Some of my friends call Robert Redford a "has been," or a "puffed up bag of wind."
But I've always been a fan of his work, and have defended him on many an occasion.
Now there's an even better reason to give him respect: he's been in the news this week for his criticism of the Iraq war and the Bush Administration in particular.
Saw it on BBC News -- more on the flip.
From BBC News Jan. 25, excerpts below:
Hollywood legend Robert Redford has called on U.S. leaders to apologize for the war in Iraq.
The actor was speaking at the start of the Sundance Film Festival in Utah, where the opening movie recalled protests over the Vietnam war in 1968.
Redford said he, like many others, had shown a "spirit of unity" with the U.S. government after 11 September 2001.
"We put all our concerns on hold to let the leaders lead," he said. "Now I think we're owed a big, massive apology."
The actor, whose Sundance Institute for independent film runs the annual festival, usually steers clear of political messages in his opening speech.
Festival opener Chicago 10 recounts the demonstrations surrounding 1968's Democratic National Convention, which saw protestors clash with the National Guard. Using a cutting-edge blend of historical footage and animation, director Brett Morgen's film examines the trial of the famed "Chicago Seven," who were convicted of inciting riots. Morgen, who took the stage to a standing ovation after the screening, said one of his goals in making the film was to "mobilise the youth in the country to get out and stop this war".
His film is one of many referencing the Iraq conflict at this year's Sundance festival.
"Ghosts of Abu Ghraib" deals with the abuses that occurred in an Iraqi prison in 2003, while "No End In Sight" is an examination of the Bush Administration's conduct in the country.
"Those are issues that are on the table, whether you want to face them or not," said Redford. "If you don't expose these things, if you don't put the light on them, then they could get worse."
Frankly I have not heard enough Hollywood moguls speaking out against this war; thank you, Mr. Redford!!
Read more of this BBC News article here.
Read the text of the Senate Resolution introduced January 17, 2007 by Senators Biden, Hagel and Levin, criticizing the Bush plan to increase U.S. troops in Iraq, here.
Read more about the Biden-Gelb Plan For Iraq here.
Read the New York Times article titled "Biden Opposes A Troop Increase" published December 27, 2006 here.