Oscar-winning actor Denzel Washington recently spoke about American politics and how people need to be aware of the continued manipulative tactics used by both parties.

In an interview with The Sunday Times, editor Jonathan Dean quoted a line from “Gladiator II,” the upcoming Ridley Scott sequel starring Washington: “Empires fall, so do emperors.” Dean noted that the phrase felt relevant in the current post-election political landscape. “You know, it’s so easy to stand outside America and say this and that,” Washington said in response. “Turn around, you know? Choose a country. Everyone.”

Washington continued, “It’s all politics. All promises not kept. And with the information age being what it is – if it is anything – the left, right or whatever had better learn how to use those tools to manipulate the people. In the first film I made, ‘Carbon Copy’ (1981), there was a great line: ‘Power to the people? Yes, they had it once – it was called the Stone Age. ”

He added: “We are all slaves to information now. We really are. We are all slaves. So whatever you think about the leaders, like this guy is crazy or the other guy is sane, you better realize that you are being manipulated by both sides. Period.” Washington ended the thought by saying, “Yes. So go to the movies.”

Elsewhere in his interview with The Sunday Times, Washington reflected on his career and the failures and successes that came with it.

“After ‘Malcolm X’ (1992) I made some real clunkers. Look them up – I won’t mention their names,” Washington said. “They’re all in the 1990s. But I deserved. I had responsibilities.”

He also reflected on his acting career in the 2000s, working on films such as 2000’s ‘The Hurricane’ and 2001’s ‘Training Day’, the latter of which earned him his second Academy Award.

‘So 2000…’ he pondered. “Well, in life you learn, you earn and then you come back – like giving back. So if your life lasts 90 years, you learn until you are 30 and from your 30s to your 60s you earn. So at that time I was earning. With a great agent, my career built around making money, and so the making started and then life started too, with bills, four kids and a house.