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Moriarty Talks To Sean Penn About INTO THE WILD!

Awesome. by Knuckleduster	Oct 1st, 2007 07:00:43 AM
Love the Penn.
"Drew from the Internet"?!? by chrth	Oct 1st, 2007 07:02:49 AM
Wow. That's some major props you got going there now, Moriarty. Who needs AICN?!?
Out Cold... by Basehead	Oct 1st, 2007 07:36:10 AM
funny image thinking of Penn watching that one
Yum Yum Johnson by thegidson	Oct 1st, 2007 07:38:29 AM
hey you fuck. sean penn is your daddy.
so he dies then? by furryfreak	Oct 1st, 2007 08:03:03 AM
ah crap.
i actually agree with penn's by thegidson	Oct 1st, 2007 08:05:30 AM
i actually agree with penn's politics. the thing is i read once that he issued an ad in a paper because he was angry that someone had already taken an internet address with his name. makes me wonder if theres any truth to that or if that he thinks he's above the average citizen.
not first by ironic_name	Oct 1st, 2007 08:06:43 AM
penn had sex with madge
Um, Mr. Penn by misterdude	Oct 1st, 2007 08:16:54 AM
Lee Majors is one of our finest young actors...
the title of this should be by jivatmax	Oct 1st, 2007 08:20:02 AM
"How to Brown-nose Your Way to Internet Fame."
Thanks, Moriarty. by Mr. Nice Gaius	Oct 1st, 2007 08:58:48 AM
Nice little interview there. Curious. About how many cigarettes did he wolf down in that amount of time? ;^)
Short interview because.. by Internet Thug	Oct 1st, 2007 09:07:17 AM
McWeeny is the only interviewer in the world that wants to hear himself talk more than the person he is interviewing..fuck buddy your questions are often twice as long as his answers.
This movie will rock, Penn loves the book as much as by Bean_	Oct 1st, 2007 09:15:16 AM
anyone who has read it. Great interview, I can't wait to see this thing!
ok- even more of a reason i can't wait by AskaniSon2001	Oct 1st, 2007 09:48:24 AM
all the flaws and criticism everyone points out about him...he's still an immensely talented guy who apparently made one hell of a film...and i can't wait to see it.
good interview by CherryValance	Oct 1st, 2007 09:49:13 AM
I'm still not 100% sure what happens in this movie but apparently he dies. And I guess it's wildernessy. Having said that, it's obvious that he's very proud of it so if I have the opportunity I'll probably see it. When I got The Departed/The Pledge 2 pack home, I watched The Pledge first. I really like that movie. So if he's that happy about how this new one turned out, it must be pretty great.
Saw INTO THE WILD yesterday by slone13	Oct 1st, 2007 10:02:13 AM
It was a truly amazing movie. Great preformaces and beautiful cinematography with a couple of heeartbreaking moments. I've been thinking about it since I walked out of the theater. Makes you want to give up all your material possessions and go live away from the things of man. Just make sure you don't eat the poisonous plant life...
Excellent interview by Nordling	Oct 1st, 2007 10:14:57 AM
And an excellent movie. Way to go Drew!
So the soundtrack has Vedder's "singing"? by mr.brownstone	Oct 1st, 2007 10:41:23 AM
That's too bad. I hate that shit. Great interview though. It was very strange to read about him talking like a normal guy. He was almost becoming like Salinger or the Yeti for me before that interview.
I know I'm in the minority on this one, but . . . by Fuckles	Oct 1st, 2007 10:56:43 AM
. . . I hated this movie. Just hated it. Complete and utter venomous hatred of it. It was a glorification of a one-dimensional, narcissistic, and self-absorbed POS whose search for inner happiness involved him breaking the hearts of everyone who ever cared for him. (SPOILERS!) Yes, I know he found happiness in the end but he still never realized all of the people he hurt in the process. Yes, he had fucked up parents and I can totally understand (at least when I was 19) the need to "get away" from those foreboding monsters called "authority, capitalism, and society" (that Vince Vaughn scene was pretty good, though), but leaving his sister behind and never contacting her again was just plain shitty. I mean, this was a well made, nicely shot, confidently directed film and I'm not attacking anyone who liked it. And I'm aware it tried to play both sides of the coin (especially with the C. Keener character always calling him on his shit) but in the end, Penn still had to glorify him. His death scene was dragged out ad nauseum and the final shot with the pic of the real guy simply told me that Penn felt the need to honor this awful excuse for a man, when paying tribute to the innocence of his ideals would have been enough. Had it been a movie that episodically focused on these peripheral characters with this guy weaving in and out of the narrative and the effect he had on THEIR lives, then that would have been a hell of a movie. Just felt that Penn's empathy/sympathy were in the wrong place with this one. The film making was strong but the context by which it unfolded its subject was emotionally hollow. Thank God for Hal Holbrook who gave the film an emotional anchor when it needed it most but then also points out how much of a waste this Alexander Supertramp prick is. SPOILERS! That scene is Holbrook's pickup is devastating. I cried. And this prick, who can't see beyond HIMSELF getting to Alaska, then smashes Holbrook's heart to bits (I defy anyone not well up during that scene), hops out of the truck and is on his merry way. And, yes, I know that's the point of the scene but you look back at the structure of the film, that's all it is, a checklist for this guy to hurt others on his quest for his own maligned happiness: hurt my sister - check, hurt my parents - check, hurt Keener - check, hurt Kristen Stewart - check, hurt Holbrook - check, realize I'm lonely - check, die! The film was always about the search for his own happiness; even in the end during his revelation that his happiness is contingent on his relationship with others he never even realizes, hell, he never even considers that he may be an integral part to other people's happiness as well. If this film was an accurate portrayal of the real person, then he was nothing more than a one-note train wreck. And I don't mean to speak ill of someone in death, I'm just saying that I completely disagree with how he conducted his life. However, on the flip side, the film must have something going for it to provoke this kind of emotional reaction for me. And, in truth, I'd rather sit through another "Into the Wild" than sit through another exercise in pure mediocrity like Peter Berg's "The Kingdom." Now that film was just forgettable while I don't think I'll forget "Into the Wild" anytime soon. Yes, I vehemently hate the film but I acknowledge the film's power, though manipulative and fucked up that it may be. Now, I'm not trying to incite a TB war here. I admire and respect anyone who loved it (the critics I read did and so did my friends). This is just one man's opinion. Nothing more. But just one more thing (SPOILERS): what kind of unrealistic sci-fi film was Penn making to include a scene with a half-naked Kristen Stewart offering her body to Supertramp and then HE SAYS NO!!!!! What kind of Episode 7, Matrix Redundant, Buckaroo Banzai in Africa, Cherry 2001 bullshit is this? Where are the unicorns?
I don´t like Eddie Vedder by CuervoJones	Oct 1st, 2007 10:59:18 AM
It´s personal
Fucking aweseome by ErnieAnderson	Oct 1st, 2007 11:02:36 AM
Really great interview. Kudos, big guy.
Mori: by Datascream	Oct 1st, 2007 11:27:35 AM
I know nothing of this movie, I've barely heard of it. I wasn't even aware Sean Penn was directing it. But that had to be one of the best interviews I've read in a long time. I was literally pulled into it, job well done man. Very interesting read.
"then he zagged" = married Madonna by Walterego	Oct 1st, 2007 11:44:04 AM
and lost his mind, doing some lousy comedies (shanghai suprise/we're no angels) and the most idiotic Vietnam movie ever, worse than the Green Berets or the Missing in Action series.
Fuckles... by maxwell's hammer	Oct 1st, 2007 11:49:44 AM
...I appreciate your opinion of the movie, as it is actually well reasoned and you seem to base it on genuine reactions instead of a bunch of "Penn is a commie liberal bastard so I hate his fucking movie!" So kudos to you, my friend. but...i happen to disagree with you. In the interview, Penn said something that I thought stood out while I watched the film: Supertramp's journey walked a line between fleeing from something, and journeying toward something. Through most of his interactions, I think it was pretty clear that he was hurting a lot of the people around him, but he seemed to justify it by proclaiming himself on some profound noble journey. And whether it was a justification after the fact, there was just about enough actual nobility in his quest to make up for all the sacrifices he made (and forced others to make). In the end, I think there was a certain ambiguity about if he was in the right or in the wrong, and the inner debate this provoked in me was one of the things I really liked.
I Am Sam - worse zag ever by wash	Oct 1st, 2007 12:14:22 PM
Ah, the "play a retard to win an oscar ploy". Just try to tell me that the trailers for that movie weren't the worst form of torture ever invented. If it weren't for Sweet and Lowdown I would have never forgiven him.
Re: Maxwell's Hammer by Fuckles	Oct 1st, 2007 12:22:33 PM
Ahhhh, to have a diplomatic discussion/disagreement on a TB. Now this is refreshing. Maxwell Hammer, thanks for the respect and likewise to you too. I hear what you're saying. I really do. I just don't find anything noble about hurting others for one's own benefit and not ever realizing it. To me, a noble approach (and a much more difficult decision to make - compelling drama to me) would be sacrifices of people (their feelings, etc.) for the greater good. But Supertramp was always about himself. If he knew he was hurting people and did it anyway, that would have even been more compelling to watch. He still would not have been a very sympathetic character but at least there would be layers to him. To me, he just one note; one terribly out of tune note. I couldn't get beyond that. But hey, we disagree and nothing more. Thanks for your opinion, man. I liked what you had to say, especially what you said/Penn said about the dichotomy of his journey (fleeing away/towards something). It made me think. It didn't really change my mind but it something to chew on and that's good. So if you're ever in Boston, the first round is on me. And then we can get a handle of Jack, drink it while watching the Jane Austen Book Club, heckle the screen the entire time, and then light the print on fire during the closing credits. God, I want to eat a Magnum slug every time I see that trailer!
Ya did the site justice by Aloy	Oct 1st, 2007 01:20:37 PM
Great interview. Nice to see the hardass open up when he gets some decent questions. I was listening to the soundtrack last night and I'll wait to pass judgement on it as support for the film but it's a nice unplugged Eddie Vedder listen.
I think Sean Penn should walk into every interview by Garbageman33	Oct 1st, 2007 01:21:22 PM
Carrying a pillowcase filled with soda cans. I wonder if he still returns Esai Morales's phone calls.
i think i'm in love with eddie, and im not even gay by HamiltonGeyser	Oct 1st, 2007 01:24:21 PM
The man is an icon. fuck the haters
But....has he quit smoking yet? by WONKABAR	Oct 1st, 2007 01:28:28 PM
just curious
Why didn't you ask him... by Vamp-AICNchat	Oct 1st, 2007 01:34:55 PM
what Madonna was like in the sack? That's one thing I would love to know, besides that good interview.
Kubrick, not Coppola by kwisatzhaderach	Oct 1st, 2007 02:23:52 PM
said the thing about short stories being much easier to adapt into films than full length novels.
Do communists have a sense of humor? by matthooper8	Oct 1st, 2007 02:52:00 PM
I think Penn's was removed at birth...or maybe all communists had to sell their sense of humor to get in to the club. I'm not sure. Should have asked him.
From here on out, Moriarty's handle should be: by Reynard Muldrake	Oct 1st, 2007 03:01:04 PM
"Drew from the Internet". Seriously. And your picture should be the same skinny dude if you want, Mori, but it has to include Penn in some way s hape or form.
"You're my lawyer!" by Garbageman33	Oct 1st, 2007 03:18:59 PM
I think a perfect way to end the interview would be to ask him to do that line in fullblown I Am Sam mode.
you can wear any coloryou want, aslong as its drab gray by HamiltonGeyser	Oct 1st, 2007 03:56:44 PM
if youre a commie
wild man by christian66	Oct 1st, 2007 04:14:39 PM
good interview. the film is terrific, it has mental staying power and if anything, penn is a superb director of actors. i still think the film is over-directed, i hated the weird font they used and the soundtrack is too much. his death scene should have been shot brutally real instead of spinning and cutting etc. but dierker is a real find and all i could think was, who is that guy? best old hippy ever. and if holbrook doesn't win suporting actor, there ain't no film justice.
Yeah, but what does that have to do with Transformers? by Garbageman33	Oct 1st, 2007 04:32:07 PM
Is Michael Bay a communist?
Penn isn't a communist by IndustryKiller!	Oct 1st, 2007 04:35:00 PM
So move the fuck on. God forbid anyone tries to make a difference.
Moriarty is sucha fanboy by Rupee88	Oct 1st, 2007 04:39:41 PM
I guess that's the point of this site, just owning up to it and gushing over these filmmakers. Anyway, it worked with Sean Penn...the guy is a real artist, so I can understand your reaction and it made the interview more interesting.
Actually he is a communist by matthooper8	Oct 1st, 2007 05:56:18 PM
Do some research. He father was a card carrying communist, and that is a fact. He is as well. This isn't a case of a left winger like Michael Moore or Susan Sarandon, he is a communist. Read a little about his views before you speak.
Devil Cat is right by Grammaton Cleric Binks	Oct 1st, 2007 06:01:13 PM
Oh, and don't forget we should have had spoilers stating The Titanic sinks.
Sean Penn's communist pillow case of soda's by liljuniorbrown	Oct 1st, 2007 06:09:52 PM
You hear so much stuff about this man bad and good that I have to weigh in . The Iraq thing and the meeting with communist deal is not my thing. Him beating the shit out of paparazzi, fucking awesome and he should be rewarded for it. Finaly what he did during hurricane Katrina was meaning ful to me having felt first hand the effects of that disaster. I'd say all and all well done sir.
One more thing by liljuniorbrown	Oct 1st, 2007 06:14:05 PM
The moment in the movie Mystic River,when he realizes that it's his daughter that the police just found.... I wept man, openly. He might be alot of things,but he ain't short on talent. He owned that Oscar. I'm glad he shaved the rockabilly mustache and chops,they were gettin old.
matthooper, when has Penn ever copped to communism? by IndustryKiller!	Oct 1st, 2007 06:50:24 PM
Because I would like to see that quote. He's left to be sure, it's fucking hard not to be in this day and age when the right wing are literally the most ignorant bunch of reality denying jokes we've seen since the Salem witch trials, but that doesn't make him anything near a communist. Nor does simply meeting with Hugo Chavez, cause I know people are itching to point out that little chestnut. Even if he was a communist it doesn't change the fact that he is one of, if not THE best actors and directors on the landscape today, which is reason enough to give him props.
AT CLOSE RANGE & BAD BOYS by cp	Oct 1st, 2007 07:44:38 PM
were THE penn flics that blew me away when i was growing up. just re-read INTO THE WILD, cannot wait for this film, great interview mori! if you ever get a chance to speak with penn again mori, please ask him about, or somehow get him to talk about his brother Chris.
hollywood and politics by damagedinc	Oct 1st, 2007 08:48:16 PM
...or how to make the most pretentious industry in the world a little more frustrating. I'm not saying it's Sean Penn's fault, but the fact that Washington has to pander to Hollywood for votes at an unprescedented level, coupled with siding with communist and socialist figures (cough, CAMERON DIAZ IN A CHE GUEVARA SHIRT, cough, HOLLYWOOD HUGGING HUGO CHAVEZ, cough)and general inappropriate politicking (cough, MADONNA DECLARING HERSELF AN "AMBASSADOR TO JUDAISM" TO ISRAELI PRESIDENT SHIMON PERES IN ISRAEL, cough)shows that our celebrities wield unprecedented power. None of these folks are qualified to deal with these issues. Sean Penn can be a great actor, but nowadays it's hard to see him as "just" being an actor.
Did it hurt when he nailed you with the pillowcase by Stuntcock Mike	Oct 1st, 2007 09:25:17 PM
full of Pepsi cans at the end of the interview?
Mr. Penn's Hugo Chavez biopic by Sir Loin	Oct 1st, 2007 09:53:03 PM
When does it come out, and who's gonna play Chavez? The real guy? Boy, I can't wait.
Mori & Fuckles by PotSmokinAlien	Oct 1st, 2007 10:00:30 PM
Mori-- great interview. Fuckles--I agree with nearly all of what you say... but sean penn could not direct his way out of a wet paper bag; this movie was directiorially a mess if you ask me. so much unnecessary style (freeze frames in LA, the excruciating Swede-camp scene, split screens for 'fun', etc) in a movie that would have greatly benefitted from space to take a god damned breath once in awhile rather than cutting to his sister's VO every time emile's little episodic journey took a natural break. the fucking thing can't decide whether it is honoring a dead kid's life or making a larger point about the world we live in. you can't have your disgusting, flame roasted squirrel on a stick and eat it too, sean. please stick to acting, as long as the acting you do in the future is not the grandstanding bullshit for which you won an oscar. (an irish-catholic dude would not react like that in public if he learned his daughter was dead, and sean penn was practically foaming at the mouth in that scene for god's sake.)
Get Sean Penn back here by Chumkid	Oct 1st, 2007 11:21:52 PM
So you can tell him that he had no right to adapt something so poignant.
damagedinc by IndustryKiller!	Oct 1st, 2007 11:27:45 PM
given the state of our nation today and the pasts of most of our politicians I don't see how actors are any less qualified to deal in politics than the people who have spent their entire lives making a living off shady dealings and poor peoples backs. Our "qualified" politicians have failed us completely. It has nothing to do with what you do or did do for a living, and everything to do with the integrity of the person. At least when Sean Penn meets with Hugo Chavez he doesn't single handedly infuriate a nation ala that guy from Columbia talking to Ahmedinejad. Well except for this one, but fuck if I was famous I would love pissing off the average right winger whenever possible as well, it means you're doing something right.
Potsmokinalien by IndustryKiller!	Oct 1st, 2007 11:30:20 PM
In Mystic River Penn was playing a career criminal from South Boston with a missing daughter and absolutely no answers. If someone like that stumbled upon the crime scene where their dead daughter lies and wasn't allowed access you bet your ass they would react like that.
A'ight Moriarty, that was cool... by Jaka	Oct 2nd, 2007 12:42:30 AM
...but now you have to take charge and line up one of the Stallone deals with him. Come on! You can make it happen. : ) Great interview. I seem to be one of the few that had no idea what iy was about, the book or the film. I'll definitely be seeing this now.
Everybody is flawed... by Jaka	Oct 2nd, 2007 12:45:28 AM
....Sean Penn, seemingly, just doesn't believe it's anyone's business what his are. I can't really fault him for that.
IndustryKiller! by damagedinc	Oct 2nd, 2007 12:53:18 AM
While I respect where you're coming from, a) Not all of our politicians are crooked b) We could all do a little better knowing more about Middle Eastern politics... c) and some historical hindsight that shows what seemingly harmless political involvement on the part of well-meaning people can have over the course of many years d) Sometimes it feels like Hollywood will do the polar opposite of of whatever Bush's administration does, and that can't be right e)"diplomatic" celebrities (as opposed to politically active celebrities) maintains the illusion that THEY should be the ones informing and even determining public policy, and they do seem to act like they ought to. In America, people really can have the power and that's a good thing. But to talk to someone like Hugo Chavez as though he can be reasoned with? he pro-actively goes against the US as a foreign, imperial power who supports Israel. And that says nothing for his willingness to align himself with a power that would be happy to obliterate us and Israel. I'm just saying that Hollywood is probably under-informed and just a wee bit over their heads.
oooh- a left v right flame war and no sign of by Lost Jarv	Oct 2nd, 2007 03:24:35 AM
BSB and Anchorite. Unusual. I'll keep my snout out of this but matthooper8 is owed one point of clarification: It is irrelevant that his dad is a card carrying communist- I had an ex-girlfriend who's father was one and she was waaay to the right.
Definitely over directed. by Wed Vid Guy	Oct 2nd, 2007 02:25:15 PM
Definitely over directed. Can you imagine what this movie would have been like in Paul Greengrass's hands?
That was an anus-cleaner by SuckLeTrou	Oct 2nd, 2007 02:49:24 PM
But still a totally awesome interview. I'm amazed that he opened up like that, which is the ultimate compliment for Drew. Nice Job. Every interview I've ever seen Penn do in his life (even Oprah recently) he looks deeply uncomfortable and upset and gives short one and two word answers to everything. Like DeNiro. When talk show hosts joke about actors who make horrible guests, they are talking about him. So good job having him open up so much.
Potsmokinalien,you must not have kids by liljuniorbrown	Oct 2nd, 2007 03:35:53 PM
That scene was right on. Anyone with kids would react that way if they wound up in that position. Someone with as much power as "Jimmy Markum"put in a spot with his hands tide he's going to act like a caged animal for sure.
did he whoop Madonna's ass? by liljuniorbrown	Oct 2nd, 2007 03:43:17 PM
In the Ike Turner sense of the word not the way I want to whoop it. I thought she filed charges on him one time or something. Oh well ,I heard Eddie Vedder sucked off Ron Paul during a debate. Thats how rumors get started. Kidding people
Penn always leaves me conflicted by drewlicious	Oct 2nd, 2007 04:36:20 PM
First of all, great actor. Insightful and remarkably natural on camera. Obviously easily bored by scripts that are by-the-numbers and leans more toward interesting and bold stories no matter what the commercial value. I like that about him. But I often wonder if he's one of those people who mistakes passion for intellect. I know many of his admirers are. Everthing from that one page message in the NYT (self important as hell) to his brave but foolish response to the Katrina disaster (didn't the boat sink? I thought I heard that, could be wrong. Bottom Line: Leave it to the professionals, you might get in the way) has left a sour taste in my mouth. At least he's never boring, I can't accuse him of that but smile for once in your life. The world can't possibly suck that much.
I was only 1 among my friends who wanted to see this. by GibsonUSA	Oct 2nd, 2007 10:27:48 PM
All my friends think the character is an idiot, and two and a half ours of an idiot walking around thinking he's free is not worth $9.50. But I had bought the book, and wanted to see it, because of the story in the book and because the character is from my area...and I can't imagine burning my money and walking out of here.
Ive said no to a teen girl offerin herself to me before by GibsonUSA	Oct 2nd, 2007 10:36:28 PM
Don't see how that's unrealistic. Some of us can say no.
The Good Son by yumyum	Oct 3rd, 2007 11:53:42 AM
Chad Michael Murray should have played Christopher McCandless. He's Mayhem. The Good Son.
I’ve always heard that Penn was a “tough interview,” .. by DoctorWho?	Oct 3rd, 2007 04:40:36 PM
... and nothing could be further from the truth." It's only because you knew and openly appreciated his work. If you would have told him you voted for a republican he would have just as likely spit in your face, kicked you in the groin and called your mother a cock sucking whore. Great actor. Intolerent narcisist too. Looking foward to the film though.
Great Interview Drew by Exterminans	Oct 4th, 2007 02:34:02 AM
It would be great to have him do a really long in depth interview with you for AICN. I look forward to seeing this.
Sean Penn & Eddie Vedder together by BobParr	Oct 4th, 2007 02:00:37 PM
Do you think they have contests yo see which one can walk on water? They are both so self important and deep. I liked them better when they weren't so BORING. God forbid Sean Penn is involved in a movie that isn't suicidally depressing and I guess Vedder enjoys mumbling every lyric to stick it to the "man".
Fuck Spicoli! Sweeney Todd is on youtube! by Gluecifer	Oct 4th, 2007 04:43:23 PM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v =svP3HsJB5ng&mode=user&search=

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Moriarty Talks To Sean Penn About INTO THE WILD!

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