'Iron Man' is a New Man of the Right
Posted 23 weeks 5 days ago byRobert Downey Jr. — starring in the one of the most anticipated and certain blockbusters of the summer, Iron Man — came out of his year in prison a changed man. He told The New York Times in last Sunday's magazine that spending August 1999 through August 2000 in the joint completely obliterated his Hollywood-chic lefty politics.
“I have a really interesting political point of view, and it’s not always something I say too loud at dinner tables here, but you can’t go from a $2,000-a-night suite at La Mirage to a penitentiary and really understand it and come out a liberal. You can’t. I wouldn’t wish that experience on anyone else, but it was very, very, very educational for me and has informed my proclivities and politics every since.”
(Suffice it to say he is not one of the Hollywood types who weeps over innocents trapped behind bars.)
Downey gives testimony to the old canard that a conservative is a liberal who's been mugged by reality. No word on whether Paris Hilton had such a conversion in the pokey. (Then again, she's mug-happy in a different sense.)
Joking aside, it is telling that Downey feels the need to admit his political conversion with such sheepishness. Admitting your non-liberalness is an express train ticket to the real Hollywood black list. But it is — in Downey's words — "very, very, very" admirable that Downey has left his destructive, drug-addled days behind him. By Downey's telling, he went to a Burger King along the Pacific Coast Highway on Independence Day 2003, grabbed a meal, then threw all of his drugs into the ocean. I've long had great respect for Downey, the actor. I now have respect Downey, the man. He's grown up.
But even The New York Times could not resist pointing out the irony:
This being America, five years later you can walk into that Burger King, and if you order a Kids Meal you can get your own Robert Downey Jr. action figure, wrapped up in gadget ware.
Good for Downey, and God bless him. I hope the movie turns out as good as his reformed personal life seems to be at the moment.
(HT: Sonny Bunch at The Weekly Standard)
Thoughts
thanks
Submitted on April 25th, 2008 by John 2000for the info. I always liked his acting a lot. I heard about the continual drug problems and subsequent jail. Hope he keeps clean. Will look for his movie when it comes out.
I will be interesting to pore over the reviews!
The Comeback Kid
Submitted on April 23rd, 2008 by AnonymousIron Man is def. Downey's comeback vehicle and who better to play the role of an alcoholic hero constantly at odds with his own issues and the issues of the world.
Downey is a brilliant actor and from what I read on your blog, it sounds like common sense has overtaken him. Good for him!
Re: Iron Man
Submitted on April 23rd, 2008 by Jim LakelyBen sez:
True, dat. But the list of non-liberal Hollywood heavyweights is modest, and it's worth noting.
I will not be taking the day off to see "Iron Man," but I will see it.
I hope it's good enough, Ben, for you to really curse tossing out your gold stash.
I'm playing hooky and taking my son to see Iron Man!
Submitted on April 23rd, 2008 by BenThis is an interesting comment from Downey, who is a brilliant actor with a tremendous career ahead of him. Really, though, conservatives shouldn't make too much of it. I don't think it matters much whether this actor or that endorses a conservative outlook. Conservatives are going to lose that contest every time.
And, as conservatives, we shouldn't put too much stock in what the famous celebrity has to say. Who knows if Downey will disappoint us again somehow?
That said, I can't wait for the Iron Man movie. Old Shellhead was my favorite Marvel Comics hero. Up until 1988 or so, I had the full run of the comic book, and most of Marvel's early '60s book, Tales of Suspense, which featured Iron Man and Captain America. Then I sold everything. I'm kicking myself now.