Monday, March 6, 2006

Clooney & Stein on Hollywood

Read and compare George Clooney's Oscar acceptance speech (here) with Ben Stein's article about the ceremony (here).

Clooney's main point:
And finally, I would say that, you know, 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 talk about AIDS when it was just being whispered, and we talked about civil rights when it wasn't really popular. And we, you know, we bring up subjects. 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. Proud to be part of this community, and proud to be out of touch.

Stein's main point:
Hollywood is above all about self: self-congratulation, self-promotion, and above all, self-protection. This is human and basic, but let's not kid ourselves. There is no greatness there in the Kodak theater. The greatness is on patrol in Kirkuk. The greatness lies unable to sleep worrying about her man in Mosul. The greatness sleeps at Arlington National Cemetery and lies waiting for death in VA Hospitals. God help us that we have sunk so low as to confuse foolish and petty boasting with the real courage that keeps this nation and the many fools in it alive and flourishing on national TV.

Who is the more correct in their assessment of what Hollywood is and does? My money is with Stein.

(H/T: Cent)

RELATED: Read this piece by Peggy Noonan when you have the time.

4 comments:

  1. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

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  2. Yuriy: I have absolutely no interest in what you have to peddle. Don't send me trash like that again.

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  3. I have begun to really appreciate Ben Stein. I hope I get to talk with him one day.

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  4. I'm afraid that if I ever run in to Mr. Stein, I'd ask him to say, "Bueller... Bueller..."

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