Sneak Peek: De Niro, Damon on the College Tour

Posted: Friday, December 15, 2006 12:04 PM by Jen Brown

Yesterday, Hardball taped the final stop on the 2006 college tour with Robert De Niro and Matt Damon at George Mason University. Chris Matthews talked to the actors about their new movie, “The Good Shepherd” – a story about the early history of the CIA through the eyes of one man (Damon’s character) – and how the facts behind the movie relate to today’s political climate.

The show will air Monday at 5 and 7 p.m. ET, but here's a sneak peek of what's coming...

(All photos were taken by Julie Fischer)

Photo: (From left to right) Chris Matthews, Matt Damon, CIA veteran Milton Bearden and "Shepherd" producer Jane Rosenthal.

CHRIS MATTHEWS: What's his (Matt Damon’s character’s) motivation? Why does he want to go risk his life, give up his - because the character, you are married to Angelina Jolie and you've got no time for her which is kind of hard to believe.
MATT DAMON: That was actually the biggest problem I had with the script.

On being directed by Robert DeNiro….
MATT DAMON: What's it like? That was the main reason for me to do it was the chance to work that closely with him on a movie that he was that passionate about. It's basically the best safety net in history as an actor is having him watch over your performance.

Photo: Robert De Niro

On the practice of waterboarding…
~~ROBERT DE NIRO:~~ MILTON BEARDEN, CIA VETERAN I think that it kills and destroys the people who are doing it about as it does the people that it's being done to. I think that America needs to say, "How much do I want to give up of what this country has been -- become over the next -- last 230 years, peace at any price or make me safe."…. How much do I want to give up? And that's the question that you're going to have to fathom.

Photo: (From let to right) Matt Damon, Chris Matthews' son, Michael, and Robert De Niro

CHRIS MATTHEWS: Do you think if you waterboarded Cheney, like in the movie, that you'd get a different truth out of him?
MATT DAMON: Well, there's two answers to that question. One is he doesn't strike me as the kind of person who has any real personal courage. When it was his turn to go, he didn't go. He deferred six times…..The second part to the answer is that I believe that if you waterboard anybody, they'll tell you anything and that torture is completely impractical, on top of being dishonorable. It's completely impractical because you can -- I mean, if you torture a normal person, if you torture anybody, they're going to tell you whatever you want them to tell you. So if you're getting information that you're going to then use and you get it by torturing them...

Photo: Robert De Niro, Matt Damon

On who he would like to see elected president in 2008….
MATT DAMON: Barack Obama.

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Comments

These are two of my very favorite actors, but being a former marine I would have to say some of there comments leads me to believe the need a reality check. When terriorst start killing innocent civilians at the level of the past 5 years its time to get tougher not weaker.

Rob Allen, Quincy, MI (Sent Friday, December 15, 2006 3:29 PM)

Sounds like the movie has a political message, one not favorable to the Republicans. Mr Damon is a fine actor but I am not interested in his political observations, just his movies.

George Taylor, Ruckersville, Va. (Sent Friday, December 15, 2006 5:26 PM)

I have to say, GMU got the best guests. Thanks, Hardball, for picking us!

Alexandra, Fairfax VA (Sent Friday, December 15, 2006 7:44 PM)

I don't believe matt damon has ever been in conbat or actually faced someone wanting to kill him. he has no right to judge. thank you

bob alexander,jersey shore, Pa. (Sent Friday, December 15, 2006 7:58 PM)

My son is a marine in Al Anbar Province right now; in daily combat conditions. A grunt. His battalion has experienced seven killed; over 35 seriously wounded; and over 15% of the whole battalion wounded in some fashion. In just 5 months.

Around the time President Bush's daughter was shopping in Argentina and lost her wallet and cell phone, America's Battalion lost CPL Nick Rapavi, a three tour veteran and 23 year old American who's loss will be a loss for America's future.

I think Matt Damon's comment about we need everyone involved if we are gonna be a country at war; and especially his comment about President Bush's two daughters being of age and ideal candidates to join our arm forces and the fight; are comments long overdue in the nightly TV talk shows like HardBall.

I found it interesting today that Price William, the future King of England, just graduated from his military program and will begin service, with deployment to Iraq not precluded by the British military.

If leaders worth following ask our sons and daughters to die for the war that will define our global legacy and future .. lead by example .. put your kids along side our kids. It will help you make sound decisions. It will cause people to trust you.

Asking only 1% of America, under the facade of an all volunteer military, to bear this burden will inevitably damage the very fabric of what makes, or used to make, this country great. Indeed, the damage has already begun to take hold.

A Concerned Dad

Richard R., Columbia, SC (Sent Friday, December 15, 2006 8:55 PM)

Wow, another naive Hollywood do-gooder.
Big suprize here ... IF you take the combined foreign policy knowledge of all of Holywood and turned it into water ... the glass would only be half-full ... hmmm?

Jim Jenia (Sent Saturday, December 16, 2006 1:36 AM)

Good stuff. Cant wait for the movie - best
acting for sure, DeNero, what can you say
about him except the greatest of all. And
thank you Matt, Im also hoping for Barack to
run. Thanks

Florence Livingston, Davie,Florida (Sent Saturday, December 16, 2006 8:13 AM)

How has Bush buffaloed the American public so easily? He has demoralized us in the eyes of the world. What respect we had left, his Iraq lie, took. Why don't we prosecute? Admit our mistakes, we could address them and move on. Gain back a little trust in the world, that we will do the right thing even if it is our mistake. That is a sign of maturity and resposibility.

thumblina (Sent Saturday, December 16, 2006 9:09 AM)

I think the movie will make us ask the hard questions. What kind of country do we want to have? Why did we do certain things in the past? How will we act in the future?

CarlosX, Miami, FL (Sent Saturday, December 16, 2006 12:20 PM)

This is a volunteer army. No one should be forced to go to war. If you don't agree with it fine, but to want to send someone out of spite is not only wrong but juvenile. What has he ever done to stop the war other than complain. Would Mr. Damon give up a role in a movie because his charater tortuned someone? I doubt it because its all about money

John Wang (Sent Saturday, December 16, 2006 1:45 PM)

Chris Mathews s doing a great job. Our country and its citizens need all the help they can get to be beter informed. We're in DEEP trouble. What has taken 200 years to build has been torn done in 6 years!

Anne Ripepi (Sent Saturday, December 16, 2006 1:48 PM)

Matt and Robert are super.Keep up the good work,and make films that expose people like Dubya and Cheney.

Norbert marcinek (Sent Saturday, December 16, 2006 10:07 PM)

Matt Damon is right on with his wish for Barack Obama as president. I think that Obama- Edwards or Edwards- Obama would be a hard combination to beat. It would also show the United states and the rest of the world that we do not believe in the type of goverment that we have become under the G.W. Bush admininstration.

D. smith The Dalles Or. (Sent Saturday, December 16, 2006 10:37 PM)

actors act they should not use thier name recognition to bring us thier unsafisticated distortion of the political mess our country is in. I find most actors political assesments boring to bordering on rediculous.

james g. sloan bangkok thailand (Sent Sunday, December 17, 2006 12:49 AM)

I will truly enjoy the movie directed by Robert Deniro. I am pleased with the casting of Angelina Jolie and Matt Damon. Also I strongly would like to see Barack Obama elected but unfortunately I don't believe we live in a country where he would be safe in that position.

Janice Smith (Sent Sunday, December 17, 2006 4:05 AM)

Isn't it interesting that most of Hollywood's elite have only a high school education (if that), and, if they have college credits, it is in the area of drama and theater. Most have never served in the military; yet, they feel that their opinions carry as much weight as those who have both education and experience in these areas. Their experience with drama has certainly prepared them to parrot the opinions of others who also have no knowledge or experience beyond their own particular field of study. I would ask Matt Damon, "How have you shown personal courage greater than Mr. Cheney?"

Sharon Smith Knoxville, Tennessee (Sent Sunday, December 17, 2006 8:13 AM)

Did either Damon or DeNiro serve in the military? What are DeNiro's qualifications for asking the questions he asks? I have not seen the film and have no intention to but I would be willing to bet good money that it is going to put the US in a bad light. What a surprise.

Bulletin to Bob and Matt - There are some really bad guys and gals out there who don't live here and who hate us and who are going to LOVE what you've done. You strike me as being the kind of people who use your medium to advance your own political views, which is ok but please have the guts not to deny what you're doing.

As for torture - of course it is wrong but do you honestly think we in America are anything more than amateurs at it? The folks in allah-land have been doing it for centuries. To them it is an art form and they are PROUD of it. If they aren't proud of it, then why do they make videos of it and sell them on the internet? Do you think the good folks of the KGB ever used it?

This is the movie you've been waiting to make - a movie that blames your country for most of the evil in the world. You must be very proud.

Freedom of speech is not only a right it is a responsibility.

Terry McManus New Sharon Maine (Sent Sunday, December 17, 2006 9:50 AM)

I saw a portion of the interview with Matt Damon where he talked about what would happen if George Bush's daughters had to go to Iraq. This has often occurred to me about all of the neo-cons who promoted this war. What if they weren't insulated from all the death and destruction faced daily by our soldiers?

Chris Lonergan, Soquel, CA (Sent Sunday, December 17, 2006 7:58 PM)

Mr De Niro, I respect and liked 90% of your movies.Also the things that you have done in NY.But have Angelina Jolie as a Wife in a spy movie,its going to be hard to believe.For 50 million men.Would be home, at the appointed time.If not a minute sooner.She is a Great Actress.

John Madden KCMO (Sent Sunday, December 17, 2006 8:34 PM)

There will always be men that will give up everything to keep us safe. We may not always want to know what they have done to make us safe or who they have done it to. But these men are need and thank God for them . Most of us do not have what it takes to keep us all out of harms way .

John Walton North Ridgeville Ohio (Sent Monday, December 18, 2006 8:11 AM)

I love De Niro and respect his views as a veteran actor.I am sure the film is superb as De Niro really does is homework on projects that he indulges in and especially this one that has no room for error. I can't wait to see it!.

kennedy kamay , wichita, ks (Sent Monday, December 18, 2006 10:34 AM)

DeNiro would not need to have served in the army to speak about the atrocities of war any more than a male doctor would not be qualified to be an OB/GYN because of his gender. Research, reading, etc. is what qualifies both to make such a movie. Bush, Cheney and others are the ones with questionable qualifications enabling them to start a war and send your children off to die. Do you hear me now?

Michelle Robisnon - Houston, Texas (Sent Monday, December 18, 2006 10:40 AM)

I attend George Mason University and was lucky enough to not only get a ticket to the event, but get selected to sit on stage with Matt Damon and Robert De Niro. I'm the kid over the left shoulder of the CIA agent in the background with a green George Mason shirt, Green Mason hat, and black-rimmed glasses, leaning forward.

The CIA agent who was a guest on the show was amazing. He put Chris Matthews in his place and told it how it was, no sugarcoating found here.

He was asked why torture has always been around. "Why?" he answered, "Because it works. If you want information, you torture them. They will tell you anything."

On another note, I was the only person on stage yelling "WHY?" When Matt Damon said he thought Obama should be president. Everyone else was clapping. I was shaking my head, taking off my hat, and shifting my position so often from being just insulted by such an obvious liberal bias that I almost walked off stage.

Before the show started to air, Chris Matthews asked us, "So, what do you thinka bout Obama for president?" Nope. No bias there. Then he asks us if we think we're reading for a black president, and everyone clapped. I clapped too, but Obama is NOT him.

Matt Damon was fair. He gave A LOT of credit to George Bush. He agreed with Bush one everything EXCEPT the war in Iraq. So, it wasn't THAT bad.

When a George Mason student asked De Niro and Damon if they would go to war in Iraq they danced around the question without answering it.

Overall, I thought it was good, although obviously biased. What do you expect though? It was a great experience.

Tom Marshall (Sent Monday, December 18, 2006 10:45 AM)

FIrst, let me say i really enjoy RD and MD as actors. What is their military backeground. I served during VN and after as a civilian. I, and many of the soldiers I speak with often, support the efforts in Iraq. A democracy foothold in that region would be invaluable as a world peace movement incentive.

I believe if we investigate, we will find all who oppose war are too cowardly to fight for our freedoms; they sure enjoy lip servicing about wanting all people to be free but would never sacrifice themselves to provide it to them.

henry daigle, san antonio, tx (Sent Monday, December 18, 2006 11:04 AM)

Being a 14+ year veteran and having served tours in both OEF and OIF, I have to ask what qualification these two actors have ref the war. Unlike there simple lifes, there is no second take or producers cut in the Art of War. These two are so far removed from the real world it's pathetic. But that is there right to speak and complain, though zero of there points are valid and should hold no weight. I'm not an actor, so I won't tell them how to act.......They are not Soldier's and will never have the courage to be one, so don't say anthing about Soldiering......They are not politicians and hold no Security Clearance nor are the read-on to any TTP's (Training Techniques and Procedures) ref the War or any other Foreign Policy for that matter. As for making President Bush's children serve in this time of war, that last time I check we have a volunteer Military that makes up only .5% of the Nations total population. These .5% make us the individuals with the largest amount on intestinal fortitude within the walls of the United States. In this world there are two types of men. 1) Men of Action 2) All others. Unless you are a Man of Action, stick to what you are doing.....working at dunken donuts.

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