Matt Damon On His Political Documentary, Criticism Of Palin

PASADENA, Calif. — How does Matt Damon make reciting the Declaration of Independence exciting?

"You just read it," says the actor-writer-producer. "Seriously. It is an incredible document. I think people either forget about it or have been taught it too early in their lives. It's a document worth reading and rereading every single year because it's the principles in that document that we should be loyal to and fight for and struggle for, rather than whichever government is in power."

"The Bourne Ultimatum" star reads the declaration in "The People Speak," an upcoming History Channel movie co-executive produced by Damon and based on Howard Zinn's book, "A People's History of the United States." Joining Damon in reading letters, speeches and text from famous and not-so famous Americans are such stars as Josh Brolin, Viggo Mortensen, Morgan Freeman and Marisa Tomei.

"The material is inherently dramatic," says Tomei, who recited the words of factory worker Harriet Hanson Robinson at a 2003 celebration of the millionth copy of Zinn's book sold and in the documentary. "You don't have to wonder, 'How am I going to rephrase that?' or 'How am I going to make it through this scene?' It's all right there for you in the words of these impassioned people."

One political topic Damon is avoiding is Sarah Palin. Damon drew headlines last September when he told The Associated Press during an interview that the Republican vice presidential candidacy was like "a bad Disney movie." He said he had "no idea" what Palin would do now that she has stepped down as Alaska's governor. He joked that he's still in shock about the attention his remarks received.

"I couldn't believe it," said Damon. "Certainly, that whole campaign was a next-generation campaign in the sense that YouTube and all these different things existed that weren't really around in 2004. Campaigning is different now than it was a couple of cycles ago. I think that little interview was a small part of that."

___

On the Net:

http://www.history.com

Comments

[Garybot]

"One political topic Damon is avoiding is Sarah Palin"

Then he goes on to the remarks about her stepping down as governor.

Derrik - could you try a little harder?

[berrycooda]

Time to get rid of the Dems and Repubs and let Hollywood run the government.

Maybe it can all be scripted and put into a play and read off a teleprompter so
there won't be any mistakes.

[Garybot]

Thought we were already doing that.

[SecretSister]

Maybe so, but it's a refreshing change from the last 8 years where the speaker wings it.

[Haditup2here]

May I mind you, that two famous governors arose from California:
Reagan and now Schwarzenegger (both were actors) . . .

They say three times a charm, but I wouldn't care to go there a third time.

[HotheadPaisen]

Oh, come on. Dakota Fanning would be a shoe in!

[SinfullySublime]

Al Franken's doing all right so far.

[MaDmOnKy]

My understanding his he found out he was too old to play Capt Kirk and flipped out, then did the palin video..

[KillgoreTrout43]

Damon doesn't have to play Capt. Kirk.

[oli33]

Universal has bumped his anti-american Iraq war movie till next spring due to fears of another flop.

[ProfessorDuh]

Anti-American? You mean they don't torture and bomb enough brown people in it?

[Queenhuh]

Well said prof.duh, Damon used kinder words for Palin than do I. What is anti-american is lying to us, deceiving us and trying to get someone on a hospital bed to sign an illegal document. Rethugs are primitives who still practice apartheid. They don't like to hear this of course.

[SmallChange]

I know I'm not the only one to think this but I find Mrs. Palin very anit-American.

[Melissa]

Josh Brolin and Dammon. What a pair.

[BBHounds]

oli33 - What is "anti-american" mean to you?

[colah]

The exact opposite of whatever is posted here. Relax, hes just a scared white guy.

[JacklynD]

Hmmm. I wasn't aware that Matt Damon was struggling. Among his many successes are the Bourne series, Ocean's series, The Departed, Syriana, oscar winner for Goodwill Hunting, Saving Private Ryan, etc. Sometimes famous people are admired for their body of work and the choices they make in life. I am a big fan of Matt Damon.

[KillgoreTrout43]

Righties simply can't face facts.

[JacklynD]

You think the boy from Boston is anti-American? The city of the Boston Tea Party, the cradle of Puritan values of hard work, education and moral uprightness, heart of the American Revolution... yeah I can see how you might think his values are as anti-American as the Kennedys and Paul Revere.

[REAL American]

the kennedys? anti-american? never...why they're almost as american as baseball, apple pie and socialized health care. hows that workin out in mass. anyway?

[jjgg5]

Mr. Damon is a very well informed and intelligent young man. Senator Damon has a good ring to it.

[Sean Tisdall]

I only hope they're still doing South Park at that point. Not that I remotely disagree with Matt Damon, but I love when politicians are characterized as one-dimensionally stupid, especially when I know they aren't. (See: Supernews' interpretation of Joe Biden)

[REAL American]

joe biden is one smart cookie....my favorite quote of his is the "spend money to make money? YES!" line, or however it went. wow, with logic like that he could invent the next internet!

[snoopjohnny]

It's clear that some very intelligent people become famous, but fame alone is no indicator of wisdom or leadership skills. Whether they're brilliant or dull as a rock, we're destined to hear from these folks when they use the soap box of fame to promote their views....period. If Damon is excited about the constitution and reading it to viewers with minimal agenda, I'll take that over Charlton Heston's powerful and elegantly voiced opinions regarding guns, which fueled senseless paranoia regarding the right to bear arms. That was a spectacular instance of using fame to further political views.....

[Jayron Robinson]

Why do people criticize those who criticize our political structure, no matter their point of view, job or position in life? It's their right as we know and accept, but on a limited basis and bias. It doesn't matter if they are on a soap box. Who put them there? Why do people always take this type of stand against those who are in the limelight of our lives? Those of us who are the nobody's in the world population are never heard from and many of us have good viewpoints and justifiable criticisms too. If it wasn't for the wizardry of the internet we would never be heard out of our very own houses or neighborhoods. If they want to voice their opinions let them, they have just as much right as any one else. If they want to use their positions to be heard, let them. I wish I was in such a position because I'd be screaming my head off at All the Americans who blindly follow Our elected officials without having read the very Constitution that these people take an oath to protect and defend. They haven't even read it. It's every Americans right to stand and be heard. Our government works for us and is given the privilege and not the right to serve this nation at Our will and discretion not theirs. We should never be so hypocritical to condemn those for exercising their Constitution Rights no matter who they are.

[ProfessorDuh]

The Republicans and their right-wing tools constantly seek to vilify and silence ANY independent voice, whether it’s in the university, the press, Hollywood, public education, public broadcasting, the ACLU, Amnesty International or anywhere else.
They cannot permit the airing of the truth.

[pfc1369]

Because it always comes down to those who were frightened into always bowing to and obeying authority, and those who somehow grew up comfortable with questioning authority.

[snoopjohnny]

I agree about the constituti­on....that­'s why I commended Damon for reading it on TV.......and I wasn't putting people down for using whatever soap box they have available. Only stating my opinion that fame is the reason we hear their views, not intelligence (this question was debated in several posts). My critical remark was a preference for hearing the constitution read verbatim, rather than Heston's Hollywood view of it.

[chevlikis]

Yeah but Charleton Heston had a point. One of the big reasons Iran can't overthrow their silly little government is because they are denied the right to bear arms. All munition power is sanctioned by the government and militias that make the SS look like nice lads.

The will of the people is only as good a its' right to bear arms. This goes way back to to the like 12th Century, bro.

[dmyron]

got something in mind?

[vietveter]

America put up with the Bu$hies for eight years. If ever a time in our history cried out for revolution, that was it.
What did "we" do?
Cleaned our guns and drank beer

Long live the evolution.­..........­....... no, thats not right, is it?

[snoopjohnny]

I'm not at all against guns. Or the 2nd amendment. In fact, my opinion regarding guns isn't "liberal". But comparing Iran to the U.S. is the kind of oversimplification that doesn't serve freedom well. Because guns are one of our important freedoms doesn't mean that guns equal freedom. Iran is a theocracy......and their annual GNP is equal to 1/2 our defense budget.

[KillgoreTrout43]

Taking on the US government by violent means is suicidal at best. Consider the weaponry at their disposal. Mini guns that fire 3,000 rounds a minute? Apache attack helicopters than can strike a target from miles away? Fighter jets that can elude radar and strike with devastating weapons? Smart bombs? GOP guided artillery? High tech tanks????

And you think you can beat all this with your AK47??? Puleeeese.

[Bluekarma]

don't these actors realize when they get political they ruin their image? It takes years to cultivate an image that the public recognizes(think John Wayne, DeNire, Duvall..ect). Studios used to mandate that actors NEVER spoke politics unless it was apporved by them! And most of the time it was just a Patriotic response like raising war-bonds or a USO tour but never did they allow the kind of hate-filled spewing that so many like Sean Penn and Matt Damon exercise in! Yea, it is your RIGHT to free speech, but it also doing more to UNDO your image. I used to love Sean Penn as an actor and think he is one of the best ever, but to watch him now pains me because of his politics(which I mostly disagree with). Matt Damon is walking the same path. Check the box-office on Penns last several movies. Critically acclaimed doesn't mean jack. Studios want GROSS RECEIPTS! Academy Awards are BS too! They robbed a great perfromance this year from Mickey O'Rouke so they could give it to Penn and allow him to spew more of his leftist views on Middle-America in prime time...not cool..payback for Prop 8?
Take it from me Damon, you want the public to still like you? Stop ranting about things we PAY and ELECT Politicans to say! Be partiotic but don't be political. Not cool.

[fedupinfla]

Lemme guess....you were one of the ones burning Dixie Chick CD's right?!?

[swe123]

I'm sure Mr. Damon will miss the sale of your one ticket.

[Jayron Robinson]

Way off track. What do you mean: "things we PAY and ELECT Politicians to say". I never paid for nor voted for George W. Jr. and we are paying for a lot of what he said. Nobody ever understood what he was talking about but it was good enough to convince the Congress (with false information) and Our entire nation to go to war with Iraq. Did you know that there were a minimum of six documents, filed and presented, for the impeachment of George and his entire cabinet for treason, genocide, use of weapons of mass destruction and a few other charges? Our elected officials refused to hear the Peoples voice on a very critical issue and our troops continue to die and you're concerned about ratings and Academy Awards. Please.

[Garybot]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iSwSDvgw5Uc

[Mikeeee]

John Wayne, ROTFLMAO!!!

[pfc1369]

Wayne has become the symbol for unquestioning "patriotism," and for good reason.

But just to see how far our political life has fallen, I remember when JFK was elected, Wayne said, "I didn't vote for him. But he's my president, and I hope he does a good job."

Can you imagine today's reactionaries saying something like that about Obama?

[LLisaLL]

John Wayne may or may not have been carefully building an image for the public during his long career but in 1971 his Playboy interview shot a lot of holes in it. He made controversial comments about Native Americans, African Americans, civil rights, liberals, socialism, communiism, and fellow actors. Think what you will about his statements, but he wasn't wishy-washy and called it like he saw it.

http://www.playboy.com/articles/john-wayne-interview

[Rogan]

So, are you upset with the "spewing leftist views" Sean Penn does in his own persona, or were you disturbed by the character he played, Harvey Milk? (Just trying to understand, though I don't know why I'm trying...)

[JohnSkookum]

I'm disturbed by his embrace of thugs like Hugo Chavez, who just proposed 6 year prison terms for reporters or commentators who criticize the State.

[SuperBucky]

SNOOOOOOOo­oooozzzeee­eeee......­.

[pragmaticdallasite]

“The death of democracy is not likely to be an assassination from ambush. It will be a slow extinction from apathy, indifference, and undernourishment.” – Robert M. Hutchins

[pragmaticdallasite]

Good dramatic actors tend to have high intellect.....it's required to be truly skillful in the performance arts.

All those who try to discount actors/entertainers without regard to the type of acting/entertaining they do should consider this.

[Terry6202]

Benicio del Toro is a great actor but did you ever hear him speak? Still a fan (he just got an award in Cuba . . . )

[pragmaticdallasite]

"tend to"

There's always exceptions to generaliza­tions.....­.my point is many think that an being an actor means you're not smart.....but I think that the average talented actor is much smarter than the average American.

[ysbee]

Playing as Che, Benicioi del Toro must have made a great miles of political determination. That decision itself talks a lot.

[KillgoreTrout43]

That was for his great performance of Che Guavarra. In Cuba, Che is a national hero.

[JohnSkookum]

"Good dramatic actors tend to have high intellect"

Har har, are you kidding? Most of them are dropouts who'd be slinging hash if not for their good looks.

[KillgoreTrout43]

Have you ever studied Stanislavsky??? Ever read Checkov? Ever studied Psychology? Ever read Gogul? Ever written a screenplay or a novel???

Man, you are the perfect Hannity fan.

[AnneOlivia]

I can't wait to see this documentary. You know, I looked into, bought, and read Mr. Zinn's fabulous book because of the one line in "Good Will Hunting" that mentions it. Thank, Matt!

[pragmaticdallasite]

I can't wait too!

[chabnormal]

I can't believe some of the commenters on this page. Matt Damon is an American. He wants to read aloud some of the most important documents of our country for a documentary. Everyone who has something negative to add must just hate America.

[Jayron Robinson]

I agree...or they've never read and understood these documents themselves.

[Saidas]

They only say these things because Matt doesn't have a Republican accent.

[WryAwry]

Wait just a durn minute -- are all of these presenters Real Americans?

[NHGranite]

What difference does that make? the document is respected throughout the world and just as a historic document is worthy of being presented over and over. Are you real enough to read it?

[VioletDatura]

WA was joking, NHG.

[oldschoololdsoul]

Matt's from Beantown. And folks there tend to be idealistic and attach meaning to struggle seeing that our freedom started there. Freedom doesn't start with a big bank account and a tax break. The little guy with nothing has to sacrifice for it while big shots bitch and moan because they only care about money.

[weatherwaxx]

It's astonishing how many troIIs we have here who are so frakkin' jealous of Matt Damon ... and who are apparently not conversant with the documents that form the basis of our country.

[bilbabagge]

Matt Damon needs to get some more film work. This actor has way too much time on his hands. He should stick with the dramatic arts, he's good at it, and let the politicians do their thang.

[weatherwaxx]

Oh, like Reagan and Ahnold?

[donia1970]

Weather, it's ok to be a "Pub" actor turn politician; however, vice versa is not in the cards - according to the T R O L L S !!!!

[realitychecks]

And Silly Sarah too,also.

[Bluekarma]

they did thier acting BEFORE thier political careers started. Get your statements accurate!

[KillgoreTrout43]

Exactly!

[ogomezmontes]

Just like Ronny Reagan should have stayed in California in the movies.He destroyed this country and everybody thinks he's a hero.All the mess we are in started with him.He did nothing good for the USA.Maybe for Europe but he was elected President of the USA and destroyed our economy.It took Bill Clinton to get us back to fiscal responsability and out of the Reagan/Bush I deficits and now we got Obama and we are in the hole for centuries to come.If I was in hock as much as the USA is now I would be living under a bridge and eating roasted rats caught at the nearest dump site.Great legacy we are leaving our children.Hurrah for Obama/Emmanuel White House fixing of the books.

[chabnormal]

If I were you I would be living under a bridge too.

[NHGranite]

When we were left by the Bushies with threat of massive failure of the financial systems, since they had skimmed off their money and walked away rich, who do you think got left with the bills? Do you understand deficit spending?

[Bluekarma]

Reagan freed Eastern Europe and gave us millions of immigrants who sole purpose in life is to be cheap bastards abd take what they didn't earn!(they rob social security and welfare for billions every year with phony claims..fact) Thanks Ronnie. And Nixon opened the doors to China but what has that given us but huge deficits and fewer industrial jobs! Thanks Tricky Dick! And Clinton? He closed somany bases and slashed the Defense budget to the point that we havent recovered yet and part of the reason we can't fight effective wars! And Obama? He wants to be the saviour to millions of illegals and minorities who contribute the least to our economy yet get the most but afterall he will secure the Democrat Vote for his party for many years to come if he succeeds and regardless of the debt he will saddle us with for the next 50 years! Thanks Obama!

[DEJM]

I'm not an expert on all of our previous Presidents, R or D, but to say Bill Clinton go us back to fiscal responsibility is just wrong. When he ran for President,he campaigned against the North American Free Trade agreement. After he became President he signed it.
Shortly after that we lost a ton of jobs as manufacturing moved to places like China.

And how was that helpful to us?

[Saidas]

Yes, because we are all very pleased with the way politicians are doing their thang.

[focher]

It seems we would be much better off if every individual citizen - regardless of their profession - would actually take a more active role in politics. Simply casting off your civic duties to the elected officials seems a rather pathetic and lazy approach in a democracy.

[KillgoreTrout43]

You don't Matt Damon has the same right to free speech as you do? How republican of you. Damon seems to be always working. Just look at his film career. He has done movie afer movie after movie. He is currently working on this History channel program. I see the truth is not on your side.