Sour Grapes: 'Brokeback Mountain' Author Slams Oscars and 'Crash' - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Janice · 03-14-2006, 04:12 PM

LOS ANGELES (AP) - Annie Proulx, whose 1997 short story inspired the film "Brokeback Mountain," has penned a scattershot blast in a British newspaper unleashing her anger over the film's best-picture Oscar loss.

Proulx criticizes Oscar voters and the Academy Awards ceremony in the 1,094-word rant, which appeared in Saturday's issue of The Guardian, a liberal paper boasting 1.2 million readers daily.

The best-picture Oscar went to "Crash," which focuses on race relations in Los Angeles.

Academy members who vote for the year's best film are "out of touch not only with the shifting larger culture and the yeasty ferment that is America these days, but also out of touch with their own segregated city," Proulx writes.

The 70-year-old Pulitzer-prize winning author points out that "Brokeback," which was nominated for eight Academy Awards, was named best picture at the Independent Spirit Awards one day before the March 5 Oscars.

"If you are looking for smart judging based on merit, skip the Academy Awards next year and pay attention to the Independent Spirit choices," Proulx advises.

She even lashes out at Lionsgate, the distribution company behind "Crash."

"Rumour has it that Lionsgate inundated the academy voters with DVD copies of Trash - excuse me - Crash a few weeks before the ballot deadline," Proulx writes.

She decries the "atmosphere of insufferable self-importance" inside the Kodak Theatre, the Oscars site, and describes the audience as a "somewhat dim LA crowd." The show, she writes, was "reminiscent of a small-town talent-show night."

"Clapping wildly for bad stuff enhances this," Proulx writes.

She notes that "Brokeback's" three Oscar wins, for original score, adapted screenplay and direction for Ang Lee put it "on equal footing with King Kong."

When Jack Nicholson announced "Crash" as the best-picture winner, "there was a gasp of shock," Proulx writes.

"It was a safe pick of 'controversial film' for the heffalumps," she writes, using the elephant-like "Winnie the Pooh" character to describe academy voters.

"For those who call this little piece a Sour Grapes Rant," Proulx concludes, "play it as it lays."

Calls by the Associated Press to Proulx's Wyoming home and her literary agent, Elizabeth Darhansoff, were not immediately returned Tuesday.

Brian Damage · 03-15-2006, 12:25 PM

Talk about SOUR GRAPES! What makes her think Brokeback was the best film? I've got news for her, the ONLY reason why it was nominated in the first place was because of its "Gay theme." This was the year to praise "gay cinema" with nominations for films like Capote and TransAmerica. That's what Hollywood does, they have themes for their show every year. I hate it, but that is what they do. They did the same thing a couple of years ago when they honored Denzel Washington, Halle Berry and Sidney Poitier in the same year. Crash was an excellent film whether she wants to admit it or not. Maybe she would've been happier if they had Matt Dillon's character have an affair with Ryan Phillippe's character. lol

Ireneparalegal · 03-15-2006, 12:30 PM

sour grapes indeed. she should applaud the accolades the movie did receive.

the independent awards are a really awesome awards show. Does anyone watch it?

Brian Damage · 03-15-2006, 12:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ireneparalegal

sour grapes indeed. she should applaud the accolades the movie did receive.

the independent awards are a really awesome awards show. Does anyone watch it?

I know it is on IFC, but I have never watched.

Ireneparalegal · 03-15-2006, 12:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian Damage

I know it is on IFC, but I have never watched.

They are good. The people either show up casual or dress casual. They are allowed to use profanity, etc. basically it's like the Oscars without the hoopla, and the strict rules. It's fun. The guy who won best director last year was presenting the award this year to the next director when he started saying how he has never seen such a good looking host of an awards show that he wanted to f***! OMG!!!! I was LMAO!!! He said that the year before he had met his wife and they fell in love the first night they met. Then he said, "Well, we didn't fall in love, not really...we F***** all night long!" LMAO!!!! Then right before he named the best director he said "The director that gets this award is gonna get some tonight!" it's crude but the crowd loved it. I did too.

Janice · 03-15-2006, 01:28 PM

The Brokeback Mountain author is not gracious at all. Slamming the competition (Crash) is childish. Knocking the Oscars may backfire for her in the future. I think she figured Brokeback was a shoe-in for best picture. Her reaction to losing is extremely juvenille.

MsOrange · 03-15-2006, 02:45 PM

Brian Damage · 03-15-2006, 03:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Janice

The Brokeback Mountain author is not gracious at all. Slamming the competition (Crash) is childish. Knocking the Oscars may backfire for her in the future. I think she figured Brokeback was a shoe-in for best picture. Her reaction to losing is extremely juvenille.

I agree, I'm just curious if she would say the same thing if say, Munich won.

Sterling Holobyte · 03-15-2006, 04:10 PM

Talk about a sore loser.

snl 70s show fan · 03-15-2006, 06:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MsOrange

i agree 100 percent

Chad Michael Murray · 03-15-2006, 06:57 PM

Well wouldn't many of the people here have been the same way if Brokeback won?

Not that I'm on either side. I haven't seen either movie yet, and I'm sure they were both equally deserving. But her complaining about this is no different than if everyone here would've complained about Brokeback winning only because of its theme.

Janice · 03-15-2006, 07:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chad Michael Murray

Well wouldn't many of the people here have been the same way if Brokeback won?

Not that I'm on either side. I haven't seen either movie yet, and I'm sure they were both equally deserving. But her complaining about this is no different than if everyone here would've complained about Brokeback winning only because of its theme.

This isn't about what members said about which movie won. It's the fact that the author of Brokeback Mountain is slamming the movie that did win, and the Academy.

She's a first-class sore loser.

Chad Michael Murray · 03-15-2006, 07:06 PM

Yes, I know what this is about.

All I'm saying is, I think what's good for the goose is good for the gander.

If everybody here would be allowed to complain if Brokeback won, then I believe she's allowed to complain about Crash winning.

Janice · 03-15-2006, 07:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chad Michael Murray

Yes, I know what this is about.

All I'm saying is, I think what's good for the goose is good for the gander.

If everybody here would be allowed to complain if Brokeback won, then I believe she's allowed to complain about Crash winning.

What we think here if Brokeback won is beside the point.

The author publicly whining and criticizing the winner and the Academy is unprofessional and really smacks of sour grapes. She ripped everyone. She's obviously bitter. It's poor form to act that way.

Brian Damage · 03-15-2006, 07:14 PM

Apples and Oranges...we are fans...she was a part of the movie. She used the media to denounce the film and Hollywood because the result didn't go her way. I am positive Paul Haggis wouldn't have done that if he had lost.

03-14-2006, 04:12 PM	#1
Janice Retired Admin - Hollywood Swingin' Forum Legend Join Date: Aug 03, 2001 Location: Beantown Posts: 36,388	Sour Grapes: 'Brokeback Mountain' Author Slams Oscars and 'Crash' LOS ANGELES (AP) - Annie Proulx, whose 1997 short story inspired the film "Brokeback Mountain," has penned a scattershot blast in a British newspaper unleashing her anger over the film's best-picture Oscar loss. Proulx criticizes Oscar voters and the Academy Awards ceremony in the 1,094-word rant, which appeared in Saturday's issue of The Guardian, a liberal paper boasting 1.2 million readers daily. The best-picture Oscar went to "Crash," which focuses on race relations in Los Angeles. Academy members who vote for the year's best film are "out of touch not only with the shifting larger culture and the yeasty ferment that is America these days, but also out of touch with their own segregated city," Proulx writes. The 70-year-old Pulitzer-prize winning author points out that "Brokeback," which was nominated for eight Academy Awards, was named best picture at the Independent Spirit Awards one day before the March 5 Oscars. "If you are looking for smart judging based on merit, skip the Academy Awards next year and pay attention to the Independent Spirit choices," Proulx advises. She even lashes out at Lionsgate, the distribution company behind "Crash." "Rumour has it that Lionsgate inundated the academy voters with DVD copies of Trash - excuse me - Crash a few weeks before the ballot deadline," Proulx writes. She decries the "atmosphere of insufferable self-importance" inside the Kodak Theatre, the Oscars site, and describes the audience as a "somewhat dim LA crowd." The show, she writes, was "reminiscent of a small-town talent-show night." "Clapping wildly for bad stuff enhances this," Proulx writes. She notes that "Brokeback's" three Oscar wins, for original score, adapted screenplay and direction for Ang Lee put it "on equal footing with King Kong." When Jack Nicholson announced "Crash" as the best-picture winner, "there was a gasp of shock," Proulx writes. "It was a safe pick of 'controversial film' for the heffalumps," she writes, using the elephant-like "Winnie the Pooh" character to describe academy voters. "For those who call this little piece a Sour Grapes Rant," Proulx concludes, "play it as it lays." Calls by the Associated Press to Proulx's Wyoming home and her literary agent, Elizabeth Darhansoff, were not immediately returned Tuesday.
	Last edited by Janice; 03-14-2006 at 08:03 PM.

03-15-2006, 12:25 PM	#2
Brian Damage I'm Rich Bitch Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 03, 2002 Location: What Ain't No Country I Ever Heard Of...They Speak English in What? Posts: 63,107	Talk about SOUR GRAPES! What makes her think Brokeback was the best film? I've got news for her, the ONLY reason why it was nominated in the first place was because of its "Gay theme." This was the year to praise "gay cinema" with nominations for films like Capote and TransAmerica. That's what Hollywood does, they have themes for their show every year. I hate it, but that is what they do. They did the same thing a couple of years ago when they honored Denzel Washington, Halle Berry and Sidney Poitier in the same year. Crash was an excellent film whether she wants to admit it or not. Maybe she would've been happier if they had Matt Dillon's character have an affair with Ryan Phillippe's character. lol
	__________________ The Key to the Kingdom of Heaven: John 3:3 *Money Doesn't Buy Happiness...But I'd Rather Cry in My Private Jet*

03-15-2006, 12:30 PM	#3
Ireneparalegal LEGAL SPICE ;) Forum Legend Join Date: Jul 25, 2005 Location: OXNARD, CA - WHERE THE DALLAS COWBOYS TRAIN & PRACTICE Posts: 38,691	sour grapes indeed. she should applaud the accolades the movie did receive. the independent awards are a really awesome awards show. Does anyone watch it?
	__________________ DALLAS COWBOYS ARE HERE AT TRAINING CAMP!!!

03-15-2006, 04:10 PM	#9
Sterling Holobyte Harper House Senior Member Join Date: Nov 07, 2002 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 2,896	Talk about a sore loser.
	__________________ "Let it go. Forget about it. Try smiling." -Michael Harris WPIV studio producer/shoe salesman/grocery store employee/Ex-sanitarium patient/Stephanie's boyfriend-then husband --------------------------------------------------- My 2nd First Blog:http://saturdaymorningfunnies.wordpress.com/

03-15-2006, 06:57 PM	#11
Chad Michael Murray Member Senior Member Join Date: Oct 23, 2005 Location: Illinois Posts: 1,493	Well wouldn't many of the people here have been the same way if Brokeback won? Not that I'm on either side. I haven't seen either movie yet, and I'm sure they were both equally deserving. But her complaining about this is no different than if everyone here would've complained about Brokeback winning only because of its theme.
	__________________ "I think that I’m definitely connected to my sensitive side. I pretty much wear my emotions on my sleeves for the people in my life." --Chad Michael Murray

03-15-2006, 01:28 PM	#6
Janice Retired Admin - Hollywood Swingin' Forum Legend Join Date: Aug 03, 2001 Location: Beantown Posts: 36,388	The Brokeback Mountain author is not gracious at all. Slamming the competition (Crash) is childish. Knocking the Oscars may backfire for her in the future. I think she figured Brokeback was a shoe-in for best picture. Her reaction to losing is extremely juvenille.

03-15-2006, 02:45 PM	#7
MsOrange Bringin' Sexy Back Forum Veteran Join Date: Dec 27, 2004 Posts: 6,133

03-15-2006, 07:06 PM	#13
Chad Michael Murray Member Senior Member Join Date: Oct 23, 2005 Location: Illinois Posts: 1,493	Yes, I know what this is about. All I'm saying is, I think what's good for the goose is good for the gander. If everybody here would be allowed to complain if Brokeback won, then I believe she's allowed to complain about Crash winning.

03-15-2006, 07:14 PM	#15
Brian Damage I'm Rich Bitch Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 03, 2002 Location: What Ain't No Country I Ever Heard Of...They Speak English in What? Posts: 63,107	Apples and Oranges...we are fans...she was a part of the movie. She used the media to denounce the film and Hollywood because the result didn't go her way. I am positive Paul Haggis wouldn't have done that if he had lost.