Showbiz
A trio of top directors have used the Venice Film Festival to criticise aspects of America and its policies.
Oliver Stone has remained relatively quiet around the release of his film about the September 11 attacks, World Trade Centre. He made his concern over George Bush's "war on terror" clear to an audience at the festival, however.
"Many of us are concerned that it could get worse," he said after a screening. "I think things have gotten very dark.. The consequences of 9/11 are worse than the day itself.
"I have reason to be depressed, especially as a Vietnam veteran, many Vietnam veterans are very depressed about where we are in Iraq."
Spike Lee is at the festival to promote his movie about the impact of Hurricane Katrina on New Orleans, When the Levees Broke: A Requiem in Four Acts.
"It's a country for the rich," said the regular critic. "Bush doesn't care about poor or white people either. If you're poor ... he doesn't care about you period. You've got to have a certain amount of money in your bank account, then you matter."
Paul Verhoeven, meanwhile, best known for creating Basic Instinct and Total Recall, picked Hollywood as his target. He said that making Hollow Man, in 2000, left him disappointed with the process.
"It's true that after the last movie I did in Los Angeles I felt as empty as the movie," he explained, adding that big stars had gained too much power.
"I would have loved to make a film with Nicole Kidman or Tom Cruise, but it's almost impossible," he commented. "The only way is a special project that's tailored to the star."
Oliver Stone has remained relatively quiet around the release of his film about the September 11 attacks, World Trade Centre. He made his concern over George Bush's "war on terror" clear to an audience at the festival, however.
"Many of us are concerned that it could get worse," he said after a screening. "I think things have gotten very dark.. The consequences of 9/11 are worse than the day itself.
"I have reason to be depressed, especially as a Vietnam veteran, many Vietnam veterans are very depressed about where we are in Iraq."
Spike Lee is at the festival to promote his movie about the impact of Hurricane Katrina on New Orleans, When the Levees Broke: A Requiem in Four Acts.
"It's a country for the rich," said the regular critic. "Bush doesn't care about poor or white people either. If you're poor ... he doesn't care about you period. You've got to have a certain amount of money in your bank account, then you matter."
Paul Verhoeven, meanwhile, best known for creating Basic Instinct and Total Recall, picked Hollywood as his target. He said that making Hollow Man, in 2000, left him disappointed with the process.
"It's true that after the last movie I did in Los Angeles I felt as empty as the movie," he explained, adding that big stars had gained too much power.
"I would have loved to make a film with Nicole Kidman or Tom Cruise, but it's almost impossible," he commented. "The only way is a special project that's tailored to the star."
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