Toronto: Hollywood Won't Touch Syria Crisis

The Hollywood Reporter ^ | September 8, 2013 | Stuart Kemp

[2ndDivisionVet]

As two dramas about the conflict vie for attention at TIFF, normally outspoken actors and filmmakers on hand for the fest remain conspicuously mum on the subject.

The conflict in Syria and the increasing likelihood of Western involvement is occupying hearts and minds at this year’s festival. Still, when it comes to Hollywood voices publicly weighing in on the debate over U.S. intervention in the territory, the silence has been deafening.

A number of high-profile Hollywood names on hand for the festival, who’ve been outspoken in the past on U.S. military intervention, have been uncharacteristically quiet on the issue. THR reached out to more than a dozen, including Susan Sarandon, Penn Jillette, Josh Brolin and Tim Robbins, all of whom were unavailable for comment. One TIFF attendee contacted by THR was ready to comment until being cautioned against it by his film’s distributor.

Not everyone is mum on the subject, however. Syrian auteur Mohamad Malas, whose Ladder to Damascus had its world premiere at TIFF on Sunday, tells THR he feels it’s up to the Syrian people alone to decide the fate of the country, stressing that his movie does not address such issues. “I’m against intervention in the situation, but I am for intervention by the Syrian people, who are the only ones to have the right to change the situation,” says Malas. He adds that when it comes to Hollywood’s take on the subject, “all opinions are welcome” but underlines that the questions over Syria are incredibly thorny....

[SteelTrap]

Hollywood is silent because they are busy making quality family friendly shows that respect personal liberty, the rule of law and govt operated under the principal of consent of the governed.

We all knew that.

[Don Corleone]

And the reason as stated by Asner is RACIST!!!!

[Windflier]

"...Susan Sarandon, Penn Jillette, Josh Brolin and Tim Robbins, all of whom were unavailable for comment."

Well, isn't that special? If a Republican President were doing the exact same things as Obama in this situation, wild horses couldn't hold them back from screaming in the media.

Frikken hypocrites, every one.

[dandiegirl]

Yes, if it were a black Republican there would be no fear of being called a racist. They would be calling him every vile racist name they could come up with.

[Windflier]

if it were a black Republican there would be no fear of being called a racist. They would be calling him every vile racist name they could come up with.

Absolutely. Pigmentation is only protection for politically correct Democrats and other assorted criminals and miscreants.

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks 2ndDivisionVet.

...at T[oronto]I[nternational]F[ilm]F[estival], normally outspoken actors and filmmakers on hand for the fest remain conspicuously mum... the silence has been deafening... [The Hollywood Reporter] reached out to more than a dozen, including Susan Sarandon, Penn Jillette, Josh Brolin and Tim Robbins, all of whom were unavailable for comment. One TIFF attendee contacted by THR was ready to comment until being cautioned against it by his film’s distributor...>

Funny that the loudmouthed dimwit Jim Carrey hasn't tweeted one way or the other about this.

[1010RD]

Penn Jillette, fearless Penn Jillette silent? I thought he was the vulgar loud mouth and Teller the silent one.