I keep trying to post something here about the Oscars -- about the serviceably funny job Jon Stewart did as host, about why they insisted on playing the music during the acceptance speeches, about how hilarious it is when the second part of a duo accepting an award tries to speak and finds out the mic has been muted, about how Larry McMurtry, God bless him, looks like the special-needs kid who bags my fries at Arby's.
But then I get to the part about how Crash won Best Picture and my brain gets all angry and Mike Smash! Mike Smash Good! Mike Kill and Smash!
Now that I've had some time to think about it, though, it makes a certain kind of sense. Crash is exactly the sort of movie people like to see about an issue as complicated as racism. Because, rather than actually exploring how we're all perhaps a little bit (or a lot) complicit in America's various race problems, it gives us two-dimensional caricatures and a simpleminded thesis we all can agree on: racism = bad.
Aside from the obvious problems with the film -- that it posits an L.A. populated by approximately 12 people, all of whom are destined to constantly run into each other; that it blatantly rips off Magnolia with its "slow dirge sung by someone who sounds kind of like Aimee Mann while something unexpected falls from the sky" motif -- it also creates characters that are like a third-grader's idea of humans. Everyone is exactly two dimensional -- bad, then later good; or good, then later bad.
And now I'm getting angry again. Mike Smash! Smash Smash Smash!
Okay, I'll leave you with this, which I think is funny, from McSweeneys.
3.07.2006
Stupid Oscar voters
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3 comments:
Here's a guy who hates Crash more than you did, Mike:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/11686950/
I'm with Pete -- it's great to see Larry McMurtry get an oscar. It's actually just great to see Larry McMurtry, a writer and dude who is seriously underrated. He's written some amazing books (Lonesome Dove, Terms of Endearment, Last Picture Show, Horseman, Pass By). He owns bookstores. He writes movies. His son is a pretty good alt-country singer. And he went to the oscars in jeans and cowboy boots. And won. That gives him a Pulitzer and an Oscar.
Other than that, I'm with Mike on the Oscars. They sucked. John Stewart wasn't bad. Crash is just obvious. Kind of like the Movie About Racism you might have found really profound in eighth grade.
But the thing about the Oscars, and Crash, that was absolutely high-larious was that live performance piece with the Aimee Mann-ish woman and the car on fire thing and the people doing what I guess was like slow motion modern interpretive dance behind her. Man, that was comedy.
hmmmm everyone either hates or loves Crash. i guess it didnt affect me in either direction all that strongly. i happen to enjoy all the acting. (despite sandra b. sorry mike) and it's gimmick of flipping eveyone's racism (or lack there of) on it's ear was just that... a gimmick.
i didnt htink it deserved nomination, let alone bringing it home.i was routing for the gay cowboys. i'm glad i didnt watch the freakin oscars.
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