Exclusive: 2 of Ocean's 13 get chatty

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Cannes: One of the big premieres at the Cannes Film Festival this week was Steven Soderbergh’s Oceans 13 starring George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Matt Damon, Don Cheadle, Andy Garcia and Al Pacino among others. CNN-IBN Entertainment Editor Rajeev Masand chats up George Clooney and Matt Damon at Cannes on Oceans 13 , India and Indian films.

Rajeev Masand: You have chosen the platform of this film to talk about Darfur. It is obviously an issue you are passionate about?

Matt Damon: Yes. We felt that we could use some of the attention at the opening of the film to talk about the life and death situation. We have all taken an interest in that continent and George and Don (Cheadle) have been there recently. George has been very involved in it.

He went to Chad, China and Egypt. So we would have felt sad if we had come all the way to Cannes where all these resources were being directed in promoting this film and there so much attention from the international community to not try to direct some of it to the crisis there.

Rajeev Masand: What do you think makes this film more special than the first two?

George Clooney: According to me, a reason for us to come back in a third film is revenge. They hurt your friend so you stick up for your buddy and it’s about getting the guy who hurt your friend. That makes sense. We all understand that. So that seemed like a good reason to make a comeback.

Rajeev Masand: Matt, in The Departed you played a character with sexual inadequacies and in this one you play a guy who needs to convince his friends that he can seduce the girl. You are knocking yourself about, aren’t you?

Matt Damon Yes. I think we all have the tendency in this group to be self- deprecating and that’s just part of the sense of humour and how we look at the world. Some of the best jokes are the ones you make about yourself. That’s what I think. So if it works for the role, I’ll do it.

George Clooney: Yes, it (The Departed) won the Best Picture at the Oscar, so it’s okay.

Rajeev Masand: George, have you ever been to India?

George Clooney: No, I haven’t.

Rajeev Masand: Matt, you have been to India. Tell George why he should go to India.

George Clooney: Oh, I want to go. It’s not about not wanting to go. I just literally have not stopped working. I am going to do some traveling.

Matt Damon: I have not stopped working either but I was lucky enough when we were shooting the Bourne Supremacy when we were shooting in North and South Goa. It was so beautiful but I wish it wasn’t so far. To come from America, to take my whole family, it’s a 20-something hour flight. But once you are there, you never want to leave. It’s beautiful.

Rajeev Masand: But George, you are familiar with Indian cinema.

George Clooney: Sure, it’s Bollywood.

Rajeev Masand: What do you know of it? Bollywood is not all of it.

George Clooney: I know. But I’ve seen a bunch of the musicals. They were amazing and hysterical. I have seen a lot of Indian films. I’m trying to remember the names but I can’t name them off the tip of my tongue. But I have certainly seen them.

Matt Damon: What was the recent fall-out with Richard Gere. Did he make a public apology?

Rajeev Masand: He did, yes. You heard about that?

Matt Damon: Yes. It was huge news. I was in England at that time and it made big news there.

Rajeev Masand: So you know what not to do when you are in India next!

Matt Damon: Yes! That’s exactly what I was thinking.

George Clooney: Don’t dip her and kiss her.

Matt Damon: Or don’t call Richard Gere and ask for advice.

Rajeev Masand: Let’s hope we see you soon in India on a shoot or on a holiday.

George Clooney: Yes, a holiday would be nice.

Matt Damon: A holiday would be great.

Rajeev Masand: Best of luck. Thanks for talking to us.