Michael Douglas Recalls the Brutal Feedback He Received from 'Wall Street' Director Oliver Stone
Michael Douglas, the legendary actor known for his role as Gordon Gekko in the 1987 film 'Wall Street', recently recalled the harsh criticism he received from director Oliver Stone during the making of the movie. In an interview at the TCM Classic Film Festival in New York City, Douglas, 81, shared a memorable moment from the second week of filming. He knocked on his door and asked if he could come in, and Stone delivered a scathing critique that left a lasting impression.
"He said, 'You okay?' I said, 'Yeah, I'm okay.' [He asks], 'Are you doing drugs?' I said, 'No, I'm not doing drugs.' And he said, 'Because you look like you've never acted before in your life,'" Douglas recounted. This unexpected feedback caught Douglas off guard, as he was unaware of the director's perspective on his performance.
The actor explained that he had a habit of avoiding watching the daily footage, or 'dailies', as he was prone to finding flaws and things that didn't make the final cut. However, Stone insisted that he take a look, and Douglas eventually agreed. After analyzing two scenes, including his iconic limo scene with Charlie Sheen, Douglas was surprised by the director's assessment.
"And I’m looking at them really hard, and critically, and they seemed pretty good,” Douglas remembered. “So I keep saying, 'I think it’s pretty good,' and [Stone said], 'Yeah, it is, isn’t it.'”
Despite the initial shock, Douglas appreciated Stone's honesty. The director's feedback helped the actor delve deeper into Gekko's complex personality, tapping into his "nastiness," "vengeance," and "meanness" for the performance. "He was willing for me to hate his guts for the rest of this movie to get that extra little push," Douglas explained.
This wasn't the first time Stone had pushed actors to give their best performances. He has a proven track record of helping actors like James Woods in 'Salvador', Tom Cruise in 'Born on the Fourth of July', and Kevin Costner in 'JFK' reach new heights. Douglas praised Stone's ability to bring out the best in actors, stating, "His record of successes with actors is quite impressive. So I’m deeply, deeply appreciative of the fact that it gave me part and the fact that he pushed me to another level."
The success of 'Wall Street' led to a sequel, 'Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps', released in 2010, further solidifying the partnership between Douglas and Stone. Despite the initial brutal feedback, Douglas is grateful for the experience and the opportunity to work with a master filmmaker.
