"A new film about the real-life rape and killing of a 14-year-old Iraqi girl by U.S. soldiers who also murdered her family stunned the Venice festival, with shocking images that left some viewers in tears. "Redacted", by U.S. director Brian De Palma, is one of at least eight American films on the war in Iraq due for release in the next few months and the first of two movies on the conflict screening in Venice's main competition. Inspired by one of the most serious crimes committed by American soldiers in Iraq since the 2003 invasion, it is a harrowing indictment of the conflict and spares the audience no brutality to get its message across FULL STORY
First, DePalma can make whatever film he wants, you know, freedom of speech and all. So if he wants to make a film about one of the military's low points, then fine. He has that right. It's important to note that the soldiers in question have been arrested, tried and convicted and are currently serving punishment for their criminal behavior. But what bugs me about this guy is the following statement that he made at the festival about his film:
"The movie is an attempt to bring the reality of what is happening in Iraq to the American people."
The reality of what is happening in Iraq? A brutal rape and murder of a 14 year old girl is what DePalma considers the 'reality of what is happening in Iraq'? That's about as asinine as it gets. I've talked to a few people who served in Iraq, and none of them describe the rape and murder of 14 year girls as the 'reality of what is happening in Iraq'. But, DePalma would have us believe that they're wrong, and he even goes so far as to say that the mainstream media is part of the "corporate establishment" and is therefore not reporting what's really happening in Iraq.
Yes, you read that right. DePalma thinks the media is not reporting what's really happening in Iraq. You know, all those rapes and murders of 14 year old girls. They're not getting reported, so DePalma felt the need to make a movie about it. In truth, a US soldier can't even give an Iraqi a dirty look without the media making accusations of abuse and torture, but DePalma thinks they're all part of the establishment....because they're not reporting all those rapes and murders of 14 year old girls.
No doubt it will be a popular movie. I'm sure Rosie, Sarandon and Matt Damon already have their tickets. Any movie that gives the US military a swift rib-kick is sure to be a hit with the Left. They can't wait...but, don't forget, they "support the troops".
Remember, this is the same guy who brought us "Casualties of War", a movie about, what else, US GI's brutally raping and murdering a Vietnamese woman. DePalma seems to think US soldiers are nothing but a bunch of murderous rapists, and the media fails to show the American people the truth. This guy is out there. So when will he make a movie about Saddam's mass murders and brutal regime? Or the Khmer Rouge? Don't hold your breath.
The reality of what is happening in Iraq? Unbelievable.
5 comments:
Dr.
The most anomalous comment you made the inclusion of Matt Damon in the sequence tha began "Rosie, Sarandon..."
So I figured that I would do some research to see whether Mr. Damon was appropriately included w/ Ms. O'Donnell and Ms. Sarandon which led me to www.celebpoliics.com.
This is a conservative website inasmuch as the comment regarding all of the 100 most liberal movies was "toxic liberal waste" while the comment regarding the 100 most conservative movies was "conservative. (I will only spoil the fun to say that "American President" topped the former list and "It's a Wonderful Life" the latter.)
Liberal actors were assigned a negative # while conservative actors a positive #. The rating system was in part based on campaign contributions. Barbara Streisand topped the liberal list w/ -60 while Ben Stein toppped the conservative list w/ +27.
Matt Damon failed to make the top 25 liberals w/ a rating of -5 and a characterization of "somewhat liberal." Susan Sarandon was came in at #20 at -14 but she was tied w/ Sean Penn, Jerry Springer, George Clooney, and Heather Thomas.
The top 25 were "Liberal Whackos" while Rosie, @ -10, was only "Liberal."
"Killing Fields" which I recall was about the Kmer Rouge, was unrated.
Meanwhile, I am not holding my breath for a biography of Saddam Hussein, at least one made by Hollywood. I would have thought that Saddam would have commissioned one himself in which case I am surprised it is not making the rounds as high camp.
Regards.
Loop, just curious, do you have an opinion on DePalma's comment? This man made a movie about the rape and murder of a teenage Iraqi girl by US soldiers, and he described his film as representing the "reality of what is happening in Iraq".
He didn't say the reality of the horrors of war, or the reality of a horrible moment during the Iraq War. No, he said the reality of what IS HAPPENING in Iraq.
Are you okay with his comment? If so, please share with us all why this is okay with you. If not, then why discuss Matt Damon's political leanings?
Dr.
There was a dynamic in my family. My mother always took the position that you can't argue with stupidity. My father, on the other hand, took the position, that one should never suffer fools gladly.
Brian DePalma's comment was manifestly stupid. Stupid in the extreme. Certainly crimes occur in war, but as you pointed out, these criminals were caught, tried, convicted, and punished. Although our troops may have committed more crimes, they are not criminals--unless one takes the position of of Mohamed whose website I invite you to visit at clean-fun.blogspot.com.
So do I disagree w/ Brian DePalma? At least as much as you do. Do I choose to let him push my hot button on this issue? No. I went w/ my mother here.
From time to time in the blogs I visit, someone will make a comment to the effect of what makes a movie director/actor/musician/Hollywood flack an expert on foreign policy?
The answer of course is nothing and many of their positions are poorly thought out and not based on facts or evidence. Of course you will never hear me say: "You know, Barbara Streisand's take on this issue is exactly correct..."
The ability of such people to express their opinions is due to the public forum which they occupy and the fact they have money. Other people, also w/ money, some of whom have a public forum and are on the opposite end of the political spectrum are equally inane.
It is a definite negative if someone were to take DePalma's comments at face value or to see his film and determine that the exception is the rule.
I apologize for not stating this in my original response.
Two other points. There is something that has occurred, or perhaps I have just noticed it for the first time, over the last 15 or so years. It is the ability of certain people to amke a very good living over pushing people's hot buttons. Bill O'Reilly and Rush Limbaugh are masters of this. My friend reb watches Bill O'Reilly religiously I think and the only reason why I can figure he does so ia that the experience provides some visceral type of catharsis for him.
For some reason which I have yet to be able to explain, people who are more conservative enjoy having their hot buttons pushed more than people who are more liberal, which explains the lack of success of Air America.
Meanwhile, the other point is that I was struck by your comment about Matt Damon. My response was: "Why did you include him?" Rosie O'Donnell and Susan Sarandon, by their words and deeds, have become in a sense torch bearers for certain movements considered to be liberal. So my thought was what does the Dr. know about Matt Damon that I don't?"
My conclusion is that he's just another actor, more successful than many, but that he is not leading any type of parade.
There is an "us" and there is a "them" but I more akin to reb's position regarding who "them" is.
Did you read the article about the Lewis Palmer HS valedictorian? To me, a much more interesting topic of discussion than the comments of a person whose profession does not for me invest his opinion w/ any inherent value and whose movie I am unlikely to ever see.
Regards.
As much as I disagree with most of how the war was fought, I'd say that this movie maker is way off. That isn't the true story of Iraq. I don't know how he can even pretend that's the case.
Loop, I agree that giving morons like this air time can be poor form, but there are exceptions. Many fine young Americans have died in Iraq for a noble cause, and I will not allow anyone to make statements like this without challenging it. No way, not on this site.
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