Shia LaBeouf is like a cinematic pinata – everybody takes a whack at him.
He’s too young, too rich, too famous and too lucky with his film choices.
Who wouldn’t want a retirement fund called the “Transformers” franchise?
But the actor’s recent comments concerning “Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull” are so honest it’s a wonder they came out of his mouth.
Or any actor’s mouth, for that matter.
Here’s LaBeouf talking about the “Indiana Jones” sequel during a press chat at Cannes (hat tip: SlashFilm:
“I think the audience is pretty intelligent. I think they know when you’ve made … . And I think if you don’t acknowledge it, then why do they trust you the next time you’re promoting a movie.” LaBeouf went on to say he wasn’t the only star on the film who felt that way. “We [Harrison Ford and LaBeouf] had major discussions. He wasn’t happy with it either. Look, the movie could have been updated. There was a reason it wasn’t universally accepted.”
LaBeouf even called out “Indy” director Steven Spielberg for blame, acknowledging his comments could have repercussions:
“I’ll probably get a call. But he needs to hear this. I love him. I love Steven. I have a relationship with Steven that supersedes our business work. And believe me, I talk to him often enough to know that I’m not out of line. And I would never disrespect the man. I think he’s a genius, and he’s given me my whole life. He’s done so much great work that there’s no need for him to feel vulnerable about one film. But when you drop the ball you drop the ball.”
So … a 20-something actor has the cojones to call “Indy” out, and legends like Spielberg and Ford can’t be bothered to do the same?
Frankly, I’m suddenly worried about LaBeouf. He’s come off like a loose cannon before in interviews, and even the hottest actors have to be very careful about the words they say in Hollywood.
If his next few films fail, studios might not be so eager to hire him given his propensity for honest chatter.
It’s still heartening to here the people behind the lethargic “Indy” sequel knew what audiences knew – we’d been had. And they knew it.
(Photo: Shia LaBeouf and Harrison Ford teamed up for the tepid “Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull” sequel. Paramount Pictures)
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{ 13 comments… read them below or add one }
On the one hand it’s refreshing to hear someone acknowledge a bomb, but I’m also a firm believer in not publically crapping on the people who employ you, at best it’s unprofessional.
I would also add that if he or Ford thought the script was bad they shouldn’t have done the film. They’re both big enough stars at this point they could have held out for more rewrites.
Good points, all. I don’t think these comments serve him well professionally. But as a movie fan I’m so glad to hear someone associated with “Indy 4″ stop pretending it was a good film.
And couldn’t he have warned us before all the tickets were counted? Guess that’s too much to ask.
I’m guessing he’ll be getting a phone call from Mr. Spielberg’s assistant shortly.
I guess I’m one of the few people on the planet who liked “Indy 4,” despite a few flaws. But that’s a cross i have to bear.
Anyhoo, I just can’t seem to like this kid; not because of the Transformer movies, but in all the interviews I’ve read, he comes off as a bitter cocky brat who takes himself way too seriously.
Shia should stop biting the hands that feed him, especially Spielberg’s.
I’ve enjoyed his honesty in interviews before (I’m paraphrasing): “Hey, we’re actors – of course we’re f*cked-up” and “I’m honestly in it for the money”. But, c’mon – as mediocre as Indy 4 was, it was tremendously more watchable and enjoyable than the travesty that was Trans 2 (and I LOVED Trans 1).
God forbid he’s critical of a film he also happened to be in and on top of that panned his own performance! He’s a regualr rabble rouser and a threat to the capitalist system!
This is what’s called controversy?
Sawyer – it’s petty stuff on the surface, but actors rarely trash their own work unless it’s uber safe to do so – Clooney loves to mock his work in “Batman and Robin” now that his film career is flying high), and it’s even more uncommon for a young actor to call out an icon like Spielberg.
I saw an interview with lebouf when he did the project greenlight movie (I forget) and he said basically that at 15, with all his time already on TV that he felt awkward as the old hand., on the set. He did it honestly in a way that said everyone was fumbling and he knew it but still trusted the project.
When you are working with someone like spielberg, and when someone like spielberg says “trust me, it will turn out fine.” You trust him and believe that the final product will turn out fine. Until you see the finished film, and realize “Nope! It’s a piece of crap, a truly beautiful piece of crap, but it’s still a piece of crap.”
As for unprofessional, producers and directors shouldn’t send people out to lie about something. They should have let them abstain, or at least limit their exposure to press. Though I agree, the stars are part of what sells a picture, and lebouf could have talked around it, with vague statements like “It will be an enjoyable experience for most anyone who sees it.” (and that would be true, cuz it was, despite some of the ridiculous stuff in it.)
I appreciate the honesty (and cajones calling out Spielberg — though the post above about holding out for a better script still applies), but I also wish Shia would consider taking a role which would take advantage of the acting chops hinted at one of his earliest roles, Tru Confessions. I know, I know, a made-for-Disney flick, but he pulled off a mentally challenged character like no actor I’ve seen since DiCaprio’s tour de force in Gilbert Grape. Hmmm, better to burn out than continue to take crappy roles?
But why should we trust him NOW for acknowledging, years LATER, that Indy 4 sucked?
Tell me your NEW movie sucks, BEFORE I spend money and time on it, and then maybe I’ll trust you the next time you tell me your new movie is good.
Shia needs to go back and do another movie with the heart and creativity of “Holes”. The problem is that he was labeled as a wunderkind and immediately tried to be the next Tom Hanks. You can’t be the next Tom Hanks if your co-star is a no-talent accessory like Megan Fox, by the way.
Just a guess, but actors are probably contractually forbidden to trash their movies in the first X weeks of their release.
Well, since Megan Fox got bounced from the Transformers 3 movie (probably because she compared Micheal Bay to Hitler) maybe Shia will choose his remarks more carefully from now on.
I think he collected cash, which he SHOULD have done.
All Art professions are minimal in compensation in general, so you take what you get when you can.
I talked with bro about this (he is a bit of a videophile) and I explained that I don’t hold making made money against athletes (who’s career could end tomorrow) or singers who make mad money, because their careers could end tomorrow (by being a 1 hit wonder) or even artists (because they are dependent on exposure) Nor on Actors, I DO! hold it against certain actors who bankrupt productions even though they have already made a crapton of money.
Downey and Cheadle are impressive for there acceptance of points to compensate for up front pay. But too many are too demanding.
I think it is only reasonable that he collect the cash of blockbusters, so that he can (4 years later) become his own person.
Isn’t that EXACTLY why we wageslave ourselves to things we don’t trust or believe in.