When I first moved into my house in the Hollywood Hills (1989), the Academy Awards were far away at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion or the Shrine Auditorium in downtown Los Angeles. No longer. As the world knows (or the world that cares anyway – more of that in a moment), in 2002 the Oscar ceremony moved to the Kodak Theater in that post-modern nightmare known as the Hollywood & Highland mall — home to myriad mediocre restaurants, retro Heavy Metal t-shirt shops and the odd Versace store. It’s not more than a half mile from my house as the stoned crow flies.
And there went the neighborhood.
This means that every year at this time, major arteries are shut off (making the already mind-bending traffic even more hellacious), the area becomes riddled with satellite trucks and temporary grandstands, and the usually quiet hills are filled with Oscar parties. Replete with bad, loud and often off-key rock and roll, echoing through the canyons — Bono doesn’t play for these things — these parties are anything but glamorous. Often an expensive-looking home is rented out to whoever (porn producers, racketeers, real estate developers) for a day or two of non-stop festivities, resulting in narrow winding streets littered with beer bottles, pizza boxes and, no surprise, condom wrappers. (Note that many of these homes these days are normally empty, luxurious remodels that never sold in the dead housing market, despite plummeting prices.)
At one point it seemed I gave up my neighborhood in support of something America cared about. Anecdotal information suggests this is not so anymore. As I write this, a snap CNN poll (yes, it’s Internet) registers that 62% will be following the Academy Awards “not at all” and 30% “somewhat” with only 8% at “very.” Actually I was surprised the “very” was that much. In the Tea Party era it would seem Hollywood and America were at a period of maximum estrangement.
Still, human beings that we are, we desire, maybe even need, entertainment. It’s worth remembering that some of Hollywood’s finest hours were during the Depression. (Of course, that was under an entirely different system than we have today.) So that pair of Oscar rejects — Lionel Chetwynd and I (we were both once nominees, but not winners) — will be covering Oscar night for an Academy Awards postmortem Poliwood, which should be up late Monday on PJTV. We’ll be reviewing the evening, including the novelty of having two hosts — Steve Martin and Alec Baldwin — and the even greater novelty of having ten best picture nominees.
On the face of it, I oppose the latter. It’s kind of like movie business “grade inflation.” And like most “grade inflation,” it waters down the results. But as Sly Stone once put it, “Everybody is a Star.” So why not?
And, of course, we’ll be watching for the amusing, infuriating or eye-rolling (your choice) use of the platform by Oscar winners or presenters to espouse the pseudo-liberal cause du jour. Be grateful for one thing: this year, at least, Al Gore is not nominated.
ADDENDUM: Lionel and I will be viewing the event, just as you are (if you are), from in front of our television sets. As Academy members, we are entitled to seats, but at a few hundred a pop, doubled for a significant other. And those seats would be in the distant balcony, since we are not nominees or related to one. QED: we’ll watch from home.
I miss the days when the Oscars were at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion. It used to be that when the stars walked the red carpet out in front, they could look down the hill and see the exact spot where Los Angeles began, a few blocks away.
I am not watching the Oscars and could not care less who wins what. I’d like to boycott their product entirely, but there are still one or two movies I want to see. But an Academy that goes gaga over Michael Moore, Al Gore, and a trash compactor like Quinton Tarantino makes me long for the old days of Harry Cohn, Daryl Zanuck, Dore Schary, and Louis B. Mayer.
Watching this garbage is a waste of my time better spent.
Besides, why would I want to see, or hear any of these cretins insulting by beliefs day in and out?
Well Mr Hollywood Hills, why don’t you come down to the flats and enjoy the Barrio of Van Nuys and be among the common folk. Boo Hoo. My hoity poity streets are being blocked by the Academy Awards. Well, mine are blocked by the renegade taco trucks.
My street, in Northern Nevada, will remain quiet as usual, as the sun starts to set and you can see the fog starting to freeze for another cold Nevada night. As for the acadamy awards, I could not care less. The only possible thing that would interest me enough to watch would be if Godzilla suddenly made an appearance and did his Godzilla thing. It’s interesting, though, that in the poll you mention 62% will be following “not at all”. That sort of jives with the idea that the country is still, after all, a right leaning country.
The Academy Awards is a parody of itself.
I won’t watch, Roger, nor give a rat’s patootie, except that I hope The Blind Side wins whatever it’s nominated for.
It’s a wonderful movie – first one I’ve seen (or wanted to see) in years. I already knew of the story, and my friend and I were both excited to be able to go see it.
Other than that, I haven’t darkened the doorstep of a movie house in years, and doubt I will again, unless Hollyweird (or someone) starts making better stories.
i live within sight of the kodak theatre.
the neighborhood hates the oscars. probably has something to do with all the temporary tow zone signs that appear all over my street. they clear out all the proles cars so that the limos will have some place to park.
I too am totally indifferent to the Oscars. All that lefty grandstanding bores the stuff out of me. But the pre Oscar red carpet show with all those hot wannabees, entirely another thing.
I give you Evangeline Lilly smoking up the entire LA basin with one smile. 2006 I think.
Maybe you should do a program on all the film classics that were never nominated but have stood up to time–like the Hitchcock films. Like Spartacus or Psycho, and Singing In The Rain, and speaking of that song, I’m still upset that Clockwork Orange never got a nomination. And 2001 got zip, but that dump truck Michael Moore got one. What do you expect, we can nationalize GM and the banks, but we can’t go to the moon because of too much Michael Jackson’s moon walking in the hoods.
“The Blind Side” should win best picture but wont’ because the Oscars turn a willful blind eye to movies that deal with objective morality and a positive sense of life. It’s an orgy of self gratification for media left.
I have not seen the Blind Side yet, but it is amusing that so many critics hated it and wear their hate on their sleeves. As I listened to critics on NPR, or Bob Edwards’s show, etc., their pseudo-intellectualism is there for all to behold. Most believe in their own cleverness. Most of them are morons. Perhaps going to see the Blind Side during the Oscars might be the best choice for me.
My wife and I rarely “go to the movies.” Instead, we generally opt for Netflix’s Watch Instantly online movie library. Our favorite option is that one of our friends has a large home theatre system and his wife is an excellent cook. So for the price of one Marie Callender’s Razzleberry pie, ice cream, and a bottle of wine, we get fed, have lots of laughs, and watch movies on a very excellent home theatre system. We generally consult each other on what we would all like to watch. We will have at least 4 choices on hand for an evening. If a movie sucks it will get yanked and we start another one. Lots of movies get yanked including Oscar winners/nominees. As for the Oscars themselves, we don’t watch and don’t care.
My wife and I haven’t been to a movie theater in over ten years. I keep wondering why people go. The expense, cell phones,constant chatter and lousy food compared to a large plasma screen, good food, comfortable seats, pauses to go to the bathroom make it a no brainer. Furthermore, I just can’t hand over more money than necessary to actors who seem hellbent on voicing their politics and thereby losing 50% of their audience. It would be interesting to know of the price some actors have paid for their stupidity.
Part 1
About a million years ago, a friend invited me to lunch at the “21″ club in NYC, which was a special and rare occasion for me. As we were leaving (we were on the ground floor), a sudden hush came over the room. There seemed to be some kind of light emanating from the top of the wide, bannistered staircase from the second floor.
As I looked up I saw, majestically stepping down, glowing as if the light were emanating from her pores — Joan Crawford. She was wearing a full length very pale pastel blue gown, full skirted made out of some kind of dreamy, floaty material, heart-shaped strapless top (something like the Blue Fairy) — She — “it” was a vision that took your breath away.
I’ve never been a huge fan of Crawford, but I never forgot that moment. It was an experience — a magical experience.
(cont’d)
Part 2
That’s the kind of magic the Academy Awards used to be. The “Stars” truly glowed for us. Movies moved the heart and expanded the soul, and inspired the spirit. What wonders they were to a world where technology was in its infancy. Just the idea that they could actually “BE” … was … awesome — thrilling — profoundly stirring imagination and — yes, faith in the future.
“Stars” weren’t “people” to us. They weren’t meant to be — for us. They were symbols of dreams and possibilities.
If the Studios cynically created this “fantasy” for their own “gain” — well, their gain was ours as well — and we have nothing to be but grateful to them for it.
The miracle of America was built on dreams, belief in ourselves, love of our country and the liberty it gave us, and faith in the future.
Is the “innocence” of those days completely gone?
(cont’d)
Part 3
A large portion of our society has become a good deal — crassified — often outright vulgar — in many ways, cynical, and lost much of its dignity (and I’m no prude, and not even a “social” Conservative).
Long, long ago, you’d catch your breath as the glamourous Stars walked the aisle and stepped up to collect their Oscars. Alas, nowadays, Hollywood has lost the magic and the mystery, which I believe Americans still remember and yearn for. I know I do.
To-Administrator – Part 2 of my comment at first showed up, then disappeared. Here it is again, in case it got lost.
Part 2
That’s the kind of magic the Academy Awards used to be. The “Stars” truly glowed for us. Movies moved the heart and expanded the soul, and inspired the spirit. What wonders they were to a world where technology was in its infancy. Just the idea that they could actually “BE” … was … awesome — thrilling — profoundly stirring imagination and — yes, faith in the future.
“Stars” weren’t “people” to us. They weren’t meant to be — for us. They were symbols of dreams and possibilities.
If the Studios cynically created this “fantasy” for their own “gain” — well, their gain was ours as well — and we have nothing to be but grateful to them for it.
The miracle of America was built on dreams, belief in ourselves, love of our country and the liberty it gave us, and faith in the future.
Is the “innocence” of those days completely gone?
(cont’d)
Can a stoned crow fly?
Probably no better than Charlie Sheen can stay out of trouble.
Ah, the Golden Age of Hollywood when all you knew of the stars was the image they portrayed on the screen. Mystery hides many faults.
Need I quote today’s Hollywood guidebook on proper use of a single sheet of toilet paper? Or the acceptable wait time between urination and defecation before flushing the offending material?
From the moment the first camera flash dazzles their eye it seems, it is a race to see how much drivel they can spill before the camera lands on the next shiny bauble, ingloriously extracting her sometimes panty clad person from the limousine while catching that last dribble of Grey Goose from the mini bar, in preparation for her own insipid attempt at profundity. Not that any of the preceding imagery is limited to Hollywood’s female gender.
It is a rare film indeed that would allow me to forget, if only for a moment, some of the excruciating details I have either willingly, or unwillingly, learned of their personal lives and beliefs. Today’s writing talent has proven to be woefully inadequate to the task. Thankfully the technology of fanciful computer generated explosions has grown by leaps and bounds effectively concussing the desire for engaging plots or characters completely from my mind. The idea of smuggling an i-pod into Avatar may just convince me to pay for the theater experience, if only to finance further advances in CGI.
Even in the midst of this diatribe I must admit not all of Hollywood deserves such treatment, so I will leave sifting the dross in the capable hands of others. For myself, too much of today’s Hollywood is simply a drunken orgy upon the rotting corpse of greatness. Let them revel in their own vomit, I have better things to do with my time
Good news! You’re telling us that the mouth breathing, gum-chewing bobbie-soxers that follow the Oscars have dwindled from 80% or so down to only 8%. WOW!
Where are the 72%? At =:obama rallies?
Heh. We weren’t paying attention and decided this would be the week to visit LA, and we’re staying in a cheap Hollyweird motel. Fortunately, we’re leaving this morning for home. We won’t be watching either, but it’s been interesting watching the preparations.
I don’t care much about the Oscars. After not watching them for at least 20 years, I watched them start to finish two years ago, and realized that’s about 4 hours of my life I’ll never get back. I don’t know who 75% of these people are. And that doesn’t bother me! The ones I recognize are dumb as boxes of rocks, or if they have brains, they waste those brains on liberal mind-goo which I hear enough about already.
We went to The Blind Side at the theater, however, and saw the trailer for Avatar while we were there. The only hope I have for the Oscars this year is that Avatar loses. I’ll laugh.
I wait for most movies to show up on cable or DVD. I won’t bother with the Oscars. If I like something, I like it, and if I don’t, I don’t. Who cares what a bunch of critics, actors, and directors think?
i can’t stand the lefty crap, or any of them telling each other how wonderful they are. i may watch joan rivers making fun of their clothing, but that’s all, and couldn’t care less who wins.
Hollywood. Sodom and Gomorrah. The Difference?
Sushi?
The Oscars? Which innane celebrity promotion is that? I get them all confused these days.
First year in ten that I’ve actually seen a few of the nominated movies; first year in a long time I liked some. Your commenters are the very same elite snobs they claim to criticize and are so far above. Can’t wait for Avatar-like porn, then we’ll all be excited.
Found this great article from last year on Hollywood & Politics
http://www.flashreport.org/featured-columns-library0b.php?faID=2009022012194336
good references to the players…..
Fantastic article by Larry Greenfield.
Good references and history of Hollywood politics.
Nice hat tip to Roger Simon.
I don’t usually watch, but this year I will be watching because I saw, and actually liked, two of the nominated movies. Julie and Julia I went to because my wife read the book and wanted to see the movie. Not normally my cup of tea, nevertheless I thought it was good story telling and very well acted especially by Meryl Streep and Stanley Tucci.
I watched The Hurt Locker while on a 16 hour flight from SFO to Hong Kong as a way of killing time. It blew me away. I’m a Vietnam vet (not a grunt – a Navy pilot) and the movie captured the fear and tenseness of war that took me back to 34 years ago. In fact, I have not been able to quite shake those old feelings it dredged up. Although it shows incredible courage and a bit of over-done risk taking by the hero, at its core it shows war as it is – dangerous, often mindless, barbaric, and an assault on human decency. In delineating that, it is, for me, a truly anti-war film. I have seen a lot of war films that achieved the anti-war message, but this is, IMO, one of the best. For that reason I hope it wins, but realize that it won’t because it does not have an anti-American message.
Wow, Alec Baldwin is a host? Boy have the Oscars fallen that far?
I still think of how he talked to his daughter whenever I see him. Bad enough I endure the commercials about Jerry S. show with him as a host. I think I would stay away from watching the Oscars to spare myself for that alone if I had thought about watching them before. Truthfully, I usually find out the next day each year when I hear someone talking about who won what. I usually don’t know any of the names. Okay, I do talk guilty pleasure in looking at tmz.com once in a while. I like their snarky attitude towards the ‘stars.’
I could not care less. The only possible thing that would interest me enough to watch would be if Godzilla suddenly made an appearance and did his Godzilla thing. It’s interesting, though, that in the poll you mention 62% will be following “not at all”. That sort of jives with the idea that the country is still, after all, a right leaning country.