When discussing the greatest movie directors ever, often ranks among the very best. In a recent interview with Alicia Malone of TCM, he shared how Sharon Stone uniquely motivated him to deliver a standout performance. She did this by offering critical feedback on his acting during the filming of the 1987 movie, .
Let me tell you, watching Oliver Stone direct is…intense. He’s part of that old school, like Kubrick, who really push their actors to the limit. I was hearing stories from Michael Douglas about shooting a recent film with Stone, and apparently after just two weeks, Stone delivered some pretty blunt feedback. Douglas said it was exactly what he needed to raise his performance to the next level – a real kick in the pants, but ultimately effective.
We were nearing the end of the second week of filming when Oliver knocked on my trailer door. He asked if he could come in, and I said yes. Once inside, he asked how I was doing, and I told him I was fine. Then, he bluntly asked if I was using drugs, which I denied. He explained that I looked like I had no acting experience at all.
Despite usually avoiding watching the raw footage from a movie – because he tends to focus on mistakes or scenes that will be cut – Douglas agreed to review it at the director Stone’s request. He started carefully watching, and was pleasantly surprised. He kept commenting that it looked good, and Stone agreed, confirming, “Yeah, it is, isn’t it?”
That moment showed Douglas that Stone intentionally provoked him to achieve the best possible performance. Douglas explained that Stone was willing to risk their working relationship – even if it meant Douglas disliked him intensely throughout filming – to get that extra edge. Douglas acknowledged Stone’s strong track record of getting great performances from actors and expressed deep gratitude for the opportunity and for being challenged to excel.
Oliver Stone Made ‘Wall Street’ a Huge Success
20th Century Studios
Although Oliver Stone and Michael Douglas clashed during production, it’s clear Stone had a strong vision for the film. Wall Street received positive reviews, with 78% approval from critics and 81% from audiences on Rotten Tomatoes, and it was a financial success, earning $43.8 million on a $16.5 million budget. Perhaps most significantly, the film won Douglas an Academy Award for Best Actor – an achievement likely made possible by Stone’s demanding approach to transforming Douglas into the memorable character of Gordon Gekko.
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Douglas returned as Gordon Gekko in the 2010 sequel, Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps, reuniting him with director Oliver Stone and co-star Shia LaBeouf. Critics applauded his seamless portrayal of the cold and calculating businessman, but the film received generally mixed reviews despite being a financial success.
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2026-02-08 18:37