Hollywood 'inspired US attacks' (Robert Altman has blamed Hollywood for attack)

BBC ^ | 10/17/2001 | BBC

[TLBSHOW]

Hollywood 'inspired US attacks'

Veteran film director Robert Altman has blamed Hollywood for "inspiring" the recent attacks on the US.

"Nobody would have thought to commit an atrocity like that unless they'd seen it in a movie," said Altman, who also directed MASH and The Player.

Violent blockbusters "taught them how to do it" and Hollywood must now stop showing mass destruction in movies, he said.

We created this atmosphere and taught them how to do it

Robert Altman "The movies set the pattern, and these people have copied the movies," added Altman, who is preparing to release Gosford Park, a 1930s murder mystery set in aristocratic England.

The 76-year-old Oscar-nominated director said violent action films with big explosions - usually targeted at young men - amount to training films for such bold attacks.

"How dare we continue to show this kind of mass destruction in movies?

"I just believe we created this atmosphere and taught them how to do it," he said.

A number of Hollywood productions have been changed, put back or scrapped since 11 September because of their similarities to events in America. But that has been because film studios think the subject matter is now inappropriate - and not because they do not want to inspire further attacks.

'Grown-up films'

Altman hoped that the TV footage of the attacks and their aftermath will now make audiences prefer more thoughtful, character-based films. "Maybe there's a chance to get back to... grown-up films - anything that uses humour and dramatic values to deal with human emotions and gets down to what people are to people," he said.

Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta Jones have a home in Manhattan

Meanwhile, one of Hollywood's biggest stars, Michael Douglas, has urged Americans to return to air travel after the hijack bombings.

"We are all nervous but I think you have to live your life," the actor said after flying from New York to Scotland to take part in a pro-am golf tournament.

Douglas, star of Wall Street, Basic Instinct and Traffic, has a home in Manhattan and was in the city at the time of the attacks. "We encouraged everybody at that time to go to New York because they lost a lot of business," he told STV television. "Hopefully things will pick up, but people have just got to get on with it. You can't live in fear."

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[ken5050]

Why not blame Tom Clancy?

[Darth Reagan]

Altman is complaining because his ponderous and pretentious movies, er, um, "films" are boring and make no money. Spend 2 hours with his McCabe and Mrs. Miller and you'll be longing to watch the horrid Last Action Hero or Hudson Hawk.

[Behind Liberal Lines]

By this logic, the film "M*A*S*H" may have inspired doctors to be sexually harassing alcoholics.

Another Hollywood has-been desperately trying to retain long lost relevance.

[americaprd]

Hey, I happened to like Hudson Hawk. Although I would definitely not be happy if I paid to see it in the theaters, it was fine on video. Great soundtrack too.

[Clemenza]

My mother once said that if Tom Clancy would have failed as a writer, he would have become a terrorist.

[TKEman]

Violent blockbusters "taught them how to do it" and Hollywood must now stop showing mass destruction in movies, he said.

Good luck getting this accomplished.

[nattyman]

It seems to me, very unlikely that Ben Laden and his evil cohorts are stopping by Blockbuster on their way to their "Death to America" meetings to get new ideas on how to destroy us. I wouldn't be surprised if he hasn't even seen a movie in 20 years. Evil men do not need Hollywood to devise their wicked schemes, it comes natural. This is just another example of Hollywoods delusions of grandeur.

[Cinnamon Girl]

This is interesting from a guy who viewed the election of President Bush as a threat to his way of life.

[ken5050]

Remember, before he became a writer..he sold insurance.....what's interesting about all the folks wwho write how current events mirror Clancy's story lines, they always forget to say that he always tells us how to win the damm wars....

[Tai_Chung]

Why this obsession with blaming the victim?

Would they blame a rape victim for causing a rape?

[Clinton's a rapist]

Exactamundo. BTW, Robert Altman is a big Hillary enabler, so he has more than his share of blame for the current situation. Memo to Robert Altman: People have been killing each other in huge numbers since the year dot. When you have a free moment, go to the public library and check out the History section. You will be surprised and amazed.

[Clemenza]

Agree about McCabe, but Altman has produced a few decent films (M*A*S*H, Long Goodbye, Nashville, The Player, Cookie's Fortune). Nevertheless, I will never forgive him for directing Popeye.

Last Action Hero? ED WOOD'S movies were better than ANYTHING THE MORON SCHWARTZENEGRO has ever done. Ahh-nold is the WORST ACTOR IN HISTORY!!! He is also a RINO and Letch to boot.

[PoorMuttly]

Hollywood is market-driven, and mercenary. It is also self-serving, so will encourage any trend it thinks it can make money off of....evidently, no matter how unwise/low. If people do not consider such murderous and vile films as entertainment...they will eventually catch up and make something else. Don't buy their cookies, and they'll sell something else. They don't care. It is up to us to.

[GenXFreedomFighter]

The lack of "grown-up" movies is something I've been complaining about for a long time. Movies SUCK these days. I'm not a prude, but I get sick of over-the-top special effects, bigger-and-bigger explosions, endless T&A, and all the colorless pretty-boy cream puffs who pass for real men (Ben Affleck, Matt Damon, that's you). They're all flash, no character.

I'm always channel-surfing for an old war movie starring John Wayne or a spaghetti western starring Clint Eastwood. Their characters were real men (Ask Peggy Noonan what that means). These movies were made when characters were more fully developed. And you had to think a little bit to see the character's POV. Thinking is highly discouraged these days in America.

Roger Altman is right to point this out, and I hope Hollywood moves in the direction he advocates. M*A*S*H* is an enduring success because Altman thought outside the box, and Hollywood should be following his lead.

[GenXFreedomFighter]

Oh, by the way, Altman is kidding himself if he thinks Hollywood taught terrorists how to be terrorists. Guess I just wanted to get up on my soapbox about the sucky movies of today.

[Darth Reagan]

Well, I certainly hope Altman learned a little something about pacing a movie, he surely didn't show it in McCabe, M*A*S*H (which I think is hugely overrated) and The Player.

Arnold isn't a very good actor, but Terminator, Terminator 2 and Total Recall were quite enjoyable.

[Darth Reagan]

You might enjoy Three Kings,Gladiator or Braveheart. And to really shock yourself, check out any Kevin Smith picture.

[RasterMaster]

If you want someone to blame....check for a Democrap connection! I beleive they have been trying to make things tough for Bush to get re-elected. From the start, they have worked against him, regardless of what Daschle says in front of the camera. Liberals are more militant these days after their hero Al Gwhore lost last November. The first congressman to get the anthrax was Daschle. What was he talking about the next day? Not ANTHRAX...ripping republicans on Tax cuts and promoting more of his socialist pet-projects.

[NittanyLion]

Yeah right. Only Hollywood producers are smart enough to think up something like this. These idiots think they're the center of the universe and all other events somehow relate to or derive from their lives.