Out of Touch?

Last night, while accepting the Academy Award for best supporting actor, George Clooney said,

"And finally, I would say that we are a little bit out of touch in Hollywood -- every once in a while, I think. It's probably a good thing. We're the ones who talked about AIDS when it was just being whispered. And we talked about civil rights when it wasn't really popular. And we bring up subjects -- we are the ones -- this Academy, this group of people gave Hattie McDaniel an Oscar in 1939 when blacks were still sitting in the backs of theaters. I'm proud to be a part of this Academy. I'm proud to be part of this community. I'm proud to be out of touch."

• Some will view his comments as nothing but a pat on the back
• Others will attack the comments as self-serving and pompous
• Some may say things like , "Please -- Hollywood is destroying society-- not making it better!"
  
  I think that it is possible that when people act up -- things can and do start moving toward positive change.
  
  For instance . . . Some UCC firsts.
  
  Thanks, George -- for opening up the subject of being called "out of touch."

Sound Mixing -- Surprise Nominees

Check it out -- none of these are nominated for best picture!

Best Sound Mixing Nominees:

• The Chronicles of Narnia: : The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe-- Except for a clumsy plane engine sounds right at the beginning -- the sound mixing felt seamless.
  
• War of the Worlds -- It was loud with purpose -- though the mix always favored the voices.
  
• King Kong -- The sound made the unrealistic "running with the dinosaurs" scene more believable.
  
• Walk the Line -- absolutely fabulous -- great music too! (Did I mention that this is my favorite film?)
  
• Memoirs of a Geisha -- didn't see it -- didn't hear it either.

Oscar - No Slouch

Here's what I think about the best picture nominations:

• Brokeback Mountain- Saw it -- deeply affected by it
• Capote- Haven't seen it. But I loved "Murder By Death"
• Crash- Saw it -- moved by it -- angered by it
• Good Night, and Good Luck- Haven't see it -- but I will
• Munich- Haven't seen it. It's strange to see that Ang Lee and Eric Bana -- who were involved in such a horrible movie in the past ("Hulk") in much better company this year.
• Walk the Line- I know this one isn't nominated for best picture -- but it is my favorite film and I think it deserves to be nominated. (Saw it -- call it my favorite film)

Tomorrow I'll have fun with just one more category.