I didn't watch the Academy Awards tonight. I was working on my article (not finished yet, but much farther along). But then I noticed that the show must be over, because the winners have been announced.
It looks as though the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has agenda-driven members on its awards nominating committee, but the general membership has more "normal" people than previously suspected. The winners of the major categories were mainly from the least-agenda-related movies.
Best Picture: "Crash"
Best Actor: Philip Seymour Hoffman, from "Capote"
Best Actress: Reese Witherspoon, from "Walk the Line"
Best Supporting Actor: George Clooney, from "Syriana"
Best Supporting Actress: Rachel Weisz, from "The Constant Gardener"
Best Director: Ang Lee, from "Brokeback Mountain"
Considering what the nominating committee gave the Academy members to vote on, it's about as good as could be hoped for.
At the same time, the winners don't really help Hollywood understand that the movie-going public wants better films with positive, pro-American messages.
2 comments:
Crash was the only one I saw and the only one that sounded like it was worth seeing.
As for what American's want to see in their movies... I think that's obvious. It's the same thing that sells everytime action and special effects (possibly a love story too).
Of the top 10 grossing films in the US ( http://www.movieweb.com/movies/boxoffice/alltime.php ) I'd say 9 of them fit that description. I didn't see The Passion of the Christ, but it was based on the most popular book in the world so that might explain why it's also up there.
Anon,
I saw Crash and also Good Night and Good Luck. Good Night was not worth seeing.
Unfortunately, too much of Hollywood doesn't care about what America wants. They care about gaining each other's respect, and that means producing agenda-driven movies that can be shoved down the throats of ignorant right-wing hicks in Red State America (from their perspective).
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