The director wasn't sure Kilmer could pull off a disguise as Tretiak. Kilmer asked him saying he believed he could do a convincing one.
The day of the shoot Rade Serbedzija's family was on set and went to Kilmer thinking it was him including his children!
It is in the commentary before anyone accuses me of making it up.
awesome trivia! On a side not Rade Serbezija was fantastic in this movie
shareThat is my favorite scene in the film.
During that scene, when Kilmer's character handed his phone to Serbedzija's character, the former said "the phone goes the other way, you moron." I'm starting to think that that part wasn't scripted and was a genuine mistake from Serbedzija, but Kilmer's improvisation impressed the director enough to leave that scene in the final cut.
Am I correct?
It definitely felt like an ad lib--Tretiak's reaction to being called a moron was perfect. Just the right amount of confusion followed immediately by anger. It's one of the best moments in the entire film.
"Beethoven had his critics too, Keith. See if you can name three of 'em."