We know well how much Sean Penn is a reference figure in the context of international cinema. Inclined to investigate the human dimension since his debut without fearing the sense of decency or falling into good manners, the American star has embodied roles that have remained imprinted on celluloid as well as in the minds of the most hardened cinephiles: from the corrupt lawyer David Kleinfeld in “Carlito's Way” to the tormented Jimmy Markum in “Mystic River”, up to the unforgettable Harvey Milk known in “Milk” by Gus Van Sant, winning the second Oscar for best leading actor. In addition to the scandalous news about past romantic relationships, from the fleeting frequentation with Madonna to the painful breakup with his ex-wife Robin Wright, Penn has not missed the opportunity to critically look at the world of the seventh art, highlighting its most evident critical issues and the aspects that require a progressive change of direction.

In an interview with The New York Times, the actor spoke again about his experience on “Milk,” describing it as “the last time I had fun,” and confessing that he spent fifteen years of unhappiness on the set immediately afterward: “I was pretending to be able to deal with it, and it was exhausting. Most of the time I was like, ‘What time is it? When are we done?’ … I was sure it was over, but I didn’t know how I was going to pay for my house or travel freely or anything like that if I stopped.” Part of this dissatisfaction, Penn says, is due to the way Hollywood has changed over time, for example in terms of giving fewer and fewer gay roles to straight actors. On the issue, he argued bluntly: “It’s an age of tremendous hubris. It’s a timid, artless policy toward the human imagination.” The same arguments were raised during an episode of the Awards Chatter podcast for The Hollywood Reporter. Here, Penn says he thinks a job opportunity like the one he had in 2008 is unlikely to happen today, as the film industry has changed its approach to diversity and casting decisions. In direct contrast, he added, "I'm totally okay with any industry, including the film industry, having a problem with lack of diversity. There's no one, of any gender, ethnicity, or alternative lifestyle, that I'm not interested in if they have a story in their heart that they want to tell."

In addition to the criticism, the star indirectly suggests a solution to the problem: "What I know is that the solution is not to limit the casting of Hamlet to Danish princes. It is not only an attack on the imagination, which is our daily bread, but it is also a demonstration of a lack of imagination in those who request it. I find it culturally offensive, venal and sad that this is the easy solution for those who follow the common thought." More recently, on the occasion of the lifetime achievement award received at the Marrakech Film Festival, the actor reopened the discussion by pointing the finger at the Academy, accused of having favored a policy limiting different and free cultural expressions. During the press conference, he declared: "The Academy has shown truly extraordinary cowardice when it comes to being part of the larger world of expression and, in fact, has contributed to a large extent to limiting the imagination and to significantly limiting different cultural expressions. I don’t get very excited about the Oscars unless there are films like The Florida Project, or I’m Still Here, or Emilia Perez, or the things that are probably going to happen this year.” Referring to the titles worthy of attention, he then cited “The Apprentice” by Ali Abbasi, defined as a great film with incredible acting; but also “September 5” by Tim Fehlbaum, recognized as “a perspective that I have never seen, or that we have not seen before.”

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