Oscars

I watched a bit of the Oscars last night. I've only watched them once before, and I hadn't remembered them being quite such an exercise in self-congratulation. Certainly, the line-up of contenders this year (movies like Goodnight and Goodluck, Syriana, Brokeback Mountain, Transamerica, North Country) tackle some significant issues in courageous ways. But the general tone of the evening seemed to be 'aren't we all so politically subversive, socially aware and culturally progressive'. This is Hollywood we're talking about! The MC, Jon Stewart from The Daily Show, seemed to be the only person questioning this self-indulgent perspective. My favorite moment was when he commented on Charlize Theron's role in North Country: he quipped that after making a movie about a world where women were judged on the basis of their looks and paid significantly less than men, it must be a real relief to leave that world behind and get back to Hollywood. You could have heard a pin drop - not a snicker to be heard! Message to Jon: it's all very well criticising those bigots in Wyoming, chauvinists in middle America or corrupt politicians in Washington, but not pointing out a few obvious home truths!