Psyop Cinema cover image

Psyop Cinema

The Political Turn (Oliver Stone 2)

Mar 31, 2025
02:24:19

Returning from our unofficial hiatus, we continue our series on Oliver Stone. The early 1980s saw the release of a few films written by Stone that centered upon violent antiheroes. We talk about John Milius and his clash of visions with Stone over the approach to mysticism in 1982's Conan the Barbarian. Next, Scarface and The Year of the Dragon both unsuccessfully grasp toward Stone's political turn, while the much higher quality Salvador (1986) is the movie that truly brings Stone into his own as a filmmaker. Analyzing the insights and limitations of Salvador's critique of the CIA, we consider how its protagonist (journalist Richard Boyle, played by James Woods) reflects Stone's evolving approach to masculinity and to the legacy of the counterculture.  

https://twitter.com/CinemaPsyop
https://www.patreon.com/PsyopCinema
http://psyop-cinema.com/
https://linktr.ee/psyopcinema

thomas-psyopcinema@protonmail.com
brett-psyopcinema@protonmail.com  

If you enjoy Psyop Cinema, check out Cultural Engineering Studies magazine - https://decoding-culture.com/product/cultural-engineering-studies-issue-1-print/ 

CORRECTION: Tony's boss in Scarface was played by Robert Loggia, rather than Frank Langella

Remember Everything You Learn from Podcasts

Save insights instantly, chat with episodes, and build lasting knowledge - all powered by AI.
App store bannerPlay store banner