Sean Penn Blasts the Oscars for “Extreme Cowardice,” Praises ‘The Apprentice’

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As a seasoned movie enthusiast with a penchant for the dramatic and a deep appreciation for authentic storytelling, I find myself wholeheartedly aligned with Sean Penn’s sentiments regarding Hollywood’s reluctance to acknowledge films that challenge the status quo.

Sean Penn, who won an Oscar for his roles in films like “Mystic River,” “Milk,” and “Dead Man Walking,” has chosen to speak candidly before the official start of awards season. The vocal actor expressed strong opinions towards both the Academy and Hollywood, referring to Hollywood as “timid” about recognizing the Donald Trump biopic titled “The Apprentice“.

I graced the stage at the Marrakech Film Festival, where I was bestowed an honorary award for my extended career. As reported by Variety, I seized this moment to critique the Academy for their dismissive stance towards Ali Abbasi’s film, “The Apprentice.” This cinematic piece delves into the formative years of Donald Trump’s relationship with Roy Cohn in New York City as a real estate tycoon. Initially, I lambasted the institution for upholding such biased standards.

As a movie lover, I’ve often found myself disheartened by the Academy’s reluctance to embrace broader aspects of global storytelling. Instead of fostering an inclusive environment for diverse cultural expressions, they seem to have inadvertently set boundaries that stifle creativity and imagination.

I don’t typically get too thrilled about the Academy Awards, but when a movie like “The Florida Project,” “I’m Still Here,” or for instance, “Emilia Perez” is nominated, it definitely catches my attention and makes me hopeful for what might occur this year.

When something sneaks through, it’s to be celebrated.

The actor, who also directed the films Into the Wild and The Pledge, and who has always been outspoken in his political convictions, then turned to the reception of The Apprentice in Hollywood: “It’s jaw-dropping how afraid this [so-called] business of mavericks is of a great film like that. One with great, great acting. [It’s amazing] that they too can be as afraid as a piddly little Republican congressman.”

Since its initial trailer debut, “The Apprentice” has stirred up a fair share of controversy. Following Donald Trump’s presidency, his refusal to acknowledge his 2020 re-election loss, conviction on 34 felony counts for attempting to illegally influence the 2016 election outcome, and his subsequent re-election this year in a bizarre political roller coaster, releasing “The Apprentice” during an election year was indeed risky. Despite garnering positive reviews (with an 82% rating on Rotten Tomatoes), Trump and his supporters swiftly alleged that the film was defamatory.

The controversy surrounding The Apprentice has since reached ridiculous levels, with many in the industry refusing to recognize the quality of the film due to its subject matter. Sebastian Stan, the star of the biopic, couldn’t get any other actors to speak with him about the film for Variety’s Actors on Actors series because no one wanted to talk about Trump, presumably fearing backlash. Without question, Sean Penn has a very good point.

Sean Penn Is Also a Controversial Figure

The two-time Academy Award winner (he won in 2004 and 2009 for “Mystic River” and “Milk”, respectively) has consistently been vocal about his political opinions. He was seen standing with Venezuelan leader Hugo Chávez to denounce George W. Bush’s involvement in the Iraq War, and also maintains a close relationship with the Castro family in Cuba.

Penn is widely recognized as one of the top actors of his time, yet he’s faced controversy within Hollywood. Despite criticism for expressing strong opinions, Penn has a past record of engaging in physical fights that some people in the industry still remember. His views on the Academy are echoed by other prominent figures in Hollywood, although they may not speak out as publicly as Penn. It’s clear that a nomination for him isn’t likely anytime soon. As he accepted an award at the Marrakech Film Festival, Penn stated:

Globally, there’s a strong desire for cultural diversity – however, this doesn’t extend to promoting varied behaviors, differing viewpoints, or multiple languages.

Let me simply urge everyone to express themselves freely, without fear of being politically incorrect, and continue sharing diverse perspectives through storytelling. I am genuinely pleased and content to be in this company. Thank you.

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2024-12-04 19:33