Comments on: The Cinema of Self-Congratulation http://pajamasmedia.com/rogerlsimon/2006/10/08/the-cinema-of-self-congratulation/ Just another Pajamasmedia.com weblog Sun, 22 Nov 2009 17:10:10 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: zefal http://pajamasmedia.com/rogerlsimon/2006/10/08/the-cinema-of-self-congratulation/#comment-82259 zefal Tue, 10 Oct 2006 06:49:01 +0000 http://pajamasmedia.com/rogerlsimon/2006/10/08/the-cinema-of-self-congratulation/#comment-82259 <b>Vulgorilla</b> Barbara Trent's "The Panama Deception" schlock was the forerunner to the Michael Moore schlock. Vulgorilla

Barbara Trent’s “The Panama Deception” schlock was the forerunner to the Michael Moore schlock.

]]> By: ahem http://pajamasmedia.com/rogerlsimon/2006/10/08/the-cinema-of-self-congratulation/#comment-82258 ahem Mon, 09 Oct 2006 13:34:16 +0000 http://pajamasmedia.com/rogerlsimon/2006/10/08/the-cinema-of-self-congratulation/#comment-82258 Politics mixed with art is rarely a digestible combination. It's too easy to cross the line into flagrant propaganda. These films are like old soviet-style art: noble, shiny, tractors. Why our artists should insist on building them when they enjoy almost limitless freedom of expression is a real puzzler. Politics mixed with art is rarely a digestible combination. It’s too easy to cross the line into flagrant propaganda. These films are like old soviet-style art: noble, shiny, tractors. Why our artists should insist on building them when they enjoy almost limitless freedom of expression is a real puzzler.

]]> By: Plainslow http://pajamasmedia.com/rogerlsimon/2006/10/08/the-cinema-of-self-congratulation/#comment-82257 Plainslow Mon, 09 Oct 2006 13:28:52 +0000 http://pajamasmedia.com/rogerlsimon/2006/10/08/the-cinema-of-self-congratulation/#comment-82257 A big reason why the Islamist hate us, is the view they get of us through our films. The price of freedom. But if the films keep it up, they will begin to lose the freedom to do so. 2500 police officers injured in France? Movie director killed in Europe. A legislator in Europe moves to the US for safety? What are the movie people going to do when there is no more Cannes? A big reason why the Islamist hate us, is the view they get of us through our films. The price of freedom. But if the films keep it up, they will begin to lose the freedom to do so. 2500 police officers injured in France? Movie director killed in Europe. A legislator in Europe moves to the US for safety? What are the movie people going to do when there is no more Cannes?

]]> By: scott http://pajamasmedia.com/rogerlsimon/2006/10/08/the-cinema-of-self-congratulation/#comment-82256 scott Mon, 09 Oct 2006 13:03:43 +0000 http://pajamasmedia.com/rogerlsimon/2006/10/08/the-cinema-of-self-congratulation/#comment-82256 Good news about "Studio 60" is that its viewership goes down every week.That turkey should be done by Thanksgiving. Good news about “Studio 60″ is that its viewership goes down every week.That turkey should be done by Thanksgiving.

]]> By: syn http://pajamasmedia.com/rogerlsimon/2006/10/08/the-cinema-of-self-congratulation/#comment-82255 syn Mon, 09 Oct 2006 12:24:28 +0000 http://pajamasmedia.com/rogerlsimon/2006/10/08/the-cinema-of-self-congratulation/#comment-82255 Fortunately Hollywood's overpaid cosmetic salespeople (actors) will be so busy over the next three years campaigning for Hillary's presidential run that the bejewelled bottomfeeders won't have time to make their ART movies. Fortunately Hollywood’s overpaid cosmetic salespeople (actors) will be so busy over the next three years campaigning for Hillary’s presidential run that the bejewelled bottomfeeders won’t have time to make their ART movies.

]]> By: Annalucia http://pajamasmedia.com/rogerlsimon/2006/10/08/the-cinema-of-self-congratulation/#comment-82254 Annalucia Mon, 09 Oct 2006 01:34:54 +0000 http://pajamasmedia.com/rogerlsimon/2006/10/08/the-cinema-of-self-congratulation/#comment-82254 ``Will they ever make a movie in which the whistle blower is the villain? I doubt it.'' Well, there was ``Ghostbusters,'' where the villain is the guy from the EPA.... “Will they ever make a movie in which the whistle blower is the villain? I doubt it.”

Well, there was “Ghostbusters,” where the villain is the guy from the EPA….

]]> By: heather http://pajamasmedia.com/rogerlsimon/2006/10/08/the-cinema-of-self-congratulation/#comment-82253 heather Sun, 08 Oct 2006 22:20:02 +0000 http://pajamasmedia.com/rogerlsimon/2006/10/08/the-cinema-of-self-congratulation/#comment-82253 I like movies with glamourous beautiful people, gorgeous sets, and great murders... so, I went to Black Dahlia, starring some expensive glamourous beautiful actors, set in glamourous 1940s Los Angelas. Someone spent a lot of $$$ and time on this movie, in other words. So, why was it so awful? I am not an art house junky, I like my movies to be non-intellectual. But this movie was incomprehensible. At one point, near the end, someone jumped out and was shot and my only thought was, "who is THAT?" The acting was not terrible. It was the STORY. What happened to the STORY??? Ellroy is a good writer; the mystery of the Black Dahlia's death is - well - a MYSTERY. What happens anyway, when such a FAILURE is allowed out of the stable??? Can I sue someone for fraud or something??? I like movies with glamourous beautiful people, gorgeous sets, and great murders… so, I went to Black Dahlia, starring some expensive glamourous beautiful actors, set in glamourous 1940s Los Angelas.

Someone spent a lot of $$$ and time on this movie, in other words. So, why was it so awful? I am not an art house junky, I like my movies to be non-intellectual. But this movie was incomprehensible. At one point, near the end, someone jumped out and was shot and my only thought was, “who is THAT?” The acting was not terrible. It was the STORY. What happened to the STORY???

Ellroy is a good writer; the mystery of the Black Dahlia’s death is – well – a MYSTERY.

What happens anyway, when such a FAILURE is allowed out of the stable???

Can I sue someone for fraud or something???

]]> By: Walter Guest http://pajamasmedia.com/rogerlsimon/2006/10/08/the-cinema-of-self-congratulation/#comment-82252 Walter Guest Sun, 08 Oct 2006 21:13:44 +0000 http://pajamasmedia.com/rogerlsimon/2006/10/08/the-cinema-of-self-congratulation/#comment-82252 There was a book written a while ago (which I didn?t read, I was waiting for the movie) about how the Jews of Hollywood, back in the thirties, shaped the psyche of America. This is something I believe absolutely. You could not leave a theatre in those days without feeling proud to be an American. They had a lot to do with the creation of "The Greatest Generation." Hollywood today revels in what I call the culture of betrayal. Today?s hero in the movie is the whistle-blower. It is never done thoughtfully. It is always the brave, incorruptible loner against some huge, evil organization, usually the US government. And there is never any gray area in the situation. The organization has done something so evil that of course they should be exposed. Will they ever make a movie in which the whistle blower is the villain? I doubt it. There was a book written a while ago (which I didn?t read, I was waiting for the movie) about how the Jews of Hollywood, back in the thirties, shaped the psyche of America. This is something I believe absolutely. You could not leave a theatre in those days without feeling proud to be an American. They had a lot to do with the creation of “The Greatest Generation.”

Hollywood today revels in what I call the culture of betrayal. Today?s hero in the movie is the whistle-blower. It is never done thoughtfully. It is always the brave, incorruptible loner against some huge, evil organization, usually the US government. And there is never any gray area in the situation. The organization has done something so evil that of course they should be exposed.

Will they ever make a movie in which the whistle blower is the villain? I doubt it.

]]> By: ianfairchild http://pajamasmedia.com/rogerlsimon/2006/10/08/the-cinema-of-self-congratulation/#comment-82251 ianfairchild Sun, 08 Oct 2006 20:04:37 +0000 http://pajamasmedia.com/rogerlsimon/2006/10/08/the-cinema-of-self-congratulation/#comment-82251 In late 90s, George Clooney was in a movie titled Three Kings. The movie was about how Bush I betrayed the Iraqi's who were encouraged to rebel after the first Iraqi war. Poor Clooney's character gives up a fortune in gold so that he can save several Iraqis. So in that case, we were supposed to stay and fight. However, that was then when we had a Republican president who listened to the international community. Of course in the press junkets, Clooney blamed Bush I, not the French. Today we have a Repbulican president who has not listened to the international community and has tried to save Iraqis. Think George is happy? In late 90s, George Clooney was in a movie titled Three Kings. The movie was about how Bush I betrayed the Iraqi’s who were encouraged to rebel after the first Iraqi war.

Poor Clooney’s character gives up a fortune in gold so that he can save several Iraqis. So in that case, we were supposed to stay and fight. However, that was then when we had a Republican president who listened to the international community. Of course in the press junkets, Clooney blamed Bush I, not the French. Today we have a Repbulican president who has not listened to the international community and has tried to save Iraqis. Think George is happy?

]]> By: Vulgorilla http://pajamasmedia.com/rogerlsimon/2006/10/08/the-cinema-of-self-congratulation/#comment-82250 Vulgorilla Sun, 08 Oct 2006 19:56:45 +0000 http://pajamasmedia.com/rogerlsimon/2006/10/08/the-cinema-of-self-congratulation/#comment-82250 I ceased to pay any attention to the Academy when they bestowed an Oscar for the best documentary on Michael Moore for "Bowling for Columbine". Since that piece of work was totally political, and obviously not a documentary (I wonder what the best documentary of the year really was), I then correctly assumed that all awards (Oscars) from that point on were totally based upon political considerations, and that they would have nothing to do with the level of merit in their particular categories. It was also at that point in time that I turned off the Academy Awards, and have not turned them on since. It is really too bad that the Academy spent all of their credibility on making political statements rather than actually recognizing top notch creativity, but I guess that's what happens when the moonbats take over. I ceased to pay any attention to the Academy when they bestowed an Oscar for the best documentary on Michael Moore for “Bowling for Columbine”. Since that piece of work was totally political, and obviously not a documentary (I wonder what the best documentary of the year really was), I then correctly assumed that all awards (Oscars) from that point on were totally based upon political considerations, and that they would have nothing to do with the level of merit in their particular categories. It was also at that point in time that I turned off the Academy Awards, and have not turned them on since.

It is really too bad that the Academy spent all of their credibility on making political statements rather than actually recognizing top notch creativity, but I guess that’s what happens when the moonbats take over.

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