Hollywood's Leftists And Lunatics

It's becoming increasingly difficult to be a pro-American, philosophical conservative and a movie fan at the same time. Certainly there are those of other political persuasions who believe the two to be mutually exclusive. How could it be that a right-wing "imperialist" is able to appreciate celluloid artistry? As everyone knows, conservatives are incapable of smiling, laughing or shedding a tear due to our inherent lack of empathy. How could we even make time for such things with so much required to devise ways to aid the "wealthy" at the expense of the "little guy," to convince the world that men and women are different, to return black Americans to bondage, and plot "fascist" world domination.

However inconceivable it may be, while my love for the movies developed early on, so too did my conservative leanings. Thanks to the lunacy of the "free love," anti-Vietnam culture of my pre-teen years, conservatism was easy. Thanks to exposure to an earlier era of moviemaking, featuring stars like James Cagney, Jimmy Stewart and Humphrey Bogart, so too was a love of film. Due in large part to being about as poor as Americans could get during that time, it wasn't until I was out of high school that I made it to a movie theater with any regularity. My film education took place under the guidance of onetime Detroit area television icon, Bill Kennedy of Bill Kennedy at the Movies.

Though irritable, self-centered and sporting a bad hair transplant, Kennedy's knowledge of film was seemingly endless, but never was he voyeuristic or tawdry as are Hollywood gurus of today. When the final bell rang at Priest Elementary, I could hardly wait to get home to see the daily black and white gem and listen to Kennedy tear into the occasional caller. It was during that time that I developed the ability to truly immerse myself in movie illusion and defined my standards for judging which actors did and didn't have talent.

Had I been watching first-run movies then, with activist celebrities everywhere and social upheaval ongoing, it's likely that my burgeoning conservatism would have kicked in and clashed with my ability to enjoy the whole movie experience. But poverty saved me.

During the Reagan/Bush era the tendency of Tinsel Town types to stump for Democrats and to be conspicuously absent from Republican rallies did not escape me, though I can't say this affected my viewing habits. But starting with the arrival of Bill Clinton on the national scene, increasing through the 2000 presidential election and into the war on terror, the naked stupidity and hardcore liberalism of the Hollywood elite have made the simple act of watching a movie all but impossible to enjoy, no matter how talented the performers. So outrageous has it become that even old favorites now seem tainted.

Martin Sheen has had a hit & miss career (mostly miss), but his one shinning jewel, Apocalypse Now (1979), has been on my regular viewing list for years. Since George W. Bush came to Washington, Sheen has repeatedly and spitefully characterized him as an "alcoholic" and a "moron". When commenting on the approaching war to remove Saddam Hussein, his message to the oppressed Iraqi people was, "Just hang on. You're not alone on this..." suggesting they needed protection not from Saddam, but from the president of the United States, even as the Iraqi dictator continued to fill mass graves. Sheen has never been a closet leftist, but his anti-war statements and irrational attacks on Bush have caused that Apocalypse Now DVD to collect dust.

Richard Gere, though not brilliant, turned in solid performances in An Officer and a Gentleman (1982), and Internal Affairs (1990). But as time goes by and Gere keeps talking, I like them less and less. While speaking at the "Concert for New York, " following the attacks of 9/11 he cautioned against the urge to retaliate and about the perils of negative "karma." And during the buildup to war in Iraq he compared Bush and Saddam to "Captain Ahab and the great white whale from Moby Dick," wondered about "all this personal enmity" between them, and claimed the Iraqi dictator was "not threatening anybody." No matter how hard I try to drown out his vacuous political musings, when I see him on film they intrude on his dialogue.

I'm almost ashamed to admit that I think Alec Baldwin is talented. I honestly can't say that I've seen him give a bad performance. Two of his films, The Shadow (1994) and The Hunt for Red October (1990), I like very much. Moreover I consider his to be the definitive portrayal of Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan. But I can't say that I go out of my way to see either of them anymore, and I simply refuse to see anything new with his name in the credits. The defining moment came during Bill Clinton's impeachment, when on national television Baldwin defended the right of the then president to commit and suborn perjury and generally abuse his authority. The best method to achieve this was to "stone" Congressman Henry Hyde "to death!" He threatened to leave the country if Bush was elected, a threat that I wish he would act on, and has since compared Bush's occupation of the Oval office to terrorism.

Harrison Ford, who succeeded Baldwin as Jack Ryan for a time, is hardly better. Ford said he was "appalled by the idea" of war in Iraq and that he wanted "Bush out of power" just as much as Saddam. Though he wished for Bush's removal for engaging in a global fight against terrorists and their supporters, Bill Clinton is known to be a friend. This despite Clinton's Monica Lewinsky inspired bombing of Saddam and his indifference to a terrorist threat that was clear and growing throughout his presidency. Since the fall of the Hussein regime and the liberation of 25 million people, Ford has said, "I regret what we as a country have done."

Harrison Ford's rampant stupidity is particularly disheartening in that it has irrevocably tainted several of my all-time favorites. Not surprisingly for someone who came of age in the late 70's and early 80's, I have been a loyal fan of the Star Wars and Indiana Jones franchises. But sadly Han Solo and "Indy" don't have the appeal that they once did. Rumor has it that a fourth installment in the Indiana Jones series is on the way, but I will definitely "wait for the video" if I see it at all.

Recent statements by Johnny Depp, asinine in the extreme, have forced me to add his name to a growing list of performers whose work I will actively avoid. Commenting in the German magazine Stern, Depp described President Bush as "one of the worst liars I have ever seen," and the entire U.S. government as "idiots." He declared the nation as a whole to be "dumb... something like a dumb puppy that has big teeth...that can bite and hurt you, aggressive." And he went on to say that he wanted his children to look at the United States, "like it's a kind of toy - a broken toy maybe. Investigate a little bit, check it out, get this feeling and then get out."

The actor said he "couldn't imagine" ever living in the U.S. again. Depp prefers his current home in France, a nation that is a growing hotbed of anti-Semitism whose current leader was a close friend and arms supplier of Saddam Hussein, who did everything in his power to assure that the Iraqi torture chambers continued to operate indefinitely.

His pretty boy image notwithstanding, I had considered Depp to be among the most gifted actors out there. His ability to take on offbeat roles and succeed added to his appeal. Cry-Baby (1990), What's Eating Gilbert Grape (1993), Ed Wood (1994), and Don Juan DeMarco (1995) are prime examples. But talented or not, his repugnant outburst makes me doubt that I would watch him in the title role of my life story.

Johnny Depp, like so many others, has doomed once often-viewed parts of my video library to a future of disuse. But in fairness, film actors have no monopoly on stupidity, nor are they alone responsible for ruining that which I once enjoyed. Ed Asner has ruined The Mary Tyler Moore Show. Mike Farrell spoiled M.A.S.H. And Woody Harrelson destroyed Cheers. Need I mention the music industry?

I've occasionally had people suggest that I try to "separate the art from the artist." My response is usually "would you have bought a clown painting from John Wayne Gacy?" I have tried in the past, but celebrities have become so callow and brazen that I no longer wish to forget, even if it were possible. It is unclear whether bright lights, wealth and fame induce irrationality or simply attract the irrational. Either way I am at my limit. It just isn't cute, no more than a pampered pet that keeps messing up the carpet.

Black and White films may look dated, and the dialogue may seem hokey, but Cagney and Stewart will never propagandize for American's enemies and reticule its people. In fact, the more Hollywood's current standard bearers show their true colors, the better hokey and dated sounds.

To comment on this article or express your opinion directly to the author, you are invited to e-mail Lowell at lfpphillips@yahoo.com .

My bad ... I fudged it during the paste... typed it in myself...

This is the para from the site.

"Black and White films may look dated, and the dialogue may seem hokey, but Cagney and Stewart will never propagandize for American's enemies and ridicule its people. In fact, the more Hollywood's current standard bearers show their true colors, the better hokey and dated sounds."

Don't watch any of these H'weirdo movies. Don't pay your hard-earned dollars to let these jerks and jerkettes come into your purview. Don't buy magazines that feature these turkeys. The more you don't the louder these creeps sound off. They need the publicity; they need you more than you need them. Haven't paid to watch a theatre movie in over a year. While flying recently, the movie that was played was "Chicago". After 20-30 minutes into the show, I finally had enough and went to sleep instead. Watched enough to know that it was a terrible movie, and why it won best movie of the year I'll never know. H'weirdos aren't producing good enough movies, and are starring lousy actors and actresses, to pull my money out of my wallet yet these movies are touted as wonderful, glorious stunning events. Yeah, right! (Sarc)

[W]hy it won best movie of the year I'll never know.

For years, winning the Best Picture Oscar has been a pretty good indicator - of movies to avoid.

A quick review (isn't the web wonderful?) shows that I've seen just one over half of the Best Picture award winners in the last 25 years (none in the theater - all on tape/DVD though we often go to see movies in the theater) and enjoyed less than half of those. Despite having hundreds of movies in our video collection, there are only two that were Best Picture winners, and one of those we picked up on sale and have never got around to watching.

Best Picture movies are too important to be entertaining. Just ask them.

Johnny Depp, like so many others, has doomed once often-viewed parts of my video library to a future of disuse.

Fine. Ship those videos to me. I'll gladly take them off your hands. I could use a copy of "Don Juan de Marco."

Few have learned, by now, about how to avoid politicizing art, even after several centuries of seeing its effects. Almost all of the current film artists he cites are quite adept at keeping their skills up on the screen or down on the CD or DVD, and keeping the political lives separate. I'm not going to deprive myself of current creativity because I detest -- as I do -- nearly all of their expressed political views.

If you cannot abide supporting them financially, then at least go to buy second-hand or previously-viewed CDs, tapes, or DVDs. Or go to second-run movie houses, where far more of your ticket price goes to the exhibitor. Don't cut yourself off from their art, as such, though. That only hurts your own active esthetic life.

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.