Matt Damon: Bill Kristol "An Idiot," Bond A "Misogynist Sociopath"

Matt Damon gave an interview to his local Miami Herald speaking out against, among other things, Bill Kristol, torture and James Bond. Damon has done his research, having played Jason Bourne in the "Bourne" trilogy and starring in two CIA movies, "The Good Shepherd" and "Syriana."

On Kristol and torture:

"The small talk -- if that's the right phrase -- ranged from which New York Times columnist is the worst (conservative William Kristol, according to Damon: ''He's an idiot -- he wrote that we should be grateful to George Bush because he won the Iraq war. We! Won! The! War!'') to the proper place of torture in American foreign policy.

''Look, the best line about torture I've heard came from [retired CIA officer turned war-on-terrorism critic] Milt Beardon,'' Damon says. ``He said, `If a guy knows where a dirty bomb is hidden that's going to go off in a Marriott, put me in a room with him and I'll find out. But don't codify that. Just let me break the law.'

He also said what he thinks of James Bond:

''They could never make a James Bond movie like any of the Bourne films,'' Damon says scornfully. "Because Bond is an imperialist, misogynist sociopath who goes around bedding women and swilling martinis and killing people. He's repulsive."

And he explained why he missed Obama's inauguration after campaigning on his behalf:

''Luciana and I decided we wanted to go,'' he admits. 'But when I called my contacts from the campaign, they just started laughing: `We worked on the campaign for 2 ½ years, and we're not going. Forget it.' But then they called me back the next day and said, 'Hey, we've got two tickets for you, in the bleachers, and you'll actually be able to see Obama take the oath. Just $25,000 apiece.' So I'm going to watch. From my couch.''

Not only did Damon campaign and fundraise for Obama, he was one of the most outspoken celebrities against Sarah Palin, calling her "like a really bad Disney movie" and "a really terrifying possibility."

Read the whole interview

Comments

[Sussemilch]

Of all of the mighty issues facing this country, coddling politicians' tender egos is not one of them. Republicans had better think twice about laying down on the tracks, because I'll happily help this train cut you in pieces to keep my kids from staving.

You had your chance. We trusted you. You f***ed up. Get out of the way.

[hudmo]

The only way your kids will starve is when working folks quit paying taxes so your Left wing liberal buddies in DC can give everything away to those too dam lazy to work. How about you laying down on the tracks and let me happily show you how to keep the train on the tracks. I think the Republicans have done pretty good in this country. Go back to Freddie Mac..Fannie Mae and plenty of others. They're all Democrats that were in charge. You liberals only see what you want to see and that's bad for America. I'll take George Bush anytime over what I'm seeing right now.

[Vixter]

That's sarcasm, right? One can only hope....

[HarryParatestis]

although I am not a liberal, I am totally against what the GOP has done to this country; Damon is right on target in this interview.

[reyvn77]

we all know being against the GOP means you're automatically a liberal and therefore representative of everything evil in the universe.

what, you didn't get the memo?

[chicago236]

The 7 Secret Key Players of The Obama Administration:

http://www.lipmantimes.com/?p=2185

[osamamania]

Where in the pantheon of reality does this Matt Damon belong? May the most mercyful one hold this spiteful person in low regard come judgement day. Certainly no 72 virgins for this venom spewer!

[ProfessorDuh]

Try reading Ian Fleming's novels first, Matt. He was a far better writer than the talented hack Robert Ludlum.

[EStreetShuffler]

Yeah, but Bond just kills really, really bad guys.

[cobobs]

Right, bad for Her Majesty's Empire. Some would call James Bond a bad guy, killer for the oppressor. Imagine a skilled lone assassin sent by the Red Coats to kill Jefferson and Washington and people like that. That is James Bond.

[timbonotes]

Matt's a hell of a guy and a pretty damn good actor as well. How refreshingly honest he is!

[Lemmy]

Matt Damon - oracle.

[Hanforder]

I disagree about Damon being a bad actor. The Talented Mr. Ripley? The Departed?

[RRG64]

add Good Will Hunting to that list.

[FTracy3]

And Team America World Police!

[Hanforder]

Silly to compare two fictional killers. One is a playboy psychopath, the other an unquestioning killing machine gone haywire, who volunteered under the guise of patriotism.. Six of one; half dozen of the other.

I remember thinking when the first Bourne movie came out…huh! Jason Bourne, James Bond, Jack Bauer. Same stock Nietszchean character (or Fleming rewrite) with the initials J.B..

I find Matt Damon likeable. He works hard at his craft. So does Daniel Craig, and both are more humble about “doing their own stunts” than Tom Cruise. Far as their politics, who cares? I could get all apoplectic about the tendency of numbskulls like John Wayne, Ronald Reagan, Stallone, Schwarzenegger, Gibson, Willis – none of whom wore a military uniform that wasn’t a costume - to pretend that their movie roles somehow make (or made) them authorities on real-life military or political matters. Doesn’t keep me from enjoying some of their films.

[cobobs]

Did not think about that JB thing. What is the admiration for this archetype about? It says a lot about us, but I don't know what. Perhaps you could help me there.

[Hanforder]

All I can think is that they're all heroes or anti-heroes that were a product of WWII and the Cold War, the era in which we seemingly lost our humanity. The franchises have been updated, but each of the JB's acts above the law, is authorized to kill or assassinate using the latest technology, and has gone rogue to some degree. And each of them has issues with the personal sacrifices they've had to make.

I also find it interesting that other stories told on film seem to be moving in this direction (Batman, Mission Impossible). I don't know if it is that we love the story so much, or that Hollywood is, as usual, cannibalizing a money-making formula.

[coliwabl]

Matt Damon is a great actor and right on with his views. I especially like the way he calls them the way he see them! Keep up the good work!

[Raleigh Dave]

Hey Matt, I love your films and your political views, but I need to give you a reality check, both Bourne and Bond are fictional characters.

That statement is up there with Dan Quayle attacking Murphy Brown.

[rnelsonbrown]

Tain't necessarily so my metaphorically blind friend. Bond and Bourne may be 'fictional' but they represent something to millions of people. Bond, to most Bondies, is the guy who magically takes care of all of their problems - an alpha male wet dream for alpha male wanna b's. Bourne is a Kafkaesque anti-hero, caught int the super rationalization of modern day bureaucracy and paranoia mindset, on the run from a system running amok.
This is nothing like Dan Qyale attacking Murphy Brown. If you think Damon thinks either Bond or Bourne are real people, please, stop eating the yellow snow.
Damon is proving to be one of the leading men in Hollywood, who's choice of projects grows more interesting every year. Hats off to Damon. I look forward to more of his choices, and i thing the Obama camp did him a disservice. Interestingly, Damon seems not to be too bothered about it.

[Lex10]

He's a regular Sean Penn!

[Pema]

as much as i appreciate matt, i think he's a little emotional about this. i doubt anyone in the obama campaign laughed at him for wanting tickets, maybe it was what he said or how he said it, hes got quiet a mouth...
he needs to chill. his emotions get the better of him, and may i lastly add...i never wanted to boff bourne, but boy howdy i wanted to be a bond girl. nuff said.

[TruEngineHearing]

There are a lot of people "a little emotional about this". He's thinkin' about issues that matter to a lot of people. You, on the other hand, are measuring hook-ups..! Have at it, but realize that some of us feel civilization viscerally and must act in its defense at all times.

There's never 'nuff said.

[citizen104]

Matt Damon can't act, so he can't say anything about the Bond movies; his Brourne movies SUCK big time. He hasn't had a good performance since his bit in the Meg Ryan movie. Like his politics, hate his acting. He's got great friends, so I guess he'll always have movie roles, but boy is his acting a big come-down from its promise.

[Emmanuel Petti]

What movies were you watching? If you somehow thing Bond movies are better than the Bourne movies, you need to have your eyes, ears and sensory impulses tested, because you could in fact be brain dead. While I agree that the current run of Bond movies are good, saying that the Bourne movies sucks just shows that you have bad taste.

[PWM]

I grew up with the early Bond movies. They are like cartoons and the character is cartoonish.