What is it with Oliver Stone and radical politics south of the border? The writer-director who helped create the most famous Cuban gangster (with his script for Scarface) and cozied up to Fidel Castro in his documentary Commandante, is following up W. with another doc: a portrait of Venezuela’s controversial president Hugo Chavez, reports Variety.
Saying he wants to explore "the South American revolution," Stone has been spending time with Chavez, and the director was around when Chavez helped negotiate hostages from the militant Colombian FARC group. Stone knows from Colombia — as he told me for my new book Scarface Nation (plug, plug), he spent time there in the early ’80s, doing research that included hanging out with drug dealers and sampling their wares (snort, snort) before getting “stone cold sober” and writing Scarface in Paris.
But back to Chavez: Why is Stone so interested in a guy who’s been accused of corruption, a supposed champion of socialist democracy who’s been criticized for his own repressive tactics against his critics? What is it about Stone that makes him leap from a calm, even-handed project like his drama World Trade Center to W., a kind of editorial-cartoon of a biopic, to documentaries about some pretty hardcore revolutionaries?
If you say money, I say, c’mon, how much dough do you think he’ll actually rake in for a Chavez doc? If you say propagating a left-wing agenda, I say this Vietnam vet knows how to play the conservative-Hollywood-business game all too well to be a total lefty. Could it be that Stone just has an insatiable curiosity about current events and doesn’t want to squander the rest of his career trying to get financing to make whatever the next comic-book movie is in the pipeline? ("Oliver Stone’s Blue Beetle"? I don’t think so…) Admire him or hate him, you gotta admit, Stone charts his own course, and goes his own way. But like all pop culture, PopWatchers, the question is, how many of us will go with him?
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Make it an animated movie… seriously, I have no interest in this and I want to know why studios keep bankrolling this guy.
Chavez paid for this piece of propaganda. No one in his right mind will pay for this BS. Stone conveniently forgot to mention that Chavez put in prison his best friend, General Isaias Baduel, the one that saved his life and his presidency. Just like Castro, he betrayed those who supported him.
people always say this kind of thing “he put in prison his best friend, he betrayed those who supported him” about castro, che,… but when a f! politician uses his influence to help his friends, even if they are corrupt, criminals, assassins what is your position? “oh yeah, hes a good mate!” there’s no betrayal when you do the right thing. if you want to criticise these men there’s so much other things to say.
Now that’s any artist.
“knows how to play the conservative-Hollywood-business game”?!? C’mon, the business folks in H’wood are overwhelmingly on the left side, certainly culturally. And the ability to profit from capitalism doesn’t mean you don’t advocate policies to mess it up – look at George Soros. Finally, the ability to make an entertaining movie doesn’t make you a successful capitalist.
You say Stone “was around when Chavez helped negotiate hostages from the militant Colombian FARC group”? Huh, did you forget that just a little while later, they found links on FARC computers that showed Chavez was supporting the FARC?
[Big FAT raspberry at Oliver Stone and this "news story"!]
Let’s tell the truth.
The problem with Oliver Stone is that he thinks he’s Oliver Stone. The guy goes for bold subject matter and fails miserably.
World Trade Center and W. were TOO SOON and should have waited for atleast a decade or so after the event took place to let the subject matter permeate. Imagine how bad “JFK” would have been had it been made two years after he died? It would have sucked as much as WTC and W. He’s gonna make another disaster with a Chavez film.
Chavez and want he stands for is against everything that us americans stand for. This is a bad guy and for someone to hang out with him and make a movie of him i just cant fathom it. Mr. Stone has hit a new low.
Mr. Stone would not rake in the cash from the box office… but Chavez is certainly a very generous friend when he gets what he wants. And the only thing he wants more than power is media attention.
This is great! Chavez is an idiot with no idea how to lead and insatiable desire for power and attention. That’ll make for great entertainment. I only wish Stone could change from a doc to a movie starring Javier Bardem. Incidentally, Frontline already did a big doc-style episode on him recently.
What Stone knows, and this EW author clearly doesn’t…
Is that between 2000-2003, Chavez survived a military coup, economic sabotage through strikes, & countless EU approved elections.
When he finally got control of the economy in 2004, he reduced unemployment & poverty while increasing access to health & education.
That’s why Brazil’s Lula Da Silva calls Chavez the best President in Venezuela’s history.
By the way, that military coup against Chavez…it was cheered on by the American government. The NY Times & Washington Post wrote editorials calling it a victory for democracy.
America desperately needs this movie.
What Paul escobar and Stone may not know, is what life is like in Venezuela. Its quite easy to make comments on something we may read about and disagree, but still have no clue on what the experience is really like.
Here are some numbers for you to chew on, not coming from America but from Venezuela (and from a Venezuelan citizen).
100 homicides weekly (more deaths than in Iraq at war)
constants shortage of basic foods like milk, bread, rice. Also constant power and water shortages.
unofficial unemployment rate of 30%plus
dollar resctriction, a citizen is only allowed $2500 in a year if approved (and only received in a credit card)
Cannot receive official dollar exchange, only in the black market for 4x the value
minumim wage covers about 75% of rent for a room, leaving the rest for food and bills (in other words not enough to live)
If you voted against Chavez you are no longer approved for any type of loan or government job
Stone only interviewed presidents from countries whose parties where funded with Venezuela’s oil money.
I could on for quite a while. So please before you comment I dare anyone to live and experience the “New Venezuelan Revolution” and see how safe or free you feel. That goes for you Mr Stone and anyone else that likes to comment positively but have no 1st hand experience.
I bet you a dollar that Chavez & George Soros paid Stone a FORTUNE to make this movie in favour of Chavez.They are both radical ideologs that want to destroy Capitalism and America
Hey, if Stone’s “doc” helps, uh, curb global warming and puts Bushitler in jail to, hm, further prove Obama is the Messiah….
Renaisauce, Brittney, and Charles your comments are way off base.
Hugo Chavez is a Hero to his people, and an inspiration to the World.
Chavez stands for what America should stand for; Health and education for all, not just the well to do.
Chavez has been very patient with his opposition, even though many of them have tried to unseat him by devious means.
Chavez has shown himself to be more democratic than America.
are you sure? more democratic than America?
lol you gotta be kidding. Chavez is all about power by shameless corruption and whatever it takes.
You Sir are delusional
Paul….. Frontline just did a really good documentary on Chavez. The guy is not that great. He started out with good intentions but now is a clown who is trying to stay in power for life. WATCH THIS: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/hugochavez/view/
wtf!!??? Chavez???? I’m Venezuelan, and a proud one and this guy is just a psycho, that’s all I’m going to say about it him cause there’s no need to explain how or why if you REALLY KNOW what he has done to us. As a movie, I don’t see how is he going to make this any interesting to anyone that isn’t but a fan of that bastard, cause for what I get hes just collecting chavez’s point of view by expending all that time with him. If he were to show the true chavez, then there might be a chance for it to be of any used if not then he’s just another rich-hollywood guy that thinks that by talking and/or supporting chavez’s “revolution” he becomes more humanitarian. Please just donate money to charities and leave politics to be manage by politicians.
YOU AMERICANS REALLY NEED VERY BADLY WHAT YOU ARE ABOUT TO LIVE…CAUSE THE RIGHT OF OPINION AFTER THAT MUCH IGNORANCE IS VERY DEPRESS,, NOW YOU ARE GONNA KNOW WHAT IS LIKE
I would like to talk to you Mr. Stone,I am from Venezuela and I am writin my own history about Chavez phenomenon.
‘But back to Chavez: Why is Stone so interested in a guy who’s been accused of corruption, a supposed champion of socialist democracy who’s been criticized for his own repressive tactics against his critics? ‘
Dumb american alert!
Chavez is the least corrupt leader in the world today. But he gets accused by those who really are corrupt, from US presidents to rich white venezuelans in cacarcas penthouses.
Yes, he is a real champion of social democracy…unlike any western leader, who is too ready to serve mammon.
No he has repressed nobody…BUT the RCTV whose execs took part in the 2002 aborted coup, had they done that in the US would be in jail.
In some, Chavez’s critics are all rich, white and greedy for power.
Guess you are the most uninformed human being on the planet for what you said is just pure ignorance
Brian, You’re an idiot. Chavez is not a socialist but a communist. Controling public airwaves in order to stomp out opposing views is an act of social oppression. Pick up a couple history books before you start tooting the horn of tyrants.
“Renaisauce, Brittney, and Charles your comments are way off base.
Hugo Chavez is a Hero to his people, and an inspiration to the World.
Chavez stands for what America should stand for; Health and education for all, not just the well to do.
Chavez has been very patient with his opposition, even though many of them have tried to unseat him by devious means.
Chavez has shown himself to be more democratic than America.”
I would be weary of holding a public servant in such regard. The more power people give power to these “heros” the more power they will take away from you. No politician in the history of man was/is as benevolent as you just stated. You may trust in him as a leader but I remind everyone here be critical of who you vote in office.
president Hugo Chavez S The Best president In This World,,,,, Long Life Hugo Chavez
Have you ever visited Venezuela? Do you know first hand about the Bolivarian Revolution? Or all that you say is ‘hearsay’ from what others print whom have never been to Venezuela. Well, I highly suggest that you visit this country and see for yourself why Mr. Stone wants to make a documentary. I would say that 95% of what is said in the USA media about President Chavez is exaggerated lies. He is NOT corrupt, his presidential salary is donated to a scholarship fund for poor students that want to study at the university. He has lowered poverty by 50% in his country, something that no other president has been able to do. The unemployment rate in Venezuela is at it’s lowest in the history of that country. There’s too much to tell you about the “POSITIVE” aspects of the Bolivarian Revolution and not enough space. I highly suggest that you find out the facts about this country and all it’s goals since Chavez has been president. I’m californian who lived in Venezuela for 15 years, so I know!!
Then why is it that all my Venezuelan friends can’t stand him? They all say he is as corupt as they come.
MLG, did you work for the Venezuelan government? Chavez did lowered poverty? are you serious?… you would be a nice sci-fi writer!
Chavez is the queen cancer cell of Venezuela’s culture of corruption. I grew up in Venezuela when it was a beautiful country. I am afraid there’s is very litle left of that. I am afraid too many Venezuelans deserve a decease like president like Chavez, otherwise they woudln’t allow it. What can you say about freedom of press and taking over the private sector? If you liked chavez while you worked on the side of the totalitarian dictator are just as corrupt and shameless.
MLG is delusional. Guess he didn’t see the thousands protesting all over Latin America against Chavez
defo gets it wrong, such is hatred of the people of Venezuela.
Chavez is the most popular and honest president in the world today. BUT he does get up the snotty nose of the rich white elites, unaccustomed to seeing a black-native man in power.
He does not control the public airwaves, as even defo knows. BUT he should have indited the opps media for their role in backing the 2002 aborted coup….They would have in the US!
“BUT he does get up the snotty nose of the rich white elites, unaccustomed to seeing a black-native man in power.”
You have shown yourself to be a posturing racialist with a truly naive p.o.v. Face it…a “black-native man in power.” has the same compulsions, the same desires, the same dreams…and the same possible corruption as any “…white native man in power”. To ascribe such behavior as only coming from the whites is simply an expression of your own twisted racial sensibilities. To wit: you’re nothing but an ignorant hater. Hence, your opinion is null and void…hater
And here we are 10 years into the revolution and sadly as much progress they’ve claimed that our country has achieved those are just a quick fix but not the needed cure for our problems: we are an even more oil dependent country, unemployment has raisen and insecurity is at its worst,they are using the education sistem as a propaganda program, the goverment and Chavez have been in this constant political campaign (14 electoral process) and have forgotten their promises..is sad that somehow him and only him became the sole purpose of the revolution, a personality cult, a hero who shall not be criticized, the oposition liders are dumb and inept, the only voice of reason is the one that comes from the millions of students of all races, classes and religions, who protest and defend our constitution rights all over our country, even though they have been threathen by Chavez himself…we are a more divided nation than ever and I don’t know if the documentary of Mr Stone will capture that.
‘Chavez have been in this constant political campaign (14 electoral process) and have forgotten their promises’
Not so: The revolutiuon is compromised by having reactionary elements in Govt..If Chavez tries to get rid of them,toimplement change, then you and yournlotcomplain he is loading the govt with his people.
Dont blame Chavez.Changecan only come when the Bolivarian revolution is in control.
Chavez is the most beloved leader on his continent, with a string of certified-fair landslide elections behind him and strong enough grassroots support in his country to have overturned a U.S.-backed military coup in recent memory. He’s uniting Latin America in economic independence of the U.S.A.; vitriolic slander by U.S. and Venezuelan elites (at present including Obama) is the least he has to worry about from these elites in coming years, unless their propaganda is countered now. Warts and all, please, Mr. Stone: but please include the failings of our own leaders past and present for comparison.
Sorry Venezuelans, you’ll have to excuse us Americans. We like to reduce everything to our politics. Chavez didn’t like Bush so he seems like an ally to every person in the USA who also didn’t like Bush.
They don’t understand that Venezuela is a dictatorship with just the window dressing of democracy. Saddam Hussien, Hosni Mubarek, and all sorts of dictators win elections all the time.
There is no rule of law in Venezuela. Chavez is the law. Even the lunatics that love him have to see this.
Scott well put
Stone should go back to school and learn more before doing these statements about Chavez. Stone only knows how to party and meet with rich people, he has no idea
Chavez what people really think, it takes a good 10 years of investigation just to know whats going on in south america. This movie is an insult to all of us that are trying to prevent people like Chavez to destroy democracy in the region
Really? The most popular, and less corrupt president? Are you serious?
What about him closing TV and radio stations (recently closed 200 radio station, threatening to close another major TV station), the proof of his ties with the FARC, his recent interventionism in Colombia (he is trying to bring “Chavismo” here), relations with Iran, taking power away from the Caracas mayor because he is an oppositor, and a lot more that I’m too lazy to mention here.
Hugo Chavez is fascism, disguised under the blanket of “20th century socialism” and these lies of Bolivarian Revolution. Sure, if you don’t count the increasing dependency of Venezuela in oil, the use of the education system for propaganda, polarization and increasing poverty… well, you could say something is working…
ditto. Thank you!
Oh, don’t forget about him squashing freedom of expression and freedom of the press in Venezuela.
Yep, what a great president.
First of all, this documentary will show only “Chavez” side of the story. Why didn’t he go through the day by day situation in any cities of Venezuela, where women are giving birth on the middle of the street because there are no ambulances or rooms in our hospitals, while this moron (Chavez) builds new hospitals in Uruguay, Bolivia, gives 160 new modern ambulances to Bolivia, Nicaragua, just because he’s interested in looking for international support to maintain his power and protect himself against any possible actions from international organizations like OAS or UN.
I want to see Oliver Stone’s face when Chavez and Correa are taken to the international court of justice for all the overwhelming proves and documents showing and supporting that these two morons are supporting the FARCs and have protected their leaders in their own countries and territories.
He’ll have to stick his documentary up his buttox, after the world (and especially venezuelans and latinamericans) show this real disaster that he’s trying to glorify in this crappy documentary.
Boycott their movies is what the decent people should do of Oliver Stone, Sean Penn and Danny Glover, they have no idea what Chavez is capable of and how (Chavez) is going to use them as a political propaganda , but the people of South America know the realities of this so call revolution Bolivariana is about… Chavez wanted to take over Fidel’s mouth after he dies, he can hardly wait…