Hollywood Wimps Out

Despite all the hype, hoopla, and hullaballoo, "Crash" won best picture. Hollywood gave lip service to its boldness, and in its self-absorbed conceit proved what liberals are really all about: it's the thought that counts. Just the thought and nothing else.

The five movies nominated for Best Picture grossed a combined $236 million in 2005. Here are their rankings in the top 100 revenue-grossing movies of 2005:

26th - Brokeback Mountain
49th - Crash
63rd - Munich
90th - Good Night and Good Luck
97th - Capote

"Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith" grossed $380.5 million, and it won only a minor award.

The top five grossing films of 2005: "Star Wars Episode III", "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire", The Chronicles of Narnia", "War of the Worlds", and "King Kong" grossed $1.41 billion: 6 times that of the Best Picture nominees.

In fact, "Cheaper by the Dozen 2" and "Dukes of Hazzard" grossed more than "Brokeback Mountain". "Dukes of Hazzard" and the unbelievably bad Jessica Simpson for crying out loud!

It's more than unfortunate that George Clooney won an award. He'll most likely be more insufferable than ever. Nobody bashes President Bush, America, and America's values more than Hollywood. And George Clooney thinks he's brave for making movies along those lines. Hey Georgie, making movies that don't bash America and its values would be brave, not the other way around. Don't pat yourself on the back for being a lemming.

Don't ever forget that it was George Clooney who showed such delight when it was announced that Charlton Heston had alzheimers. Charlton Heston is a true Hollywood legend. George Clooney is just another guy passing through. Anybody remember Roberto Benigni and Geoffrey Rush? Didn't think so.

Maybe Hollywood's self-congratulatory excess and its "boldness" is the reason that this year's Oscar telecast had the lowest ratings since 1987.

Jon Stewart had his moments, though. Even his joke at Dick Cheney's expense was a good one. He was especially priceless when he commented that this would be the first time that anyone in Hollywood had actually voted for a winner.