Robert Downey Jr. won’t make indie movies anymore ‘because they’re exhausting’

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A few days ago, some people theorized that Robert Downey Jr.’s terrible antics during the Age of Ultron publicity tour were the result of RDJ possibly falling off the wagon. For the record, I don’t think he’s boozing or drugging again. I really don’t. I think he’s richer than God and on some kind of ego trip. He’s always been sassy-with-an-edge, but with his Marvel contract paying out crazy money, RDJ has his “f—k you” money and it’s gone to his head. That’s my explanation. Ego is a hell of a drug.

Anyway, as we all know, RDJ has been pissing people off right and left. I think the lowest point was his racism-tinged shade at Alejandro Inarritu, but a close second was RDJ’s Howard Stern interview, when he went off on British journalist Krishnan Guru-Murthy. So, compared to those two incidents, RDJ’s Entertainment Weekly Sirius radio interview wasn’t flat-out horrible. He was asked if he ever felt the urge to go do smaller indie films after working on big, gargantuan Marvel films. RDJ’s answer? NOPE. When asked why he says no to indies, this was his reply:

“Because they’re exhausting and sometimes they suck and then you just go, ‘What was I thinking?’ But I’m interested in doing all different kinds of movies. Sometimes the little movies are the ones that wind up taking the most out of you because they’re like, ‘Hey, man, we’re just running a couple of days behind. Do you think you can stay through your birthday and then come back on the fourth of July. And, by the way, but, like, the crew—can you pay for the craft services? And, oh, by the way, man, when we go to Sundance, it’s like, can we just sit you in a chair and you can sell this for six days in a row so that we’ll make 180 bucks when it opens in one theater? God, this is so powerful what we’re doing. What do you think of the movie? You saw it last night?’ ‘I thought it’s mediocre.’ ‘Yeah, isn’t it the greatest?! Man, everyone’s an artist here.’ Actually, most of you are kind of inexperienced and lame.”

[From Entertainment Weekly]

For what it’s worth, this doesn’t offend me. I think he does read all the scripts he’s offered, from small indie films to potential blockbusters. And throughout his career, he’s done them all. But he’s 50 years old now and he IS a movie star, for better or for worse. He’s not trying to pretend he’s just some normal guy anymore and no one would believe him (at this point) if he tried to play the morose gay hipster in a whackadoodle family drama featuring incest and beauty pageants debuting at Sundance next year.

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Photos courtesy of WENN.

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62 Responses to “Robert Downey Jr. won’t make indie movies anymore ‘because they’re exhausting’”

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  1. Kiddo says:

    What do you think of the movie? You saw it last night?’ ‘I thought it’s mediocre.’

    I feel like this about 95% of Hollywood’s overall offerings. Better to get a big salary for a large piece of crap than a small one, I guess.

  2. Greata says:

    Hubris Robert!

  3. Shambles says:

    I’m not offended by this at all. But you know what, RDJ? Sometimes I click on threads with your face on them. But you’re exhausting and sometimes you suck and then I just go, “What was I thinking?”

    • Harryg says:

      Haha! Exactly.

    • Dhavynia says:

      True but the Kardashian links are exhausting as well and there is one everyday. I don’t click on them anymore but they are still offensive.

      Sooner or later Birdman is looking more and more like reality if RDJ keeps putting his foot in his mouth

  4. cr says:

    I think now would be a good time for RDJ to go home and play with his ego, his money and his family and not talk in public for awhile.
    I’ve been a fan for years, but this promo tour he’s been acting more assholey.

  5. Tapioca says:

    A better choice of words and he could have made the same point – which is a fair one – without seeming so insufferably c***ish.

    But I’m guessing he’s surrounded by so many Yes Men these days it’s hard to remember that he was once inexperienced and then so unemployable that only indies would take him…

  6. OhDear says:

    RDJ, like the president, apparently also has a rhymes-with-bucket list.

  7. Catelina says:

    Lol. HE is exhausting.

  8. aga says:

    The problem is that he isn’t a movie star, he is now only Iron man.

  9. Chichi says:

    Most of his peers will dabble in blockbusters to pay for their charity endeavours or finance smaller interesting projects. RDJ does it to throw himself a birthday party costing “a couple of million” (according to his Stern interview) and revell in the adulation. He knows his peers think poorly of him playing at Mr Hollywood. In several interviews the “sell out” subtext has been very heavy so he is getting defensive about it. It will get worse, trust.

  10. Jayna says:

    Robert has been arrogant for years. It’s nothing new. His pissy attitude has come out here and there over many years and then brings out the charming side.

    I’ve seen a lot of mediocre indie movies that ultimately were disappointing or just so-so plotwise but with some strong acting by the leads and most do low numbers box office-wise and few do see them. So he’s allowed to have his opinion because most are on a shoestring budget. If it’s not a great movie to sacrifice for, what would be the point for him? He is a big movie star and gets a lot of offers.

    By the way, his recent movie The Judge was so poor. He was fine, but playing another cocky fast-talking character, and so were others in the movie like the great Duvall. But the movie was like a Lifetime movie, very predictable, kind of cheesy script and meandering plot you’ve seen in other movies, contrived. I can’t believe they spent 50 million on that movie making it, but I guess part of that was for a few salaries.

    • Virgilia Coriolanus says:

      Agree…..and “The Judge” cost FIFTY MILLION?!!?!?! Good Lord. And the thing is is that he was going on twitter, during the promotion/release of the movie, about how we needed to show that indie movies can make money versus big blockbusters…… And yes, I thought it was a Lifetime movie when I saw the trailer…it was way too predictable, and not something I would choose to do if I was an actor of RDJ’s stature, wanted to make a “serious” movie, had the $$ to do whatever I wanted……it was just bad. Like he read the first few pages and thought OSCAR! and went with it.

      • Jayna says:

        It was the first joint project by Robert and his wife and their company, Team Downey, and Warner financed it. I guess for Robert 50 million isn’t much compared to his big budget movies, but it came across as a much lower budget movie. It was a movie filled with cliches. It did gross like 87 million, so I guess as long as they made a profit as their first project through their new company, he was happy, as that shows they can make a profit for the studio so they can keep going on with projects.

      • V4Real says:

        I follow him on Twitter and don’t quite recall him saying we should support Indie Films. If I’m correct The Judge was not an Indie film but a Studio film produced by Team Downey who is on WB’s payroll.

        I know to some Downey can come across a bit arrogant and that’s why they don’t like him. But damn if you do, damn if you don’t. Celebs get criticized for not sounding genuine when they are saying all the things that the public wants to hear that makes them sound like a good person. Then when we run across the few that speaks their mind, or tell it like it is , they’re considered a_ _ holes. I think we tend to forget that celebs are humans too and gets pissy or upset just like us non-celebs do. I’ve had a few choice words for a couple of people that have said something to me I didn’t like or tried to shade me. The only difference between the celebs and me is that I don’t have a public stage to shout it from that makes headlines and leads to gossip blogs. I’m referring to the Murthy interview.

        BTW RDJ said it was his wife idea to do the Judge. He wasn’t keen on the idea but went along with her wishes. I’m a huge Downey fan and I didn’t think it was that good either.

        I don’t find anything wrong with saying you no longer will do Indie films. Hey I used to work in retail and I wouldn’t do that anymore. I now have a job that pays much more and less tedious.

      • cr says:

        Per Boxoffice dot com, The Judge’s total production costs, including marketing, were around 80 million, but world box office was just 74 million. I suspect, including DVD and other media sales, they probably broke even.
        So it’s not as if studios aren’t going to continue to work with him on non-Marvel projects, but they may try and rein in costs a bit.
        @V: “I know to some Downey can come across a bit arrogant and that’s why they don’t like him.”
        But this is something that’s been a slow burn, sort of like Depp. I think he’s become one of those actors who people liked, and liked for a long time. And were glad when it appeared that he finally kicked the drugs, stabilized his life and started making good movies, and then became a Movie Star. But post 2008, with Iron Man and Tropic Thunder, I think his ass has been kissed so much he’s forgotten to be humble.
        If this statement were out of the blue I don’t think people would be having the reaction they are. But there’s a cumulative effect of his actions. There’s a way to speak honestly without coming across like a jerk, and right now RDJ isn’t doing it.

    • manta says:

      I didnt find him that amazing in The Judge. Overdid it, same with Duvall. The two saving graces for me were D’Onofrio and Thornton. Even Vera Farmiga was so-so, and the chemistry with Downey was seriously lacking.

      Too bad for him he finds himself so above indies/smaller films. Those were the ones where he actually acted. Kiss kiss bang bang/Home for the holidays>Iron Man for me.
      After insulting Gonzalez Inarritu, a shade for the indie king of last year Linklater? (his director in the low budget A scanner darkly)

      • Jayna says:

        I thought he played the same character he always did, cocky, fast-talking type role. There was zero chemistry with the lead actress. His wife must have chosen her since it was produced by their new company. LOL

    • Hmmm says:

      Yeah, what irony! The first movie made by his own production company is probably the worst in his 80+ movie credits career. He should stop talking for a while or at least be more careful about how he expresses himself. Maybe somebody should also remind him that the first Iron Man was directed by Jon Favreau who only did Indies before he did the movie that made RDJ a star… and BTW I enjoyed Chef 10 times more than the over bloated Age of Ultron.

  11. lucy2 says:

    I think it’s fine if he’s not interested in those types of films anymore, but maybe say so in a way that doesn’t trash people still doing them. It wasn’t THAT long ago his career was toxic and he would have been lucky to get a role in an indie.

    • mia girl says:

      This! Fine if you are done with indies, but do you have to be such an arrogant as*hole about it?

      I heard the interview and it sounds more insufferable that it reads. One of the interviewers, Jessica Shaw didn’t even know how to respond. She was like, “OK?”

    • belle de jour says:

      Exactly! It’s easy to mock the goals, problems (and often pretensions) of indie filmmakers – worked there, dated that – but it begs the question ‘why?’ at this stage of his career. It’s certainly not a new or necessary observation; it’s a cheap pot shot from a Hollywood franchise throne.

      I’ll take Robert Redford graciously trying to give back & encourage any day.

    • elle says:

      I hear the interview, and he came off as even more of an a-hole when Jessica Shaw asked about the Bruce Lee t-shirts and joked, “Did you steal one?” RDJ said, “You don’t have to steal what you own,” in such a snotty, superior way that my long-held RDJ crush completely evaporated. He can STFU and go away.

      • lily says:

        Yup, he was one of my all time favorite actors to watch but after this press tour BS, forget it. That was a fast ride down.

  12. Boston Green Eyes says:

    He’s been talking all sorts of Sh!t lately. Must be back on something….

  13. Skins says:

    He should be thankful for the sick money these studio’s are paying him. Not like he sells tickets, Joe Schmoe could be playing Iron Man or whatever franchise movie dreck he is doing and the movie would sell. His last movie with Robert Duvall was a bomb. So keep playing your superheroes and shut up

  14. Mia4S says:

    He actually has a somewhat valid point that he expressed well in his first two sentences….and then he kept talking. Oy!

  15. epiphany says:

    From a selfish point of view, I can’t blame him. The comic book drivel that pours out of Hollywood these days requires very little “real” acting, and the CGI guys are the only ones who break a sweat. You would think , however, from the point of view of an artist, he would want to do films of more substance. It’s a shame that the guy who did ‘Less than Zero’, and ‘Chaplin’ seems to be gone for good. I feel embarrassed for him when I see him as Iron man. Gone are the days of the great films of the 60’s and 70’s, and 80’s. Even the actors who starred in those classics – DeNiro, Pacino, Nicholson – make crap movies now, because there’s nothing else out there to do. Kids today don’t know these guys from ‘Raging Bull’, ‘Taxi Driver’, ‘Dog Day Afternoon’, ‘The Godfather, ‘Carnal Knowledge’, ‘or ‘Chinatown.’ They think DeNiro is the father in law from ‘Meet the Fockers.” The movie industry has really gone down the toilet. The best work is now being done on television and online.

  16. Shijel says:

    I know someone like her. She was in a terrible place years ago, but has built herself up to be quite a freelancer artist, tons of clients, lots of solidreputation. She’s got the same attitude. And I’ve got no problem with it, you’ve made a name for yourself, and if you can choose high profile works, good for you. Lots of arrogance too, though they’ve a talent to back it up.

    But one day you’re going to be an arsehole to a wrong person, and you’re back to square one with one hell of a security glass ceiling to break through. So I suppose enjoy yourself while you can.

    Being gracious about your success and remaining supportive and active even among “peasants” will go a long way. Some of those peasants might hit it big one day, you know.

  17. Bridget says:

    He’s got his own production company. If he wants to do something badly enough he’ll make it himself.

  18. gilmore says:

    Lol he’s so hurt that everything he does beyond marvel or Sherlock Holmes doesn’t do well. Indies were your home when no one was hiring you man, don’t forget that.

  19. What was that says:

    I recall a marvellous interview with Ricardo Montablan ,who said there were 5 stages in an actors career.These begin and end with,’Who is Ricardo Montablan ?’
    He may live to regret his comments ,living his lifestyle he will always need money!

    • mia girl says:

      I had never heard that Ricardo Montalban anecdote. I love it. Thanks!

      • What was that says:

        The rest ,if I recall correctly were something like ,Get me Ricardo Montablan !Get me a Cheaper Ricardo Montblan !and Get me a younger version of Ricardo Montablan !
        Or something very similar.It is many years ago I watched him and I wish that was more repeated.It was probably around the time of Star Trek 2, Which was a career boost for him I believe,or rather back more in the public eye!
        I will stand corrected if someone remembers it.It was a TV interview where he was standing by a beautiful beach and laughing about it!!!

      • mia girl says:

        This is great. I am going to try to find the interview.

    • VirgiliaCoriolanus says:

      Just googled him and he was the grandfather in Spy Kids!!! I loved him and how he always undermined Antonio Banderas’s character.

    • DN says:

      Montalban was actually paraphrasing a Mary Astor quote.

      In her autobiography, Astor described the stages of an actor’s career as:

      “Who is Mary Astor?”
      “Get me Mary Astor.”
      “Get me a Mary Astor type.”
      “Get me a younger Mary Astor.”
      “Who is Mary Astor?”

  20. Wooley says:

    Indie movies do have notoriously bad endings! Why is that?

    • Jayna says:

      I watched Love is Strange with John Lithgow and George Molina. I enjoyed it, and then the ending was just fast and just flat.

  21. Tara says:

    Most of you are inexperienced and lame? That offends me because this man had indies take a chance on him when he was the world’s biggest screw up and now he wants to insult the indie world because he gets to prance around in a super hero costume for money. He got lucky. He always had a massive ego. He was just cooler to like because people like a comeback so they tolerated his ego and found him charming. Now people don’t have to root for him so they see the ego more.

  22. Nanea says:

    Somehow this is all quite off-putting: his dissing the indies, even though those movies were the only work he could get for a time; his blaming Guru-Murthy for what went wrong, when his PAs apparently didn’t do their homework and, last but not least, his acting… twitchy, his slightly slurred speech.

    Something will come back to haunt him, rather sooner than later.

  23. Bea says:

    Ugh seriously? ‘Lame’? And maybe if you weren’t such a limited actor the more experienced directors would want to work with you Bobby. Just maybe.

    • Hmmm says:

      Well calling him ‘a limited actor’ is taking it a bit too far. Most of the times I still take his acting over any other Hollywood ALister.

      • Bea says:

        I’m sorry to me he’s the male Kristen Stewart. Same twitchy persona in anything and everything.

      • Sofia says:

        I’ve seen Sherlock and got to same conclusion. And it was like seeing him in an interview showing off how smart ass he is. It was the same with the Judge. Maybe the one character less showy was his character in Ally McBeal. It’s one of those “don’t believe the hype” examples because that was the result of a PR machine.

  24. A.Key says:

    They don’t pay like Marvel either.

  25. Sofia says:

    ” I think he does read all the scripts he’s offered, from small indie films to potential blockbusters.” Really? Because I don’t think so, I think he is a place of ego, narcissism and greed where it’s more about “how much?”.

    He talks like the great directors of today were born amazing. Many started in independent films. It’s not the budget or the commercial success of a film that dictates its quality, FAR FROM IT. Big studios give us really lame films and most of the times don’t take many risks while spending millions. You can’t really do anything interesting without risking a little bit and that’s why actors like Julianne Moore, Michelle Williams, Tilda Swinton and Marion Coutillard keep making indies. They don’t get it right all the time, but they are supporting new film makers and I bet their egos can handle it when the result is not brilliant. I thought that was part of being an actor. Like being in situations where there’s not a lot of glamour or comfort. Actors like RDJ clearly are not team players, they don’t work motivated by working with people who are passionate about the material, they are all about success and easy acting. Formulas if you like. He all plays the same role, “heroes”, smart-asses who behave like they are better than anyone else. Great actor? Pfff

    And if what the avengers and iron man and all that stuff is not exhausting to promote I don’t know why indies are. They are flying all over the world giving non-stop interviews. But I guess it’s bearable because of $$$ involved, right?

    • Termoli77 says:

      Yeah, this guy is all about the money now.

    • lucy2 says:

      Excellent examples for the actresses. And I agree most of the interesting work is in the smaller movies. I think they’re usually more personal and crafted, and there’s not a dozen executives all weighing in and creating notes to justify having a job.

  26. kri says:

    WTF is going on with him.Yes he’s always been a little arrogant. And alot flippant.But outright ass%oley??Argggh.

  27. mädchen says:

    It’s not completely wrong, but the way it was worded… So arrogant and disrespectful. If any actress had said it, she would be called ungrateful and unprofessional and bitter. She would be told to stop complaining and go away.

    • Sofia says:

      He only is right in the sense that there are a lot of amateur people thinking they are very talented and have no idea of what they are doing. But it’s up the the actors to decide who is worthy of their time, it’s up to them to evaluate if the production/director give any guarantees. Many of the ones he calls “lame” are trying to get the project up for years and years, so it’s not something they do on a whim. But of course, if you do it expecting to be treated like a precious flower (assistants, only organic food, air conditioner, never working more than you feel like and so on and so forth) then it’s a problem of expectations because independent productions have to shoot fast and there’s no money for many luxuries.

  28. poppy says:

    he’s rolled right into depp territory (one trick pony parody of former self that needs a costume to call it acting) and has seriously been drinking goop’s koolaid.