Clooney Denies Bush Attack in New Film (Syriana)

[sabra]

http://www.hollywood.com/news/detail/id/3469245

Clooney Denies Bush Attack in New Film



HOLLYWOOD - Hollywood star George Clooney has rubbished claims his latest movie is a veiled attack on President George W. Bush—but refuses to apologize for the film's politically sensitive themes.

Syriana--a political thriller focusing on the oil industry—has sparked controversy for its sympathetic portrayal of two Pakistani boys who become suicide bombers, but Clooney is adamant their story must be told.

And he is disgusted by claims the film, in which he plays a CIA agent, singles out Bush for criticism, arguing it is an attack on "the system" rather than a particular person.

He says, "There are going to be people who will be very angry at the idea that we took a couple of suicide bombers and showed how they could be formed, instead of just categorizing them as evil.

"I'm an old-time liberal and I don't apologize for it. With Syriana we're going to get beaten up politically in some places. Fair enough, because we've taken a stand.

I can't wait for this movie to come out...

[Sannum]

I want to marry George.

He is perfect. Beautiful inside and out. I can't wait for this movie!:loveya:

[wtmusic]

7. Big deal -- so he's good looking, smart, talented, has a heart

*mutters incoherently*

[soleft]

1. Love him

[verse18]

2. Why is * so concerned

with what George Clooney has to say? It's not as if * has anything to be worried about once the movie comes out?:sarcasm:

[ET Awful]

3. I've seen the TV trailers for this movie, but didn't know much beyond

that. . . sounds interesting. Hell, I didn't even know Clooney was in it. I was actually halfway thinking it was a gung-ho propaganda BS flick.

[sabra]

6. Seems like a very raw and powerful flick...

[catmother]

good for george clooney. he speaks the truth. n/t

[marmar]

4. Cool.

I wish they'd just say it's an attack on this administration though - it is and it should be.
George Lucas also denied that Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith was taking on Bush, when clearly it was: "If you are not with me, then you are my enemy" Darth Vader says after turning to the dark side. I saw that movie in Berlin opening weekend and that line drew raucous applause from the audience - they picked up on it immediately.
Say it loud: Anti-Bush and Proud!

[gibbsvol]

16. I'm from atlanta, but happened to see it in berlin at the same time!

Neat!
Did you see it at the huge mall thingy?
We might have been sitting next to each other.
I, too, noticed the applause after that line.

[marmar]

23. I saw it at the huge cineplex in the Sony Center (at Potsdamer Platz)...

There seemed to be a disproportionately high number of Americans in there. Great experience - the assigned seating at movies in Europe is kinda neat.

:)

[quiet.american]

5. Like the sound of that! "I'm an old-time liberal." n/t

[driver8]

8. I saw this movie last night. I never got the impression that

it was an attack on Bush. This movie is showing what we already know. You see the frustration and anger of the boys and how they are brought into the "terrorist fold."

[Norquist Nemesis]

9. "I'm an old-time liberal and I don't apologize for it"

:woohoo: Tell 'em, George!!!

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

10. Absolutely! That Quote Was Dead On!

[alarcojon]

11. Kick for an old time liberal

who has the spine to take an unapologetic stand for what he believes in.

And don't forget to check out "Good night and Good Luck."

[the_real_38]

12. From the trailer, it appears that ...

.. he's attacking the System, alright, and also the American consumer who plays along with it by having an oil-driven existence. Hopefully that is how the movie may have an impact: a little petro-introspection might be in order for our culture.

[Midnight Rambler]

13. Very true about it being an attack on a system rather than a person

American greed and imperialsim was around long before Bush, and will be around long after. Whether in the Middle East, Latin America, East Asia, or where ever, We've been doing this shit forever. Bush is just the latest, and most brazen practitioner.

[maximovich]

14. Man O' Man I Am Proud of Being a Liberal

I can feel the change... Even from those who thought I was way out there... now those believe in me once again. Refreshing......

[hadrons]

15. Clooney's right about this ....

And he is disgusted by claims the film, in which he plays a CIA agent, singles out Bush for criticism, arguing it is an attack on "the system" rather than a particular person.

Bush is just a bigger moron than most, but really we would have gotten the same kool-aid from Kerry, Hillary, etc

[bleedingheart]

17. Smart, Liberal and Sexy....he is the entire package...

swooning....

[springhill]

18. On Ebert and Roeper review of Syriana........

They thought it was the best film of the year.

[LiviaOlivia]

19. A review

http://hollywood-elsewhere.com/
Wired section
11/15/2005 4:34 PM
Jeffrey Wells

I've been asked to refrain from running my review of Stephen Gaghan's Syriana (Warner Bros., 12.3) until 11.23, but Rolling Stone critic Peter Travers is running his because...he's Peter Travers! We all know he gets quoted too often, and that he's creamed over far too many mediocre films, but I agree with Travers all the way this time. "Written and directed in a fever of risk-taking provocation, (Syriana) takes off with the lightning speed of a thriller, the gonzo force of frontline journalism and the emotional wallop of a drama that puts a human face on shocking statistics," he proclaims. "No dry civics lesson, this fighting-mad film isn't just hot, it's incendiary...and no one gets off the hook. You see Syriana with the exhilarating feeling that a movie can make a difference. The first surprise is George Clooney. Bearded and bloated from the thirty-five pounds he packed on to play CIA opreative Fred Barnes, he gives us a ground soldier who's been used and used up by the CIA's war on Middle East terrorism. Here is a man, struggling to put his son through college, who can order the assassination of Prince Nasir (the superb Alexander Siddig) for favoring China over the U.S. in an oil deal ('Hit him with a truck going fifty miles per hour'), stand up to fingernail-yanking torture from former operatives and still be amazed when the Firm plays him for a patsy. This is the best acting Clooney has ever done -- he's hypnotic, haunting and quietly devastating. (And) Gaghan is in top form, mixing potent writing with images that tear at the heart, such as the sight at the madrassa of a Pakistani migrant worker (Mazhar Munir) -- both he and his father are laid off by Connex after Nasir's deal with the Chinese -- being indoctrinated into Islamic fundamentalism. Syriana is a tough nut that demands attention, refuses to ingratiate and keeps throwing curves...it's the kind of give-'em-hell filmmaking that Hollywood left for dead, the kind that matters."

20. His father was a newsman, so he isn't 100% shallow actor

probably just 50%.

Anyway our regular media should cover this. Hollywood is a corporation. I am glad someone is making political film though.

[Bridget Burke]

24. Well, Bush's father was a President.

And he's 100% worthless.

The "regular media" are also owned by corporations.

[ComerPerro]

21. Is it Clooney's fault that the comparisons are so easy to draw?

[VOX]

22. Clooney has guts and is A-OK in my book...

He speaks his mind, and has even said that he's bound and determined to reclaim the term "liberal" from its demonized status.

I hope that "Syriana" does very well! :thumbsup:

[newyawker99]

25. I agree KrazyKat.

:thumbsup: