...has her weekly say:
"Forget about Hollywood being ahead of the big issues: Hollywood has never even been on time for the big issues. This is why, for example, in the middle of an epic war with Islamic fascists, Hollywood is still making movies about the Nazis. Now and then, just for variety, they tackle a more current topic, like the Jim Crow era. Even on AIDS — which is something you'd expect people like Clooney to know something about — Hollywood was about seven years behind. Wait, no — bad choice of words. Even on AIDS, Hollywood got caught with its pants down. Still no good. On AIDS, Hollywood got it right in the end. Oh, dear ... Note to self: Must hire two more interns to screen hate mail.
The point is: The Hollywood set didn't start wearing AIDS ribbons to the Oscars until 1992:
— 10 years after The New York Times described AIDS;
— seven years after AIDS was the cover story on Life magazine;
— seven years after AIDS was in People magazine;
— five years after Oprah did a show on AIDS.
Only recently has George Clooney heard about segregation. (He's against it.) But he still can't nail down the details of something that ended nearly half a century ago. Contrary to Clooney's impassioned speech, no theaters ever forced black people to sit in the back. If you were trying to oppress people, you would make them sit in the front, which are the worst seats in the house.
Or you'd just make them watch a George Clooney movie."
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But of course Hollywood is behind the curve. An issue has to be proven noteworthy before the exhibitionists disguising themselves as actors and directors and producers decide to feature it.
It's called the sure thing. What's hot. What makes a "statement". This year they dispensed with one of the usual prerequisites...making money...because all of the blockbusters flopped miserably and what's a weenie-flasher to do?
Heap praise upon the "artistry" of it all. Profess that they're so ahead of the times that it is the average joe in the street that's having a hard time keeping up.
Not them. Never them.
But this year was an anomoly. The coffers need filling, and the blockbusters of '06 better rake in the cash. They lucked out with having Stewart drag along the 18-34 year olds, or this years Academy Awards would have been the lowest rated ever.
It's the job of every actor to sell popcorn. And hot dogs and soda and candy, lots of candy. That's how the theaters stay afloat. Got to lure in the munchers or all is lost. I haven't a clue as to what the summer season's feature film list looks like, but it damned well better have action galore, stars being stars, and holy shit, I forgot about Superman. They can have all of these stirring tributes to Christopher Reeves and I will bet every last penny that somewhere in the credits they mention him, and that Ocrah breaks down in tears while reminiscing about that tall dark haired man with the big red ass.
S. I meant to say S.
2 comments:
"V for Vendetta" looks interesting. The tag line, "people shouldn't fear the government, the government should fear the people" warms my heart.
Copy that. It was what the Founders always intended to begin with. Then Ted Kennedy was born and all bets were off. I want to check out "V" myself.
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