Matthew Modine reflects on Kubrick, new projects, and political views

A legacy of collaboration with Stanley Kubrick

Matthew Modine, renowned for his role as Private Joker in Stanley Kubrick’s iconic Vietnam War film Full Metal Jacket, spent extensive time working closely with the legendary director. Their collaboration fostered a deep friendship, and Modine’s perspectives on war and peace have only intensified over the years.

“If Stanley were alive today, with the state of the world, he’d make a black comedy,” Modine shared at the Lucca Film Festival, where he received a lifetime achievement award. “Kubrick had a fantastic sense of irony and humor. He’d create a brilliant comedy about the grotesque absurdity of leaders like Putin and Donald Trump.”

The Martini Shot: A reflection on life and death

Modine was in Lucca to present the Italian premiere of his latest film, The Martini Shot, directed by Stephen Wallis. This independent film, completed in just 14 days across London and the Cliffs of Moher in Ireland, features Modine as a terminally ill director determined to complete his final movie.

“It’s a reflection on life and on death,” Modine explained. The film also stars John Cleese and Derek Jacobi. “I’ve learned from Marcus Aurelius and Cicero: We are born with death beside us. Rather than run from it, we should make it our friend. Live in the moment, in the present. We don’t know what will happen in 10 minutes, so let’s enjoy this conversation.”

Political views and the upcoming election

Modine did not hold back his opinions on the current political climate, particularly regarding Donald Trump. “Even eight years ago, I was saying that Trump wasn’t the right person to lead the United States, and now I’m more convinced than ever,” he stated, criticizing Trump’s attitude toward women as “barbaric, uncivilized, ignorant, and rude.”

He expressed strong support for Kamala Harris, suggesting it’s time for a mother figure in the presidency. “When we think of the U.S. president, we think of him as a father figure. Well, now it’s time for a mother: Kamala.”

Modine further argued against Trump’s candidacy by highlighting his criminal convictions. “How many charges has Trump been convicted of? If someone gets out of prison for committing a crime, it’s hard for them to find a job, even at a bar. So how can someone convicted of so many crimes be considered for president of the United States?”

Zero Day: A new thriller on Netflix

In the upcoming Netflix series Zero Day, directed by Lesli Linka Glatter, Modine plays the White House press secretary alongside Robert De Niro as a former president. “Angela Bassett is the current president,” Modine revealed. “The U.S. is under attack by a force that shuts down all computers and electronics. We don’t know who’s responsible. Zero Day is when every plane stops at the same moment, or when all computers freeze. It’s a halt in the flow, in the world’s breath. Something terrifying. That’s where the story begins.”

Reflections on Oppenheimer and nuclear power

Among Modine’s recent projects is Christopher Nolan’s critically acclaimed film Oppenheimer, which delves into the consequences of nuclear power. “We’re living under the constant threat of nuclear catastrophe,” Modine warned. “What strikes me is the hypocrisy of the U.S. in pointing fingers at countries with nuclear weapons when the U.S. was the first to use them on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. We can’t escape this situation with an ‘I’m right, you’re wrong’ mindset, without considering the pain we inflict. I want peaceful solutions to the world’s problems. We need to respect diversity, even diversity of thought. Otherwise, on this overcrowded planet, we’re 10 billion people destined for extinction.”

The enduring wisdom of Stanley Kubrick

Modine concluded the interview by reflecting on Kubrick’s timeless insights. “Once again, Stanley Kubrick was right,” he said. “Remember the opening of 2001: A Space Odyssey, when the ape uses a bone to strike another ape, and that bone-turned-weapon transforms into a spaceship? In just a few seconds, Kubrick condensed thousands of years of human history, the very nature of man: violence. But the message is clear: If we want to evolve, we must solve the problem of violence. That’s the thing we need to learn to free ourselves from.”

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