For those who call this little piece a Sour Grapes Rant, play it as it lays.
We should have known conservative heffalump academy voters would have rather different ideas of what was stirring contemporary culture.
When Jack Nicholson said best picture went to Crash, there was a gasp of shock, and then applause from many - the choice was a hit with the home team since the film is set in Los Angeles. It was a safe pick of "controversial film" for the heffalumps.
On the sidewalk stood hordes of the righteous, some leaning forward like wind-bent grasses, the better to deliver their imprecations against gays and fags to the open windows of the limos - the windows open by order of the security people - creeping toward the Kodak Theater for the 78th Academy Awards. Others held up sturdy, professionally crafted signs expressing the same hatred.
As in everything related to public extravaganzas, a certain soda pop figured prominently.
The source of the colour was not far away. Down the street, spreading its baleful light everywhere, hung a gigantic, vertical, electric-blue neon sign spelling out S C I E N T O L O G Y.
QuoteOn the sidewalk stood hordes of the righteous, some leaning forward like wind-bent grasses, the better to deliver their imprecations against gays and fags to the open windows of the limos - the windows open by order of the security people - creeping toward the Kodak Theater for the 78th Academy Awards. Others held up sturdy, professionally crafted signs expressing the same hatred.
I was unaware this was going on...that this was the welcome our crew was met with. Sounds like the start of the evening was almost as bad as the end.QuoteAs in everything related to public extravaganzas, a certain soda pop figured prominently.
Coke.QuoteThe source of the colour was not far away. Down the street, spreading its baleful light everywhere, hung a gigantic, vertical, electric-blue neon sign spelling out S C I E N T O L O G Y.
Paul Haggis is apparently a scientologist.
The more they hate, the more they displease the person they pretend to serve.
The more they hate, the more they displease the person they pretend to serve.
We should have known conservative heffalump academy voters would have rather different ideas of what was stirring contemporary culture.
When Jack Nicholson said best picture went to Crash, there was a gasp of shock, and then applause from many - the choice was a hit with the home team since the film is set in Los Angeles. It was a safe pick of "controversial film" for the heffalumps.
A Heffalump is a stuffed bear in a dark hole with its head stuck in a honey pot.
The bear, Pooh* of course, finds himself there when, by methodically missing the point, he falls into his own trap. Piglet on viewing the apparition:
"Help, help!" cried Piglet, "a Heffalump, a Horrible
Heffalump!" and he scampered off as hard as he could, still
crying out, "Help, help, a Herrible Hoffalump! Hoff, Hoff, a
Hellible Horralump! Holl, Holl, a Hoffable Hellerump!"
Whatever Piglet would call it.
. . . an enormous big nothing. Like a jar.
______________________
* http://winnie-the-pooh.ru/stories/english/heffalump/
Roeper published a rather ungracious critique of Annie Proulx's comments in the March 13 edition of the Chicago Sun-Times.
http://www.suntimes.com/output/roeper/cst-nws-roep131.html
I wrote him the following letter in response:
As a writer of true artistic merit who seldom minces words, Annie Proulx deserves more respect than is demonstrated in your comments published in the March 13 edition of the Sun-Times.
I am one among many Chicagoans who share her opinion and disappointment. I think she is on target with her critical comments regarding this year's Oscars.
As I had said to numerous friends, there can be no grace without justice. In my opinion, the Academy has been weighed in the balance and has been found wanting. Time will bear out Annie Proulx's critique -- of this I am sure.
That's it, I'm done with both Roeper's & Eberts childish comments. I thought Roeper was the more reasonable of the two, but his last rant proved me wrong. I will be switching channels when I see them on TV just like I do when I see Bush on. >:(
Makes me concerned that in the 21st century that any young actor (either gender) could come out and expect to work at top of their profession --- at least in hollywood.
If there is a lot of smoke there is usually a big fire. The rumors were true.
That's it, I'm done with both Roeper's & Eberts childish comments. I thought Roeper was the more reasonable of the two, but his last rant proved me wrong. I will be switching channels when I see them on TV just like I do when I see Bush on. >:(
Why is a film about two gay cowboys more noble than a film about race relations? Or a movie about an Israeli hit squad avenging the massacre at the Munich Olympic Games? Or a film about an author's book about the murders of an innocent family? Or a movie about a journalist's crusade against a witch-hunting senator?
In two decades of writing about movies, I have never heard such bitching and moaning and griping about a film not winning best picture. Enough is enough. You lost. Try to handle it with some grace.
Why is a film about two gay cowboys more noble than a film about race relations? Or a movie about an Israeli hit squad avenging the massacre at the Munich Olympic Games? Or a film about an author's book about the murders of an innocent family? Or a movie about a journalist's crusade against a witch-hunting senator?
In two decades of writing about movies, I have never heard such bitching and moaning and griping about a film not winning best picture. Enough is enough. You lost. Try to handle it with some grace.
Hi people!
How are you. My first post here. Some of you might know me from other boards... By the way does anyone know what happened to the Annie Proulx's board? They took it down yesterday. No reasons given. Anyone knows?
It might be related to the topic of this thread. A lot of homophobic "people" went there to complain about her article (http://film.guardian.co.uk/oscars2006/story/0,,1727312,00.html) at the Guardian. Lots of recriminatory posts.
Anyhow, I was wondering the following... Since she chose as the title of her article "Blood on the Red Carpet", doesn't it imply that homophobia was the REAL reason that Jack was murdered?
So are we finally CERTAIN in what she meant when she wrote: "There was some open space between what he knew and what he tried to believe, but nothing could be done about it, and if you can't fix it you've got to stand it."
As Ennis "now he knew it had been the tire iron" after hearing Jack's father talk, then what he KNEW and what he tried to BELIEVE was a bit apart.
With "Blood on the red carpet" it becomes pretty clear that homophobic violence was the thing that Ennis knew, but tried to believe otherwise.
Do you all agree?
Let me know what you find.
I'm so proud of Ms. Proulx for not mincing words, for standing up for a work of art we all believe in, and for demonstrating the power of words (and cinema) to make life meaningful. (again, I come back to my eternal question: WHY wasn't she shown on film at the Oscars??? Sorry if this was covered elsewhere--I've been swamped at work lately. :))
Here's a link to another version of this story:I agree, its refreshing to hear someone that does put her point of view across for something she believes in , irrespective of any backlash her views may create. I get sick of all the insincerity in fameland, Annie rocks for standing up to be counted!
http://www.cnn.com/2006/SHOWBIZ/Movies/03/15/film.proulx.ap/index.html
I'm so proud of Ms. Proulx for not mincing words, for standing up for a work of art we all believe in, and for demonstrating the power of words (and cinema) to make life meaningful. (again, I come back to my eternal question: WHY wasn't she shown on film at the Oscars??? Sorry if this was covered elsewhere--I've been swamped at work lately. :))
Annie Proulx's website, www.annieproulx.com is up, but the "Forum" is gone. Don't know if the Forum was removed temporarily or permanently. Shame that a highly respected writer can't express her opinion without having her website trashed. Sounds like a homophobic response to me.
I too am very proud of her and she should be proud of her works as well. Regarding your question - Although I haven't seen any discussion why she was not shown on TV, my take is that she would prefer not to be shown given that she is a very private person.
Calls by the Associated Press to Proulx's Wyoming home and her literary agent, Elizabeth Darhansoff, were not immediately returned Tuesday.
Annie Proulx's website, www.annieproulx.com is up, but the "Forum" is gone. Don't know if the Forum was removed temporarily or permanently. Shame that a highly respected writer can't express her opinion without having her website trashed. Sounds like a homophobic response to me.
From her website.
"news
03/15/06: forum down
The site will be changing over the next couple of months as we move to a new host and upgrade our software. I appreciate your patience. "
Annie Proulx's website, www.annieproulx.com is up, but the "Forum" is gone. Don't know if the Forum was removed temporarily or permanently. Shame that a highly respected writer can't express her opinion without having her website trashed. Sounds like a homophobic response to me.
From her website.
"news
03/15/06: forum down
The site will be changing over the next couple of months as we move to a new host and upgrade our software. I appreciate your patience. "
Thanks Ethan. The AP Forum was good, but different than this site. Glad they'll be coming back.
These people are so transparent.
Dear LIGTHSRAY I understand your comment that it " Brokeback Mountain has not won at the Oscars and lost only ONE award according to your post.
However to most of America and the millions who specially tuned in to the show,
boosting it ratings after years of decline,
it was in the hope to see whether the Hollywood stigma had finally eroded
and that it had come to terms with the homophobic attitude that cursed as so to speak its peers.
Ever since " Rock Hudson's " death Hollywood has tried to post a more liberal views of its minorities
IE: blacks, Latinos, Chinese, and many more,
but when it came to gays or anything in relevance to it,
its shoved it under the carpet,
so having had an acknowledgment for BBM receiving the best film would have diluted the suspicions of the old mantra
" don't tell we wont speak of it"
Until Oscar voters find the courage to make the hard calls, their Big Night will continue to slip in our esteem and the ratings.
Movie lovers deserve better.
Until Oscar voters find the courage to make the hard calls, their Big Night will continue to slip in our esteem and the ratings.
Movie lovers deserve better.
tpe, thanks for posting this article. Yes, it is time for movie lovers to do something.
Until Oscar voters find the courage to make the hard calls, their Big Night will continue to slip in our esteem and the ratings.
Movie lovers deserve better.
tpe, thanks for posting this article. Yes, it is time for movie lovers to do something.
I had lost interest in the Oscars years ago. I found them to be just a big party, when someone didn't get an award they get one later (ie Paul Newman) etc. I only watched this year cause of BBM, but that's it.
Same here. They reward crap with $400.00 statuettes and fail to honor individuals and films that are outstanding. They have made themselves irrelevant.
Same here. They reward crap with $400.00 statuettes and fail to honor individuals and films that are outstanding. They have made themselves irrelevant.
Only $400.00? OK. It makes me feel even better. BBM can skip the statuettes. ;D
I had lost interest in the Oscars years ago. I found them to be just a big party, when someone didn't get an award they get one later (ie Paul Newman) etc. I only watched this year cause of BBM, but that's it.You and I are on the exact same page. I had not watched the Oscars for many years, and watched this year only because of BBM. And I knew I was just setting myself up to be disappointed again. Well I won't make that mistake in future years, and can content myself with catching parts of other awards programs. ( I actually find them all hard to watch; I think they are-bottom line-boring.)
stupid crash