We don't know if it's the fresh, sea air or perhaps some important life choices he's decided to make, but Shia LaBeouf simply cannot stop speaking truth to power. Scant days after telling the world he thought Transformers 2 was an ungodly mess, LaBeouf told reporters in Cannes that he believes that Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull was an unworthy entry in the series -- and that he doesn't care if Spielberg hears him complaining or not.
It's not just dear 'ol Shia who feels the audience got shortchanged by the fourth installment. According to him, he and Harrison Ford "had major discussions [and] he wasn't happy with it either," the actor told reporters at Cannes. But Shia, bless his heart, starts off trying to take on the lion's share of the blame:
"You get to monkey-swinging and things like that and you can blame it on the writer and you can blame it on Steven [Spielberg, who directed]. But the actor's job is to make it come alive and make it work, and I couldn't do it. So that's my fault. Simple."
Oh, Shia. What about the be-goitered monster who dreamed up such a lousy scene to begin with? Or who approved such risible dialogue as "But their treasure wasn't gold. It was knowledge. Knowledge was their treasure. " You don't want to spoon a little blame his way?
Fortunately, as Shia continued working through his shame, he was able to alight on additional culprit, director Stephen Spielberg.
"I'll probably get a call [from Spielberg]. But he needs to hear this. I love him. I love Steven. I have a relationship with Steven that supersedes our business work. And believe me, I talk to him often enough to know that I'm not out of line. And I would never disrespect the man. I think he's a genius, and he's given me my whole life. He's done so much great work that there's no need for him to feel vulnerable about one film. But when you drop the ball you drop the ball."
Now, you can take this one of two ways. It's either a completely rational, lucid acceptance of the fact that the majority of moviegoers were deeply unsatisfied with the last installment of a beloved film series, and that their disappointments should be addressed in a forthright manner to re-establish a bond of trust. OR! It's merely a prelude to a hastily cobbled together, apologetic press release, blaming a combination of jetlag, misquotes, and, let's say, volcanic ash. Place your bets!
[Photo Credit: George Pimentel/Film Magic]
Cannes 2010: Shia LaBeouf: We Botched the Last Indiana Jones [LAT]