Posted on 12/30/2010 1:12:53 AM PST by 2ndDivisionVet
Each year the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA) nominates 10 films in its Golden Globe competition for best motion picture, five in the drama category, five in the musical or comedy category.
This year, the HFPA chose not to nominate a film that was more powerful than any of the dramas selected and funnier than any of the comedies, the Coen brothers' "True Grit."
In fact, "True Grit," the year's best movie and one of the best Westerns ever made, received not a single nomination for anything – not supporting actress, not screenplay, not anything. If ever a sign were needed that Europe was a lost cause, this may be it.
There had been earlier warnings, among others the 20-minute standing ovation at Cannes in 2004 for Michael Moore's dreadful agitprop, "Fahrenheit 9/11," or the Nobel Peace Prize for Al Gore's already camp classic, "An Inconvenient Truth."
If I might speculate, the Europeans likely slighted "True Grit" for its unapologetic celebration of republican virtue. I refer here to those virtues necessary to build a successful republic: self-reliance, resourcefulness, strength, competence, charity, piety.
Unfortunately, these virtues are as alien to our own president as they are to the Europeans, which may explain why Barack Obama's approval ratings in Europe still hover in the 90 percent range.
"In America," said Obama upon his return from the putative Million Man March in 1995, "we have this strong bias toward individual action. You know, we idolize the John Wayne hero who comes in to correct things with both guns blazing."
Obama had other plans for America. "Individual actions, individual dreams, are not sufficient," he continued. "We must unite in collective action, build collective institutions and organizations." V. I. Lenin could not have said it better himself.....
(Excerpt) Read more at wnd.com ...
The same thing every year now. Liberal circle jerk.
Euroweenies do not like westerns. They prefer existential homosexual orgies and self flagellation.
This could simply be a case of someone thinking that the re-make of True Grit may be less than the original.
Good Point. ‘Once upon a time in the West’ is my all time favorite by SL.
For a great Greek style tragedy, see the new Tron Legacy sci-fi. V-good.
Thanks for this post.
Nobody is a better columnist than Jack Cashill. Nobody.
By the way, I was pleasantly surprised to see Jack make reference to Iris Dement.
She is terrific.
To 4 - Thank you for your remarks that accurately contradict those of some here representing FR’s worst and ignorant.
Agreed.
I’d also like to point out how many times has Hollywood itself celebrated patent acting mediocrity over persistent talent in the Oscars and other awards?
Tom Hanks, for example. On several occasions, he’s got awards for phoning it in, by virtue of phoning it in on a movie that the Hollywood intelligentsia liked.
Compare and contrast to Johnny Depp - started from nothing and wasn’t “schooled” in the art, a proper grafter with a huge range of acting talent, broke out of Soap for god’s sake and consistently runs rings round every other actor to come out of the 80s INCLUDING Tom Hanks. Shame he married a Frog and had to use the NHS one time.
If we were to use that one example as a general example of how utterly anti-meritocratic and dazzled by jingoism the entire North American subcontinent is when it comes to awards nominations, I’m pretty sure we would be called on it. And rightly so.
So, I think it’s only fair that we call our American friends on it when they do something equally crass.
I haven’t seen True Grit yet but I’ll tell you something for nothing.
If I watch it and I find that it’s a turd of a movie with wooden acting and a diabolical script, then no amount of polishing it with the “but it’s a CONSERVATIVE movie and therefore deserves Oscars!” defense will make it any less of a turd in my eyes.
I know some conservatives find that objectionable on the basis that you cannot tag the adjective “conservative” to something that isn’t perfection, but I disagree. Part of conservativism is about maintaining standards, not dumbing them down.... and following the liberal intelligentsia in celebrating mediocrity on the basis of its politics is not the way to go.
Europeans may love Westerns. European elitist socialist asswipes may not be so accepting of rugged individualism and freedom.
You can’t “remake” John Wayne.
Eh, six of one, half a dozen of the other. Conservatives love films as they are and don’t mind taking them as they were shown.
Which is why a conservative is more likely to appreciate an original than a remake. Doesn’t matter how good the remake, it goes against our innate preference for the original.
This is especially true of a conservative icon. Conservatives aren’t shy about watching the same old movie again and again, especially not when it promotes conservative values.
My opinion on the film is that it’s a dreadful travesty, not because it’s a bad film, but because it’s an unnecessary remake. Even if it was the most awesome film ever I’d still not like it for the simple reason is that we have the original. With John Wayne. Maybe not the best western, everyone who appreciates them will have seen the old True Grit.
Would I give it an oscar? No.
I saw three movies this year. A record!
Inception, Alice in Wonderland and How to Train your Dragon. My verdict, Inception, but it won’t win best picture.
The show that will win the oscar, “The Social Network”. I’d be shocked if it didn’t.
Why won’t the king’s speech win? It’s about a king. If Mr. Holland’s Opus didn’t win an oscar, I don’t see why the King’s speech will get an oscar. Speech therapy just doesn’t resonate with people the way having black skin or being a woman or being gay. So no.
And a boxing movie that doesn’t promote the culture of death? Won’t win.
So the choice will probably be the Geek choice, ‘the social network’.
Gag.
Not a bad year for movies, but a horrible one for oscar selections.
And speaking of "beat", or better said, "circle beat", that would be The Oscars.
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It is a remake...somehow I can see others reasons contributing to it not being nominated.
Bet they liked Brokeback.
The Hollywood Foreign Press Association accelerates into the passing lane on the super-highway to American cultural irrelevancy.
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