Denzel Washington and Meryl Streep Do Some Bible Bumping

Newsmax | July 27th, 2004

[missyme]

Tinseltown is at it again -- changing classic plots to make them P.C., that is.

In the remake of "The Manchurian Candidate," rather than using communism as the source of villainy as in the 1962 original, a multinational conglomerate called "Manchurian Global" is used.

Angela Lansbury, who was nominated for an Academy Award in the original, made clear her feelings about the remake. She has said: "I'm so unhappy. I'm so sorry they had to mess with something that was so perfect."

Director Jonathan Demme and two of the stars of the retooled version, Denzel Washington and Meryl Streep, were out promoting the flick on "Dateline NBC."

Demme told interviewer Katie Couric that the story line of the film "suggests that the multinational corporations that profit on war may just be a huge ingredient of a great global threat today."

Politicizing things further, he said, "Now with the war in Iraq going on, we're reading about the misadventures of some of these multinational corporations. So I don't think we're making anything up in our movie."

Couric seemed taken aback by the anti-corporate rhetoric from this wealthy representative of corporate Hollywood. She asked whether the idea hadn't been "taken to the extreme."

In another interesting turn, she brought up Streep's comments of late about the president's faith, in which the actress says, "Through the shock and awe, I wondered which of the megaton bombs Jesus, our president's personal savior, would have personally dropped on the sleeping families in Baghdad."

This prompted a fascinating exchange between Streep and Washington regarding, of all things, Scripture.

Streep brought up the following sayings and teachings of Jesus Christ: "'If a man smite thee on the cheek, let you turn the other that he may smite it also.' And He says, 'He who lives by the sword dies by the sword.' And He says, 'Love thine enemy.' Jesus could have raised an army against the people that persecuted him. He didn't. So that's what I was pointing out in my speech, and ... I couldn't imagine how Jesus would vote. Jesus was the Prince of Peace. Would the Prince of Peace vote for a war president?"

Washington responded by saying: "It's open to interpretation. Jesus also went into the temple and kicked everybody out."

There was further debate between the two about money, with the multimillionaire Streep saying, "Money's bad," and Washington noting that "we all make money. So does that make us bad? Maybe he's talking about us?"

The Left Coast Report

[prion]

Good heavens! Is Denzel a righty? He's certainly making sense here...

[Zavien Doombringer]

HAHAHAHA

These two either were asleep in Sunday school, or they really never read the Bible.

Not once did Jesus say war was bad, nor did he say it was good. But God does smite his enemies by using armies of the earth.

God isn't the warm fuzzie God people want him to be. Jesus is the Prince of Peace, the only peace you will get is by following him into heaven, not by following him on the earth.

[missyme]

Exactly,
Just like the homosexual agenda, they want to create GOD as just a love GOD he does not scold or punish..he creates no rules just love and that's it.... We are bringing back the PAGANS of long ago, they do not worship the GOD of Israel the GOD who created the universe...

[sheik yerbouty]

Denzel's father is a minister. He has consistently eshewed some of Hollwood's onscreen grabastics, preferring to keep his dignity.

[SevenofNine]

I might see this movie YEAH ON DVD

Rack Jessica Fletcher comments on there is no new script in Hollywood they have do movie that Frank Sinatra made famous over 35 years ago HELLO

[Paradox]

You can catch the whole interview Here. I don't know if he is a righty, I assumed he was left of center, but he sounds like the kind of guy I could get along with either way. He debates Meryl a little bit about what Jesus said, and then about the war, he says what he is concerned about is that the soldiers coming home get the support they need. My opinion of him has increased a bit.

[Poohbah]

Denzel Washington and Meryl Streep Do Some Bible Bumping

And, no doubt, they do some beeber stuning, too.

[Zavien Doombringer]

God is the God of love, but he is also a JUST God and will not tolerate sin.

Just as a father loves his son/daughter, he will punish them for disobedience. Those that do not punish do not love thier offspring.

God will punish those that refuse His Commandments and His son, Jesus.

Sorry to see many people remaining ignorant and trying to talk like they know what the Bible says.

God will not be mocked.

[nobdysfool]

Well, if Streep thinks maney is bad, she should get rid of hers as quickly as possible. I'll volunteer to relieve her of the heavy burden...

[atomicpossum]

Streep brought up the following sayings and teachings of Jesus Christ: "'If a man smite thee on the cheek, let you turn the other that he may smite it also.' And He says, 'He who lives by the sword dies by the sword.' And He says, 'Love thine enemy.' Jesus could have raised an army against the people that persecuted him. He didn't. So that's what I was pointing out in my speech, and ... I couldn't imagine how Jesus would vote. Jesus was the Prince of Peace. Would the Prince of Peace vote for a war president?"

So Frau Streeeeeep would prefer a President who governs from the Bible? No, thought not.

Of course, if Frau Streeeeeeep ever cracked the Good Book for anything other than looking for political potshots, she might understand that these are counsels for personal ways of living. It is not a tract for the administration of state, it advises one on how to live one's own life.

Actually, scripture regarding the nature of service and stewardship would be more what she is looking for--though that wouldn't suit her purposes (and even Satan can quote scripture for his own purposes, can't he?).

[KellyAdmirer]

Denzel gave better retorts than about 98% of the regular conservative commentators I've seen on the news programs. Clear, concise, to the point, no wandering off the reservation, no interpolations, no fuzzy language or logic. Ah, were it always the case....

[BallyBill]

Best review I read about this movie was one simple word:
WHY?

[50sDad]

Jesus is the Prince of Peace, the only peace you will get is by following him into heaven, not by following him on the earth.

He will also come with a sword to compleately and totally defeat Evil on the earth, separating goats from sheep, and casting the Evil One into the lake of everlasting fire. Gog and Magog, the opposite forces of the Earth, will line up for a final battle. I am beginning to suspect where the idological battlelines will be drawn.

I was given by God two cheeks. Christ, quite rightly, advises me that if an enemy strikes one of them, I should turn the other one. I should show mercy where I can to show what God's mercy is.

Sadly, while I have two cheeks, providing me an easy out when one is no more than struck, I only have one throat. If I were to allow an enemy to slit that, I would be put beyond this world, and would never be able to witness to others again about God's mercy, or Christ's gift. I would also no longer be able to protect my family.

I will gladly offer a bruised cheek up for another unkind slap. But the evil, posessed and corrupt faux-Muslim who comes for my throat is going to get a bullet in the brain before he can hurt my family. Turning the other cheek does not mean exposing the throats of your families to people whom believe that only my destruction will be right in the eyes of "Allah".

DISCLAIMER: There are, in fact, several Muslims who don't wish compleate and total destruction on America and it's people, and whom are certainly really nice fellows. The above statements are not to imply, generally or specifically, that all head-scarf wearing peoples are bloodthirsty or dupicitous. No one should be placed in interrment camps. No one should be buried up to the neck in pigfat. No harm should befall those who take innocent holiday snaps of major U.S. mitary installations, or water works or airplaines. That being said, we should keep a weather eye on Arabic young men in this country, especially those who will stand off to the side in the aftermath of 9-11 and say absolutely nothing about the murder of 3000 innocent Americans who were simply going to work to feed their families being an Evil, bad thing.

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

This remake is as bad as the Ocean's Eleven one. Nobody beats The Chairman Frank Sinatra.

[Poohbah]

In another interesting turn, she brought up Streep's comments of late about the president's faith, in which the actress says, "Through the shock and awe, I wondered which of the megaton bombs Jesus, our president's personal savior, would have personally dropped on the sleeping families in Baghdad."

There's a glass-bottomed crater where Baghdad used to be?

[CaptainK]

Denzel is a BIG TIME LEFTY. Just saw him on an interview encouraging the young to register to vote in order to stop the shenanigans that took place in Florida in 2000.

And don't forget his wining and dining of the murderer Hurricane Carter when he starred in Carter's fictionalized film biography.

[GSWarrior]

When will Demme Start Making Sense?

[rintense]

"suggests that the multinational corporations that profit on war may just be a huge ingredient of a great global threat today."

What about VP nominees who profit from war stock options???? And it ain't Dick Cheney!

[Mr. Mojo]

Streep's comments of late about the president's faith, in which the actress says, "Through the shock and awe, I wondered which of the megaton bombs Jesus, our president's personal savior, would have personally dropped on the sleeping families in Baghdad."

#1) We didn't drop any "megaton" bombs (equivalent to 1 million tons of TNT, and only deliverable in nuclear form).

#2) The bombs were dropped on military targets, not "the sleeping families of Baghdad."

[what's up]

That Hurricane thing was about as Marxist as you can get.

And which "misadventures" of corporations is he talking about? Haliburton? Give me a break.

And don't forget the Marxist movie he made about the health care system a couple of years ago..."John Q" or whatever it was called.

[TonyRo76]

Manchurian Global = AOL Time Warner, Oracle, Progressive Insurance, Berkshire Hathaway, Apple, Abercrombie & Fitch, ABCNNBCBS, Costco, whatever-the-hell company George Soros owns...and any other global monster firm with a pansy-a$$, America-hating pinko socialist weenie as the CEO!

[I still care]

Streep is obviously an illogical thinker. So she doesn't believe in a president conducting a war.

I would like to ask her name ONE president of the last century that didn't.

[O.C. - Old Cracker]

No, Denzel is no 'righty'. He referred to himself as an "ex-slave" in the same interview.

[BSunday]

Go Denzel !! One of the few true actors in Hollywood today.

[Mr. Mojo]

"Would the Prince of Peace vote for a war president?" - Streep

If (presumably Democrat) Steep is suggesting that she herself would never vote for a "war President" (like Bush), then I guess she also wouldn't have voted for Democrat Presidents Wilson (WWI), FDR (WW2), Truman (WW2 and Korea....and the President who authorized the dropping of the A-bombs on the "families" of Hiroshima and Nagasaki), LBJ (Vietnam), and Clinton (Kosovo.....a place where the U.S. dropped bombs on the "families" of countless Christian Serbs).

[newsgatherer]

bump

[Stag]

You know I caught this exchange...Denzel is not a righty from what I was gathering, but he was taking Streep to task on misquoting the scripture and using it to benefit her point of view.

Denzel brought up the point that he is worried how the soldiers are being received upon their return and how he is not hearing how they are being welcomed. Streep had no reply.

Streep also mentioned how Jesus said to turn the cheek and then turn the other cheek...basically justifying her position that our response to 9/11 was unjustified and hypocritical for the president who has a strong faith. What I wanted to ask, and of course Al-Katie did not ask is this...

OK Ms. Streep, you say we should have turned the cheek to the attacks, what should our response have been? What course of action would you recommend? What would you say to the families of the victims?

[Maria S]

"Good heavens! Is Denzel a righty? He's certainly making sense here..."


I saw just a little of this...Denzel Washington impressed me, frankly! Meryl started off on her "Jesus" rant, and he came right back at her. Basically, trying to "correct" her attempts to present the Bible and Jesus inaccurately. She finally backed off (sort of) and the Perkster took off on some other rant. I kind of got the impression that Mr. Washington was getting a little fed up with Streep's liberal line.

Just my impression.

[ClaireSolt]

Do you suppose that 18 UN resolutions over 10 years are anything like turniong the other cheek? Does she know that Jesus cast out demons, when necessary?

[Critter]

Yeah, she has a nice little compound (probably worth about 20 mil) that completely surrounds a nice little lake not too far from here. If money is that bad, she can donate a couple dozen acres and one of those houses to me.

[Constitution Day]

He referred to himself as an "ex-slave" in the same interview.

Yeah, I saw that & laughed out loud.

[pabianice]

This movie remake is quickly headed for the obscurity it deserves. What gets into people who think they can make a "better" version of a classic?

[joebuck]

"This movie remake is quickly headed for the obscurity it deserves. What gets into people who think they can make a "better" version of a classic?"

Roger that. But, you have to give Meryl Streep credit for guts. She is taking on a role that Angela Lansbury defined in one of the great acting jobs of all time. She is setting herself up for some unfavorable comparisons.

[happygrl]

Shut up and Act Denzel.

Don't make me put you on my List.

[Finalapproach29er]

Jesus did not come to bring peace to the Earth.

[Finalapproach29er]

Jewish woman (trying to) quote the New Testament?

Very strange. Is she converting?

[PISANO]

The leftists have ALWAYS believed that CAPTIALISM not COMMUNISM is the REAL enemy. This remake is their way of getting EVEN at an opportune moment in history!! While I like Denzel Washington, I will never watch this remake.

I agree with Angela Lansbury, when she asks, "WHY?"

[Armedanddangerous]

I have always like Denzel as an actor. Training Day, if you haven't seen it, is one of the best portrayals of a villian in film EVER.

If you haven't seen the film, I suggest you rent it on DVD instead of the edited TV versions. It is certainly worth your time if you like interesting villains.

[L.N. Smithee]

If (presumably Democrat) Streep is suggesting that she herself would never vote for a "war President" (like Bush), then I guess she also wouldn't have voted for Democrat Presidents Wilson (WWI), FDR (WW2), Truman (WW2 and Korea....and the President who authorized the dropping of the A-bombs on the "families" of Hiroshima and Nagasaki), LBJ (Vietnam), and Clinton (Kosovo.....a place where the U.S. dropped bombs on the "families" of countless Christian Serbs).

Exactly.

[TontoKowalski]

I agree with Angela Lansbury, when she asks, "WHY?"

Angela Lansbury was incredible in that movie. Did you know that she was about the same age as Frank Sinatra... yet she played a much older character. I remember a quote from Sinatra saying what a terrific actress she was.

She was the prototype for Hillary. It's funny to contrast that performance with the murder-solver... I don't even remember the name of show... it was pretty forgetable.

[L.N. Smithee]

So that's what I was pointing out in my speech, and ... I couldn't imagine how Jesus would vote. Jesus was the Prince of Peace. Would the Prince of Peace vote for a war president?"

Uh...yeah, right. You "couldn't imagine how Jesus would vote," but there you were, making that declaration at a Kerry fundraiser.

Jesus saved his most stinging denunciation to hypocrites. As someone who financially supports a man who insists that he will not hesitate to be a "war president" if America's 'cheek' is slapped again, how do you think he would have spoke with you, Meryl?

[canesnclones5]

Denzel is great, while he usually keeps his political beliefs to himself, he crushed Meryl Streep here. He also was supporting our troops by wanting to commend them when they got home, Denzel is a good man. And while he may not be conservative, he has made some conservative movies,
The Seige, Man on Fire, For Queen and Country, and others. He has made some liberal movies, but that's hollywood, personally Denzel is a man of faith and a good person, and a teriffic actor who knows when to keep his mouth shut. When Michael Moore went on his ignorant rant at the Academy Awards a few years ago and the hollywood communists began clapping, they showed a shot of Denzel sitting in their not applauding whatsoever, actually looking angry for what Michael Moore was saying. Denzel is the man.

[Fred Hayek]

Denzel Washington might not be a conservative, however he has demonstrated some intellectual honesty by refusing to get in step with some of the "foaming at the mouth" leftist rants. As for the "ex-slave" comment, I might give him a break here. Maybe meant "descendant of ex-slaves".

[twhitak]

He referred to himself as an "ex-slave" in the same interview.

I must say, Denzel looks pretty good for approximately 150 years of age...