Roosevelt says, "You have to ask?"
Posted on 01/17/2006 5:23:00 PM PST by madprof98
CHRISTIAN groups led a furious campaign against Hollywood yesterday, accusing the Golden Globe Awards of promoting films with gay or “leftist” themes to serve a political agenda.
The criticism was made after Brokeback Mountain, a film about the forbidden love between gay Wyoming cowboys, won four awards. Other winners included Philip Seymour Hoffman, named Best Actor for his portrayal of the homosexual writer Truman Capote; and Felicity Huffman, the Desperate Housewives actress who played a transsexual with a gay prostitute son in Transamerica.
“Once again, the media elites are proving that their pet projects are more important than profit,” Janice Crouse, of Concerned Women for America, said. “None of the three movies — Capote, Transamerica or Brokeback Mountain — is a box office hit. Brokeback Mountain has barely topped $25 million (£14.2 million) in ticket sales. If America isn’t watching these films, why are they winning the awards?”
The criticism from the American heartland carried more weight than usual this year because Hollywood suffered the biggest decline in attendance in two decades last year. Some of the few box office hits of the year were films such as The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, which appealed strongly to Christian audiences.
Oscar pundits are now questioning whether the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences will also reward Brokeback Mountain, potentially souring Hollywood’s relationship with the American ticketbuying public even further. Members of the Academy must hand in their nomination forms by Saturday. The shortlist will be announced on January 31 and the ceremony will be held on March 5.
Religious groups also pointed to the alleged political agenda of winners including George Clooney, who won for his supporting role in Syriana, a film about the ethical pitfalls of the oil business; and Mary Louise Parker, who was rewarded for her performance in Weeds, a television comedy about a suburban mother turned marijuana dealer.
Much of the anger was directed at the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA), the group of 92 journalists from non-American publications who hand out the Golden Globe Awards. The Times, along with many other large overseas publications, is not represented at the HFPA.
The non-profit HFPA collects as much as $5.7 million from selling the broadcast rights to the ceremony, which is consistently one of the three highest-rated awards shows in the United States, along with the Academy Awards and the Grammys. However, reports alleging cronyism at the HFPA were thought to contribute to a 40 per cent decline in viewership last year.
Right-wing radio talk show hosts also took pot shots at the Globes yesterday. Stephen Bennett, of Straight Talk Radio, said: “When Hollywood is pumping out anti-family movies with sexually explicit, twisted and perverse themes that glorify homosexuality, transsexuality and every other kind of sexual immorality — then awarding itself for doing so — Middle America better take note.
“Last night Hollywood exposed its own corrupt agenda. [It] is no doubt out on a mission to homosexualise America.” The British winners at the Globes were some of the most conventional, with Hugh Laurie, 47, winning Best Actor in a Television Series for House. The other big British winner of the night was Rachel Weisz, 35, who collected the award for Best Supporting Dramatic Actress for The Constant Gardener, an adaptation of the bestselling John le Carr é novel.
Britons who failed to win their categories included Polly Walker, 40, a former member of the Royal Shakespeare Company, who starred in the BBC/HBO joint venture Rome. She lost the Best Actress in a TV Drama award to Geena Davis, who played a female US president in Commander in Chief.
Reese Witherspoon’s performance as June Carter in Walk the Line won her the Best Actress in a Comedy or Musical award, for which Keira Knightley, 21, had been nominated for her role as Elizabeth Bennet in Pride & Prejudice.
Hollywierd gave the US the finger last night. Of course they have been doing it for years.
They aren't getting the idea that we are returning the favor.
An epidemic of these Bible thumpers are afoot!!! Now they are blockading people by the hundreds from seeing Brokeback Mountain. They are trying to dictate to all of us!!!!! White Dog!!! Yes, my God! I forgot about White Dog!
Narnia is a wonderful movie... and I will support the movies that are worthy to further make a statement against the likes of Brokeback Mountain...
Foreign Press is 89 people. That is who decided.
Someone told Savage today that Hollywood is still living the Cold War and the McCarthy era and haven't a clue of the dangers facing us in this day and age.
I wish they would quit sensationalizing Brittney, Paris, etc... too many young girls (really young girls) are emulating them...
Or are ignorant and stupid enough to not realize it.
Where I live (metro Milwaukee), Savage isn't on until midnight, so I'll have to tape this one...
I tripped over "House" by accident, but I will see it again, good show. Then I tried "Book of Daniel" due to all the noise. Did not make over an hour, it is just a poor piece of work. "Brokeback" is another, not as bad as Daniel, but too long, just plain not a really good movie.
My main objection to "Brokeback" is the publicity over the "gay cowboy movie". I'm in West Texas, the "sheep and goat capitol of America", our Chamber of Commerce used to call it. Them ain't cowboys, they's SHEEPHERDERS, dammit! At least in this movie the sheep don't have to worry about the preverts.
With the fall in revenues in Hollywood, it appears others feel the same as you....I know I do! The only movies I've seen recently are "Narnia," The Lord of the Rings trilogy, and Pride and Prejudice....
It's all about the $$$$$$. Cut 'em off. I did and it feels great.
I disagree that a movie has to be a box office hit to be good and deserving of awards. Wedding Crashers made a lot of money. Doesn't mean it should be in the running for Best Picture.
Keira Knightley, 21, had been nominated for her role as Elizabeth Bennet in Pride & Prejudice.
She should have won. Who wants to watch a stupid movie about Johnny Cash anyway? I would rather watch a classic of literature, even a chick flick, than that crap.
Wasn't White Dog stopped by the left?
Ignore them, and don't give them your money.
I agree.
Let them wallow in their awards now, because before long, they'll be passing out wooden statues, instead of fake-gold, as Hollyweird's income will shrink even more than it did this past year.
you are calling THE TERMINAL trash?
You are on my crap list now.
Looks like an awesome home theater setup.
Roosevelt says, "You have to ask?"
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