Quoted from Andrew This is no longer productive. Have a good one, mate

Well, if productive = agreement. Then yep, Have a good one.

Quoted from Zack You could make the argument that this "dude" is actually calling attention to a tribe that has already been formed. Different perspectives.

Without a doubt, the tribes have been formed. Not sure how many times I can say it - but I don't disagree with the premise that there is wokeness, political correctness or whatever term of art you want to mention in some films and in Hollywood in general. It is a left-leaning entity.

What I disagree with is a) that means they should shut up and not express their views, and b) there is some nefarious evil behind their agendas.  i.e., people can be wrong with the best of  intentions. Right or wrong, they could be pursing their agenda because they simply think it is the right thing to do.  

And finally, I disagreed with that is why the ratings drop. I think it is more likely they dropped because of a) the Pandemic, b) the ever-growing divide between box office movies and quality movies  c) changing demographics - could very well be that awards show on your grandparent's thing - not the up and coming generations' thing, and d) everything that Pia said.

I think we can all agree - now that Aunt Jemima is off a bottle of syrup, America has been cleansed of its racist past - forever.

Quoted from eldave1 Without a doubt, the tribes have been formed. Not sure how many times I can say it - but I don't disagree with the premise that there is wokeness, political correctness or whatever term of art you want to mention in some films and in Hollywood in general. It is a left-leaning entity. What I disagree with is a) that means they should shut up and not express their views, and b) there is some nefarious evil behind their agendas.  i.e., people can be wrong with the best of  intentions. Right or wrong, they could be pursing their agenda because they simply think it is the right thing to do.   And finally, I disagreed with that is why the ratings drop. I think it is more likely they dropped because of a) the Pandemic, b) the ever-growing divide between box office movies and quality movies  c) changing demographics - could very well be that awards show on your grandparent's thing - not the up and coming generations' thing, and d) everything that Pia said.

Sound logic. Not sure we fully agree, but that's okay.

Quoted from Zack Sound logic. Not sure we fully agree, but that's okay.

all's good

Felt compelled to actually watch this video. I don’t think he’s got it all down to a science that the political leanings of some of the movies, and more specifically the Oscar speeches of certain actors, are the cause for the supposed down slide of Hollywood. He sounds more like a man who’s just tired of listening to the politics creeping in. I’ll admit I give an eye roll when an actor goes on about his leanings. Personally, I want to hear the actor thank his mom or his dad, the filmmakers who believed in his dream. But no matter what they say, I don’t think it’s the cause for the ratings drop. It may add a slight drop in certain demographics, but certainly not enough to do much damage — think rigged election.

It’s be interesting to go back and see where the Oscars had its best ratings v when they began slipping and take into account the movies, actors and directors who were nominated that year, not to mention who was hosting.

We have a pandemic. Movies of the past year or so weren’t spectacular, sweeping spectacles. No Spielberg, Scorsese, Cameron, PTA, etc. I don’t know all the names out there, but I guarantee you have the younger versions of those guys making movies right now, still in their cinematic infancy.

Streaming inhibits the grandeur of it all as well, I feel. Video guy was right about the escapism of the movies and, at their best, they whisk you away to a different place for two hours, leaving the theater feeling like you had just taken a great journey. It’s hard to get that same feeling, IMO, sitting on your couch. It’s an event, going to the movies. A mini vacation of sorts. At least it was to me. And I feel that the Oscars shows of the past reflected that in their excessiveness.

Video guy sounded like the politics was ruining this experience, and I don’t agree with that at all. The pandemic fucked it up this year. Marvel keeps dumbing it down, and that’s not to say I don’t like superhero movies - I do. But the gravy train is definitely turning to the proven film demographic they know will make money. Less risk, more upside. More dollars. Less dramas, thrillers, comedies - ie, human connection.

First up, for next year, get a damn HOST!

Yes, get a host! Or even a double-act. Do a song and dance number, mix in the comedic montage with film clips, crack some silly jokes. Run all the film clips for the nominated films and the actor's performances. Hollywood is glitz and glamour. Hopefully when things return to normal all these things will make a comeback.

I wholeheartedly agree with you Steve about the wonderful escapism that is watching a movie in the cinema, sitting in the dark for a couple of hours and being taken away on a fantastical journey.  

At the end of the day, whether or not we agree with the video, everyone here cares about film and is passionate about it.

My main gripe is to see film for the art and not through the prism of politics and representation, and I think this hits the nail on the head.

Quoted Text He sounds more like a man who’s just tired of listening to the politics creeping in.

Also, agree on the cinema. Many are prematurely calling the cinema dead.

If anything, I think the pandemic will underscore exactly how important and satisfying that experience is.

I've long expected Netflix to get involved in a cinema, and now fully expect them to gobble up a chain at some point for distribution.

I think the politicization of film, currently, is nothing more than a knee jerk reaction brought upon by the residue of the climate from the past four years or so. Unlike Twitter, where trends come and go and are forgotten about within the space of a day until the next trend, this seems to be sticking a bit longer.

It’s like inclusion. That’s all well and good, but when someone says we need more women or more black screenwriters well, you can’t just pick a screenplay based on race or gender. It still has to be a damn good script, so... Same goes with movies and actors. Not inclusion for inclusions sake.

Look at Dolly Parton. Who knows what her political leanings are? No one. She goes out and entertains to everyone, and she’s beloved. And rightly so.

In the end, who really cares what video guy says? It’s his opinion. He entitled to it. We’re not entitled to listen if we disagree, and it certainly doesn’t mean he’s right.

If we can turn a blind eye to things for a moment, let it be movies. Let the escapism work it’s magic. If Susan Sarandon or Mark Ruffalo is going to make you do anything more than just an eye roll, then the problem most likely is yours and yours alone.

Quoted from SAC Felt compelled to actually watch this video. I don’t think he’s got it all down to a science that the political leanings of some of the movies, and more specifically the Oscar speeches of certain actors, are the cause for the supposed down slide of Hollywood. He sounds more like a man who’s just tired of listening to the politics creeping in. I’ll admit I give an eye roll when an actor goes on about his leanings. Personally, I want to hear the actor thank his mom or his dad, the filmmakers who believed in his dream. But no matter what they say, I don’t think it’s the cause for the ratings drop. It may add a slight drop in certain demographics, but certainly not enough to do much damage — think rigged election. It’s be interesting to go back and see where the Oscars had its best ratings v when they began slipping and take into account the movies, actors and directors who were nominated that year, not to mention who was hosting. We have a pandemic. Movies of the past year or so weren’t spectacular, sweeping spectacles. No Spielberg, Scorsese, Cameron, PTA, etc. I don’t know all the names out there, but I guarantee you have the younger versions of those guys making movies right now, still in their cinematic infancy. Streaming inhibits the grandeur of it all as well, I feel. Video guy was right about the escapism of the movies and, at their best, they whisk you away to a different place for two hours, leaving the theater feeling like you had just taken a great journey. It’s hard to get that same feeling, IMO, sitting on your couch. It’s an event, going to the movies. A mini vacation of sorts. At least it was to me. And I feel that the Oscars shows of the past reflected that in their excessiveness. Video guy sounded like the politics was ruining this experience, and I don’t agree with that at all. The pandemic fucked it up this year. Marvel keeps dumbing it down, and that’s not to say I don’t like superhero movies - I do. But the gravy train is definitely turning to the proven film demographic they know will make money. Less risk, more upside. More dollars. Less dramas, thrillers, comedies - ie, human connection. First up, for next year, get a damn HOST!

Good assessment, IMO

Hi guys,

So, I just spoke to Hollywood and have some bad news for you.

Anyone who shares the same views as evil fascist video guy should consider themselves cancelled.

Anyone who argued against evil fascist video guy yet conceded to some of the points he made should also consider themselves cancelled.

And anyone who didn't fervently argue against evil fascist video guy and remained quiet are the most cancelled of all, because silence is violence (or something like that).


Be well.

Didn't watch The Oscars. I swore off them maybe 2-3 years ago. Too long, too boring, never funny, and surprisingly not even cringey enough to hate watch.

That said, I honestly think The Oscars bombed due to COVID. Theaters largely haven't been open, first and foremost. The places where they have been, people might not have felt safe/comfortable going anyway. I also think a lot of people assumed movies as we know them were effectively cancelled in 2020 (myself included) and might not have even sought out ways to see them where they could, hence movies don't get as much word of mouth during Oscar season. Plus there're so many options for entertainment right now, a lot of folks have simply drifted away from movies (again, myself included -- I didn't even notice until it'd already happened).

Not to mention I don't think the general public have heard of a lot of the nominated films. I had an interest in Sound of Metal because it was co-written by Derek Cianfrance and I know a little bit about the band it's based off of, but for everyone else, it's gotta look like just some rando Amazon original. Nomadland, I hadn't heard of til my friend wrote me about it, and it looked too dull/schmaltzy for my taste, so I passed. Promising Young Woman caught my interest but perhaps no one else's. Even then, the theaters haven't been open in DC, so I had to wait til it was available on Amazon for a decent price.

And the rest, I barely know anything about (except that one joint everyone thought Chadwick Bosman would win).

I haven't even mentioned the woke stuff yet, and I won't comment on it other than to say that clearly some people genuinely hate it and won't watch Hollywood movies, let alone the Oscars, because of it. Agree or disagree, it is what it is.

Not surprised at any of this, quite frankly.

Quoted from Pleb Hi guys, So, I just spoke to Hollywood and have some bad news for you. Anyone who shares the same views as evil fascist video guy should consider themselves cancelled. Anyone who argued against evil fascist video guy yet conceded to some of the points he made should also consider themselves cancelled. And anyone who didn't fervently argue against evil fascist video guy and remained quiet are the most cancelled of all, because silence is violence (or something like that). Be well.

Well said, Max - made my morning