177 Comments

1. George M. Semel:

Ditto’s

Feb 23, 2009 - 7:28 am 2. Dave:

Is it possible to make movies outside of Hollywood, with producers and directors and actors who aren’t permanently inflicted with groupthink?

And if these movies could be made, could they be distributed? I mean, is it illegal for movie theaters to show movies that were made outside the culture, or, dare I say, outside the Screen Actors Guild?

Just wondering…

Feb 23, 2009 - 7:30 am 3. gp:

“We turn to the arts for insight.” I turn to the arts for entertainment. You should, too. Forget about that insight stuff, and you will be able to enjoy the arts without spoiling every art-consuming experience with frustrating political rue. Unless you secretly enjoy riding your bitchy hobbyhorse.

Feb 23, 2009 - 7:32 am 4. Eddie:

How is it that everything you write I’ve been thinking???
GET OUT OF MY BRAIN!!!

All kidding aside you are once again right on the money.Please keep up the good work.

Feb 23, 2009 - 7:40 am 5. Tennessee Jed:

An excellent commentary. Not only do I have no interest in the academy awards program, I am finding it harder and harder to find any movies worth spending money to see. These are the most self-absorbed and obnoxious people on earth.

Feb 23, 2009 - 7:45 am 6. Paula Perez (ivybelle1):

Absolutely right Andrew!!
Hollywood stopped making movies for the people a long time ago. Movies are what celebrities do instead of charity work. They all just make social awareness films, and say they are doing their part to better the country, which they only occasionally love. Just like the Oscars, these films are just another way to pat themselves on the back. I haven’t watching the Oscars in years, which is sad because I used to love them.

I’m a Film and TV studies Grad student at UCLA, and the 1940s is one of my focuses. In the 40s, the Oscars went to Mrs. Miniver, Casablanca, Sergeant York, and other films that highlighted the reason we fought for our country. Now in a time of war, the Hollywood left goes out of its way to make America and its allies look as bad as the terrorist we are fighting. Way to go Hollywood!

Feb 23, 2009 - 8:00 am 7. J.J. Sefton:

Spot on. I used to work for a two-time Acadamy Award-winner, and even he said “awards are like hemmorhoids. Eventually, every a$$hole gets one.”

Purple Hearts, Congress Medals of Honor and the like notwithstanding.

Feb 23, 2009 - 8:05 am 8. Andrea:

It isn’t worth my time to pay to see a movie when the actors put me down with their words and actions in every day life. Penn is a traitor to my country, he and Jane Fonda can jump off a bridge for all I care.

Feb 23, 2009 - 8:07 am 9. JT:

It’s always been a mixed bag. I can feel happy for Heath Ledger’s family, but then have to hold my nose when hate-mongers like Bill Maher and Sean Penn peddle their wares. Hollywood’s forgotten what patriotism is ever since JFK put us into Vietnam. They want us to be another state of Europe, and we’re on our way.

Feb 23, 2009 - 8:23 am 10. love america:

NICE, glad to have you on board. I knew there was a reason I don’t go to movies anymore.

Feb 23, 2009 - 8:28 am 11. Pajamas Media » And the Oscar for Irrelevance Goes to …:

[...] Read the entire post here. [...]

Feb 23, 2009 - 8:33 am 12. Jim:

Well put. I don’t look for insight from a culture of people who either went to some groupthink fostering film school or, like many of the actors/actresses, quit school after highschool. (Let’s see, ask someone with either detailed personal knowledge of an area or an advanced degree in the area for insight, or some random ill-informed actress whose main claim to fame is being pretty.

Feb 23, 2009 - 8:41 am 13. Pete:

I’m confused here. Slumdog Millionaire, a movie that is bascially apolitical and doesn’t talk about America at all (in fact, there isn’t a single caucasian actor in the entire cast) wins 8 Oscars and all you’re doing is screaming about Sean Penn?

Feb 23, 2009 - 8:45 am 14. Rob:

I got pretty freaking angry at Sean Penn’s speech last night. I wanted to reach out to him and tell him exactly what Cheney told Sen. Leahy few years back.

Speak for yourself, Pennboy!

Feb 23, 2009 - 8:47 am 15. bryan:

After the first part of his speech shaming all those who do not share his definition of marriage he praised us for electing a wonderful and elegant man to be our president… do liberals understand that although Obama is against constitutional amendments to marriage that he himself is against gay marriage. how can these people (Penn, liberals) rectify this? Obama is against gay marriage! you would think that someone would call him out on that.

Feb 23, 2009 - 8:51 am 16. Doug:

One more note about political packaging and motivation. Milk was set in, what?…1970’s? 80’s? (I didn’t see the movie.) It got an Academy Award nomination for costumes by dressing Sean Penn in a 1980’s suit. Oh wait, but it really, really, really looked like it was bought at Joseph Banks in 1985. Sheeesh.

Feb 23, 2009 - 8:52 am 17. Ben Franklin:

I support gay marriage and pot legalization because I believe in the maximum extension of individual liberty. I support Three Strikes life terms for repeat offenders and “lock ‘em up, throw away the key” sentences for violent offenders because I believe in personal responsibility.

I despise Mr. Penn for all the reasons set forth above and more: he’s Mr. Spicoli without the charm. Hollywood as a body is worth supporting because they bring money INTO the US (a near forgotten art), and many think the same thing about Mr. Penn that we do. Penn is like the posturing American expatriates in the 30’s who found the US “oh so boring and provincial,” and left for spohisticated europe, then, having done nothig to help the US in a tough time, came scurrying home in 1939. What a pathetic blowhard he is.

Feb 23, 2009 - 8:53 am 18. Spark22:

I’m still waiting for Atlas Shrugged to hit the big screen (pending 2011). Wonder if anyone in Hollywood will bother to watch it? (if they every get it released)

Feb 23, 2009 - 8:58 am 19. Bilgeman:

Sean Penn…Sean Penn…give me a minute…

Oh yeah! Isn’t he the neo-faux-Marxist doofus who had to be rscued during Hurricane Katrina for being too stupid to put the drain hole plug in the jon boat BEFORE he put it into the water to paddle around the 9th Ward?

http://www.cynical-c.com/archives/bloggraphics/penn.jpg

Some reason I should care what he thinks about anything?

Feb 23, 2009 - 9:02 am 20. MJ:

I honesty do not think anyone, anywhere could have written a more poignant, dead-on piece.

Truer words were never written. Thank you for writing them Mr. Klavan.

Feb 23, 2009 - 9:05 am 21. MikeD:

I didn’t watch the Academy Awards. And I sincerely do not care what any of those people say, do, or believe. They aren’t even entertaining any more. Simply insufferable but self-important morons. I have scraped better stuff off my boots than Sean Penn, and I’m not talking about mud.

Feb 23, 2009 - 9:05 am 22. cfbleachers:

I found the irony throughout the evening. Pete, above…doesn’t like the fact that you have come to a political and cultural blog and commented on the political and cultural aspects of raging narcissism and flaming rhetoric of the granddaddy of them all orgy of self-aggrandizement took center stage last night.

How dare you comment about Penn’s failure to mention his wife, even once…while he excoriated those who did not vote appropriately on the gay marriage issue? (in the spirit of full disclosure, I am on record on the issue…and still took offense in his smug, pedantic, spittle-flecked, eye-bulging diatribe)

The irony…of course, is that the attack was made against faith-based folks, throughout the evening….again, while the facts on the ground seem to indicate that attitudes toward homosexuality in the black and latino communities caused votes to appear on the “wrong” side of the ledger when all tallied. Penn manages to encompass narcissism, hypocrisy and distortion neatly into one easy swallow for the lemmings.

Bill Maher, (sort of Sean Penn without the talent), the high priest of anti-religion and the inevitable attack on white people in general…presenting in a year when several winners of color…thanked God for their blessings.

It’s sooooo difficult to get the “message” out to the parrots and other useful tools, if these “potential victims” keep getting it wrong!

Sean Penn, of course…wishes to lecture America about an open attitude and not repressing or oppressing other worldviews…and he shows us how by embracing a dictator in Venezuela.

Ahhh, sweet irony. Hollywood can’t even get its slander straight these days. The seashells of our population…most of them pretty to look at, empty, useless and washed up.

Feb 23, 2009 - 9:11 am 23. Pete:

So, again, the film that won the overwhelming majority of the Oscars was completely apolitical and you’re still screaming about Sean Penn. So, if the Oscars were all about the liberal/atheist/commie agenda, then Milk would have run the table last night and not Slumdog Millionaire, no? Hell if you remove Bill Maher and the two Milk winners, the ceremony itself was almost completely devoid of any politics. Unfortunately, too much of conservativism has become the exact same kind of whiny rant about any perceived slight grievance politics that you routinely accuse your more liberal brethren of doing.

I did notice that Penn didn’t thank his wife, although to be honest, I hadn’t realized that he had even reconciled with her.

Feb 23, 2009 - 9:20 am 24. Rex:

To Dave: Yes movie can be made and distributed that tell the truth and explore culture in an honest and inspiring manner. Distributed is the hard part. The internet is making it easier but popcorn at the movies with great films is going by the wayside. I’m a filmmaker and I deal with this everyday.
Ditto to Andrew by the way.

Feb 23, 2009 - 9:22 am 25. AJ:

the oscars were last night?

no one i know cared or knew…

in the real world, people have work, children and enjoy america — not our enemies from within

these are empty people

Feb 23, 2009 - 9:24 am 26. always right:

“Frankly, my dear, I don’t give a damn.”

When they (those in the movie business) make movies as good as the golden days in those bygone years, somebody drop me a note, please.

Feb 23, 2009 - 9:27 am 27. LynnS:

A creative, artistic, talented conservative? Unprecedented!!!! I will have to examine your writings more closely to uncover your hidden agenda to lure us into the world of intolerant liberalism!

P.S. I also think the word liberal has been hijacked.

Feb 23, 2009 - 9:28 am 28. POLYSEMY: The Daily Goose:

[...] turn to the arts for insight. Instead, they give us lies. addthis_url = ‘http%3A%2F%2Fpolysemy.org%2Fdailygoose%2F%3Fp%3D1879′; addthis_title = [...]

Feb 23, 2009 - 9:37 am 29. John Kelly:

About last night’s Oscar’s:

1. Hugh Jackman was great, but he turned the Oscar Night Show into a Tony awards show on steroids.

2. The event needs a “big room” comedian as M/C like Bob Hope or Jay Leno, other good M/C’s more recently were Billy Christal or Woopie Goldberg. It needs glamour but it needs snap and zingers too.

3. “Slumdog Millionaire” owned the night and it earned it. it was a “big” picture while the rest were not.

4. I think it is sad that American Studios don’t make “big” pictures anymore. Although it didn’t get much attention last night, “Australia” like “Slumdog” was a big picture. It is good to know that Australia can and does make neo John Ford flicks — Heath Ledger’s ignored “Ned Kelly” was great and in the grant tradition.

5. It turns out Norma Desmond was right after all, “It’s the pictures that got small.”

6. Finally, just when you are rightfully denouncing Hollywood for infantile leftism and ignoring our time’s real heroes, Kevin Bacon and HBO toss us a gem like “Taking Chances.” I can not say enough good things about this small semi-documentary movie. It offered us hope and affirmation in our heroes and in our country. It was spare in its dialog but it was powerful in its visuals. It validated our hopes and our traditions, John Ford would have approved. The pictures of the actual Chance Phelps at the end showed us our loss and the vibrant spirit of the young man. I am hardly alone in this judgement, even the local “alternative” weekly’s movie critic gave the film real honor and praise. It came at the time we all needed it.

Feb 23, 2009 - 9:49 am 30. Tanner:

Andrew, I know you’re passionate, and you genuinely disagree with the people you’re criticizing, but everyone, no matter their politics, has a responsibility to understand that there are people who genuinely disagree with them, not because they’re ignorant or misguided, but because there is more than one way of looking at the world. The pictures you’ve painted here of Hollywood liberals and their motives in the movies really are just TOO one-sided.

Feb 23, 2009 - 9:52 am 31. one of your own:

Oscars ratings up 6%.

If all you people have so many better things to do than watch the Oscars, you sure are spending a lot of time talking about not watching th Oscars. So, how many of you secretly watched them? If for no other reason thatn to feel superior.

Feb 23, 2009 - 9:59 am 32. fear Obama:

Let me get this straight-

President Hopenchange is against gay marriage.

Penn is for it,
but still loves Bambi?

Dusty Hoffman hopes to marry someone when he grows up?

And Hillary is selling Treasury Bills to the Communist Chinese?

This has to be a movie,
because you couldn’t make this Shiite up if you tried.

Feb 23, 2009 - 10:04 am 33. Righteous Bubba:

I gather the Academy Awards will be ignored by the cross-eyed raving subset of the right wing. Seems fine, go to it. You might wanna lay off the claims regarding “most Americans” though.

Feb 23, 2009 - 10:05 am 34. Pete:

#31 – I think these sort of day-after Oscar posts are sort of SOP in the conservative blogoverse. Even though objectively last night’s Oscarcast contained three entire moments that could arguably be described as “overtly political” (the two Milk winners and Bill Maher), blog rants like this guy’s are needed to maintain the fiction that every Oscarcast is a three hour conservative bashing, America hating, commiefest. So, if you convince enough people that something occurred that didn’t exactly occur that way in reality, then the culture wars remain fully intact.

The REALITY is that an apolitical movie filmed by Brits with an all-Indian cast (save for Dev Patel) won 8 Oscars, and each winner from that movie was humble, gracious, and didn’t say one thing about either Bush or conservatism.

Feb 23, 2009 - 10:08 am 35. Judy, NYC:

it no longer matters what is wonderful, we have to dick around with india and that is why the oscar was handed over along with everything else. regardless, i wasn’t interested in seeing fancy dresses or ridiculous salaries or tucked up faces. blech.

Feb 23, 2009 - 10:18 am 36. Sean:

The antidote for Hollywood’s (and the “artistic” Left as a whole) crassly inaccurate portrayal of America, religion, and reality in general is for artists to make works that accurately reflect the above. As the old saying goes, “fight bad arguments with good ones.”
Mr. Klavan, thank you for fighting back!

Feb 23, 2009 - 10:19 am 37. Pete:

Sean, again I’m confused. Slumdog won 8 Oscars, not Milk. Or is this a case that you’re ignoring the movie, because it isn’t about America, and therefore not worthy?

Feb 23, 2009 - 10:24 am 38. Chuck Pelto:

TO: Pete
RE: Exqueeze Me?

“Sean, again I’m confused. Slumdog won 8 Oscars, not Milk.” — Pete [the ignorant twit]

Did Penn win Best Actor or not?

Did Penn spend time in his ‘acceptance speech’ calling those who disagreed with him bad thing?

If the answer to both of my questions is ‘yes’, the question….

….Are you an idiot?….

…is also ‘YES’.

Regards,

Chuck(le)

Feb 23, 2009 - 10:34 am 39. G Alston:

I didn’t watch the oscars. I’m not in the movie biz.

On the other hand Pete there (#34) seems to have it right.

Three quick-take observations on what you dittohead people and Mr. Klavan seem to be missing –

1. The movie industry brings in money. Lots of it.

2. The movie industry is a cultural WMD export. It sometimes shows Americans as “bad” because it is asking questions and shows people worldwide that Americans are clever enough and strong enough to ask themselves the tough questions. It’s one of the reasons American films are not just imitated, but respected and the #1 money maker around the world. Hollywood films show the good, the bad, and the ugly. The ugly and bad are worth examination, too; perhaps worth more overall than a steady diet of “good.” (Does anyone really want to live in the slums of Mumbai?)

3. I heard about Sean Penn’s remarks. Good for him. As per above he’s concentrating a lens, painting a bullseye on himself as necessary. Do you think he doesn’t know he’s reviled and spat upon by you faith based types? Sometimes over the top remarks are necessary to jumpstart needed discussion.

Klavan, I found your piece to be mere rabble-rousing mush with little (if any) merit.

Feb 23, 2009 - 10:36 am 40. Canuck:

Entertainment? At one time, the wrestler would have, through great difficulty, overcome his selfishness, made up with his daughter, married the stripper and eventually owned the deli but I guess that’s too American a tale to tell these days. As for Sean Penn, if I’m not free to love homos and hate commies, who cares? I refuse to watch him in anything. Acting? Since his great turn as Spiccoli, he now merely chews up the scenery all the while wondering if Oscar is watching. Hollywood and him deserve each other.

Feb 23, 2009 - 10:41 am 41. DetroitTowers:

All I know is that this country is saturated with way too many ‘award shows’. So much so that I believe it is now time for the IDGAS Awards.

The IDGAS Awards will be an award show for award shows. IDGAS as in, I Don’t Give A Sh*t. Can’t you just picture the scene?
The award presenter opens the envelope and announces the winner accordingly. “And the IDGASY goes to (fill in the blank)”.

I kid you NOT. Over the past few years, I can barely go two weeks without the so-called ‘news’ telling me about the latest award recipient or some such….gettin’ REAL old.

Can you say, tailor made parody for South Park? I knew ya could…….er, IDGAS!

Feb 23, 2009 - 10:43 am 42. UT movie fan:

The official end of Hollywood relevance can be marked by the year Saving Private Ryan did not win best picture.

I can no longer enjoy movies when my brain can’t disengage from the reality of the actor’s off-screen persona.

Give me a new generation of talent. The over exposed gas-bags we have now can no longer suspend disbelief.

Feb 23, 2009 - 10:44 am 43. Chuck Pelto:

TO: All
RE: G Alston

“Klavan, I found your piece to be mere rabble-rousing mush with little (if any) merit.” — G Alston

Typical projection from the mush-headed Left.

It’s obvious that G thinks that it’s perfectly alright for Penn to ‘rabble rouse’ with his mush, but Klavan isn’t supposed too do so. Or if he does, it’s not worth the bother to read and brushes it off as of ‘little (if any) merit’.

Don’t bother with facts or logic. Just brush it off as nonsense.

Regards,

Chuck(le)
[The Lawyers Rule:

[1] If the Law is against you, argue the facts.
[2] If the facts are against you, argue the Law.
[3] If the Law and the facts are against you, call the other side names.

The Official Rules: A Compendium of Truths and Laws for Living]

Feb 23, 2009 - 10:49 am 44. Chuck Pelto:

TO: UT Movie Fan, et al.
RE: Agreed!

“The official end of Hollywood relevance can be marked by the year Saving Private Ryan did not win best picture.” — UT Movie Fan

Now that I think upon it….

…you’re right. I’ve not agreed with anything those cretins have done since that date. With the exception of Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King. But I thought every previous installment should have had Best Picture as well.

Regards,

Chuck(le)
[The movies are the only business where you can go out front and applaud yourself. -- Will Rogers]

P.S. How appropriate for a bunch of nattering narcissists…..

Feb 23, 2009 - 10:56 am 45. Pete:

So, reading through these comments, it’s apparent that because Sean Penn said what he said, that invariably means that the entire Oscars were an America-hatin’, commie-lovin’, Bush bashin’ hatefest.

If that were the case, then HOW EXACTLY do you explain that Slumdog Millionaire won 8 Oscars and not Penn’s film? To paraphrase Chuck’s laws, Slumdog’s sweep is a FACT. Unless one is going to say that Slumdog is somehow a vicious anti-American film, then your carefully constructed mental image of this year’s Oscar ceremony is to put it bluntly, delusional.

Feb 23, 2009 - 10:56 am 46. Pete:

Chuck,

I don’t think I would have given Lord of the Rings: Two Towers the Best Picture nod. It was the weakest of the three films.

Either way, Peter Jackson’s Heavenly Creatures remains his best film. That film featured the debut of a otherwise unknown actress named Kate Winslet.

Feb 23, 2009 - 10:58 am 47. Chuck Pelto:

P.P.S. These days, I wait until a movie comes out on DVD before I watch it. Then I don’t waste so much money in a movie theater…with their rip-off pricing on tickets and scandalous pricing on popcorn.

Besides. Movies are so much better with a good beverage, such as a beer with the popcorn or a glass of wine or maybe a brandy. It’s easy to build your own home theater these days.

I use a Macintosh laptop, a projector, a 10′ foot wide screen, surround sound driven by M-Audio’s Sonica Theater (USB) with some B&O speakers.

Feb 23, 2009 - 11:00 am 48. Stergeye:

Oh, have the academy awards happened? Don’t even pay attention this year. Used to be something we all stayed up late to watch to root for our favorite movies or actors/actresses. None of them were represented this year.
“Gran Torino” was a GREAT movie; of course, not nominated.
At this rate the awards will be viewed by dozens next year.

Feb 23, 2009 - 11:02 am 49. Casey:

if only sean penn was truly the rebel he & others try to make him out to be, he could have had a real impact on tens of thousands of people’s lives last night. instead, he showed that he doesn’t want to upset the applecart with a much smaller sampling of the population. penn chose to reinforce why he took the lead roll in “milk”, something we could have all inferred anyway, instead of publicly & loudly pressuring the sag leadership out of going on strike. he could have pointed out that all the laborers who have been employed in the movie industry, and only the movie industry, would be shoved out into a job environment that is as baren as the desert their town was built in. he could have been a true spokesman for untold numbers of otherwise voiceless workers & their families. he chose instead to insult well more than half the voters in california. way to be in touch, sean.

Feb 23, 2009 - 11:03 am 50. Peg C.:

Was it on last night? Surfing today, you can’t even tell.

Dittos, dittos, dittos.

Feb 23, 2009 - 11:05 am 51. Chuck Pelto:

TO: Pete
RE: Please Try….

“So, reading through these comments, it’s apparent that because Sean Penn said what he said, that invariably means that the entire Oscars were an America-hatin’, commie-lovin’, Bush bashin’ hatefest.” — Pete

…NOT to be a total idiot.

Instead, try couching your anti-americanism defense of an anti-american institution, i.e., the Academy of Motion Pictures, in appropriate terms. Sean Penn was this years ‘center piece’ of anti-americanism there.

Regards,

Chuck(le)
[Overstatement is the stock and trade of politics and sales.]

Feb 23, 2009 - 11:05 am 52. PAR:

I refuse to support the whole Hollywood hypocrisy. Simply refuse to go to a movie until they realize that there are real people doing real work in this country. They complain about what a corporate CEO earns while they get millions for playing lets pretend. They idolize idiots like Chavez and Castro and then are critical of our soldiers. How can anyone even consider paying to see one of their mediocre movies?

Feb 23, 2009 - 11:07 am 53. Pete:

Chuck,

Try to follow here. If you claim that AMPAS is “anti-American”, citing Penn’s win as your proof, then it is a fair question to ask that if Penn’s Prop 8 politics were really that huge a priority with AMPAS voters, then why did Slumdog win 8 Oscars and Milk 2? Out of 21 Oscars, that means Milk won 1% of them, and Slumdog won over 30%. It stretches credibiity to say that the film that won 1% of the total Oscars was the “centerpiece” of the ceremony this year.

The “centerpiece” was Danny Boyle doing his Tigger Jump after winning Best Director, and the sheer humility of the Indian children and crew members who couldn’t fathom in a million years that their little film would pull off what it did. It’s easily one of the best stories to happen to Oscar in many many years, but you guys would rather foam at the mouth about Sean Penn? Misplaced priorities.

Feb 23, 2009 - 11:09 am 54. vanderleun:

The real awards these latter day traitors should be getting would include, but not be limited to, tar, feathers, heads on pikes, and tumbril rides to the block.

I’d watch. I’d watch the re-runs. I’d watch them in syndication forever.

Feb 23, 2009 - 11:12 am 55. one of your own:

#32 fear obama, writes . . . This has to be a movie, because you couldn’t make this Shiite up if you tried.”

Here’s an easy question. Why do you use “Shiite” instead of shit? Is it the obvious attempt to connect excrement to a religious population? Is it because you’re scared or too dignified or uncomfortable to use the real word?

I’ll wait for you explanation . . . then I’ll call you misguided, infantile and bigoted. Unless I’m wrong on that.

Feb 23, 2009 - 11:14 am 56. Canuck:

Not having seen it yet, I’d guess Milk would have won everything had it not been such an ordinary film. That’s just a guess though.

Feb 23, 2009 - 11:20 am 57. Paul from Hamburg:

Pete:
Congratulations on making the same post 5 times and still completely missing the point of the original article.

Feb 23, 2009 - 11:22 am 58. Tex Taylor:

I never get to bent about the Sean Penn, MaDonna, Rob Reiner or any of the other irreligious, irrelevant Hollywood types. There aren’t any bigger sanctimonious rubes than the lefty, Hollywood ilk.

The cowardice is evident as they never leave the bounds of their own comfortable confines to make their politics known.

It reminds me of the gays, who upon learning of their loss concerning Prop 8, stormed the stairs of the Mormon Church, knowing fully well the Mormons would simply remain silent and without repercussion.

But I never saw the gays storming the doors of the black churches in Watts, Compton or Oakland – every bit as much to blame as the Mormons for the Prop 8 loss.

Gee, I wonder why?

Feb 23, 2009 - 11:23 am 59. Tex Taylor:

to/too…

Feb 23, 2009 - 11:24 am 60. Frank:

Sean Penn really does have alot of acting talent. It’s too bad he’s such an unbridled nut and unashamed moron

Feb 23, 2009 - 11:32 am 61. Pete:

No, I got the point. Yet another conservative blogger distorts the Oscars in order to make Sean Penn’s speech more prominant than it actually was during last night’s ceremony.

It was another conservative blogger asserting that the Oscars were no longer relevant because the winning films were anti-American, leftist screeds.

I have to keep pointing out that the sweep of Slumdog appears to invalidate this premise that the blogger was trying to put forth.

Since no one cares to answer my question, I will ask it again. If the purpose of the Oscars is for AMPAS voters to bash America or hate conservatives or whatever, then how do you explain Slumdog’s sweep last night?

Feb 23, 2009 - 11:32 am 62. Big Ben:

ANDREW FOR PRESIDENT- WRITE ON!

Feb 23, 2009 - 11:34 am 63. Frank:

#61: Pete:

How is Slumdog anything other than a Leftist screed and smear against India, playing down the influence of 1000 years of Islamic Jihad, Partition and Genocide on the Hindu people, portraying the Hindus as intolerant, slumdwelling, medievalists and the poor, innocent Muslims who are constantly persecuted… The Gujarat Riots which of course are the Hindus are ENTIRELY to blame for… India as a backwards third world cess pool that has made little true advances… Why do you think the leftists are lapping it up so thoroughly? Any Indian made movie that ever tried to portray India as anything more that the idealised orientalist version of it would never get played in the West, let alone nominated. Slumdog is nothing but typical Bollywood

Feb 23, 2009 - 11:38 am 64. G Alston:

#43 Pelto — Typical projection from the mush-headed Left.

It’s obvious that G thinks that it’s perfectly alright for Penn to ‘rabble rouse’ with his mush, but Klavan isn’t supposed too do so.

If you think I represent the left then you are deluded and in seriously deep guacamole. Being a bigoted, hypocritical evangelical isn’t a requirement to be against socialism.

Penn: “I have the mic, so I’ll use my time to talk about what I see as an injustice.”

Klavan: “Penn’s an anti-American, leftist poopy head.”

Using your crayon, circle the example of what makes America the great country that it is.

Feb 23, 2009 - 11:44 am 65. ConservativeGirlie:

Eh, seeing as how the Nobel Prize lost all it’s credibility when it was handed to a schmuck for simply reading a script to go with a fictional slide show, is it any surprise that the Oscars would be a platform for lunacy as well?

Feb 23, 2009 - 11:49 am 66. Jack P:

Al it takes is a camera, a microphone, a blood-sacrifice to Moloch, and you’re a star!

Feb 23, 2009 - 11:51 am 67. Pete:

Frank,

Just to make sure I’m following you here:

1. Because the lead character’s brother is shown twice praying on an Islamic prayer rug, you have characterized the movie as “downplaying 1000 years of jihad, genocide, etc.”? If anything, the LEAD character isn’t portrayed as being particularly devout or religious about anything.

2. Considering the movie is set in the Mumbai slums, then it wouldn’t be particularly feasible to not portray the Mumbai slums in an effort not to offend…umm..whose feelings are we protecting here?

3. India is shown as making economic progress, hence the sequence where the characters are hiding in a luxury hotel under construction and the two brothers are shown marvelling over the office buildings built over where their shacks used to be.

4. If it were a typical Bollywood film, then that song and dance number would have been in the MIDDLE of the film, not during the closing credits.

5. Leaving apart the Hindu/Islamic conflicts in that region, which frankly had absolutely NOTHING TO DO WITH THE CENTRAL PREMISE OF THE FILM, the notion that some aspects of Hinduism haven’t wrought tremendous damage to large portions of that population is naive at best. Ever hear of the caste system chief.

So, again, how exactly is Slumdog Millionaire an “anti-American” film?

Feb 23, 2009 - 11:53 am 68. Avitar:

The Oscars: An award given by union members to union members inside of a closed union shop.
An Oscar for Irrelavance would at least be something that they are really good at. After over seventy-five years as a closed shop Hollywood does not have an idea left.
If one of the right to work states started promoting movie ventures…
Maybe the non-Hollywood states could just start taxing the union made products a surtax.

Feb 23, 2009 - 11:56 am 69. LynnS:

Top ten reasons that Slumdog swept the oscars and not Milk…

Milk wasn’t that good but they think America needed a lecture at the lectern.

Hollywood likes to pretend they care about the newest democracy so they can throw another hollywood charity ball where the women touch each others boobs and the men stand around talking business, or money, or sports, or whatever.

Their bored with Africa.

Their bored with the Middle East.

They want Madonna and Sean Penn to hook up again so gave a nod to Penn.

They love game shows.

They hate games shows and want someone other than an American to win.

They want to ruin India.

They think a golden man is better than a golden cow.

And the final reason that Slumdog swept the Oscars instead of Milk……………..

Even they knew how stupid they would look if Milk swept the Oscars.

ta da!

Feb 23, 2009 - 11:58 am 70. Big Ben:

even worse than the awards is the trickle down brainless anti Western and anti- religious propaganda which influences the MTV generation and results in our present Euro-Socialist quasi-Third-World Progressive ruling party.

Feb 23, 2009 - 12:11 pm 71. Carolb:

#15, Bryan, some people, including me, don’t believe Obama when he said he’s against gay marriage…he’s supported it in the past. I’ve heard people in the gay community say the same; that they really believe he supports gay marriage privately, but says he’s against it because he wants to keep his appeal to middle America. That’s why people like Penn and the gays continue to support him. Plus, remember, he wants to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act, and voted against the Federal Marriage Amendment.

It’s like the gun issue. Publicly, he claims to support the second amendment, but, if this guy had his way, no private citizen would have a hand gun.

Feb 23, 2009 - 12:16 pm 72. Scott E:

Before they announced the winner for Best Actor, my wife asked me who I thought would win. I said, “it’ll be Sean Penn, if only as a statement about Proposition 8.”

And….

I wish he was as wise as he thinks he is smart. A “smart guy” weaves the innocuousness of the word “elegant” into a description of our new president, if only to break the repetition of the Bush hatred that has become worn and passe’. A wise man thanks his wife and his colleagues and humbly moves offstage.

Feb 23, 2009 - 12:18 pm 73. Ian Thorpe:

You’re not a big fan of Hollywood then?

The kind of films that get made and the sdtate of society prove the truth of Oscar Wilde’s epigram “Life copies art”.

Feb 23, 2009 - 12:21 pm 74. Fred:

Tex Taylor wrote

“It reminds me of the gays, who upon learning of their loss concerning Prop 8, stormed the stairs of the Mormon Church, knowing fully well the Mormons would simply remain silent and without repercussion.

But I never saw the gays storming the doors of the black churches in Watts, Compton or Oakland – every bit as much to blame as the Mormons for the Prop 8 loss.

Gee, I wonder why?”

Here are the likely reasons.

1. It would be a PR nightmare for gay activists.

2. Gay activists fear that Black Christians will temporarily snap and turn into full “gangsta” mode. (most Black people don’t like homosexuality after all.)

3. Reasons “1″ and “2″

Feb 23, 2009 - 12:21 pm 75. jcrue:

NFL Pro Bowl, NBA All Star game, and now the Oscars… glad I’m able to ignore the irrelevant…

Sean Penn is Sean Penn, a simple piece of excrement who thinks his opinions are more important than others just because he plays the child’s game of “make-believe” so well.

It is to laugh…

**************************************
Entertainers wrongly assume that their fame, money, and influence arise from broad knowledge rather than natural talent, looks, or mastery of a narrow skill. – Victor Davis Hanson

Feb 23, 2009 - 12:27 pm 76. Meryl:

Didn’t see the oscars. Had to brush the dog.

For the smart mouth who said we all sure use a lot of time to comment (even though we didn’t watch)–don’t you understand? We just enjoy the opportunity of publicly stating what we think of the Hollywood twits.

Good grief. After years of having them spit on us and excoriate everything that is precious to us, does it actually bother you that we just pop a comment on one little old day re what we think of them?

Sheesh.

Feb 23, 2009 - 12:54 pm 77. johngaltlives:

There are about 5-6 decent folks in Hollyweird. Kelsey Grammar, Bruce Willis and Patricia Heaton come to mind. Someone should remind the IDIOT PUNK PENN that HARVEY MILK was killed by his own former HOMO LOVER. Just like the IDIOT JIM JONES OF JONESTOWN “fame”. A failed COMMIE just like all COMMIES fail. Just like the OBAMASKANK and his COMMIE loverboy SOROS will fail. Its not hard for anyone who thinks as to why. COMMUNISM denies the basic human instinct for FREEDOM. Or better said, freedom is THE SOLUTION TO THE HUMAN CONDITION.

Feb 23, 2009 - 1:08 pm 78. G Alston:

#72 — A wise man thanks his wife and his colleagues and humbly moves offstage.

Or it could be that a wise man understands that tens of millions of people are watching and uses his time in the spotlight as a unique opportunity to say what he thinks needs to be said.

Unless of course you are the spokesman for wise men everywhere, which I tend to doubt.

Feb 23, 2009 - 1:08 pm 79. MontezumaPilgrim:

#64 G Alston:

Don’t mind Pelto; he’s most comfortable reliving his military days and Patton re-runs, while sipping a doubtless marginal grade of brandy.

But I suspect you also will admit–at least a little -that Penn is a tedious human being with no real intellect, grace or style.

Like a dour evangelical preacher at a family gathering, he insists on hectoring people who came to have fun. They don’t need his “enlightened” preaching. He ruins the already marginal event in the process, like some symphony conductor that decides to lecture the audience.

You wouldn’t want your kids to be subjected to Pelto as a commencement speaker or at some school festivity would you?

And let’s be real: it takes no courage to trash the US in Hollywood; quite the reverse. Real courage does not mean the Pope preaching to the college of cardinals. Penn never ventures outside his mutual adoration society of leftist dictators and fellow actors that trash the one country that tolerates them.

Would he ever trash dictators on their home turf? Donate his own money to a poor school in LA? Of course not: posturing and being a blowhard is fun: real courage and sacrifice is not.

Feb 23, 2009 - 1:20 pm 80. Laura:

To me, the Oscars lost all credibility when Whoopi Goldberg hosted it.

Feb 23, 2009 - 1:23 pm 81. Marauder:

I loved Milk, I thought Sean Penn did a great job, and I thought he deserved the Oscar, but his acceptance speech made me want to gag him, push him off the stage, and yell, “GAY MARRIAGE SUPPORTERS AREN’T ALL LIKE THIS! REALLY! NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR HIM!”

johngaltlives: What on earth are you talking about? Harvey Milk was definitely not killed by his lover, and I think you ought to look into the history before saying something so blatantly false.

Feb 23, 2009 - 1:27 pm 82. huxley:

Oscars ratings up 6%.

True … 6% up from last year’s Oscar’s, the lowest rated ever.

So 6% up … or second lowest rated ever. You choose.

Maybe it’s just a dead cat bounce.

Feb 23, 2009 - 1:34 pm 83. adagioforstrings:

re: Penn’s lecture: Obama won California, & yet, the same majority voted against gay marriage.

& why did Kate Winslet win for portraying a “sympathetic” SS guard? ugh…

Feb 23, 2009 - 1:34 pm 84. cedarford:

We watched “Taking Chance” on HBO instead of the Oscars. A good choice, IMO. Lets not forget HBOs brilliant series “John Adams” was also a recent gem.
And for the Oscars themselves, I think you had very deserving winners, led by Kate Winslet, Cruz….and Penn, too, well deserved it despite his brain dead politics.
The problem in Hollywood is more with the far left producers, writers, and craft unions influencing the depressing usual product – than it is with celebrities. Great actors are pliable. Put Tom Wilkinson in Michael Clayton and he will be a convincing anti-corporatist. Put him in “John Adams” and he breathes life into the man not seen since Henry daSilva played Ben Franklin on Broadway. Give Kevin Bacon a meaty role as an evil CEO and he’ll eat it up. Make him Lt Col Proubt in “Taking Chance” and he delivers a performance that truly brings cinematic honor to the dignity and attention to detail and dedication of the Corps and the Americans grateful they serve – in the real life story of “everyman Marine” Chance Phelps being brought home by his death watch escort.

Feb 23, 2009 - 1:34 pm 85. karlstro:

Penn is an delusional screw-up. He does not live in the real world and this is most of the problems with statements made from the Hollywood elite. Any educated individual would be able at any time debate his condesending dribble!

Feb 23, 2009 - 1:34 pm 86. Canuck:

Well gee G, to say that Sean understands the “bully pulpit” is an understatement but to appreciate it, it kind of depends on whether you agree with him or not, doesn’t it? What would you think of an Oscar winner using the pulpit to promote something you were totally against? Might you be saying, “Sean Penn … what an idiot!”
Then again, perhaps you are the spokesman for doubters everywhere.

Feb 23, 2009 - 1:44 pm 87. WestGuard:

Slumdog probably did well for the same reason Obama did: “The far left loonie Hollywood and media crowd wanted it to happen”

———————————————-

Too bad Sean Penn wasn’t more like his fictional badass crime fighting character “Pacman” in the movie “Colors” instead of the true life traitorous gimp that continues to embarress America around the world.

He should have donned his “Pacman” persona on his foolish trip to Iran, and spray painted Ahmadinejads face instead of sipping tea with him and putting down America.

I wouldn’t pay two bits to see this POS Hollyweirdo’s movies.

Feb 23, 2009 - 1:45 pm 88. paul_unalaska:

As many have mentioned already, are there really any worthy-type movies to spend $9 bucks to see? In the painful process, surrounding yourself with talkative, rude folks. Popcorn, candy wrappers with cellophane wrapping opened throughout the feature. The 1 ignoramus who brings their 2 year old and constantly nudges them to quiet down, pay attention, don’t do that, etc.,

I’ll stick with Netflix, thanks.

It’ll be nice when movies follow suit with the ‘Final Fantasy’ movie and realize they needn’t these blowhard sissies to be in their movie. Technology will take them out of the picture altogether. A dude can dream..

Feb 23, 2009 - 1:45 pm 89. huxley:

I’m almost entirely a Netflix guy these days. One thing I noticed this past year is that the only new movie I looked forward to renting was “The Dark Night”, and even that I found disappointing.

But that’s plenty of old movies and newer TV shows to watch on DVD. For a weird thrill try renting “How the West Was Won” to remember that once upon a time, not even in a galaxy far far away, Hollywood celebrated America and traditional American values.

Feb 23, 2009 - 1:55 pm 90. bryan:

$9 bucks? lucky. its $12.50 here in NYC.

Feb 23, 2009 - 2:03 pm 91. BC:

I agree with the comment that ‘a wise man thanks his peers, etc…..’ but, I would think it should be a HUMBLE actor not a wise actor.
I heard a story the other day; I am not sure if it is true.
A reporter asked a legendary singer about Politics and the issues of the country, etc.
His reply was; “I won’t answer that, Ma’m, I’m just an Entertainer”
Who was it?
Elvis Presley. That to me is a wise and humble reply.
I am all for free speech, but, these people in the movie business are just doofballs. One minute they are spewing some political drivel, the next smiling for the cameras.
Just worry about being careful on the red carpet while tons of idiots are screaming in adulation. Smile pretty and turn your face so the camera gets your ‘good side’. And don’t let anyone take a pic too close; the scars may show from cosmetic surgery.. They are all fake and disgusting.
That’s all they are.

Feb 23, 2009 - 2:11 pm 92. G Alston:

#86 — “Well gee G, to say that Sean understands the “bully pulpit” is an understatement but to appreciate it, it kind of depends on whether you agree with him or not, doesn’t it?”

Try not to read so much into it. Agreement (or not) with what he said isn’t germane. The observation was that he took the opportunity to speak his mind which doesn’t qualify him as “unwise” by definition.

#79 — “Penn never ventures outside his mutual adoration society of leftist dictators and fellow actors that trash the one country that tolerates them.”

As you allude, Penn’s ability (his right) to say things others may not like is truly indicative of how great the USA really is. I think he’s well aware of this. He penned (heh) a report for the SF Chronicle re his trips to Iraq that was reasonably well written, so I’m dubious of claims of his idiocy (not your claim, but that of others here.)

#89 — …to remember that once upon a time, not even in a galaxy far far away, Hollywood celebrated America and traditional American values.

“Charlie Wilson’s War” was recent and showed a good man’s effort to fight the Soviets clandestinely despite institutional idiocy and ossification. You don’t get more gung-ho American than stomping communists.

Feb 23, 2009 - 2:29 pm 93. Class Clown:

Hollywood has always been self-aggrandizing and narcissistic. They were not always so political, of course. They use Joe McCarthy, Nixon and Vietnam as rationalizations for their current Leftism, but they could do well to remember that no one forced them to blacklist each other.

I am as tired of Hollywood Leftism too, but to me their real crime is that they are entertainers who are no longer entertaining (except in a voyeuristic paparazzi kind of way). It would sure be nice if they could be bothered to make a few more good movies.

And I don’t just mean lowest common denominator crowd pleasers, either. I like those sometimes two, but I do like a thinking film from time to time. As an example, I would hold out Children of Men, one of my favorite serious films from the last several years. The filmmakers are Marxists, if anything (just watch the DVD commentary), but in the meantime the remembered the Hollywood golden rule: actually make a good movie.

I can forgive a lot for a good movie.

Feb 23, 2009 - 2:33 pm 94. Class Clown:

I could note that Hollywood didn’t bother to give it any awards, either.

Feb 23, 2009 - 2:37 pm 95. Canuck:

Agreement isn’t germane? Maybe not but it’s an award show not any kind of serious forum, journalism or even 60 Minutes. Therefore, your acceptance of using that particular dais to make a political statement probably has a little to do with whether you agree with the statement or not. After all, while I see folks here resenting his statements, I don’t see anyone saying he has no right to make them.

Feb 23, 2009 - 2:38 pm 96. Class Clown:

Of course, I should have said “what used to be Hollywood’s golden rule”

Feb 23, 2009 - 2:47 pm 97. G Alston:

#91 BC — I am all for free speech, but, these people in the movie business are just doofballs.

The public agrees with you.

Not long back Sheryl Crow was lambasted for suggesting we all use just one toilet tissue square per visit to help fight “global warming.” Later she claimed that she was just kidding.

Interestingly until the “it was a joke” claim was made, nobody could tell.

[rimshot]

Feb 23, 2009 - 2:48 pm 98. Marie Claude:

But the movies no longer serve the purpose they were made for. They no longer tell stories that help us understand the world. What was once an art form that could both entertain and explore the human condition is now merely a conversation held by misguided elitists among themselves

at the beginning, movies were made for “untertainment” and make some money with this new attraction ; this became an industry where imagination and “reality” found their ways ; the exemples in our tradition are Melies style for imagination, and Lunmiere brothers for “reality” ; though this “reality” was a “mise-en-scene”, the chosen images were a choice depending of the movie director’s opinion, like for news, the redaction chief chooses what is important for him to show, to make the opinion.

well, about the hollywood movies are made for easy money earnings : no style or dialogues research anymore, they now are all constructed on the same scenario, no surprise, no innovation, they don’t make us dream anymore, I don’t bother to watch them, the “underground production” is more interesting

Feb 23, 2009 - 2:52 pm 99. Princess:

yeah, I do not “do” Hollywood.
I do not go to movies and pay to watch that crap. we have netflix now and watch a few things that are not loaded with sex, swearing or laced with “libbie politics”.
I did not watch the oscars. What a waste of time really.

Feb 23, 2009 - 3:14 pm 100. lee:

Pete, when does the author make blanket statement about Oscars being a leftist lovefest? The fact that a “apolitical” film like Slumgod won 8 awards doesn’t make Sean Penn’s cheap shots any less galling. The award ceremony has been indeed used as platform for leftist agendas (Al Gore, Michael Moore, etc).

The award show itself IS boring, and increasingly it tends to honor left leaning films. I’d say the article is pretty accurate. The 6% increase in the ratings is was probably owes to a buzz created by expectation of Heath Ledger’s oscar win and the controversy surrounding Slum Dog.

If Ledger hadn’t died, DK might have won a few technical awards and nothing more. That’s the movie that connected with critics and audience alike this year. Just goes to demonstrate how out of touch Hollywood is nowadays.

Feb 23, 2009 - 3:18 pm 101. DavidN:

OK, I’ve got a different perspective on this. I have to pay some attention to the Oscars, in self-defense if nothing else, because I live in the company town where they’re put on. Hollywood’s right down the street, I walk by the Kodak Theater every once in a while. You can’t go into Starbucks and offer coffee without being able to express an opinion on whether Jackman did a good job, whose dress looked good, that sort of thing. You understand, I don’t actually *watch*. My wife does that, but if something happens she can tell me to turn it on or recount to me what happened.

I gather, for the most part, the event was apolitical this time. I didn’t expect it to be, frankly. I thought there would be a Hollywood lovefest over the election of Obama, with everyone gloating about how Bush is now unemployed. Instead, it was mostly an apolitical evening. There were apparently the few political or lefty moments (notably Bill Maher, who actually had the nerve to jokingly gripe that his movie hadn’t been nominated) and Sean Penn.

Penn exhibited the strange habit of the lefties here in California, who tend to gloat and do what I call an end zone dance, even when they lose an argument. Proposition 8 was the strangest referendum vote in California in recent memory, as far as I’m concerned. I’ve always thought that this is an issue for the separation of church and state. In abstract, anyway, I’m even willing to contemplate the inclusion of polygamy. There, however, the abusive practices of the two groups involved–separatist Mormons and extremist Muslims–make me think twice about including polygamy at all. But really, isn’t marriage a legal instrument that can (but doesn’t have to) include a religious component? My wife’s parents were married in the ’50s, but they weren’t married in the Catholic Church until the ’70s because her father hadn’t been able to get a previous, brief marriage annulled. Just because a church doesn’t approve of the procedure should have nothing to do with whether it’s legal as far as the state is concerned.

Penn, and those who agree with him, were running a liberal campaign in one of the most liberal states in the Union. They were running it during the election that elected one of the most liberal presidents in recent memory (certainly more liberal than Bill Clinton) and the state went for Barack Obama by at least 20 points. But they lost their referendum election, 52-48. The big problem was that they insisted on running the election as if it was a civil rights issue, and appealing to other minority groups, saying “We’ve been discriminated against, just like you.” In case anyone doesn’t know, this argument was pretty roundly rejected by the black community, which reportedly voted overwhelmingly in favor of the proposition.

So Penn’s little speech tells you more about him and his supporters than anything else. Thankfully the Oscars were mostly bereft of the political rants of the past, which always contributed to abysmal ratings.

Feb 23, 2009 - 3:44 pm 102. Alana:

If they have gotten better with their anti-Americanism and their preachiness at the Oscars, then good. Maybe they are catching on.

Unfortunately, it’s a little too late. A lot of us tuned out the Oscars several years ago, and stopped giving them money at the theaters.

Feb 23, 2009 - 3:49 pm 103. ked5:

2. Dave:

Is it possible to make movies outside of Hollywood, with producers and directors and actors who aren’t permanently inflicted with groupthink?

And if these movies could be made, could they be distributed? I mean, is it illegal for movie theaters to show movies that were made outside the culture, or, dare I say, outside the Screen Actors Guild?
~~~~~~~~
yes to the above. Yes it has been done. Yes the STUDIO’s have also thrown major hissies when the no-body produced/acted/directed/etc. movie does better than theirs. Then the studio (Disney threw such a fit) extorts the theater owner that if they ever want to show one of their movies again, they better not show the no-body produced/acted/directed/written/etc. movies

Feb 23, 2009 - 4:16 pm 104. Canuck:

Considering this is about terms of engagement and not “rights”, the following, said with no debate or the other side given any attempt at refutation is just provocative, juvenile and arrogant and shows a true lack of understanding of the reasons people may have had for voting against this proposition. Sean Penn shows himself to be as, if not more bigotted, than those he attacks.
“I think it is a good time for those who voted for the ban against gay marriage to sit and reflect, and anticipate their great shame and the shame in their grandchildren’s eyes if they continue that way of support. We’ve got to have equal rights for everyone.”

Feb 23, 2009 - 4:24 pm 105. noreen:

Well stated. I started my boycot of these lowlifes a long time ago. Let the whole stinking industry go down the toilet. Who cares. Since when do a bunch of morons who never went past the 8th grade feel entitled to direct the course of this country. Rot in hell and move in with Hugo

Feb 23, 2009 - 4:29 pm 106. JP49:

I really miss true patriots like John Wayne. I didn’t even see a nomination for Clint Eastwood’s movie. Hollywood is a sham. The only awards given out the last few years is to anyone who doesn’t love America or doesn’t live here. Hollywood died when the real greats died. The producers and directors (except for a sparse few) are nothing but anti-American hacks. Liberal I do believe is a disease. It used to mean something good like helping your fellow citizen when they needed a helping hand. Now it means trashing America and anyone who believes in God.

Feb 23, 2009 - 4:33 pm 107. Bilgeman:

#55 NOT ooyo:
“Here’s an easy question. Why do you use “Shiite” instead of shit? Is it the obvious attempt to connect excrement to a religious population? Is it because you’re scared or too dignified or uncomfortable to use the real word?

I’ll wait for you explanation . . . then I’ll call you misguided, infantile and bigoted. Unless I’m wrong on that.”-to fearobama

Well, well- look who’s gotten sensitive about religious faith all of a sudden!

I’ll have to go and check the Pelosi thread to see if you’ve posted anything as witty and funny about Jews and Muslims as you did about Roman Catholics.

Without peeking, I’m wagering the answer is:

“No”.

Because you really ARE a gutless little POS.

Feb 23, 2009 - 4:39 pm 108. Bilgeman:

Aaaaaaand, I’m back from the Pelosi thread.

Guess what?

No further funny from our gallant Islam Defender, “one of your own”.

Is anybody REALLY surprised that this worm-laden excrement would denigrate a Christian faith but leap into the breach to defend a non-Christian one?

The supreme irony is how he styles himself “one of your own”.

Feb 23, 2009 - 4:42 pm 109. one of your own:

107 Bilge Bilge Bilge . . . I’ve asked you repeatedly to point to anything offensive in the Pelosi thread. You can’t. Until you do, maybe you could answer the question you refer to in 106. No? You don’t have many answers do you?

Feb 23, 2009 - 4:46 pm 110. one of your own:

Here you go . . . the post in question:

8. Mongoose: I can feel the love, Moongoose . . . that good Christian cooking smells so good coming from that apple pie sitting on the window sill. I’ll be in to get just as soon as I’m done bailin’ this here hay.

No I appreciate you suggesting that I “examine (my) own morality” but you see, I don’t have to because there are people like you out there willing to do it for me. and I just want to extend my hand in gratitude to you, Mr. Moongoose, for taking time out of your busy day to tend to my life eternal. And I’ll offer the thanks of Ms. Pelosi by proxy for your assessment of her faith . . . let’s see, what was it . . . “Pelosi’s superficiality and hypocrisy in the practice of her faith clearly demonstrates just how morally depraved the Democrats truly are.” Wow . . . Wowey wow wow . . . all I can add is the righteous words of Brother Tom Lehrer . . . perhaps you will find peace and communion in them . . . Ready? Uh one, anna two, anna three, anna four . . .

First you get down on your knees,
Fiddle with your rosaries,
Bow your head with great respect,
And genuflect, genuflect, genuflect!

Do whatever steps you want, if
You have cleared them with the Pontiff.
Everybody say his own
Kyrie eleison,
Doin’ the Vatican Rag.

Get in line in that processional,
Step into that small confessional,
There, the guy who’s got religion’ll
Tell you if your sin’s original.
If it is, try playin’ it safer,
Drink the wine and chew the wafer,
Two, four, six, eight,
Time to transubstantiate!

So get down upon your knees,
Fiddle with your rosaries,
Bow your head with great respect,
And genuflect, genuflect, genuflect!

Make a cross on your abdomen,
When in Rome do like a Roman,
Ave Maria,
Gee it’s good to see ya,
Gettin’ ecstatic an’
Sorta dramatic an’
Doin’ the Vatican Rag!

OUTRAGEOUS! Especially to the poster here, truly one of your own, who said, “Any day you’re grinding up Islam is a good day.” How’s that feel to ya? Reasonable? Funny? Psychotic?

Feb 23, 2009 - 4:53 pm 111. Iman Infadel:

Sean Penn is disingenuous in his apparent concern for the gay community. His only concern for them is ruled by his Marxist ideology, and what role they can serve in advancing its agenda.

http://web.archive.org/web/20071210142404/http://www.etext.org/Politics/AlternativeOrange/2/v2n2_mth1.html

http://web.archive.org/web/20070929090408/http://www.etext.org/Politics/AlternativeOrange/2/v2n4_mth.html

http://web.archive.org/web/20071220194938/http://www.etext.org/Politics/AlternativeOrange/2/v2n6_mth.html

Feb 23, 2009 - 4:58 pm 112. Tex Taylor:

I have a simple question. What is the purpose of watching the Academy Awards? Is it like watching a train wreck, or something?

I tried once. It was like attending your the neighbors kid’s play. Not only that but it was boring as hell, pretentious as hell, sanctimonious as hell.

It was hell…

Feb 23, 2009 - 5:03 pm 113. Paul:

Thank you Andrew – your voice – and others who are passionate about our country and the values upon which it is based – need to crescendo before we become intentionally and methodically muted for decades to come.

Feb 23, 2009 - 5:07 pm 114. EMD:

There’s a simple explanation for Sean Penn’s stupidity. Hollywood used to make good movies, but now is incapable of it, but the the Hollywood elite wants to be celebrated for its former glory. It’s like Obama, who likes to compare himself to Lincoln, JFK, and FDR. He knows he’s a mediocre president, but thinks he can siphon off some glory from former presidents.

These emperors have no clothes, but they strut as if they are America in its glory. In a one-on-one, what would Spencer Tracy say to a Sean Penn? What would Lincoln make of an Obama?

Feb 23, 2009 - 5:23 pm 115. Oakley:

I absolutely refuse to watch, buy, endorse, or otherwise encourage ANYTHING Hollywood!

Millions of people are fed up with these self-important Hollywood narcissists who insist on trashing the country that has given them such PRIVILEGE!!! And oh, a darned good living as well.

Boycott, boycott, boycott…..Hit them in the pocketbook…it’s the ONLY power we have as consumers. Refuse to buy their crappy product and starve their corruption into oblivion!!!

Feb 23, 2009 - 5:36 pm 116. Maggie:

Well said, Andrew. I did not watch the Oscars for those keeping score. Also very well said: “I can no longer enjoy movies when my brain can’t disengage from the reality of the actor’s off-screen persona.”

Feb 23, 2009 - 5:43 pm 117. Oakley:

IMAN INFIDEL:

Thanks for the links….have copied to read later…very unnerving.

Feb 23, 2009 - 5:51 pm 118. harry:

I rarely watch the Oscars because it is B-O-R-I-N-G. I did watch it for 5 minutes last nite and wasn’t disappointed as it was most B-O-R-I-N-G!
I haven’t seen Slum Dog but after winning 8 oscars I’ll have to see it. As for Sean “The Moron” Penn, who would have guessed he’d win an oscar for playing a gay mayor from San Francisco who was assassinated. I haven’t seen that movie and probably won’t. I’m not too keen on gay folk acting fruitfully gay. One question: did he have a crybaby scene and ham it up as he usually does? Boo-frickin-hoo Pennster. Speaking of hams was the biggest ham of all there, that being Jack Nicholson. The audience reminded me of the audience found at a typical Bill Maher TV show. Overt cheering for the ever popular liberal viewpoints. Hollywood is so full of s*it it could sell billions in manure.

Feb 23, 2009 - 5:53 pm 119. And The Oscar For Irrelevance Goes To… « Jim Blazsik home:

[...] Read more « THE FORECLOSURE FIVE A NATIONAL CRISIS? HARDLY. THE REST OF US ARE PAYING FOR THE IRRESPONSIBILITY OF A FEW STATES [...]

Feb 23, 2009 - 5:54 pm 120. one of your own:

118 Harry . . . Wow . . . ” . . . who would have guessed he’d win an oscar for playing a gay mayor from San Francisco who was assassinated”

Well, I wouldn’t have considering Harvey Milk wasn’t mayor. The mayor George Moscone, was killed, but he was not gay.

“Speaking of hams was the biggest ham of all there, that being Jack Nicholson.” No, Jack wasn’t there.

Other than that, your’e right on the money. Nice work.

Feb 23, 2009 - 6:18 pm 121. I’d Like to Thank the Academy… « Slow Stagger:

[...] said… well, listen to Andrew Klavan: Let’s say you believe that gay marriage should be legalized and you want to convince those among [...]

Feb 23, 2009 - 6:37 pm 122. lucy:

Sure Hollywood is an industry and it has come in right behind military hardware for years. Great. So we’ve got anti-American propaganda being produced in America and exported worldwide for audiences who just keep hating us more and more because of it.

Feb 23, 2009 - 6:37 pm 123. gary:

Is this it? Is this what you have to talk about after screwing up the country for eight years, and denying every bit of it? Is this all you’ve got left, twits?

Feb 23, 2009 - 7:06 pm 124. MontezumaPilgrim:

#122; If Hollywood never existed, they’d detest us anyway because we: allow almost anyone to go to college, elected an actor as president, have people that drawl, politicians that shoot, people that prefer beer, regard our educated classes with some skepticism instead instead of unadulerated deference and most of all, because we care about honor, hard work, the First Amendment and optimism, things that truly sopisticated, realistic europeans and many elsewhere know better than to care about.

Feb 23, 2009 - 7:07 pm 125. XTABENTUN:

Actors are narcissistic self-important twats, who cares? If you don’t like it, don’t watch it. They have the right to say what they want.

Feb 23, 2009 - 7:07 pm 126. MontezumaPilgrim:

#124: gary, give us a break: do we criticize you when you run baying after Rush Limbaugh or Ann Coulter?

The GOP spent like there was no tomorrow; Obama wants to outdo them; our taxes are going up; house prices are going down; unions are draining the treasuries of most states and your future as you call us twits, without a vote I am now supporting “octomom” and her 14 kids, and about to support the mortgages of everyone who won’t pay their own. We can’t get the GOP to get off its relfexive stance agianst gay marriage, or the Dmeocrats off the idea that we can spend ourselves rich (it worked so well in the Weimar Republic and those south american countries you know). And the dmeocrats started the modern deficit cycle in 1966 with that damn deficit for the Vietnam War.

So let us whack Sean Penn for a while: a pompous blowhard from either party is always a good subject to roast. Besides, he makes it harder for me to enjoy re-runs of Fast Times At Ridgemmont High. That’s enough reason to bash him some more.

Feb 23, 2009 - 7:17 pm 127. Bilgeman:

#110 NOT ooyo:
“Here you go . . . the post in question”

Hey, that funny is stale…I didn’t ask for a rerun, I asked for some of your Jewish and Muslim funny!

Maybe YOU can get the Oscar for Best Comedic Performance by a Not-Yet-Headless Actor, huh?

C’mon, funny-man…do your thing!

Feb 23, 2009 - 7:28 pm 128. one of your own:

Bilgeman . . . Go back for another tug on the Maalox. I’m moving on to prepare my next hilarious (and painfully easy) analysis of whatever kind of random anger pops out of your balding noggin. I suggest you pick a topic you know a lot about, and speak of it with great gravity and conviction, just to make it sporting for me. Maybe link to something. Refer to a site with a smart sounding name like The American Center for Evolutionary Politics. Yeah, that sounds like it’s important.

What could your next topic be? Mag wheels perhaps. Great moments in conservative comedy. Ah, I’ve got it – gloryholes. You still haven’t explained that one to me. You refer to it in your post and I’m still not sure what you mean.

Anybody else out there know what Bilgeman means when he talks about his gloryholes? He seems obsessed with them.

Feb 23, 2009 - 8:00 pm 129. Mike:

This was the first Oscars I’ve not watched. It saddens me. But even though the screen is thick, I can still feel the spit. No thank you Hollywood. But I still luv ya.

Feb 23, 2009 - 8:17 pm 130. Truesilver:

@ Oyoo, because this is getting dumb…

Please note for future reference, Oyoo, that there is a word “shite” that is a vague alteration of the common expletive “shit”. Also note the closeness in central spelling between “shite” and “shiite”. Note also the idea of typos that are common to all media, the internet more than a great many places. As a result, “shite” is a mere finger-twitch away from the “shiite” that appears in the post. Not also that that is not a correct spelling of the name of the Islamic sect. That would be spelled “Shi’ite”. Again, note the capitalisation of the proper noun, as in “Christian”, “Democrat”, “Sunni”, “Chinese”, & cetera. Note please as well the centrally placed apostrophe. Next time, please check your spellchecker at the door for hypersensitivity.

Feb 23, 2009 - 8:20 pm 131. G Alston:

#126 — “So let us whack Sean Penn for a while: a pompous blowhard from either party is always a good subject to roast.”

I like you. I don’t agree with all of your stuff (who does?) but unlike a lot of posters here I reckon that you’re sentient. I respect that. I’ll bring marshmallows. I can roast Penn as well.

Your #124 “…things that truly sopisticated, realistic europeans and many elsewhere know better than to care about” is slightly over the top. The self-appointed “intellectual” leftists are admittedly like this but the rank and file are just the same as us.

#122 Lucy — So we’ve got anti-American propaganda being produced in America and exported worldwide for audiences who just keep hating us more and more because of it.

That’s the thing, audiences DON’T hate us more and more due to mere cinema. Your little screed is little more than a mirror of the leftist lie that they hate us because of GW Bush. And we know that’s not true, don’t we? Governments in Europe are swinging right (or were anyway [sigh]) and there are little outbursts of democracy happening worldwide. If they all hated us due to GW Bush as the mendacious leftists claimed, these things would not be happening. But they are. And they’re happening because despite leftist lies, the USA is still the most respected country on earth.

What causes people to dislike us is NOT cinema itself as much as it is the entire cultural WMD package — blue jeans, coca cola, McDonald’s, and Britney Spears (ok so we’re not perfect.) You want the mullahs to detest you even more and the Iranian youngsters to kick them out? Air drop 10 million ipods into Tehran. You want to send the mullahs into cardiac arrest? Preload them with Snoop Dogg and Jesse McCartney. Sorry, but cinema can’t hold a candle to that.

Feb 23, 2009 - 8:34 pm 132. Bilgeman:

#128 NOT ooyo:

(Let’s see if this moderator will let this through)

“Ah, I’ve got it – gloryholes. You still haven’t explained that one to me. You refer to it in your post and I’m still not sure what you mean.”

Sure you do…that’s how you made all those tips at that FABULOUS Oscar party you attended.

That’s why you belong in a DMV-type setting, where you can perform services for the anonymous public at a nominal fee.

Ah, and MY platoon was of “glory-dayers”…YOUR term, hotshot.

Now make with the cutesy songs that lampoon Jews and Muslims, wilya?

Feb 23, 2009 - 8:42 pm 133. one of your own:

130 Truesilver . . . I’m aware of the euphemism “shite.” And in fact that was one of the options I offered in asking for an explanation, thusly . . . “Is it because you’re scared or too dignified or uncomfortable to use the real word?”

But, the original poster DID capitalize the word. He did not use the apostrophe, but it’s less than a finger-twitch away to think he would not know about that apostrophe. Why do I think that? Here’s his original post:

Let me get this straight-

President Hopenchange is against gay marriage.

Penn is for it,
but still loves Bambi?

Dusty Hoffman hopes to marry someone when he grows up?

And Hillary is selling Treasury Bills to the Communist Chinese?

This has to be a movie,
because you couldn’t make this Shiite up if you tried.

Consider the mistakes he makes of the sort you mention:

Hopenchange should actually be Hope ‘n’ Change – using apostrophes in place of letters removed to create phonetic interest.

What does Bambi have to do with anything?

Dusty is actually Dustin, and even if this were an attempt at humor, it makes no sense.

“Treasury Bills” is not a uniformly accepted proper noun.

So, I had ample reason to ask the question.

There you go.

Feb 23, 2009 - 8:42 pm 134. one of your own:

132 Bilgeman . . . I’m beginning to think you’re hiding something about your fascination these gloryholes you keep bringing up. Yes, I mentioned glory-dayers. It’s from a Bruce Springsteen song called “Glory Days” about old guys who spend all their time trying to recapture the best moments of their youth. That seemed to capture you pretty well.

Now, what is this gloryhole thing? And what does it have to do with the DMV? That’s where I go to renew my driver’s license. Do you know about other things that go on there that I don’t know about?

Anybody? Can you help Mr. Bilgeman explain this gloryhole thing? And maybe you can shed some light on why he wants people to lampoon the Jews and Muslims. He seems to be carrying around a lot of issues. You should try to hel him out.

Feb 23, 2009 - 8:49 pm 135. buckitz:

40. Canuck:

“own the deli”? The deli was a department of a chain grocery store.
I worked that deli. It’s union, which means five people sit on their asses chanting ’seniority’ while the new guy busts his.
American dream, he says.

Feb 23, 2009 - 9:11 pm 136. Tarantula:

And how did that wart Bill Maher get on there with that moronic comment he made?

Feb 23, 2009 - 9:15 pm 137. Someone75:

Puritanical extremists hate Hollywood? Yaaaawn . . .

I’m willing to bet the author and most of the moronic posters here didn’t bother to actually see the movies. Remember when you guys wrote book reports on books you didn’t actually read? FAIL.

Feb 23, 2009 - 10:03 pm 138. Kay:

Personally, I have no interest in what ‘actors’ say when its not from a script. They are often so far removed from reality their bumbling is completely irrelevant. Its the same bunch of dolts patting themselves on the back for having the easiest job in the world. The vast majority of them are ‘good’ only because the media tells you they are. How many remakes, sequels, comic book based stories, or Ben Stiller movies are they releasing this year?

The irony is that Slumdog was originally to be released directly to DVD.

Feb 23, 2009 - 10:23 pm 139. Kay:

“Puritanical extremists hate Hollywood? Yaaaawn . . .

I’m willing to bet the author and most of the moronic posters here didn’t bother to actually see the movies. Remember when you guys wrote book reports on books you didn’t actually read? FAIL.”

Don’t worry, they’re cooking up the next Die Hard sequel or another M Night Shyamalan turd for your viewing enjoyment. Some people are not as easy to entertain.

I’m surprised nobody on talk radio/tv today had Penn’s ‘those guys are fags!’ on a loop. That was a social agenda win, not a talent one.

Feb 23, 2009 - 10:34 pm 140. Emma:

It doesn’t matter whether it’s a good movie (although what are the chances) – they’ve ruined my ability to suspend disbelief. I don’t see the character anymore, I just see the actor.

Feb 24, 2009 - 2:52 am 141. Roger Clague:

Pete in comment 67 asks ‘how is Slumdog Millionaire anti-American?

The film ‘Slumdog Millionaire’offers poverty as a lifestyle and chance as a possible escape.

America thrieves due to the belief of its people in a better life achieved by hard work.

Feb 24, 2009 - 3:17 am 142. RandyChandler:

Sean Penn shouild get a running start and take a flying leap off Brokeback Mountain.

Feb 24, 2009 - 5:08 am 143. LynnS:

“That was a social agenda win, not a talent one”

“Yea, and now that you won the golden man, give back the rainbow.”

Feb 24, 2009 - 5:10 am 144. Peter the Bubblehead:

97. G Alston wrote:
Not long back Sheryl Crow was lambasted for suggesting we all use just one toilet tissue square per visit to help fight “global warming.” Later she claimed that she was just kidding.
Interestingly until the “it was a joke” claim was made, nobody could tell.

Peter writes: And I understand there are STILL people who refuse to shake her hand.

Feb 24, 2009 - 5:55 am 145. Ursa Major:

The last movie I saw in a theater was “Apollo 13″ and that was only because I have an intimate knowledge of the cause of the explosion and the heroic work done to bring the crew home. Since then, with a rare exception, all of Hollywood’s efforts are bull crap starring brain-dead females and effeminate males. Such a waste.

Feb 24, 2009 - 6:45 am 146. Brendan:

The author of this article states:

But the movies no longer serve the purpose they were made for. They no longer tell stories that help us understand the world. What was once an art form that could both entertain and explore the human condition is now merely a conversation held by misguided elitists among themselves.

I disagree strongly about this statement. Perhaps you should be more specific about what you mean when you say “the movies.” If you mean the films that contend for top weekend spots based on animation, explosions, or big laughs then yes I agree. However, there is such a vast number of films out there that still strive to help us understand the world, entertain us through art, and even embody literary works (no, not Dan Brown novels, I mean real books). The difference is that Hollywood is primarily wrapped up in the drive for pictures that will generate profit and record numbers. The other side does exist although you won’t hear about the films as much. For example, look at the films produced by Focus Features. Sadly if you want to see a film like this then you have to either catch it in theaters upon release or rent it from the store.

As for why Hollywood’s focus has shifted there are countless reasons. For one, echnology allows for better, different, movie styles and possibilities. One needs to focus not on the actors and the films they produce but on the audience that receives them with open arms. They relish the spectacles film creates and need to be examined before the author’s judgment can be delivered on “the movies.”

Feb 24, 2009 - 7:36 am 147. Chuck Pelto:

TO: G Alston
RE: #64

You just reinforced my observation of your comportment.

All one-sided, hypocritical PC-Leftie…..

Thanks,

Chuck(le)
[Political Correctness is a doctrine, fostered by a delusional, illogical, liberal minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a turd by the clean end. -- Texas A&M alumni]

P.S. And that the other end, the dirty-one, is held by anyone who disagrees with you…..

Feb 24, 2009 - 7:38 am 148. Chuck Pelto:

TO: G Alston
RE: Crayon Firmly in Hand….

“Using your crayon, circle the example of what makes America the great country that it is.” — G Alston

…and several perfectly ripe cados on the cutting board ready to make some EXCELLENT quac….

Klavan’s response. [Note: Bold instead of circling. As circling is not readily available in HTML....yet.....]

Regards,

Chuck(le)
P.S. I find your reactions here an interesting indicator that he is hitting close to the target.

[You know you're getting close to the target, when they start throwing more flak at you. -- US Air Force axiom on strategic bombing]

Feb 24, 2009 - 7:41 am 149. Peter the Bubblehead:

123. gary wrote:
Is this what you have to talk about after screwing up the country for eight years, and denying every bit of it?

Peter writes: Sorry, gary, but the Dems have been in control of Congress for only TWO years, not eight.

Feb 24, 2009 - 9:01 am 150. Bill Perron:

When Penn received his Oscar he then refered to the Academy members as “you homo loving commies” certainly an interesting observation.

Feb 24, 2009 - 9:09 am 151. VoBan:

At least there are hardcore Republicans, like Mickey Rourke, winning again. Oh, wait- he won best actor at pretty much every award ceremony EXCEPT the one you have to buy – the Oscar.

Feb 24, 2009 - 9:25 am 152. David W. Lincoln:

They deserve contempt, ridicule, and ultimately to be ignored.

This is what the debased Hollywood cabal deserves for what they dished out on flyover country, because whatever goes ’round, comes round.

Feb 24, 2009 - 9:31 am 153. Melinda:

Well, I think it is about time for all the little people in America to stand up to Hollywood. STOP GOING TO THE MOVIES! Hollywood forgot that their job is to entertain not preach their views when they are the most immoral, two-faced group in America. They believe in global warming but jet around in their private jets and each arrives in the limo to the awards.

Stand up America, stop going to movies and tell Hollywood we don’t agree with your leftist views and we won’t spend our hard earned money on movies anymore.

Feb 24, 2009 - 9:35 am 154. NJclosetconservative:

Memo to Sean Penn: Your “elegant” president doesn’t support gay marriage. D’oh!

Feb 24, 2009 - 9:39 am 155. kywrite:

Sean Penn’s little tirade was not courageous, but cowardly. No one in the Hollywood echo chamber is going to spit on him — for that matter, the only case of a conservative spitting on a Hollywood liberal I can remember is the veteran who stood in line politely at a Jane Fonda book signing and then unloaded on her when he got to the front of the line. Conservatives generally dispose of their spit in more polite ways.

Whether he’s here or not anymore, I just gotta answer Pete — why does Penn piss us off so much when he only won one itty-bitty little award (two if you count the puzzling best-costuming award)? Well, I don’t know — perhaps because the conservative-friendly, brilliantly-done Gran Torino wasn’t even nominated? But answer me this: if Gary Sinise somehow won an Oscar and used his speech time to condemn liberals for not supporting the troops by going overseas to entertain in the grand old Bob Hope tradition, wouldn’t that have also overshadowed Slumdog in liberal eyes? He wouldn’t even have needed to call anyone names, sarcastic or otherwise.

Feb 24, 2009 - 9:45 am 156. David S:

Andrew,

They’ve violated our trust, abused their privileged position in the world and treated the common run of us with incredible disrespect. Let them celebrate themselves in the dark of our indifference.

You are talking about the GOP, right?

I don’t begrudge a celebration of talent in people I dislike or for work I personally disagree with. But the movies no longer serve the purpose they were made for. They no longer tell stories that help us understand the world. What was once an art form that could both entertain and explore the human condition is now merely a conversation held by misguided elitists among themselves.

Movies still tell stories that help us understand the world – you just refuse to see the world as others do. Movies still entertain and explore the human condition, even if you are too myopic to see it. Gay marriage is hardly Sean Penn’s cause – the man isn’t even gay. The fact is that folks opposed to gay marriage are being hateful, and their conduct is shameful to a nation built on protecting the rights of the minority against the tyranny of the majority.

Peace.

DS

Feb 24, 2009 - 9:49 am 157. LynnS:

Every woman’s nightmare.

The only men left that want to get married are gay! yikes.

And David S. brought up an interesting point. Why are heterosexuals playing homosexuals? Revenge for Rock Hudson? Shouldn’t homosexuals sue hollywood for not hiring gay men to play gay men?

Feb 24, 2009 - 9:57 am 158. David S:

@155. LynnS:

The only men left that want to get married are gay! yikes.

The only men left that want to get married and can’t do so are gay.

And David S. brought up an interesting point. Why are heterosexuals playing homosexuals? Revenge for Rock Hudson? Shouldn’t homosexuals sue hollywood for not hiring gay men to play gay men?

If you do a little reading, you will find that homosexuals played straights and homosexuals in this movie, and that heterosexuals played straights and gays as well. No typecasting, no lawsuits, no revenge. Just good moviemaking.

Peace.

DS

Feb 24, 2009 - 10:18 am 159. whyyeseyec:

I haven`t been to a movie since 1998 nor have I rented one either. Don`t miss it. If you want to get back at these people the only thing you can do is not patronize their movies………

Sean Penn barely made it through high school…..enough said

Feb 24, 2009 - 10:22 am 160. AnninCA:

While I find political speechifying boring at the Oscars, I also find the right-wing opposition to gay marriage equally boring.

I’m exploring this party, granted. I don’t identify with Democrats any longer.

But I don’t identify with this version of Republican, either.

Whatever……

At this stage, I don’t like either party.

Feb 24, 2009 - 10:38 am 161. Canuck:

135 – Okay, own A deli. Sheesh.

Feb 24, 2009 - 10:39 am 162. LynnS:

“The only men left that want to get married and can’t do so are gay.”

Yes they can but it has to be with a woman. Thus the nightmare. And actually I think some were threatening to do just that when Prop 8 won.

and as for the rest, well…of forget it but I think that someone must have been left out and not invited to play…hmmmm maybe bisexuals?

Feb 24, 2009 - 10:50 am 163. Inventor:

On the subject of “Follywood”, “Garbage in Garbage in. Now we are on the same page.
They can be as Gay as they want, as long as it isn’t contageous.

As far as Movie Houses are concerned, They sign a contract with a distributor and can show only what is supplied to them. Only one time special events are excluded.

Inventor

Feb 24, 2009 - 11:59 am 164. J. PINKERTON SNOOPINGTON:

JOHN KELLY
#29
Item #6
Spot on, John. The movie was poignant, and quietly magnificent. I fought and bled for our country – the film brought forth feelings I hadn’t experienced in many years. Patriotic, totally American and beautifully done.

Feb 24, 2009 - 2:07 pm 165. Alfredo:

Sean Penn, the friend of the Castro brothers and Chavez. The Castros, who destroyed a country and its people, murdering many in the process. So bad these pseudo-communists like Sean Penn can’t never live in the places they extol. He really makes me vomit. Long ago I discarded any DVD I had from the likes of them: Penn, Sarandon, Robins, Clooney, Damon, Robert Redford, Madonna, never buy anything from them, nor go to a theater to watch one of their movies, even in the movies are good, in protest and to never contribute to them in any shape of form. If more and more people would do that, they would soon be in the unemployment line.

Feb 24, 2009 - 4:21 pm 166. LynnS:

#165 “nor go to a theater to watch one of their movies, even if the movies are good”

Don’t worry, I’ve broken down a couple of times and went against my better judgment. Your not missing much. Sometimes the video rental seems too much to pay. There are still good movies but you have to wade through a lot of junk to get to them. Hollywood has lost it’s Mojo or run out of stories or become bloated with it’s own self importance. Take your pick. Even if they made a movie with a political statement that would be fine, but they tend to sneak in their innuendos that often have nothing to do with the movie. Then to watch the awards and wonder whose turn it was to lecture or admonish became a good reason to shut off the television and read a book or go for a walk anything but listen to some self important blow hard tell me how to live, what to believe and then make their stupid accusations.

A thought provoking movie for me was “Crash”. The HBO series “Band of Brothers” I could watch every year. Thank goodness there are enough movies and actors who don’t think one of their jobs is to tell me how to think.

Feb 24, 2009 - 5:33 pm 167. Rachel Peepers:

About Sean Penn.

With all that powdery makeup caked on Pointless Penn’s, scaly, blotchy rash ridden faced, Sean looks like an old man in need of a creaky park bench complete with soiled copy of the Daily News to both read and blow his hook nose into. His frowning hate-filled face makes lecherous Mickey Rourke look like the epitome of neatness, cleanliness and buffiness.

At the Academy Awards, when he opened his thin-lipped, mouth wash needing pie hole to speak, out came a combination of slimy verbal sewage which the Pointless pipsqueak mistook for world insights.

Me thinks the flea bag infested body he inhabits needs a car wash power spray of soap, disinfectant and water to get the outside ready for polite society. For the inside, little Sean needs a team of crack Austrian psychiatrists doing nothing but thinking about his warped Hollywood rotted mind all day, seven days a week.

Ultimately, endeavoring to discover when he started hating America and losing all moral right and wrong compass setting. And why.

If there’s any living creature that needs to be put out of its misery, it’s the most miserable excuse for a human being imaginable. Pointless Penn.

This decency-phobic, gunophobic, unborn-babyphobic, troop hating, homosucking-up-to, unpatriotic wretch of the limpwristed west should realize the disgrace he has visited on the land of the free and the home of the brave.

In my humble opinion, Pennboy goes against everything that is good and honest, everything that is wise and understanding.
Austria’s finest doctors of the human mind: I implore you.

Please take Sean forthwith and try to make this humongously perverted a-hole, whole once again. The poor boy is the exact opposite of a hero.

Fact is, he represents humanity’s absolute zero.

Rachel

Feb 24, 2009 - 9:19 pm 168. Liberalitus:

31. one of your own:
“Oscars ratings up 6%.
If all you people have so many better things to do than watch the Oscars, you sure are spending a lot of time talking about not watching th Oscars. So, how many of you secretly watched them? If for no other reason thatn to feel superior.”

You conveniently left out the part that though ratings were up 6% it was the third lowest viewed Oscar night, you cheeky bastard you.

Am I to believe those that watched the Oscars only did so to truly feel superior or was the comment an elaborately hidden clue for why you come here? My self-righteousness is lacking compared to your over abundance so please help me out.

Penn’s win was Hollylibs way of making some Americans feel shameful for the views they have towards Prop8. I hope the President wasn’t watching, he already has enough to worry about.

Langella or Rourke I felt should have won. Rourke had no chance because The Wrestler had no political spin for Hollylibs to admire. However I seriously though Langella in Frost/Nixon had a chance, political spin and a masterful performance. Current politics shamefully won the night.

Feb 25, 2009 - 6:18 am 169. misanthropicus:

Sean Penn’s going to play Valerie Plame’s hubby, ambassador Wilson in a movies which will make her a martyr of sorts – Penn’s joining this act shows again that liberal attitudes and manifestations actually some compulsions.

Feb 25, 2009 - 6:22 am 170. masstexodus:

How could Gran Torino not get nominated?

Feb 25, 2009 - 10:08 am 171. Pete:

Roger from comment 141:

Wow..are you serious? (rereading your comment) Wow..you ARE serious.

So, how do you figure that Slumdog portrays poverty as “a lifestyle”? I’m assuming you’ve actually seen the movie? If you have, you’d realize that entire point of the game show plot was that the lead character didn’t care about the wealth, but was acting out of love. It was a Dickens meets Bollywood hybrid.

Again, it’s utterly fascinating to see a movie that literally doesn’t mention a damn thing about American politics or American values is still seen by some of you as “Anti-American”.

I know, I know…the Oscar sweep by the apolitical Slumdog sort of flies in the face of the “Oscars are commie America bashing hatefests” so you have to distort reality in order to maintain your talking points.

Feb 25, 2009 - 12:57 pm 172. PAHunter3:

I gave up on Hollywood movies when Charlton Heston stopped making movies. But this year just to see what I was missing I decided to watch them and see if maybe I was missing something. I won’t ever spend money on trash so I had my son make copies for me.

Slumdog Millionaire, why do I care about what a bunch of dirty filthy street urchins do? I turned it off after 15 minutes.

Frost Nixon, I watched all the way through. A total hatchet job on an honorable president.

Milk, two homos kissing. Who wants to watch that? I turned it off.

Benjamin Button. I watched most of it, but Brad Pitt is just such a looser that I couldn’t stand it.

The Reader. Nudity, nudity and more nudity. I turned it off.

So now I know I would have been wasting my money if I paid to see or rent these.

Hollywood should be shut down.

Feb 25, 2009 - 10:51 pm 173. Alfredo:

Wow, Rachel Peepers, mein gott! great depiction of derelict Penn. Thanks. English not being my mother language, I can’t ascend those heights of description yet.

But as a Cuban-American, and one who suffered Castro’s jails for dissension, there is no way for me to quantify the contempt I feel for this leech named Sean Penn (and Robert Redford and Danny Glover and a few other Hollywood’s Castros-friends). He represents the worst of Hollywood, the Anti-American hero.

Feb 26, 2009 - 4:17 am 174. LynnS:

Award shows have been hijacked by actors, produces, directors etc. who like to make comments or accusations before a captive audience because they are too lazy to build their reputation on something solid.
People who would otherwise tune in because they enjoyed a movie or think they might enjoy a movie after they watch the awards tune out because of actors like Penn.

If the camera had panned to the man who was crying with joy, that would of made a strong statement without words. No….it’s all about Penn and what he thinks and who he hangs with and who he approves of…

Partner with Castro and Chavez to show disapproval of Bush? Pretend to rescue Katrina survivors to show disapproval of Bush? He’s constipated with a pained expression that mirrors his disapproval of the ‘masses’ filled with his own opinions bursting to come out. Hollywood’s Al Sharpton. He should write more.

Feb 26, 2009 - 8:02 am 175. Pete:

#172…

How exactly did you “turn off” the five nominated movies if all of them are still in the theaters? Did you have illegal bootlegs of the movies? Did you have screeners of the movies that were sent out to Academy voters?

My guess is that you didn’t actually see a second of these films, and are pretending that you did (or more correctly, lying about seeing them)

But, by all means, continue with your perceived outrage about movies that you clearly didn’t watch. Liar.

Feb 26, 2009 - 12:35 pm 176. Penn’s Provocative, But Who’s the Target? « Queer Visalia:

[...] among those who voted to ban gay marriage—agree with novelist and Pajamas Media columnist Andrew Klavan’s reaction to Sean Penn’s best actor acceptance speech for Milk: Let’s say you believe that gay [...]

Feb 26, 2009 - 9:51 pm 177. kenny komodo:

I turn 60 this month. I just hope that I outlive Hanoi Jane Fonda so that when she passes away I can visit her grave site. Then I want to piss on it.

Mar 1, 2009 - 7:32 pm

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