RICHARD GERE - GERE UPSET ABOUT MOVIE ENDING

RICHARD GERE and filmmaker RICHARD SHEPARD have fallen out over the ending of harrowing new movie THE HUNTING PARTY. Buddhist Gere, who plays a TV reporter hunting for the truth in war-torn Bosnia, has openly criticised the writer/director for the film's violent climax without ruining it for filmgoers. The actor admits he "debated" the subject "endlessly" with his director, telling him, "It's not an appropriate message. It's cheap." But Shepard refused to change it, and now insists Gere's peaceful politics led to the actor's feelings about the ending of the movie. Shepard tells the Los Angeles Times newspaper, "His political beliefs didn't coalesce with what I was trying to say, but I think that's OK."