Oliver Stone

Date: 2020-07-21 | Duration: 1h 46m

Episode Overview

Oliver Stone reflects on his Vietnam War experience and its profound influence on his filmmaking, particularly in *Platoon*. He shares vivid memories of combat, describing the chaos and confusion of jungle warfare, and discusses how he combined real-life events and characters to create an authentic narrative. Stone critiques Hollywood’s portrayal of war, emphasizing the importance of truth over glorification, and recalls the challenges of making *Platoon* amidst skepticism and low morale. He also touches on the political climate of the 1960s, including the widespread disillusionment with the war and the societal upheaval that followed. The conversation then shifts to Stone’s broader interest in controversial historical subjects, including the Iran-Contra scandal and covert CIA operations during the Cold War. He recounts his research process for films like *Salvador* and *JFK*, highlighting the layers of government deception and propaganda he uncovered. Stone discusses the surveillance state revealed by whistleblower Edward Snowden, praising Snowden’s courage while criticizing the erosion of civil liberties. The episode concludes with Stone reflecting on the ongoing relevance of historical truths in today’s political landscape and the need for filmmakers to confront uncomfortable realities.

About Oliver Stone

Oliver Stone is an acclaimed director, producer, screenwriter, and author renowned for his provocative storytelling and bold cinematic style. With multiple Academy Awards to his name, including Best Director for "Platoon" and "Born on the Fourth of July," Stone has captivated audiences with his unflinching exploration of political and social issues. His latest work, the documentary "Nuclear Now," set to release on June 6, delves into the complexities of nuclear energy and its implications for the future. Known for films like "JFK," "Natural Born Killers," and "Wall Street," Stone's fearless approach to filmmaking has sparked conversations and challenged norms, making him a significant figure in contemporary cinema. Tune into his insightful conversation on the Joe Rogan Experience episode #1992 to explore his thoughts on creativity, politics, and the state of the world today.

Key Moments

– Vietnam War
– Film Directing
– Military Service
– Combat Experience
– Documentary Filmmaking
– Cold War
– CIA Operations
– Political Propaganda
– American History
– Surveillance State
– Hollywood Industry
– War Veterans
– Contras Nicaragua
– Iran-Contra Affair
– Assassination Theories
– Martin Luther King Jr.
– Snowden Revelations
– JFK Assassination
– Drug Experiments
– Cold War Paranoia
0:00:00 – Introduction and opening remarks
0:01:36 – Impact of military service on directing
0:02:05 – Importance of Vietnam War experience in Platoon
0:03:04 – Discussion of Lone Survivor film
0:06:11 – Portraying chaos and confusion in combat scenes
0:08:14 – Reference to The Deer Hunter film
0:08:56 – Military propaganda and misinformation
0:11:04 – Vietnam War aftermath and public perception
0:14:23 – 1968 as a pivotal year in Vietnam War
0:17:50 – Authenticity in war film details
0:19:55 – Research trip for Salvador film
0:21:07 – Vietnam War realities in Platoon
0:25:55 – Audience reactions during film editing
0:29:59 – Personal motivations for filmmaking
0:33:37 – Messages in Scarface and other films
0:36:19 – CIA's use of LSD in covert operations
0:40:12 – Returning home and encountering protests
0:44:58 – Details of JFK assassination wounds
0:48:03 – Discussion of Operation Northwoods document
0:51:50 – Attraction to controversial subjects
0:56:01 – Character study of a key historical figure
1:02:31 – CIA and Manson connection in the 1960s
1:06:15 – Cancer experiments and medical ethics
1:10:24 – Island ownership and legal defense stories
1:13:21 – Vietnam War bureaucracy and corruption
1:15:08 – Coverage of Taliban and Afghanistan conflict
1:18:03 – Brutality of Contras in Nicaragua
1:20:42 – Comparing JFK and Platoon films' impact
1:23:36 – Snowden's persecution and surveillance revelations
1:25:37 – Jeffrey Epstein story and implications
1:29:31 – Presidential legacy reflections
1:31:38 – Stories of heroism and information control
1:33:38 – Current global political issues
1:36:57 – Balancing outspokenness and filmmaking
1:40:05 – Military misinformation during combat operations
1:41:09 – Challenges of telling Martin Luther King Jr.'s story
1:42:20 – Urgency of Martin Luther King Jr.'s message today

Transcript Excerpt

Starting point is 00:00:00 All right, here we go. Starting point is 00:00:17 I mean, that's one of my favorite things that you've ever done Starting point is 00:00:32 It was 1968, November. Starting point is 00:00:47 It was awful. Starting point is 00:00:55 ultimately, Starting point is 00:01:04 I was supposed to get out of there when DEROS leave the country. I was due out. I had volunteered Starting point is 00:01:36 How much did your time serving impact your directing? Starting point is 00:02:05 And that was very important when we did Platoon. Starting point is 00:02:37 But I think overall it's way overdone. Starting point is 00:03:04 Yeah. Was that the name of the film Lone Survivor yeah Starting point is 00:03:08 and they manage Starting point is 00:03:14 about Marcus Luttrell's Starting point is 00:03:22 with everything Starting point is 00:03:36 And they got their shit kicked out of them. Starting point is 00:03:52 And that's one of the things that I really loved about Platoon. Starting point is 00:04:05 Well, I called him Sergeant Barnes, but I wouldn't use his real name. Starting point is 00:04:32 I was dealing in the jungle. Starting point is 00:04:52 I combined them into one unit, one platoon for this movie purposes. Starting point is 00:05:16 He'd been in before. Starting point is 00:05:44 Right. Starting point is 00:06:11 So it's quite a mess. It's chaotic. The radio, people screaming, shouting, noise, confusion, Starting point is 00:07:01 where artillery 20 miles away, 40 miles away has to hit the spot. Starting point is 00:07:29 Well, I got a great combat advisor. Starting point is 00:07:58 It wasn't made. Starting point is 00:08:14 and Deer Hunter. Starting point is 00:08:29 Yeah. Starting point is 00:08:56 I go on in the book and talk about the lies that were spread by the military, the propaganda that we're winning the whole time. Starting point is 00:09:19 They were like ants. Starting point is 00:09:38 But America went to extremes to win that war ...

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Who was the guest on Joe Rogan Experience #1511?

Oliver Stone was the guest on JRE #1511. This page includes the episode overview, topics discussed, and related resources.

What topics were discussed on JRE #1511?

On Joe Rogan Experience #1511 with Oliver Stone, topics include Vietnam War, Film Directing, Military Service, and Combat Experience.

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