Andrew Garfield defends Mel Gibson and says he “deserves to make films” despite past controversies

nme.com:

Andrew Garfield has come out in support of Mel Gibson, saying the actor-director “deserves to make films” despite his past controversies.For a Movies of My Life feature in the new issue of PEOPLE, Garfield reflected on several of his films, including the 2016 WWII drama Hacksaw Ridge, which was directed by Gibson.Asked what he learned from working with the Oscar-winning Braveheart director, Garfield said: “I learned a lot, actually.

I learned that people can heal. I learned that people can change, that people can get help. I learned that everyone deserves respect.

And that people deserve second chances, third chances, fourth chances. That none of us are infallible.”Before making Hacksaw Ridge, which told the story of a pacifist soldier who refused to carry a gun while serving in the army, the Jewish actor said he had “deep, important conversations” with Gibson, who made anti-Semitic statements when he was arrested for a DUI in 2006.“He’s done a lot of beautiful healing with himself,” Garfield added. “And thank God.

Because he’s an amazing filmmaker, and I think he deserves to make films. He deserves to tell stories, because he has a very, very big, compassionate heart.“He’s the kind of director that would come from behind the monitors, just with his eyes wet,” The Amazing Spider-Man actor continued. “He knew when it was right and he knew when it wasn’t right.