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Stone unturned: Oscar-winning filmmaker puts politics aside
The Birmingham News ^ | Sunday, August 06, 2006 | BOB CARLTON

Posted on 08/08/2006 6:39:07 AM PDT by Condor 63

ATLANTA - "World Trade Center" is about the last movie you might expect Oliver Stone to make. Not because of the subject matter. What makes Stone's intimate story of what happened to two Port Authority cops and their families on Sept. 11, 2001, different is that it's not at all political. No conspiracy theories. No jabs at the Bush administration.

Instead, "World Trade Center" is heartwarming and reassuring, both a tear-jerker and a crowd-pleaser. A movie that won't make Americans feel better about 9/11 but at least feel good about how the country responded. Stone, who admits many people think of him as a "left-wing loony," calls it a "five-handkerchief film."

His movie has gotten ringing endorsements from the strangest of bedfellows, including conservative pundit Cal Thomas, who calls it, "one of the greatest pro-American, pro-family, pro-male, flag-waving, God-bless-America films you will ever see." Stone is both amused and bewildered at the reaction. During a roundtable interview at the Ritz-Carlton in Buckhead, he holds up the front page of The New York Times to illustrate his point. "They're attacking us for having the right wing like it," he says. "Look, the film should be seen by everybody. I'm a dramatist. I'm not running for office.

"I consider myself an independent. I don't vote Democrat because I'm anti-Republican or anything like that. My father raised me Republican. I understand conservatism and I understand liberalism. I think there is a blend to be had in both."

(Excerpt) Read more at al.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Miscellaneous; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: 911movie; moviereview; oliverstone; worldtradecenter

1 posted on 08/08/2006 6:39:08 AM PDT by Condor 63
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To: Condor 63
Stone, who admits many people think of him as a "left-wing loony,"

That's like writing an article with the line, "Clinton, who admits many people think of her as a "Democrat".

I love the last line quoted, the old "there's good and bad in both Democrats and Republicans"--trite, nonpolitical nothingness from a director who desperately needs a hit.

2 posted on 08/08/2006 6:42:27 AM PDT by Darkwolf377 (http://www.dansimmons.com/news/message/2006_04.htm)
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To: Condor 63
They are all writing how O Stone put politics aside in dealing with 9-11. First, what kind of psycho would make an anti-American message film about that day? Second, what kind of psycho wouldn't make a pro-American film about that day?

Maybe the film is agood one about individual heroism, but what most reviewers are saying is "Don't worry, Oliver Stone still opposes Bush, he just didn't put it in this movie."

3 posted on 08/08/2006 6:45:27 AM PDT by Williams
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To: Condor 63

I recently saw a a trailer for the film, and no where did it ever mention Oliver Stone's role in making it, even on the title shot. I guess someone in the Hollywood marketing department has figured out that his name is poisonous for a movie these days.


4 posted on 08/08/2006 6:46:56 AM PDT by Virginia Ridgerunner ("Si vis pacem para bellum")
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To: Darkwolf377
...trite, nonpolitical nothingness from a director who desperately needs a hit.

It's best not to pi$$-off half your customers before you get them in the store..........

5 posted on 08/08/2006 6:52:05 AM PDT by Red Badger (Is Castro dead yet?........)
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To: Condor 63
The New York Times to illustrate his point. "They're attacking us for having the right wing like it,"

Slimes. If it's a good movie, then it's a good movie. NY Slimes can't fathom that everything isn't partisan politics.

By the way, are chicken wings conservative or liberal fare?

6 posted on 08/08/2006 6:53:30 AM PDT by Sax (You Done Tore Out My Heart And Stomped That Sucker Flat)
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To: Condor 63

Let's see if I understand what is going on here.

Flight 93. Too soon. Crass commercialization and exploitation.

World Trade Center. Great. Best movie of the year. A must see.

Wait, Wait. Oh, I get. Oliver Stone!

A lefty made WTC so now it is embraced.


7 posted on 08/08/2006 6:54:35 AM PDT by JBR34
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To: JBR34
Just to be fair, Cal Thomas is no coddler of the left - and neither is Bob Carlton for that matter...
8 posted on 08/08/2006 7:01:07 AM PDT by Condor 63
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To: Condor 63

Something tells me this film is not going to do well. Just a feeling.


9 posted on 08/08/2006 7:13:48 AM PDT by squarebarb
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To: squarebarb

You might be right. Interesting that the NYT is attacking it (if they really are.)


10 posted on 08/08/2006 7:16:42 AM PDT by Condor 63
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To: Darkwolf377
I love the last line quoted, the old "there's good and bad in both Democrats and Republicans"--trite, nonpolitical nothingness from a director who desperately needs a hit.

I think that's the key here. After the abomination that was ALEXANDER his career is on the rocks and he needs a commercial success. If nothing else, he is a brilliant technician and knows how to make a working movie. So please forgive Oliver his previous lunatic rantings about 9-11 and see his latest film, seems to be the message here.

11 posted on 08/08/2006 7:18:49 AM PDT by Rummyfan
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To: Sax
The New York Times to illustrate his point. "They're attacking us for having the right wing like it,"...


Maybe if it had gay cowboys...
12 posted on 08/08/2006 7:22:56 AM PDT by itsamelman (“Announcing your plans is a good way to hear God laugh.” -- Al Swearengen)
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To: Condor 63

Maybe, when it comes out on DVD, I will bootleg a copy and watch it. I just don't want any of my money to make it into Stone's pocket. Not in any way, shape, form, or time.


13 posted on 08/08/2006 7:30:36 AM PDT by NurdlyPeon (Wearing My 'Jammies Proudly)
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To: NurdlyPeon
I think once peopl;e have become suspicious of Hollywood it is permanent.

Hollywood has developed a hostile and adversarial relationship to its audience.

It's like having a verbally abusive spouse. Finally you leave and get a divorce, and even if spouse comes along and invites you out to a nice dinner and tickets to a good Broadway show, you still know what he/she is really like.
14 posted on 08/08/2006 7:37:19 AM PDT by squarebarb
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To: Condor 63
I do not plan on seeing this - a commercially made film by Stone on the most horrific event of our country in my lifetime. And I do enjoy Nicholas Cage's performances....just not this time.

Flight 93 was different and deserving of our attention.

15 posted on 08/08/2006 8:34:10 AM PDT by daybreakcoming
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