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Why I'm skipping the Oscars this year
www.Townhall.com ^ | Jan. 13, 2006 | Ben Shapiro

Posted on 01/13/2006 7:54:16 AM PST by Millicent_Hornswaggle

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.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Editorial
KEYWORDS: gays; homosexualagenda; lesbians; nothanks; oscars; transgendered
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To: From The Deer Stand

I haven't watched The Oscars in years. I mean, it's the same every single year.......The women's dresses consist of very little fabric, and the hate speech and vulgar language that is blurted out by these millionaire idiots is simply too much to bear. Not only are the movies a bunch of filth, but the actors and actresses show themselves to be just as morally deficient as the characters they portray.


61 posted on 01/13/2006 9:52:25 AM PST by fox0566
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To: RightWingAtheist

Well, for that matter, where would that put "Bad News Bears", "Every Which Way But Loose" and "Raising Arizona"? They were all filmed in the west.

What makes a western a "western" to you? Cowboy hats and clothes? Guns? Drinking in a rustic bar?

"Monte Walsh" or "Son of Paleface" is about where I would cut the western umbilical. Where the auto is just being introduced into the west. When only a few people are riding horses, it isn't a western. Your mileage may vary.

BTW: I loved the old Roy Rodgers/Gene Autry serials as a kid but really can't watch them now for other than nostalgia reasons (pro USA, good guys are the best)


62 posted on 01/13/2006 9:55:56 AM PST by hattend (I wanna go through the Stargate!)
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To: fox0566
The films that win Best Picture tend to be on the conservative side (ROTK, A Beautiful Mind, Gladiator, Braveheart, Forrest Gump...)
63 posted on 01/13/2006 9:57:51 AM PST by Borges
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To: Borges

Perhaps so, but the Academy Awards broadcast is nothing more than a 3 hour platform to push agendas and attack honorable and decent people. And since "Brokeback Mountain" will be taking all of the awards in 2007, I can only wonder if the show will be taking place in San Francisco?


64 posted on 01/13/2006 10:06:17 AM PST by fox0566
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To: fox0566

2006 actually. It opened in December. The politicking on the show these days isn't nearly what it was in the 1970s with Redgrave and Brando. There's really not that much of it.


65 posted on 01/13/2006 10:08:35 AM PST by Borges
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To: Borges

Oh, so BM is up for awards this year? Well, at least there's one bright spot to all of this........we don't have to listen to this fever pitch of publicity for this piece of trash for the entire year of 2006.

I don't know much about the politicking back in the 70's as I was too young to remember, so more recent years is all I have to go on. Heck, as ruthless as things are now on the broadcast, I can't imagine it being any worse in the 70's!


66 posted on 01/13/2006 10:16:15 AM PST by fox0566
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To: Borges
"You don't know what you're talking about."

Yea well some might agree with you 'bout that, pal.

Then again the consensus about you'd be unanimous, Buttercup.

...thick as a *brick*. ;^)

67 posted on 01/13/2006 10:36:38 AM PST by Landru (A sucker's born every minute & now we're swamped by 'em.)
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To: Landru

Gotcha, I actually thought you were serious. Sorry!


68 posted on 01/13/2006 11:21:45 AM PST by Borges
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To: fox0566

Michael Medved actually liked the movie too.


69 posted on 01/13/2006 11:27:26 AM PST by Borges
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To: Borges

Michael Medved? He's a movie reviewer isn't he? This is no surprise! All of the liberal movie reviewers are shilling for this film.


70 posted on 01/13/2006 11:41:01 AM PST by fox0566
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To: fox0566

He's a conservative and a radio talk show host.


71 posted on 01/13/2006 11:43:18 AM PST by Borges
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To: Borges

He may paint himself as conservative, but no true conservative (social conservative)would even give this perversion a quick glance, much less a favorable review. People have become so brainwashed by this filth that they don't even realize it.


72 posted on 01/13/2006 11:48:16 AM PST by fox0566
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To: fox0566

He's a staunch conseravtive. Seeing the movie is part of his job. Good critics put Art above politics.


73 posted on 01/13/2006 11:55:13 AM PST by Borges
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To: fox0566

Medved's review is kind of a mixed bag, even though he gives it 3.5 stars:
===
REVIEW: America get ready. It’s time for Michael Medved’s Eye on Entertainment!

Two young cowboys get a summer job herding sheep on the Wyoming peek known as “Brokeback Mountain”.

(Audio Clip)

Of course they end up doing a lot more together than just drinking as they begin a passionate homosexual relationship that continues to dominate their lives even after they both get married and start families.

(Audio Clip)

That’s Heath Ledger who, along with co-romantic lead Jake Gyllenhaal, emerges as a probable Oscar contender in a film that combines an outrageously obvious agenda with undeniable artistry. Director Ang Lee infuses every frame with conviction and tenderness though the powerful ewwww factor in shocking R-rated male-on-male sex scenes will keep away most moviegoers. 3 1/2 STARS for the thematically disturbing but expertly crafted “Brokeback Mountain”.

That’s a wrap. I’m Michael Medved for Eye on Entertainment.


74 posted on 01/13/2006 11:56:26 AM PST by hattend (I wanna go through the Stargate!)
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To: hattend

forgot the link

http://www.eyeonentertainment.net/


75 posted on 01/13/2006 11:58:20 AM PST by hattend (I wanna go through the Stargate!)
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To: Millicent_Hornswaggle
I haven't watched them for ten years! Hollywood, generally speaking, IS the liberal brain dead lead by the media borg.
76 posted on 01/13/2006 11:59:00 AM PST by SlightOfTongue
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To: hattend

Well, at least Medved acknowledges that there is a clear agenda at work here, as opposed to some nitwit liberal morning show host on Fox News Channel who claimed that no agenda was being pushed by the movie and that it was simply GREAT.

Hollywood puts out a movie about homosexual men and someone has the stupidity to come out and say there's no agenda at work?!!! Chetry doesn't even realize how ridiculous she sounded in making that claim. I think she was trying to lure a few weak-minded folks to the theater so that they would come out singing the praises of gay relationships.

I've had it with Fox News and the media in general.


77 posted on 01/13/2006 12:10:52 PM PST by fox0566
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To: yobid
ME EITHER!!!
78 posted on 01/13/2006 12:18:07 PM PST by rlferny
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To: fox0566

I only watch the Oscars when one of the movies I liked is nominated for one or the major ones or a good number. So I was definitely watching the year the ROTK swept :). Defnitely not when I can be sure that Im not going to be watching a 4 hour DNC commerical like in 2003. I go to the theater a lot (I'm young), and none of the movies I see or like are ever nominated for something (Passion?). It's always some boring artsy film no one normal has heard of and goes to see or some clear agenda pushing movie (BM, Millionare Dollar Baby) .

I used to like seeing everybody dressed up and seeing what people are wearing, but knowing now that these people have no brains, nothing worthwhile to say (limo lib hacks), are a bunch of greedy self important narcisstic people who think they should get everything handed to them because they are "somebody" (dont get me started on swag parties and all the freebies celebs get for being somebody), and the self-congradulating nature of the oscars has gotten me to too disgusted to the point where I want no knowledge whatsoever of celebrities and nothing to do with the People magazine celebrity worship culture.


79 posted on 01/13/2006 1:39:16 PM PST by the right side jedi
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To: the right side jedi

You mentioned that you are young. Let me tell you, you are wise beyond your years! I totally agree with your assessment of the Hollywood culture. Money, big egos, politics and agendas. That pretty much sums it up.


80 posted on 01/13/2006 1:46:09 PM PST by fox0566
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