The Politics of the Academy Awards

I met her through mutual friends, when she was living with the boyfriend of hers who later committed suicide. I was an aspiring screenwriter at the time, she an aspiring actress doing Coors commercials and industrial reels. I had recently interviewed Richard Linklater for an issue of Mondo 2000, and knew he was casting for Dazed and Confused, and I came to adore RZ after spending maybe two hours with her, so I put in a huge, huge "good word" for her and even helped her prepare a reading for her first film audition. Linklater actually wanted to cast her in the role for which she had auditioned, but the studio forced a young soap opera starlet on him instead - she wound up in a bit part, but rapidly picked up leading roles in other local productions.

I knew within hours of meeting her that she would both make it in Hollywood, and eventually win the Oscar. Some people are actually magical, and she's one of them. Regretably, I haven't seen or spoken to her in many years - the last contact I had was sending her a bottle of champagne upon her landing the role in Jerry Maguire, although I'm certain that if circumstance brought us together again, we'd pick right back up where we left off in terms of our friendship. I just didn't want to give any impression that I wanted anything from her in a professional sense (I've long-since quit screenwriting), and also, it's difficult to maintain a friendship with a famous and beautiful movie star of the opposite sex, when one is married.

As to her opinion on this war, I can believe the previous citation of a quote asking "why are we going to war? I'm confused," although having known her, I can say that sounds like a diplomatic response to a demanded question. What else could she say? She does want to work again, I'm certain, and I know she had aspirations to write, direct or both - all of which would be fatally threatened by her publicly adopting anything other than the popular (in Hollywood) line, at this point in her career. But if my assessment is correct, I very much doubt she would have offered that without having been asked. If she were actually confused, I have little doubt I could convince her of the rightness of the Bush position in a matter of minutes, although I'd neither expect nor demand she publicly adopt it.

I do firmly believe that if she wins, she won't say a word on the subject, except to maybe close her acceptance speech with "God bless America" (which may or may not draw boos from the Oscar gallery), or something to that effect.

In short, I can't say truthfully that I know her now, only that I have known her well in the past, and believe I know her fundamental character well enough to be able to ascertain some things from a distance.

I am extremely selective about the films I see and music I listen to; if there is either an actor or musician(whose genre I like) who has either come out in support of the war, our troop and President, or hasn't said anything either way, then I patronize that film, buy the DVD or purchase the CD.

...As much as I enjoyed "Chicago" (prior to Richard Gere spouting off his nonsense) in the theater, I will not be purchasing the DVD, which is a shame since I did enjoy his performance, along with Renee Zellweger's, Catherine Zeta-Jones' and Queen Latifah's.

These people are making the lives of their corporate accountants miserable, with all of the red ink they're seeing from the loss of profits.

...I'll probably tune the Oscars out again this year; should have done that with the Grammys last month.

-Regards, T.

It would be nice if 10,000 people showed up for a support our troops rally right accross the street. What's good for the goose is good for the moose, uh, er gander.

I'll be there with a number of friends.

I hope you have 10,000 friends :)

I actually do; I watch Turner Classic Movies, as well as scour the video stores for classic DVDs. One of my personal favorites is "Singin' In The Rain" with Gene Kelly, Debbie Reynolds, and Donald O'Connor.

-Regards, T.

They knew how to entertain with romance back then, not sex.

I couldn't agree more! And as a consequence, some of those old musicals were much more sexy than anything out there today.

I've obviously found another musicals fan:)

How about Cyd Charisse and Gene Kelly in "Singin' in the Rain" or Cyd Charisse (I'm a fan!) and Fred Astaire (who just got better as he aged) in "Band Wagon?"

I'm not sure if it was MGM or not, but Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers in Top Hat---the Cheek to Cheek number has to be one of the most romantic moments on screen.

I know what you mean. It is eerily quiet around here. But things are starting to pick up....