Johnny Depp slams U.S. as "dumb puppy"

[FlashHarry]

Yahoo/Reuters story here.

((Mods, I don't know if this is really LBN---feel free to lock/move.))

<snip>
BERLIN (Reuters) - Hollywood star Johnny Depp says the United States is a stupid, aggressive puppy and he will not live there until the political climate changed.

The 40-year-old actor, who stars in the "Pirates of the Caribbean", told the German news magazine Stern on Wednesday he was happier staying in the south of France with his wife, the French actress and singer Vanessa Paradis, and their two children.

"America is dumb, it's like a dumb puppy that has big teeth that can bite and hurt you, aggressive," he said.

"My daughter is four, my boy is one. I'd like them to see America as a toy, a broken toy. Investigate it a little, check it out, get this feeling and then get out," said the star of the off-beat films "Edward Scissorhands" and "Dead Man".
</snip>

[Soloflecks]

1. Good for him!

I just gained some respect for the guy.

[Suspicious]

2. Depp has never been one to mince words.

I've always had a great deal of respect for him as an actor - he's incredibly talented. I'm not surprised at all by his attitude toward the current administration, and his remarks are spot on, in my opinion. I wish I had the option of moving to southern France - he is, indeed, fortunate.

[Zech Marquis]

3. a great actor and a smart man

Johnny Depp alwasy struck me as being more than just another pretty boy--like Demi Moore's boytoy--and he hit the nail on the head this time about *
s Amerika.

[Palacsinta]

4. He's sooooo good-lookin'!

Poor Freepies.......one more actor whose movies they're going to have to boycott. I imagine that it's becoming tiresome re-watching re-wound re-run Charleton Heston flicks.

[xchrom]

5. if only i could move

to the south of france! sigh.
he's right about the country though -- but it ain't gonna change any time soon.
we are way to convinced of our own ''righteousness''. and aggressive toward each other in the extreme.
i just don't know the answer because i no longer wish to get along corporate facists and phony religous zealots. it sounds harsh -- but i didn't make these current conditions -- i'm forced to accept them. and i have become unforgiving.

[ixion]

13. I would move to the south of France in a heartbeat

if I could afford it. When Depp first made his appearance in the 80's, I wasn't a big fan, but over the years he has won me over by making consistently impressive films.

[belab13]

89. I'd move in a heartbeat too if I had his digs, his clout, and

his wife waiting in the parlor for me. Otherwise I'd miss my favorite mexican restaraunt too much.

[sushi]

92. Once you taste French food

you will forget all about tacos, etc. BELIEVE ME!

[soleft]

6. I can imagine all the studio heads cringing

Yet Harrison Ford seems to have come off unscathed from his remarks.

[shanti]

24. what did harrison ford say?

i missed it.

[soleft]

30. Harrison Ford slams US

http://www.news24.com/News24/Entertainment/Abroad/0,,2-...

[FlashHarry]

7. I also love it that he was in a big hit movie this summer.

So you can't really call him a 'fringe' actor. He single-handedly carried "Pirates of the Carribean."

[gandalf]

8. This left-wing Hollywood

is really anti-American.
Are the successors of McCarthy all asleep?

[Dhalgren]

9. "Are the successors of McCarthy all asleep?"

Hopefully they are all dead and roasting happily in hell.

[gandalf]

10. Probably not all are asleep...

do you know campus watch?
http://www.campus-watch.org/

[piece sine]

12. I wish he hadn't said that....

It's drawing closer to election time folks and I, for one, want to see a MAJOR change in Congress and the Administration. Who doesn't?!

It's an easy cliche to label leftists "anti-American." When world-famous, millionaire pretty-boys who can afford cloistered villas in the south of France, mouth-off about how bad of our country is, some of our countrymen (and women) are going to take offense. I'm not talking about GOP types. I'm more concerned about that wide swath of Independents (over 34% in a survey of polls) who don't hate their own country and are not inclined to hand-over its leadership to people who do. Granted, Depp's not running for anything for he kinda bats for our team now, doesn't he?

He wasn't just knocking Bush, he blasted the whole enchilada. That's fine if you ultimately don't care what happens in 2004, but I'm growing more concerned that about being hamstrung with stereotypes that defeat our broader political goals. Everytime a famous Leftist trashes this country, and not just the President, we lose votes.

They can and should stick it to Bush all day and night, but celebrities should lay-off the general population.

[jiacinto]

16. I take offense at what he said

nt

[markses]

25. Duly noted

Mind explaining why?

[Name removed]

31. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[FredScuttle]

79. You take offense? Stop the presses....

and I should care....why?

[zonmoy]

88. re""Are the successors of McCarthy all asleep?""

But they definately should not be happy they should be completely miserable.

[liberalmuse]

11. Bravo, Johnny Depp!

I've noticed lately that more and more actors are speaking out again. I'm going to have to see 'Pirates of the Carribean' while it's still in the theatres, to throw a bit of my dough his way. I knew he was my favorite actor for a reason. He has a lot of soul.

[Bridget Burke]

14. Thanks!

I now have a good reason to see Pirates again. To lend support to an outspoken actor, not just to drool over Captain Jack Sparrow once again.

Johnny Depp's performance really makes the movie work.

[Palacsinta]

29. Made my husband go see it.......

Didn't tell him why.....at first he thought it was Orlando Bloom I was interested in..('cause I drooled over his Elf-guy in the Rings thing) but I told him to wait for it..........when he saw the first glimpse of Jack Sparrow he knew why I was there! Yummy!! I may have to dig up an old puffy shirt from somewhere and put hubby in it!! (Yes, I know I'm shallow......yeah, yeah, bravo for his comments etc.)

[jiacinto]

15. Good riddance then

He is so ungrateful for America has given him. Why doesn't he try living in a third world country and then come back and say how bad America is?

[Sick of Bullshit]

17. Apples and oranges

Compared to most third world countries, ANY first world country would seem like paradise. A comparison of first world to first world would be more appropriate.

[kentuck]

18. He did...

He lived in Kentucky...

[Forkboy]

19. He's right though

why is everything so black and white to you?

[soleft]

20. Because he's been living in an open secular society and he can

see what needs to be fixed in America.

Your comment is like saying

a man in really good health criticizes a guy who drinks a bottle of whiskey a day, and saying, wow, I'd like to see him get a terrible disease and make comments like that

[Mari333]

23. Yes, true,

Been to Europe, seen it...very very very good ...took me months to get used to living in the US again...it was like visiting a beautiful forest of peace and then being thrust back into a loud, dirty , angry mob.
I stay here only because my adult children and my sick mother are here.

[Cha]

42. Good analogy!

[KAZ]

22. Oh please! He's slammin * and the "political climate", and...

..."Grown men and women in positions of power in the U.S. government showing themselves as idiots,". Deservedly so.

[markses]

26. Aaaaaachooobullshit

n/t

[Suspicious]

27. "He is so ungrateful for America has given him. " (sic)

That familiar, grandiloquent ring.

[Forkboy]

34. Right out of the Repub playbook ain't it?

[Cha]

40. That's what I was thinking but didn't say!

Thank you!

[BuddhaGirl]

35. Oh please...he's expressing an opinion for god's sake

and he's entitled. Why do you give him so much power??

[Cha]

39. How weird is that? I say Bravo! Telling it like it is! Go Johnny Go!

[SOS]

46. America "gave" Johnny Depp nothing

He is a talented, intelligent guy who worked hard. Every country has film stars who live well. He is in movies because he is a box-office draw and his movies make money.
Right-wingers usually say "love it or leave it", but since Depp left a long time ago, all you can come up with is criticism that he chose to live in France, with his French wife, rather than in Burma or Liberia? Too bad the Soviet Union is no more or you could tell him to move there.
PS: I want to be a handsome, rich, successful movie star too.
Where in America do I sign up to be "given" this?

[scarletwoman]

56. *applause* Well-said!

GREAT response to an absurd assertion!



sw

[joshcryer]

80. I agree with above responder, well said!

You gotta love asshole strawmen.

[amish_enforcer]

76. You hit the nail on the head my friend!

He is so ungrateful for America has given him

Exactly, the current state of America has given him disgust and concern, I wouldn't be grateful towards America or anything that pissed me off.

So why the good riddance?

Ohhhhhh.....I get it now, the old "love it or leave it", it appears he has :p

[sushi]

91. He is entitled

to his opinion, but I must agree with piece sine (Post #12).

[MoonAndSun]

21. Not only handsome and smart, but also not afraid to speak

his mind. I'm sure THEY are in a tizzy now, actors are not suppose to have an opinion, except repuke ones.

[Monte Carlo]

28. I think he's right, though I wish he was a little more specific...

... in his condemnations. "America" is a little too broad. "Bush and his handlers" is much more fitting, I think.

I think the fundamentals of what America stands for are still there, though dormant. They can be awaken again.

[janx]

32. Depp is a fantastic actor! Absolutely gifted!

I saw Pirates over the summer and had to go back and see it again.

[olmy]

33. Well, that money from your movie sure did help in a pinch.

He can say and live where ever he wants. But if he is not here, but making money off of Disney and the Ol' USA, he better give it a rest, because it's that kind of attitude that the RW latch on to. I also think he is full if crap too.

He better look and see the address of the bank that cuts his checks. Other celebrities bring their kids up here and are part of getting Bush out. It must be comfortable to sit on the other side of the fence and yell.

[Cha]

41. BFD! He can "yell" anywhere he wants to! We still have the

freedom of Speech, especially in France! I say more Power to Johnny Depp! Truth to Power!

[Bridget Burke]

44. He's making money FOR Disney!

Last time I checked, POTC had grossed about $274 million. That includes international ticket sales.

The movie had lots of good things going for it but probably would have been a well-intentioned mess without his eccentric but charming performance.

Besides, I doubt he yelled. He's rather soft-spoken in person but people listen. If you rightwingers think he's full of crap, who cares?

[olmy]

47. Sling that RW crap when someone has a different opinion

I am a Dean Democrat. Nice try.

"My daughter is four, my boy is one. I'd like them to see America as a toy, a broken toy. Investigate it a little, check it out, get this feeling and then get out," said the star of the off-beat films "Edward Scissorhands" and "Dead Man".

Think about that... how utterly insulting. Insulting for the people who gave and are continuing to give to make this national nightmare we are in go away.

[Name removed]

48. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[olmy]

51. Rovian? Hardly, and who elected you the party mouthpiece?

Just because I think that Depp has given the RW a full platter to attack him with, that makes me a RW?

[haymaker]

95. I just call 'em like I see 'em.

I can't see you, so I have no way of knowing exactly who you are, except for what you write. As far as that goes, what you wrote reads like something Tom Delay would have written, verbatum.

So what can I say? And I wasn't speaking for the party, I was speaking for myself, and I surely wasn't speaking for you, I don't know your language. And one more thing, FYI, the RW look like nose-pickers when time and again they whine about some actors opinion. So why would I care that Depp gave them ammunition. As far as I am concerned, it is ammo that they will shoot themselves in the foot with, or the head.

Whaaaaa, Whaaaaa, Whaaaaaa, fuckin' Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaa! Love it or leave it, whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!

[olmy]

102. And I don't make up the facts...I just report em.

Just wait till he is here shilling for the sequel. If Bush is not out of office, Disney has ways of making you shut up....epecially on the press tours.

Then he can go back to France, and tell the kiddies.

[haymaker]

108. Like he gives a fuck.

Like I give a fuck.

[MostlyBlackCat2]

36. swoon.............thud

Love him! Does what he wants with his career, didn't sell out, left this stoopid country when he could. i admire him. of course, i'm saving up for my own expatriation this summer, so perhaps it's just green envy.

[dArKeR]

37. Depp brands Bush a 'liar' - News24

Hollywood heartthrob Johnny Depp has slammed US President George W Bush's policy on Iraq, calling him "one of the worst liars I have ever seen," in an interview with German magazine Stern to appear Thursday.

Depp, who lives in France with his wife, pop singer Vanessa Paradis, and two children, told the magazine that "grown-up men and women in positions of power" in the US government had shown themselves to be "idiots" in choosing to go to war against Iraq and attacking Paris for its opposition to the war.

http://www.news24.com/News24/Entertainment/Abroad/0,,2-...
(Free Register)

[MoonAndSun]

45. thanks for the link, darker,

Johnny has the right to say anything he wants, just as much right as Arnie, Mel, Bruce Willis, etc.

Anytime we want to clamp down on freedom of expression, we give the repukes more power.

[Cha]

38. Lucky, Johnny Depp! Can live wherever he pleases!

America will change, though, and we will be the Country that we have the potential to be!

[ErasureAcer]

72. only under a kucinich adminsration

[Wetzelbill]

74. Re: "only under a Kucinich administration

Touche'

Anyway, I like Depp. Always have. He showed plenty of sand expressing his opinion like that. When Rush, Coulter and the like spew out their ilk it is somehow acceptable even though they are hateful blowhards. I do not mind celebrities speaking out about anything. Good for them even if I may disagree. More power to anybody who has an outspoken, informed opinion on any issue.

[Aristus]

43. My Republican wife adores Johnny Depp.

I wonder if she realizes he's a pinko liberal like me? Good for him. I've liked him since "Platoon". He's amazingly talented, and now it looks like he's smart, as well.

[Bluzmann57]

49. One thing I'd like to know

Why do people choose to leave when they are unhappy and bitching about everything? Why don't they stay and fight? A person like Depp may be somewhat influential in others decision making, but instead of trying to change from within, he just runs away. I am an avowed liberal since childhood, but running away from what is still a great country just seems like the act of a coward. Susan Sarandon, Tim Robbins, Janeane Garofalo, and others have been critical too, but you don't seem them leaving the USA. If a person is truly unhappy, then they should try and make things better instead of running away.

[olmy]

53. Exactly...tell that to the poster that calls me Rovian.

[haymaker]

97. Still crying?

Depp has lived in France for a while. He lives there because he likes it there, his family likes living there. His partner is French, don'tcha know? If he doesn't choose to move back to fight these criminals, that's his business.

[olmy]

104. I am crying as I type this....

Not having lived under a rock, or some other Republican housing type, I was well aware of this.

By the way, his business is very good, especially when you can't strech your neck from France.

[haymaker]

109. I think you REALLY believe

that he would only say what he thinks in France, or Germany, or wherever the interview was. Are you implying that some numbskull would try to do him some harm here in the free speech US?

Man, you would think that we wouldn't even find out that he said it, if the interview took place over there. But lordy, lordy, his plan failed. Somehow the interview got reported on over here in the States. I bet he NEVER thought that we would hear about it over here. Boy I bet he is surprised and shaking in his boots now that the news somehow managed to get back to the States.

It's almost like there is some sort of electronic connection between Europe and the US. Who would have ever thought?

Give me some help, how did the news get back here? He HAD to have thought we would never hear it or he NEVER would have dare said it.

[scarletwoman]

55. How is living in France with your FRENCH spouse "running away"?

He didn't "run away", he's been living in France for several years, since he married a Frenchwoman. He didn't move there because he was "unhappy" with the U.S., he is living in France because he is happy with his French wife.

Sheeesh...

sw

[Melinda]

58. You beat me to it, sw.

Some would do wise to follow the adage "Better to keep your mouth closed and be thought a fool than to open it and remove all doubt".

Johnny Depp remains an American citizen with FULL RIGHTS as such despite his ex pat status of many, many years; more power to him.

[Name removed]

60. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[olmy]

59. Now the wife...any other excuses? French Art History major?

From the European Front. German, French, and Spanish magazines widely avaialable at all US convenience stores has startling quote about Depps US comments.

Why not say what he said there....here?

Get it yet?

[Melinda]

61. So you are against the Bill of Rights... wow.

You don't believe in Freedom of Speech or expression? What other "rights" do you think should be taken away from American citizens?

[olmy]

62. What are you talking about?

Where did that come from?

[scarletwoman]

63. Yeah, I "get it"...

I "get" that you'll come up with any old nonsense with which to prop up your absurd argument.

"German, French, and Spanish magazines widely avaialable at all US convenience stores..." -- right. All those copies of Stern and Paris Match crowding the racks at the 7-11 checkout counter... Uh huh...

sw

[olmy]

64. Then is there any record of him saying these things while here..

instead of France. Ask Disney.

[haymaker]

99. What difference does it make, tough guy?

What, are you going to beat him up if he says it over here? You think he's afraid, and that is why he said it over there?

HE LIVES THERE!

[olmy]

106. Sorry, just back from my boxing workout.

Egads! You can't write comedy like this.

[haymaker]

110. Good comeback.

What does it mean?

[olmy]

107. Sorry, I was boxing, and did not notice the time.

I am really a puppy, not a fighter.

[joshcryer]

81. Perhaps for the same reason Tim Robbins had to get a body guard.

Think.

[haymaker]

98. Because he is OVER THERE! Get it?

When's the next Mensa meeting?

[Wetzelbill]

75. Have you ever got a look at his wife?

I'd move to another country to be with the woman I loved too. Can't fault a guy for that. I wouldn't say that is cowardly or anything.

[Boomer]

83. So let me get this straight...

If by chance you're born in the United States you must stay there for the rest of your life, you must never move to another country under any circumstances or for any reason -- otherwise you're a coward. Only cowards ever move out of the country of their birth.

Does this rule only apply to people leaving the U.S.? Presumably a Brit who decides to move to the U.S. is also a coward, since he or she should have stayed Britain to fight whatever political events are in motion there now. And don't forget those hordes of Hispanics, Asians, Africans, Australians, Chinese, Japanese who ran away from their homelands.

By this standard, there can be no immigration with honor since all immigrants are just running away from their own country. Everyone should just stay put and properly honor the country of their birth.

How dull.

--Boomer

[Forkboy]

84. Well said Boomer

and welcome to DU

[Guaranteed]

86. Good point...

....and one that has occured to me when thinking about moving. The problem is that this is a cultural issue, not a political one. During the war it wasn't so much that Bushco told the lies that .they did, it was the way the American people ate it up with very little to no critical evaluation of both the content and method. Without even looking at the content it was clear enough to me that he was lying simply because he said he wanted to invade first, and THEN started giving reasons.
I gotta tell you I hated walking down the street and looking at 80% of the people knowing that they probably supported this war against a country that was absolutely no threat to us. I just don't want to be surrounded by those types of people. And there's very little that any one person can do about it, because it's cultural and not political.

[Boomer]

87. If I were 10 years younger...

I would probably be making plans to move to another country, but I'm just shy of 50 and the physical effort (not to mention financial disruption) involved in such an undertaking is really daunting. Also, my approaching-the-hill age would make it that much harder to qualify for immigration and get re-established in a new job market.

The Bush Administration has heightened my dissatisfaction with living here, but my disconnect with America runs much deeper than who is president. I'm increasingly at odds with the culture itself -- the emphasis on money and conspicuous consumption, the blatant anti-intellectualism, an odd mix of sexual vulgarity and prudery, unrelenting glamorization of violence, religious extremism, and an escalating patriotic zeal that has crossed the line into idolatry.

None of these issues is a sudden, over-night phenomena -- more a gradual but unabating tide that keeps rising and rising, taking over a greater proportion of the population each year. I don't think it can be fought so much as simply withstood. Having gravitated to small town life I'm a little more exposed as out-of-step than I would be in an urban population where beleaguered bands of secular humanists can gather together, but returning to the city is high price to pay for my social dislocation.

Mostly, I just don't find the U.S. to be a civilized country. We have a high standard of technological gadgets and physical hygiene, but not a high standard of living. To my mind a high standard of living involves affordable public transportation, small neighborhoods with sidewalks, dining at family restaurants rather than fast-food drive-ins, walking at night without fear of assault, and conducting conversations about politics and literature with your average person on the street.

Paving over the entire country with super-highways and erecting sterile suburban neighborhoods grouped around shopping malls is my idea of Hell on Earth, but it seems to be the blue-print for the American Dream.

--Boomer

[mikita]

103. SOOOOO well put...

Thanks for your eloquent words -- you've expressed my feelings better than I could!

Mikita

[sushi]

94. He chose

to live in his wife's country. What's wrong with that? I bet he fell in love with French food too.

[maxsolomon]

96. WRONG

you only get one life.

why would you waste it living here amongst the mouth breathers banging your head on a brick wall when you could live in the south of france with vanessa paradis?

it it not your "duty as an american" to do anything civic minded. its nice, but not your duty.

[ScreamingMeemie]

112. As a mother, if I could, I would take my children to a kinder, gentler

place as well. Mr. Depp is being a good father.

[Nottingham]

50. There are many people who are moving from the US

We have turned into a Police State!

[californication]

52. what?

How so?

[Nottingham]

70. I have talked to many people who are down right scared of Bush

They move to Europe Canada and other countries!

America is getting a Police State reputation

[Sideways]

77. Ah Shit Have You Read The Patriot Act?

You and your tag team buddy are just awash in ignorance.

Do you even read the news? You guys are just------ fill in the blanks.

Your clutter is just stealing bandwidth. BARF!

[sendero]

54. These 'celebrity comment'

... threads never fail to bring out the lurking dumbasses.

So, the only celebrity allowed to speak his/her mind is Arnold, or Ronny, or Limburger?

Spare me. It's a free country and he can say whatever he thinks. If that is threatening to you personally, maybe you should consider how fragile your view of our country is.

We've survived over a decade of outright lies from the likes of Limburger, I think we'll survive an actor pointing out that our leaders are fools squared. Didn't seem to bother anyone when Clinton was the target.

[olmy]

57. Clinton did not live in France....

Celebrity or not they can say what they want.

"My daughter is four, my boy is one. I'd like them to see America as a toy, a broken toy. Investigate it a little, check it out, get this feeling and then get out," said the star of the off-beat films "Edward Scissorhands" and "Dead Man".

He's in France....I'm a dumbass.

[Catherine Vincent]

73. No he's not.

He's speaking his mind. Bush is the dumbass.

[supernova]

65. Rock on Johnny!

Agree wholehartedly! And he most certainly does have every right to his opinion.

For those of you who say he bites the hand that feeds, Johnny does films all over the place, the US isn't his only paycheck. And while he might make a decent living, he's not a $20 million/movie asshole, either.

Those of you calling him anti-American would do well to consider he knows whereof he speaks. He's also largely NATIVE AMERICAN. He's not just some puffed-up pretty boy. If anybody has a right to call the US on the carpet it's native americans.

Lastly I ask the naysayers in this thread "Why so defensive?" What's it to you what he thinks? Johnny doesn't need your approval? What do you need his?

Johnny, keep your chin up! I'm looking forward to spending as much $$ on ONce Upon A Time in Mexico as I did on POTC.

[sujan]

66. he said it the way it is

bravo johnny!

[stanwyck]

67. I'm tired of people who won't take a stand

some celebrities are so afraid they'll lose some of their "base" that they mince around and go all mushy on any real world issues. They sound like contestants on Miss America. It's all about the money. They're afraid speaking their mind will cost them endorsements or a sitcom. What cowards. We should all quit be mice and speak up, confidently and politely, whenever we can. When I hear rightwing blather at the bookstore or at a cocktail party, wherever, I counter it. Other people support me...they're relieved at not having to suffer in silence or just walk away. We shouldn't be afraid of bullies. They're all talk. Disagree with them. Ask them for specifics and facts. They rarely have either. It's just hate-radio rhetoric with no basis. Quit letting them control the airwaves and the discourse.

[catzies]

78. Change "celebrities" to "politicians" in your post, and it's perfect!

And I defend Johnny Depp's stand and his words as well.

[NashVegas]

105. Well He Sure Took a Stand

Disney is probably very happy he waited til the end of the summer to make the statement. I'll be curious to see how he gets treated come Oscar time, he deserves a nom for Supporting Actor.

on edit:

Actually, I'll be very curious. After all, Polanski won big last year.

[KamaAina]

68. Of all the nerve! How dare he say such a thing

about puppies?!

Puppies are cute. Everyone loves puppies (except Cheney, probably, and maybe Rumsfeld). Puppies bring joy into people's lives.

Most people aren't afraid of puppies. Only the most paranoid would live in fear that a puppy from down the block would come dashing up the street to destroy their house.

Rare indeed is the family whose domestic tranquility was ruined by a puppy.

Whatever else Bush*'s America may be, it is most certainly not a puppy.

[tlcandie]

69. Well, if jacinto is against him .. then I must be right on!!!

Go Johnny..GO GO GO!!! Loved his latest movie and he IS a great actor

Maybe some think that only those living in the U.S. (not our soldiers on foreign soil) have the right to speak their mind?



Bash away...get out those frustrations and tensions! Anywhere we see a jacinto 'nay' vote...push further left!!!!

[Forkboy]

85. I like you

[Zero Gravitas]

71. Von Dumbsfeld eats puppies for breakfast

[joshcryer]

82. Why didn't anyone mention Tim Robbins' recent comments?

VENICE, Italy (AFP) - US actor Tim Robbins took a thinly-veiled sideswipe at fellow Hollywood stars who failed to follow his example and speak out against the US-led war on Iraq (news - web sites).


Robbins, in Venice to present the world premiere of his latest film "Code 42," said his vehement opposition to the war earlier this year had not damaged his Hollywood career.

"I think the recent controversy was a gift. It provided an opportunity to speak out about free speech," said Robbins, who added that others in Hollywood and across the United States had wanted to publicly oppose the war -- but chose not to.

"Freedom of speech starts with you opening your mouth and people often abdicate that freedom in their mind. "They choose not to speak. Once you choose not to speak, you might as well not have it," he said.

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/afp/2003...

[roguevalley]

90. read his GQ interview

he lives in France because it gives him the privacy and
peace our celebrity drenched and obsessed culture can't.
He went there to live because his girl lives there. Its
her country and he chose to live with her in her country.
I am amused that people seem to believe -If I am wrong,
forgive me- that if you are American, you are more of
an American living here than in other countries.

Depp is an American living abroard, expressing his American
views about our country. He worries for his kids and how they
will turn out not only because America is f**ked up right
now but because he's a celebrity and they would be
exposed to the hysteria we give celebrities here.

He can say what he wants. Just because he says America
is messed up now doesn't mean he's less of an American,
ungrateful, etc. He was MORTIFIED with a capital M over
the anti-French sentiments of our motherland and that
is probably part of his anger right now. I WAS EMBARRASSED
and still am over that too.

Speak up, Johnny Deep. You are an American. You can,
you know, good, bad or indifferent.

Besides, you're a hot little babe. Can't wait for Pirates
II. (I know. Shallow.) <G>

[ozone_man]

93. Well said. Hopefully more actors/actresses will come out against

the direction that the U.S. is headed. He was great in "Pirates of the Carribean". Best summer movie IMO. The kids loved it, though you don't need kids to justify seeing this one.

[roguevalley]

100. I agree. <G>

I loved Jack Sparrow.

It should be noted that the said he wouldn't live here until things
change. That's fine. Him speaking out and saying his piece, unlike
so many others with the same forum is part of the change process. I
would like to spend a year abroad sometime. I hope that doesn't make
me less of an American if I happen to criticize my country while
doing so. Being able to criticize your country, no matter where you
live is part of BEING an American. But then I'm 50. What would I
know? <G>

[Kemet]

101. Not that it is specific to celebrities

But living abroad also allows you to see your country and countrymen from another perspective... you know, without being a part of the crowd anymore. I've been critisizing my own country much more and probably more objectively since i've left (that doesn't mean i don't keep in touch though).
Anyways you can only really see a painting from afar.

[Il_Coniglietto]

111. Not surprised one bit

Considering how he felt about Chirac and the war in Iraq (he thought Chirac was very sensible in trying to allow the inspections to continue).

Johnny Depp is just so cool. He's an amazing actor, extremely down to earth, and very intelligent. He made Jack Sparrow and Pirates of the Caribbean. I love that movie and he has a lot to do with it.