Wednesday, 14 February 2001

It was a long Oscar day… amazing how unemployment hasn't slowed my schedule down much. I heard from Tony Angelotti, who went way, way out of his way to credit everyone who works with him and particularly the studios he works with in getting Oscar nods. But as I told him, he works the media, to quote Danny DeVito's Penquin, "like a harp from hell." I got to have a phone discussion/argument with Jeff Wells over whether Steven Soderbergh has a better chance for Traffic or Erin Brockovich… if he were to ever decide to push for a win for one or the other. (Wells, of course, thinks that Soderbergh is being too much of a goody two shoes by not picking sides. Funny, seems like honor to me.) My position is that his only shot would be with Brockovich, the film that I think will win Best Picture and which Oscar voters will prefer, whether Jeff approves or not.

After an evening at a mediocre remake, which I'll talk about tomorrow or Friday, I stopped by The Apple Pan for fries and a burger. And I ran into a big time talent manager and a big time agent… names and client lists withheld to protect the inherently guilty. But one of them recognized me from something and we ended up shooting the breeze for about 30 minutes. And once again, I was reminded about why I am in this game. Sure, they are 10 and 15 percent guys… but they really seemed to care about their talent. And they really seemed to care about movies and the movie business… two things I happen to love.

It reminded me once again of why I always feel more in sync with studio types than I do with my journalistic colleagues. Even when the game is on – and it blessedly was not with these guys last night – it's about the movies and not the afterbirth that is entertainment journalism.

This is also being brought home by the series in the L.A.Times this week about the movie business and journalism. It's a good, valuable look at how things really are. And it pisses me off to no end that while THB has been in the truth game for a long time, particularly in the oft-emphasized box office lying game, I do not exist in writer David Shaw's world. I don't know whether it is intentional or simple ignorance (Wells goes unmentioned as well), but it's a damned shame. Not everyone is a self-serving, self-aggrandizing, ignorant web jockey and not everyone is simply an outlet for Hollywood publicists. There are some of us who are trying to move the line. And yet…

(Read the third feature in the series by clicking here).

I also had the big laugh of the day watching TV coverage of the Oscars and seeing an ad for ABC's Judy Garland biopic, starring the always-brilliant Judy Davis. But the tag for the ad was, "Are you a friend of Dorothy?" Is ABC really advertising this movie specifically for the gay community? Do they think that we straights are too square to realize that they are tapping into a classic gay icon? It's just weird to me… when they air Charlie's Angels are they going to promo, "Are you a friend of boobs?" "Do you like to look at ass?" Probably not.

I also had a loving exchange with Launch's Steve Iervolini, who wrote me during Sundance to point out that I had defamed him in a Bad Ad Watch… in August of 1999. Seems that I mis-connected Steve to another writer who was quoted in "Rush & Molloy" about Brokedown Palace. I have no access to my archives, so thankfully, Steve did and sent me this clip:

BAD AD WATCH: "Rush and Molloy" return for B.A.W. thanks to Launch's Stephen Iervolino, who provided Fox with the "Claire & Kate are brilliant" quote. One problem. Launch is a promotional CD-Rom magazine with no truly opinionated editorial content. But there is also a second problem. Claire Danes told the same Stephen Iervolino, according to "Rush & Molloy", "It could've been a great movie, and that's what's so upsetting... So it's so tragic. It's heartbreaking." Claire has no future as a quote whore."

In fact , I was wrong. Let me be clear, since Steve will want it that way… I WAS WRONG. I somehow saw that Flaunt Magazine had interviewed Claire and connected it to Launch. Of course, both are editorially worthless fluff rags and I still maintain that Steve quote whores with the best of them. But my sincere apologies for the 17-month-old mistake. And thanks to Iervolino, who was so sympathetic to the closing of roughcut and the complications of my last couple of weeks to write an attack e-mail this morning. Thanks, Steve. My respect for you has skyrocketed. I would have written the retraction soon enough… like when I could link to my own flawed story. Oh well.

Finally, before I give the rest of the column to some Oscar letters, I want to acknowledge that it is Valentine's Day. I would put up a list of initials of people who I love in the world, but like my new management/agent friends, better to protect the innocent.

READER OF THE DAY: Not Milton Bradley writes: "While by no means did I think Nurse Betty was one of the greatest movies of 2000, I think it has been largely ignored by the media and the critics. Maybe there is a reason for this (it's not that good, and I just don't realize it?), but if I'm Mr. LaBute, I'd be wondering what it takes to get recognized! I mean the guy has been turning out some of the sharpest and most biting movies I've seen. Don't get me wrong, I'm not a LaBute junkie, I just think his movies are well written and directed.

Please Dave, at least MENTION Morgan Freeman as a POSSIBLE contender for the Oscar (too late now, the nominees are in). And Renee Z! Even Mr. Eckhart is worth noting. I know there are a lot of movies and actors/actresses overlooked, but this is the one movie this year that at least deserved to be an ill-fated UFO blip on the radar (I never even saw this much) that quickly disappeared due to a cover-up, or other more important and bigger UFO's like Gladiator, which I only wish could come crashing down like the big clunkers they are!!! Three Cheers to Mr. Freeman for his wonderful performance in Nurse Betty and Mr. LaBute! I hope they know their work isn't going unnoticed.

Also of note, is there such thing as freakin diversity? I saw plenty or heard of plenty of movies with African Americans that didn't get recognized. I think every actor nomination is white, or at least it

seems that way, except for del Toro and the whole CT/HD crew. One again it's Oscar season and my blood boils, yet I'm the sucker who will spend four hours in March watching....."

BriD writes: "I feared I lost you when the ol roughcut was awol. glad I found you. for the first time since I can remember, I will not be watching the Oscars. Billy Elliot was the best movie I have seen this year. I have not met anyone who has seen it that did not love it or was not moved tremendously by it. If I want to watch politics and money I'll watch the machinations of the political parties. I am happy by the Ed Harris nomination but I can not forgive the academy for washing themselves in DreaMax money. Gladiator is a mess, emotionless and tepid ... Chocolat ... sigh, I walked out with my girlfriend and we immediately began talking about something else, not because we hated it...it was just that forgettable. If we can't reward brilliance in the film Billy Elliot or the ridiculously beautiful performance of Jamie Bell then I won't reward them with time out of my life. Sorry for the ramble, keep up the good work."

This came from Not Really Max: "Just a few thoughts: First, about your Crouching fetish... go watch The Bride With White Hair or any of the three Chinese Ghost Story films and tell me Ang Lee is so brilliant.

Second, go to http://www.simonsez.de/rvsimon01.htm and tell me my criticisms of The Gift are not warranted... I love Cate but no statue for this... agree on Tobey though (plus, who outside of LA and NYC has even seen Pollock??)

Third, what the hell happened with Roughcut?? was I in a coma?

Fourth, Gladiator is the obvious middle America piece of crap that gets the nom due to the US's ever-shrinking low standards..."

And this from The Diva: "I just found out what happened to Roughcut on Sunday (well, more or less, I went there and found something incredibly WRONG). I don't know the full details yet, but I look forward to you getting the archives section up so I can backtrace the grand cleansing, or whatever it was.

Am so glad you are still around with The Hot Button. Took me awhile to find it, but I did. I used to be a daily reader, even made ROTD two times. But I've fallen off. Forgive me. However, I couldn't go into Oscar Nom day without your astute analysis. Well....maybe not astute, but pretty damned good.

I'm more disgusted this year than usual, and that's saying something. I swore I wouldn't care this morning, yet I rushed into work so I could get the news off the AP wires. Just about wet myself when it wouldn't come up right away. Guess I need to simmer down and realize someone needs to type it all in.

Hey, congratulations, Marcia Gay Harden, Ed Harris and Javier Bardem! You've just won the Judi Davis/Rachel Griffiths/Samantha Morton/Dexter Gordon "It's a freaking miracle I even got nominated" award. Make sure you smile at Joan Rivers on the red carpet as she ignores you in favor of Julia!

Not that I'm mad about Julia's nom and eventual win. I just think the costume designer for ERIN B. should have been remembered today.

In a way, Dave, I'm a little peeved at critics, the press, even you a tad. Why? For raising my hopes that Fred Willard from Best In Show or Gillian Anderson from House of Mirth even had a chance (confession - I have an Academy screening copy of HOM that I covet like a piece of French provincial furniture -- and no, I'm not a member)!

Now, I'm faced with crushing disappointment. And HOM wasn't even remembered for costumes or set decor! What?! And paean to tastelessness the Grinch was rewarded in these usually stalwart categories? I guess the esteemed garment makers and interior decorators are smoking some bad-ass crack.

And speaking of crack, no Jeffrey Wright for Shaft. But no one really got my hopes up for that one, Dave, not even you. Because as usual, Hollywood is lily-white and oh-so- boring.

I give up. Thanks for being there, Dave. Never go away again!

PS- My pick for Best Picture of the chosen few? Gotta go with Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. Hey, it was no Bride With White Hair, but the fanboys can kiss my narrow behind. It jerked a tear from this hardened cynical girl. Keep on keepin' on, Michelle, Chow and Zhang! You guys rock. Even without a few well-deserved nods for the two lovely ladies. Sorry, Dave, Traffic made me scratch my head and check my watch."

E ME. You know the drill.