Robert De Niro Compares ‘Totally Insane’ Donald Trump to ‘Dr. Strangelove’ Madman at Hollywood Film Awards

“I don’t see a lot of difference between Kubrick’s totally insane General Jack D. Ripper and our totally insane Donald J. Trump. Do you?” actor says Sunday

Robert De Niro Donald Trump
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James Corden opened the Hollywood Film Awards on Sunday in Beverly Hills by noting the timing of the early awards show.

“It’s crazy that a ceremony this prestigious is taking place just two days before the presidential election,” the CBS late night host said.

“The only difference is, tonight is actually rigged.”

Hours before the polls open across the country, 44 Oscar hopefuls ranging from actors (Natalie Portman, Matthew McConaughey, Nicole Kidman, Tom Hanks) and directors (Mel Gibson and Clint Eastwood) to costume designers (who were kept off stage) slipped on elegant fashion for a non-voted, non-televised, awards season exhibition game at the Beverly Hilton.

Justin Timberlake, James Corden, Anna Kendrick
Justin Timberlake, James Corden, and Anna Kendrick on stage at the Hollywood Film Awards. (Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images)

“Even the name sounds made up,” Corden continued. “A ‘Hollywood Film Award’ sounds like something Michael Bay gives to himself on Christmas morning just to feel less alone.”

On its face, the glittery and hollow spectacle with canned teleprompter intros and tributes for some movies that have not yet been released smacked as tone deaf. The country and the world outside the Beverly Hilton is focused on election day.

Inevitably, the real world crept in.

Leonardo DiCaprio
Leonardo DiCaprio accepts for “Before the Flood”. (Christopher Polk/HFA2016/Getty Images for dcp)

The show provided Hillary’s anxious Hollywood base with group therapy via politically driven jabs and appeals from Leonardo DiCaprio, Jeffrey Katzenberg, Corden, and Robert De Niro delivering a new blistering Trump takedown.

“I know we’re here to celebrate movies in Hollywood and no one throws an industry party better than Carlos de Abreu and Dick Clark Productions,” said De Niro, the star of “The Comedian.”

“But it’s two days to a frightening election and the shadow of politics is hanging over us whether we like it or not and its hard for me to think about anything else.”

“This could be the last award ceremony before the apocalypse,” Corden joked.

Jeffrey Katzenberg, Eddie Murphy
Jeffrey Katzenberg and Eddie Murphy backstage at the Hollywood Film Awards. (Getty Images)

Here’s TheWrap’s roundup of the top political statements from Hollywood’s final major gathering before the election.

Robert De Niro, comparing Trump to characters from “absurd comedies” like the Marx Brothers’ “Duck Soup” and Stanley Kubrick’s “Dr. Strangelove”:

“Wacky comedies, right? Well, not so fast. Groucho’s Rufus T. [Firefly] isn’t so far from Donald J. Trump, except Groucho’s character is more believable. I don’t see a lot of difference between Kubrick’s totally insane General Jack D. Ripper and our totally insane Donald J. Trump. Do you?”

“So let me just lay it out right here. We have the opportunity to prevent a comedy from turning in to a tragedy. Vote for Hillary [on] Tuesday.”

Leonardo DiCaprio, accepting an award for his climate change documentary “Before the Flood”:

“If you don’t believe in the science of man-made climate change, you may as well not believe in gravity,” the Oscar-winning star said.

“All of us need to act. All of us in this room. Besides all of us here, if by chance this clip is televised, let’s all our use our powers as citizens and do the right thing. Please vote this Tuesday, November 8.”

Fisher Stevens, DiCaprio’s directing and producing partner on “Before the Flood”:

“The film is free,” Stevens said, noting its availability online. “It will continue to be free until the election-slash-reality show is over. Sadly, one of our candidates does not believe in climate change. The other one does. So let’s get out there and hope that after Tuesday, Trump is dumped.”

Jeffrey Katzenberg, presenting a career achievement award to Eddie Murphy, opened his remarks with raw early-voting data from Florida. He announced that Hillary Clinton is outpacing President Obama’s 2012 levels among key demographics.

“All I would say is that your voice is your vote,” the outgoing DreamWorks Animation boss said. “Every single vote counts. Please don’t forget. Get out there and vote.”

At one point, Corden asked for a show of hands of any Trump supporters in the room. Only two people raised their hands. One woman on the side stood up and danced, before Corden mocked her for playing to type. The other guy took down his hand.

“This year, they rebooted the Clinton presidency with a female lead ,” Corden joked, mixing studio development speak with politics. When this got a laugh from the crowd, he had a follow-up:

“[That joke’s] always a crowd-pleaser …unless you’re seated with Clint Eastwood.”

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