It's a mad mad mad mad mad mad world. And Mel Gibson is a mad mad mad mad mad mad man. I had to pick up on this story because for some reason the media is still talking about it. I credit Forky for getting me started on this discussion.
So Mel Gibson said some really really really bad bad things. That's after getting himself, a known alcoholic, schnockered. And there's no defense for any of the hateful things that he said. Now I know that alcohol can impair judgment and make you say things you otherwise wouldn't. (If that weren't true, half of the guys I know wouldn't have had a prayer with their current significant others.) But to the best of my knowledge alcohol doesn't make you blame the jews for all the world's wars. So I think it's safe to say that Mr. Gibson has some serious issues.
But here's where things get weird, Cachinnatees: Why is this still in the headlines? How long do other stars' less than stellar moments stay in the headlines? Why is this one sticking around? Is it because it's really really bad? We've seen really really bad before, but nobody called for the other dirtbags and lowlifes to be shunned from Hollywood before. For the love of cake, this is the same Hollywood that took back Woody Allen who married his girlfriend's daughter after carrying on a sexual relationship with both of them at the same time! It's the same Hollywood that gave a frickin' Oscar to child molester Roman Polanski! So whither all this talk about shunning Mel Gibson from Hollywood?
I've got a theory, and it's not really all that deep: Mel Gibson directed The Passion. It seems that simple to me. And I'm not here to discuss the merits of The Passion. All I will say is this: Hollywood has a horrible double-standard when it comes to this film. It's easy to dismiss crap like The Omega Code, but The Passion was a real film. And ideological/theological debates aside, (stick with me, they're not the point here), The Passion was one of the best and most carefully directed pictures of the past twenty years. It was a breathtaking piece of direction and filmmaking. But Hollywood can't seem to separate the message from the medium. Funny how they can do it for "brilliant" but morally worthless movies like Natural Born Killers, American Beauty, and Eyes Wide Shut, but not for a movie with an overtly Christian bent. So I theorize that Mel is being singled out because he directed The Passion.
Please don't misread me here. I'm not suggesting giving Mel a pass. But I'm also not advocating throwing him out of Hollywood. The sick thing is, comparatively speaking, he's still a stand-up guy in that crowd. And I'm not beating the Jesus drum about how persecuted we Christians are in America today. The last time I checked, no one was throwing us to the lions. I just can't help but be disappointed that A)This is still in the news, B)Mel is being targeted for additional punishment because of his affiliation with a Christian-themed movie, and C)That the same level of outrage over his comments isn't doled out to the philandering, lying, cheating, drug-abusing, sickos in Hollywood whose crimes are right up there with Mel's.
But remember, in Hollywood, there is no such thing as sexual misconduct, drug abuse is only a mild illness, and wanton greed is a way of life. It will never cease to amuse me that Hollywood can be so selective with it's moral outrage.
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11 Cachinnations
Interesting.
I didn't know about this. Maybe that's because I don't watch enough t.v.
You know the media - anything to sell and make a buck. Stir up trouble is all they do. But, that's why "gossip" is so bad.
I am glad to see that he appeared to be sorrowful for his behavior in his statement though.
Posted on 8/03/2006
Hollywood/The Media reminds me of high school where the popular kids can live their sordid lives without the remorse, but if the good, Christian kid screws up, just once, they make sure the whole world knows while they force your nose into your own excrement. I know it's an awful analogy, but that's how I see it. Maybe they're the same people after all.
Posted on 8/03/2006
Good grief! There are literally five different stories about this on www.foxnews.com at this very moment!
And not a SINGLE story about my outrageous "Meshugina Mia" poster! I realize I'm not famous, but come on! I thought the Anti-Defamation League would be all up ons!
Posted on 8/03/2006
Don't worry, Forky, a hatemonger like you can only fly under the radar for so long. It'll catch up to you, bigot.
By the way, isn't today someone's last day on the 42nd Floor?
Posted on 8/03/2006
Part of me wonders, if someone who was not Christian, or was an outspoken athiest or practicing Jew in Hollywood, made a similar comment about us (Christians), if it would even be in the news, or if it was, would it not be as rubbing your nose in it, as much as. Hah, we agree?
Just a thought.
Posted on 8/03/2006
For someone who is supposed to hate the Jews, he is certainly starting to look a bit like one. Add a black hat and some curly locks and he is Rabbi Gibsonovitz.
Posted on 8/03/2006
While I would agree that this event has been given too much media attention, I would strongly disagree that "American Beauty" and "Eyes Wide Shut" are "morally worthless". Especially since "Eyes Wide Shut" was widely critized when it was released for it's "puritanical values" (in part, showing that there are consequences to the choices we make).
Posted on 8/03/2006
True, Eyes Wide Shut was pretty much about how jealousy can ravage a soul, a marraige, how underneath our perfect little personas we hide little secrets and how those secrets can become nasty realities if they are not dealt with.
As far as being called Morally Bankrupt, I think that was just because it had a bunch of naked chicks in it. The 19th century novel it was based on was pretty saucy in itself.
Anyway, if you really want to get a lesson in sexual immorality, and see all of that business in action, jealousy, adultery, etc. then go work at a church.
Posted on 8/04/2006
Great point, Stephen, and in retrospect I didn't really mean that comment as It reads. What I meant was that each of those three movies are fine examples of films that feature sex or violence in extreme ways. Yet any objection to that extreme sex or violence is overridden in favor of appreciation of the art form. Those same critics could not do the same for the Passion. That was my point. Again, this is not me trumpeting the Passion, just saying that it was an excellent piece of filmmaking and that fact was completely lost when it shouldn't have been.
Posted on 8/04/2006
You should check out our friend John Book's blog, as well. Between the two of you, I think you've nailed it on the head. http://blog.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendID=79368915&blogID=152747115&MyToken=3ac512d2-0f10-4a15-a35f-99b4ffa74286
Posted on 8/11/2006
that was me up there, about John's blog. sorry I forgot to put my name
Posted on 8/11/2006