Rupert Everett Trashes Clooney, Keaton And More: "All Just Tragic Parodies Of Themselves"

In a no-holds-barred interview with the UK Independent, movie star Rupert Everett lets loose on some of Hollywood's biggest names. Everett, the break out star of 1997's "My Best Friend's Wedding" and a great friend of Madonna, insulted everyone from Diane Keaton to Al Pacino. But the Brit, who is gay, had the most venom for George Clooney:

"[George] Clooney thinks that, provided he does films which are politically committed, he's allowed to do Ocean's 11, 12, and 13", he says. "But the Ocean's movies are a cancer to world culture. They're destroying us."

And Clooney the man? "He's not the brightest spark on the boulevard. He'll be president one day. Mark my words, if he's straight, he'll be president."

Of the other Hollywood legends at the end of his tongue lashing, Everett told interviewer Amol Rajan:

"De Niro, Redford, Keaton, Allen, Pacino ... They're all just tragic parodies of themselves. Al Pacino looks like a mad old freak now. I say give it a rest, or go and do some serious stuff...

The other day I saw a film called Because I Said So with Diane Keaton, and I thought, 'here's one of the women we loved most in 1970s cinema, debasing and humiliating herself in this load of trash'.

"Why? Because we're sheep, we just follow the herd ... It's just part of the huge amount of product that's put out now that's really bad. And it's our fault. We're all responsible for how the culture is. You can't draw a distinction between the celebrity nonsense on television and the film industry."

Everett will next be seen in a British film "St Trinian's," in which he plays a headmistress who has a very strong resemblance to Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall and wife of Prince Charles.

Comments

[surfcitysteven]

Excuse me for being unhip and not with it, but just what the hell is a Rupert Everett? I had never heard of this guy, and now I see Shrek 2 and he is the voice of Prince Charming? What the hell is a Rupert Everett?

[priorzola]

I'd admit that Pacino, DeNiro, and Keaton are not doing there best work, but very few actors their age are offer stellar work to do, and when they are, Morgan Freeman gets all those roles. What people like to do is to compare the greats from the 70's with greats from a bygone era. Most people forget that by the time Cary Grant, Jimmy Stewart, or Elizabeth Taylor had gotten to be the age of Pacino et al. they had all but given up on acting. It's more appropriate to compare the work of Cary Grant etc in his prime with DeNiro in his. They stack up when you use those criteria.

Clooney, on the otherhand, (unlike Everett) is playing it smart. He knows how Hollywood works. He does the Ocean films strictly as a powerful negotiation tactic. He understands for every Ocean's film he gets a Michael Clayton and Good Night and Good Luck. It's called managing your career.

I had high hopes for Rupert Everett as early as Dance With a Stranger. But, in all, he has managed his career poorly or, as likely, the British film industry isn't what it once used to be. Instead of blaming George Clooney or Hugh Grant, Everett should be looking at his own country's film output since the glory days of Dance with a Stranger. Where once upon a time, whether it be films distributed by early Miramax or George Harrison's Handmade Films, many quirky distinctively English films were made left and right (from Mona Lisa to Dance With a Stranger to Withnail and I etc). Now many English films rely too heavily Richard Curtis-style films or watered-down Merchant-I­vory-esque filmmaking. However, what actors like Mirren, Winslet, Kingsley, etc have learned is that if you make yourself more diversified (ie. show a willingness to do the occasional Hollywood film) you're more likely to be able to then, too, do those choice roles in smaller films that makes a great acting career and often wins Oscars. Everett isn't willing to play that game and his career has suffered accordingly.

[mpgarr]

Who cares what this guy says??--I did not even know who he is---

[ednadumpling]

one can only hope he was drunk during the interview or is looking for a way to revive a failing career in the US

posing as Camilla for a movie role...he should be nicer to America he will need a place to go

[revko]

Yikes... this kinda stuff is SO typical.

TRASHES KEATON
CRAPS ON CLOONEY
DENIRO...
REDFORD...
YADA
YADA

What genius...

Yikes

[UnrulyWoman]

Did I read this right...th­e guy who did "My Best Friend's Wedding" is complaining that "Oceans 11" is a cancer on the world's culture? Wow.

[edgarallenpoe]

and Rupert commented on Aristotle and Socrates: "Morons!"

[longhairrepublicansurfer]

Every time I see Diane Keaton she's wearing a winter white pant suit - in seemingly everything she does. As for Rupert - his book was real friggin' good: Red Carpets and Other Banana Skins: The Autobiography http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_gw/104-2672827-0549525?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=Rupert+everret

The dude essays well. He maintains had he been straight he'd probably have had Hugh Grant's career.

[edgarallenpoe]

...and Rupert commented on Aristotle and Socrates: "Morons!"

[KPinSEA]

Now appearing in "The Cantankerous Cadaver", the inimitable (or is it unendurable?) Rupert Everett.

Seriously, the guy looks like an extra playing a zombie in a Pirates of the Caribbean movie ... I notice he left out Johnny for that 'sellout' series, he must still get taken to nice dinners in Paris.

[ScorchedEarth]

Rupert, I agree with you...

[Hitsong]

Wouldn't it be loverly if everyone in the film business were so candid? . Next time I see you at the gym, Rupert, I'm giving you my phone number.

[BuffaloMeridian]

"Everett, you'll never work in this town again!"

Rupert, you know what the difference is between you and them? They all have Oscars. You don't.

I liked you in "An Ideal Husband" though.

[Fuji]

Rupert wrote a very funny book. I admire him for having the b@lls to say what most people think ... face it -- the reason most people salivate over Clooney here is because of his politics.

As for the other posters here, it's fun to see such progressives quickly resort to what can only be called "hostility to homosexual­ity." Sister, woman scorned, B^tch. Get over yourselves, lefties. You're worse than the Repubs you criticize.

[Bulbul]

What is going on here ? Calm down folks, he is a movie actor, B rated film. Some are good, check out , The Ideal Husband, with Minnie Driver and other good actors. Curious surfers can find "My beautiful Launderate", could be his first one.
Just look at yourself folks, all of a sudden bloggers are playing George Bush. Just because someone vented something, he is Britt, gay etc ? Anything wrong there ? It is refreshing if someone speaks out , and not say scripted line to promote themselves !
That` all, get a life !

Focus on your candidate.