Crashing real movies into theatres...

"We're the ones who were talking about AIDS when it was just being whispered, and we talked about civil rights when it wasn't really popular ... I'm proud to be a part of this academy, proud to be a part of this community and proud to be out of touch."

"This group of people gave Hattie McDaniel an Oscar in 1939 when blacks were still sitting in the back of theaters."

These were the remarks that George Clooney gave after his best supporting actor win for Syriana, addressing the supposed liberal leaning that Hollywood shows that makes them "out of touch" with mainstream America. Personally, I'm extremely proud that he got up there and said that. Statements like that remind me of how much good Hollywood can provide socially and culturally as a progressive unit.

And yet...

There is not a doubt in my mind that on some level, Hollywood was out of touch with mainstream people of America, although it was lock step in the political climate. Movies like Syriana, Munich, Goodluck and Goodnight were on the forefront of criticism of Bush policy and the state of fear that grips us. Crash and Brokeback Mountain covered the fog of prejudice that haunts our streets. Both were movies of the times. But as great the social criticism was, social criticism does not draw people to the theatres. Contemporary Hollywood is like a college literature book list, and most people can't find this type of cinema enthralling enough to sit through to get the message, and a lost message is no message at all.

This isn't about people being stupid and Hollywood being smart, nor is it about the people being lowbrow and Hollywood being intellectual snobs. This occurs for the same reason that foreign movies don't do well in America. They are in a different language. They're not communicating well.

Movies like Brokeback Mountain, which did surprisingly well in the red states by the way, still don't have the pull of a King Kong, or the grittiness and the realism of a Crash. In NYC we pay somewhere in the realm of 10 to 12 bucks to see a film. I've personally stayed away from Brokeback, not because I didn't want to see it, but because if I'm going to the movies, for that money, I want an entire experience that's audio, and visual--intellectual, and adrenaline pumping. I want my money's worth, and I think extravaganzas are what people desire if, and I stress the word if, people are going to shell out the cash. The long ball is what matters, not the line drive.

I saw Crash on DVD, and I loved it. Would I have seen it in the theatres? Not sure.

But even the money issue might be a red herring. What Hollywood sells short is that "mainstream" or "commercial" cinema, can be used as a tool for social catalysts as well as "artisy movies" Crash definitely had commercial elements involved (hell, Ludacris was one of its stars) but a witty intelligentnt plot with tremendous suspense at every turn I believe resonated more with the academy that the uber romantic gay cowboy movie. Not to say that Brokeback wasn't a wonderful movie, but if your point is to address social change than bringing your plot back to Earth might help.

Another example: I saw 16 blocks this weekend. It was an excellent movie. It won't get an academy award (although watch for Mos Def to get nominated in the next couple of years, and if you haven't seen him in the Woodsman, check that out as well), and it's a "commercial movie"but it makes very socially relevantnt points. The man who directed it, Richard Donner also directed the Lethal Weapon movies, which practically created the "commercial" genre of cop buddy movies. Now analyze the subtext of those movies. Danny Glover and Mel Gibson, a black man and white man, learn through each other an appreciation of life and happiness (and blow up alot of bad guys, including in Lethal Weapon 2 fighting against an apartheid South African Diplomat) concluding in becoming a sort of extended family with one another. These were incredibly popular movies, that taught lessons of racial harmony and teamwork, presenting in its own way the same lessons as Crash but with a positive and hopeful resolution.

You might say that I'm looking too deep into the movies, but I would say you're not looking close enough. Brokeback Mountain may have been great, but has it done more for gay relations then say, Will and Grace? Which by the way, has been critically acclaimed. To stimulate social debate you don't need a sledgehammer when sometimes a chisel will do, and you don't need tears and blood when a laugh will suffice.

I am glad we had the year we had in movies, both because of what came out of Hollywood, and the lack of money that went in. I just think we can get more movies out that are progressive that can give the general population--literally--more bang for their buck.