The 81st Annual Academy Awards Ceremony held at the Kodak Theater in Hollywood, CA on Sunday, February 22, 2009, proved once again that it is not only a barometer of the changes going on in American society, but perhaps Internationally as well. Sean Penn was the lone American to win an ‘Oscar;’ alongside the beautiful Brit Kate Winslett and Spaniard Penelope Cruz. Also, what was not a surprise was the number of awards garnered by the movie, “Slumdog Millionaire.” Be that as it may, one wonders about the exploitation of the little children portrayed in “SM” who may after all the popularity dies down several months from now when the International media has turned to other interests, will these precious little ones be returned back to live in their familiar surroundings and home in some unnamed town amid the poorest of slums in Mumbai, India. Will it be for them, “Once a Slumdog, Always a Slumdog?”
Hollywood has always had an enduring and well-deserved reputation for exploitation, and history appears to repeat itself on a consistent basis. Kate Winslett, who is probably one of the best actresses on the planet, finally won an ‘Oscar’ but at what cost? Halle Berry won an ‘Oscar’ in 2001 for “Monster’s Ball,” although she has done brilliant work in other movies. What these two women have in common is that “IF YOU SHOW ENOUGH SKIN (nudity & sexual situations), YOU WIN.” Not wanting to leave it at that, consider rebel and non-conformist, Sean Penn, who sort of a combination of James Dean and Marlon Brando.
Mr. Penn won again for his portrayal of gay San Francisco politician, Harvey Milk, and due to the increasing activism of the Gay, Lesbian, Transsexual, and Bisexual (“GLTB”) movement in American it is not all that surprising; and not only that, but Heath Ledger undoubtedly benefited from his portrayal of a homosexual cowboy in the movie, “Brokeback Mountain,” which led to him receiving a Best-Supporting ‘Oscar’ posthumously for his role as ‘The Joker’ in the movie, “Batman: The Dark Knight.”
Although there have been quite a few movies where women have had to ‘take it all off’ in front of the cameras, very few movies included intimacy between two men or even the suggestion of it. Veteran actor Tom Hanks won an ‘Oscar’ for his portrayal of a gay lawyer in the 1993 movie, “Philadelphia.” A movie which was well written and acted by Forest Whitaker, Stephen Rea, and Jay Davidson was the 1992 movie, “The Crying Game,” in which Rea, as an IRA volunteer falls in love with British soldier’s (Whitaker’s) lover, played by Jay Davidson.
The unsuspecting Rea was not aware of a big “secret” which really heightened the tension between emotional conflict and the feeling of betrayal as well as the contradictions when you realize that someone you love is not ‘all female.’ Nevertheless, Hollywood doesn’t miss an opportunity when it comes across a script that pushes the buttons of our moral values, social traditions, and religious beliefs, and one can rest assured that on some executive’s desk is the next play or movie script that will either lift us up to a higher sense of philanthropy and service or we will spiral deeper into the abyss of moral and spiritual decadence.
Robert Randle
776 Commerce St. #B-11
Tacoma, WA 98402
February 24, 2009
pbks@hotmail.com
