Posted on 01/19/2007 5:58:44 AM PST by MadIvan
Hollywood legend Robert Redford has called on US leaders to apologise for the war in Iraq.
The actor was speaking at the start of the Sundance Film Festival in Utah, where the opening movie recalled protests over the Vietnam war in 1968.
Redford said he, like many others, had shown a "spirit of unity" with the US government after 11 September 2001.
"We put all our concerns on hold to let the leaders lead," he said. "I think we're owed a big, massive apology."
The actor, whose Sundance Institute for independent film runs the annual festival, usually steers clear of political messages in his opening speech.
Festival opener Chicago 10 recounts the demonstrations surrounding 1968's Democratic National Convention, which saw protestors clash with the National Guard.
Using a cutting-edge blend of historical footage and animation, director Brett Morgen's film examines the trial of the famed "Chicago Seven," who were convicted of inciting riots.
Morgen, who took the stage to a standing ovation after the screening, said one of his goals in making the film was to "mobilise the youth in the country to get out and stop this war".
His film is one of many referencing the Iraq conflict at this year's Sundance festival.
Ghosts of Abu Ghraib deals with the abuses that occurred in an Iraqi prison in 2003, while No End In Sight is an examination of the Bush administration's conduct in the country.
Taboos broken
The programme for the festival has attracted controversy with the inclusion of films that include shocking sexual content.
A documentary called Zoo deals with the practice of bestiality.
And the dark drama Hounddog portrays the rape of a young girl, played by 12-year-old actress Dakota Fanning.
"Those are issues that are on the table, whether you want to face them or not," said Redford.
"If you don't expose these things, if you don't put the light on them, then they could get worse."
But the event also features many films with a more uplifting feel.
The Good Life, from writer and director Steve Berra, tells of a young man running an old cinema in a small town.
Padre Nuestro is about a young man who meets up with a group of illegal immigrants heading from Mexico to New York after he chooses to flee his criminal past.
More than 120 films will be screened throughout the 10-day festival, which ends on 28 January.
Redford ia little midget whose body size is dwarfed only by his mentality, but low intellect is a common trait among the prostitutes of the screen who think miming a role makes them an expert on a subject.
There are so many valid reaons for having invaded Iraq that repeating them for the benefit of mental midgets like him is an exercize in futility.
Your tagline is greatness!
O.K Robert, here is your apology.
I am sorry you are such a jerk.
If you read the Bernard Malamud original, I think you'd agree that the Robert Redford version of "The Natural" is an abomination.
You can bet the Sundance "traitor" festival was 100% safe from a Muslim terrorist attack. If Osama showed up these folks wouldn't even turn him in.
"Once you've enjoyed watching people have sex with goats and 12-year-old moppets, please help yourselves to the piles of expensive free stuff in the swag tents."
"Next time we have a dem president you'll see a flood of flag waiving, American hero, salute the flag type movies with all the usual idiots headlining."
National Socialism???
Sad to see.
He was sooo pretty, and, as far as we knew then, he was normal.
The Natural is my favorite sports film.
I really wish Redford would stop trying to ruin it for me.
You ever wonder why those lists of registered sexual offenders are so BIG???
Especially for criminals that everyone knows do it again?
Maybe it's because testimony from the victims is from children who are notoriously bad witnesses and probably scared to death as well.
I think Redford owes me a big apology for his lies.
A River runs through it.
Yeah. Nothin' ever happened, did it?
But it was a rather pretty film.
LOL
Yeah, but I recall seeing Curt Gowdy doing similar stuff on "The American Sportsman" when I was a kid, and that was on FREE TV! Why I had to shell out $8 (or whatever it cost back then) to see a stretched out version of "Sportsman" without the dulcet tones of Curt Gowdy narrating is yet another reason to complain about Red Robert.
I have a couple friends who grew up there. As they said, Montana is where "Men are men, women are scarce and sheep are scared!".
But if you like high temps of 30 below in the winter, I guess you could say it's beautiful...
Exactly if not for the Sundance Kid nobody would know his name.
You're confusing Butch Cassidy (aka Paul Newman) with the Sundance Kid (aka Red Robert). But Newman's a barking moonbat too, so we'll call it even.
That was cute!
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