Charlie Sheen's media rants are the stuff of poetry. Whether the high priest Vatican assassin warlock is talking about his goddesses, explaining the inner-workings of his brain or lampooning his employers, he is undeniably entertaining. He is not afraid to use offensive and absurd humor, and he's frustrated that people take it too seriously, rightly so. He is amazing. That term probably isn't good enough, but unfortunately I, like Sheen, am bound by these terrestrial descriptions.
Yes, of course, Sheen is very eccentric. However, is he clinically insane? I certainly don't think so. Most of the things he says seem fairly logical to me, it's just the manner in which he says things that makes them seem crazy. As far as I'm concerned, the perception that he is crazy is a result of his honesty. He says look, this is what I've done, some of it I apologize for, but some of it was a hell of a lot of fun, and I don't regret it. The notion that he has to feel guilt is absurd. If he is able to move on and live without guilt then we have no place to judge him for it. Saying that living with guilt is healthy seems pretty misguided. His ability to move on and yet appreciate his past experiences for what they were is a strength. The way the media has portrayed him, as this crazy person in denial, is ridiculous. In the famous ABC interview, Sheen was asked questions such as "When you look back at the last time you used drugs, are you disgusted with yourself?" What kind of a leading question is that? And when he says no, the interviewer acts astonished. He could have lied, but he's only saying what other people in his position would think, but not have the guts to say.
The one thing I do have to say is that letting what an actor says, believes, or does affect whether or not you watch or enjoy his work is just silly. Compartmentalization. Learn it. I don't care if an actor believes that pandas rule Earth from a secret cave and penguins control our thoughts (that's what Scientologists believe, right?). I don't even care whether an actor is a good person or a bad person. If I like his work, then I will watch it. If I don't, then I won't. Personal character and works of art are completely separate issues to be judged separately. I'm sorry for going off on a tangent, but I took some Charlie Sheen and I think it's kicking in. I may have taken a lethal dose (read: any) so my face will probably melt soon and my family will weep over my exploded body ... too much?
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