Who cares what actors think? - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

RetroGunslinger · 03-30-2009, 03:58 PM

Perhaps I'm missing something, but what exactly is the logic here:

Quote:

O'Reilly Boycotts Penn Films Over Political Stance
30 March 2009 5:11 AM, PDT | From wenn.com

Controversial TV pundit Bill O'Reilly has vowed to boycott Sean Penn's movies - insisting he can't watch the actor's big screen projects due to their conflicting political views.

The right-wing commentator, who fronts his own show The O'Reilly Factor on America's Fox News, is well known for his criticisms of liberal celebrities, and has openly mocked left-wing stars Jessica Alba, George Clooney and Rosie O'Donnell.

Now, in an interview with the Hollywood Reporter, O'Reilly has admitted he wouldn't pay money to see Oscar-winner Penn's movies due to his involvement with controversial politicians, including Venezuelan leader Hugo Chavez.

When asked by the publication if there are any actors whose political opinions disturb him so much he wouldn't see their films, he replied, "Just Sean Penn."

And when pushed on the response, O'Reilly explained, "He's a great actor, and if you hire him, you'll get a good performance.

"I'm just not going to give a guy who gives aid and comfort to people like (Iran president Mahmoud) Ahmadinejad, Hugo Chavez and Saddam Hussein, when he was alive, my 10 bucks. That's my right as an American."

In 2005, Penn visited Iran acting as a journalist on an assignment for the San Francisco Chronicle and has defended Venezuelan leader Chavez by claiming the U.S. was "becoming increasingly gullible to the demonising of foreign states or leaders".

Now, I'm not trying to say that Bill O'Reilly should be held in any high esteem or even be expected to give rational decisions. Rather, I'd just like to use that little article as an example of something I don't quite understand: why must people attribute an actor's opinion with their films?

I might not agree with everything Penn does, but I still watched and enjoyed Milk. I think Tom Cruise is a laughable dipshit most of the time, but I still thought Valkyrie was badass. I think Victor Salva is a disgusting human being, but I still find the Jeepers Creepers films enjoyable. Why? Because I don't expect actors to do anything other than act. Whatever they do outside of the movies I could care less about. If Kurt Russell decided one day to throw a baby out of a window whilst raping a kitten with the American flag, I'd still consider Jack Burton from Big Trouble in Little China one of the coolest characters ever.

I'm curious what people who won't watch a movie based on an actor's behavior are thinking.

And before you say "well, I don't want to give money to that asshole", consider this:

Quote:

Director Slams Joaquin's...Whatever That Is
SATURDAY, MARCH 28, 2009 AT 2:53PM
Remember when Joaquin Phoenix went on Letterman to promote his new film, Two Lovers, and the only thing peopler were taking about the next day was how Phoenix had gone off the deep end? His erratic behavor and unkempt appearance was suddenly the only headline, and Two Lovers faded into the background.

The disappointment is that Two Lovers is actually a really good film (read our review), and if Phoenix isn't in a frame of mind to properly promote it, then he shouldn't go on talk shows, particularly ones where the host is famous for ridiculing guests. You had to wonder how all of that impacted the cast of the film and director James Gray, especially since the film has failed to attract a lot of box office attention. And now, Gray is questioning Phoenix' state of mind and calling the whole transition to a rap career and the documentary apparently being filmed by Casey Affleck a "circus."
"It’s like, Letterman was trying to get the movie out there, but the only thing that’s out there now is a crazy person with a beard making a fool of himself,” Gray seethes in an interview with The Times. Calling Affleck a "clown," the writer-director adds, “I have no idea what the hell that guy is shooting. The whole thing is not to my taste, and I’ve let Casey know this.”
There are plenty of opinions on both sides of the debate over whether or not this is all a hoax. Gray doubts it's some elaborate scheme, like the one cooked up by Andy Kaufman in the early 1980s that also entered the zeitgeist courtesy of Letterman.
"Towards the end of the movie he kept saying, ‘I’m tired, I’m tired, I don’t want to act any more. I’ve been doing this for 30 years and I can’t take it!’ And I thought, at the time, he was just tired. But I must say, I’ve seen him in his house, and he has his own recording studio that he built right there. So if this is a hoax, then it’s the most elaborate thing that I have ever seen.”
“If it is shown to be a hoax, then that’s great, because Joaquin will come back to acting. And he is something special. But if it isn’t, you know, I think he needs, well, help.”
If you can find it, Two Lovers is still playing in over 100 theaters nationwide, and it's actually fairing better overseas, where it has made about 70% of its total box office.

Believe it or not, it's not the actor who benefits most from the movie. Sure, they get a little more on top of their salary if the movie does well, and they might get more parts, but that really doesn't help those other working people whose livelihoods rest on the success of the film.

I feel bad for James Gray. I don't think Two Lovers was ever going to be a huge success by any means, but I don't doubt that plenty of potential box office receipts were lost thanks to the current public perception of Joaquin Phoenix. It's a shame.

... And that's my rant for the day.

Cynthetiq · 03-30-2009, 04:02 PM

Well you could extend this to corporations that donate or support causes, contribute to political careers and bills.

The part that is important here is that one gets to vote with their wallet, and make choices about where to spend their money.

Psycho Dad · 03-30-2009, 04:07 PM

All the previews I've seen of Valkyrie indeed indicate to me that the movie would be good.

As far as not watching a movie based on someone's political beliefs, if you are going there, you won't watch movies. My only beef with celebrities going on talk shows talking about who they support in office is I don't give a shit who they support. People who vote for who Pamela Anderson supports because of her support, shouldn't be voting.

Willravel · 03-30-2009, 04:11 PM

They have more exposure than I do. If that weren't the case, either a lot more people would listen to me or a lot less people would listen to them. I can't decide which I'd like more.

That said, they make good arguments and bad arguments just like the rest of us mortals, simply weigh their arguments the same way you would anyone else. Sometimes, they make damned good points—Matt Damon posted a Youtube video about Sarah Palin like 5 months ago that was pretty good—and sometimes they make themselves look like idiots. Remove the stage upon which they stand from the equation and we'll call it a day.

mixedmedia · 03-30-2009, 04:21 PM

This is just that overblown 'Hollyweird' flag that conservative pundits like to take out and wave around every once in a while to tweak the noses of actors and directors and such who get recognition for their political views. I can only attribute it to the fact that by far, most people in the entertainment industry are (at least) fairly liberal in their views and conservatives are under-represented. Is that someone's fault?

I do find it funny though that conservatives get so upset that actors have opinions (because they are obviously kept in little boxes in a warehouse in Hollywood whenever they are not making movies and cannot possibly have gained enough information to form an opinion and then (gasp!) voice it in public) but have absolutely no qualms about putting their trust in the credentials (?) of such quasi-professionals as Bill O'Reilly and Rush Limbaugh.

Personally I feel like actors are entitled to their opinions on political matters just as much as any of us. It's not their fault that people happen to hang on every frigging word they say.

Baraka_Guru · 03-30-2009, 07:16 PM

I take this purely as a direct political jab. If O'Reilly were doing this on a moral standpoint as he claims, he'd also be going on about all the other things he won't spend money on. Oh, I don't know...Chinese goods (they're Communists, remember?).

That said, I think it matters what celebrities say in the capacity of their reach and influence within the public sphere. Just as with any media personality (O'Reilly included), if you have influence, you can use it any way you want.

If you strongly disagree with a celebrity, then I don't see why it's such a bad thing to avoid the products they help produce. I just don't see them as connected, really. It's a political decision, not a logical one.

oliver9184 · 03-31-2009, 08:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RetroGunslinger

Believe it or not, it's not the actor who benefits most from the movie. Sure, they get a little more on top of their salary if the movie does well, and they might get more parts, but that really doesn't help those other working people whose livelihoods rest on the success of the film.

I have to contend this - I don't think anyone whose name you haven't heard of would say that their livelihood rests on the success of the films they work on. They get paid (as do EVERYONE working on a film) whether the movie does well or not. And surely no minor technician or extra was ever blamed for a poorly performing movie.

For me, an actor's behaviour in real life doesn't affect how I receive their film's. Like someone already said, Tom Cruise tries his best to be a dick these days but the Cruise I know doesn't exist, it's an amalgamation of twenty years worth of appealing (if not always likeable) screen characters from Risky Business to Lions for Lambs.

03-30-2009, 04:02 PM	#2 (permalink)
Cynthetiq Tilted Cat Head Administrator Location: Manhattan, NY	Well you could extend this to corporations that donate or support causes, contribute to political careers and bills. The part that is important here is that one gets to vote with their wallet, and make choices about where to spend their money. __________________ I don't care if you are black, white, purple, green, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, hippie, cop, bum, admin, user, English, Irish, French, Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, Buddhist, Muslim, indian, cowboy, tall, short, fat, skinny, emo, punk, mod, rocker, straight, gay, lesbian, jock, nerd, geek, Democrat, Republican, Libertarian, Independent, driver, pedestrian, or bicyclist, either you're an asshole or you're not. What's the best nation in the world? DO-NATION!

03-30-2009, 04:07 PM	#3 (permalink)
Psycho Dad Mulletproof Location: Some nucking fut house.	All the previews I've seen of Valkyrie indeed indicate to me that the movie would be good. As far as not watching a movie based on someone's political beliefs, if you are going there, you won't watch movies. My only beef with celebrities going on talk shows talking about who they support in office is I don't give a shit who they support. People who vote for who Pamela Anderson supports because of her support, shouldn't be voting. __________________ Don't always trust the opinions of experts.

03-30-2009, 04:21 PM	#5 (permalink)
mixedmedia has all her shots. Location: Florida	This is just that overblown 'Hollyweird' flag that conservative pundits like to take out and wave around every once in a while to tweak the noses of actors and directors and such who get recognition for their political views. I can only attribute it to the fact that by far, most people in the entertainment industry are (at least) fairly liberal in their views and conservatives are under-represented. Is that someone's fault? I do find it funny though that conservatives get so upset that actors have opinions (because they are obviously kept in little boxes in a warehouse in Hollywood whenever they are not making movies and cannot possibly have gained enough information to form an opinion and then (gasp!) voice it in public) but have absolutely no qualms about putting their trust in the credentials (?) of such quasi-professionals as Bill O'Reilly and Rush Limbaugh. Personally I feel like actors are entitled to their opinions on political matters just as much as any of us. It's not their fault that people happen to hang on every frigging word they say. __________________ Most people go through life dreading they'll have a traumatic experience. Freaks were born with their trauma. They've already passed their test in life. They're aristocrats. - Diane Arbus PESSIMISM, n. A philosophy forced upon the convictions of the observer by the disheartening prevalence of the optimist with his scarecrow hope and his unsightly smile. - Ambrose Bierce

03-30-2009, 07:16 PM	#6 (permalink)
Baraka_Guru warrior bodhisattva Super Moderator Location: East-central Canada	I take this purely as a direct political jab. If O'Reilly were doing this on a moral standpoint as he claims, he'd also be going on about all the other things he won't spend money on. Oh, I don't know...Chinese goods (they're Communists, remember?). That said, I think it matters what celebrities say in the capacity of their reach and influence within the public sphere. Just as with any media personality (O'Reilly included), if you have influence, you can use it any way you want. If you strongly disagree with a celebrity, then I don't see why it's such a bad thing to avoid the products they help produce. I just don't see them as connected, really. It's a political decision, not a logical one. __________________ Knowing that death is certain and that the time of death is uncertain, what's the most important thing? —Bhikkhuni Pema Chödrön Humankind cannot bear very much reality. —From "Burnt Norton," Four Quartets (1936), T. S. Eliot

03-30-2009, 04:11 PM	#4 (permalink)
Willravel ... a sort of licensed troubleshooter.	They have more exposure than I do. If that weren't the case, either a lot more people would listen to me or a lot less people would listen to them. I can't decide which I'd like more. That said, they make good arguments and bad arguments just like the rest of us mortals, simply weigh their arguments the same way you would anyone else. Sometimes, they make damned good points—Matt Damon posted a Youtube video about Sarah Palin like 5 months ago that was pretty good—and sometimes they make themselves look like idiots. Remove the stage upon which they stand from the equation and we'll call it a day.