Dustin Hoffman blasts 'reprehensible' war (additional info)

The Guardian UK ^ | Thursday February 6, 2003 | Guardian Staff and agencies

[weegee]

Dustin Hoffman used his appearance at this year's Empire film awards to launch an angry attack on President Bush's pending war with Iraq. "I don't think, like many of us, that the reasons we have been given for going to war are the honest reasons," the veteran actor told reporters. "I believe... that this war is about what most wars are about: hegemony, money, power and oil." Hoffman went on to claim that he felt that the Bush administration was "manipulating the grief of the country" in the wake of September 11. "I think that's reprehensible," he added. Hoffman was in London to accept a lifetime achievement award at the magazine's annual film awards, held at the Dorchester Hotel on Tuesday night. But the actor admitted to being rather confused when he was first told of the honour. "I thought when they said it was the Empire awards, that they meant the British Empire giving them. So I wrote a speech, I worked on it, and then I realised it was a magazine." Hoffman, 65, has won two best actor Oscars, for 1988's Rain Man and 1979's Kramer vs Kramer. Other classic roles include The Graduate, Midnight Cowboy, Little Big Man and All the President's Men.

Other winners at the populist awards were Tom Cruise and Samantha Morton, who won best actor and best actress for Minority Report. Steven Spielberg was named best director for the same film. The gong for best picture went to The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers.

[lainie]

Oh my goodness -- I hope not !!

What year was that movie? (she said, biting her nails)

[maxwellp]

"And this is the genius who figured out this war is a fraud".

Excellent post! I'm so sick and tired of washed up Hollywood actors and actresses acting like senior statesmen, when in reality they are just vain, idiotic fools trying to hang onto some sort of glory. Please, retire with grace and shut your mouth. I only remember Dustin Hoffman in some sort of a vague way.

[Big Guy and Rusty 99]

yeah, def-def-definitely an idiot. yeah, hoffman sucks.

[SerpentDove]

Dustin Hoffman prepares for the lead role in "The James Trafficant Story."

[lainie]

I've been trying to find Ishtar pics and there is a surprising lack of Dustin/Ishtar stills. Hm.

The best I could do.

[Free ThinkerNY]

[CWOJackson]

So when Hollywood and Nick Clooney get around to making We Three Kings II maybe they can convince Hoffman to play the role of Ron Paul.

[mercy]

Make no mistake. The Left has one and only one reason for oposing our inserting outselves as a permanent military force into the Middle East. American power and stability must be resisted at all costs.

Any thinking American who ever spends another dime that might somehow make it's way into Hofman's, or any of his ilk, pocket ... needs their head examined.

[maxwellp]

"The Graduate". I remember the name, but that's about all I remember.

[aruanan]

I read several interesting reviews of Ishtar at www.imdb.com. It appears to have been one of those movies that gets panned and everybody believes the critics. When I saw it it didn't seem so horribly bad, not nearly as bad as Dan Aykroyd and Chevy Chase in Spies Like Us.

[subterfuge]

Okay, that's another one for the list...

[lainie]

Oh wow, I remember that turkey. Spies Like Us. Gosh, you are SO RIGHT.

[valleygal]

I think, "The Graduate" was 1969, but not sure. Here's a song we could sing, "Toot, Toot, Tootsie...goodbyyye, Toot, Toot, Tootsie....don't lie!"

[valleygal]

"Why doesn't he just act?"

Method actors are so weird, aren't they?

[subterfuge]

"Looks like Dustin is now on my list of actors whose movies I won't see or purchase.

Hey, I've got a list like that goin', also! Lately, it's getting longer and longer. :)

Could you guys and gals FReepmail me your lists?

I've got a list going too. There are so many Follywood nuts that I can't keep track in my head any longer. I hate to lump them all together (like they do conservatives).

[Elenya]

I wonder if he felt that way about Clinton's war in the Balkans? Since Hoffman didn't utter a peep about that one, maybe it was different, because it was started by a liberal. Yeah, that must be it, definitely that must be it.

Nah....

Down with Hollywood's pea brains!

[lainie]

Oh, whew. 2 years after I was born.

[Elenya]

The only celebrities whose movies I will still watch are: Tom Selleck, Charlton Heston, James Woods and Bruce Willis.

Hey, you forgot Mel Gibson.

[valleygal]

Have to go make dinner (darn :) but will send list later.

I have to agree with godhateslibs to which actors I'll still watch. Thankfully, they've made some good movies.

[chnsmok]

I liked Spies like Us. I know...