Posted on 10/17/2004 7:15:21 PM PDT by Paul Atreides
Despite shattering box-office records and dominating headlines for months, "The Passion of the Christ" and "Fahrenheit 9/11" face real obstacles in the race for an Oscar nomination for best picture.
As Senior Writer Sean Smith reports in the current issue of Newsweek, many of the high-placed studio executives, producers, Oscar strategists, publicists and Academy members interviewed think that "Fahrenheit's" chances depend on the results of the presidential election, and all say that a "Passion" best-picture nod is almost unthinkable.
"A lot of older Academy voters, who are largely Jewish, refuse to even see this movie," says one Oscar-campaign vet. "There's a level of animosity toward this film that is very real. When I talk to the members, I hear it over and over and over again."
Complicating matters, says one exec, is the sense, fair or not, that Mel Gibson marketed the film as something Hollywood couldn't, or wouldn't, make. "It's a little weird to trash the establishment, and then to come knocking at the establishment's door during awards season."
But if "The Passion" gets shut out, there's a concern that some Christians could protest and – worst-case scenario – boycott the Oscars. "The born-agains will come out screaming that it's another case of censorship," says one source. "The whole Sodom and Gomorrah thing about Hollywood will come up again."
Michael Moore's "Fahrenheit" faces an entirely different problem, Smith reports in the Oct. 25 issue of Newsweek (on newsstands Monday, Oct. 18). Most insiders believe its fate is inextricably tied to the election – but they can't agree on whether a Bush or a Kerry win helps Moore the most.
"If John Kerry wins, 'Fahrenheit' gets nominated," says one exec. "Then it becomes 'the movie that changed the course of American history,' and the perception will be that Moore contributed to Bush's loss."
Or not. "Its chances are zero if Kerry wins, because then the protest is over and everybody feels better," says another source.
But,says one Academy member, "If Kerry loses, it gets nominated as a big 'f--- you' to Bush."
I'm sure he'll cry himself to sleep on the $609,493,825 pile of cash he made off of it too.
That's not Mel knocking, buddy, that's you farting while your head's up your keister
lol
Who really cares. Mel's rewards will be in Heaven, and nothing here on earth will be anything close to what God has in store for Mel.
"O" Scars....
I wasn't aware that Mel was wanting a nomination. I do know that MM would sue the Academy's pants off if he didn't get a nomination.
Amen.
Yep, I would say this sums up Hollywood pretty well.
"I'm sure he'll cry himself to sleep on the $609,493,825 pile of cash he made off of it too."
A sizable portion of which he recently gave to numerous hospitals including Cedar Sinai. If that doesn't tell you how "anti-semitic" he is I don't know what will/ sarcasm tag.
Pathetic.
What did I tell you?
Exactly, I'm sure he will do a lot of good with that money. He's not a greed head....
I teach film courses and I tell/show the students that the very best films and directors have never gotten awards.
I will be showing FahrenHYPE 9-11 in a few weeks as an example of a documentary...I don't know if I should show it before or after the elections...any advice anyone?
What are Oscars?
I don't think Mel cares about them anymore
Me too!
:The Oscars are just a cheap showcase for the gliteratti of Hollywood to entertain themselves for one night, anyway.
I can't, for the life of me, see why anyone out in the real world would waste time watching it.
It supposedly went away the year that the Supreme Court dictated that sodomy was a God given right.
I snub the Oscars and pretty much everything that comes out of "Hollywood"...guess we're even.
But, if Cheney says it to Leaky Leahy, it's the end of civilization as we know it.
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