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

[wordvarc]

stone pulled his punches leaving him open to criticism from all sides...even these rovian doublespeaking comments from Dreyfuss.

[jofle]

"Primary Colors" parallels "W" and neither movie needs the "public" as a character.

Clearly and sadly Dreyfus and Stone vehemently disagreed about that and, it would appear, about who was director.

[Hephaestion]

Well said. Though it does seem like a missed opportunity to show how a president can destroy the lives of many good citizens.

[indyleftist]

What's so funny is that Stone's movie, if anything is very revisionist history in favor of Bush.

But yet people are claiming its some kind of courageous left wing piece.

I'd compare it to Scott McClellan. It sounds like he's criticizing Bush, but really he is saying, Bush didn't lie us into war, he was just caught up in the partisanship of Washington. Conservative ideology wasn't wrong, it was hijacked by extremists. and so forth.

[Krankil]

The movie was pro Bush.
Here's the head of the UN inspectors telling the whole world there are no WMD's and we would be able to confirm it in our next visit to Iraq in a month. What does Bush do? he invades a week before the scheduled visit with the opposition of all world leaders (except Blair and few smaller countries he was able to bribe).
Oliver Stone, doesn't point that out, but tries to show us that Bush was mad in one of his meeting "where are the WMD's?". I don't know where he got that. He wasn't in the meeting but I suspect his source is someone like Karl Rove!

Bush knew better than anybody else that there are no WMD's. But that was the only way he can sell the war to more than 50% of americans. He knows NO WMD's. Because he asked his CIA director to make it up

[Louis462]

Krankil, You are dead on. This country is forgetting this and it should NEVER be forgotten.

Bush should be held accountable for this, the greatest and most horrible deception of American history. That accountability could have began in Stone's production. Pity.

[Promise]

I didn't think the movie was pro-Bush at all. Did you see the last scene, in which Bush is asked what he considered his biggest mistakes in office and what he learned from them? He was so lame in his inability to respond that it was beyond pathetic.

[martinchill]

what a tool....

[walleymr]

I think you mean w h o r e

[JustMom]

Dreyfuss is right.

We don't need a movie and we don't need Dreyfuss to point it out to us. We have played a part in allowing our government to commit war crimes against other nations and against other citizens, by turning our heads.

Civics classes are desperately needed. Dreyfuss also advocated for civics classes so that our citizens understands our responsibilities as citizens. We are citizens NOT "The American People" that behave like sheep instead of citizens.

We are the missing element in this disasterous administration. We need to recognize this and hopefully we do it soon. As our country is great when it's citizens are active participants in the process. It's not enough to yell and scream at each other and let elected officials go on doing anything to our country.

[marinva]

even though i'm agnostic, as a history teacher i have to say: god freakin' bless you!

[magicmary]

He brings up a really good point that the movie doesn't portray the horror we've all been feeling these last 8 years. There does need to be a movie made about that. On the other hand, get Obama into the white house and then lets put as much daylight between ourselves and the Bush administration as we possibly can!!

As they say in NM : OBAMANOS!

[irishgawdess]

So then he'll be returning or donating 1/4 of his salary? Just wonderin'...

[aMOMinous]

This assumes that the success of a film depends on one actor. This is simply not the case, ever.

[cengizfromoc]

I have heard Dreyfuss interviewed a few years ago, during the 2004 election season, by Randi Rhodes. He is intelligent and thoughtful. He is also arrogant and aloof. He also can be very condescending, and he doesn't suffer fools very lightly.

This being said, I will repeat, he is intelligent and thoughtful. And his belief that we need to teach civics more effectively in schools is spot on.

Here are a few things that I believe should be taught in public schools:

How to manage your credit profile, how to manage credit cards, how to buy a house, how to save money, how to recognize bias and propoganda, taxes and the IRS 101, among other things.

Election season, if nothing else, reminds us how woefully ignorant much of the American population is. It is our choice to be that way, and I believe we deserve better. I know we do.

[sl26]

Are you serious? We're too busy teaching to the test. We fill their head with useless information. Certainly not critical thinking skills. NCLB...dumbing down of America. Watch the movie Idiocracy. We aren't that far away from it!

[CologneCitizen]

You nailed it !! The movie Idiocracy is one of the best (and scariest) movies on that subject. Such a shame it was almost hidden by FOX, they produced it but never promoted it. Obviously too spot on. OW MY BALLS!!!

[cengizfromoc]

I love that movie. Really, it is a scathing indictment of our society.

[hopefulinflorida]

In addition there is: how to become a candidate for VP and not even know what the job entails. That is priceless.

[Promise]

It was the arrogance that came across so splendidly in Dreyfuss' portrayal of Cheney. Too bad he couldn't turn it off (Dreyfuss) when he left the set.

[GayIthacan]

"When asked why he made the film, he said he did it for "money.""

So we can assume Dreyfuss was paid off in Hostess Twinkies?

What a dolt.

[betabeta]

thought provoking comments... wonder how it would have been if the public view was included... interesting thought

[Ramirez]

Oliver Stone is an incredible talent and one of America's finest filmmakers. Unfortunately his legacy is ruined by his overwhelming addiction to conspiracy theories and historical revisionism.

[LeiftheLucky]

http://allanerickson.wordpress.com/2008/10/28/bush-vindicated-on-wmd-in-iraq/
Bush vindicated on WMD in Iraq

[rini]

Yeah, it must be true. They are keeping it such a secret. No doubt W and McCain will keep mum on evidence that exonerates their actions.

Please.

[SpringDoc]

I saw the movie and felt I wasted my time and money. Possibly I was hoping it would be part documentary. Well, it wasn't. As Dreyfuss admits, it left out the affect of what the"W" years has had on the world and certainly we the people of this country. It didn't include "W" allowing the corporate capitalist taking this country and it's treasury. It failed to cover the "9-11" effectively as it relates to a historical event of this country.
Dreyfuss was good as Cheney, but again, I think Stone changed the actual script on Cheney on what has really been the issue. Cheney is our president, "W" is the spokesman for him and plays the role. He is also right, in that this film will not be significant as a historical reference. It's lame and very disappointing. I really hope someone comes forth with something more accurate and compelling on the worst president in the history of this country. Where's Michael Moore?

[ultrabop]

Maybe Oliver was looking for a redeeming aspect to Bush and couldn't find one and so it ended without a resolution. Hubris of the film maker gets in way of the script. He's was trying not to be predictable and so instead became impotent.

[TyroneHed]

No matter what, I just love Richard Dreyfuss. He has earned his chops and that devilish little smile he showed at the end is the same one he had in "The Goodbye Girl". Marvelous.

[Bush 08]

i read the copy before the video and it doesn't quite match up... what he's saying is stone is a control freak, which is probably true, and that the film lacked the "public." I can see why he would want that in the film, but i believe Stone's decision to leave them out was intentional and a good choice. the president lived in a bubble for most of his time in office, only getting advice from his top advisors... to add the public would take away from that reality... ALSO, I found the ending to be a perfect fit for that message, and the film as a whole...