Oscar Backlash

 

There’s been much of the predictable backlash since the Oscar’s on Sunday and I guess I just decided I had to speak up. As a conservative I know I am supposed to say how stupid Hollywood is and how they should keep their political opinions to themselves. As an ‘intellectual’ I am supposed to talk about how pretentious the whole thing is and how self-congratulatory. I’m supposed to talk about how it’s a sham and how Heath Ledger only won because he’s dead or how my beloved Kate Winslet only won because people were tired of her being shunned. Yeah – I could talk about all that and most of it would be true…but I won’t.

I grew up in a household with a single mother who adores films.  Oscar Sunday was a high-holy day in our home and one of the few school nights I was allowed to stay up late. I, more than my other siblings, inherited that love of film. I am by no means a film expert or a film snob. I enjoyed High School Musical more than Citizen Kane but less than Pulp Fiction. I’m physically unable to turn the channel when The Godfather is on…and have the same problem when You Got Mail is on the tube. For me, Meg Ryan in her prime and a happy ending are as enjoyable as that scene where Clemenza teaches Michael how to cook. I am not bothered by this seeming contradiction because I think I understand why movies are so powerful. They take us places and they make us feel things. Yes, we are often disappointed. But when we sit in our seat in a theater or hit play on the DVD we are filled with optimism and we want to take that ride. Maybe it’s why I love previews before  a movie so much, because they make even the stinkers look good. It’s about potential and optimism. Hollywood gives us that.

I am excited about this year’s crop of movies. Watchmen is out soon and also some movie I can’t remember the name of with Julia Roberts and Clive Owen that my wife wants to go see. I know there will be some disappointments and I know I will also get caught watching some made-for-TV Disney movie with my youngest daughter and smile at the inevitable happy ending. I’m a sucker for happy endings.

So if Hollywood wants to keep letting George Clooney make movies about the red scare and wars for oil..that’s okay, because I know he might also make something like Ocean’s 11…and I really liked that one. If they want to pat themselves on the back once each year and if I have to listen to them swoon over one another…that’s okay too. Because they are going to give me far more enjoyment during my life than disappointments and anyone who doesn’t admit that is lying to themselves. America IS the movies. We all want that idealized image…and there’s nothing wrong with a group of people that try their best to deliver that from time to time.