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| Subject: Mel Gibson File I | |||||||||
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Author: Captain Longinus |
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Date Posted: 21:29:08 07/31/06 Mon Mel Columcille Gerard Gibson (born January 3, 1956) is a American-born, Australian actor, director, and producer. After establishing himself as a household name with the Mad Max and Lethal Weapon series, Gibson went on to direct and star in 1995's Academy Award-winning Braveheart. In 2004, he directed and produced the controversial blockbuster, The Passion of the Christ. The first person ever awarded People magazine's "Sexiest Man Alive", Gibson's direction of Braveheart made him only the sixth actor-turned-filmmaker to garner an Oscar for Best Director.[1]
Gibson was born in Peekskill, New York, the sixth of ten children born to Hutton Gibson (whose parents were U.S. businessman, John Hutton Gibson, and Irish-Australian opera singer Eva Mylott) and Anne Reilly Gibson (who was born in the parish of Columcille, County Longford, Ireland). The family also adopted a child, bringing the total number of children in the family to eleven. One of Mel's younger brothers, Donal, is also an actor. His unusual first name comes from a 5th-century Irish saint, Mel, who was the founder of the diocese of Ardagh, which contains most of his mother's native county. Although Gibson always maintained his United States citizenship, he lived in Australia from the age of twelve. Following a victory on the TV game show Jeopardy!, Gibson's father moved his family to Australia in 1968, allegedly in protest of the Vietnam War for which his elder sons risked being drafted, and also because he believed that changes in American society were immoral. Early Gibson films feature a distinct, noticeable Australian accent. After graduating from the National Institute of Dramatic Art in Sydney in 1977, Gibson's acting career began in Australia with appearances in television series, including The Sullivans, Cop Shop and Punishment. He made his Australian film debut as the leather-clad post-apocalyptic survivor in George Miller's Mad Max, which later became a cult hit and launched two sequels. His international profile increased through Peter Weir's Gallipoli. Gibson's boyish good looks made him a natural for leading male roles. In 1984, he made his US movie debut, starring as Fletcher Christian in The Bounty. Actor Anthony Hopkins played Captain Bligh opposite Gibson. Reportedly, Gibson and Hopkins did not get along during the shoot. Mel Gibson, at the time struggling with full blown alcoholism, deeply resented the fact that Anthony Hopkins was a teetotaler. Lethal Weapon and Hamlet
Gibson moved into more mainstream commercial filmmaking with the popular Lethal Weapon series, in which he starred as Martin Riggs, an emotionally unstable Vietnam veteran with a penchant for violence and gunplay. Partnered in the films with the elder, more reserved Roger Murtaugh (played by Danny Glover), this series would come to exemplify the action genre's so-called buddy film. Gibson then made the unusual transition to the classical genre, playing the melancholy Danish prince in Franco Zeffirelli's Hamlet. Gibson was cast alongside such experienced Shakespearean actors as Ian Holm, Alan Bates, and Paul Scofield. He described working with his fellow castmembers as being "thrown into the ring with Mike Tyson." Over the course of the shoot, which took place in the Scottish Highlands, Gibson was advised that he would do better with the lines if he were able to control his breathing. A longtime chain smoker, Gibson switched to nicotine gum to moderate his smoking for parts of the shoot. The film met with critical success, and marked the transformation of Mel Gibson from action hero to serious actor and filmmaker. He further complemented those diverse performances with comedic roles in Maverick and What Women Want. BraveheartGibson received two Academy Awards (Best Director and Best Picture) for his 1995 directing of Braveheart, based on the life of Sir William Wallace, a thirteenth-century Scottish knight. Gibson also starred as Wallace in the film. Gibson stated that when the "Braveheart" script arrived and was recommended by his agents, he rejected it outright. However, after careful thought, he decided to not only act in the film, but to direct it as well. He said in interviews that he was attempting to make a film similar to the epic films which he had loved as a child, such as Stanley Kubrick's Spartacus (film) and The Big Country. The filming began in the Scottish Highlands. However, after learning that the filming locations were among the rainiest spots in Europe, the shooting was moved to Ireland, where the Irish Army Reserve was called up as extras for the battle scenes. On June 7, 1980, Gibson married Robyn Moore, whom he initially met through a dating service. They have one daughter and six sons: Hannah (born 1980), twins Edward and Christian (born 1982), Willie (born 1985), Louis (born 1988), Milo (born 1990), and Tommy (born 1999). Rumors that Hannah was planning to become a nun were quashed by the family after initial mention in the media. His wife remains an Anglican despite 26 years of marriage to Mel Gibson. Gibson never disapproved of her Anglican beliefs, saying that "true love knows no boundaries." Gibson has not attempted to convert her, and maintains that she is "a saint" and a much better Christian than he. He has also called her "my Rock of Gibraltar, only prettier." But he has also stated in interviews that he holds to the Traditionalist Catholic doctrine of "Extra Ecclesiam Nulla Salus" and, as such, accepts the possibility that his wife could go to Hell.[9] Many of Gibson's positions are in accordance with traditionalist Catholicism. In 2004, he publicly condemned taxpayer-funded embryonic stem-cell research that involves the cloning and destruction of human embryos. In March 2005, he issued a statement condemning the ending of Terri Schiavo's life, referring to her death as "state-sanctioned murder" on Sean Hannity's radio show.[10] He is, however, a proponent of the death penalty, which the Traditional doctrine of the Catholic Church allows for under specific circumstances, but which post-Vatican II Popes have said is rarely justifiable in modern society.[11] He is also a supporter of gun ownership. While having never identified himself as being a conservative Republican, Gibson has been perceived as such to the point that The Washington Times has referred to him as one, and WorldNetDaily once even reported that there was grassroots support among Republicans for "a presidential run".[12] He joined many of his colleagues in the entertainment industry in opposition to the Iraq War and praised the liberal director Michael Moore and his documentary film Fahrenheit 9/11.[13] Gibson's Icon Productions was originally set to back Moore's film, but mysteriously backed out. Moore claimed in 2004, Icon Productions got a call from top Republicans to tell Mel Gibson don’t expect to get more invitations to the White House." [14] In 2006 Gibson told Hotdog Magazine, a UK film magazine, that the "fearmongering" depicted in his film Apocalypto "reminds me a little of President Bush and his guys." [15] Many fans have perceived The Patriot (2000), We Were Soldiers (2001) and The Passion of the Christ (2004) as conservative movies. In a July 1995 interview with Playboy magazine, Gibson said President Bill Clinton was a "low-level opportunist" because someone was "telling him what to do." He said he thought Clinton and other politicians who had won Rhodes Scholarships were part of a "stealth" trend of Rhodes scholars becoming politicians who were striving for a "new world order." He said this was a form of Marxism and that "Karl had the right idea."[16][17] During the interview, Gibson also said the assassinations (or attempts) of Abraham Lincoln, John F. Kennedy, and Ronald Reagan may have been related to actions they took regarding the Federal Reserve; he said his father told him about this theory.[18] Accusations of homophobiaSome gay rights groups accused Gibson of homophobia,[citation needed] after a 1992 interview in the Spanish magazine El Pais. Asked what he thought of gay people, he said, "They take it up the ass." Gibson gestured descriptively, continuing, "This is only for taking a shit." When the interviewer recalled that Gibson previously had expressed fear that people would think he is gay because he's an actor, Gibson replied, "Do I sound like a homosexual? Do I talk like them? Do I move like them? I think not." He later defended his comments on Good Morning America, saying, "[Those remarks were a response] to a direct question. If someone wants my opinion, I'll give it. What, am I supposed to lie to them?" [19][20] In January 1997, to make amends with the gay community, Gibson and the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation hosted ten lesbian and gay filmmakers for an on-location seminar on the set of the movie Conspiracy Theory.[21] The depiction of a homosexual character in Braveheart also drew accusations of homophobia.[22] Although historians agree that Prince (later King) Edward II of England was indeed homosexual and a mere puppet of Thomas of Lancaster, historians dispute the portrayal of Edward as effeminate. It should also be noted that Gibson did not write the screenplay for the film.[23] Gibson was accused of homophobia once more in his movies with his portrayal of Herod Antipas in The Passion of the Christ. Antipas is portrayed as an effeminate homosexual wearing makeup and having 'boy-toys'. Although this was a common caricature of Herod in medieval Passion plays, it does not appear in the Gospels and is contrary to the historical record regarding Antipas. In spite of this portrayal, it should be noted that Christ uses the Greek word for a "vixen," or female fox, rather than "fox" when he describes Herod in the Gospel.[24][25][26] According to Wensley Clarkson, Gibson's alcoholism dates to his teenage years. During the shooting of The Bounty on the island of Moorea, Gibson took to mixing two shots of Scotch with a glass of beer. He dubbed the concoction "Liquid Violence." In a 2004 Primetime interview with Diane Sawyer, Gibson admitted to drug and alcohol abuse. He also said that his addictions have led him to try to commit suicide. [27] Drunk driving arrestsIn 1984, Gibson was arrested for drunk driving after he rear-ended a car in Toronto. According to Gibson biographer Wensley Clarkson, when the other driver exited his vehicle and began shouting profanity at him, Mel Gibson laughed hysterically and offered him a drink. He was fined $400 and banned from driving in Canada for 3 months. [28] On July 28, 2006, Gibson was charged with driving under the influence while speeding (87 miles per hour in a 45 miles per hour zone) on Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu, California.[29] His bail was set at $5,000 and he was released.[30] The arresting officer was allegedly instructed by superiors to redact a barrage of Gibson's threats and anti-Semitic comments from his report, but on July 29, 2006, the report was leaked to an entertainment reporter at TMZ.com. In it, Gibson is described as repeatedly saying "My life is fucked" and, by virtue of his position, threatening to end the officer's career. Gibson also allegedly asked the officer if he was Jewish and stated that "fucking Jews... The Jews are responsible for all the wars in the world."[31] The Los Angeles Times and The New York Times reported that unnamed sources confirmed the TMZ-leaked documents as authentic.[32][33] He was allegedly stopped twice before in Malibu for drunk driving but was released without a citation.[34] The police report alleges Gibson refused to be transported to the police station, and had to be restrained. Gibson's tirade allegedly continued at the police station, where he was videotaped asking a female officer, "What are you looking at, sugar tits?" and possibly attempting to urinate on the floor.[31] While the legal blood alcohol level limit in the state is 0.08%, Gibson's blood alcohol content was measured at 0.12%.[31], which would produce "noticeable cognitive changes" but not delirium. See also: Effects of alcohol on the body and Blood alcohol concentration. Gibson issued a statement on July 29, 2006, indicating that he was pursuing treatment for his alcoholism and apologizing for his behavior:
In response, Abraham Foxman of the Anti-Defamation League, who was one of The Passion's most vocal critics, released a statement saying that Gibson's apology was "unremorseful and insufficient" and that the group hoped that "Hollywood now would realize the bigot in their midst and that they will distance themselves from this anti-Semite."[36] The Catholic League (US) responded by accusing Foxman of hypocrisy and calling his remarks "indefensible." It was speculated that Gibson entered rehab for his alcoholism. Gibson's publicist has since denied this claim. The publicist did state that Gibson had begun attending an unnamed support group. [37] [ Next Thread | Previous Thread | Next Message | Previous Message ] | ||||||||
| Subject | Author | Date |
| Mel Gibson File II | Captain Longinus | 21:33:16 07/31/06 Mon |
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