Clear and present anger

Daily Herald | 7-19-02 | JOEL REESE

[Temple Owl]

Another victory for a Hollywood left-winger. What upsets me is that a lot of people confuse this clown with Charlton Heston.

[habs4ever]

If he wanted publicity, he got it.A nice withering piece on how to play an ingrate.The author is so correct, in that the least he could have done, was fake being interested in promoting his work.And as executive producer, you'd think that Ford would know this better than the actors involved.

[GnL]

While reading this, I got the very satisfying feeling that Hollyweird actors and the media somehow deserve each other.

[Gaston]

Well I for one am quite surprised that at least one reported from the media reported the events as they actually happened. I bet the other five reporters covered it in an upbeat positive manner, gushing adoration for Harrison everywhere.

[Sally II]

Thanks for posting that. I really enjoyed reading it. BTW, I've always loved his movies, but I'm not familiar with Harrison Ford's politics. I'm trying to learn more about actor's and director's politics before deciding to see their movies these days. Several months ago I saw Gosford Park --which was incredibly boring-- before I found out that Robert Altman hates America. Never would have paid the $8.75 to see it if I had know that before hand.

[Frank_Discussion]

This makes me sad. I actually like Mr. Ford, at least as an actor. I wonder if somebody just ran over his cat or something? His state of mind at the time seemed pretty horrible. Surely he would've otherwise known his attitude would play poorly in the press?

[End Times Sentinel]

Another article to re-affirm that most of Hollywood is composed of oafish boors with little insight or intellect. Since having a functioning brain isn’t a requisite to stand in front of a camera and say lines with inflection, intelligence and a Hollywood type rarely coincide.

The rare Heston, Woods, (or certainly Reagan) is a breath of fresh air, but again, they’re all too rare…

Yet another reason to rely on books for entertainment.

Owl_Eagle

”Guns Before Butter.”

[Mr. Bird]

Kudos to Mr. Reese for nailing Ford in this piece.

I'm one of the few people, it seems, that don't mind that movie stars, ball players, and other entertainers make millions. However, I do get perturbed when they lament the "rigors" of their professions.

For the most part, these people work about 6 months out of the year, and can do whatever they please the other half. To say that a shoot was "grueling", or that a long road trip is especially hard on the home life is insulting to a lot of people who really do work hard, and away from home.

[ItsOurTimeNow]

On the other side of the coin:

You have to realize how many times he's been interviewed for the same movie, and how many times he's been asked the same questions over and over again. It gets tiring after a while.

I used to manage a local semi-famous band a number of years ago. Nearly every single time the band played anywhere, there was some college reporter there to ask the same tired, hackneyed questions over and over.

I despise nearly all forms of media, and supposed news-people. In most cases, they deserve to feel like pesky moths.

[SoCo]

Yeah, I've read lots of other interviews with him regarding this movie, and he seemed genuinely charming. So who knows, maybe he was just in a bad mood, which granted is hard to justify, seeing as he's a professional and promoting his latest work is part and parcel. So you'd think he'd at least make an effort to be affable, no matter what his mood. I guess he's just human like the rest of us.

[martin_fierro]

I'm with you. A pox on both their houses.

Granted, Ford was doing the "publicity thing," and could've been more accommodating.

On the other hand, these grubby press hacks don't get a pass from doing basic homework in advance of the interview (snap-snap-snap "When you did that one movie with Michelle Pfeiffer...") just because they're doing a publicity piece.

The author says "the only stupid question is the one that doesn't get asked." He obviously didn't catch the David Gregory questioning of Pres. Bush in France.

[Temple Owl]

But you were seeking publicity and fame and fortune for you local semi-famous band. Hopefully, you kept your feelings to yourself and displayed better manners than did Mr. Ford.

[Frank_Discussion]

To be a little fair, let me say that I've seen some of the theatre entertainment industry up close, and there is some pretty hard work to be had. From the stage hands to the actors, to the producer/directors.

While it's not always the case, the work is sometimes "grueling" in terms of working hours and being taxed emotionally. Am I saying it's an excuse for boorishness? Nope. The big actors still make huge buckets of money for what they do, so they're compensated. Grin and bear it, that sort of thing.

What I am saying is that, bad attitude notwithstanding, when an actor says he's been working hard, it's probably true.

[EternalHope]

If he wanted publicity, he got it. A nice withering piece on how to play an ingrate.

He's got the ingrate part down pat. He's also got the liberal idiot part down pat too.

Maybe Harrison Ford, Alec Baldwin, and Tom Cruise should form a club. They could bring in Barbara Streisand for balance, and all move away. Somewhere with warm beaches, like Saudia Arabia.

[Samwise]

I used to be a big fan, but his surliness during televised interviews has gotten to me. And lately, his performances have done less than dazzle me. He's monotone, mumbles, and moves through a role like a zombie. I think he's supposed to be mysterious and intriguing. But he just plays flat and boring to me. As a matter of fact, most of my old heart flames have lost their sizzle. They must all be getting old...sigh. :)

[habs4ever]

Ford has one movie a year, and promotes it for a grand total of maybe....2 wks tops.It goes with the job, and being the ex producer, well, he has to do more.I don't think he goes into it with his eyes closed,so he has to endure the vapid questions of bored, maybe even star struck, reporters.Well, maybe they have to endure the bored, vapid responses of bimbo actors.

They both seem to deserve each other ;-)

[goodieD]

Why is this reporter so shocked that this bigshot Clinton pal is rude to them? Of course he's rude, he lives in his own self-serving little leftist world, where you don't have to be polite because you just don't feel like it. He now has the perfect movie part for him. A commie sub captain. It shouldn't be too much of a stretch.

[Mr. Bird]

when an actor says he's been working hard, it's probably true

Oh, I agree. There's plenty of misery documented in filming such features as Apocalypse Now, Star Wars, Saving Private Ryan, etc. Hell, Vic Morrow DIED during the Twilight Zone shoot. The big however, however, is that it is not a day in, day out process for them. It's a concentrated misery, unlike the day-to-day drudgery of many a blue collar worker. I just think they should choose their words carefully when complaining about the circumstances.

[FryingPan101]

Wow, what a post, Owl. Blow by blow, in-the-room type stuff. I love it.

[Frank_Discussion]

Like I said: It's no excuse for a bad attitude.

However, remember that all the overnight successes out there took years to achieve. Many actors take pretty "blue-collar" jobs to get by while looking for opportunities to do what they want to do. Often, they know all sort of things about "drudgery" and hard work. Sacrifice, too. And when they work 80-hour weeks for half the year trying to get something done, it isn't all wine and roses.

What's annoying though, is when one of these yutzes acts badly, like they're a martyr or something. They forget that there a lot of folks in the world that would (and do) kill to have the chance to work as hard as they sometimes do. Thespians need need to keep this in mind when they get weary of the press' idiocy. (and those Chicago reporters were asking daffy crap, you've got to admit...)