Harrison Ford on Shia LaBeouf

[Capn_Jack_Savvy]

For all of you that think what Mr. LaBouf is doing right now through the Press is OK with speaking his mind and all....

stand up and go to your employers HR office or better yet walk into the CEO's office of your company and start telling he/she what you feel about the company, how the widgets they are producing is cr@p, and speak your mind on how the CEO needs to get off his or her arse and make the company better.

See if you will be applying for Unemployment Benefits tomorrow.

Just sayin....................

 

[GINO]

Thats exactly why it was so admirable. He put his career at possible risk to say what he believed in and come clean with the audience about his feelings.

With so many actors playing the PR game constantly and lying thier asses off by staying positive about a film and trying to sell it to audiences even when it is clear that the movie is a piece of crap, it is really amazing to see one just drop the act and be honest about how he feels.

+1



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[Capn_Jack_Savvy]

In such a high profile job as his as THE go to actor today there is a right way and wrong way to discuss your feelings.

Surely he is using the medial as a means to get his negative opinion out AND is keeping in line with the fans. But his delivery is all wrong.

Many actors careers have come to a grinding halt because of how they have expressed themselves through the media both for their work and their political beliefs.

And as a follow up.......being an excellent TV actor doesn't necessary mean you can carry that talent over to the big screen with success.

 

[Hecubus114]

Thats exactly why it was so admirable. He put his career at possible risk to say what he believed in and come clean with the audience about his feelings.

With so many actors playing the PR game constantly and lying thier asses off by staying positive about a film and trying to sell it to audiences even when it is clear that the movie is a piece of crap, it is really amazing to see one just drop the act and be honest about how he feels.

Nah - he's playing the same game the actors from the SW prequels did. If the movie turns out bad, then turn around and say you knew so the entire time. If these same movies had turned out to be hits, we'd never hear any of this "honesty". If he was really this true to his feelings and truly thought KOTCS was crap, he could have walked away when he read the script.

He's right - it did suck. Hard. But Shia Lebouf doesn't have the reuptation or track record to bash a movie or director this big.

And just because this movie didn't come out doesnt mean the dozens of movies Speilberg has still to make won't. Only now Lebouf is unlikely to be part of any of those. HF is right - he is an idiot.

 

[ShadowX81]

For all of you that think what Mr. LaBouf is doing right now through the Press is OK with speaking his mind and all....

stand up and go to your employers HR office or better yet walk into the CEO's office of your company and start telling he/she what you feel about the company, how the widgets they are producing is cr@p, and speak your mind on how the CEO needs to get off his or her arse and make the company better.

See if you will be applying for Unemployment Benefits tomorrow.

Just sayin....................

Morality or convictions be damned, the lesson here is regardless of how financially comfortable you are never stand up for yourself or what you believe in if it might be detrimental to your career. Great message.

 

[cboath]

Thats exactly why it was so admirable. He put his career at possible risk to say what he believed in and come clean with the audience about his feelings.

With so many actors playing the PR game constantly and lying thier asses off by staying positive about a film and trying to sell it to audiences even when it is clear that the movie is a piece of crap, it is really amazing to see one just drop the act and be honest about how he feels.

It's one thing to speak your mind and give your opinion on something.

It's another thing to bash someone like Spielberg. Warranted or not, it's just not terribly smart.

It's yet another thing to out private conversation you've had with other people. Unless that chat is was filmed by the media or something, it's private, and you're bleeping idiot to out it.

If he had said he wasn't happy with his work and left it that, fine. If he said he didn't particularly like the movie, again fine. You cross the line outing other people's opinions and talking in a less than favorable light about the director.

 

[micdavis]

In that article he does say that HE also "dropped the ball".

He doesn't lay it all on the other guys.

And frankly Harrison hasn't made a good movie in ten years.

 

[ShadowX81]

I still don't buy the idea that an actor should bow down to Spielburg just because of who he is.

Actors complain about bad experiences they had making movies all the time. The difference is that those directors aren't as famous or are retired/dead by now.

A crap movie is a crap movie no matter who makes it, and even Spielburg couldn't manage to polish that turd. Let's be honest, the blame doesn't rest entirely on Lucas here. Spielburg was the one that gave approval to the script, and the one who felt it would be easier to CGI alot of the sequences rather than go out and shoot on location. Since he is responsible, then Shia has every right to call him out on it.

 

[Solo4114]

Bottom line: He may not be wrong, but it's still stupid from a business perspective to say it.

 

[ShadowX81]

When did doing what you believe in regardless of its effects on your career stop being an admirable quality?

 

[Qui-Gonzalez]

When did doing what you believe in regardless of its effects on your career stop being an admirable quality?

When you spend three movies screaming "OPTIMUS!" and still try and call yourself an actor.

 

[niennumb1]

"OPTIMAAAAAAAAAAAS!!!!"

"BUMBLEBAAEEEEE"

And my favorite:
"NO NO NO NONONONONONO!!!!"
YouTube - ‪Shia LaBeouf in "No No No NOo" video‬‏

 

[Qui-Gonzalez]

Lessons from the Great Thespian!

 

[Mola Rob]

Hey at least the guy has the balls to say the movie didn't turn out the best it could have. If there were more people willing to speak up in the industry maybe we would see some better quality movies.

Ford bashed the Star Wars movies quite a bit in the eighties and nineties so maybe he should not be so critical of LaBeouf. Also as someone already mentioned Ford bashes CGI heavy movies here:

Harrison Ford criticises modern action films' CGI reliance | Film & TV News | NME.COM

So in a roundabout way he is criticizing the last Indie movie as well and the last three Star Wars movies. At least LaBeouf didn't beat around the bush.
​

 

[Colin Droidmilk]

"Harrison Ford criticises modern action films' CGI reliance 'Star Wars' veteran believes effects make films 'soulless'

Harrison Ford has laid into modern action films for relying too heavily on CGI effects. Ford made his name with roles in the Star Wars and Indiana Jones films, but he says that the reliance on digital techniques has served to alienate audiences in recent years.

He told the Los Angeles Times: "I think what a lot of action movies lose these days, especially the ones that deal with fantasy, is you stop caring at some point because you’ve lost human scale. With the CGI, suddenly there’s a thousand enemies instead of six - the army goes off into the horizon. You don't need that."

Ford continued: "That's something that’s constantly happening, and it makes these movies like video games and that’s a soulless enterprise. I don't have time for that."

(ironic tone) How too, too negative of him. He's as bad as Robert Redford who also describes modern movies as cartoons and video games. What miserable rotters, to be popping everyone's balloons in this way.

 

[Capn_Jack_Savvy]

bottom line: He may not be wrong, but it's still stupid from a business perspective to say it.

+999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999

 

[niennumb1]

I'm sure actors have a hell of a time getting along with Directors when the actors see something they don't think it right, but are forced to do it anyway.

I always remember watching the 12 Monkeys featurette with Bruce Willis making a ruckus about Terry wanting Willis to do one thing, but he was apprehensive about it saying he didn't think something should be done like that. In the end he said something like, "Alright... I'll do it. I don't agree with it, but i'll do it."

I'm sure there are actors who do work very hard beyond what's written to have input and make it better, but ultimately it's the stupid people who write the checks who have that final say because they just want what's gonna make them bucks. I think the days of great films are far and few anymore. Hollywood pumps out so much crap every year and there's very few films I can say were memorable ones I'd carry with me for years.

I say it's great if everyone involved with the movie has an opinion. At least if the Director or Producers won't listen, then at least they could side with what the people also think. Maybe it will send a better message to listen a little bit.

And as far as Shia or Harrison Ford is concerned, they've already been paid. Already did the job. I don't think it's necessarily a bad thing to comment on your own work. I sure as hell hate putting my name on something I'd be ashamed of, and that has happened before because something I envisioned one way was ruined by the higher ups that wanted the end product done another way and didn't feel as strongly for it after all said and done. And I always will say if I was happy with it or not (IF ASKED). That's my work and reputation on the line and I won't simply support something just to make someone else
look better while others are saying negative things about me in my decisions because someone else ordered me to do it that way. (If that makes sense?)

As another note though I wouldn't be a jerk about it and would try to say it as constructively as possible. On that end of things perhaps the actors could maybe use more tact in.

There was one time though (it was a bit gutsy to respond with) I was working on a project and they were looking it over. I know my opinion doesn't really matter much to them, and the CEO asked me in a meeting with a few others, "I dunno... What do you think about it?" I sat back, smiled and simply said, "It doesn't really matter what I think because it's ultimately your decision whether you're happy with it or not." He laughed and said, "That is true."

 

[dualedge]

Yeah, I'm no Shia Lebeouf fan at all but when he criticized Indy 4, he took responsibility for his own work. I never got the feeling he was slamming Spielberg. He's never shown any disrespect for Spielberg that I've read.

I think Ford is right in that you need to support your movie but I also don't think it's really classy to call your co-star a ****ing idiot when they do something you don't agree with. You also don't have to falsely praise a movie for the rest of your life either just because you acted in it.

 

[Solo4114]

"OPTIMAAAAAAAAAAAS!!!!"

"BUMBLEBAAEEEEE"

And my favorite:
"NO NO NO NONONONONONO!!!!"
YouTube - ‪Shia LaBeouf in "No No No NOo" video‬‏

....sorry. Wrong film.

Hey at least the guy has the balls to say the movie didn't turn out the best it could have. If there were more people willing to speak up in the industry maybe we would see some better quality movies.

Ford bashed the Star Wars movies quite a bit in the eighties and nineties so maybe he should not be so critical of LaBeouf. Also as someone already mentioned Ford bashes CGI heavy movies here:

Harrison Ford criticises modern action films' CGI reliance | Film & TV News | NME.COM

So in a roundabout way he is criticizing the last Indie movie as well and the last three Star Wars movies. At least LaBeouf didn't beat around the bush.
​

Again, I think it's a question of timing. Ford might have bashed the films, but not until several years after they'd been made and were already solidly established and basically untouchable. That's a far cry from criticizing even YOURSELF when you're still waiting to get the money from DVD sales or doing press junkets to promote the film or whathaveyou.

Yeah, I'm no Shia Lebeouf fan at all but when he criticized Indy 4, he took responsibility for his own work. I never got the feeling he was slamming Spielberg. He's never shown any disrespect for Spielberg that I've read.

I think Ford is right in that you need to support your movie but I also don't think it's really classy to call your co-star a ****ing idiot when they do something you don't agree with. You also don't have to falsely praise a movie for the rest of your life either just because you acted in it.

I think he's being blunt, but he's right. Shia's being an idiot by taking this approach. Why? Simple. He'll get labeled as "difficult." Used to be that you would be labeled "difficult" if you were obnoxious or habitually incapacitated (See also, Lindsay Lohan) on set. But I could see where "difficult" now extends to someone who is not sufficiently positive or enthusiastic in their marketing duties. Part of your job now is about getting out there and selling the movie. If you end up crapping on your film, or on previous films in the same franchise, or talking about how tired you are of doing this junk, why would someone hire you? You aren't good at your job, which, as I said, includes putting on your happy face and ACTING like the film is good, even if it sucks.


Now, all that said, I think that the characterization of his comments has been somewhat inaccurate. He's nowhere near as critical of Spielberg or anyone else as he is of himself. I expect that Ford was simply being asked a question like "So, do you think that Shia's recent negative comments about the film were a good move?" Which prompts his memorable response.

And as I said, he's still right. It's harsh, but he's right. You don't bite the hand that feeds you, especially not as a starting actor. What, you think Ford loved K-19:The Widowmaker or Hollywood Homicide? I don't recall him saying what a piece of garbage either was, though, and certainly not immediately after it was released. Nor did he say "You know, I'm just doing these larger scale films to pay the bills."

Also, bear in mind that even if Shia is not directly bad-mouthing his latest film, if he's badmouthing prior films in the series, or even just the genre of which his current release is a member....yeah, that's pretty dumb. So, maybe he didn't bash TF3, but if he goes out and says "You know, I hate these blockbuster popcorn films. They're incredibly stupid and usually poorly done. I just do 'em for the money" and he's saying this JUST as his latest blockbuster is being released....what kind of advertising is that? Why would you hire him in the future? Wait a few years and then talk about how you want to go do other types of films. Or say "Oh, it was a BLAST to make! And such a fun film. Folks are gonna love it. But it's exhausting, too, and at this point I'm ready to try some other things. You know, smaller films." That, at least, puts a positive spin on your current work while also signaling that you're moving on.

 

[ShadowX81]

So personal beliefs are not as important as how successful you are?

This used to be a trait we looked down on people for. Calling them "sellouts" or "tools". Im honestly morally appalled at the people who are saying a career perspective is the best way to look at this. Like, im actually disturbed by it.