Shia LaBeouf has been going through some shit, lately.
Of course, that’s putting it mildly, but in a recent in-depth interview with Esquire, the actor comes clean about a lot of things that have been troubling him in the past. From working with Michael Bay and Steven Spielberg on those “Transformers” films to the aftermath of an embarrassing arrest that was recorded and put all over the Internet, LeBeouf is ready to turn over a new leaf. That is, if Hollywood is willing to give him a shot.
In recent years, the actor has admitted to dropping the ball in “Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull,” as well as talking badly about his “Transformers” films, but it looks like the LeBeouf has learned his lesson. Kinda.
“Michael [Bay] and Steven [Spielberg] did a lot for me. I’m not going to pooh-pooh those dudes anymore,” said LeBeouf in the recent interview. Well, at least Shia has found it in his heart to not talk badly about two of the biggest filmmakers in Hollywood. That being said, he made sure to talk, again, about how “irrelevant” those “Transformers” films actually are.
“My hang-up with those films was that they felt irrelevant. They felt dated as fuck… You come up on these stories about ‘Easy Rider’ and ‘Raging Bull’ and De Niro and Scorsese and Hopper, and you find value in what they do. Meanwhile, you’re chasing energon crystals. It’s very hard to keep doing what you’re doing when you feel like it’s the antithesis of your purpose on this planet,” says the actor.
Judging by that comment, it doesn’t look like Marvel Studios or any blockbuster filmmakers need to talk to LeBeouf anytime soon. He’s too busy trying to make the next “Easy Rider.”
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But to be fair, over the course of the very extensive interview, it’s clear that LeBeouf is trying to turn over a new leaf. This is particularly the case when it comes to his off-set antics. After countless embarrassing headlines, mostly stemming from the actor’s admitted substance-abuse issues, it looks like LeBeouf is on the straight and narrow.
After a horribly public arrest, complete with video of LeBeouf saying racially insensitive comments that was circulated by TMZ, the actor has finally spoken out about the incident, and wants to make amends. “What went on in Georgia was mortifying. White privilege and desperation and disaster… It came from a place of self-centered delusion… It was me trying to absolve myself of guilt for getting arrested,” said LeBeouf. “I fucked up.”
Through it all, he’s continually showed up in films, perhaps not as many as he would like. However, the “bad boy” stigma follows him wherever he goes, and it’s greatly affecting his career. “I’m run out,” he tells me. “No one’s giving me a shot right now. Spike Lee is making a movie. I was talking to him about it. He goes to the money and pushes to try to get me in the movie, the money says no, and that’s the end of me hanging out with Spike Lee for this film.”
While he may not be doing anything with Spike Lee, the actor will soon be seen in the upcoming “Borg/McEnroe,” where LeBeouf plays another infamous hothead, and tennis legend, John McEnroe. That film will be released April 13.
LaBoeuf may or may not be terrible, but should we really be throwing shade at anybody who is trying to make “Easy Rider” instead of “Transformers”? Seems to me like, regardless of where we stand on him personally, supporting the former ambition over the latter is the right thing to do.
I like him. He’s a great actor.