Not her first terrorist-sympathizing movie. She played the mother of a terrorist Bobby Sands in Some Mother’s Son. Ironically Bobby Sand’s hunger strike and subsequent death cowed the British into calling them criminals as opposed to POWs or more accurately terrorists.

Mark L. Jackson on May 31, 2007 at 5:04 pm

As a child in the 1950’s, through the present, I have been a Texopean, one of those people who spend 40% of their time in Texas, 40% of their time in Europe and 20% of their time waiting for a Lufthansa flight at DFW or an Air France flight at IAH. Even at a very young age, I noticed the differences in attitude among Europeans and Americans with reference to Israel. When I became a bit more politically aware, I assumed for a short time that Americans and the American media were simply so pro-Israel that a more balanced view, that of Europeans and Britons, only seemed radical. That was an immature and incorrect view. Europeans and Britons do have not only a pro-Palestinian/pro-Islamic view, but what might be described as a anti-Israeli view. I cannot account for the attitude, but I am not ahistorical. I realize that virtually all of Europe and Great Britain was rabidly anti-Semitic leading up to the 1930’s, with Germany, oddly, being something of a model of tolerance and assimilation. Obviously, that must not have run too deep. I suppose what I am trying to say here is that Europe and Great Britain are not just pulling for who they perceive to be the underdog, but that the pro-Palestinian attitude is also fed by an anti-Israel/anti-Semitic attitude that is pervasive and deep. Obviously, nothing I can do changes that. Interestingly, however, the anti-Israel/anti-Semitic is not the product of Islamic immigration. Islamic immigration may actually be feeding an attitude change. It will be an interesting phenomenon to watch as it all unfolds.

On The Mark on May 31, 2007 at 5:10 pm

Only the Uniform Code of Military Justice kept me from calling the Europeans on their hypocrisy. As usual, you had to worry about your own gov’t stabbing you in the back for standing up for what’s right. I think we got an excellent view into their arrogant, pompous, two-faced view from Fitz the poster a few weeks ago and his, Ah, therz no 1zz with any brainzz heir, so I go now”. Hey Fritz, you big giant weanie, no one in the Middle East thinks that because you sell them chemicals and tanks you’re their friend. It’s only a matter of time before they blow up Berlin.

code7 on May 31, 2007 at 9:59 pm

I think criticism of Mirren is perhaps a bit premature. Unlike Redgrave and Jolie who’ve made their views known, I don’t think the same can be said of Mirren. Just because she has accepted a role in a movie which may or may not be critical of Israel, she is just an actress looking for a job. An actor need not agree with the politics of the film he’s starring in. I’m not stating that it’s OK for actors to star in hateful propaganda films, or that it’s OK for an American actor to star in a blatantly anti-American film like ‘Valley of the Wolves:Iraq’, but everyone has a story to tell, and if that story can be put on film, it shouldn’t be hampered by politics.

Norman Blitzer on June 1, 2007 at 2:17 am

Oh yeah,
Helen Mirren was really, really hot in ‘Excalibur’.

Norman Blitzer on June 1, 2007 at 2:27 am

Why is it that Hollywood, land of Spielberg, Streisand, Katzenberg, and many other influential Jews, has no problem demonizing Israel? Do they secretly hope for genocide? Did Speilberg not actually make “Shindler’s List” and develop his holocaust video project?
If Steven Speilberg were to come out and say, “enough is enough,” that would put an end to the GROWING trend toward anti-Israel (read anti-Semitic) films.

sonomaca on June 1, 2007 at 9:31 am

Well Normie,
If an actor doesn’t necessarily have to agree with the politics of a film they star in, what’s there to say about their integrity or lack thereof? Oh yea, this is the movie industry…I reckon a dollar will make a whore out of anybody.
Why don’t you go back to smackin’ yer rat and quit clogging up this site with your liberal drivel!

1shot1kill on June 1, 2007 at 10:31 am

Debbie:
The British have had a bug up their collective asses regarding Israel since 1949 when the fledgling IAF (using Czech supplied captured German Messerschmitt’s) shot down 5 R.A.F. Spitfires over the Negev (for no Israeli losses).

Ripper on June 1, 2007 at 11:19 am