Are Hollywood's politics killing the movie business?

latimesblogs.latimes.com ^ | October 14, 2008 | Patrick Goldstein

[dblshot]

Maybe it's that one gets the impression that he is using the Darfur holocaust as a means of getting publicity for himself and that smug look on his face doesn't help. Hollywierds have been pulling off this stunt for decades.

[what's up]

I thought about seeing "Body of Lies" but I really can't stand Di Caprio...he grates on me.

I like Crowe's hero roles but he favors the anti-heroes more and more and has been lost to the dark side, I fear.

[AUJenn]

For me, the answer is YEP. We have not seen a movie in years, and every time we see a commercial for some upcoming flick, we always comment on how awful it looks. Plus, I cannot stand sitting with rude, cell-phone-answering, obnoxious movie-goers for hours.

I don’t need to be lectured by these pretenders. It would be much like myself trying to lecture someone about physics or some other topic I know nothing about.

[Kitanis]

"Go see ‘The Dark Knight’. The looney left said that it is so conservative, Bush and Cheney must have financed it." Considering that the director of both Dark Knight and Batman Begins is British.. this is high praise.

[VR-21]

Going to movies these days is like paying people to despise me.

[Brytani]

For me it’s Japanese movies, especially Japanese Horror. I also really like movies coming out of Thailand. While they all have some sort of lesson in them, it’s usually one that what you do comes back to bite you.

[JD91]

The last movie I went to see at a movie theater was “Bravehart.” Now I stay at home and watch old John Wayne (GOP supporter), Bruce Willis (GOP Supporter)and Tom Selleck (NRA Supporter) movies. Otherwise I would just as soon spend my time at the reloading bench!

[Ticonderoga34]

I don’t think that Hollywood is putting out good movies anymore. Their politics may have something to do with that or maybe most of the current Hollywood people just doesn’t have talent or are getting old (DeNiro, Scorsese, Spielberg).

[mrvirgo]

Movies these days have been reduced to sex, violence and special effects—seeing them on the sliver screen do not appeal to me in the least.
Nor do I want to have my values insulted by some leftist
responsible for the film. I haven’t been to the movies since the first Harry Potter film. The movie was not great but the popcorn was spectacular.

[Patriotic1]

As if I want to pay to see the given movies trash my values, or to line the pockets of those who dedicate themselves to trashing my values!

[Names Ash Housewares]

Conservative movies do damn well. Yes there are conservative films, but they are heavily disguised...

Iron Man, Batman Begins/The Dark Knight, Spider-Man films.

I thought there was a lot of conservatism in those mega hits.

[musicalee]

It's not just the actors. The character's are dark and not likeable. The plots are like liberalism. No good guys, No happy endings, No honest likeable story's. Just hopelessness.

[Nekman]

Last movie I saw in a theater was Godzilla,and only then to stifle a insistent nephew!

[HOYA97]

I am so glad someone said that. It is so true. They get into real issues without talking down to the viewer. Just great stuff!!!!

[Terry Mross]

One of the Warner Brothers, when discussing the talking picture, said “Who the hell wants to hear actors talk?” Maybe he knew what he was talking about.

[Future Snake Eater]

What has been the “reasoning” (I use the term loosely with libs) behind the claim? I loved “The Dark Knight,” but I don’t see any overpowering liberalism or conservatism in it. It just is what it is.

[Patriotic1]

I also really like movies coming out of Thailand.

Any recommendations? I'm a netflixer, so after I find one I like, they will start recommending others.

[Future Snake Eater]

The real flaw in the argument about all these politically minded Hollywood types is this--they're not out of step with the American people. I hate to be the one to break the news, but the American people, by a broad majority, have turned against the war in Iraq, seeing it as a waste of American lives and a misuse of valuable resources that could be better spent on reviving our own schools and healthcare system. The American people aren't insulted by actor's preaching about saving the planet--they want to save the planet too, by a broad margin.

This is where the author lost me. What an idiot.

[netmilsmom]

The original writer of Batman for DC Comics is uber conservative.

It showed in the movie.

[Mr. Brightside]

The politics of entertainers do not stop me from accessing their music or movies.

Their politics only stop me from PAYING for their music or movies.