LOS ANGELES–In today's world of celebrity adoration, reputations are built up and torn down like sandcastles. Yet even the English language's oldest surviving epic poem, "Beowulf", has long warned of the perils of hero worship.

In the 21st-century film adaptation of the eighth-century poem (which opens on Friday [November 16] in Vancouver), a sixth-century Danish kingdom is beset by a murderous beast. When the Viking warrior Beowulf (Ray Winstone) comes to their aid, the sole voice that questions the authenticity of Beowulf's boasts is Unferth (John Malkovich), the second-in-command to King Hrothgar (Anthony Hopkins).

Although uncongenial, Unferth propels the film's underlying theme of facing the truth. "His function in the story," Malkovich explains at a Beowulf news conference, "is to help bring out the notion that what Beowulf says about himself…is not actually the whole story."

Unferth, however, has other motivations. "The reason he [Unferth] challenges him [Beowulf] is that's sort of part of his job, in a way," Malkovich explains later when he sits down with the Georgia Straight in a hotel room. "And also he challenges him because he [Beowulf] comes from another tribe. And he challenges him, I think, because he wants to protect King Hrothgar, and because he wouldn't want anyone to be more important to the king than himself."

Unferth's nasty side, however, is exposed by his anger toward his own son, also played by Malkovich. "I think when you're abusive to people, it kind of betrays an inner panic and a lack of belief in your own ability to do what you need to do and doubt in your own capability. And then that doubt is visited on those around you who you can visit it on."

Performance-capture technology, first employed by Beowulf 's director, Robert Zemeckis, in his 2004 film The Polar Express , enabled Malkovich to play Unferth as both elderly and more youthful. Digital sensor–covered Lycra suits worn by the cast–which includes Angelina Jolie and Robin Wright Penn–recorded their movements in computers, which later animated digitally generated likenesses.

Far from it being inhibiting, Malkovich, known for his roles in Dangerous Liaisons , In the Line of Fire , and Being John Malkovich , found the process liberating. "It is straight acting. Meaning, in other words, you go, you put these little things on–which takes probably less time than most people spend in makeup–and then you act all day and that's all you do…You're much freer."

Malkovich isn't concerned about his performance sitting in a computer database; he feels that it isn't any different from what already exists. "People do a movie with me every day…I'm on someone's telephone every day, you're constantly photographed, you're constantly in their movies without your permission and without being reimbursed. So that already exists…and you can't do anything."

Which isn't entirely true, as resourceful Malkovich has developed his own counterstrike. "I've started a series on my portable phone of people taking pictures of me in everyday life. And I have hundreds…And they don't like it. It's very curious."

Curious it certainly is.

Link: Beowulf official site