Too Bad Aslan Wasn't Gay
Would that have been enough to get "The Chronicles of Narnia" nominated for the "Best Picture" Oscar? Does the Academy crowd or the Hollywood folks even notice what a movie does at the box office? I'm thinking some of the old classics that won numerous awards in their day (see Ben Hur, The Sound of Music, To Kill a Mockingbird, Patton, Chariots of Fire, etc) would not have even been on the radar screen of the Academy if they had hit the big screen in 2005. Does that mean anything, or is it just coincidence?
My take is that the disconnect between main-stream America and Hollywood keeps getting wider and wider.
What's your take?
11 Comments:
well I saw several movies last year, and not one of them was nominated....Either I am peculiar or there is a pretty big gap....
Oh yes... I totally agree. These days it seems the stuff we enjoy watching gets panned by the critics and ignored by the rest of those in the business.
Eh, so what if it doesn't get an award? Doesn't make me like it any less.
I don't agree. Mainstream blockbusters often get overlooked for Oscars. LOTR was an exception.
As for Aslan's sexuality, the movie was really silent about it. So, he could have been gay, just closeted. We will never know, I guess.
Travis, huh? I thought that is what I said.....mainstream blockbusters often get overlooked.
So what do you not agree about?
Yes, I agree that there's a disconnect between Hollywood and mainstream culture. But a few other things jump to mind:
1. This is the same conversation that's had most weeks after Oscar nominations; I'd argue that there's always been this disconnect (Marilyn Monroe wasn't anyone's poster child for virtue.)
2. I'd classify cinema as an art, and art and mass populations have rarely seen eye to eye on most endeavors. Van Gogh was ridiculed. Most of the art that our culture now values as great was rejected by its own culture. I don't think we Christians win, however, by merely bashing art and disconnecting from art's conversations (can I plug "Crash" here?) I know that's not what you're saying, but that sprang to mind. Now, I'm not comparing Van Gogh to Brokeback Mountain (a film I haven't seen and probably won't see), but Brokeback hasn't won any Oscars yet. Have you seen "Crash?"
3. Geography may play a role here: all five films up for best picture have been shown at nearly every cinema in Los Angeles for months, and frankly, I'll be glad when this year's race is over and I can escape all these films' hype.
4. Can you remember a film in recent memory that more effectively addresses a moral ill than "Crash?"
I know, I'm getting obnoxious now...:)
You never cease to surprise me with your blog. :) I laughed when I saw that title. Perhaps the first time that "too bad Aslan wasn't gay" has ever been printed in the English language. And I just wrote it the second time.
You're witnessing history here, folks.
I agree...great title.
And here's from someone who thinks Crash was a better movie even than Narnia...maybe not a better story...but better on-screen. Truly deserving of a nomination.
I understand what ML said about art, and there will always be a disconnect there.
But Hollywood definitely doesn't "get it." The folks who make most of the movies just don't seem to understand the mainstream values in our nation. That's why the movie business is not doing well and stars are Accepting Pay Cuts.
I am not a "conspiracy" person, but I certainly believe that Hollywood has an agenda (other than making money). If Brokeback Mountain was not about homosexuality, would it be getting all the fanfare and hype? I seriously doubt it.
But I try not to complain too much about Hollywood. I once heard Rick Atchley say (concerning Hollywood): "Why are we surprised that sinners sin? What should really concern us is that Christians can't wait until Saturday night to pay $8 to watch them do it!"
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Uh guys? the Academy Awards are just that- the Academy Awards, an internal awards ceremony for members of the Motion Picture Academy. When the Academy of Accountants gives out awards do you complain, "Wow, I can't believe John Beancounter got nominated- he's no where near as popular as Bobby Abacus." The only reason they're on TV is because Americans can't handle celebrities doing anything without them watching. You're quite free to not watch the show. You can watch a show where popularity does matter- it's called the People's Choice Awards.
And Jeff- "If Brokeback Mountain was not about homosexuality, would it be getting all the fanfare and hype? I seriously doubt it."
What, pray tell , would it be about then?
Well I don't know how a person who can't pick a national champion football team "TEXAS", can expect to pick a winning movie Ha !just one last gig.
As our friend Bob Helsten might quip, "Are you saying you don't think cowboys can be merry?"
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