Posted on 01/12/2006 12:43:04 PM PST by SirLinksalot
Why I'm skipping the Oscars this year
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© 2006 Creators Syndicate, Inc.
Every year since I was old enough to stay up late, I've watched the Academy Awards. This year, however, I have absolutely zero desire to watch the Oscars. In recent years, lack of quality from Hollywood has turned the Academy Awards into a special-interest-group get-together. If you're crazy, gay, have a disability or are a member of a minority race, you'll likely be nominated for an Oscar. If your film tackles a "deep social issue" (normally an issue dear to the hearts of Hollywood's liberal glitterati), you'll have an excellent shot at grabbing a gold statuette.
The combination of declining product quality and rising Hollywood disdain for mainstream America has opened the door to the agenda-film crowd. It began with the 1994 Oscars. "Schindler's List," "The Fugitive" and "In the Name of the Father" all received Best Picture nominations; other excellent films of 1993 included "What's Eating Gilbert Grape?" "Searching for Bobby Fischer," "Shadowlands," "Fearless" and "In the Line of Fire."
Still, Hollywood had to take a shot at mainstream America, and they found their vehicle in "Philadelphia," throwing their honorary liberal activism award to Tom Hanks for his weak performance as a dying AIDS-stricken gay lawyer in "Philadelphia." Unbelievably, Hanks' cheesy hospital-bed routine beat out Liam Neeson in "Schindler's List" and Daniel Day Lewis in "In the Name of the Father." "Philadelphia" is, clinically speaking, a maudlin, ham-handed attempt at social commentary.
The remaining 1990s were filled with weak movies and weak performances. On average, high-school audio-visual clubs make better movies than Hollywood put together in the late 1990s.
Then, our illustrious decade: With great films scarce and politically mainstream Academy voters even scarcer, 2000 featured the victory of repulsive anti-suburbia and pro-homosexuality hit piece "American Beauty." Of course, it beat out a film lionizing an abortionist ("The Cider House Rules") and another attacking the tobacco industry ("The Insider"). Most disturbingly, the Academy handed Hilary Swank a Best Actress Oscar for playing a transgendered biological girl murdered by a bunch of hicks. And 2002 was the year of the African-American honorary Oscars, when Denzel Washington took home Best Actor for his decent if overrated performance in "Training Day" and Halle Berry took home Best Actress for her highly touted simulated orgasms in "Monster's Ball." In 2003, homosexual agenda films like "The Hours," "Frida" and "Far From Heaven" grabbed the largest share of nominations. In 2004, Hollywood couldn't hold off "Lord of the Rings" any longer, but Charlize Theron, playing an ugly lesbian serial killer in "Monster," won Best Actress. And last year, the Best Picture was forgettable pro-euthanasia film "Million Dollar Baby."
And then there's this year. "Brokeback Mountain," the stomach-churning story of two 1963 cowboys who get cozy while bunking down in Wyoming and then carry on their affair over the course of decades, is likely to grab Best Picture honors. The critics love it, mostly because critics love anything that pushes homosexuality as normal behavior. The New York Times raves about it, mostly because the Times has always wanted to carry a ridiculous story proclaiming that "there has always lurked a suspicion that the fastidious Eastern dude of Owen Wister's 'The Virginian' harbored stronger than proper feelings for his rough Western compadres, and that the Red River crowd may have gotten up to more than yarning by the campfire whenever Joanne Dru was not around." Maybe that's what Pinch Sulzberger thinks about when he watches John Wayne on screen, but the Times should be more careful when speaking for the rest of us. By the way, don't believe the "hit movie" hype – this supposed blockbuster has netted a grand total of $8 million. "Hostel," last week's No. 1 movie, a cheap horror film, has already netted almost $15 million.
Best Actor honors are likely to go to Philip Seymour Hoffman for his performance in "Capote" – this would mark the first time that an actor in a gay role has actually deserved his Oscar. Best Actress will probably fall to Reese Witherspoon in "Walk the Line," but supporters of Felicity Huffman's transgendered father-mother in "TransAmerica" could push her over the top.
Aside from pimping for GLAAD, the Oscars will provide a platform for other leftist talking points. "Good Night, and Good Luck," George Clooney's blatant attempt to bash the Bush administration through the mouth of Edward R. Murrow, and "Munich," Steven Spielberg's attempt to equate Arab terrorism with Israeli self-defense, will likely garner nominations. And to top it off, Comedy Central partisan hack Jon Stewart (who is less and less funny each day) hosts this self-congratulatory leftist feting.
I won't be watching. Neither will most Americans.
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Benjamin Shapiro is a recent graduate of UCLA and is currently enrolled at Harvard Law School. In "Porn Generation," he explains how mainstream acceptance of pornography is destroying his generation ... and our nation. Ben also shows how students are duped into becoming socialists, atheists, race-baiters and narcissists in "Brainwashed: How Universities Indoctrinate America's Youth."
re: post #66 - LMAO!
I'll probably watch. It is boring; they haven't had a decent host since Crystal; don't like any of the movies that are up (except Walk the Line); but, I dunno...maybe it is a chick thing.
Last time I actually watched an Oscar presentation was when "Shakespeare in Love" was chosen as best picture over "Saving Private Ryan".
That was it.
Heck, I've been skipping the Oscars for well over 10 years - more like 15 years. I'm not all that interested when the denizens of Babylon give out awards to other, similarly perverse, denizens of Babylon.
They might as well complement each other on style - 'cos no one in Hollywood has any substance!
"Unforgiven"--pretty much the prequel to "Brokeback Mountain".
Are you pulling my . . leg? Clint Eastwood and Morgan Freeman were queer for each other?
Now I know how my mother felt when I broke the news to her in the late `80s that Rock Hudson was a 'back-door Romeo': she was ready to fight.
I remember a story of John Wayne riding Kirk Douglas for playing that "sissy, Van Gough", after `War Wagon'. But I doubt the Duke was actually riding `Spartacus'.
I'll do my usual routine the night the `Mutual Admiration League' (Legends In Their Own Minds) meets: while my blonde better-half watches goggle-eyed, I'll cut an apple in half & watch it turn brown.
Compared to the Oscars, that drivel on the boob-tube--now that's entertainment!
Dude! Join the club.
What's the point of Oscars?There is NO acting talent in"Whorelywood",just special effects which is no more than an adult cartoon.
I suppose they do compliment one another ... while the average person out in the Real World laughs at most of them!
Whoopi Goldberg in some outlandish costume when she was the host.....
I have never watched the Academy Awards of my own free will. I have watched to be polite to a lady friend – but the winners are either unknown to me or are people I consider really mediocre.
Show Business kids making movies of themselves
You know they don't give a f*** about anybody else
It must be a woman thing.
The Oscars aren't bad if you freep while you watch. Howlin's live threads are awesome!
I do like the red carpet preshow the best. The dresses are better than the show.
I've boycotted it since Shakespeare in Love beat Saving Private Ryan. Saving Private Ryan was pro US army so it never had a chance.
That's EXACTLY what my wife says. She wouldn't miss the getups on those women for anything. But the actual awards, I don't think she's ever actually watched them and I know I haven't.
With all her money, you think Gwyneth would have sprung for a bra to wear to the Oscars.
I can't believe you people. I can think of no better way to spend my time than watching Liberals give awards to Liberals for being Liberal. / Sarc.
I recall actually watching a whole show when I was in college. Mid-80's?
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