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Surprised Ed Harris Was In This Anti-Communist Film

posted 11 years ago by verbusen
20 replies | jump to latest

Was anyone else surprised Ed Harris would appear in a film that condemns communism so much? I mean Ed Harris is as leftist as Sean Penn and Susan Sarandon. He must be taking any script he can get now. I mean I really enjoy the man's acting in many films I have watched with him but his politics offend me and here he is in a film that slams the politics he loves and often pushes in his films, weird.

[–] ProfessorFate 11 years ago

First, being a "leftist" doesn't mean he is a communist. Harris seems to be pretty liberal, but as far as I know he has never claimed to be a communist.

Second, I didn't get an anti-communist message from the film, more of an anti-Stalin message.

Third, he is an actor, which doesn't preclude him from taking roles or acting in films that don't completely agree with his politics. He also played Senator John McCain, but that doesn't mean he has become a conservative.

Fourth, Harris doesn't seem to be hurting for work. Along with the TV movie "Game Change" (in which he played McCain), he has appeared in 11 feature films in the past 5 years.

"Push the button, Max!"

[–] krl97a 10 years ago

Second, I didn't get an anti-communist message from the film, more of an anti-Stalin message.

It was definitely anti-communist. They did a brilliant job of weaving together incidents and experiences by various people in various countries that cast a harsh spotlight on communism, even showing the trashed Mongolian temple.

"IRENA
What happened here?

VOSS
The same as happened in Russia.
Churches closed, priests shot or
taken to camps, religion banned.
They came to my church, in Latvia.
Destroyed everything, declared it a 'museum'."

http://www.imsdb.com/scripts/Way-Back,-The.html

The montage of anti-communist struggle near the end went way beyond Stalin, through the entire Cold War.

Third, he is an actor, which doesn't preclude him from taking roles or acting in films that don't completely agree with his politics. He also played Senator John McCain, but that doesn't mean he has become a conservative.

But he played McCain in an anti-Palin hit job. It doesn't matter what character one plays, but rather the message of the movie, though I agree with your first sentence. Many actors see a good role as a good role.

That said, it's fair for someone to be a little surprised about Ed Harris starring in this movie, since, contrary to what some respondents say, the Hollywood left hasn't exactly been chomping at the bit to cast communism in an unfavorable light. During the Cold War their message was one of moral equivalence at best, with more emphasis on caricaturing and attacking anti-communists than communists. Since the Cold War's resolution exposed that much of the western left had been on the wrong side of history, the years since have mostly seen Hollywood quiet on the Cold War front, with a few notable exceptions. They're much more comfortable making movies about Nazis, US slavery, or trash fantasies about conservatives or businessmen murdering people.

I'm glad Ed Harris was cast in this movie. He and the others involved did a great job. We need more movies like this.

[–] robbevl-1 7 years ago

It was definitely anti-communist. They did a brilliant job of weaving together incidents and experiences by various people in various countries that cast a harsh spotlight on communism, even showing the trashed Mongolian temple.

"IRENA
What happened here?

VOSS
The same as happened in Russia.
Churches closed, priests shot or
taken to camps, religion banned.
They came to my church, in Latvia.
Destroyed everything, declared it a 'museum'."

http://www.imsdb.com/scripts/Way-Back,-The.html

The montage of anti-communist struggle near the end went way beyond Stalin, through the entire Cold War.

Well, if depicting reality is considered anticommunist these days... it's just what happened.

If it doesn't make Sovjet Russia look good, maybe that is because Sovjet Russia actually wasn't a nice place to be in at that time.

[–] Milo_Milosovic 11 years ago

Oh, dear. You do realise that there is a vast spectrum of "left-wing" politics with Stalinism at the extreme end. To label Ed Harris a communist is about as idiotic as calling Clint Eastwood a Nazi.

[–] Jakealope 11 years ago

The thread starter was exhibiting typical teabag black and white thinking

[–] foster1234 11 years ago

Thats about the dumbest thing I've heard since the OP

You don't have to stand tall, but you have to stand up!

[–] Jakealope 11 years ago

But funny that you had nothing to say to the OP, hmmmm

[–] foster1234 11 years ago

Cause there is always someone dumber, usually someone on the left

You don't have to stand tall, but you have to stand up!

[–] Jakealope 11 years ago

I am sure that I am a heck of smarter and better educated than some common dittohead like you. That is not much of a compliment to me though.

Nor am I a leftist. But to a bagger type, anyone who doesn't sound as stupid as he is is a leftist in his sparse little head.

So run along and listen to some more talk radio so you can come back and post more juvenile drivel to amuse me

[–] howie99 11 years ago

HUGE difference between being left wing and being communist. And HUGE difference between Stalism and true communism.

[–] hrhhrh 11 years ago

Not to Xtrian homeschoolers. Who also claim Jeebus had a baby dino as a pet. Lotsa stoopid going around.

[–] chilone 10 years ago

^^^^ This by someone that doesn't even spell his Homer Simpson lingo correctly lol!!

I don't love her.. She kicked me in the face!!

[–] fudgenuts101 10 years ago

You don't know much about history do you? Next time you call someone a "communist" I advise you to look up its definition first.

[–] worldsoblue 10 years ago

missed the boat everyone, he worked with the director before. why he picked it don't know, did a good job.

[–] spookyrat1 10 years ago

...here he is in a film that slams the politics he loves and often pushes in his films...

In what films does Ed Harris appear and push Stalinism? I'm truly fascinated.

[–] rgec-859-85598 9 years ago

Our American left and right wings don't translate on an international political level... you idiot. By your logic, if liberals in the US are communist sympathizers, then conservatives are basically facists, i.e. Nazis. Wait, maybe you're on to something here?

[–] chrissso 9 years ago

In your mind Russia under Stalin was Communist ... and Liberals like Ed Harris, Sean Penn and Susan Sarandon are Communists. That is impressive!

[–] The_Boxing_Cat 7 years ago

I am a registered Independent. I vote for what matters to me. If that means voting for someone one the left, so be it.
If I found myself in the position to mail a teabag to my Senator, I will do that, if it will benefit me and my family.

I don't understand why people get their knickers in a twist and attack others over politics! One must do their due diligence and vote accordingly.

I truly believe that it's not WHO you vote for, but WHAT you vote for.
The only downfall is not being able to vote in the

Primaries. But I'm not enslaved by this party or that party.

I get a lot of flack from friends/family when I don't vote for the party that I grew up with- I have learned to keep my mouth shut in order to maintain peace and refuse to discuss my political preferences.