ACADEMY AWARDS ABOUT TO "JUMP THE SHARK"?

Network America ^ | 25 Jan 2005 | Jim Condit, Jr.

[Robert Drobot]

"Jump the Shark" is a semi-known phrase meaning "lose all credibility" or "it's all downhill from here."

The phrase comes from www.jumptheshark.com - which catalogs and debates the (paraphrase) "defining moment when you know you're favorite TV Show has reached its peak and its all downhill from here."

The phrase "jump the shark" comes from a Happy Days episode - late in the series - where Fonzie went on a vacation with the Cunninghams. In that episode of the sitcom, Fonzie jumped over a jaws-like shark while waterskiing on the ocean.

Fans generally thought this moment was so absurd, that it was the signal that Happy Days was about out of steam. Happy Days had lost credibility. Happy Days had "jumped the shark."

Another example given is that "Charlie's Angels" jumped the shark when Farah Fawcett left the show (which was after only 1 year, according to the site). Get the idea? OK.

Well, network nightly TV has itself long ago "jumped the shark" as far as I'm concerned. And it is long past the time when those producing nightly network TV shows should have been arrested for corrupting minors.

And despite the already debauched image Hollywood has achieved, there has still been a sense that there was at least a good faith ATTEMPT to give the nominations and Oscars to those who deserved the awards each year, more or less.

But this year, the Academy Awards along with Oscar himself may "Jump the Shark."

As if it wasn't bad enough that Mel Gibson's movie, "The Passion of the Christ", became the 9th largest grossing film of all time - and as if it weren't bad enough that the film was hailed by just about everyone outside of Hollywood as one of the most remarkable films, if not the most remarkable film, that many had every seen - 2004 turned out to be a really, really very bad year for memorable movies, let alone movies deserving the Oscar for Best Picture.

Things were so bad that a seeming scramble took place to release flicks which might pass as credible Oscar Nominees. A flurry of films being touted for nomination were released near the December 31, 2004 deadline.

ONE PROBLEM: none of the other mentioned Oscar nominee contenders did very well at the office. A quick internet survey revealed that all of the other movies being touted as potential nominees -- including "Ray", "Million Dollar Baby", which is actually a right-to-die movie, "Kinsey", a falsified life of the pervert which never made it to 300 screens on the way to bombing, ("The Passion of the Christ" by contrast made it to about 3000 screens), "The Aviator", "Sideways", "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind", and "Finding Neverland" - all together hardly made the box office which was achieved by "The Passion of the Christ."

BIGGER PROBLEM: If you don't know much or anything about the rest of this "march of the mediocre" films - don't feel bad. If you keep up with the news at all, you probably know that "Ray" is about the life of recently deceased singer Ray Charles. But I would be hard pressed to tell you much of anything about any of the others. All of which means that nobody is talking about them, and nobody can find anything much to say about them - not even in the media.

Does anyone seriously think that ANY of these other movies will be talked about 5 years or 10 years from now? - as "The Passion of the Christ" surely will be?

I don't think so - because - hear me now - no one is talking about these other movies FIVE DAYS or TEN DAYS after they see them!

The more relevant question is: Is anybody talking about these other films FIVE MINUTES or TEN MINUTES after they see the films - while they are catching a bite to eat shortly after leaving the theater?

The artistic brilliance of "The Passion of the Christ" includes - and this is just from off the top of my head from the last time I saw the movie (this time on DVD) a few months ago:

* The aerial scene of the crucifixion which leads to the teardrop falling from Heaven;
* The camera work as Longinus the soldier thrusts the spear at Jesus' body which gives the feel of the blood and water from Christ's side almost hitting the viewer in the face;
* The strategically placed flashbacks which evoked emotion or made some important point, such as that Christ worked for a living and had a sense humor;
* The absolutely great acting performances turned in by the actors and actresses who played Jesus, Mary, Mary Magdelene, and Pontius Pilate. The important thing here is that all the actors did a good job in the movie - you always felt you were in the action and in the moment - one mark of a great movie. (If you wonder how good Jim Caviezel was in realistically portraying Jesus - just go back and look at the other performances in other movies about Jesus.)
* The scenes where Director Mel Gibson approximated great paintings or works of art. One of these scenes was where Christ's right hand was being nailed to the Cross, while he looks at his right hand out of the corner of his eye; another was at the end of the movie when Mary holds the lifeless body of Jesus, which had just been taken down from the Cross, and looks at the camera; this scene approximates Michaelangelo's Pieta.

Moving to another point: some news articles are claiming that Michael Moore removed himself from the documentary category. How can this be? Michael Moore's movie, Fahrenheit 911 - IS a documentary. It is not a movie version of anything. It is a documentary. How does anybody get to move their production from the category it belongs in to a category it doesn't belong in? In any case, this shoots down the argument that the Academy can't award "The Passion of the Christ" the Best Picture award because its characters speak two foreign languages.

To conclude this Network America e-wire: the Hollywood elite are in a real box this year. From an artistic point of view, from an cinematic historical point of view regarding the probable longevity in the public mind, and from the aspect of box office success - then "The Passion of the Christ" is the clear winner (not just a worthy nominee - but the CLEAR winner) for the categories of both Best Picture and Best Director.

One article entitled, "Choosing the Best Film Will be Trickier than Ever" ran in the Daily-Herald based in Provo, Utah. The article noted the following:

"While "The Passion" is sui generis in terms of subject and execution, it has the financial credentials: It was the third-biggest earner of the year, with more than $370 million gross. And, more important, it fed the moviegoing desires of a growing and increasingly influential segment of the country -- including an untapped reservoir of people who would never otherwise go to the movies.

"Does Hollywood, already wearing the Mark of Cain for being licentious, immoral and Jewish, want to antagonize the entire fundamentalist Christian community by overlooking its favorite film?"

And Pat Buchanan, guest hosting for Joe Scarborough on MSNBC a month or two ago, made this point (paraphrase): Do the Academy voters hate a really effective movie about the Passion of Jesus Christ so much that they will forego what could be the largest ratings in their history? Buchanan asked how it would be possible to attract more people to watch the Academy Awards worldwide than if both "The Passion of the Christ" and Michael Moore's "Fahrenheit 911" were both nominated for best picture of the year? Such a lineup would probably attract the largest audience ever for the Academy Awards.

It seems a certainty that the Academy is going to completely snub Jim Caviezel for his portrayal of Jesus. This is raw religious discrimination, trying to signal actors and actresses, young and old, that they'd better do soft porn or "politically correct" themes, and not wholesome movies - if they want to be recognized for their work.

But if the Academy snubs "The Passion of the Christ" - I wouldn't be surprised to see, for the first time ever, more protesters on the outside than attendees on the inside - as the cultural war divide continues to widen.

I also wouldn't be surprised if we could all hear a collective world wide laughter if we walk outside our houses at the moment the Oscar for Best Picture is awarded to one of these other comparative turkeys, rather than "The Passion of the Christ."

NOTHING is harder to rebound from for an institution that wants to be taken seriously - than to find itself the object of derision and laughter.

Will the Academy Awards and Oscar himself - "jump the shark" this year?

We'll find out a few hours from when this e-wire is released. You will find that we sent this Network America e-wire out at 11:45 PM California time on January 24, 2005 and it is so time-stamped on the independent website www.topica.com in the Network America section. The Academy Awards for movies released in 2004 are slated to be announced 6 hours from now, at 5:30 AM on January 25, 2005.

End of this e-wire.

Jim Condit Jr.,
Director, Network America Ewire List
Director, Citizens for a Fair Vote Count

[missyme]

Hmmmm.
I never said you were going to Hell although you must think you are.

You insulted The Lord and you know it.

You knew you would get a knee jerk reaction for your disparaging remark about Jesus..

I would get down on your knees where you stand and ask for forgiveness as I said you need it.

[Captain Peter Blood]

I disagree with 2001 and today. If it came out today with the kind of special effects, tasteful not over the top, and the same great acting with maybe a little more background in the storytelling I still think it would score well. It was and still is more of an intellectual Sci-fi picture than most but still very interesting.
When I first saw that picture back in the 1960's I thought, as a lot of people did then, that by 2001 we really would have a Moon Colony and space flight for all would be possible. Man where did it all go wrong?
As soon as we got to the Moon we stopped having any vision and let so many dreams and possibilities go by the wayside.
To much reality hit home and hard.

[Burr5]

pssssst... here's a secret.. not everyone believes Jesus is "the Lord". and you did imply that I was damned.

But keep up the excellent outreach program.

[Timmy]

The Academy Awards lost all credibility with me when the stupid, insipid Shakespeare in Love beat out Saving Private Ryan for Best Picture. I was happy to see LOTR-ROTK sweep last year, but it really didn't matter by that point.

[Burr5]

Well, HERE'S somebody I can agree with! Right on both counts! Saving Private Ryan should have won, and ROTK almost lent the academy a degree of real credibility.

(BTW- they only held off on giving FOTR and TTT Best Picture to keep up the Nielson numbers)

[missyme]

Sir,
Would you be insulted if an Atheist Mocked GOD Almighty to you? would you be insulted if someone insulted your wife your child your friend right in front of you?

When you say a disparaging remark about Jesus Christ you insult many people who view him more important than there spouse, child, parents anyone.

Realize millions of people Love Jesus Christ more than any thing anybody and would die for him, obviously you don't know what that is like.

[Burr5]

I think you should come over and burn me at the stake right now. I certainly deserve it.

Not only am I not a Christian, I have dared to suggest that The Passion of the Christ might have less than universal appeal.

And my wanton MOCKING OF GOD surely makes my eternal damnation a certainty.

[missyme]

Well if you don't give a hooty tooty where you go when you die and I am sure you know you are, then why should I be concerned? maybe as a Christian I should care about your eternal home but your doing such a good job of making sure you and I will not be in the same place eternally, all I can do is pray that you will somehow see the light.

[Burr5]

In all honesty I do appreciate your concern for my eternal soul, though I believe it unnecessary.

Just so you know, I support you Christians constantly. I think you are very good for society. I recall an old anecdote: say you're walking down a dark alley in a bad neighborhood. And four big black men are following you. And gaining on you. Would you be more or less comforted to know that they were on their way home from a church meeting?

It's a powerful point.

On issues ranging from abortion to euthanasia to education I appreciate Christian influence in this country's debates.

Just don't tell me I've "secured" for myself a spot in hell just because I think The Passion's appeal is limited outside the Christian community.

[missyme]

NO I was just upset you referred to Jesus Christ as some guy who got the crap beat out of him that was very dis-respectful and I think you know that.

Are you an Atheist? your soul is what makes you you and what determines your eternal home, right now your at the train station like I am waiting for that train to finally take you home, No and I am not saying we are all here waiting to die but the point is we all are right?

Wouldn't you want to go where many of the people you love are going?

[mowkeka]

Academy Awards about to Jump the Shark?
Great, great, great analogy...

[Robert Drobot]

I'm also going to put "The Passion of The Christ" in my player during the Oscar ceremonies.

Jim Caviezel is most deserving of the best actor award, but the anti-Christian hatred in Hollywood denied him his due.

"The Passion of The Christ" is already a timeless classic. The bigotry of the film industry notwithstanding.

In His Way the hideous face that is Hollywood has been revealed to one and all.

Our Lady of La Salette, pray for us.
Saint Pius X, pray for us.
Saint Padre Pio pray for us.

[bobjam]

same concept...British sea captain vs French

[finnigan2]

"It was a very memorable performance that has entered pop culture legend."

- You may well be right, but only on account of the story - not the acting.
I don't think there's any doubt that, given the "acting" range that Hoffman was required to display, that you or I could also have won the Best Actor award that year in the same role. How hard can it be to be led around by the hand with a blank look on your face?

[Military family member]

Yes but different story lines entirely.

That's like saying Posiden Adventure and Titanic are both the same because they are about sinking ships.

[steve8714]

"Africa" was the pits, perhaps the low point, or maybe "Philadelphia".
Meryl Streep ran the emotional gamut from A to B.
Ishtar was better.

[Borges]

Philadelphia didn't win Best Picture. Ouf of Africa did...and in the year of Brazil!

[freepy smurf]

What was the cut-off for you? Driving Miss Daisy, Rain Man or The Last Emperor? :)

Annie Hall. Liberal women over 40 still dress like that (Boulder, CO).

[bobjam]

My first impression of Titanic was that it was a cross between Far and Away and the Poseidon Adventure.

[Borges]

It's also the source text for virtually all modern romantic comedies. It's still funny and romantic. Can't say much for the fashions though.