Entertainment News

Academy President Praises Mel Gibson

Academy President Frank Pierson is commending actor-producer-director Mel Gibson for the civilized approach he is taking in handling the pre-Oscar promotion of his film, "The Passion of the Christ."

With the Academy Awards nominations right around the corner, Gibson, along with his company Icon, is choosing not to engage in the conventional Oscar promo game, preferring instead that, as sources close to Gibson indicate, the film speak for itself.

Icon is making "The Passion of the Christ" available to Academy members through screenings and DVDs.

Pierson sees Gibson's approach as helping to reestablish the Academy Awards as a "celebration and appreciation of excellence." He is also applauding Gibson for avoiding the "crass commercialism that was threatening the integrity of the award."

Gibson and partner Bruce Davey don't plan on purchasing the usual advertisements that grace the pages of trade publications and entreat Academy members to consider the film for award nominations.

"This film should be judged on its artistic merit, not on who spends more money for advertising. That's really what the academy was meant to be and to celebrate," Davey said in a written statement.

Apparently, in recent years, attempts by studios and production houses to garner Academy attention has grown to such an extent that efforts often involve expensive multifaceted campaigns which include ads, parties and events. And much like political campaigns, studios have actually been known to use tactics like negative leaks and opposition research.

Remember the controversy that surrounded the films "A Beautiful Mind" and "In the Bedroom," which in both cases curiously surfaced during the pre-awards season?

Evidently, Academy officials thought the situation had gotten so out of hand that in 2003 they formed a committee to strengthen the rules for promoting Oscar contenders.

Oscar nominations will be announced shortly, with a politically charged "Fahrenheit 9-11" looming.

The Left Coast Report thinks that a lot of folks in the red states will be watching closely to see where the Oscar gold goes

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Opaa! Lawsuit for Oliver Stone?

Some Greek lawyers are threatening to sue Warner Bros. film studios and director Oliver Stone over the new epic film "Alexander."

Apparently, the attorneys are thinking of taking some Hollywood types to task because the film portrays Alexander the Great as gay.

"We are not saying that we are against gays but we are saying that the production company should make it clear to the audience that this film is pure fiction and not a true depiction of the life of Alexander," lead lawyer of the Greek gang of 25 attorneys Yannis Varnakos told Reuters.

Colin Farrell is the actor who depicts one of the greatest military leaders of all times, the man who conquered about 90 percent of the then-known world.

In the film, Farrell sports a blond pageboy haircut, wears a mini-toga and kisses two guys, a Macedonian soldier and a Persian boy. The smooches are reportedly in full "make out" mode.

Stone defended the criticism of his lead character in a recent Playboy interview. "Alexander lived in a more honest time," Stone told Playboy.

"We go into his bisexuality. It may offend some people, but sexuality in those days was a different thing. Pre-Christian morality. Young boys were with boys when they wanted to be."

Stone then displayed a bit of his famous diplomacy. "You only need five words. Alexander says, 'Stay with me tonight, Hephaistion,' and you get it. If you don't get it, f--- you, it's your problem," he said

Anna Nicole Smith's Eyeball Excuse

Reality star Anna Nicole Smith has come up with a novel defense for her embarrassing appearance at the American Music Awards.

During her presentation, she slurred her words, flubbed her lines and seemed to forget where she was. It all led to speculation that Smith may have been under the influence of something.

Smith's lawyer, whose name is Howard Stern, came up with an explanation that appears to be even more creative than a wardrobe malfunction. He blamed it on, of all things, nearsightedness.

Stern explains that Smith "couldn't really read the teleprompter because she has bad eyes. She flubbed a line, but she's fine. Anna did numerous other interviews afterwards where it's obvious that she's fine."

The Left Coast Report notes that Anna didn't seem to have a problem reading her departed husband's bank statements

 

KKKartoons

Guess who made this year's cartoon hypocrite and soon-to-be job seekers list? Well, that would be Garry Trudeau, Pat Oliphant, Jeff Danziger, Ted Rall and John Sylvester.

All of these fellows engaged in the kind of racism that the Left claims to deplore but somehow certain libs feel free to fling when the fling-ee happens to be conservative.

When it became public knowledge that National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice was slated to be the first black female Secretary of State, the KKKartoonists put their hate pens to paper and sketched out things that would embarrass a white supremacist.

Trudeau's cartoon featured President Bush tagging Rice with the label "Brown Sugar."

In two of his cartoons, Oliphant depicted Rice as a big-lipped parrot.

Danziger showed Rice as a servant in "Gone with the Wind."
   
And even before the announcement was made, Rall referred to Rice as the President's "House [N-word]."

Then there's John "Sly" Sylvester, a radio talk show host on WTDY-AM in Madison, Wisconsin. Sylvester called Condoleezza Rice an "Aunt Jemima."

Sylvester subsequently issued an apology. But before you feel the urge to forgive and forget, the "I'm sorry" wasn't made to Condoleezza.

"It is with a heavy heart that I apologize this morning to Aunt Jemima. She wasn't a self-serving hack politician who got up in front of Congress and lied. Aunt Jemima didn't kowtow to Don Rumsfeld or Dick Cheney," Sylvester said.

Personally, I don't often agree with NAACP president Kweisi Mfume, but I do this time.  Mfume described those who make such statements as "just as bad as those who hide under sheets and burn crosses."

The Left Coast Report echoes Mfume's description of Rice as "an example of how far hard work, education and determination can take one to new heights."

Tony Soprano and Paulie Walnuts Reporting for Duty

Sopranos stars James Gandolfini (Tony Soprano) and Tony Sirico (Paulie Walnuts) are bringing a bit of Jersey Thanksgiving cheer to our troops in the Persian Gulf.

The two TV mobsters have embarked on a USO-Armed Forces Entertainment tour.

The soldiers will be treated to some quality time with Tony and Paulie, where they'll sign autographs, pose for snapshots and watch movies with the GIs.

For security purposes, details about the trip have been withheld, including locations that the actors will visit and how long they'll be in the region.
 
The Left Coast Report believes, when it comes to the military, it's like that toast from Tony Soprano: "To the people I love. Nothing else matters. "