Macrolog
Take The Hawks Bowling
So the Oscars went ahead last night, with a number of unexpected occurances. Roman Polanski winning best director for The Pianist for one, showing that some people can overlook past indiscretions and evaluate art for what it is. Another shock was an anime film, Spirited Away, picking up the gong for Best Animated Feature, which must have really stuck in Disney’s craw (although, being the film’s distributor in the States, they still get a piece of the pie). And of course, for all us lefties out there, Michael Moore actually getting the nod in the Best Documentary Feature category for his mostly excellent Bowling for Columbine.
Not that he wouldn’t or shouldn’t have been top choice for the award anyway, but considering the climate we now find ourselves in, and the fact that Moore isn’t exactly softly spoken about his feelings for the Bush Administration and everything it stands for, it was a pleasant surprise—but a surprise nonetheless—to see that jingoism hadn’t taken hold of the Academy. Despite this, however, there was some very audible dissent in the audience as Moore gave his expactantly inflammatory acceptance speech, and I for one was disappointed at this to say the least.
I like Michael Moore. For the most part he is a man of strong principles and convictions and, let’s be honest, testicular fortitude — few people would truly have the gall to pull some of the stunts that he’s pulled in his time, yet still be sincere (and obviously so) about his motives.
I do have a couple of problems with Michael Moore. One is that he has a tendency to let his satirical side get the better of him (case in point: a section in his book Stupid White Men outlining a possible and potential plan for bringing peace to the Middle East, directly followed by a tongue-in-cheek call for the conversion of Protestants to Catholicism as a solution to the problems in the North) unlike, say, Mark Thomas, who strikes a finer balance and hits his points home harder as a result. Another is that, while I can easily identify with his sentiments, his stance is far too dogmatic, the practicalities of situations obscured by his principles. I can see clearly, therefore, how and why many people might have a problem with him and what he says.
But booing the man? What’s up with that? That’s just plain childish, even more so coming from an audience of supposed role models. When certain people had a problem with Elia Kazan a few years ago at least they weren’t so boorish about it. And besides, such infantile behaviour merely adds fuel to Moore’s righteous fire; if you’re going to criticise someone, surely the last thing you would do is help make them look better?
Mon 24 Mar 2003 at 18:41 ·
Comments (3 responses)
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Posted by Matt
Tue 25 Mar 2003
at 13:38
Of course they edited the presentation of his award out of the oscar ‘highlights’ shown last night, despite it being one of only a few highlights in an otherwise dull ceremony (59 oscar winners - what was with that!!) Was surprised the pianist got the nod ahead of ‘Gangs of New York on both counts.
I thought he was cheered… They broadcasted his acceptance speech on the morning news on Monday and I did hear noise but I thought it was people clapping. Sometimes a sleep drugged mind is a much better alternative than being fully awake. At least Moore has the balls to say what he thinks, unlike many many others who’re too afraid of their price on the popularity market.
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This is the personal website of MacDara Conroy, a twenty-something journalist, editor and all-round creative type living in Dublin, Ireland.
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You are reading Take The Hawks Bowling, a Macrolog entry by MacDara Conroy. It is filed under Culture & Society, and was published in March 2003.
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