THE BEST PICTURE: WHY NO CHRISTIANS NEED APPLY

CATHOLIC EXCHANGE ^ | 2/25/05 | JAMES BEMIS

[jbemis]

THE BEST PICTURE

BY JAMES BEMIS

When this year’s Academy Award nominees were announced, many were shocked Mel Gibson’s THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST was not nominated for a single major award. The movie, which chronicled Jesus’ last twelve hours, took the cinematic world by storm.

BREAKING AN UNSPOKEN TABOO

Because the movie was filmed in Latin and Aramaic with no big-name stars, Hollywood insiders figured producer and director Gibson was throwing away his $30 million investment. However, upon general release in February 2004, it was obvious something extraordinary had occurred: THE PASSION was not only a box office smash but the film succeeded brilliantly as cinema.

Gibson expertly puts us at Ground Zero of the last twelve hours in Christ’s life. In his wisdom, the director played it straight, letting the gripping Passion narrative unfold just as it has been passed down through the ages – thankfully, there’s hardly a modern touch found anywhere in the film.

In taking Christianity seriously, however, “The Passion” broke Hollywood’s unspoken taboo. Controversy raged about whether the film was “anti-Semitic.” But whether people loved or hated the film, most agreed it was extraordinarily powerful cinema. The question was not if the film would be nominated for major awards, but how many.

Then came January 26’s startling news: THE PASSION was nominated for three minor awards but no major ones. Few imagined Hollywood’s bias against Christianity was so big – and its elite so small – that THE PASSION would be virtually snubbed when the Academy Award nominations were announced. Was 2004 such a stellar year for the movies that a great cinematic achievement like THE PASSION could be ignored?

THE SECOND-RATE COMPETITION

Hardly. The five films nominated for 2004’s Best Picture are – at best – second-rate, forgettable as last week’s leftovers. RAY, for instance, is simply a mediocre bio-pic of the sort – albeit seamier – Hollywood used to churn out by the dozens: THE GLENN MILLER STORY, THE BENNY GOODMAN STORY, THE GENE KRUPA STORY, THE EDDY DUCHIN STORY, etc. (None of these – including RAY – holds a candle to “YANKEE DOODLE DANDY,” though.) You never forget you’re watching a movie about Ray Charles: Despite all the acting accolades, Jamie Foxx seems far too delicate and insubstantial for the role of a tough, complex giant like Ray Charles. As one who loves Charles’ music, I wanted to like the movie but found it trite and unmoving. Most viewers would better understand “The Genius” by listening to a greatest hits CD rather than watching this anemic film.

It says much about the corrupted state of our culture that Clint Eastwood’s MILLION DOLLAR BABY is considered mainstream. The story involves the freakish sport of female boxing, an activity that would be unthinkable in a civilized society. None of the athletes exhibit even the faintest hint of feminine virtue, but instead talk, act and think like undersized men with mammeries. Worse, the film smiles upon the “mercy killing” of an invalid by the nominally Catholic “hero.” The message: Once you’ve lost the ability to earn big bucks pulverizing women in a boxing ring, then life just ain’t worth living. This is deep thinking, Hollywood-style.

Finally, director Eastwood can’t resist taking cheap shots at the Catholic Church. As in last year’s MYSTIC RIVER, a priest is disparaged: This time, he’s made to appear immature and so ignorant he can’t explain the doctrine of the Trinity or the Immaculate Conception to a pesky parishioner. In short, MILLION DOLLAR BABY is a thoroughly repulsive film.

Martin Scorsese’s THE AVIATOR is similar to Howard Hughes’ Spruce Goose: so overblown it hardly gets airborne. This leaden biography of Hughes (played by Leonardo DiCaprio) is a cartoonish, indulgent, almost amateurish production. DiCaprio’s hair looks like it was dyed with shoe polish. In the second lead role, Cate Blanchett’s caricature of Katherine Hepburn is uproariously incompetent. Like every movie Scorsese has made since 1980’s great RAGING BULL, this film is too long, too loud, and too lumbering. Nothing in it rings true. Put another way, THE AVIATOR, as they say, must be seen to be disbelieved.

Critically acclaimed SIDEWAYS reveals more about its admirers than it does about human nature. The story revels in degradation - of marriage, friendship, courtship, family, etc. You name it, SIDEWAYS demeans it. Ostensibly about two friends on a week-long wine tasting binge before one’s wedding, the wretched SIDEWAYS is a sort of upscale PORKY’S, replete with foul language, naked fat slobs, animal-like carnality and juvenile high-jinks by two thoroughly unlikable male leads. If this is the “cultural landmark” many are saying, conservatives must ask whether American society has much left worth conserving.

FINDING NEVERLAND, a story about “Peter Pan” creator J. M. Barrie, is a thin but rewarding film, featuring an excellent performance by Johnny Depp – the first role I’ve seen in which he doesn’t grossly overact. Another highlight is the extraordinary performance by Freddie Highmore as a member of the family that inspires Barrie to write “Peter Pan.” NEVERLAND is an enjoyable and touching movie, but ultimately is rather insubstantial.

RELISHING RELIGIOUS BIGOTRY

By any artistic standard, THE PASSION is far superior to any of the films nominated as Best Picture. Why the cold-shoulder? First, part of the wailing over the movie was veiled envy from an embarrassed Hollywood establishment, those makers of infantile comedies and seductive trivialities who saw what a real filmmaker could do. Watching THE PASSION is an unforgettable experience: It demonstrates the heights that cinema is capable of but rarely achieves, especially these days.

Second, THE PASSION’S snubbing puts the lie to the Hollywood establishment’s reputed “tolerance.” In fact, a hostile blacklisting of Gibson and other Christians now occurring is far more hideous than anything happening during the supposed “Dark Ages” of the McCarthy blacklisting era because it is done out of religious intolerance. Over the years, observers have noted how Hollywood executives relish producing films that undermine, demean, and ridicule the Christian faith. This year the mask is ripped off and we see the bared fangs of religious bigotry in all its grisly and vivid ugliness. In a year when a great film like THE PASSION so obviously should have been honored, Tinseltown’s elites instead chose five forgettable films as the finest they had to offer. Faced with an opportunity to rise above their prejudices for a change, the Academy – to its everlasting shame - took a flyer.

The 2004 Academy Awards forever will be remembered as when the year’s best picture wasn’t nominated as Best Picture.

[flaglady47]

"And watching a three-hour film about an eccentric millionaire who once dated Katherine Hepburn is your idea of important cinema? Somebody's values are perverted--and it's not Gibson's."

It sounds like you haven't even seen The Aviator. It was a superb movie, Leonardo did a wonderful job, and Kate Blanchette did a marvelous Kathryn Hepburn. Scorcese should win best director. That movie was very complicated to make, Leonardo had to carry most of the lines, and he also had to go from somewhat normal when young to considerably whacked out when middle age. I loved it. Each to their own tastebuds, but you are dead wrong about this picture. It is most deserving as an Oscar finalist film. And Kate Blanchette deserves an Oscar for best supporting actress.

[b9]

Finding Neverland was a beautiful movie and I recommend it to everyone.

Me, too!
That precious little Freddie Highmore stole our hearts.
Johnny Depth is wonderful in it. I can't wait to purchase the DVD.

[Liz]

.....a hostile blacklisting of (Mel) Gibson and other Christians now occurring is far more hideous than anything happening during the supposed “Dark Ages” of the McCarthy blacklisting era because it is done out of religious intolerance. Over the years, observers have noted how Hollywood executives relish producing films that undermine, demean, and ridicule the Christian faith. This year the mask is ripped off and we see the bared fangs of religious bigotry in all its grisly and vivid ugliness. In a year when a great film like THE PASSION so obviously should have been honored, Tinseltown’s elites instead chose five forgettable films as the finest they had to offer. Faced with an opportunity to rise above their prejudices for a change, the Academy – to its everlasting shame - took a flyer. The 2004 Academy Awards forever will be remembered as when the year’s best picture wasn’t nominated as Best Picture.

Clearly, there was a jumping-off point in Hollyweird, when the moguls decided it was safe to go in the water, that America needed to get with the liberal program, and that the way to go was to demean and marginalize Christians, and torpedo traditional American values.

Fast forward to today, and the picture becomes clearer.....Follywood is completely out of control with its endoess, obsessive liberal proselytizing and Christian-hating.

Most of us are at the point of refusing to quietly sit by while they shove their miserable ideology down our throats.

IMO, this is the most egregious activity in La La Land-----proselytizing audiences without their knowledge or consent.

Hollywarped better get the message----we, the people, have had it with the endless brainwashing of audiences into Christian-hating and American-hating, without audiences' knowledge or consent.

Hollywarped has willfully chipped away at Western civilzation under the guise of "artistic expression."

Follywood firmly believes that 24/7 of their sexually salacious and violent TV, movies and music are not harming kids and the culture.

OTOH, Hollywarped also believes----with the religious fervor of Tammy Faye Baker---- that a single 15-sec commercial will compel tens of millions of Americans into thousands of stores to buy billions of dollars worth of soap, soup, breakfast cereal and cars.

They can't have it both ways.

The Hollywarped Moral Relativist Shock Troops better mend their ways. The usual suspects include: abortion-worshipping Feminazis, the fully fornicating Playboy-Cosmo faction, secular humanists who despise Christians, the ACLU-Christian baiters,Planned Parenthood and the population control cabal, and the gay-transgender anti-family element.

All of them aided and abetted by a compliant liberal media and agenda-driven academia inculcating the Nation's youth with the liberal idealogy.

We have had it with this offensive, aggressive Secular Taliban. Follywood had better live with it.

[NYer]

In a live interview last night on EWTN, Michael Medved made some interesting comments with regards to the exclusion of The Passion of the Christ from the Best Picture category. Those who nominate, had never seen this film. He further commented that at the very least, Jim Caviezel who endured great physical pain during the filming of Passion, did not even get a nod, for Best Actor.

Raymond Arroyo, the interviewer, noted that Passion alone grossed more than all of the other nominees for Best Picture, combined.

Both agreed that this year's slate of Oscar nominees is ho hum and expect the viewing audience to be one of the smallest in the history of the Motion Picture Academy production. I certainly won't be watching.

Catholic Ping - Come home for Easter and experience God’s merciful love. Please freepmail me if you want on/off this list

[Bombardier]

I saw The Aviator, and I thought Alan Alda deserved a Best Supporting for his part as Senator Brewster. DiCaprio, on the other hand, made me think "Chachi as a pilot and businessman." Blanchett wasn't too bad as Hepburn, and equally deserved a nod of some variety.

Ray amazed me. I didn't think Jamie Foxx came off as light, and Ray Charles' life wasn't a pleasant one to begin with, so calling the movie "seamy" was an uncalled for slam. Foxx looked and sounded like Ray Charles, and if I had to criticize anything about his portrayal, it's that Foxx doesn't look like he has the mileage that Ray did....and that's a small criticism (the director could have done some makeup tests on Foxx, and a few small wrinkles and creases would have enhanced the believabilty of Foxx's portrayal. As it is, he's just outstanding when he could have been out-freakin'-standing).

But, I do accept the main thesis of the article. The utter snub of TPOTC is an insult. Hollyweird went out of its way to villify this movie, and some of the comments made about those who liked it were nothing short of offensive. The Passion is being re-released on 11 March. Perhaps Freepers everywhere (and our friends) should attend, and show Hollyweird just what we think about their attitudes.

[Brian Allen]

<< .... the McCarthy blacklisting era .... >>

Too bad.

Quite enjoyed this piece until that phrase intruded.

Senator McCarthy investigated the State Department and aspects of other thickly-Soviet-agent-infiltrated feral-gummint departments and never went near Hollywood where the House Un-American Activities Committee dug out actual un-and-anti-American activist Hollywood communists by the score.

[JasonC]

What horsefeathers. As though major accolades are handed out on some other basis. Here is the actual thought process involved in best pictures nomination, by the central committee members who do such things.

"Ray is both disabled and black. If I don't nominate it I am an insensitive racists. MDB is edgy and feminist. Moreover, Eastwood is conservative but made an edgy movie that has his own side made at him - Strange New Respect is mandatory to encourage others like him. Aviator gave money to everyone I know. Sure the subject is a capitalist, which damns him, but he was a movie director which is a big plus and crazy, which makes him a victim and insensitive to pick on him. Besides, I mean Alan Alda is in this movie. I can't vote against Joe Stalin can I? And it has pretend McCarthy hearings. Passion, on the other hand, is Christianity taking is self seriously, and everyone knows the Party's position on the subject so what is there to say?"

They are commie jerks and their awards are irrelevant as awards. But they are perfectly revealing as politics, which is all they are. They tell the rest of us what shallow unprincipled commies they all are.

[SaltyJoe]

I thought that "The Aviator" was a very well made film and Scorsese finest. I think that if the real life Howard Hughes had a devotion to the Rosary & Holy Eucharist he wouldn't have had a mental break down.

Martin Scorsese, Mr. DiCaprio, and Miss. Blanchett did a superb job telling a story. I hope they win awards for their work.

In the context of stories, the real life characters portrayed in film, and the relavence of the actual historical events, "The Aviator" doesn't hold a candle to "The Passion of the Christ". I'm glad that the Hollywood establishment hasn't soiled The Passion of the Christ with their human praise. Maybe Mel Gibson wants it that way because that's the way I'd want it for myself. I think that it's best that Mel Gibson gets a pat on the back directly from God instead of his peers and competitors. Considering the revenue of Mel's film, if I were him, I don't think I'd even care about "awards" for such a work. Such work is beyond "academic" and probably should be labelled "vocation" or something similar to describe it more accurately.

[Just mythoughts]

Hollywood is the beauty projected out of the old religion called communism, which at its base is 'we are gods'. Unfortunately tooooo many who claim to be Christian dabble and fund this religion against the Heavenly Father and His only begotten Son, the Savior.

[B Knotts]

Hollywood is the chief cultural toxic polluter.

Is it any suprise that they would forgo honoring a film which details the suffering and death of our Lord for the sins they celebrate?

[CouncilofTrent]

"At least they didn't nominate Fahrenheit 911."


Well, they aren't THAT stupid :). (I pray they arent).

[CouncilofTrent]

I thought Goodfellas and Casino were pretty good. I think his choice of actors was good.

[trubluolyguy]

Honestly now, honestly...did any of you who saw the Passion, REALLY expect Hollywierd to award it?

It's about Jesus! C'mon, you might as well have slapped the Oscar voters in the face.

Nothing annoys a liberal more than overt displays of religion.

[Melas]

If I would have known you were psychic, and therefore privy to the thought processes of others, I would have consulted you before I posted.

[Liz]

Some people are apt to be fooled until they know better.
Hollyweird is an evil seductress---dressing up in fine clothes and jewels to peddle it's mind poison.

[Liz]

Hollyweird went out of its way to villify (The Passion of The Christ), and some of the comments made about those who liked it were nothing short of offensive.

The Hollywarped Secular Taliban whines about tolerance and diversity respecting the marketplace, opening up screens to differing points of view, but they are the self-same people who came out with their fangs bared when The Passion of The Christ debuted. They're mot looking for differing points of view...............thay want only to trample on-- and silence---the Christian point of view.

The Passion of The Christ served to unmask the Christian haters hiding in the woodwork. They came out in droves to bash Mel and the movie.

Secular Taliban Hit Squads denigrated and marginalized Christians, and Christian beliefs, stooping to the lowest levels of condescension to bash Christian audiences.

Secular Taliban shock troops came out in full battle regalia. The first foray had ADL Abe ----champion of free speech and civil rights---bashing the film, claiming the film was anti-Semitic. That didn't work. NYT's Frank Rich attacked next----said it was fascistic. Then his NYT colleague Maureen Dowd said it was crass. That didn't work.

Andy Rooney bashed it on CBS and SNL evilly caricatured it on NBC. That didn't work either. Newsweek's Evan Thomas told Imus it was a snuff film. Even so-called conservative columnist Dr Charles Krauthammer (Fox News commentator) trashed it in the WashPo calling The Passion a singular act of interreligious aggression. And Christian Hitchens---in his usual drunken stupor--said it was homo-erotic.

John Kerry was also among the film's naysayers (no surprise). Kerry said that he was "unsure" about it (Reuters, "Democrat Kerry Urges Caution on 'Passion,' 26 February 2004, by Patricia Wilson). "I don't know," Kerry said when asked if he would see the Mel Gibson film Christians flocked to see.

As a presidential candidate, Kerry's comments were loaded with meaning, and an an unspoken message to believers that Kerry would strengthen secularists power over believers.

At the same time, Kerry praised foul-mouthed Whoppi Goldberg and went to Hollywood for votes and donations, in exchange for trashing everything Christians stand for. Kerry worships abortion, the homosexual agenda,and the stripping away of every Christian symbol in America.

I firmly believe that Kerry's loss was also precipitated by his comments downgrading the Passion, as tens of millions of Christians were in its thrall. It was one of his major campaign mistakes. Word got around.......Kerry's comments about The Passion were received by Christian groups, pastors and churches all over the nation.

Now lefties have lost their stranglehold on American culture and Bible-believing Christians are in positions to restore the culture and stand up to the Secular Taliban's decades-long ambition to eradicate all vestiges of religion from America.

Hollywaste better learn to live with it.

[JasonC]

If I had known you were brain dead and possess no common sense, I would have just as much fun using you as a witless foil. Isn't this easy?

[newgeezer]

> Hollyweird crowd hates Catholicism

I'd love to hear what such a charge is based upon

You'll probably get a better response if you address your query to the person who made the charge. Neither the words you quoted nor the charge was mine (and, my comment had nothing to do with the specific charge that you're challenging).

Kelly, you might be interested in answering Havoc's post #42.

[kellynla]

"Hollyweird crowd hates Catholicism"

I thought they hated Christians
Last time I checked Catholics were & are Christians

[Havoc]

Last time I checked, Christians followed Christ - not philosophy. There is Christianity, then there are a bunch of groups following their own philosophies but calling themselves 'Christian'. Krishnas don't become Budhists by wearing orange robes and citing the occasional Budhist monk. For whatever reason, we've been expected to believe that this is proper when people hijack the word "christian" and redefine it for themselves..