And now, an exercise in interview hole digging by Transformers: Dark of the Moon star Shia LaBeouf. While speaking with the Los Angeles Times recently, the actor tried his best to explain why Megan Fox didn't fit in on Michael Bay's set. What resulted was an uncomfortable feature with no less than three quotes from LaBeouf, that, like Michael Bay's directing style, could be construed as offensive and sexist. Take it away, Shia...
Quote #1: "Megan developed this Spice Girl strength, this woman-empowerment [stuff] that made her feel awkward about her involvement with Michael, who some people think is a very lascivious filmmaker, the way he films women."
Takeway: LaBeouf is obviously not very comfortable talking about feminism (especially the lack thereof in Michael Bay productions) and sadly still associates the doctrine with defunct 90s girl groups.
Quote #2: "Mike films women in a way that appeals to a 16-year-old sexuality. It's summer. It's Michael's style. And I think [Fox] never got comfortable with it. This is a girl who was taken from complete obscurity and placed in a sex-driven role in front of the whole world and told she was the sexiest woman in America. And she had a hard time accepting it."
Takeaway: Even though Megan Fox is like the hottest woman in America, she also has a brain and complex emotions and did not like that Michael Bay was objectifying her.
Quote #3: "When Mike would ask her to do specific things, there was no time for fluffy talk. We're on the run. And the one thing Mike lacks is tact. There's no time for [LaBeouf assumes a gentle voice] 'I would like you to just arch your back 70 degrees.'"
Takeaway: God forbid Michael Bay politely request that his star sexily straddles a motorcycle instead of grunting back arch angles at her.
Quote #4: "Rosie [Huntington-Whiteley] comes with this Victoria's Secret background, and she's comfortable with it, so she can get down with Mike's way of working and it makes the whole set vibe very different."
Takeaway: Rosie [Huntington-Whitely] and Michael Bay are back arch simpaticos.
Quote #5: "It's a different female energy than [Sam] experienced with [Fox's character] Mikaela, who was a very cold biker chick. [Sam's new love interest, played by Rosie Huntington-Whiteley] is more of a maternal, loving type. Sam wants a domestic, eggs-in-the-morning kind of a thing."
Takeaway: Shame on you, Sam Witwicky.
ยท CMegan Fox's absence changed 'Transformers' vibe, says Shia LaBeouf [Los Angeles Times]