MOVIES

Glee. Fury. Malaise. Oscar!

Published Nov 22, 2008

From the magazine issue dated Dec 1, 2008

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Harvey Milk wouldn't be too proud of California voters right about now—but he might be glad to know that their doings have blessed his biopic with Oscar buzz aplenty.

Since the passage of California's Proposition 8, banning gay marriage, protesting crowds in the tens of thousands have flooded the streets—and the producers of "Milk" aren't shy about calling the film about the assassinated gay activist a celluloid rallying cry.

"At this moment in time, in 2008, [Harvey Milk's] kind of leadership is so, so needed," says producer Dan Jinks. "One person being able to mobilize so many and really make a difference—it's an essential story."

An informal NEWSWEEK poll of Oscar experts suggests that Hollywood's pre-awards mood is being shaped by three things: glee at an Obama White House, fury at the passage of Prop 8 and overall "recessionomic" malaise. How might all that affect statue distribution? The box-office smash "The Dark Knight" was regarded by some as a thinly veiled look at George W. Bush's despair-ridden America—and was touted all summer long as a best-picture contender. Now, in the wake of the election and Hollywood's predictably cheerful mood, it's a buzz kill—and rarely on anyone's shortlist.

There's precedent for such an election-year shift. At the 1977 Oscars, fresh hope in the form of Jimmy Carter ushered out Nixonian hangovers—and helped pole-vault feel-good flick "Rocky" into the best picture slot over brooding journalism thriller "All the President's Men."

And the Academy Awards often reflect the political moment—cue B-roll of the 2003 event, where attendees skipped the red-carpet banter and the broadcast was twice interrupted for updates on the bombing campaign that kicked off Operation Iraqi Freedom. However bare-bones this year's ceremony is, in light of Depression 2.0, let's hope Oscar still gets to wear gold.

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Posted By: Michael45 @ 11/24/2008 10:41:04 PM

Comment: "so sick of hollywood's political agenda"

I'm so sick of those that say they're sick of Hollywood!
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Posted By: Vypurr @ 11/24/2008 9:13:53 AM

Okay... I misinterpreted your post. I agree that Hollywood also has moderates and conservatives. More than people think. I have two friends that are successful, but work in the technical side of the industry who are moderate Republicans. They, like other unknowns stay in closet for fear of being ostracized by the likes of Tim Robbins and Alec Baldwin, who wield a lot of power. Bigger names, (Kelsey Grammar, Patricia Heaton, Jon Voight), are different... they can tell Tim and company to take a hike.
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Posted By: Appalachiacilian @ 11/24/2008 12:52:53 AM

I'm a 32 year old single female in - to beat it all - Appalachia. One of my good friends is the director of the LGBT society at our university. He's done a good bit for civil rights. I can't find straight men here I want to be married to, but even when he finds men he wants to marry, he can't. That's wrong. While I'm here, I'm a teacher, and I've taught gay couples who have healthier relationships than some of the straight couples I've taught. I completely understand how many straights see it as an affront to a holy institution, but it's an institution that I, as a straight women who's unsuccessfully dated many men, see as flawed though romantic. My students love each other, and I sometimes think of my students as my children. Many of my students are also community activists.. Give them love and let them do what's needed in this world. They obviously have a better ideal than we do.