The main point being – don't make generalizations and assumptions about people. Don't make preconceived assumptions about their intelligence. Even really intelligent people like to read or watch fluff or trash.

It's called escapism.

Not to say that you can't say what you want – but people who make such assumptions appear to be "elitists" that know better than everyone else what is good and bad and indirectly try to impose that on others by running people down who don't agree with them. The polite thing to do is to just agree to disagree. Of course, that doesn't work on a forum where the merits are being discussed and that is fine. But again, one can keep it civil and non-elitist.

Just saying.

I could not agree with you more. The grey area is where we all operate as civilized human beings under the law and in life. It is on the dark border territories where the real compelling stories are told. Examples. A child is kidnapped. What would you do to get that child back? A girl you know and fancy is under the control of a ruthless pimp. The police won't do anything. What do you do? You're a cop, a sick criminal has a young girl stashed away and refuses to talk. The clock is ticking. Time is running out. What do you do to save the girl's life?

Those are all thematic for MAN ON FIRE, TAXI DRIVER and The SHIELD or DIRTY HARRY, take your pick. People hate danger, moral ambiguity and conflict in real life, but thrive on it in film. But that also extends to comedy and even politically-themed films like MR. SMITH. Start with a great story and you can really win big with audiences. Start with a transparent political agenda and you will always lose. Audiences are too smart and sophisticated these days to pull that crap off.

So, in short, smarten up, Hollywood. Don't treat us like dumb sheep that need to be herded into a political pen, or insult us for not following sheepishly. Viewers and audiences don't like being preached to, lectured or talked down to. Who does, really? Make me think. Show me something I haven't seen before, instead of all the same shite we're trying to escape and get brief mental respites from. Impress me with storylines and plot twists that I never see coming. Too much to ask? I certainly hope not. 'nuff said.

And let's face it, Hollywood still makes GREAT movies that might even be considered conservative-themed (but are in fact universal) that have done boffo box office. Look at THE BLIND SIDE. Rank Liberals hate it, but it's raking in a truckload. And it ain't about fame and money. Money is the result of great storytelling, and I don't want fame. It's a bullseye. If worse comes to worse, I can always write novels and nonfiction.

In the end, I am a writer. I write. That is both what I do and who I am. I will make my own path in that field one way or another, but on my terms. But I won't press the point with you. We can agree to disagree without being disagreeable. And that is perhaps THE core message I am trying to send here. You get more bees with honey than vinegar. Too much vinegar in film and TV today, and the bees are voting with their wings. 'nuff said. EOM.

I'm an old dog set in my ways. I will not sell out. In fact, my speaking out here at BH on occasion may have jeopardized whatever shots I may have had in Show Biz. The trick here now, I reckon, is to write stories so compelling they can't turn 'em down. But that's the big challenge anyway. And I have great connections who only care about great stories for film and don't give two craps about politics, which I believe constitutes Hollywood's silent majority. But when I make promises, I keep them. Like the Joker, I'm a man of my word

Sure. However, relativism can only extend so far, even on matters as intangible as "taste." I can easily accept, for example, that two people can disagree on the relative merits of Steinbeck and Hemingway and both can still easily qualify as intelligent. HOWEVER… look, I'm sorry, but "the line" is drawn at people who unironically love the "Transformers" movies. Think of it as the difference between a "local eccentric" who paints his roof flourescent orange and Michael Jackon.

I take the same issue, mostly because it's a mean thing to say not to mention bad for business… I just don't happen to think that they're always (or even usually) WRONG about it

Now… Lars von Trier I regard (based strictly on his words, as I've not met the man) as a bit of a jerk, pretentious and humongously overrated as a filmmaker… but he ain't stupid. And if he thinks he's smarter than "most" people, well… that does seem to be true. Certainly, he's more interesting and artistically-gifted than "most" people; though that doesn't always make his movies better Just because the truth sucks doesn't mean it ain't the truth.