Does politics have a place at the Academy Awards? The protestors are expected to express themselves...?

Question

Groundbreaking Iraq films cast shadow over 79th Oscars

by Rob Woollard
Sun Feb 18, 3:25 AM ET



HOLLYWOOD (AFP) - Four years after filmmaker Michael Moore was booed off the stage for protesting the war in Iraq, movies about the conflict are poised to take center stage at this month's 79th Academy Awards ceremony.

Moore was roundly condemned for making a political statement in 2003 when he collected his Oscar for "Bowling for Columbine," accusing US President George W. Bush of waging a "fictitious" war.

But in a reflection of the changing mood against the war, Oscars voters have embraced two documentaries which paint a bleakly critical picture of US policy in Iraq, "Iraq in Fragments" and "My Country, My Country."

Both films are among the five nominees for the best documentary Oscar at this year's awards on February 25, where they are up against the favorite, Al Gore's environmental rallying cry, "An Inconvenient Truth."

For "Iraq in Fragments," director James Longley spent two years in Iraq, and in shooting 300 hours of footage he tried to capture the effects of the conflict on everyday Iraqis.

The film that emerges -- three 30-minute segments reflecting the lives of Sunni, Shiite and Kurdish Iraqis -- is a startling portrait of a country wrestling with the horrors of war.

"Most of the people we see are people who are mostly not in combat," Longley said in a recent interview. "The film is not so much about the Americans as it is about the Iraqis and the big issues they're dealing with in their country."

Longley, who believes the United States should withdraw from the country, said current policy is having "the opposite effect people think it is."

"It has served to divide the country against itself," said the 34-year-old Seattle native. "The Iraqis have managed their affairs for thousands of years, and they can in our absence."

Answer 1

NO, NO, NO! And I will not support any actor who makes a political statement, period! It's ENTERTAINMENT.

Answer 2

All Americans have the right to run their mouth, even in Hollywood, but I wonder how many previous celebs would have said anything against the studio's or a boss like Jack Warner at the Oscars, like they want to against President Bush. Also many Hollywood types were never Bush supporters in the first place. My question is to the news media, why does the news media believe that certain individuals in Hollywood can run their mouth and believe they are talking for the country. What insight does a actor really have, their whole career is based upon what some one else wrote on paper.

Answer 3

Well that's unfortunate. Sad to say we do not see any positive news coming out of Iraq even though there is much that is not seen in our news media. Of course the news media's Chicken Little" attitude of is "The sky is falling, the sky is falling" attitude of hopelessness and despair. Yet Iraqi's themselves are very optimistic about their own future.

Below are a few blog sites that talk about the positives. What is most unfortunate is this kind of news is not reported to the American people at large. But of course Chicken Little has a big influence on the American media anyway.
I wonder what would happen if someone one filmed a the positives going on in Iraq now thanks to the American led coalition forces and brought it center stage to the Academy Awards? What then would they do? Deny equal access to the audience about that?

This whole fiasco makes me sick. People are right. The Academy Awards should be about entertainment and not about politics. But it seems like the powers that be that run the program are willing to allow the distorted of antiwar cynicism to crucify,kill, and bury the truth,

Just review some of the accomplishments listed in those sites and you can thank God American solder's don't listen to the news media here. The Iraqi's are very glad off that.

Answer 4

Thats quite a rant but the Academy chooses to be political so they have to face the music when it comes to protestors. Celebrities who pander to the radical left invite criticism and have to accept that their views are not part of their art and when they mixed to the two than it cheapens both. I think there is great irony that there is now the complete opposite of the McCarthy era in Hollywood. Eugene McCarthy was a right wing irresponsible Senator who pandered to the radical right and chased actors, writers, directors who held radical left wing views or had memberships in the US Communist Party. Today, if an actor/actress is not a vocal embracer of leftist views they cannot work in Hollywood and certainly will not be eligible for Oscars. So if you are Tom Selleck or some other people who do not hold the new "left" views (that is not the Rosie, Babs, Devito views then you cannot work. Ironic but not totally unexpected. When people hold power they impose their views. So we are treated to pandering to people like Michael Moore who, regardless of politics, makes really crappy, egomanical movies. Politics should not be part of show business but it is so let it be the circus it wants to be. Without me.

Answer 5

Sure. As pointed out in your Moore example, if a speaker goes too far, s/he will receive immediate feedback on that fact. As for nominating documentary films that protest the war in Iraq--as long as they're excellently made films, then absolutely they deserve a place at the Academy Awards; to not include them would be a far worse crime.

Answer 6

I believe the Academy Awards are supposed to be about receiving an award for a film you have produced, directed or acted in. If a film is awarded an honor, who ever receives the honor should accept with a Thanks to whom ever they feel they owe one. That's it! Let the film speak for it's self.
I don't feel the need to hear someone from Hollywood give a political speech! It has happened too often & is not what the Awards are about. It is about entertainment, not political endorsements.

Answer 7

The Academy Awards is supposed to be about films and not about wars. Although some of the nominated films were about wars, the quality of the film must be the issue and not the war. Protesters must make their grievances in another forum.

Answer 8

Alec the Dalek wins the award for action image. The Buk wars Saga. Buk wins the Grammy for communicate educate host. i'd be starring in a touch trick or deal with movie Halloween evening. Wanna co-superstar with me you beautiful hunk of metallic.

Answer 9

We live by the Constitution and it allows Freedom of Speech and Freedom of the Press. The Academy is made up of Americans who are afforded these rights just like any other American. Like it or not, that's the way it is.

Answer 10

Unfortunately Hollywood is a Liberal Hub....So the likes of Moore, Fonda, Penn & Saradan will use it as a Pulpit for their Anti-American Rhetoric

Answer 11

The Academy Awards are designated for honoring actors and films.The protestors have a right to voice their opinons in another forum.