Hollywood values
Eugene Robinson's column on our Second Opinion page today is pretty far off base, in my view.
He'd like to see Washington adopt Hollywood values.
Although he seems to confuse Hollywood values with those of most Americans.
"Why is it that Washington often seems so out of touch with the rest of the country?" he writes. "Maybe it's because people here are so busy taking themselves seriously that they don't have the time, or the inclination, to go to the movies. Just look at this year's contenders at the Academy Awards."
Robinson notes the several nominated films with homosexual or transsexual themes, offering this as evidence of ... well, I'm not sure what. He concedes that "the prominence of gay-themed movies this year doesn't mean that America has reached a consensus on homosexuality when it is framed as an issue."
Certainly not the consensus he might imagine. After all, in every state where voters have been allowed to decide whether to allow same-sex marriage, they've been consistently opposed.
But Robinson apparently sees something new emerging with the success of "Brokeback Mountain," which he describes as "a love story about two gay cowboys -- not Village People 'cowboys' prancing up and down the streets of some godless big city, but real cowboys who live in the red-state American west."
Well, not quite, Gene. "Brokeback Mountain" is fiction. The characters are Hollywood actors, not real cowboys.
Not that they couldn't be real. But, honestly, is Robinson suggesting that two cowboys who engage in a love affair despite being married to women represent acceptable values in mainstream America? And that Washington needs to learn something from this?
I haven't seen the movie. I'm not boycotting it; I just don't see many movies. People I know who have seen it sure didn't rave about it. I suspect its success had a lot to do with curiosity and the tremendous amount of publicity it was given by the media. Besides, you can see, even appreciate, a movie without accepting whatever values it tries to impart.
The people in Washington may need some values education, but I don't think it ought to come from Hollywood.
Comments (4)
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Doug, I only read enough of this article to get the idea that he was promoting “Hollywood ideals” before shaking my head and moving on. “Hollywood ideals” is where our children got the idea that four letters words liberally scattered about is acceptable speech.
“Hollywood Ideals” is where our young people got the idea that an active sexual career is the norm for young single adults. It also introduced our younger children to intimate behavior and encouraged imitation. I haven’t been to a movie since I walked out of “Born on the Fourth of July”, but I am even appalled at the “cleaned up” version we get on tv. This lusty old Broad would like to see “Hollywood ideas” return to the “Sound of Music”, or barring that to lead the audience up to the bedroom door, but certainly not beyond it. Of course I know I’m wishing on a stump also!
Posted on March 1, 2006 11:58 AM
Doug,
This column by Eugene Robinson is another piece of junk that we have come to expect from leftwing columnists such as him.
Mr. Robinson is using academy award nominations as a benchmark for success, rather than box office, which is a marker for what moviegoers actually put their money down to see. The academy awards are merely political awards by moviemakers.
So, if Hollywood movies reveal the values that Washington should be paying attention toward, then box office results are the final measure.
Brokeback Mountain $75 million
Crash 53 million
Munich 46 million
Good Night 30 million
Capote 23 million
Now, for worldwide box offices:
Harry Potter and Golbet of Fire $889
Chronicles of Narnia 664
Charlie and the Chocalate Fact. 472
Madagasgar 407
Fantastic Four 330
Chicken Little 297
I believe that box office which reflects movies that people actually pay to see reflect values. The five movies mentoned by Mr. Robinson don't even make the money list worldwide. So, perhaps its the family values, not Hollywood political agenda values, that Washington should be listening to. I rest my case.
Posted on March 1, 2006 12:40 PM
Stormy, I'm with you. Wonder how the box offices for The Passion of the Christ and Brokeback Mountain compare?
Posted on March 1, 2006 5:00 PM
yellowdog,
Actually, the Passion smashed Brokeback as well.
$371 million domestic
$612 million worldwide
Narnia probably did a little better than the Passion because it was probably deemd a little more suitable for young children and their families. In any event, it's quite clear that family values is where people lay their money down for entertainment. Hollywood is in the political agenda mode. They would rather further their agenda than make money right now, it would appear.
As a matter of fact, I saw Harry Potter and Narnia in recent months and found them both to be highly entertaining and worth the box office price. I won't be attending any of the five being touted for awards, including Transamerica, which is another political agenda movie about transexuals.
Posted on March 2, 2006 6:54 AM