Oliver Stone

I think there's a... You know what? In the Renaissance, there's a period when they all talk about Italy and they all talk about Flemish painting. That's what we're in. The movie business was that moment. We have those hundreds and hundreds of paintings. We should enjoy them all.

I think there's a... You know what? In the Renaissance, there's a period when they all talk about Italy and they all talk about Flemish painting. That's what we're in. The movie business was that moment. We have those hundreds and hundreds of paintings. We should enjoy them all.

That's what critics do. I don't want to do that. They say the 10 best, the best. That's such a bullshit. That's not the question. Yeah, it is because you tend to narrow things down. People have to say, I saw that movie, but it's better than that one. Come on, just wake up.

That's what critics do. I don't want to do that. They say the 10 best, the best. That's such a bullshit. That's not the question. Yeah, it is because you tend to narrow things down. People have to say, I saw that movie, but it's better than that one. Come on, just wake up.

Ask Sean, he grew up in the 1980s. Ask him what, you remember, you saw it 20 times.

Ask Sean, he grew up in the 1980s. Ask him what, you remember, you saw it 20 times.

But what are some of the films that did less well in the 80s you loved? Countless, countless.

But what are some of the films that did less well in the 80s you loved? Countless, countless.

Documentaries are very important to me, and I did 20 of them, or 15, I don't know. But the reason is they bring you back to the research world, the real world, the world that you're actually dealing with people who are live, and you're getting in touch with that aspect of yourself. Whereas if you live on a stage or live with a fictional film, it's another world.

Documentaries are very important to me, and I did 20 of them, or 15, I don't know. But the reason is they bring you back to the research world, the real world, the world that you're actually dealing with people who are live, and you're getting in touch with that aspect of yourself. Whereas if you live on a stage or live with a fictional film, it's another world.

It's artificial, and you're constantly trying to create realities So it's a real challenge. That's why it's important to stay in touch with the real world. And a lot of Hollywood people do not. I mean, the reason I'm into contemporary events, I mean, look at the films I did in the last 20. World Trade Center, W, the film of George Bush. I stayed current. I wanted to know what was going on.

It's artificial, and you're constantly trying to create realities So it's a real challenge. That's why it's important to stay in touch with the real world. And a lot of Hollywood people do not. I mean, the reason I'm into contemporary events, I mean, look at the films I did in the last 20. World Trade Center, W, the film of George Bush. I stayed current. I wanted to know what was going on.

The last one was Snowden. We did it on the cusp of what happened. And it was very important to me to know what was going on in computers at that point. I don't regret that. You know, they may not have done as well because the American century changed. After 2001, we became another animal, you know. And that affected the culture and the appreciation. And the generation changed.

The last one was Snowden. We did it on the cusp of what happened. And it was very important to me to know what was going on in computers at that point. I don't regret that. You know, they may not have done as well because the American century changed. After 2001, we became another animal, you know. And that affected the culture and the appreciation. And the generation changed.

And a new generation came along who didn't know the same things that the 1980s and 70s generation knew. Think about it that way. Is that fair to say that you're an anomaly for that? No, I think I cared about events that were going on around us. And when I see some of the treatment of the current events, Hollywood doesn't care. They don't base their films on that.

And a new generation came along who didn't know the same things that the 1980s and 70s generation knew. Think about it that way. Is that fair to say that you're an anomaly for that? No, I think I cared about events that were going on around us. And when I see some of the treatment of the current events, Hollywood doesn't care. They don't base their films on that.

They don't want to reflect reality necessarily. Yeah, they'd love to get the money from it, but it's a creation of fantasy too. And the films don't deal with the American century. What did America become after 2001? Those films don't really deal with it. It's another, more imperialist, more authoritarian, more patriotic, more militaristic. I mean, come on. That has to be reflected in movies.

They don't want to reflect reality necessarily. Yeah, they'd love to get the money from it, but it's a creation of fantasy too. And the films don't deal with the American century. What did America become after 2001? Those films don't really deal with it. It's another, more imperialist, more authoritarian, more patriotic, more militaristic. I mean, come on. That has to be reflected in movies.

Maybe Gladiator reflects that, but maybe it does.

Maybe Gladiator reflects that, but maybe it does.