Richard Dreyfuss Slams "W" Movie, Calls Oliver Stone A Fascist (VIDEO)

Richard Dreyfuss appeared on "The View" to publicize "W.," in which he plays Dick Cheney, but ended up criticizing the film and director Oliver Stone instead.

When asked why he made the film, he said he did it for "money." Dreyfuss also said, "I think it's 6/8ths of a great film."

Asked how it was to work with Oliver Stone, he said "imagine working for Sean Hannity... you can be a fascist, even when you're on the left."

He also said he isn't sure the film "will have any historical legs."

That and more pointed criticism in the clip below, with a bonus awkward moment at the end.

WATCH:

Comments

[Riker]

For all of you who are passing judgment on a movie you HAVEN'T SEEN, you should probably keep quiet until you actually see it. Far from being boring, it was a fascinating take on a man who never should have ended up where he did. The film is a character study of a person and the dysfunctional family (and political team) that created him. Being a very liberal Democrat, I actually felt kind of sorry for Bush by the end of the film (although I felt a lot more sorry for this country, and a lot angry at the cynical assh*les who shoved him into our lives). He's an authentic American tragedy. Go see the movie for yourself, it's really well done.

[jakkib]

Hey Riker I agree- I'm a Big fan of Dreyfuss, Not a fan of Bush. I saw the movie and It is a different perspective of Bush- It's not meant to for or against anything. Ithink maybe Dreyfuss should have taken into account, this portrayal before he took the part. He does have a point though- This was our reality- we were (and still are) terrified. You do leave the theatre (in my opionion) thinking this man was completely out of his element and he's more to be pitied than scorned, but that doesn't justify
the "reality " we were going theugh- that Dreyfuss mentions.

[Rosey]

So he made the movie for money. Big whoops..... What a sanctimonious hypocrite.... We did not see it for him anyway. We thought it was a good portrayal of Dubya and showed some sides (like Daddy's meanness) that many people who don't follow politics might not know. Poor baby Richard -- maybe we should stop watching his movies?

[joethevoter]

Also, the money comment is self deprecating and suppose to be a joke. Its obvious from his analysis that he loves his work.

[ozofjakes]

Any one who sees "W" should also go see "an american Carol"
here's a link to the trailer:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P82DC9ylVo8

Classic David Zucher

[workinman]

http://www.passged.com/

[joanjourne]

What in the world? Did whoever wrote this even watch the clip of what Dreyfuss actually said? It was not AT ALL what the author--& the headline--implies! The opposite, in fact. Wow...this is very worrying, HuffPost.
In my opinion, the movie's a pretty decent portrait of Bush Jr. It did leave a lot out (although it couldn't possibly cover everything) and as Dreyfuss said, "we the people" were noticeably absent from it, too. Maybe that was intentional, though: after all, I think we're all pretty much absent from Bush's real-life consciousness as well.

[Martampa]

There are other types of people who only do things "for the money."

[Michale32086]

Yea, but I was found innocent because it was consensual... :D

Michale.....

[jennined]

People with bills to pay? I'm pretty sure I don't work at OfficeMax for the stimulating environment...

[c1soccer]

once again dry wit has passed over the heads of many...if you notice his tone, he's joking through much of the interview...

[NALTC]

One does not have to see the film to grasp the quality and intent of Dreyfuss’ comments. The View was not the ideal platform. But perhaps it was, given its huge viewership. I don’t think Dreyfuss wanted to underline Americans' increasing difficulty with auto-criticism and self-reflection. But that’s what happened. A majority of the comments here underscore that growing national ‘disease’, and Palin has cast herself as its patron saint. If anyone wonders why the election is still close given Obama’s clear, better and healthier logic and reasoning, some of the posts here give you the answer.

Pointing to an enemy’s weak points is easy, and one does not have to live in a democracy to do so. Taking issue with those you care about (and work with) on issues you care about is a requirement in a democracy. Any artist, politician, writer, actor, director worth anything knows and understands the value of critical thinking in a civilized, democratic society (as a way to raise the bar) and that throughout history the worst enemy has always come from within, from an inability or unwillingness to address one’s own weaknesses and confront one’s “tribe’.

Dreyfuss understands the degree of GWB’s damage. He wishes, it seems (even while shooting the film) that Stone had taken head on the consequences of that damage and its scars on democracy.

[Michale32086]

Or maybe it's just possible that the "damage" and "scars" are a product of the hysteria of the Left and are not really that prevalent...

Naaaw, that couldn't POSSIBLY be it, right?? :^/

Michale......

[bemusedcanadian]

Very good points about the lack of self-reflection and self-criticism. There is also a huge problem with people not comprehending what they are readingand seeing in the various media. I don't know where and when it started, but we have a serious lack of critical thinking skills in North America today, and there's always been a strong anti-intellectualism in conservative circles.

I mean, COME ON!! Running a COUNTRY is a big tough job; why would you want someone stupid, uninformed,and incurious (if that's a word!) in charge?!? You want the BEST minds, you want the ones willing to admit past mistakes and change course, you want the ones who know A LOT about the world around us. It looks like Americans are finally waking up, and for that I'm grateful.

[allamericanboy]

The reason I haven't seen "W": It's been freakin' tough to LIVE through the last eight years; I can't conceive of any reason to go sit in a theater and watch a movie about something that dreadful.

[lydiajean]

we have been safe for 8 years. You are ungrateful.

[jakkib]

We've been safe because no one else has BOTHERED to attack us- if we had been attacked again We'd all be reading the Koran by now.

[ROBOT8]

he hits the nail on the head WE ARE ALL SCARED OF OUR PRESIDENT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!THERE WERE NO WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION, THERE ARE NO TALIBAN IN IRAQ, THERE IS OIL IN IRAQ, IN IRAN, IN AFGANISTAN AND IN TURKEY, THERE IS NO MORE MONEY LEFT IN THE TREASURY. WE ARE ON THE BRINK OF COLLAPSE. RUSSIA IS EXPANDING, WEALTHY AND POWERFUL. CHINA IS EXPANDING,WEALTHY AND POWERFUL. INDIA IS EXPANDING ,WEALTHY AND POWERFUL.........................AMERICA IS CONTRACTING, POOR AND IMPOTENT
HAD THE PATRIOT ACT which is neither NOT BEEN PUT INTO PLACE, THERE WOULD BE A REVOLUTION TODAY IN THE UNITED STATES.......WHO KNOWS? PERHAPS A REVOLUTION ALREADY OCURRING.........PERHAPS A GOOD SHOW OF FAITH WITH THE REST OF THE WORLD WE COULD TURN OVER BUSH, HIS CHILDREN, HIS BROTHERS, HIS PARENTS, HIS RELATIVES, HIS FRIENDS, TO THE IRAQI GOVERNMENT. GIVE CHENEY, RUMSFORD, ROVE TO THE INTERNATIONAL WAR TRIBUNAL AS WITH GONZALEZ AND RICE

[Michale32086]

Somebody buy that guy a CAPS LOCK key!!!

Michale.....

[tlmost35]

Wow. I bet you think Obama's the guy to fix it all. RIGHT?. THANK HEAVENS FOR A SAVIOR.

[JoeBotox]

ROBOT8

You are a sick individual. Get some help.

Since you know so much about foreign affairs maybe Obama can make you his Secretary of State.

[ultrabop]

Right on!

[lydiajean]

Correction. Only cowardly people are scared of our president. We have not had another attack.

[ParanoidPollyanna]

People in the Middle East have extremely long memories. I would not want to be anywhere near any of the "Architects" of the Iraq War "Shock & Awe" anytime in the next 50 years, because they will be Targets of revenge. Think of how many mothers have lost children or babies in Iraq due to the Iraq invasion, War & Occupation. Think how many fathers, brothers, sisters, uncles, aunts, nephews, friends, neighbors in Iraq have lost loved ones thanks to Bush and Cheney's "catastrophic success" as they proudly called it.

Each and every one of these Iraqi's, plus all the hundreds of thousands who have been displaced by the Iraq War and are still living as unwelcome Refugees in Syria, Egypt, etc., knowing human nature may well think about taking revenge in the future. And the Arabs have a tradition of patience, such a person could bide their time for years, even, before striking at their enemy. Anyone who thinks we are SAFER because "we have not had another attack" is being naive. The first World Trade Center attack came, and then Al Qaeda waited, biding their time, until THEY were ready to strike again. We need a President who will take the continuing threat seriously, and be vigilant and pro-active in taking the steps BUSH failed to take. McCain'ssuperiors in the Navy did not consider him qualified to be promoted beyond the rank of CAPTAIN. He isn't qualified now, to be Commander-in-Chief!

[gensericus]

feed him to a shark

[Cogs]

There's buzz that Dreyfuss could get an Academy Award nomination for his performance. Would he leave out Oliver Stone in his "Thank You" speech?

[timezone]

Kind of like biting the hand that feeds you, isn't it, Richard?

[oregonideas]

I'm generally too cheap to sleep through a movie I've paid to see. However, for "W" I made an exception. Oliver Stone may be a lefty-nut (or not), but, wow, he sure managed to create an outstandlingly boring movie.

[dissidenz]

I haven't bothered to see the movie because that's pretty much what I expected. Oliver Stone has got to be the most overrated director in film history... having forced myself to stay awake through the confused plotting, awkward camera work, and cardboard characters that populate his "oeuvre", you'd have to pay me to see anything else he makes. A lot.

[Michale32086]

JFK wasn't bad, but only because I like Costner..

I couldn't finish NIXON, it was just too damn boring...

Michale.....

[SUIGENEROUSLA]

If you'd like working with Hannity EH, please don't let anything stop you...........go, just go........

[majorteddy]

Making a movie does not make a person a Fascist ! Richard Dreyfuus may or may not like the movie and he may or may not like Oliver Stone, but Oliver Stone does not have the required characteristics to be called a Fascist! Before Richard Dreyfuss calls anybody else a Fascistm aybe he should take pains to educate himself to be smarter than Elisabeth Hasselbeck.

[Michale32086]

Hear, Hear...

I would also point out that being a Republican doesn't make a person a fascist...

But try telling that to the goodly portion of those on the Left.. :^/

Michale.....