Movie and Television Reviews

I caught a little bit of the Academy Awards as I waited for my pasteles, galletas, and coffee at the Habana Cafe in Downey. It was the Jack Black part. It confirmed to me the industry-centric nature of the show that I pointed out yesterday, as the jokes were about offending Pixar or Disney or somebody, like TV viewers are supposed to care, "Oh my God, I can't believe he said that!"

One thought: I do wish that Mickey Rourke had won. Not because I like expletives, (video of Independent Spirit Awards below- with very bad language), and you know I don't care, but because he may have had something to say to dummy Bill Maher. Maher insulted religion, ignorantly (as in not knowing anything, not just an insult).

Now as a producer and a star of my own documentary this year, the one about religion that didn’t get nominated. I know, it’s a touchy subject. But someday, we all have to confront the notion that our silly gods cost the world too greatly. But there I go, ruining the ending.

Which one of his native Catholic beliefs would be the most costly? Staying married? No, because divorce and family disunity cost us billions of dollars a year. Having children to pay people's social security? We know that people will fight for anything- land, materialist philosophies (Nazis, Communists)- so it can't be war.

Anyways, Mickey Rourke has expressed his appreciation to the Church in general and his Confessor, Father Pete:

"If I wasn't Catholic I would have blown my brains out.

"I would pray to God. I would say 'Please can you send me just a little bit of daylight.'" .

Mickey Rourke tried to commit suicide - but was saved at the eleventh hour by a priest.

"He talked me out of it and we started meeting. His name is Father Pete and he lives in New York.

"Father Pete put me back on the right track," the actor concluded.

I wonder if he would have stood up for his faith.

Interesting article on why Mickey Rourke lost. It also didn't hurt, by the way, that the winner, Sean Penn, was in Milk whose subject, homosexuality, is currently the most PC topic in Hollywood.

I really really want to know what they think.

There are three reasons why it's likely that more people watched the Oscars before it was televised than they did last year, and one of them isn't because it's too long. If length were important (don't listen to the spam emails), people would just watch the last hour or so.

One of the causes for the Academy Awards' growing unpopularity is that the Oscars intentionally or inadvertently insult the majority of Americans. First and foremost is the politics,** which happens to be of the "gun and religion clinging," type, that obnoxious mix of liberalism and elitism that only elite liberals can stomach for any period of time. Movie people also tend to be very rich and attractive. Americans don't enjoy being called stupid and made to feel ugly by pretty actors, many of whom couldn't make a living with either their hands or brains. That the actors depend on the stupid and ugly to spend a day's labor on movie tickets and popcorn only makes it worse. Anyways, that's half the country. This number was smaller before the ratings plunge, when actors weren't as obviously contemptuous of their audience.

Next is the nature of the program. Who gives the award? People in the industry. Whom do the actors thank when they receive the award? They thank the Academy, their agent, maybe their parents or spouse (the kiss of death. Divorce usually follows). Sometimes it seems that the Academy only picks movies that their friends watch. It's the exact opposite of American Idol where Fox gears everything towards the audience.

So, just like Americans enjoy indoor plumbing, but don't like watching the "Bowlies" to see the best supporting drain installation (unless they like to watch the butt-cleavage as they stroll the "red linoleum"); Americans actually like watching movies instead of the people who make them giggle with fawning entertainment reporters, make canned jokes, and proclaim their moral superiority.

That's another 20% of the population.

Finally, at least the Grammys have music performances to entertain. With the Oscars, we get film clips that we can watch on Youtube and a song that nobody likes.

10% more.

So, I'm boycotting again this year, as I have since Methuselah received the lifetime achievement award.

And, what would happen if we all did? Would one less movie get made? Would the Renaissance Hotel lose business? No, the only difference is that they'd put the show on the E channel where the people who need People will still set aside their evenings and "oh my God" for three straight hours. We'd, on the other hand, get the satisfaction of having destroyed an ultimately destructive institution.

**If you're liberal, imagine watching the National Review awards or the Southern Baptist "Preachies."

My friend thought I was nuts: "Why are you taking notes during the game," he asked.

"When you blog, you never rest."

Hyundai:

Humor: C. Moderately clever line about remembering name.
Effectiveness: B. It compares Hyundai to big manufacturers around the world except, notably, American ones.

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