Robert Davi not only brought Leonid Brezhnev to life in this year's much-anticipated biopic of the 40th U.S. president, “Reagan.” The veteran actor brought a huge amount of research to both the role and the set.
Davey, beloved for classics such as Die Hard, The Goonies and License to Kill, spent time in Russia speaking to the nation about the late Soviet leader.
In an industry that routinely punishes conservative stars, the film's producers bucked groupthink and cast talented actors such as Davey, as well as Nick Searcy, Pat Boone, and Kevin Sorbo.
He delves into Brezhnev's complicated legacy, learning about his ties to President Richard Nixon and his affinity for fast cars.
Command performance
For Davey, “Reagan” was all about giving it her all. It explains why he has endured as an actor whose career stretches back to 1977's “The Cherry Street Deal'' with Frank Sinatra.
In “Reagan,” now available on Digital on Demand, Davey and his co-stars flesh out the remarkable life and political career of “The Zipper.” Some viewers are familiar with iconic moments like President Reagan's “Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall” speech may be ignorant of how President Reagan fought communism behind the scenes in Hollywood.
For Davey, the biggest takeaway may be how little America has changed since the Reagan Revolution.
back to the future
He said pop culture and the press hate President Reagan just as much as they hate President Donald Trump. In fact, the moment President Trump descended the escalator at Trump Tower to announce his candidacy, the actor combined the mogul's populist message with that of President Ronald Reagan.
Davey also points out that both Mr. Reagan and Mr. Trump were severely underestimated by their opponents until it was too late.
The actor wishes the movie had included more of Reagan's life and accomplishments. In particular, he would have liked to see Nancy Reagan (Penelope Ann Miller in the film) react to new President George H.W. Bush's pledge to build a “kinder, gentler nation.” It was a not-so-subtle criticism of his former boss of eight years.
'Eye-opening' biopic
Still, the film packs a lot into its running time, including a look at President Reagan reaching across the aisle to get the bill signed into law. The scene with Congressman Tip O'Neal (Dan Lauria) epitomizes this attitude. The dawn of the Reagan Democratic Party is also described.
That, and other elements in the film, will be an “eye-opener” for young viewers, Davey predicted.
“The new generation needs to see it to understand the difference between the far left and the conservative movement,” he said.
Davi's contribution to “Reagan” did not end with Brezhnev's performance. The multi-talented star also sings two songs in the film: “This Town” and “Nancy (with the Laughing Face).” He studied music extensively early in his career and in recent years has revitalized Sinatra's catalog with “Davi Sings Sinatra.”
He also directed the charming 2007 film “The Dukes” and the 2022 biopic “My Son Hunter,” which cast Laurence Fox as the conflicted eldest son. This film stands in contrast to the Hunter Biden scandals that Hollywood has ignored or touted throughout his various scandals.
Davy's conservative bona fides are no Hollywood secret. He continues to work, but this year'sbardejov” The film reminded us of the real-life heroism of Rafuel Loewy, who saved the lives of hundreds of Jews during the Holocaust.
hollywood rebel
It's no coincidence that Davey isn't the only openly center-right actor in the cast of “Reagan.” In an industry that routinely punishes conservative stars, the film's producers bucked groupthink and cast talented actors such as Davey, as well as Nick Searcy, Pat Boone, and Kevin Sorbo.
Sorbo said his unofficial Hollywood blacklisting began about 10 years ago. agent left him because of his conservative beliefs. Oscar nominee James Woods hasn't had a major film role since playing a supporting role in 2014's Jamesy Boy.
Davey acknowledged that the new blacklist was “worse than the McCarthy era,” adding that communists were indeed infiltrating the Hollywood community in the 1950s.
Devi, for her part, is undaunted. He contributes thoughtful editorials to Breitbart News and continues to create art on his own terms. In addition to a European tour, he has promised to release a new album in 2025. He is about to begin work on a new film called “The Ministries,” about a group tied to vigilante justice.
The ultimate irony? He said Hollywood continues to make films about the blacklist era, even as stars are punished for their political beliefs in 2024. George Clooney brings “Good Night and Good Luck'' to Broadway, a film about the altercation between journalist Edward R. Murrow and Sen. Joseph McCarthy It starts in March.
“They want DEI outside of thinking. …People want to talk about the ‘fascists’ in the MAGA movement,” Davey said with a laugh. “The liberal left-wing fascists will slander you and expel you.”
