Posted on 03/02/2005 4:56:23 PM PST by CHARLITE
Rock's presence goosed the TV ratings a bit, but the long-term slide of the Academy Awards show mirrors the long-term slide of the movie industry itself.
So did Williams resign from the show in protest? No, he went onstage with a piece of tape on his mouth, and then peeled it off, proceeding to play out the snipped-up script. Of course, everyone in the audience cheered Williams' pseudo-martrydom. In the words of Oscar observer Peggy Noonan, "false courage applauded by the falsely courageous."
Indeed, the Academy Awards seemed to specialize in making political points in a politically correct code. The movie "Vera Drake," for example, was described as the story of a woman "who pays a price for her beliefs." But while film insiders knew that the belief at stake was the right of women to have abortions, that knowledge was kept from the general television audience.
The Oscars aren't going anywhere, of course. But as with the Miss America Pageant, the Academy Awards show is showing its age. Developed for the era of mass communication, the Oscar-cast, like the industry itself, is floundering in the era of niche communication. Rock or no Rock, it seems destined to sink from national defining event to just another self-congratulatory trade show
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It's turned out to be nothing more than a money grab by both the Academy and the TV network.
The early award ceremonies were grand ladies but today's ceremony is nothing but a cheap whore all dressed up.
Yes, they did. I used to love to watch the Oscars back in the days when they made movies I actually wanted to see, with actors and actresses (can't call them that now, got to call them all "actors") I actually cared about.
I think that Chris Rock made FUN of the stars for the most part. I thought he was brutal, but the stars didn't get it......jmho.
whats really sad is to see people with this fawning celeb worship of these hollyweird creatures who hate a decent america but certainly not our money.
And .. it's the only industry I know which hands out awards for people just doing their job.
Actually, we can't call them actors either. Have to call the artists. Blech!
Remember when we used to actually LIKE the stars? Of course, in those days the studios controlled their image and so they were wholesome, all American people that you could actually like.
Hollywood changed in the 60s, like much else in our society.
Most Hollywood stars simply lack the kind of greatness that so many of the old stars had. It's not a question of morality, because Hollywood was never a very moral place. And it's not exactly a question of dignity or gravitas, either.
But just compare Humphrey Bogart, Lauren Bacall, and the old Hollywood Rat Pack with its modern equivalents. They misbehaved, they thumbed their noses at convention, but they were giants. In contrast, with the possible exception of Clint Eastwood (who shamed himself with his last movie) the folks seen on the Red Carpet last weekend were midgets.
And not even Clinton Eastwood can measure up to John Wayne.
Give me he-men with class: James Stewart, john wayne, clark gable, victor mature, humphrey bogart, glenn ford...... I could go on and on. Plus, a lot of these guys like Glenn ford and James stewart served in the military, were patriotic and loved and appreciated america.
Forget today's movies and awards: I'll get out the videos.
Like Michael Moore?
Well .. we know why he got an award - he was dissing Bush!
I don't think that one counts .. he was an extremely unusual case.
.......and the "B-Movie actor" who became one of our greatest presidents!!
I can think of several places with employee of the month awards.
It seemed to me that most actors passed up the Oscars as well. Watching the only people you saw in the audience were nominated. I probably would do that too, and just go to the after party.
I have heard rumors that Brad Pitt will play Det. Frank Bullitt in a remake. I like Brad Pitt but I don't think anyone can convince themselves he can possible measure up to Steve McQueen.
I've been sobbing for two days.
Have the Oscars jumped the shark? If so, when?
"I dislike," said he, "those plagiarists who wish to pass for wise persons. I dislike those people who wish their lack of humility to be taken for bravery."
-The Analects of Master K'ung, Approx. 500 BC
I was disappointed that there were no glamorous old-time movie stars (they know how to do it right). I heard Liz Taylor was there (but I didn't see her). I saw a photograph of Anne Jeffries (she looks fabulous for however old she is). And I saw Mickey Rooney. That's it. That's all I saw of Old Hollywood. Out with the old? In with the new?
Jimmy Stewart in "Winchester 73" is on my list of the dozen best western movies.
Best of them all is "Red River." The start of the cattle drive has got to be the single best scene ever shot for a movie.
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