Socialism is getting a hard push in theaters. Coming Soon:

[jw74]

I saw on Drudge this morning that Michael Moore set down his two fists of jelly donuts long enough to make a "documentary" about capitalism, Matt Damon has a new movie coming out about corporate evils and now Oliver Stone is making a movie about the greatness of hugo chavez called "South of the Border."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_o...der_(2009_film)

I don't see why Chavez & co dislike America when it seems like their biggest fans are here.

Hopefully this push in Washington and Hollywood to show us ignorant Americans the error of free enterprise will bring "change we can count on" in 2010 and 2012.

[Sigaba]

Originally Posted by jw74

...Matt Damon....

Hopefully this push in Washington and Hollywood to show us ignorant Americans the error of free enterprise will bring "change we can count on" in 2010 and 2012.

While I very strongly disagree with Mr. Damon's politics, I don't know how a guy whose work in one of America's most economically and politically conservative industries has grossed $1,952,355,251 in domestic ticket sales alone qualifies as a socialist.*


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* Recent examples of the movie industry's approach to labor issues are available here and here. Mr. Damon's box office grosses are available here.

[alfromcolorado]

A wise young Bosnian chick once told me that "it's easy to be liberal when you are rich..."

Originally Posted by Sigaba

While I very strongly disagree with Mr. Damon's politics, I don't know how a guy whose work in one of America's most economically and politically conservative industries has grossed $1,952,355,251 in domestic ticket sales alone qualifies as a socialist.*


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* Recent examples of the movie industry's approach to labor issues are available here and here. Mr. Damon's box office grosses are available here.

[jw74]

Originally Posted by Sigaba

While I very strongly disagree with Mr. Damon's politics, I don't know how a guy whose work in one of America's most economically and politically conservative industries has grossed $1,952,355,251 in domestic ticket sales alone qualifies as a socialist.*

That's just goofy. Are you suggesting that an actor would not be a socialist because that conflicts with his making money in a capitalist enterprise like the movie industry?
Is he only capable of being a socialist if he works in a hookah pipe store or a coffee house? In any event, my point was that there are a number of films that have an anti-free enterprise slant. I see it as a trend. I've been wrong before.

[VAKEMP]

C'mon now, it's Hollywood. Did you expect anything BUT a slant against conservatism/capitalism?

A successful actor/actress is not required to have enough foresight to anticipate the repercussions of their actions (acting). They just need to be good at acting (lying).

Some would argue the same traits can be found in successful CEOs and politicians.

There definitely aren't enough movies like Black Hawk Down, or shows like Band of Brothers. That's just because most people are more intrigued by Twilight and American Idol. Man, if these people had any idea what was really going on in the world, they'd _____!

[Sigaba]

Originally Posted by jw74

That's just goofy.

That reminds me of the late Mauricio Mazón's favorite joke.

Did you hear that Mickey and Minnie are getting a divorce? Yeah, she's [expletive deleted] Goofy.

He'd often repeat the joke while emphasizing the importance of using words and concepts correctly.

Originally Posted by jw74

Are you suggesting that an actor would not be a socialist because that conflicts with his making money in a capitalist enterprise like the movie industry?
Is he only capable of being a socialist if he works in a hookah pipe store or a coffee house? In any event, my point was that there are a number of films that have an anti-free enterprise slant. I see it as a trend. I've been wrong before.

I am suggesting that you are using the term "socialist" imprecisely and carelessly. I am also suggesting that what you see as an "anti-free enterprise slant" is in a different league altogether than the radical left movies that the film industry chased from the field in the early decades of the last century.**

Originally Posted by VAKEMP

C'mon now, it's Hollywood. Did you expect anything BUT a slant against conservatism/capitalism?

Then maybe that's why:

• The AMPTP has played hardball with the writers' and actors' unions over royalties.
• Scripted television shows have been overshadowed by (less expensive and more profitable) reality programming.
• First-run films and television shows are not exhibited for free.
• Shows and films that are offered for "free" via new media portals like hulu.com, TWC On Demand, or a service's website are part of a broader effort to find new revenue streams in the digital age.

MOO, just because nitwits in the Thirty Mile Zone are more than happy to hold forth on topics on which they're woefully under-informed does not mean we have to return the favor. YMMV.
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* 2008 figures for the 150 top grossing films are available here.
** Source is ISBN-13 9780691024646.

[jw74]

You are either missing the point, or trying to pick gnat shit out of pepper. I suspect its the latter. Have a good day.

[Sigaba]

Originally Posted by jw74

You are either missing the point, or trying to pick gnat shit out of pepper. I suspect its the latter. Have a good day.

I'm doing neither. Successfully taking the entertainment industry to task for its role in shaping American culture, politics, and society eventually requires more than dismissive, Drudge-fueled sarcasm.

[ZonieDiver]

Originally Posted by Sigaba

I'm doing neither. Successfully taking the entertainment industry to task for its role in shaping American culture, politics, and society eventually requires more than dismissive, Drudge-fueled sarcasm.

Yeah, but you have to admit, "picking gnat shit out of pepper" is a great phrase! (My kids still remind me that I ate gnats which landed in my nachos at a Little League ballgame of their cousin waaaay back when! Ya gotta love gnats, and I guess by extension, gnat shit.)

[Sigaba]

Originally Posted by ZonieDiver

Yeah, but you have to admit, "picking gnat shit out of pepper" is a great phrase!

Absolutely. Without a doubt, I'll be using that comment within the week.

And I damn near laughed soda out of my nose when I read

Originally Posted by jw74

... that Michael Moore set down his two fists of jelly donuts ...

[Richard]

Damn - guess I'll have to give up watching It's A Wonderful Life on Christmas Eve now that y'all have spoiled it for me. But wait...do I hear a bell ringing?

And so it goes...

Richard's $.02

[Sten]

Originally Posted by Richard

Damn - guess I'll have to give up watching It's A Wonderful Life on Christmas Eve now that y'all have spoiled it for me. But wait...do I hear a bell ringing?

And so it goes...

Richard's $.02

George Bailey was a total socialist.

[dennisw]

Sigaba wrote

While I very strongly disagree with Mr. Damon's politics, I don't know how a guy whose work in one of America's most economically and politically conservative industries has grossed $1,952,355,251 in domestic ticket sales alone qualifies as a socialist.*

I guess I don't see how the gross receipts of Matt Damon's pictures has anything to do with whether or not he is a socialist? Are you saying if Damon was a socialist, they would not charge for the movies? I'm missing something here.

Also, just because the movie industry is tough on labor doesn't make them a conservative industry although, it may provide evidence that they are indeed economical. I believe the gist of the original thread was that there are some liberal pictures coming down the pipeline. I do not see how the labor relations of the industry or the gross receipts of matt damon's films has anthing to do with topic at hand.

I am suggesting that you are using the term "socialist" imprecisely and carelessly. I am also suggesting that what you see as an "anti-free enterprise slant" is in a different league altogether than the radical left movies that the film industry chased from the field in the early decades of the last century.**

Unless I am again missing something, JW74 stated the topic of the thread as"Socialism is getting a hard push in theaters." You were the first one to use the term socialist.

I am also suggesting that what you see as an "anti-free enterprise slant" is in a different league altogether than the radical left movies that the film industry chased from the field in the early decades of the last century.**

How would characterize Michael Moore's films? Mildly anti-free enterprise or radical left movies? Are you suggesting that Hollywood currently provides a political balance in their products? Are you suggesting that most actors, actresses, directors do not have to be liberal to secure work in today's Hollywood? If Hollywood is a conservative industry, God help us all.

[SkiBumCFO]

Not sure about all this political stuff but if you guys havent checked it out yet Clooney (a definite socialist) has a new movie that looks like a riot. Seems to be poking a little fun at us special ops types but tastefully of course The trailer is here : http://www.ncm.com/Movies/trailers.a...-Goats&LinkID=

[Sigaba]

Originally Posted by dennisw

Sigaba wrote

I guess I don't see how the gross receipts of Matt Damon's pictures has anything to do with whether or not he is a socialist? Are you saying if Damon was a socialist, they would not charge for the movies? I'm missing something here.

Also, just because the movie industry is tough on labor doesn't make them a conservative industry although, it may provide evidence that they are indeed economical. I believe the gist of the original thread was that there are some liberal pictures coming down the pipeline. I do not see how the labor relations of the industry or the gross receipts of Matt Damon's films has anything to do with topic at hand.

Unless I am again missing something, JW74 stated the topic of the thread as"Socialism is getting a hard push in theaters." You were the first one to use the term socialist.

How would characterize Michael Moore's films? Mildly anti-free enterprise or radical left movies? Are you suggesting that Hollywood currently provides a political balance in their products? Are you suggesting that most actors, actresses, directors do not have to be liberal to secure work in today's Hollywood? If Hollywood is a conservative industry, God help us all.

I believe we have different definitions of "socialism." You seem to conflate socialism with (contemporary American) liberalism. MOO, this practice is problematic.

The conflation contributes to a dynamic in which monochromatic interpretations of mass popular culture are painted with rather broad brush strokes. In my view, this dynamic does more to increase the (alleged) leftist influence of Hollywood on America than folks like Moore, Damon, and Stone do on their own.*

In regards to Mr. Moore, I regard his films as a combination of self-promotion, political paranoia, and anti-authoritarian populism. In regards to Mr. Moore's influence in Hollywood, I wonder how much he actually has. Has Mr. Moore been trusted by a major studio with the keys to a franchise such as Batman or James Bond? When do his films open? How many theaters are booked for his films' opening weekends?**

Do people in Hollywood sit and ask each other "For whom did you vote in the last election?" or they ask questions along the lines of "Will you help this project put a$$es in seats?"


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^ Source is here.
* The fact that Will Hunting (Matt Damon) quotes Gordon Wood, and not Merrill Jensen or Charles Beard in Good Will Hunting (1997), which Damon co-wrote with Ben Affleck provides a clue to Mr. Damon's political sensibilities.
** Some of the answers are here. (FWIW, compare Fahrenheit 9/11 <<LINK2>> to Chicken Run <<LINK2>>. Mmmm, chicken <<LINK3>>.)