John Cusack ... the political activist?

Everyone's vote for Mr. 80s -- John Cusack -- is back on the big screen. But this is a role that could catch a lot of long-time fans off guard.

Angry over the war in Iraq, Cusack helped write and stars in "War, Inc." -- a movie set in fictional Turaqistan, a country occupied by an American company called Tamerlane (yet run by a former American vice president), according to Reuters.

The movie -- set to open in late May in New York and Los Angeles -- is strictly low budget, yet it also co-stars big names such as Ben Kingsley, Marisa Tomei and Hilary Duff. (And, of course, his sister Joan Cusack.)

The movie is meant to be satire, Cusack tells Reuters, and even includes "a chorus line of scantily clad female amputees."

"I think the movie should be kind of offensive," Cusack told Reuters. "Sometimes with a serious, somber movie, even though they're great and well intentioned, it just doesn't allow you to be outraged because you just get depressed. This allows you to actually feel like, 'Let's do something subversive.' "

Click here to view the trailer. And like any movie worth seeing, it has its own official website.

[AP photo/First Look Studios]

Comments

[malibu]

Cusack is a liberal--he's written articles for The Huffington Post and has been fairly active and has never hidden it. He can say what he wants when he wants, just like any other American last time I checked.

[Miguel]

Absolutely true Spears. Imagine Grosse Pointe Blank meets Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. Critics will hate it.We will love it!!

[Spears]

I'll agree, Miguel, that War Inc. does have a certain "Fear and Loathing" feel to it. Cusack was buddies with HST and even attended his memorial services, I believe.

[Mike in Austin]

Sometimes I wish actors would stick to acting.

[Miguel]

Sperasy you could join The Martian Child on that list.But those movies are a way for him to be able to finance his most personal projects like War Inc.There`s where we find our beloved actor,Grosse Pointe Blank,High Fidelity and so.I watched the War Inc trailer and i see something of Hunter S. Thompson in it. We may have a future cult classic here.

[Spearsy]

Cusack would have to burn down half the civilized world before I'd disown him.

I still envision a world where he e-mails me three times a week to ask about movie projects he would take.

"Hey, John, I'd pass on Serendipity, America's Sweethearts and Must Love Dogs."

[Marissa]

Thanks Jane, I hadn't even looked for it on youtube. Such a 'duh' moment. I was just cruising The Huffington Post site and searched for Cusack.

Tell me I'm a dork, but on myspace The Cusack is a friend. I'm sure it's just his publicist filling in, but I'm hooked. I just can't stop lovin' that man. I just have to remind myself not to send a message titled, "I want my two dollars!"

[jane]

Building on Miss Riss's detective work, here's what I think is the full Real Time with Bill Maher interview of Mr. Cusack. Love the passion.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tUuCSg3sgG4

And I'm glad to see this is a satire -- whether subversive or overt, I've always found satire to be a very effective (and entertaining) way to make a point. Classic example: Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb

[Marissa]

Here's a link to the Bill Mahr/Cusack interview on The Huffington Post where The Cusack is a regular.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/03/29/john-cusack-on-what-he-wa_n_94030.html

[Marissa]

Artist on Artist on Myspace: Cusack and Diablo Cody. http://myspacetv. com/index. cfm?fuseaction=vids. individual&videoid=33430427

It's not surprising that The Cusack is taking his political views to the big screen. His mother is a political activist. Yeah, so he has that goin' for him.

[Spears]

The clip looks good. A real familiar feel to it.

Reminds of me of Gross Pointe Blank or The Ice Harvest.

[Complaint Department Manager]

I caught his interview on Bill Mahr, you can hear the conviction in his voice. It will be interesting to see how well this movies does.