Passion for the Oscars? Nope.
Is it really possible for one of the highest grossing films of all time to get completely snubbed by Oscar? Titanic? 
Spiderman? Lord of the Rings? Nope, they were all high grossing films that recieved Oscar nods in multiple categories. The film that grossed $370 million dollars at the box office but was completely overlooked in all categories by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is, of course, The Passion of the Christ. Surprised? Not really. Disappointed? A little...not because of what it does to the movie or the producers or any other person who had a stake in the making of the film. The film did just fine, thank you very much, as did those who have a bank account to which a little deposit was made from the proceeds. Gibson certainly deserved consideration as best director, but he's certainly been recognized for his expertise with his craft. I'm disappointed because it was an incredibly well-made film that deserved recognition on its own merits that should not have been discounted because of it's content; disappointed because it highlights the disdain that Hollywood has for the message of Christ and couldn't care less how many people think otherwise.
Was the movie too controversial for the Oscars? Please. Hollywood loves controversy. What they don't like is anything that puts Christianity in a positive light. Think about it. The Last Temptation of Christ? They were all over it. That movie from 1988 degraded Christ, caused a ton of controversy and backlash, but Hollywood ate it up and gave Scorsese a nomination for Best Director.
The Passion scored where it counts...with the people (not only financially, but it did win the People's Choice award for Best Drama). To be sure, not all Americans agree with my views on the subject, which is fine, but this certainly demonstrates the disconnect between Hollywood and a very large portion of the country.
I came across an article written by a guy named Phil Boatright that I think sums up the heart of the matter:
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1/26/05 Correction: I was mistaken in saying that The Passion was snubbed in all categories. It did receive nominations for original score, cinematography and makeup. My apologies.
Spiderman? Lord of the Rings? Nope, they were all high grossing films that recieved Oscar nods in multiple categories. The film that grossed $370 million dollars at the box office but was completely overlooked in all categories by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is, of course, The Passion of the Christ. Surprised? Not really. Disappointed? A little...not because of what it does to the movie or the producers or any other person who had a stake in the making of the film. The film did just fine, thank you very much, as did those who have a bank account to which a little deposit was made from the proceeds. Gibson certainly deserved consideration as best director, but he's certainly been recognized for his expertise with his craft. I'm disappointed because it was an incredibly well-made film that deserved recognition on its own merits that should not have been discounted because of it's content; disappointed because it highlights the disdain that Hollywood has for the message of Christ and couldn't care less how many people think otherwise.
Was the movie too controversial for the Oscars? Please. Hollywood loves controversy. What they don't like is anything that puts Christianity in a positive light. Think about it. The Last Temptation of Christ? They were all over it. That movie from 1988 degraded Christ, caused a ton of controversy and backlash, but Hollywood ate it up and gave Scorsese a nomination for Best Director.
The Passion scored where it counts...with the people (not only financially, but it did win the People's Choice award for Best Drama). To be sure, not all Americans agree with my views on the subject, which is fine, but this certainly demonstrates the disconnect between Hollywood and a very large portion of the country.
I came across an article written by a guy named Phil Boatright that I think sums up the heart of the matter:
Was the disdain [from entertainment writers] aimed at the film or the filmmaker? Perhaps not, because Tinseltown is not a community that often slights a product or one of their own who manages to bring in $370 million.And validity for the message of Christ is something Hollywood can never afford to admit.
Rather, this might suggest that the belittling was in response to something else. Perhaps, as many have suggested, it was spiritual blindness or rebellious pride harbored against not the artistry of Mel Gibson, but the Savior of the world. After all, to acknowledge Gibson’s Passion is to admit that there is validity to the greatest story ever told.
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1/26/05 Correction: I was mistaken in saying that The Passion was snubbed in all categories. It did receive nominations for original score, cinematography and makeup. My apologies.
Labels: David C. Price
posted by DAVID C. PRICE at 1/26/2005 09:15:00 AM
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4 Comments:
Well to be technically correct, it was nominated in a couple of minor categories like cinematography and original score. Honestly I think the Oscars are overrated and way overhyped anyway... though from the Hollywood perspective a couple nominations for the Passion would certainly have garnered more interest for the self-congratulatory spectacle that is the Academy Awards.
I try not to comment anymore since it is usually not positivley taken, but I will break my commandment once again, because this is related to film, which I can not refrain from sharing an opinion on. Of ocurse we disagree, esecially regarding Hollywood and controversy.
Regarding The Passion and the Oscars, as I have stated on Alex's blog, I would not have given it any nominations in non-technical categories. In fact, I predicted these 3 noms on his blog (I did think costumes and sound effects also) which I am proud of-like a guy that calls the right team to win even if he does not like that team. A stretch would have been editing (top 3 to me). My best prediction was cinemetography.
Although the visceral emotional release of seeing our Savior depicted powerfully onscreen would make many Christians want the Academy to vote for this picture, there were more than 5 films most people would say were better last year.
Most Christian film critics did not put it in their top 5. The rank and file have never had much sway in Oscars, except in the fiascos of Forrest Gump and Titanic. As for popularity, truly huge films usually do not get noms. Spiderman has recieved only technical noms (which it deserved). LOTR was a juggernaut Oscar had to acknowledge, since it is considered by many to be the best filmmaking of the past 20-30 years. The Passion was not in its world.
Titanic was a big overblown movie that blows the acedmey away because it reminds them of those overblown Cecil B Demille films of the 40s. They love that crap. Plus, very seldom is the Best Picture truly the Best picture! Shindler was. So was Return of the King. Forrest gump was not. Bravehart was not. Gladiator was not. All of them were like The Aviator (Which is the front runner). Also, popularity is not always what makes a flick popular with Oscar (see the harry Potter movies). And popularity with the mainstream is not the same as great movie making (remember F 9/11 also won a people's choice- like Passion).
Also, it is not an Oscar type movie. Look over the history of the awards and movies like The Aviator are the type Oscar enjoys. I usually look to the year end critics awards to affirm my decisions.
Also, Oscar likes to stay away from controversy. The most a controversial film usually gets is a nod in Best Screenplay (not much a screenplay for The Passion), Best Supporting Actor or Actress (no names in The Passion) or (every 10 years or so) a best director (for sheer guts). You mention Last Temptation, which was considered a shoe-in by many in 89. It only recieved a couple (like Passion) because the establishment considered it too controversial (I remember the news). Plus, Scorcese is Scorcese (Mel is not Scorcese for sure- not the 20 history at the time).
Since Mel has gotten his best director award, don't expect them to give another nod for a while. I think many directors are tired of actors winning (Costner, etc.). I mean Scorcese has not won.
Look at this years awards and you can see a lot of worthy films overlooked (esp. Eternal Sunshine). Also, Oscar stayed away from controversy altogether (I believe it is because it was a contentious election year and much of Hollywood's establishment is not named Baldwin, Sarandon or Robbins- it is older conservative people that vote much of the time).
There were no nods for Farenheit 9/11 even though it had very good reviews (it did not even get a nomination for editing, which was a shame). Kinsey did not get noms for Picture, Director or Actor (only small noms). This should make Christians happy. They stayed away from Kill Bill, the Woodsman, The Assassination of Richard Nixon and even The Manchurian Candidate, all of which got reviews equal to if not better than The Passion.
It is not a bias against The Passion and church, in general that caused this. Oscar does not like risks. Oscar does not like controversy. Oscar likes the establishment (even Scorsece is not considered the establishment enough to get oicked- maybe this year). Oscar does not like art. Oscar likes big, emotional, experiences which reminds him of yesterday.
I think solace can be taken in the lack of noms for Kinsey (one of the best reviewed movies of the year) and 9/11. If one of these had been nominated and Passion left out, then politics and bias may have been part of it.
If you want travesty, it is not that Passion was not nominated. It is that Eternal Sunshine was not nominated. It is that Paul Giamatti was not nominated. I could go on. This is a yearly thing.
But, you and I will probably still watch it that night. We will be happy every once in a while. We will say, "What the heck." We will be reminded that Whoopie Goldberg is not funny and stinks as a host (give me Martin, Crystal or Stewart, even Ellen).
But, get your sign ready- GO DON CHEADLE!
Read http://movies.msn.com/movies/oscars/snubs for more insight into snubs. He says much of it better than I can.
peace
p.s. Mel made enough money on it to build lots of anti-protestant churches and bring us evil films like Paparazzi. He also has an underserved Oscar in his closet to prove the establishment likes him.
Interesting perspectives...thanks. I need to check out Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. I've certainly heard good things about it.
The anti-Christian bigotry that has been suspected in Hollywood the last 50 years has now been proved beyond a doubt.
Ian
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