Annie Proulx Responds to Crash Win

[QC]

Ouch! Remind me never to get on her bad side!

http://books.guardian.co.uk/comment/story/0,,1727309,00.html

[MnFats]

1. i think the color she was talking about...

...was actually green.

[Hissyspit]

2. That might be in part why she is a good writer. I like what my friend

emailed me about "Crash" winning (he's heterosexual as far as I know and so am I) the night of the awards:

"Ooooo. . .How brave is that? . . .To give the Best Picture Oscar to a movie that says that racism is bad. . .Didn't Sidney Poitier, Stanley Kramer, and Norman Jewison already blaze that particular trail about four/five decades back?" Sure, racism is still very much a concern in America and deserves cultural analysis, but "Crash" failed on so many levels.

I do believe it was a cop-out vote, despite the fact that I also think that with the quality of the other 4 films, their votes cancelled each other out a lot and allowed the weaker film to come out on top; in addtion to the anti-Brokeback manuevering.

[6000eliot]

3. Yes, and Crash was much better when it was called "Grand Canyon"

back in the 1991.

[Hissyspit]

4. That's exactly what has been in the back of my mind, but I've been

unable to verbalize it - thanks! LOL

[Smarmie Doofus]

12. Wow... I forgot about that. You're right. Touche'. n/t

[dorkulon]

5. Sad

Poor little Annie didn't win. Boo hoo. This is incredibly poor form. I hope she winds up working on a film with everyone from Crash, and is completely ostracized for being such an insufferable bitch.

[QC]

6. What did she say that wasn't true?

I agree that it's best to lose (and win) graciously, but I can't see anything in that piece that's not defensible, with the possible exception of the crack about "Trash."

Besides, she's 78--she probably won't be doing any more work in Hollywood.

[Hissyspit]

7. I don't think she's mad she didn't win. I think she's mad that

the Academy copped out.

People said Michael Moore was rude and in poor form with what he said at the Oscars. But what did HE say that wasn't true?

[QC]

8. I think the $cientology issue has her steamed, too.

They provided the funding for the film (which might explain why there's not a single gay character in a film set in contemporary L.A.--there are no homos in $cientologyland) and they are also said to have funded the massive campaign for Crash.

[Hissyspit]

9. And that's a very important issue that deserves public discourse. n/t

[dorkulon]

11. It won best director, and

Capote got best actor--I don't understand why everybody's talking about this like it was some kind of gay bashing rally. I didn't see Crash, but even if it sucked, it wouldn't be the first time the best film didn't win. Besides, I think Godd Night & Good Luck was the best film up for the award.

Anyway, these award shows are always infuriating--ever watch the Grammys? The point is, when you lose, you say "it's an honor to be nominated" and concede that all the contenders were worthy. You don't write a "fuck everyone because I didn't win" column. It's pathetic IMHO.

[Smarmie Doofus]

13. Re. Best Director: This is voted by directors only. Not...

.... by the 6,000 member academy.



>>>--I don't understand why everybody's talking about this like it was some kind of gay bashing rally.>>>

Re. above: see reply number 8.

[Name removed]

22. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Yollam]

23. How funny that your name is "Conservatives Lie"

And here you are, a right-winger lying and pretending to be a liberal.

Go back under your bridge.

[Duncan Grant]

15. Correction: Poor form is calling someone an "insufferable bitch".

But you already knew that, didn't you.

[joeybee12]

19. Hey, Annie wasn' nominated--she didn't write the screenplay, and

had nothing to do with the movie itself. Get yer facts straight, mate.

[Meldread]

10. Wow very well written.

To be honest, I didn't even watch the Awards. I never do. I don't bother, as I'm not really interested in watching self-congratulatory masturbation. However, I was disappointed when Brokeback Mountain didn't win Best Picture Award - and a tad shocked. Although, the shock was short lived.

Annie paints a picture so vivid... it was like I was there. I must say, it's much more interesting reading about it from the prospective of actually being there than watching it on TV.

I don't think people understand why Brokeback Mountain was so important to the LGBT Community. They see it as "just a movie" and nothing more, but to us it was a symbol. For some of us, it is a story that we've lived and could relate too, it was something that touched us on a deeply personal level. However, as a community it meant so much more.

Movies are made everyday. However, only a small fraction contain any characters that are gay, and those that do are often secondary characters. Will and Grace, the popular TV Show, Will was a sexless man who was basically the copilot for a dimwit female friend. He had no real life of his own, no real personality of his own, and his entire life revolved around her. They even tied in sexual tension between them. That is the extend gay characters are portrayed.

Brokeback Mountain was a chance for the world to *REALLY* see a movie about gay people. The actors weren't gay, the movie was even modified in such a way to make it more palatable to straights. It wasn't a movie FOR gay people, it was a movie for straight people ABOUT gay people. When the Academy didn't give the award to Brokeback Mountain it hurt, not because Brokeback Mountain lost, but because why it lost, and we all felt the sting of discrimination.

Imagine, if you will, a movie about black people. Hell, you can imagine Crash if you want. Now, let's go back several decades. Crash was a hyped movie. Black people everywhere were feeling like they were finally being portrayed on the big screen, that the world was REALLY going to see what it was like. They saw characters they could identify with, and not just stereotypical portrayals or secondary characters, but something that was pushing the envelope for society. Everyone was expecting it to win big at the Academy Awards. It wouldn't give them freedom or equal rights, but it would give them some type of validation - a sense of victory that seemed difficult to achieve. Then, their movie lost. Not because it was lacking in content, character, or any of the things that make a movie great, but because of bigotry, discrimination, and a fear by the Academy of being seen as "too Negro-friendly."

Would you feel the same way about the "black" movie as you do the "gay" movie? If the answer is no, then I believe you have some issues that you need to work out with yourself. If the answer is yes, then I believe you've missed the point entirely.

[Hissyspit]

16. kick

[gator_in_Ontario]

21. Thanks for making me think!

Great post!

[xchrom]

14. she has it right on.

[Maven]

17. K/R

[Maat]

18. "Dim L.A. crowd?"

Kiss my rear, Annie.

I grew up in Southern California, and I'll match my political knowledge (and any other kind of knowledge) against a New Yorker anyday. I'm not saying I'm smarter, but I'm sure as heck not more ignorant, or "dim."

And I'm one of the Daily Show's viewers; so, Jon needs me too.

I felt it unfair that Annie didn't win also, but insulting people out in California is not going to help her cause. We fight vigorously and consistently for GLBT rights out here, and have paid quite a bit of money to see her film.

[joeybee12]

20. She's right--the average Academy Voter is aged 90..and

the last movie they saw was that daring new talkie. It's a closed society, and most of them haven't seen the movies for which they vote.

[sui generis]

24. Oscars needs new category

"Best Mimic of a Dead Male Celebrity"

and

"Best Mimic of a Dead Female Celebrity"

I didnt't qualify the sex of the mimic since a REALLY GOOD ONE would win either way.

:P

[theHandpuppet]

25. New CNN poll: Is "Brokeback" author a sore loser?

http://www.cnn.com/

So far: 18% No, 81% Yes

[bhb]

26. Sharp Tongue

I love it and agree.

[Divine Discontent]

27. she's right on... I'm glad she shared the truth it's nice to read! n/t