What drew you again to a rather evil character?

Evil's a strong word - I don't think that he's evil. I think what's important is how the character kind of evolves through the story, how he is misguided and manipulated by others and what leads to those acts that you describe as evil. But I actually made this film before "Gladiator", about two years ago we shot this film. I feel sympathetic towards him. He's trapped and we see how he's manipulated by James Caan's character to really commit the ultimate act of betrayal.

No, you're right he wasn't evil, but what do you think he was striving for?

I think it's kind of the remnants of the American dream that whole idea. To get the money and have the car and the wife - this is success. And how often times in pursuit of that dream, we can lose ourselves, we can lose what's really important to us, which is our family and our friendships and the love that we have.

What's James Gray's approach as a director?

He's very demanding. He's brilliant. I'd work with him in a second. It was absolutely torture making this movie. There's probably one time that I cheat on every movie, where I kind of walk through a scene. And there was none of that on this. I just can't express to you enough how important it is for an actor to have that kind of support from a director. Somebody that will stop at nothing to get it right.

Read what James Caan has to say about "The Yards".