One of the more peculiar fantasies infesting American conservatism is the notion that Hollywood is somehow a “leftist” place, and that its values are somehow “radical”.
To the leftists and radicals who gather nightly in the Stageleft bunker to drink vodka and plot the overthrow of Western Civilization, this has always seemed a laughable notion, given that:
- Movie studios are private corporations, owned by extraordinarily rich folks and operated for profit;
- The film industry has ALWAYS kowtowed to the government, from the willing shift to pro-war propaganda films in 1940 to the voluntary blacklisting of writers during the McCarthy era;
- 95% of Hollywood’s output deals with rich Americans living in upper middle class homes, and almost never sets films in working class homes or lives.
So which Celluloid Commies did Hollywood choose to honour this year?
Last night the most awarded film was produced by the most conservative film-maker in Hollywood, Clint Eastwood (who also happens to be a brilliant director.) “Million Dollar Baby” scooped Best Director, Best Actress, Best Supporting Actor, and Best Picture.
Best supporting actress went to Cate Blanchett for her role in the “The Aviator” , the biopic of that well known radical, pacifist and anti-capitalist…Howard Hughes.
All awards richly deserved (as was Jamie Foxx’s incredible turn as Ray Charles). But…”leftist”?
That donate extraordinarily high percentages of that wealth to the DNC and other liberal causes.
Just like they are now with all those pro-Bush, pro-war movies and all the self-censorship they’re doing. Where was that happening again?
Almost never? A bit broad of a generalization. But even so, most people don’t go to movies to see themselves on screen, they go to movies to escape reality. If I’m a poor schmuck in Harlem, why would I want to see a movie about poor schmucks from Harlem? I could look out my window for that.
Denying that film, which won critical praise and was a box office mega smash would’ve been insane, regardless of the political leanings of Clint Eastwood. Even by your admission he’s a brilliant director; it couldn’t be ignored.
Not sure what you mean here. So they did a drama based on the life of Howard Hughes. They’ve also done Fahrenheit 9/11, Bowling for Columbine, and Mike and Me and God knows how many other movies. If they wrote a movie about an alien, does that mean everyone in Hollywood believes in aliens?
It’s hard to deny that Hollywood is largely a liberal town with liberal leanings toward liberal causes. Just because there’s money there doesn’t mean it’s conservative.