Communicating openly through our screens can be really enlightening, but those people who prefer insulting or just hating another for political or whatever reasons ruin the experience. In my case, I keep hearing from the haters the word “old” thrown my way, i.e. – “You’re just old and over the hill and washed up” or “I’m unfollowing you” or “You voted for Trump, you should be ashamed” or “How much is Putin paying you?”, etc. There’s no end to hate, and it doesn’t get us anywhere. After several years, I’m beginning to think that USAID or NED (National Endowment for Democracy) or one of these George Soros fronts working for the Government pays a group of pinheads, who I assume are human beings – maybe they’re bots – to post these reminders of ugliness with the intention of soiling my memory and driving away meaningful conversation. But the same verbiage, year after year – that gets old.
For the record –
1. Yes, I guess I’m old. I’m 78 and slowing down. I do less, but I enjoy it more. I still like meeting people and seeing friends more than ever –
2. I did not vote in ’16, ’20, or ’24 for your bête noire, ‘the orange man.’ I voted for RFK Jr. on the California ballot, although he told us not to throw away our votes in a swing state. California is hardly a swing state – and hardly matters, as the election is called way before California or Hawaii (haha) even closes. Some democracy.
3. And, for that matter, here’s a bunch of old people films I’ve quite enjoyed recently.
a. “The Leisure Seeker” (2017) with Hellen Mirren and Donald Sutherland. A wonderful and wise journey across America with two great actors.
b. “A Walk in the Woods” (2015). Same formula with Redford and Nolte. Almost as good.
c. “Youth” (2015) with Michael Caine and Harvey Keitel, Jane Fonda, Rachel Weisz. A classic from Paolo Sorrentino. Caine, brilliant. Keitel, shocking. The movie, incredible -- to be watched more than twice and with a stunning aria from the Korean soprano Sumi Jo at the close.
d. “The Rewrite,” which I missed in 2014 and my son brought to my attention. A charming Hugh Grant, better than ever, reverses the fate of his last years.
I’d love to see more “old” stories, if any of you have favorites.
4. As to my being Mr. Putin’s “boy,” anyone who knows my work understands I’ve always been independent in my films since I made my reputation in 1986 with “Platoon,” and this includes the documentaries, such as “Untold History” and “Putin Interviews.” No one has ever owned me or told me what to think, and I have enough saved up to make it to my grave without having to take money from anyone, especially not the “dictators” I’m supposed to be working for. Each subject has merited my historical curiosity.
And as to Mr. Putin, who has led his country now for some 25 years, I respect him because I respect Russia. And I believe strongly in its right to defend itself, insofar as it’s obvious that our Western warmongers like the Biden gang and NATO and the neocons all over everywhere believe in war and have been pecking away at the Russian homeland for decades now, and brought us to the very edge of world war for no reason other than their unyielding paranoia that Russia wants to take over the world that we want to take over. Poisonous paradox.
As a matter of fact, I’m going to Russia with a small group, including ex-CIA expert on Russia Ray McGovern, on May 9th to honor the 80th anniversary of their enormous sacrifice in defeating the forces of fascism in WWII. The world owes them a great debt, and distorting that history is probably the worst propaganda the United States and NATO have created in their hunger to destroy.
I was a soldier once, let me remind you, who served my country honorably in one of its most useless wars and learned, from the suffering I saw, the meaning of peace. And I’ll vote for peace always and against anyone, including Messrs. Trump, Biden, Bush, and Ms. Clinton – those who think our role in the world is to dominate it and impede or hurt any other country that’s seeking prosperity for its citizenry and contributing to this world with new technology, etc. – and that includes China, Russia, and Iran, who, I keep repeating like a frustrated schoolmaster, are not our natural enemies. Reexamine your prejudices and deepen your history. I will always fight for peace and understanding until the day I die.