Dirty rotten shame

Rating: 10/10 (5 March 2006)

Having just witnessed this year's Academy Awards, I almost threw up over the choice of CRASH over BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN as Best Picture of the year. It shows that money in big studios make winners for Oscar. What didn't make sense is giving the Best Director to Ang Lee for his masterful and courageous undertaking of bringing this story to the screen. But, of course, it was a small budget film. The big films have to get their money back.
CRASH is a sordid, manipulating film with just about the ugliest characters ever put into one film. So, what's their message? Be an evil bigoted person, kill those who disagree and continue to take this country further into the abyss of hatred. I hated CRASH and everything it stood for. I couldn't watch too much of it.
BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN brought back belief in oneself. It brought into the main stream public a love story. Not just about two guys, but about the right to love who you choose. Not murder who you choose as CRASH demonstrates. Unfortunately, Hollywood has gone back into the closet if we're to judge the academy voters. My hat's off to Lee and his amazing and trusting cast, cameraman, sound engineer, costumers, music composers and screenwriters. They have stepped up to bat with this movie, even though obviously by the voters choice the rest of Tinseltown remains in the closet.
I won't relate the story. Go see this film. Don't wait for the DVD. See it on the big screen. It's well worth the time and effort. Support these film makers who dare to take chances and tell their stories with out violence and hatred. So be it. Both Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal were terrific together. Believable in their roles and you could see their trust in each other as actors to be able to play the intimate scenes. Bravo!
Here's a bit of nonsense. Randy Quaid, who appears in less than 10 minutes of this movie as the stupid jock boss man, is now suing the producers for 10 million for his appearance. That's 1 million a minute, folks.
Is anybody worth that? Please. With theaters suffering and actors begging for work, this sort of thing not only cheapens the business we're in but shows the greedy little so and sos that are taking all the money to the bank. It's out of balance, this movie business. And to me there's no one, no one, worth the price they are paid to schlep through any film. Mr. Quaid should kiss the ground he's working at all. And if a producer makes some money, that money will go into another film and more work for more actors. Move over Quaid, you ain't the only one in this business. I root for the producers and Mr. Lee for the vision and the guts to bring this to the screen. Not one measly actor who's out for himself. Who cares!