September 12, 2007, - 9:21 am
Me in USA Today: Tommy Lee Jones v. Schlussel
By
I’m quoted in today’s USA Today in an in-depth article about Tommy Lee Jones and his new anti-troops movie, “In the Valley of Elah,” debuting Friday in some cities (nationwide, next week). The article appears on the front page of the Life section.
As I noted yesterday and previously, as murderous, drug-addicted, prostitute-patronizing thugs who torture wounded Iraqi civilians for fun and sport.
Here’s the quote from the USA Today piece by Anthony Breznican:
Tommy Lee Jones is so ready for a fight he doubts there’ll be much of one. . . .
The movie’s questions about Iraq are certain to provoke pro-war pundits and politicians, but mentioning that makes Jones even more defiant. . . .
“You have to be pretty narrow-minded to call (the movie) un-American or anti-American,” Jones says. . . .
A few war supporters have attacked the movie. Conservative columnist labeled it “Bin Laden cinema” and called for a boycott of the actors. . . .
Jones dismisses any backlash.
“The tactic of leading people into . . . a war that doesn’t make any sense by telling them they are under attack, and if they raise any objection they’re unpatriotic, is a very old tactic,” he says, his cowboy drawl a low rumble. “And it doesn’t intimidate me.”
Tommy Lee Jones–who has already made a and now makes this film defaming our troops who are fighting a war we are still in–is calling me “unpatriotic.”
Hello . . .?
Jones’ character in the movie is actually a good guy and a positive portrayal of a former soldier, but it’s not enough to redeem this horrible movie with a message that is very harmful and hateful to America as our troops continue to be in harms way in Iraq (and elsewhere). It’s sad that such a talented actor who is so believable in this role and most others is squandering it to defame our brave men who are serving in a warzone.
To recap from , the problems with “In the Valley of Elah” are legion:
* American soldiers–in this film, they’re in the Army–who serve in Iraq are portrayed as drug-crazed prostitute patrons.
* American soldiers who serve in Iraq are portrayed as murderers, not just of Iraqis, but of each other. Yes, they betray their fellow troops in the worst way imaginable. (But, in real life, the killer was mentally ill, not portrayed that way in this movie.)
* American soldiers who serve in Iraq are portrayed as vicious torturers of Iraqis for sport and fun, videotaping it all the while. We’re not talking about naked, hooded pyramids here. No, this stuff is worse. We see American soldiers’ videotapes of themselves pretending to play doctor with wounded, helpless Iraqi civilians. They ask them “where it hurts.” Then, they stick their fingers into the wounds to make the Iraqis writhe and scream in agony.
* American soldiers who serve in Iraq are portrayed as having zero respect for Iraqi civilians’ lives. We see footage they shot of themselves sticking silly or funny-faced stickers on dead Iraqis mangled bodies.
It is, indeed, as I said yesterday, “.”
Stay tuned for my complete review, to be posted Friday Morning (already written due to the Jewish Holiday).
Tags: America, Anthony Breznican, Army, Bin Laden cinema, Conservative columnist, Debbie Schlussel, In the Valley of Elah, Iraq, talented actor, the USA Today, Tommy Lee Jones, USA Today, Valley of Elah
Debbie you should know by now the quickest way to a 13″ golden statue is to make a movie that slams the troops, the war in Iraq, the Bush Admin, pro-illegal immigration…etc…etc..
RadicalRightWinger on September 12, 2007 at 10:53 am