Sean Penn: Social media is fueled by the idiocracy in this country
Sean Penn is still promoting his shoot ‘em-up action film, The Gunman. The cast includes Idris Elba and Javier Bardem, which is enough to get me to watch this when it comes on TV two years from now. But no, I don’t think anyone was really clamoring for a big Sean Penn action film. His press tour to promote the film has been really interesting though – this is his first big press tour since getting with Charlize Theron. So we’re seeing a different side of Penn. He does seem happier, I guess. Anyway, he has a new interview with USA Today – you can read the full piece here. Some highlights:
His memories of his filmography: “Honestly within a week after I’ve finished shooting a film I’ve almost forgotten it… I remember playing none of those scenes [in a highlight reel] – none of them. I remembered the movies…I virtually didn’t remember saying the words that I said. I saw myself in scenes with actors I didn’t even know I’d ever worked with!”
On red carpets: “Red carpets are uncomfortable. Being photographed is uncomfortable. It’s got nothing to do with being an actor, it’s just got to do with being me… you gotta suit up and take a deep breath and look for your real smile. You might even be happy that day but it’s hard to smile because you can feel the muscles in your face. I’m self-conscious under those circumstances.”
On the Oscars: “I didn’t go for most of the times I was nominated simply because it’s socially uncomfortable. It’s really like mainlining discomfort, because you’re going in a room full of people you haven’t seen. Like if you’re going into a restaurant and there’s too many people you haven’t seen or called in a year. That’s already uncomfortable. It’s like, ‘Hi, I didn’t call for this reason.’ Or then you have all the people you don’t want to see and you have all the people looking at you. I hate that. I don’t mind going there if you go in the back door and give out an award or something. But sitting in that seat, that’s a long sit.”
On directing Charlize Theron: “I really wish this could translate without the bias of the personal relationship – she is a director’s dream.” He smiles when talking about her. “She’s a woman.”
On social media: “I’m not interested in social media at this stage because I just feel it’s fueled by the idiocracy in this country.”
The interview also includes a half-way amusing story about Marlon Brando forgetting his costar in On the Waterfront (Rod Steiger) and Sean’s thoughts on the paparazzi. Regarding the quotes on red carpets… he reminds me of Kristen Stewart. RIGHT?! I feel like she’s said the exact same thing about how much she hates the red carpet. K-Stew and Sean Penn are emo siblings, hand to God. As for Charlize and “she’s a woman”… maybe I’m reading too much into all of this (doubtful), but it feels like Sean and Robin Wright are still making passive-aggressive (or just plain aggressive) digs at each other. Charlize is a “woman” and what about the mother of your children, Sean?
Photos courtesy of WENN, Fame/Flynet.
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