Christopher Plummer captivates in revenge thriller Remember

Canadian director Atom Egoyan describes Christopher Plummer's performance in the new filmRemember as "career-defining," but the iconic,Oscar- winning actor is a bit more humble about his latest lead role.

"Atom just said that because he directed the movie" the 85-year-old Plummerquippedto CBC News.

"I think it's a rediscovering of things within me that I have never been allowed to do before," he added.

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Remember seesPlummer portraya holocaust survivor named Zev on a revenge mission to find the Nazi soldier who murdered his family at the Auschwitz concentration camp70 yearsearlier.

However, his character is alsobattling dementia, withhis fading memory making the difficultjourney that much more menacing.

"I thought this was a fascinating, extraordinary role and really very foreign to me. It's all about denial in memory, and the memory loss is nothing compared to the denial that goes on," Plummer said.

'Alittle pissed off'

Plummer turns ina riveting performanceand isonscreen for majority of the film, supported by equally strong performances from co-starsMartin Landau,a fellow Auschwitz survivor who aids themission with handwritten instructions for the task at hand, andDean Norris, who portrays a cop.

In one dark, intense scene, PlummerandNorris'characters havea violent confrontation.Initially the directorplanned fora body double tostand in for Plummer, but the actorinsisted on doing the scene himself.

"For a moment, I was a little bit pissed off, if I may say that. Because it made me feel suddenly rather old. I thought 'Come on guys.Do it, just push me into the sofa!'"

'A very unusual role'

Egoyanhad Plummer in mind for the role from the moment he read the script.

"As I was reading it I was just thinking of Christopher Plummer," the filmmakernoted.

The twopreviously worked together on Egoyan'sfilmAraratin 2002 and "Ithought if he's on board, this can be a really powerful film."

We don't retire in our profession. It's not like other professions...There are so many things you can do as an old person, but there are so many wonderful old characters we can play.- Christopher Plummer

What really made this role unique, the director said, is the paradox introduced by the leadcharacter's fading memory.

"Because the character has dementia, he's living entirely in the presenteven though all the action that is compelling him to seek revenge happened a long time ago.It's a very unusual role and itdoesn't draw on the usual resource an actor has," Egoyan said.

The legendary actor is a consummate professionalwho not only pulled the complex role off, butalso in few takes, he added.

"He's very demanding, which he has every right to be, because he's coming in at such a high level of preparation and craft.

As for Plummer,he simplywants to continue working on the craft of performance.

"We don't retire in our profession. It's not like other professions where you are sick and go and lie down. There are so many things you can do as an old person, but there are so many wonderful old characters we can play."

Click on the video above for more fromChristopherPlummerand AtomEgoyan.