LA SLIMES' NOTABLE OSCAR QUOTABLES -- NICOLE KIDMAN ON ONE SIDE... AND FR'S "RONDOG" ON THE OTHER!

LEFT ANGELES SLIMES

[AnnaZ]

So I finally start going through, page by page, the Oscar coverage in today's Slimes (that's right... still reading  it so that you don't have to). And then I almost had a heart attack.

 

The "E"/"Calendar Part 1" Section is dedicated to Oscar coverage, E1 starting it all off with a big pic of Best Actor winner Adrien Brody smooching presenter Halle Berry and the beginning of the story.

 

Following it in to E2 and E3, there are a bunch of huge picture of various winners from the night, the top of each page prefaced with a huge bold quote.

 

On the left side (heh, heh) is one quote: 

 

 

"Why do you come to the Academy Awards when the world is in such turmoil?

Because art is important."

 

Nicole Kidman, accepting the best actress award

 

 

 

On the right side (in more ways than one ;^) is another quote:

 

 

 

"If John Wayne was here, he'd be doing what we're doing.

He'd be supporting the troops."

 

Ron Smith, demonstrator at Hollywood and Highland

 

 

 

CONGRATULATIONS, RONDOG!!! You ROCK!!!

[Heyworth]

I read Bob Parks' piece. And somehow I think there might be something more to the story than just the fact that he mentioned he was a Republican to someone. Ben Stein works consistently. Arnold Schwarzenegger works consistently (or at least he did when his movies still made money--see my previous post). Lots of Republicans work consistently. Could be that Bob was fired for turning down those promotions he mentioned, since it meant he wasn't interested in taking more responsibility and becoming more integral to his employers' team. We can only speculate.

[Heyworth]

One more point. Freepers frequently mention Mel Gibson's "The Patriot" and "We Were Soldiers" as the sort of patriotic fare Hollywood should be making. Look up their domestic grosses compared to their production costs (which doesn't include P&A--prints and advertising, several million more). They've barely broken even. Now, what message do you think Hollywood takes from the fact that the public doesn't come out to see a patriotic film? That they should make more of them? Or that they're box office poison? (And don't forget, they won't make much overseas, either, where Hollywood expects to make close to half their money off a film.)

[JoJo Gunn]

"Learn a little more about that case and we'll talk."

Oh goody. An artsy-fartsy snob who said PissChrist "certainly created an aesthetic experience" is gonna lecture me. How lucky can I get?

[Guenevere]

#167...Oh, and would you have wanted him to have a plea deal if it was YOUR 13 year old daughter?

[Joy Angela]

This is a great quote, and it's a thrill to see that LA TIMES liked it too because they used it to highlight pictures of the Academy Awards.

What a way to reach the public!!

"If John Wayne was here, he'd be doing what we're doing.
He'd be supporting the troops."

Ron Smith, demonstrator at Hollywood and Highland

[Heyworth]

#167...Oh, and would you have wanted him to have a plea deal if it was YOUR 13 year old daughter?

A)The girl's mother agreed to the deal. B)Polanski didn't abduct her. The mother delivered her to him, hoping he'd make her a star. C)The girl, at 13, was already sexually active (which she admits).

[Heyworth]

Oh goody. An artsy-fartsy snob who said PissChrist "certainly created an aesthetic experience" is gonna lecture me. How lucky can I get?

I'm guessing you're more of a "Poker Playing Dogs" kinda guy. Or are you simply one of those sad, angry people who's never been moved by a piece of art in your sad, angry life.

[Revolting cat!]

Unfortunately, as you say, Hollywood is only (my emphasis) about making money. If all artists of all artistic expressions were as smart, we'd have nothing but the equivalents of Dogs Playing Poker and the execrable output of the "Painter of Light" in all arts. I think this is the basis for the the disgust with Hollywood expressed here. All the great directors of the golden age of cinema (30s to 60s), like Fellini, Kurosawa, Bunuel, died unable to find financing for their projects. You can rationalize it, explain it, but to many it sounds like you're excusing it.

As far as the honest working folks in Hollywood, let's be perfectly honest. (I don't mean to flame, only throw some light on the subject.) The movie industry is a nearly hermetically sealed business: "you can't work unless you are a member of the union, you can't join the union unless you work." Nepotism and corruption rule!

[Guenevere]

#186...Good mercy, how in the world does that make it right?

She's still underage.....we still have laws in this country about that kind of thing.
Period!

[Heyworth]

Unfortunately, as you say, Hollywood is only (my emphasis) about making money. If all artists of all artistic expressions were as smart, we'd have nothing but the equivalents of Dogs Playing Poker and the execrable output of the "Painter of Light" in all arts. I think this is the basis for the the disgust with Hollywood expressed here. All the great directors of the golden age of cinema (30s to 60s), like Fellini, Kurosawa, Bunuel, died unable to find financing for their projects. You can rationalize it, explain it, but to many it sounds like you're excusing it.

True. But as Welles said, "The painter needs a brush, the writer a pen, the filmmaker, an army." Movies tend to be very expensive things to make. Interestingly, the Golden Age of European film, which I'd date from the French New Wave in the late 50s until the Germans (Wenders, Fassbinder, Herzog) in the 1970s were all pretty much state-supported. Once the government realized it could no longer afford to support it, the films from those countries became commercial junk. What are you gonna do? What's interesting there is how the new digital technology is putting the ability to make films in the hands of anyone with a couple of thousand dollars.

As far as the honest working folks in Hollywood, let's be perfectly honest. (I don't mean to flame, only throw some light on the subject.) The movie industry is a nearly hermetically sealed business: "you can't work unless you are a member of the union, you can't join the union unless you work." Nepotism and corruption rule!

In some unions, yes. The Teamsters are notorious, but then those are the cushiest jobs in Hollywood. Basically, every union shoot has to have a certain number of them on set every day, whether there are any trucks to be driven or not. (Hollywood jokes: How many teamsters does it take to screw in a lightbulb? Twelve. You got a problem with that? Why is the symbol of the teamsters a horse? It's the only animal that can sleep standing up.) But I have lots of friends in the unions and guilds who didn't get in through nepotism and corruption. Mostly they get in by landing a job on a non-union shoot which, at some point "goes union," probably because the producers wanted someone who was themselves union and couldn't work a non-union shoot. When that happens, everyone already working that set becomes a made guy, so to speak. At least that's how all my friends got into their respective unions. Happens all the time.

[Heyworth]

#186...Good mercy, how in the world does that make it right?

She's still underage.....we still have laws in this country about that kind of thing.

Period!

It doesn't make it right. But it does mitigate to some extent. Again, Polanski pled guilty. Everyone was on board with the deal, including the victim, her mother, the DA, and the defense. But the judge told everyone that he was going to disregard to deal and give Polanski the max. Do you think that was proper behavior by a judge? Not just to disregard a plea deal, but to boast about it in his country club locker room before he passed sentence?

[Guenevere]

#191...I don't wish to argue with you....
..and I don't understand why you belabor this point about the judge.

If the guy hadn't done the crime, he wouldn't have to worry about the time (or the judge).

And that's my final word.

[UCANSEE2]

It would depend on how you 'took' her remark.
At it's most innocent, we go on with life even though there is a war, because to not do so, is to not have anything to fight for.

[JoJo Gunn]

Aesthetic: adjective-“having to do with beauty or with what is beautiful especially as distinguished from what is useful.”

Pray tell, what is “useful” about PissChrist, except that it excites the prurient senses? Dogs have an aesthetic affinity with other dog’s bungholes, or their own vomit. So do Sodomites by the Bay. Hippies find pleasure in lice. Masturbating arsonists, such as ALF and ELF and PETA members, find succor in the rising flames of firebombed buildings. Roman Polanski and his followers and Apologists find beauty in exploiting the budding yet still fragile sexuality of young girls. What do I have in common with a 13 year old anymore, except for interlocking plumbing? They’re not to be used to make a fire and discarded like a matchstick.

Just where do pseudo-intellectuals like you draw the line between beauty and usefulness?

No, I’m far from sad and angry. I’m mature enough to have realized that there are basic truths to Life. Wasting my time and money on what someone ELSE calls “art”, or defending child predators, doesn’t give me a sense of purpose.

[RonDog]

See also, from www.newsmax.com:

Academy Awards During Wartime

James Hirsen
Tuesday, March 25, 2003

THE LEFT COAST REPORT
A Political Look at Hollywood

The nerve of the president to start a war just as Hollywood was about to host its most self-absorbed event of the year.

Oh well. Despite the heavy military distractions that were taking place, the 75th annual Academy Awards show went on as scheduled...

-- snip --

"...An Internet-sized "thank you" has to go out to an enthusiastic group of demonstrators that displayed support for the U.S. military. They gathered on the corner of Hollywood Boulevard and Highland Avenue, about a half block away from the Kodak Theater.

Many of the demonstrators involved were "Freepers" from the Web site Free Republic.

These folks forced the news media to report the truth - that there are a whole lot of people who believe in this mission, back the president, thank the troops, pray for peace and love this great nation of ours..."

[Heyworth]

Pray tell, what is “useful” about PissChrist, except that it excites the prurient senses?

I said from the outset that I didn't particularly want to defend Serrano. In fact, I condemned him because his PissChrist wasn't about the photo. It was about the title. Had that same photo been called Olive Oil Christ, would you have cared about it? You're reacting to the title, which is exactly, I think, what Serrano wanted. You're his dupe. Congratulations. Me, I look at it and say, "hmm, nicely lit urine and a transparent attempt to create controversy equals lame conceptual art." Then I move on.

There's an old Buddhist teaching story. Young monk and old monk are out walking. They find a beautiful young woman trying to cross a stream. The old monk picks her up on his shoulders, carries her across and puts her down. They all continue on their way. After some hours, the young monk can't stand it anymore. He asks the old monk, "How did it feel, carrying that beautiful young woman, having her thighs wrapped around your body, her breasts pressed against your back. Old monk says, "You tell me. You've obviously been carrying her all this time." Seriously, man, "..the budding yet still fragile sexuality of young girls."? Wow. Obsess much?

Tell me, though, what art do you like? Poker playing dogs? Norman Rockwell illustrations? The fine engraving on the cylinder of a Colt Navy revolver? Rembrandt? Remington (Frederic, that is)?

Just where do pseudo-intellectuals like you draw the line between beauty and usefulness?

False dichotomy. There is no line between them. A knife can be beautiful, but it is still useful. And a painting on the wall that makes you think or feel something is useful in keeping your spirit alive. Again I ask, have you EVER been moved by a work of art?

[JoJo Gunn]

Seriously, man, "..the budding yet still fragile sexuality of young girls."? Wow. Obsess much?

Yeah, you're what I suspected-an Apologist for child predators.

I think you're ZOT material. Free Republic, or society in general, doesn't need types like you.

[Heyworth]

Yeah, you're what I suspected-an Apologist for child predators.

No, just a guy who can separate art from the artist, good art from bad art, and who refuses to label an entire industry because of loud-mouthed few. I notice that you're reduced to ad hominem attacks based on minor asides I made, because you can't answer my points about the Oscars being a stupid award show into which YOU insist on projecting significance, and about Hollywood's pure devotion to the buck, not a political agenda.

Free Republic, or society in general, doesn't need types like you.

Spoken like a true fascist. One more reason, I suppose that I can sleep easily knowing that your type will never achieve the power to make that sort of decision. Should that day come, though, I fully expect to be on the next train to the "re-education" camp, where I'll have to endlessly expound on the artistic value of poker playing dogs.

[Eva]

We did that with Hillary and Hoover because of her abuse of the FBI files. It worked surprisingly well, her bone structure seemed to fit very well with his. Maybe Hillary and Hoover had more than the abuse of power of the FBI in common.

[DoughtyOne]

Los Angeles Chapter FRN (HRF) - Rallys for America at the Oscars - Thread Two - Multi-Media

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