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The People's Oscar's!This is a page I created in February of 2004 ... although I had thought about it many times. My wife and I are tired and fed up with Hollywood - the recognition of the Oscar's is as much a political thing as anything else. (It is well known that one actor had the Oscar almost sewn up, but then he began shooting off his mouth in Great Britain ... and lost the award.) This is a page where I will award - with the help of my wife, Julie - OSCARS to those films, actors, directors, etc. These are NOT awards that will be given out lightly. Many of the films we will recognize on this page - we have watched literally dozens of times. And we have read just about what every critic has to say about each of these movies. "The Fugitive," released in 1993. <****>This film was a huge box-office smash ... several of my friends saw it more than once in the movie theaters. A great film ... fantastic, gripping story ... eye-popping stunts, action, drama. This one film has it all. A. Davis directs this thriller - which deservedly garnered an Oscar, (best supporting actor); for Tommy Lee Jones. (I have admired his work for years.) But
this space is to recognize - the incredible ACTING work of - Harrison Ford ...
in this film. And the PEOPLE's OSCAR goes to ... Harrison Ford. <applause>
The film trilogy of: "The Lord of The Rings" (2001-2003)This film won the OSCAR for the very best film of 2003 ... so in a way, many of the principals can say that they were recognized. (But I easily award this move ... FIVE STARS!!!!!) But still Hollywood committed a major blunder by not giving a few Oscar's to a few of the parties in this epic trilogy. ******* Ian McKellan - who could have easily won THREE awards ... for his fine portrayal ... and plays a perfect Gandalf. Elijah Wood - who consistently brings unbelievable emotion to this role, and certainly should have won at least one Oscar. Liv Tyler - Her constant and obvious abilities are as fine as anything C. Theron did with here role in the film, "Monster." Sean Astin - who almost literally stole the show in the final installment - with a fantastic job of acting - playing Sam. *** For their EXTREMELY GOOD job of acting ... and doing it over a long period of time ... and over three films ... The PEOPLE's OSCARS goes to ALL of the above actors and actresses. <applause> *** Further ... in 50-100 years ... I feel quite sure people will look back on this and say, "What a great film!" I would (also) like to give a ... PEOPLE's SPECIAL (honorable) MENTION ... to ALL of the supporting cast!!!!! "Driving Miss Daisy" <*****>An unforgettable film that came out in 1989 ... and like a fine wine, just seems to get better with age. (My back was bothering me a little today, {07/03/2004}; so I was unable to sit at the computer all day. So I watched TV.) This film won the Oscar that year for both "Best Film" and "Best Actress," so how is it that Morgan Freeman did not win an Oscar with such an unforgettable job of acting? Was it simple prejudice, or were other factors at work here? It is more than an oversight, it is almost criminal ... especially seeing as how the movie strikes out at things like prejudice (of all kinds!) and the terrible injustice of aging. (The film is truly a commentary on many common moral failings in this country.) In
honor of a truly outstanding acting job ... and also in honor of a wide (!) body
of work ... A special mention should go to Dan Akroyd for one of his best acting jobs as Jessica Tandy's characters' son. "Phenomenon" <****>John Travolta, Kyra Sedgwick, Forest Whitaker, Robert Duvall, etc. (1996)August 18th, 2004: I just watched one of my favorite movies. (On cable.) First, let's get the obvious stuff out of the way. You cannot have a brain - or a heart - and watch this move ... and not be affected. So - let's award John Travolta a People's Oscar for his terrific acting job!! And the whole flaming cast gets an Honorable Mention. << applause >> I don't think mentioning this movie would be appropriate without mentioning that, for the most part, the critic's trash this movie. (See L. Maltin's, "2004 Movie and Video Guide.") But I deeply believe the critics are terribly wrong about this one. ********************* The story centers around "George," just an average putz from a small town ... which basically could be anywhere, USA. Suddenly - it does not matter how - he is transformed. His brain is awakened and he begins 'growing' {mentally} at a tremendous rate. And the people around him fail to grasp anything about what is happening. And they are afraid. What is this story really about? Well it has hundreds of different levels!! It is about all of us, and what would happen if we could truly harness the power of the human brain. It is about everyday people, and why are we so afraid of what is different than us? (Here - Thank GOD! - the differences are not the tired stereotypes of race, creed, skin color, or religion.) This is also a yarn - a sort of "what if?" type of thing ... that - if we were all honest for just one second - we have imagined happening to every one us. (You are daydreaming in class. Suddenly you see yourself as the world's smartest person, able to solve all of the world's problems. I think everyone has done this at least once in their life.) This story is about all the great books of the world, and what is behind the quest for knowledge. What is the point of each story? What are the hidden meanings? What are the morals - if any - of each and every book that we have ever read? It is a story about new ideas ... and why are we all so resistant to change? (We really shouldn't be!!!) The movie is a social commentary on many of the ills of modern society. How science should be about real discovery, but often only continues to repeat old ideas and tired dogma's. How silly the intelligence world can really be. How modern medicine has turned into a monster, and many times - it tries to deny basic human dignity. Etc. It is a story about life. About triumphs and tragedies. About how scary diseases like cancer really are!! And finally, it is one of the grandest love stories I have ever seen. The simple, honest truth is that many people have felt an attraction for each other, but for one reason or the other, nothing ever comes of it. Here George and his lady only realize that they love each other at the very end. It is also a story about dying. The ending. And maybe sometimes we should respect a person's right to privacy at the end of their life. George wants to go naturally, peacefully, and close to someone he loves. In a place that he knows and feels comfortable in. What is so terribly wrong with that? If you think about it, this movie is really about you and me. And everything that might be wrong - or right - in our everyday lives. The 2006 OscarsPretty routine stuff.
However ... the HUGE number of films ... with radical homosexual content, ("Brokeback Mountain"); just proves what I have been saying for years. (That Hollywood has a definite agenda, and is ACTIVELY promoting the "gay" lifestyle.) I think that the average American is convinced that the Oscars are only for a small segment of population, the normal working person feels little empathy for many of these films. (Especially when they portray the average guy - or gal! - as a working class stiff ... and a loser.) ************************************************************** I am sure I am not the only one who is completely fed up with Hollywood. The screaming, militant FAGS ... (homosexuals, lesbians, whatever); that demand that you openly accept their queer life-style. (I don't. And I do not think that the large MAJORITY of Americans do, either!) They also DEMAND ... and try to force-feed you ideas and political stances. For instance, ABORTION is a crime in the eyes of a true humanist ... or a Christian. Yet the way the extreme left-wing liberals of Hollywood demand that you accept this ... or else! It is truly disgusting!! (In the same way that they demand we accept putrid garbage like "same-sex marriages," which have been all in the news lately. July, 2004.) Another pain in the ___ is that complete horse's behind, Bill Maher. ("Real Time," on HBO. I DON'T care what the correct spelling of his name is. Would this guy please just DROP DEAD??? Literally!) Copyright (c) {LM} A.J. Goldsby I Copyright (c) A.J. Goldsby, 1995-2008. This page was last updated on 06/20/13 . ***
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