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| Michael Moore (news) displays the Oscar he won for best documentary feature for the film 'Bowling for Columbine' during the 75th annual Academy Awards (news - web sites) March 23, 2003, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill,file) |
Posted on 02/27/2004 6:12:20 AM PST by Happy2BMe
HOLLYWOOD (AFP) - Hollywood is fretting that outspoken stars could hijack Sunday's Oscars (news - web sites), the scene of frequent political outbursts, to score points ahead of this year's US presidential polls. And amid a tough crackdown by US federal authorities on the broadcast of "indecent" material, Oscar bosses worry that an unexpected political tirade could be censored, tarnishing the image of cinema's top awards.
The Academy Awards (news - web sites), attended by all of Hollywood's good and great and watched by up to one billion television viewers across the globe, presents a tempting soap-box for politically active stars who win awards.
"Hollywood egos cannot resist telling us what they think about what's happening," said awards expert Tom O'Neil.
Last year, liberal US documentary maker Michael Moore scandalised Hollywood and America when he lauched a vitriolic attack on US President George W. Bush (news - web sites) for waging war in Iraq (news - web sites) during his acceptance speech for his best documentary Oscar for his anti-gun film "Bowling for Columbine."
With free-speaking left-wing actors Tim Robbins and Alec Baldwin sure to take the stage this year as presenters if not as best supporting actor winners, and with equally combatant Sean Penn also nominated, organisers are bracing for possible fireworks as conservative Bush seeks re-election.
Robbins, a Green Party activist, fiercely opposed Bush over the war in Iraq along with his Oscar-winning partner and fellow 2004 Oscar presenter Susan Sarandon,
"Who knows what people are going to say," O'Neil said.
ABC television, which broadcasts the event live in the United States, has for the first time instituted a controversial five-second delay to the telecast to allow it to block obscenities or nudity from going on the air.
The pause was announced after pop singer Janet Jackson exposed her breast during a live televised show on February 1, sparking widespread outrage in America as well as a clampdown be media watchdogs.
While ABC has said it will not bleep out political speeches, some Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (news - web sites) bosses are quietly worried about that possibility and its effect on the Oscars' image.
"Academy officials are not worried about the delay in terms of bleeping out an offensive word, but a concern is the bleeping out of a touchy political speech or gesture," said Tim Gray, managing editor of entertainment industry bible Daily Variety.
Academy president Frank Pierson said this month that the time delay was a step towards introducing "a form of censorship."
But Robbins has reassured Oscar producers that while he sometimes feels compelled to draw public attention to key social and political issues, he was not planning do so this year.
"I have presented at a lot of awards, but for some reason every time I approach a podium, people think I'm going to say something. But I have a healthy outlet with my writing, with the films I make and by being invited to speak," he said.
At the 1993 Oscars, Robbins and Sarandon caused a sensation by slamming then president Bill Clinton (news - web sites) over the treatment of AIDS (news - web sites)-infected Haitian refugees detained at the US naval base at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba.
In 1973, a woman calling herself Sacheen Littlefeather took the stage when Marlon Brando won the best actor Oscar for "The Godfather," refusing it on his behalf to protest the movie industry's treatment of American Indians.
But in 1971, Jane Fonda, ardent anti-Vietnam War activist and best actress winner for "Klute," however stunned the white-knuckled Oscars audience when she failed to stump on the stage. In other years, it was not politics that provided some of Oscar's most shocking moments. In 1973 a streaker raced across the stage as David Niven was hosting the show, prompting him to quip: "The only laugh that man will ever get in his life is by stripping ... and showing his shortcomings." But it may not be the big stars who Oscar and Hollywood bosses are most worried about as it is often lesser winners such as Moore who lash out on the Oscars stage because they have access to fewer public forums. "I think that ultimately people aren't so much worried about Penn, Robbins or Baldwin going off this year, but are going, 'My God, what are those other people going to say?'," Gray told AFP. "But, after all ... that's what makes the Oscars fun."
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| Michael Moore (news) displays the Oscar he won for best documentary feature for the film 'Bowling for Columbine' during the 75th annual Academy Awards (news - web sites) March 23, 2003, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill,file) |
Robbins had to mention on Letterman last night 50,000 votes that were "wiped out" in Florida in 2000. Dave ignored it and went to commercial.
No mention of thousands of military absentee ballots that were blocked by Clinton from even getting there in time to be counted. Selective amnesia.
Hollywood Elites Duck Iraq War Debate
By Jeff Gannon
GOPUSA News
March 11, 2003
WASHINGTON (GOPUSA News) -- Ten of Hollywood's loudest "anti-war" activists were recently invited to debate public policy and military experts about a war in Iraq, but none of them showed up. Frontiers of Freedom (FOF), a non-profit think tank, sponsored the event at the National Press Club. Invited to appear were George Clooney, Matt Damon, Mike Farrell, Janeane Garofolo, Ethan Hawke, Tim Robbins, Susan Sarandon, Martin Sheen, Barbra Streisand, and Uma Thurman.
"Six weeks ago we sent an open-ended invitation to these celebrities to appear at a fair and honest debate," said Jason Wright, Vice President of FOF.
"Most never responded at all -- those that did said no. It's one thing to exercise free speech, which we fully support, but when you command attention as they do it is shameful to rattle off inaccuracies and traditional liberal tripe then quickly bury your head in the sand when faced with opposition. In fact, it's shameful," Wright said.
FOF president George Landrith added that Hollywood claims war is never the answer, regardless of the threat. "To those who ask why we're picking on Hollywood, it's simple. They have power and influence on culture but no accountability. They are in a unique position to spout off whatever they like without a challenge. Hollywood stars have no expertise and no sense of history. They regurgitate talking points without a care," Landrith said.
Landrith continued, "As to the issue of Saddam himself, it's not that complicated. The only reason he is feigning cooperation and allowing the inspectors to return is that he does not want the U.S. armed forces to return."
Bob Bevelacqua, former U.S. Army Major and defense consultant, expressed disappointment that Hollywood was not represented at the debate. "I hoped to share with them details of a video I was shown recently in a high-level briefing at the Pentagon," Bevelacqua said.
"I've seen some pretty disgusting things but what I just saw in this video, which I hope will soon be made public, was shocking. Saddam uses rape rooms, keeps prep rooms for the rapists to prepare themselves, even tapes and then edits them to be sent to the families of the raped women. I would like to hear what Hollywood says about that. Bombs, nerve agents, and canisters are one thing, but when you attach faces, it's another story. Is action in Iraq just? It is absolutely just, and the time is now," Bevelacqua said.
Retired U.S. Navy Capt. Chuck Nash compared the situation in Iraq to a disease. "We have been treating this disease with over-the-counter measures. We must make a commitment to stop fighting the disease from afar. We must go to the center, and we must stop fighting the symptoms."
On the issue of human shields, Nash added that most of the young people have left Baghdad, determined not to put their lives at risk. "But over 300,000 other young men and women are in the area," he said. "They are courageously standing, honoring their commitment. United we should and must stand."
"There are a few great 'Hollywood Lies'," concluded Peter Hussey, a veteran of three administrations and a respected defense consultant. "One is that inspections work. Mike Farrell likes to say that the job of inspectors is to go and hunt for these weapons of mass destruction. Yet the latest United Nations resolutions call for Iraq to come clean without digging by the team of Hans Blix. They are not detectives."
"Another lie is Mike Farrell claiming that Iraq is not a threat. How can this be? Recently Saddam gave an interview revealing his goal to rule the region, dominate Israel, and get revenge on the U.S. for the Gulf War. This is not a threat? Look, if we are wrong this time it will be far worse than Kuwait, we will have terrorism with global reach. We must end the threat today," Hussey said.
Twigs: a Major Bob bump :)
"Bush is a racist"--Danny Glover
"I think America has no experience with terrorism or even with war. In Europe, we know a little bit more about these things." --Peter Gabriel
"As dumb as this administration is, they don't look ahead. They don't know where any countries are...They don't really know much about anything."
"Now you have people [in Washington] who have no interest in the country at all. They're interested in their companies, their corporations grabbing Caspian oil."-- Gore Vidal
“In my country the atmosphere is poisoned. Unbreathable for those of us who are not on the right. So thank you for inviting me to this festival and allowing me to leave there for a few days.” -- Jessica Lange
"So when I see the American flag, I go, 'Oh my God, you're insulting me.'"
"'We're here, we're queer!' -- that's what makes my heart swell. Not the flag, but a gay naked man or woman burning the flag. I get choked up with pride." -- Janeanne Garofalo
"I believe he thinks this [war against Iraq] is a war that can be won, but there is no such thing anymore...We can't beat anyone anymore" -- George Clooney
"[Bush is a] sad figure: not too well educated, who doesn't get out of America much. He's leading the country towards fascism... he wouldn't understand the word fascism anyway." --Larry Hagman
"It is inappropriate for the [Bush] administration to trump up a case in which we are ballyhooed into war."
But, a few years earlier:
"...the bottom line is that I think it’s appropriate for the international community in situations like this to intervene [in Kosovo]. I am in favor of an intervention. On some level you have to say that at least somebody [Clinton] is doing something." -- Mike Farrell
That was enough brilliance for me.
Got to give him credit he flat out admited they want nothing to do with a opposing view point, since right before this he said there will be no time limit on acceptance speeches and they can go on and on about activist causes. No reason to watch this mess.
Me either.
How about a duel between Christoper Hitchens (pro-war) and Peter Hitchens (antiwar). That would be fun.
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