And that´s a bad thing?
Surprise blockbuster ‘Sound of Freedom’ echoes antisemitic QAnon conspiracies
Thriller’s ideology draws on blood libel canard, expert says, and star Jim Caviezel has floated anti-Jewish conspiracy theories while promoting the film
JTA — While “Barbie” and “Oppenheimer” have hogged the Hollywood headlines, a more unlikely blockbuster swept the box office this month: “Sound of Freedom,” a thriller lauded by QAnon conspiracy theorists and high-profile Republicans. It also draws from a conspiratorial well that includes a number of anti-Jewish canards, including the “blood libel” accusation, while its star, actor Jim Caviezel, has floated antisemitic theories in interviews promoting the film. Despite the film’s low budget and independent distributor, “Sound of Freedom” has made over $100 million in its first few weeks, going toe-to-toe with “Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny” since it opened on July 4. The release date aligned with its patriotic Christian undertones, captured by the protagonist’s solemn line, “God’s children are not for sale.”
aviezel plays a federal agent rescuing children from sex traffickers, and in real life, has openly embraced QAnon. Caviezel’s character is based on Tim Ballard, who worked in the US Department of Homeland Security before founding the anti-trafficking group Operation Underground Railroad. Caviezel is best known for playing Jesus Christ in Mel Gibson’s “Passion of the Christ,” which stirred accusations of antisemitism when it was released in 2004 — a controversy compounded by Gibson’s antisemitic tirades following its release.
The QAnon movement is largely based on a conspiracy theory that a cabal of progressive elites controls world events and runs a child trafficking ring, harvesting the hormone adrenochrome from children. According to QAnon lore, former US president Donald Trump sought to defeat this operation. “Sound of Freedom” was filmed in 2018, before QAnon gained widespread momentum, and the film never mentions the movement. The story’s traffickers are common criminals, seemingly not part of a shadowy global cabal. Nonetheless, the movie has been celebrated in QAnon message boards for awakening “normies” to the conspiracy. “The movie is for normies. Done in a way not to be revolting and push newbies away,” said one member of a message board called Great Awakening…
https://www.timesofisrael.com/surprise-blockbuster-sound-of-freedom-echoes-antisemitic-qanon-conspiracies/
Caviezel has also appeared on Steve Bannon’s “War Room” podcast several times, calling QAnon a “good thing” and indulging in antisemitic conspiracies while promoting the film.
In one circuitous interview with Bannon, he said, “It’s like an octopus with arms, many many arms, but you got to go after the head of the octopus. Who is it? The central banks, the [International Monetary Fund], the [European Central Bank], the Rothschild banks? We have a Rothschild pope.”
Rothschild, who is unrelated to the Jewish banking family, said these claims line up with QAnon conspiracies that posit that the Rothschild family owns all of the world’s central banks and controls the Vatican.
“These are conspiracy theories based on centuries of myths and hoaxes about the Rothschilds, which have been shared by some of the most prominent thinkers in the right-wing conspiracy world,” he said.
Ballard, who abruptly exited Operation Underground Railroad shortly after “Sound of Freedom” premiered, has also been scrutinized for his organization’s claims and practices. In 2020, a Vice News investigation found a gap between OUR’s operations and claimed successes, reporting “a pattern of image-burnishing and mythology-building, a series of exaggerations that are, in the aggregate, quite misleading.” According to a Foreign Policy report, after a 2014 OUR sting operation in the Dominican Republic, 26 rescued girls did not receive aftercare and were released in less than a week.
In Utah, the organization was investigated by the Davis County Attorney’s Office for alleged communications fraud, witness tampering and retaliation against a witness, victim or informant, according to Deseret News. The two-year investigation was closed without charges in March.
Ballard has also flirted with conspiracy theories, once entertaining the false viral notion that children were being trafficked through Wayfair, an online furniture retailer.
“I want to tell you this: children are sold that way,” he said in a 2020 video.
Regardless of these controversies, “Sound of Freedom” has found no shortage of high-profile promoters. Trump shared its trailer on his Truth Social platform and hosted a screening of the film on Wednesday. South Carolina Senator Tim Scott and Georgia Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, who has pushed QAnon rhetoric online, both praised the movie. Senator Ted Cruz of Texas said on Twitter, “Wow. Wow. Wow. GO SEE #SoundOfFreedom.”
Twitter owner Elon Musk encouraged the film’s free promotion on his website, tweeting at its distributor: “I recommend putting it on this platform for free for a brief period or just asking people to subscribe to support (we would not keep any funds).”
https://www.timesofisrael.com/surprise-blockbuster-sound-of-freedom-echoes-antisemitic-qanon-conspiracies/
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-12325127/Sound-Freedom-box-office-Mission-Impossible-QAnon.html
Like always..
CIA chief gets promotion
The intelligence head will join the vice president and top officials from 15 executive departments
CIA chief gets promotion
© AP / Susan Walsh
US President Joe Biden has tapped CIA Director William Burns to become a member of his cabinet, underscoring the official’s significant influence in the White House and his key role in American foreign policy.
The president announced the decision on Friday, saying Burns has given the United States a “critical strategic advantage” and helped to tackle “our nation’s top national security challenges,” including dealings with Russia and China.
“Bill has always given me clear, straightforward analysis that prioritizes the safety and security of the American people, reflecting the integral role the CIA plays in our national security decision-making at this critical time,” Biden added.
https://www.rt.com/news/580098-cia-chief-biden-cabinet/
true dat.