He said… what?

Hollywood filmmaker Tony Gilroy was put to task by certain sectors for statements he made in an interview with Charlie Rose, aired recently on Bloomberg TV’s “Tonight” talk show.

The host asked the director of “The Bourne Legacy” why he picked Manila for the action-thriller’s climactic motorcycle chase scene.

Gilroy said: “Manila…felt so Bourne-ish. It’s so colorful, ugly, gritty, raw, stinky and crowded.”

Some Netizens were offended by the words “ugly” and “stinky.” Others were quick to point out that the director was merely being truthful.

Filipino actor John Arcilla, who played a small part in “Bourne,” told the Inquirer: “The statement should be regarded from an artist’s viewpoint.”

Arcilla explained that Gilroy was looking for a “Bourne-ish city… something like Gotham in the ‘Batman’ series. In any case, he wasn’t doing a documentary, but a fictional film.”

It’s not the first time that Manila’s “gritty, raw,” and dare we say it, “ugly, stinky” sections were explored onscreen—an urban landscape often captured on Filipino indie films.

The dingy alleys seen in “Bourne” were similarly featured in Jeffrey Jeturian’s “Kubrador” and Brillante Mendoza’s “Tirador.”

The intersection of Taft Avenue and Edsa (where the “Bourne” climax was shot) was the main location of Lawrence Fajardo’s “Amok.”

And just to belabor the point: The pristine vistas of Palawan were previously showcased in Auraeus Solito’s “Busong.”

These internationally acclaimed indie films did it first—long before Hollywood.

Arcilla pointed out that Gilroy complimented the country in the same Bloomberg interview.

Gilroy said: “They have a great film industry there, built off the Vietnam films. Our liaison’s father [worked on] ‘Apocalypse Now.’”

Arcilla said he couldn’t understand what the fuss was all about: “If you watch the interview, you’d see that Gilroy said it matter-of-factly. His words shouldn’t be taken out of context.” Bayani San Diego Jr.