Death of the Movie Star: Hollywood Rethinks use of A-list Actors
by Big Hollywood
“Hollywood studios are now thinking twice about splurging on A-list movie stars and costly productions in reaction to the poor economy, but also because of the surprising success of recent films with unknown actors. …
“Last weekend, comic actor Jim Carrey’s “A Christmas Carol” became the latest celebrity-driven movie to stumble at box offices, opening to a lower-than-expected $30 million.
“Aside from Jim Carrey and “Carol,” which cost at least $175 million, A-listers who suffered box office flops recently have included Bruce Willis (“Surrogates”), Adam Sandler (“Funny People”), Will Ferrell (“Land of the Lost”), Eddie Murphy (“Imagine That”) and Julia Roberts (“Duplicity”).
“‘The (major movie) machine didn’t fly last summer, if you look at the movies and the names, they were not star-driven movies, they really weren’t,’ said Peter Guber, chairman of Mandalay Entertainment and former head of Sony Pictures.
“Hollywood insiders say A-listers currently are having trouble with salary demands in the $15 million range or participation approaching 20 percent of gross profits — deals that were once somewhat common for top talent. Instead, they are being asked to take less money upfront and greater compensation only if a film breaks even.”
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200 Comments
What's good for Big banking, Big investments and Big pharma should be OK for big films. Cap anual payrolls for everyone in the film industry at 300,000. That includes producers, directors and studio big wigs. Power to the non film people!!!!
They never should have given them that much money to begin with. There are no movie stars anymore. People go to see a movie based on the content.
Good. All those greedy celebritard liberals (but really capitalists), should be forced to share the failure or success of their horrible movies with the greedy liberal (but really capitalist) movie studios.
WHY?? WHY?? OH MY GOD WHY?? THIS CAN NOT BE HAPPENING, WHY NOW?
YOU CAN'T TAKE AWAY THE ABSURD SALARIES………..YOU ARE INFRINGING ON THEIR FREEDOMS.
THEY ARE BEING SILENCED BECAUSE THEY ARE FREE THINKERS….. AND WAY UP ON THE HIERARCHY OF THE PRIVILEGED ELITES MAYBE EVEN AT THE TOP…. SOME MAY EVEN FLEE TO CUBA AND VENEZUELA FOR THE FREEDOM OF SPEECH THAT ONLY MONEY COULD BUY.
STOP IT MAO!!!! OOPS NOW!!!
Due to A-list Stars, Hollywood is incapable of thinking:
"DUNN: You know, it's – I recommend everybody, if you get a chance to go on YouTube, Jon Stewart actually did one of the most amazing pieces of journalism last week or a couple of weeks ago in which he actually looked at the way FOX, on their opinion shows, raises some, you know, some – some issue that then gets reported on by their news division as, quote, "a controversy," and then they go find someone to comment."
Seaking of A-listers: perhaps America will find enlightenment when Jon Stewart's amusing audience stops consuming Jon Stewart's bowel movements?
As more and more people realize the ones that the Hollywood socialites are ridiculing are them, the ones that consume the products, the more they are turning away from financing their luxurious lifestyles!!! Hollywood put all it's eggs in the basket with Obama and his "Progressives", now they are suffering the repercussions of their actions!!! Maybe they'll pass a law that will make it mandatory to pay to watch their movies!!!! I'm sure they can perverse the Constitution enough to make it legal!!!!!
LOL — That was audaciously funny. Thanks for the laugh.
I, for one, can't take seriously the statements from any person named Peter Guber.
Peter Guber? Jeezily crow, I hope his middle name isn't Dick.
Let's see, what does it cost to take a family of four to the movies on a weekend night in the DC area? Tickets=$40; Two popcorns, two candies, and four sodas=$38.00. The satisfaction of watching Hollywood collectively stratch their heads over why they're hemorraging cash while I refuse to pay such ridiculous prices to be insulted by anti-American drivel, "starring" celebrities who hold their paying public with the highest disdain=PRICELESS.
Cry me a river for the past-their-expiration-date A List hacks that won't be getting obscene big bucks for their mediocre talents anymore. Hollywood as we know it needs to disappear. Only after that, there is a chance that in the void capital will find its way to good scripts and talent by independents.
I find it so repulsive that most of the world thinks they know us through the garbage that Hollywood exports.
They can't die fast enough.
Well its not the pay that is killing them, its the garbage they are making that is killing them. A good movie is going to be a good movie, I am not even going to bother seeing the latest from Jim Carey, why? I can see the best version ever made, Alistar Simm for less than what it would cost me to pop some pop corn. I don't go to the movies like it did in years gone by, Out side of three or four movies I can remember seeing, the rest was just a waste of time and money. I did go see the Wizard of Oz on the big screen. That was well worth the 10 bucks for the ticket, the tall sam adams at the bar, yea there is a movie theather where I live that has a real bar in it and a pretty good restruant too. Oz was a sell out with in a day you could buy tickets. I would think somebody noticed, Its not that people are fed up with the movies, they are just fed up with low grade crape passing off for high art or what have you.
That's a little harsh, methinks.
People are being harsh on A Christmas Carol.
For one, it's November, not many are in the Christmas mood quite yet. As it proved this week, it has legs. Like that other Zemeckis motion capture Christmas film, Polar Express, it'll gross more the closer it gets to Christmas.
It is hard to truly debate the death of the movie star though. Outside of Will Smith(and to lesser extents, Carrey and Sandler) I can't think of anyone who can sell a movie solely on their presence.
Besides the movies, for the most part, being crappy, I refuse to go pay money to watch someone I can't tolerate. Especially those "A" listers that spew their politics and think we should pay attention to them just because they are movie stars. Losers.
Speaking of obnoxious Hollywood, I can't wait for Avatar to come out. I'm hoping to watch it crash and burn. Fern Gully meets Dances with Wolves for the low, low price of $500 million. Blech!!! The people who put good money into this sort of stuff deserve what's coming to them. Bankruptcy.
I can't think of a single Hollywood star whose mere presence draws me to a movie theater. Quite the opposite, actually.
Well, I looked at Funny People's gross, the movie-star is in even worse condition than I thought it was. All I can think of who is a true star today is Smith.
I used to try to separate the actor's politics from the actor. It was my way of being "fair."
Not any more. We're up against it, every which way. To hell with these unprincipled jerks. Not one of those idiots who threatened (promised) to leave the country if George W. Bush were re-elected were worthy of being allowed to polish Bush's boots.
I notice they threatened time and again, but never left. Susan? You still here?
Spent Saturday night watching Kelly's Heroes with my sons and husband. Next week, Rio Bravo; we have also seen a Road movie with Hope & Crosby. If not a classic film, then a kid film with an animal, and we READ. I send them to private, faith-based school. I want them to learn to be discerning in their tastes, and offended when someone tries to lecture them rather than entertain, in film or in books.
I guess pissing off over half of the people who can afford to go to movies was not such a good idea after all.
I bought 5 John Wayne movies( They were expendable, Sands of iwo jima, Operation pacific, Back to battan, Flying leathernecks) from Amazon last week for less than $15 total for all of them delivered to my house.
Dead on!
And, don't forget the libtard causes that these A List hacks donate towards.
A two year boycott of all Hollywood products would go a long way in getting rid of the beast.
Can we just make sure their salaries are still high enough to cover a ticket to visit Fidel? One way, of course.
Kelly's Heroes is one of the greats.
"Would you like to hear my other dog imitation?"
The Movie Exec's might becarful on cutting the stars money, cause when one starts crying to the UNION it's all over for movies and studio's altogether. Sad thing is I love movies, I love to see the special effects, I like to be lost from the world for 2 hrs, but that's just not happening anymore. I'm a big geek, love the superhero movies, and sci-fis, but the written isnt there anymore, and with the movie execs, thinking the a-list stars will cover up the stories just falls flat.
Capitalism doing its finest work. No wonder they hate it.
I remember going to see the latest John Wayne film simply because it was a John Wayne film. Filmgoers used to go to the movies just to see the latest Gable flick, or Monroe movie, or Garbo film, even a Bowery Boys programmer because they loved Slip, Sach, Whitey, Louie and the gang.
When have you heard lately, "I think I'll go see the latest Meg Ryan film" or "Hey, Sean Penn has a new movie out. Let's go blow $30 bucks!" Uh…it ain't happnin'…
Here's a thought: Perhaps if these spoilt leftards would just STFU, stop insulting their audiences, and get over their lame selves, maybe – just maybe – more people would want to see their movies. I'm sure the economy has something to do with this situation, but I'm equally certain that quite a few people are sick and tired of being sick and tired of the likes of Penn and Clooney lecturing and belittling them, and so they don't really want to put any more money in their pockets.
I'm in entertainment myself, and being a libertarian-conservative in entertainment means I have to seperate art and politics to enjoy just about anything anymore, but I'm only human, so when I hear about the next blockbuster being made as a vehicle for Clooney or Penn, I'm thinking, "Nah, I'll wait to see it on HBO or Showtime, because I'd rather not give that turd-ball the ticket sale."
I can't be the only one who has been driven to think this way.
Let me get this straight? A business that's been making movies for a century now has to have it explained to them why you make movies. I mean, Hollywood literally does not realize that the whole point of a movie is to tell a story? Damn! I knew they were clueless about their audience – but it's mind boggling to realize they're clueless about their work. For crying out loud, do these guys blink when the light bulb goes on?
Looks like everyone hit the reasons I rarely go to theater myself: tickets are waaay too expensive, crappy plots with too much anti-everything-I-care-about bias, so-called A-listers that make me sick to my stomach, etc.
I have enough on DVD already to last me for quite awhile…
Oh, I am WITH you. That Alistair Sim version is the perfect, priceless version of 'A Christmas Carol'. Literally, every Christmas morning, the tradition in my house is to watch that film. It isn't Christmas without it.
BTW – if Santa gives me the Christmas wish that I want with all my heart, please, please put a real bullet in Penn's finger! Please, Santa, please?
With a nice flat screen and Blu-ray at home, I have little interest in going to the theatre anymore, outside of "event movies" such as Star Trek… and I agree, there are no new "movie stars" anymore. I would put the likes of Jack Nicholson in that category but it's a shrinking one…
Beyond that, I am no longer "ignoring" the politics of "celebrities." Now that certainly does not mean I boycott any film with a left- leaning celeb, that would be pretty silly and even un-American. But anything with obnoxious, America and Christian- hating lefties like Sean Penn I will not pay to see. I also watch little new televison because I'm sick of the lefty preaching and Green Religion being shoved into every half hour. Hell, I've even trimmed my comic book reading because of the rampant political B.S. It's time conservatives and libertarians speak with their wallets wherever they can.
These punk actors have no problem biting the hand that feeds them but they never learned to shake it much less kiss it. Good for you HPJr give it to them with both barrels. I'm right there with you. These sacred cows in some cases swines will never leave the US of A. They might be ingrates but they're not stupid. Well… they are stupid but not that stupid.
people don't like being insulted or to hear somone insult thier country and way of life.
The constant barrage from holloywood turns people off.
The newest thing that capitalism is a trap or slavery? Every one knows that capitalism can make you rich. the hollywood morons who rail against it really don't understand that they are biting the hand that feeds them. So be it.
Once upon a time Jim Carrey wrote himself a post dated check for $10 Million. Now he claims that capitalism is wrong. Sorry man, no more. You are boycotted. Now I'm jst one person. but it seems that a lot of one persons are doing the same thing for a long list of people.
If these guys just want to have half of the potential audience, Fine. I await the Hollywood or Flyover Studios or what ever that is willing to go after the other half.
Penns next movie can be a documentary about an actor portraying a gay politician in Cuba. The hard part will be smuggling the thing out of the prison. Oh wait, that will be the easy part of that endeavor. Fidel does demand fidelity.
OMG! That's was hysterical! Thanks for the laugh!
Let's cap all the salary of these non-talent commies making big buck just reading line, please. Consumers are ready to boycott these non-talent commies.
I dont give a Shit about what Sean Penn thinks, he should ditch the doucebag mustache.
The actors in Hollywood need to understand one thing; they are entertainers. Like Kurt said, so entertain us!
Thank you for the reply. You hit the proverbial nail right on the head, my friend.
I think my Conservative brothers and sisters are (justifiably) pissed off. It's past time we got fighting mad. It's disgusting that the enemy lives at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, too. At least, in the past, there was another country pursuing what they thought were their national goals. This time around, our President sponsors their (foreign nations') goals at our expense. As if we have one thin dime to pay these people for "climate debt" or "climate justice."
And then these same Hollywood jerks with their I-Hate-America swagger are more than happy to climb up on the ol' soapbox and lecture us benighted (to them) citizens on racial sensitivity, the need for Obamacare, etc., etc., ad nauseum. I think it's telling that Janeane Garofalo echoes Fidel Castro's sentiments about how we have racial hatred for Obama. What a load of BS!
$175 million to make a movie?
I bet most of this cost is designed to be written off using some sort of tax break
This is not my America portrayed in theses lousy movies (I don't mean the Carry one, that one is just out too early )and I will not go watch their trashy movies. I want a movie with some redeeming value to it. Some uplifting and hopeful quality and these movies coming out now, only glorify Self and the morale stance they take is so disgusting to me.
Two men or women kissing and carrying on in public still makes me sick, a woman having an abortion is murder and should not be glorified and sleeping around is still not Okay in my community and neither is selling drugs to kids. . But then, I live in one of the red states where we are not as bright as those in Hollywood and need to be taught what is Kool and how to think about things in the "correct" way.
I'll stay home and keep my money in my pocket.
From a marketing point of view, hiring internationally recognizable movie stars makes sense. It gives you something to center the campaign on, someone who can get on magazine covers, someone to do to PR, go an tv shows in major markets and talk about your movie…
But beyond providing the aforementioned services, how much are they worth? Not that much.
Few stars today attract audiences on their own. People check out the movie itself and if it doesn´t look good, they won´t go. And who can blame them? Most stars have destroyed their brand by scandals, or starring in bizarre vanity projects. Their names are in fact NOT a guarantee for a good time.
Few movies make their money back on the first weekend, or even in theatres. Stars can´t do anything about word of mouth. Besides, no one believes anymore that stars are the best actors. There are more good actors than roles.
They are all Roman Ps buds and it ain't rape rape like ya know!
And the content is pretty bad! Top producers and directors think they're writers, so cook up implausible, poorly written scripts and think special effects of big stars can get people who are worried about losing their jobs cough up $10 for a few hours of entertainment. Instead of making them forget about losing their jobs, they feel worse for having spent the ten bucks and been bored for two hours.
Thank God, maybe some other actors can actually get work in major films instead of the same stable of fatuous, overpaid faces, distracting from the story because they are so recognizable.
I don't see films with Clooney, Damon or Ferrell. Cage makes good films sometimes as do Denzel and Will Smith. But increasingly all of them (except Cage) are becoming so political I no longer can suspend my disbelief long enough to accept them as the characters they play. It's like going to a movie and seeing Barack Obama on the screen and try to believe he's anything but a ruthless politician.
And then there's that many people are losing their jobs and just can't justify $10 bucks to see a mediocre film.
Don't even watch those two, and some others, on cable anymore. Just can't stand to see their faces.
Agree. Besides the movies being crappy, the studios always stick in some politico and a few lines about what jerks Republicans/Conservatives/Independents who don't vote Dem are. I always check out a film on BH to find out if I'll be sucker punched and/or "educated" on how smart liberales are. Unless a film is starring Clooney, Damon, Penn, Cusack or a whole list of politicians masquerading as actors.
I've even given up Andy and Opie, two of my all time favorites and "The Andy Griffith" show was my quiet escape from reality. But then they teamed up to push their politics!!!!!!!!!!! They are ENTERTAINERS!!!!!!! A hundred years ago it was an embarrassment to have an actor in the family!!!!!!!!!
Oh, I can. Cate Blanchette always turns in a good performance. I'll go to see any film John Voight is in unless he's cancelled out by a Sean Penn. I enjoy Angelina Jolie and sometimes her boy toy. Rupert Everett is always excellent. Clive Owen isn't being given good parts, but he's ever intriguing. Ho'wood is hurting for leading ladies. Other than Jolie and Blanchette, I can't think of a one who's worth watching. As far as leading men, most of the ones worth watching are British, Aussie or Scots.
You're not.
There's no such thing as being "too big to fail" — especially in southern California.
Lefties always howl that boycotts don't work. Unless they're boycotting someone on the right. Turnabout is fair play. I suspect what Ho'wood is seeing is a quiet, seething boycott of films starring actors who've made their politics too clear to be ignored. George C. Looney, are you listening?
Give me a classic star – Gable, Stewart, and others who supported the USA by putting their lives on the line. Or a Lombard who sold bonds to support the USA (and in Lombard's case, put her life on the line doing it, I believe.) Or how about the Hollywood women who danced with soldiers at the Canteen? Or the stars who traveled to dangerous places to stage USO shows? Those stars deserved to be called stars. That is one of the reasons people still buy their films on DVD.
I have long voted with my pocketbook. Now, I think a lot of other people are doing the same thing. Wise up, Hollywood.
Let's see them go to Europe, Cuba, Venezuela, or China to make movies and get the big pay days.
I thoroughly enjoyed "Star Trek". If you didn't see it, by all means do. I suspect Ho'wood actors had so many years of being able to strut their Democratic propaganda without any penalty, they're stunned (as are the Dem. politicians) that the Internet has given US a voice.
You're not. While Ho'wood and the Left deny bocotts work (unless they're the ones boycotting something), I believe there is a silent boycott of Lefty Ho'wood films going on. Will they catch on? Doubt it. And since the propaganda media are not likely to give it any ink or air time for fear of exacerbating the movement, they're not likely to.
"Now that certainly does not mean I boycott any film with a left- leaning celeb, that would be pretty silly and even un-American." Why? They boycott you by demeaning your values.
Dear Sean – Do America a Favor. Buy a Gun and Pull That Trigger !
The actor-as-director-as-genius may be responsible for a great many problems. I can't believe Sean Penn's hamminess. The guy can overact while sleeping. Also – sorry to sound like Dame Edna – he's COMMON. Great male stars can't be common.
Maybe he'd be okay under, say, Budd Boetticher's direction in a minor role as a trigger-happy psycho .
And Budd could tell Sean straight out: You are NOT Randy Scott. And you are NEVER going to be Randy Scott.
My sentiments entirely. In capitalist society, where money talks and bs walks, our best weapon is boycotting these smarmy creeps, be it any corporation, that undermines our way of life.
No exceptions. Just do it.
Hollywood, the NYT's, CNN, GE, add your own offender, our best weapon since arrogant narcissists can't cognitively register negative feedback is to hit them in their wallets.
Let me just digest this a moment. Hollywood is starting to THINK!?
It seems Hollywood is good at crashing and blowing stuff up or the ubiquitous car chase. I find this so boring now. It has been done to death. Our family has turned to the quirky foreign films that have an interesting story line that you have to watch closely or you will miss the nuance of the story. Most Hollywood stuff you can leave, go to the toilet and return and not feel like you have missed anything, because you didn’t. There have been a few good movies come from Hollywood but if they were baseball payers their batting average would not get them hired into the big leagues. Also it does not help when they wear their politics on their sleeve.
At what point do you stop being called an A-lister? I mean – Jesus Marimba – Eddie Murphy hasn't been in a movie that didn't flop catastrophically in twenty years!
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I agree with your list, and want to add Alan Rickman. I'm glad he's received more recognition in his turn as Professor Snape in the Harry Potter films, but he's as versatile as Blanchett.
Yes a bit harsh. I'm also guilty of condeming "Hollywood" not meaning to include the non liberal types that also work there. I hope that is understood by the folks that contribute here as well as "Hollywood." or the movie industry. I can only imagine how it must feel to hear your brethern in a conservative politics wish your industry ill and swear not go to films that directly or indirectly feed ones family. I will try to remember that in any future remarks.
Dear God! Now I hate to hear that. How is someone supposed to live on the paltry wages being offered by the studios. It’s not the stars fault their movie sucks, it’s our fault for not understanding the brilliance of our betters. We should happily be turning over forty to fifty bucks to be insulted, and view their very expensive swill.
"I find it so repulsive that most of the world thinks they know us through the garbage that Hollywood exports."
Amen. Hollywood elites think the world is flat, that it DOESN'T turn in a circle and it never comes back to them.
My parents will go see just about any movie Sandra Bullock is in, including "The Proposal" (although they passed up "All About Steve," as any self-respecting movie-watcher would). Tonight my mother said, "There's a new Sandra Bullock movie we have to go see!" referring to "The Blind Side."
She is the only actor who will draw my family to a movie. This is because 1) my dad loves "Miss Congeniality" so much he's seen it going on 20 times, and 2) Sandra hasn't done anything terribly obnoxious in public that we know of, such as insulting Republicans.
Two actors I will try to go see just simply because they are in it are Russell Crowe and Gerard Butler. Both of them are Real Men and they do quality work, despite what script or names or setup is around them. Even in the worst of movies, Crowe is known to at least "do his part" to the best of his ability.
Mr Crowe, I know youre at the Steelers game tonite. Just one litle word of pleading: BRING BACK JACK AUBREY!!!
It's all good. I recognize moments of idealogical passion. After yesterday's drubbing of my Trojans I wished the entire Stanford football team to die in a fiery plane crash..but not really.
Something tells me they dont blink at all. Smelling their own farts tends to do that…among other hallucinogens…
THANK YOU. Lord, I'm so sick of people screaming "Failure!" after the movie's been out for less than two weeks! For some movies, that's true, but not for a movie in the situation you describe.
I'm trying to think of instances of Denzel Washington and Will Smith being fiercely liberal or political.
Otherwise, you're right that today's stars spend more time propagandizing and less time entertaining audiences and honing their acting skills.
I worked with a guy named Peter A. Dick. Life was rough for him since it was a very fitting name. People used to put "is" on masking tape and put it on his name plate between Peter and A. Cruel parents.
I hope Peter Guber's wife's name is not Ima.
You certainly have your cross to bear this year.
I would suggest you take out all frustrations on UCLA.
Good luck
Oh, and, your alleged Hollywood conservatives haven't swallowed their principles for a paycheck? A "feelings" issue is it, please, cry me a river for those cowering Hollywood paycheck minority conservative zombies.
I've had the principles to leave jobs as a medical professional when my core values and ethics were trashed. No sympathy here.
Plus you get to rewind and slow play scenes where and actor you dislike gets punched or shot. The other night I was watching Doubt (an excellent movie BTW) and every time I got up to refill wine or whatnot I made sure to pause it so that Meryl was snarling… which was really easy because she was snarly the whole movie.
Well, the Nutty Professor remake was a hit for Murphy as was the sequel.
Otherwise, you're right that Murphy is off the A-list.
Personally, I like it when I do not know the actors. It makes the characters more believable and it is easier to melt into the story.
About Twilight. I wish they would actually shoot in LaPush and in some of the area's rainforests – they are way prettier than the ones depicted in the movie. Plus, the area could use the money. Sincerely they could. Forks – meh. Better places to film (sorry Forks).
I have solved that by checking movies out from the library. The other night I enjoyed Doubt (with Meryl Streep who I think is an utter boob) but the film was good. But, the next night I watched Becoming Jane (a pitiful waste of time) and found myself bothered by that vegan bit of dumbassery James Cromwell. I kept wishing he would get impaled by a pitchfork or that a giant cross would fall on his head. It sustained me. BTW Jane with grey hair looking like a wrinkless bitty at 40 or so. Oy.
I'll let those that work in the industry defend themselves should they feel the need.
I don't work there but I would imagine not all of them work for the more strident lefties we
all hear from. I would also guess that a lot of them have been there as the politics of the industry changed around them. While I admire the values you indicate you exhibit not all folks are capable of changing jobs as you did due to age etc. Do we really want to give the industry totally over to the loons tho that may be tempting. Fighting the fight from within has its merits. I don't wish death on anyone tho plagued with boils is attractive.
Well, she did marry a cretin, but then again, a lot of us could say the same.
Didn't this site run several articles on how Hollywood has received generous helpings of the stimulus package and various tax breaks? You're tax $$ are already helping to underwrite them.
FYI, in England you are required to buy a yearly license for the privilege of watching TV. The revenue goes to support the "unbiased" government controlled BBC.
Gee, maybe they are just not worth the money,
That is awful. Poor guy!
(But I couldn't help laughing, LOL.)
Nice idea until the empire strikes back. Newspapers failing? In addition to changing technology, it can't be because people won't pay for your biased opinion rags. They need a government bailout. Liberal radio a failure? It can't be that no one will listen to your spewing anti American Hate, we just need a Fairness Doctrine and raise licensing fees to 100% to fund a "public option"
People ARE voting with their wallets. And the statist response is to pass laws and create taxes that FORCE you to support their swill. Wait until a couple big studios threaten to close shop and suddenly there'll be an "outcry" to save jobs, or our "culture", all paid for with your tax dollars.
It's not as harsh as you think. I have spent a great deal of time overseas, and am married to a European. They really believe that the Hollywood drivel is true to the U.S. Think of the absolute worst movies and television programs we have, those get exported and it is the only exposure many get to our country and culture. They cannot begin to fathom middle America. They think everywhere is like NY, Chicago, LA, and Miami. Hollywood is one of the reasons the fanatics are after us. They want to redistribute our money and shut down, and shut up our corrupt Hollywood culture. The libs just don't get it.
I absolutely love that name, "George C. Looney." It's a well-earned appellation, and I hope it catches on nationwide.
You're right about the boycott claims, too. However, back in the day, when Jesse Jackson and his group, P.U.S.H., were putting the squeeze on Coca-Cola and others, all it took was the threat of boycott. The corporations folded like cheap suits. I was totally disgusted.
I hope we're seeing a "quiet, seething boycott of films starring actors who've made their politics too clear to be ignored." That would really make me happy. They don't deserve to get our hard-earned cash AND have the right to continually talk down to us. One or the other or neither, but not both — no way would that be right.
I appreciate your comments. They're always worth a little look, a little see, a little look-see. (I stole that from the comic strip, Mutts.)
I loved the new Star Trek, worth all the praise
Most people aren't going to go see "A Christmas Carol" until closer to Christmas. It's not even Thanksgiving yet.
The Shrek Franchise….billions there.
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I would certainly agree with you that Hollywood andTelevision have been an influence on the world
from good to bad depending on the era. But I disagree that the degrading images received
from our country is the only reason they have a hatred for America.We couldnot havean entertainment
industry or have one totally G rated in the purest sense and the hatred of our country would not be diminished.
They hate us for a lot of reasons, we back Israel, or we did as of this morning, we are a Christian Nation,
in spite of what Obama says and one of the biggest reasons, we are not an Islam Nation. Our admittedly debased movie and television industries are just an excuse to gin up the hatred even more. While I agree it would be nice to not have the entertainment industry such a provocative instrument in the war for the hearts and minds,
I don't believe it would make an iota of difference to the Islamists of the world one way or another.
I really can't fathom the thinking that went into the timing of the release. So, of course, the Industry blames the star. I'm not a big fan of Jim Carrey's, but I don't think the failure or success of this movie is truly on his shoulders.
I don't see movies in theaters anymore for all the reasons people stated here: too much liberal propoganda, too much sticking a knife in the back of normal Americans, too expensive, the Hollywood movies stink for the most part (I see maybe one or two a year now in theaters), and too much commotion going on in the seats (people taking out their cells phones to receive text messages, small children with parents in R rated movies, etc.).
I just learned today that Danny Glover is in the movie 2012…I will NOT see this movie. He's one of the most anti-American actors in Hollywood. I will not give him another red cent of my money. Having said this, I don't think Hollywood is going to change that much because the rest of the world is either socialist or just hates us and they can appeal to that audience, which is a lot bigger than the audience of decent, regular Americans like us. So, we will need to seek out alternative films, old films, and perhaps – as someone mentioned – foreign films that do not have any blantant indoctrination in them or anti-Americanism.
Come on folks, just quit spending money on Hollywood. And quit watching the lame crap that is on TV. There are plenty of old classic movies to watch and old shows on tv. Think of it this way, would you want to bring in the garbage can that has been in the sun for two weeks and empty it in your living room? Would you? What is the difference with what they call entertainment and that? Why let their crap into your minds? Be very selective what you watch and let them go broke. Then we can give them a stimulus to move to Venezuela!
Heck yeah! Too true too true!
Plus it's just easier to watch things at home anymore, especially for those of us with small kids who you couldn't take to a theater anyway. Last movie I saw in Theaters was Star Trek.
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