Crash's Upset

[StickToPriest]

Posted: 3/6/06 at 10:19pm

"In a scene apparently repeated across the world last night, this Oscar obsessive was just merrily enjoying his annual favorite holiday (Oscar Night) with a bunch of friends. Suddenly a foul spirit swept through the room leaving the collected revelers slack-jawed, nauseous, and with the wind completely knocked out of them. Twenty people laughing, drinking, whispering, smiling transformed into dead eyed abandoned children with one sucker bunch from an elite group of 6000. The moment of which I speak will live in infamy: Jack Nicholson announced that the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences were bucking tradition--or rather "traditions" (yes all of them) to deprive that big beautiful gay breakthrough, Brokeback Mountain, its expected and deserving prize. Not for the Academy their 77 year tradition of going with the flow.

The response to my article two weeks ago in which I detailed my theories on what a Brokeback loss would indicate has been very illuminating. There were really only two types of reactions:

The first were people unwilling to even consider what I put out there (accusing me of gay ghetto thinking if they had a bone to pick but mostly just attacking and moving on) the second were frequent messages of support. This two-toned reaction was repeated after the Oscar loss. Messages of support, condolences, and gratitude mixed with gloating notes and petty bombs dropped.

About this last thing; Sadly it only proves my point surrounding the poison of homophobia which afflicted this film's final fortunes. I have been writing about the Oscar race for seven years. In only one of those years has my favorite film won. I am extremely familiar with disappointment. But this is the first time ever in which I've experienced people enjoying the suffering of others within the context of the Oscar races. I never got any 'you lose!' taunts when Moulin Rouge! or Sideways lost. I am suddenly reminded of childhood's "smear the queer" games and high school bullying. Kick people while they're down. Nobody ever felt the need to attack me for loving films about French courtesans, penniless writers, or wine lovers. So why the gloating at the sorry fates of gay cowboys? I think it's a valid question. But one that the gloaters would be hard pressed to answer without looking deeper inside themselves.

Which brings me to the dazed part.


Disappointment is an unavoidable part of the Oscar game. It's a one winner activity and you're bound to disagree more often than not. What surprised me last night --even more than the violent departing from all traditions-- was how seismic the sadness which swept over me felt. To put it in context: I have loved many many films more than Brokeback Mountain but never once did I feel so betrayed while watching the Oscars. No, not even when La Pfeiffer, my favorite actress, lost her Oscar in 1989 after winning armfuls of prizes before the big night.

I know.

Just let that sink in for a minute.

.

.

.

So, yes. Stunned I may be but confusion I do not feel. Brokeback Mountain lost because it was gay. I know that sounds simple. I know it sounds like sour grapes. But it's the only explanation that doesn't crumble under a spotlight. Homosexuality makes people uncomfortable --even supposedly liberal people like the Academy. I've been trying too make the point for years in my work analyzing the Oscars that the Hollywood community is nowhere close to the liberal/progressive enclave that the media often describes them as. Reactionary politics like Forrest Gump or wing nut friendly efforts like Braveheart are just as likely to rake in gold trophies as any 'liberal' effort. In all the talk you've been reading and will read people will try to tell you that it's about other things.

Don't believe it.

People will say it's about the SAG Award or the huge ensemble cast correlating with the actors branch block of votes. The SAG Award did not turn the tide for The Birdcage, Sideways, Gosford Park, or The Full Monty. Magnolia, a film from which Crash steals shamelessly, couldn't even win the SAG ensemble despite its criss- crossing narratives and large casts. These things: large ensembles and crisscrossed narratives. They do not automatically equal actor branch love. If they did Robert Altman and PT Anderson films would have had better fortunes with AMPAS.

People will say it's because Brokeback was over-rewarded and Oscar does not like to be "told" how to vote. This is the most patently false of all statements you will hear. If you find yourself agreeing with this (it seems logical, right? Hey, I admit that it does to me) you need only look at the past 77 years of history to see how much of an anomaly it is. They are not accustomed to breaking cycles of unanimous support. Whichever film is the leader going in is the one that wins UNLESS there has been significant precursor battling for pole position going on. Shakespeare in Love vs. Saving Private Ryan for instance: A horse race is a horse race is a horse race. The Oscars are not usually a horse race in the top category. Brokeback Mountain had, statistically speaking, no competition for the main prize. Certainly not Crash... which received only 6 nominations (very low for a BP winner historically and if the actors loved it so much --see false point previous paragraph-- shouldn't there have been more acting nominations? The precursors managed to give it more acting nominations. So we know there was room) and no Golden Globe BP attention --another usual death knell.

So homophobia becomes the logical scapegoat. Even if you despise the argument, as many do without truly investigating it within the context of this particular awards season, it would be the compassionate Crash-like idea to consider that that's what it might be; Uninvestigated barely-acknowledged but insidious prejudices preventing people from connecting with others (or certain works of art, *ahem*).

But again, I wondered why I was taking it so personally.

I guess I needed it.

I only speak for myself but I also believe that the gay community needed it. We've been under siege for so many years that any nugget of acknowledgement can feel like ice water in the desert. For six years the right-wing has been wielding anti-gay prejudices with great clubbing force, turning citizens against each other in a very personal way. In many states we've lost health insurance for our families, domestic partnership benefits, adoption rights, with no end in site for a retrograde civil rights movement.

The response to Brokeback Mountain was, in this context, a revelation. Suddenly people were talking again about love and the right of everyone to love and be loved. The expandable tragedy of repression and the closet which poisons more than just the homosexual was illuminated for all to see in this film. Straight people and gay people have been responding to the movie beautifully. So, if you believe big media, the only group that did not respond was the group they repeatedly hold up as progressively liberal. That's a sham of course. They aren't progressive. (They're centrists if they're anything.) But it's a sham that people believe. Which makes their very visible and uncharacteristic shunning of a landmark mainstream film another weapon for the right wing to beat the GLBT community with.

In the context of the Academy Awards it feels like a gilded knife in the back. After all, who loves the Oscars more than gay people? That may read as a joke. But it's also a truth. Last year's Oscar host even made a joke about this. In my thirty+ years on this planet I have met hundreds of people who are obsessed with the Oscar race and Oscar night itself. Most of those people were gay. So for those readers who've bravely made it this far but are still scratching their heads wondering why all the drama? hair-pulling? tears? Picture this: The man/woman who you love. They don't love you back. In fact you've just discovered that they'll bend over backwards to avoid acknowledging your existence; the bending over backwards being the breaking with 77 years of past voting habits. Your existence being this film, the only gay specific film ever so nominated.

And one final thing. If you find yourself still in astonishment at the sorrow of many Oscar watchers...if you find yourself muttering "IT'S ONLY A MOVIE". Consider this. Repeat it: "It's Only a Movie". Is this really the response and fallback motto that the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, that Hollywood itself should prompt us to embrace?

The point: It's not only a movie."

http://www.thefilmexperience.net/Awards/2005/oscar_countdown.html

Updated On: 3/7/06 at 10:19 PM

[vbplayer]

Posted: 3/6/06 at 10:22pm

That post was longer than the Oscars.

[SweetQintheLights]

Posted: 3/6/06 at 10:25pm

"That post was longer than the Oscars."

Hahahaha! I'm just wondering who, if anyone, is going to read that whole thing.
Just the title of the thread was enough for my head to spin...

[StickToPriest]

Posted: 3/6/06 at 10:28pm

Well, I can't help it if people today have the attention spans of a gnat.

I just think what was written above has a lot of ideas and thoughts a lot of people here would find interesting.

[NYadgal]

Posted: 3/6/06 at 10:32pm

"Brokeback Mountain lost because it was gay"

I disagree.

And I think that statement is insulting.

But I don't think that anybody is going to change anybody's mind about this issue... as has been shown in the countless threads about this movie on BWW.

Updated On: 3/6/06 at 10:32 PM

[NYadgal]

Posted: 3/6/06 at 10:34pm

...and there is a very diverse community of people who are fans of the Oscars.

[StickToPriest]

Posted: 3/6/06 at 10:36pm

Are you seriously going to dispute the fact that gays make up a very, very significant part of the Oscar's audience/fans?

[NYadgal]

Posted: 3/6/06 at 10:37pm

No. But I don't buy that they are the only ones who love the Oscars. They are one group of people who watch and are fans.

[vbplayer]

Posted: 3/6/06 at 10:41pm

<-------------------------gnat.

[YouWantitWhen????]

Posted: 3/6/06 at 10:46pm

I am so sick of this discussion.

[Luscious]

Posted: 3/6/06 at 10:56pm

Thanks for posting that, Priest. It pretty much sums it all up for me. I've already e-mailed it to several friends who feel exactly the same way. Over the years, I've been disappointed by the outcome of the Oscars more times than I can count, but I've never felt this betrayed. And by no means am I laying all of the blame at the feet of homophobic Hollywood "straights". A gay-themed movie will be recognized and rewarded with Hollywood's top prize when the collective consciousness of gay men and women evolves into believing that it's truly something we've earned and deserve.

Updated On: 3/6/06 at 10:56 PM

[Elphaba]

Posted: 3/6/06 at 10:58pm

sadly I rarely read priest's posts........as when I want to read a book, I do.

priest, I've said this before......bullet points work best.....as I doubt no more than three will read thorugh that epic

[jrb_actor]

Posted: 3/6/06 at 11:16pm

I'm getting tired of people trying to pretend that Crash was some terrible film unworthy of even being in the running. Maybe some of you feel that way, but you are never going to have any kind of a civil discourse, nor find practical understanding/resolution to this if you keep acting like Crash was not considered a good film. It's just pointless. Opinions are not fact, but consensus is something to contend with.

I didn't care for The English Patient, but I acknowledge that it was considered a good film and if the majority of the Academy felt it was the Best Picture of the year--so be it.

I would guess that most of the people who voted for Crash voted FOR Crash. Not against Brokeback Mountain. And, if this homosexual had been an Academy voter, he would have likely voted for Good Night, and Good Luck or Crash.

I understand and do dread how homophobes and bigots are going to use this. But that is not the Academy's fault. It's not their responsibility.

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 3/6/06 at 11:23pm

SticktoPriest, thank you for that. It is exactly what I've been feeling but have had a hard time putting into words under all the frustration I've been dealing with today.

As for the rest of you who have nothing nice to say: (nyadgal, vbplayer, YouWantitWhen????, Elphaba), can you guys please just acklowledge that some people, if not you, are going through a tough time after last night's upset, and let those people discuss it without making bitchy comments? This thread was started to give solace to some people. It was CLEARLY not started to provoke a debate. If you want a debate, there are 100+ threads for you to go make people feel bad in, and I don't doubt that you won't find company in those threads.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 3/6/06 at 11:25pm

I'm absolutely heartbroken, as the movie means a lot to me, obviously on terms different from what it means to some of you. (For the record, I've not seen Crash, so I'm not going to try to make justifications or hypotheses.)

HOWEVER, I think this is all going to be made worse when things that are practical are misconstrued as "not nice." Self-victimization isn't going to help here.

[Pinguin]

Posted: 3/6/06 at 11:27pm

Yeah, I feel like you have to keep in mind that this was a race of five movies -there were many factors that forced people to vote many different ways, and Crash came out on top.

And I argee with you jrb, it's ridiculous that people are trying to pin Crash as this travesty of a film and an embarrassment to the Academy. Clearly it has been a popular and well respected film, and has made some impact on the members of the Academy.

Homophobia may have contributed to Brokeback Mountain's loss, but it's impossible to tell, and I do not think that the loss is proof of anything. I'm happy that the film has managed to do so well despite the controversy, definitely excited for Ang Lee, and it makes me happy that so many people, even in the red states, have seen the film and like it. I'm not disheartened by its Oscar loss. The film has garnered many other awards.

[vbplayer]

Posted: 3/6/06 at 11:27pm

Excuse me, I was nasty?? Foster, you need to think and read before you post.

[Jane2]

Posted: 3/6/06 at 11:28pm

Sincere question here-I've hesitated asking it but I really want to know the answer, and if you get bitchy or sarcastic to me, then that's mean because I'm asking a real question here-

I've always heard and seen evidence of the Hollywood community's notorious liberal agenda all these years. We all know that a good portion of any creative community is made up largely of gays, also. Soo-my question is-when did this change? when did the Hollywood community and its academy voters become homophobic?

Updated On: 3/6/06 at 11:28 PM

[NYadgal]

Posted: 3/6/06 at 11:29pm

"It was CLEARLY not started to provoke a debate"

Hey - this is why Priest said he posted it:

"I just think what was written above has a lot of ideas and thoughts a lot of people here would find interesting"

And, for the record:
I have had PLENTY of nice things to say about Brokeback on PLENTY of other threads.

I just refuse to accept that Brokeback Mountain didn't win the Academy Award best picture because it was gay. A statement was made and I responded.

[Pinguin]

Posted: 3/6/06 at 11:29pm

Jane2- I think it's hard to look at the list of nominated films and declare that Hollywood isn't liberal anymore.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 3/6/06 at 11:29pm

Jane, could it be something so simply explained as... a phenomenon that's sort of labelled for convenience? If that makes sense.

Posted: 3/6/06 at 11:30pm

dizzy again Updated On: 3/6/06 at 11:30 PM

[Lavinia]

Posted: 3/6/06 at 11:30pm

I personally liked Defamer's reaction better:

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! God help us all. The sky has opened, Beezlebub has dumped his infernal payload of obvious evil on an unsuspecting Earth. Life as we know it is over. Drive to the desert and start a new civilization, hoping that our horrible, horrible mistakes will not be repeated. This is the end, friends. See you in Hell.

WORST. OSCARS. EVER.

[Jane2]

Posted: 3/6/06 at 11:32pm

emcee, so are you saying it was never true? I mean about Hollywood being liberal.

[harris007]

Posted: 3/6/06 at 11:35pm

Jerby i'm 100% with you, also everyone that is bitching bout crash winning, let me ask you this, what did you think would happen that just becuase one movie that delt with gay themes got best picture that homophobia would disapear in a snap?