anytime I heard, 'Edward,' my head would turn."

He agreed to do American History X because, "I read the script, and I went, 'Oh my God, this is a mind-f-ck!' It touched me in the heart. It's a rollercoaster ride."

For his role as Norton's kid brother who becomes enamoured with the white supremacist movement, Furlong shaved his head but didn't talk to any real skinheads.

"I dont want to hang out with a bunch of racists," he says.

"I looked up a lot of things on the Internet, and I drew from the rage in me. But I don't think it's really neccesary to go buddy-buddy with some f--ing skinheads."

Not that he would be afraid of them, mind you, if he did meet up with them in a dark alleyway.

"No one scares me. I beat the sh--t outta everybody," he says.

The only one who scares him, maybe, are the security at The Four Seasons Hotel in Beverly Hills, who he twice tried to get by the other night for drinks with some like-minded buddies.

"He didn't have any ID," says one serious-looking guard. "We couldn't let him into the bar. He looks underage."

FASTER NORTON: And how about that shower scene in American History X?

It's as scary as the shower scene in Psycho, but at least the girls get to see a buffed Ed Norton in the buff.

Or at least part of him, back turned to the camera.

Asked recently whether or not he had a 'No Nudity' clause in his contract, Norton replies, "No, no! Look closely!"

Upon looking closely, one female reporter (not me) asks him, "I did! Where is it?"