Penning (keyboarding would be more apt) that little piece on NRO article about the one-sidedness in the latest Hollywood output, I did not expect that Meryl will see a need to “counterpunch” it. Moreover, I have even remarked on NRO as “the distillery of the rightwing voice”, far from identifying myself with NRO. Indeed, while having quite a few talented people on the roster, they are not to my personal taste. It would be hard to classify me as a rightwinger, especially in USA, where a card-carrying Democrat is somewhere to the right of the typical European rightist. I am quite left of center, and would blush if forced to tell you what that insidious Political Compass says about me.
But enough with generalizations, that are usually wide off the mark in any case, and back to Shmollywood. And I completely agree with Meryl that the prime motivating drive of this place is to make money, and the money is made in one way only – producing stuff that attracts customers.
Still, the question is: why is that none of the subjects raised by Mark Goldblatt in the linked article found its way not only in the list of nominees, but in any new movie made by a serious producer? And I do not count the endless thrillers with Muslims playing the role of modern Injuns and indomitable Schwartzy doing his stuff.
Maybe because they’re just a few examples of the virtually infinite number of things that are not the subjects of movies each year?
I love how it’s supposed to be unfair that gay people were featured in a positive light in some movies last year, and Goldblatt suggests that there should have been a movie about a rape/murder committed by two gay men.
I know when I see a romantic comedy with Matthew McConaughey and Kate Hudson, I think to myself: “Gee, this is unfair bias on the part of the filmmaker. Why are they showing these heterosexuals in a positive light, instead of making a movie about them gangraping and killing a child, as some heterosexuals do?”
Of course, the central, original tragedy of Mystic River a couple of years ago was two men kidnapping and repeatedly raping a little boy. I guess that didn’t count because Sean Penn And Tim Robbins were in it.
This whole area of criticism is so stupid it’s almost beyond fucking belief. There isn’t a monopoly on moviemaking by the major studios (as evidence by scores of successful indies as well as by Mel Gibson). I would suggest that the people bitching stop trying to enforce their own Maoist Cultural Revolution, and make their own damn movies if they want something different.
“Maybe because they’re just a few examples of the virtually infinite number of things that are not the subjects of movies each year?”
Fair enough. I don’t think, though, that Mark Goldblatt was yakking about gay people being presented in a positive light.
And his remark on McCarthy was spot on. Time to get over it.
And The Motorcycle Diaries – I don’t know about you, Hubris, but each time this piece of shit gets mentioned… Nah, enough, my personal pet peeve does not have anything to do with the subject.
I think he was yakking about gay people being presented in a positive light:
And yep, The Motorcycle Diaries was a total historical whitewash. It doesn’t piss me off though, that happens with “historical” dramas all the time. It just (negatively) affects my opinion of the movie, it doesn’t make me think there is a Hollywood conspiracy against America and apple pie.
I am far from seeing a conspiracy too, and now I can see that he was yakking. A bit, though.
Anyway, I am gearing up for a Jet Lee movie right now, so…
Hope it’s this one. Very good flick.