Posted on 08/28/2007 3:21:28 PM PDT by hardback
LOS ANGELES (AFP) - The rest of Hollywood might be training their camera lenses on the war in Iraq, but veteran director Oliver Stone is preparing to re-enlist for Vietnam, it was reported Tuesday.
Stone, who won best director Oscars for his Vietnam War-related dramas "Platoon" and "Born on the Fourth of July," is planning a new film about the investigation into the 1968 My Lai massacre, Daily Variety reported.
The 60-year-old director is close to sealing a deal with United Artists to finance the film, titled "Pinkville," while actor Bruce Willis has been confirmed to play the army chief who led the investigation into the killings.
Up to 500 Vietnamese civilians, including many unarmed women, children and elderly, were killed by US troops in the My Lai massacre, one of the most notorious episodes of war crimes ever committed by American forces.
Revelations surrounding the massacre are often said to have played a key role in turning American public opinion against the war in Vietnam.
Stone's next project following his 9/11 drama "World Trade Center" was expected to be a film about the CIA's attempts to capture Al-Qaeda kingpin Osama bin Laden in Afghanistan.
Instead "Pinkville" will focus on the probe into My Lai with Willis playing Army General William R. Peers, who supervised the inquiry.
Actor Channing Tatum will play Hugh Thompson, a military helicopter pilot who curtailed the killing by placing his craft between villagers and soldiers and warning troops he would open fire if any more civilians were killed.
Why does Bruce want to get involved with this guy?
How timely, what a coincidence!!
“Stone’s next project following his 9/11 drama “World Trade Center” was expected to be a film about the CIA’s attempts to capture Al-Qaeda kingpin Osama bin Laden in Afghanistan.”
Stone’s a 9/10er, longing for the old comfortable paradigms. Making the relevant WTC was a strain on him. He’s good at paranoid stuff, I’d like to see him do something about FISA just to see the dramatization of Gonzales at Ashcroft’s bedside.
I thought Willis was supposed to be staring in a movie about the Deuce Four in Iraq?
Probably because Oliver Stone was willing to meet his price.
Last spring, Bruce posted comments about “Die Hard 4” at this Web site, under the name “Walter B”. Maybe he’ll respond/change his mind if his fans post enough negative comments about the Vietnam movie?
Lots of comments already from other folks (mostly anti-Stone):
http://www.aintitcool.com/node/33808
Oliver Stone tried to get funding for a political film for 1988 release that would “bring to light” George HW Bush’s “involvement” in Iran-Contra.
That was probably the motive behind making the Bin Laden film too. If he can’t get it completed and released in time to sway the election, he doesn’t feel these films are worth doing.
A rotten propagandist and opportunist, nothing but.
I’m thinking that a movie that depicts our troops as heroes who believe in their mission (as opposed to either killers or victims) could not get financing in the Hollywood of today.
Depending of course on how they play it, the My Lai story has both.
Calley, Medina and their men as killers.
Thompson and his crew as heroes.
Rescue Dawn?
To show his peers in La La Land how conservative he really isn't. Bruce catches a ton a heat for being a Republican and it weighs on him. That's why he backed out of introducing GWB at the GOP convention in 2000. He no-showed at the last minute.
Willis is a good guy... but not exactly a tower of strength.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.