51 Comments

1. Lola:

Hallelujah . . . this is proof that there indeed is a God!!! Now I won’t have to boycott, although I suppose I’ll have to suffer the inane blatherings of stars trying to get in a dig at Bush . . .

Jan 25, 2005 - 7:08 am 2. Clio:

I just ordered the Eternal Sunshine collector’s edition DVD (I burned a hole in the great soundtrack from overplay). Saw the Aviator, liked Leo and Cate but thought the film kinda, eh…If Scorsese were to do a “Stardust Memories” for himself, the honest fan would say to him “I liked your earlier, violent movies.”

Jan 25, 2005 - 7:11 am 3. Baron Bodissey:

Roger, OT, but DEBKAfile has the following note this morning:

Some 500 Russian nationalists including 19 parliamentarians demand ban on Jewish groups. They declare Jews are anti-Christian and anti-human and hatred of them is justified. Their fierce published diatribe recalls old Anti-Semitic symbols including blood libel.

This is disturbing news. I haven’t been able to find any other information on this story.

Jan 25, 2005 - 7:13 am 4. Roger:

Sorry. Don’t have any information about that. But it’s certainly a lot more serious than the Oscars.

Jan 25, 2005 - 7:33 am 5. Patrick Tyson:

For some reason the nomination for Keir Pearson & Terry George for the original screenplay of Hotel Rwanda is missing from the linked list of nominees and the AP list.

Million Dollar Baby is the class of the field. The Aviator, while an improvement on Gangs of New York, is still an epic mess.

Jan 25, 2005 - 7:54 am 6. Roger:

I basically agree with Patrick about the up and down quality of The Aviator, yet still I was impressed. I also agree with Clio about Scorsese in general. Mean Streets is for me his best film.

Jan 25, 2005 - 7:57 am 7. OJ:

Certainly the sun is setting on Michael Moore – unfortunately not before he made an obscene amount of money spreading lies and propaganda across the globe. The damage he has done to this nation might not be fully realized for years to come.

I am glad the academy showed some wisdom and avoided controversy and stuck to what they are supposed to deal with – entertainment.

http://www.RightViews.com

Jan 25, 2005 - 8:06 am 8. richard mcenroe:

*gasp* You mean Moore was just a ó dare I say it ó “house slave” for the Hollywood Left? I guess we can add to his achievements, World’s Biggest Lawn Jockey….

Jan 25, 2005 - 8:16 am 9. OJ:

Here is more information on what you mentioned Baron:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4205597.stm

Apparently the letter by the Russian MPs has since been withdrawn.

Jan 25, 2005 - 8:23 am 10. Oyster:

It such a shame. Moore is truly talented. Too bad he uses his talent in such nefarious ways.

Jan 25, 2005 - 8:33 am 11. Oyster:

Baron Bodissey, strange that directly underneath that paragragh at DEBKAfile is this:

Putin will be among many world leaders attend state ceremonies in Poland marking 60th anniversary of liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau death camp.

Jan 25, 2005 - 8:36 am 12. Baron Bodissey:

OJ — thanks for the link. AP has it now too.

And, Oyster — Indeed…

Jan 25, 2005 - 8:41 am 13. Patrick Tyson:

Roger?

I think the “Life Lessons” segment of New York Stories is the best thing he’s done, but I’ll never forget the first time I saw Mean Streets.

The bar scene to which Jumpin’ Jack Flash is the soundtrack was my introduction to Scorsese, Keitel and DeNiro. I was fifteen and I still remember my sense of excitement. It’s just as if I’m back in one of those fading thousands of seats and tons of atmospheric cigarette smoke theaters (in our case on Hollywood Blvd.) 1973 was the year in which we started going to Westwood to see the movies that didn’t make it to the neighborhood theaters and drive-ins. I loved Hollywood Blvd.

Jan 25, 2005 - 8:47 am 14. PJ:

Good picks. I just saw Collateral on DVD and the screenplay was really good–and it had Jamie Foxx, who I think is the most exciting actor around these days. He was great in Any Sunday and deserves all the good things coming his way.

Jan 25, 2005 - 8:50 am 15. Matt Evans:

I disagree Moore is talented. Any hack can walk around with a hand held. Moore’s inability to tell an honest story completely undermines any technical merit he may possess. He makes a living preying on people’s fears and weaknesses. I see absolutely no redeeming qualities in Michael Moore.

Jan 25, 2005 - 9:12 am 16. windowlicker:

Roger,

Any chance you have some inside info on the actual number of votes cast so we can see just how badly Moore did?

Jan 25, 2005 - 9:50 am 17. Roger:

I don’t have an answer for that, windowlicker, although I will look around. The Academy is a small organization, only about six thousand (I think), around three hundred in the Writers Branch. It’s a relatively fair election as these things go. Voting for documentaries and foreign films, as an example, is restricted to those who show they have actually seen the films. For several years I was on the foreign film nominating committee — quite interesting, of course, although sometimes arduous.

Jan 25, 2005 - 10:03 am 18. paul:

Roger, I’m disappointed that you have anything to do with the Academy. I stopped watching the awards after they give an honorable mention to Leni Reifenstahl, Hitler’s propaganda queen, while the likes of Susan Sarandon, Tim Robbins, and Sean Penn were screaming Bush = Hitler. If I’d received an award that evening I’d have ripped them a new one, loudly and in front of the cameras, and then resigned on the spot.

Jan 25, 2005 - 10:39 am 19. Hermie:

I don’t think there will be any tears shed for Moore.

He’ll still be invited to parties at liberals’ homes and events. Maybe not as many, but enough that he can hog the really good food trays and chug the best liquor.

He’ll still get offers to come to colleges for ridiculous amounts (and wipe out student activity fee accounts), although they might now be exclusively in blue states; and he might have to stand in line at the cafeteria for tuna salad rather than wait for a steak from room service.

Of course in France he’ll still be welcome where he’ll get the best suites (for free of course) and where he’ll keep blaming the Bush administration for every evil imaginable.

He’ll still live off the adoration (and wallets) of those who still believe that Bush designed the Palm Beach butterfly ballot and stole the 2000 election.

The only thing worse than a hypocritical liberal, is one who leeches off those who are too ignorant to know they are being leeched off of.

Jan 25, 2005 - 10:40 am 20. Kevin P:

Roger:

Moore lost. I smell voter suppression. Were you given money from the Rove-Himmler organization to spread discord against Saint Michael? Maybe we can get Lee and Boxer to demand a recount. You have been a guest on Hugh Hewitts show. Hugh Hewitt was a ghost writer for Nixon. People, connect the dots!Why did acadamey voters in Ohio have to wait so long to get their copies of Farenheight 9-11? This sounds like a CIA plot to supress the truth about US Imperlialism.

Jan 25, 2005 - 10:47 am 21. charlotte:

Don’t forget, Kevin P, Eisner and Jeb are involved, somehow.

Jan 25, 2005 - 10:59 am 22. blogaddict:

Boy, maybe this means there’s a vast storehouse of closet anti-idiotarians in Hollywood. (At least, isn’t it pretty to think so?)

Jan 25, 2005 - 11:09 am 23. charlotte:

Did Carter sign off on these preliminary election results, and will he and Moore share a box at the Democratic Convention, I mean, Awards show next month?

Eternal Sunshine was the doing of a spot-on mind, but I hope Clint or one of the animations gets the nod from the closeted anti-idiotarians.

Jan 25, 2005 - 11:15 am 24. Randal Robinson:

F-911 would have been a lock if Kerry had won, allowing Moore to crow about his role in the defeat of the Bushitler and leaving the Hollywood left basking in the giddy glow of triumphalism. But now that the unilateral cowboy is firmly back in the saddle threatening the world with liberty and democracy, F-911 has the stench of failure about it.

Jan 25, 2005 - 11:27 am 25. Barbara Skolaut:

“For Moore, it’s over.”

From your keyboard to [insert diety of your choice here]’s eyes. NOW!

Now if Mikey would just get over himself….

Jan 25, 2005 - 11:50 am 26. Eric Deamer:

This still doesn’t reverse the injustice of Bowling for Columbine winning for best documentary over Spellbound. I will never forget.

Jan 25, 2005 - 12:15 pm 27. Terrye:

Good, maybe now I can watch a movie again.

Even if Moore has lost some of his standing, it will not undo the damage he has done.

Just think Protocols of Zion.

Jan 25, 2005 - 1:16 pm 28. Semolina Pilchard:

It’s a real shame that more of your colleagues didn’t see fit to honor “Eternal Sunshine,” which wasn’t just the best film of last year, but one of the best in years.

(One of the best this whole century, in fact!)

Jan 25, 2005 - 1:18 pm 29. Terrye:

I mean the Protocols of the Elders of Zion.

Jan 25, 2005 - 1:18 pm 30. lindenen:

I had some problems with Eternal Sunshine. I wasn’t crazy about the direction in certain spots. I’m not one for getting confused during movies, but I got confused at certain points during Eternal Sunshine. It definitely is one of the best of this year though. I think the name was too off-putting for people, which is pretty sad. They also released it at the exact wrong time of the year. Maybe it’ll end up being beloved like The Shawshank Redemption, which was also ignored when it was released.

Jan 25, 2005 - 2:26 pm 31. JJay:

As a dog returns to his vomit, Moore will be back.

Jan 25, 2005 - 2:57 pm 32. Katherine:

Roger knows the pulse of Hollywood and I have no reason to doubt his verdict that ìFor Moore, itís overî.

However, I would like to second Terrye: the damage that this propagandist has done will not be undone. Many people already take his ìBowling for Columbineî as a Gospel, including the infamous ìpost-Columbineî Charles Hestonís speech that Moore composed out of five separate events over period of months. Many similarly believe the lies from F911. Both films will be used as a propaganda tools by assorted tyrants and their sympathizers throughout the world for years to come, undermining not only American interests, but interests of all freedom loving people. (That, unfortunately includes some public schools in America, which use ìColumbineî as a teaching material).

Never underestimate the power of clever propaganda. Despite the fact that there is clear cut difference between good and evil in this world, a lot of intelligent people pride themselves on the belief that the ìtruth lies in the middleî. So, all that a good propagandist needs to do is to present a version of events that would move that middle in the direction that he would favor. Spreading rumors that Bush engineered the terrorist attack will not make our sophisticated audience really believe that, but it will make them think ìthere might be is something in itî. ìItî will vary, from ìhe knew about the attack and didnít do anything about itî to ìhe failed to connect the dotsî. Thus, by cleverly presenting the outrageous version of events the propagandist plants a seed of thought pattern to be exploited in the future.

Jews secretly rule the world. There was no Holocaust. HIV was crated by Western scientists to wipe our Africans. Bush organized 9/11 to take over the world. These ìtruthsî will endure.

Jan 25, 2005 - 2:58 pm 33. Sandy P:

Aren’t the frogs using BFC as a teaching moment in high school?

I’m sure others will as well.

Jan 25, 2005 - 3:08 pm 34. Linc:

Of course, there are also the worst movies of the year:

http://www.razzies.com/asp/directory/25thNoms.htm

Linc W.

Jan 25, 2005 - 3:10 pm 35. Caroline:

Wow Roger – you went with Eternal Sunshine for Best Picture- my so far favorite movie of the year (although I haven’t seen any of the other nominees, being a netflix member). I thought you were only going for it for Best Screenplay. Anyway – how sweet. Or should I say bittersweet? I guess that’s the word I would use to describe the film but not being a writer I may be choosing the wrong adjective.

As for Moore and his future Hollywood prospects, doesn’t Hollywood love a winner and despise a loser? Now that Moore is a double-loser – the election plus the Oscars – I’d say his Hollywood days are over. Maybe one day we’ll see him sitting around a campfire, eating creepy-crawlers with other has-beens on some VH1 reality TV show.

Jan 25, 2005 - 3:50 pm 36. ex-democrat:

what? no award for Theo Van Gogh’s “Submission” ??

what a shocker!

Jan 25, 2005 - 3:52 pm 37. Tom of the Missouri:

I find it facinating that now that Kerry lost his supporters, and mainly I am referring here to mainstream Democrats, are looking for a scapegoat and blaming Moore. I distinctly remember seeing on my TV the images of the mainstream supporters filing out of the 9-11 premiers all smiles, giving the thumb’s up, and making favorable comments as to Moore’s movie. These people I saw were the chairman of the Democratic Party, prominent represenatives and senators and many more similar people. For some reason, Moore had credibility and mainstream support then. Why did that change? Now even the mostly ultra liberal Academy members are shunning him (Mr. Simon excluded of course) and I am sure the mainstream Democrats have followed suit. Ditto or the MSM. This is just more evidence, if any was needed, of the absolute moral and intellectual bankruptcy of the current Democratic party. Regardless of he accuracy, credibility, mendacity, defaming behavoir or veracity of the ideas of any supporter, they are welcomed if it helps them win. If not we throw them over the side. Despicable!

Jan 25, 2005 - 3:54 pm 38. Tom of the Missouri:

Correction: I am new at this. By Mr. Simon excluded I mean I don’t think Mr. Simon ever supported in any way Mr. Moore and I am sure he still doesn’t. Next time I will spell check, too.

Jan 25, 2005 - 3:59 pm 39. JackLifton:

I had a job in the 1970’s that brought me to Flint, Michigan, every week. Michael Moore and a friend of his named “Ben” something had a left-wing newspaper there during that period. Moore, himself, was a pudgy irritating uncouth slob who people referred to as “the Pilsbury Doughboy.” Now that he has been shaved, dressed, and deprived of his baseball hat I have to admit that you may take the slob out of Flint, but you can’t take the Flint out of the slob. He is a small town opportunist who uses dumb people to make money.

Jan 25, 2005 - 4:04 pm 40. Caroline:

Roger – since the topic here is movies I hope you will satisfy my curiosity about something. As I’ve stated before – I loved Enemies a Love Story. But for some strange reason I’ve always associated it in my memory with The Unbearable Lightness of Being – which I just loved. I just did a quick check and realized thats probably because the 2 movies came out 1 year apart – 88 and 89. Plus there’s a commonality in the themes – love plus sex plus political tyranny (or its aftereffects) plus death. So since I may never get a better chance to ask you this – what did you think of Unbearable Lightness of Being?. Did you like it? And do you see any remote resemblance to Enemies – or is this just some weird thematic confluence I have formed in my own mind because of the fact that the 2 films happened to come back to back in the late 80’s?

Jan 25, 2005 - 4:07 pm 41. Roger:

Caroline, although the theme of “Enemies” originates with Isaac Singer, Paul Mazursky and I had both seen “Unbearable Lightness” before we started on our project. We both admired it tremendously. That is why we cast Lena Olin.

Jan 25, 2005 - 4:20 pm 42. Caroline:

Missouri Tom: “For some reason, Moore had credibility and mainstream support then. Why did that change? Now even the mostly ultra liberal Academy members are shunning him (Mr. Simon excluded of course) and I am sure the mainstream Democrats have followed suit.”

Actually I DO consider myself a “mainstream Democrat”. It was obvious to many of us that he was poison all along and I will still stubbornly maintain – not a small reason that the Dems lost the election. IMHO – its the difference between style and substance – something the Dems generally seem to have a hard time distinguishing between – and something which is clearly epitomized by Hollywood itself. Does it matter what Moore stood for (substance)? No – he’s a loser now (style) and therefore he is persona non grata.

Jan 25, 2005 - 4:23 pm 43. Caroline:

Roger – oh – OK – So Unbearable did have some impact on your movie – in terms of casting Lena Olin. Well then – you just clarified for me a major reason why the 2 films are so conjoined in my mind – the common actress – Lena Olin – in back to back films – duh! That is one underrated actress in film as far as I am concerned. She has a wonderful ability to display raw sexuality plus complex emotions on her face (perhaps partly aided by the impression that she has never had plastic surgery). IMHO – Diane Lane has a similar quality as an actress. Anyway – I digress from the thread. But thanks Roger, for satisfying my curiosity on that…

Jan 25, 2005 - 4:40 pm 44. Caroline:

Oh wait – Roger – I can’t let you off that easy. Since we’re on the topic of Hollywood and all Another thing I’ve been curious about – the fact that the star of Enemies – Ron Silver – was perhaps the most vocally prominent Hollywood Bush supporter this election year. Did the 2 of you ever cross paths over that? And if not – did you personally find that to be an interesting coincidence? Don’t answer that if you don’t want to. I don’t mean to pry. I picture Hollywood as a very dangerous place indeed -shark-infested waters as it were…

Jan 25, 2005 - 4:51 pm 45. Roger:

Caroline, Ron and I are friends. We talk about Hollywood and politics frequently — most recently over breakfast at a deli in the Valley just before the election. Ron told me at the time he was sure there were a lot of “secret Bush voters.” I guess he was right.

Jan 25, 2005 - 5:09 pm 46. Caroline:

Roger – that makes sense – and obviously he was right. I hope the two of you had a good laugh over the fact that in Hollywood its quite OK to parade around naked and pretend that one has nothing to hide – while finding oneself forced to hide one’s own most honest viewpoints and opinions about the world outside of the Hollywood cocoon.

When I think about that irony – and when I think about how long this WAR is likely to go on – I have to say that I don’t think Hollywood can ever possibly be the same again.

Jan 25, 2005 - 5:33 pm 47. BeckyJ:

Sideways Sideways Sideways…..Jim Taylor is a college friend of mine; gotta support your friends!

Jan 25, 2005 - 5:56 pm 48. Tom of the Missouri:

I was wondering why I had become such an avid reader of Roger L. Simon’s blog. He too has a great admiration for Lena Olin. Wow! What a lady, until of course her career for some reason seemed to have taken a dive after that fiasco with Robert Redford in Havana. I had such great hopes to see her many times again, but it seems Lightness and Enemies seemed to me to be the apex of her career.

I guess I also like your blog for your interest and respect, regardles of politics, in the downtrodden peoples of the world, immigrants, etc. as so well expressed in Lightness and Enemies.

Let us all hope that someday soon the Ali, Omar and other new Iraqi democrats (that is small d democrats) all get their chance to experience some lightness or even a Lena Olin that matter.

Keep up the great blogging.

Jan 25, 2005 - 8:31 pm 49. richard mcenroe:

An Open Letter from the Film Actor’s Guild:

What Michael Moore Movie?

Signed

A, Baldwin

S. Penn

T. Robbins

B. Streisand

MATT! DAMON!

Jan 25, 2005 - 10:19 pm 50. Korla Pundit:

Oh, please! After the triumph of having Osama Bin Laden himself parroting Moore’s main bullet points from F911, that pretend-proll is still too high up on cloud 9 to care about the mere mortals of the Academy.

The only thing that will bring him down, aside from the irony of Payback Tuesday, is if he gets too close to a Lakehurst mooring mast in a lightning storm.

Jan 26, 2005 - 6:53 pm 51. Patrick Tyson:

Roger—

With regard to Team America: World Police, I am disappointed that it didn’t get a Best Song nomination. Otherwise, it was not anywhere near as entertaining, funny or original as South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut. As to whether or not they could have sung the song I have in mind at the ceremony, Eminem took care of that little problem when he declined to attend in 2003 and Lose Yourself wasn’t performed.

Jan 26, 2005 - 9:44 pm

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