George Bailey Wasn’t Born Here
by Michael McGrutherSimple beginnings
We all get into show business for the right reasons — because we love entertainment and want to have a hand in creating that special magic. I don’t think anyone begins down the road to Hollywood because they feel the urgent need to inject politics into their work in order to change the world. I certainly didn’t. And I bet George Clooney wasn’t thinking that way when he was on the set of “Facts of Life” for the first time at the start of his career.
I started young, first as an actor, and now a writer. This is the only thing I have ever pursued and I have been at it since the day I left my small town in the summer of 1991. The Reagan/Bush era was coming to a close and I voted for Bill Clinton in 92 because as a reasonable person who watched the six o’clock news I could tell we needed something fresh. It was the first year I was old enough to vote and I was very excited to do it. However, in all those years that I was booking commercials or bit parts in movies and TV, no one ever made a peep about politics. To me politics was something separate and pretty boring compared to the dream I was after. If you asked me back then which political party my friends belonged to, I couldn’t tell you who was a Republican or who was a Democrat because it just wasn’t an issue.
Divide and Conquer
Not anymore. Now I know just about everyone’s political views and they know mine. Is this really such a bad thing? No. In fact it’s a pretty amazing and healthy development for a democracy that has had less and less of its citizens participating in the voting process over the years. I have mostly liberal friends that absolutely hate my worldview and some of them have changed the way they treat me over the past few years, much to my disappointment. But at the end of the day I look at it like this — by standing up for what I believe I’m taling one for the team. The team being my country that I love.
It’s healthy that we’re at each others throats, fighting and battling for what we think is the best future for America. This seems to have been the only thing that has brought record numbers of people to the polls and in a short amount of time re-legitimized our Democracy as one that’s worth fighting for — even if we start by fighting each other. As I see it we’re more legit for having a family fight then we have been in years. Now we have to come together and start to get along. Please.
That’s why Big Hollywood is so vital to me — it understands what’s at stake and has the power to heal this divide in an industry that ultimately is the face of the nation and should better reflect its free citizens’ values — all of them. There really is a time and place for everything. We have so many outlets for content delivery that it shouldn’t be such a big deal to a small minority of citizens with one view that their values are not the dominate ones from coast to coast. It’s false domination through strong arming and it’s killing the product. So instead of movies as an escape you get movies as indoctrination tools.
There’s a saying that politics is show business for ugly people. But recently show business has been politics for mean people. It has to stop. I never forget that when I disagree with someone they are simply one voter and do not have the power to single handedly change things. Some of the more enraged people in show business are too blind with hate to see this in someone like me. And to them I say — I still love you.
I can guarantee you that we will have a Republican president in office again. When one party loses it’s never the end for the other — it’s the new beginning. And this country elects only two types of leaders — hand shakers and butt kickers. So let’s get over our totalitarian dreams of winning this political battle forever because it’s not going to happen and it really would be the death of America to not have opposing points of view ultimately working in harmony.
Rounding Home
We don’t go to the movies to see how bad we are. We go to see how good we can be. To lift up the spirit and remind ourselves that the drama of our lives are shared by our neighbors.
Until the climate in Hollywood has changed and all sides are free to express themselves, there ought to be a new sign added just underneath the Hollywood one that warns all dreamers; “George Bailey wasn’t born here”
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38 Comments
I hope its not another lost cause.
Piece of advice for the conservatives posting here venting their spleens: most times movies are just movies. Stop taking every damn thing in a movie so personally. Not every movie is a harbringer of societal collapse or the death of civilization.
Pete~
Most movies that are just movies suck and I personally find it more entertaining to come to blogs like this and mock the self-rightiousness of those with a message or the actors that portray the role in them , pathetic really but this is what entertainment has degenerated to.
“and it really would be the death of America to not have opposing points of view ultimately working in harmony”
Nicely put. The harmony is a sort of temporary detente – it’s the constant conflict (in drama, in life, in politics) that keeps us pressing on.
Pete. Maybe you should take your own advice.
Pete,
If, as you say, “movies are just movies,” then why is it that liberal Hollywood has spent hundreds of millions of dollars to get anti-war, anti-Bush movies made in the last few years? The reason is very simple: because film is a powerful medium that affects moviegoers in very profound ways, and the people who make movies know it (or else they’d be wasting their money).
In other words, because film matters.
No, Pete, that is just not true. If it were than Big Hollywood (and Dirty Harry’s blog, and Libertas) wouldn’t exist.
Your just here to repeat the “Big Lie” we keep hearing from the left (go google “big lie” and the first wikipedia entry is what I’m talking about … I’d put the link here but then my post would take hours to be approved).
Politics infects EVERYTHING these days and shows up in the oddest places.
This afternoon I heard an ad on the radio for Preparation-H, and even IT had “global warming” politics in it. No reason why a hemorrhoid cream should be making a statement about global warming, but there it was.
So for those of you on the left, the liberals, “neo-liberals”, “progressives” or whatever you’re calling yourselves these days. Why are you here? You own 99% of media (entertainment, news and the blogisphere) yet you have to come here and pester conservatives just looking for a refuge from you people. I don’t go on to the Huffington Post and troll around complaining about hippies, commies or other liberals. I don’t go to the Democratic Underground and tell those people they’re all stupid, I don’t go to the Daily Kos and pester those folk with links to articles on Town Hall, so why do you people feel the need to come here and pee on our carpet?
Pink…see..your post right there is part of the problem. Think of the time and energy you waste just being mad at everything.
Zund, if you don’t mind me asking, just what movies have you actually seen in the theater this year?
Of the films expected to contend for the Big Prize at Oscar Time, do you consider all of them to be liberal agit-prop? It’s intellectually lazy to speak of anything in sweeping generalizations. I know you don’t want to believe it, the wide majority of movies are just popcorn escapist junk that have very little to do with anything that anyone could consider political.
How many “anti-Bush” movies were ACTUALLY made? I can think of Rendition, W, Stop-Loss off the top of my head.
Do you think that Doubt was an “anti-war, anti-Bush film”? How about Slumdog Millionaire? Changeling? Milk? Wall-E? Kung-Fu Panda? Bolt? Frost/Nixon? Twilight? Gran Torino?
How many movies have you actually seen this year? And if you “don’t go to the movies because of the liberals”, then why are you even wasting time contributing to a site partially devoted to movies?
Yeah Pete take your own advice. You people can dish it out but man when someone makes a statement that runs counter to your beliefs you people go on this freaking bender. CHILLAX. And may I remind of the words from the song Tomorrow by SIXX AM. Look it up. Remember it next time you call people who have principals and values you don’t names.
Zundfolge,
Excellent post.
And, of course, the reason they’re here is because they believe we shouldn’t have a place ANYWHERE to promote, celebrate and discuss conservatism.
They have been taught and programmed (sometimes self-programmed) to hate and attack the ideas and beliefs we respect. And to not TOLERATE conservatives.
They’ve been told by the Dali-Bama to ‘get in people’s faces’ – meaning argue, fight, and silence opposition – but not debate.
Pete~
Really? Mad? Seriously cutie get a grip. You are trying to hard looking for a fight from me. I am glad your here, see you will amuse me. Mostly because you are the type that like to pull hairs outta yer arse. I say this because where in my previous comment did I come across as angry.
Keep in mind before you response you came to my sandbox looking for a fight I did not go to yours so please continue to antogonize others for it tickles me to know end.
Oh one more thing the exact reason I am here is to waste time, so worry not about what I do with my energy.
Mr. Pete — clearly not every movie produced is a bizarre concoction of liberal ideas and agendas. We all know that. And some of the best films this year and every year are not even made in Hollywood or with Hollywood money at all — they are merely released by the studio that purchased them. Slumdog is a British production. And I think Batman Returns is also made by mostly Brits from top to bottom. (Brits are always civil too when you meet them, unlike the peers we are blogging about) The point you are missing is that you cannot have a different OPINION than those who are working around you without having the door shut on your face. This is not American. You seem to miss the point that we are talking about what happens behind the scenes. OK? Do you understand now? That’s all the time I’ll give you, but as a true compassionate conservative I am interesting in hearing your views too. Please make a compelling argument instead of school yard banter. Troll along now…
Pete, for God’s sake -
Rendition, Redacted, In the Valley of Elah, The War Profiteers, The Insurgents, W, Fahrenheit 9/11, Taxi to the Dark Side, Stop-Loss…and others.
HBO should hang their heads in shame between Generation Kill and Baghdad ER (showing our troops f–ked up in the OR, yeah, that’s great for morale).
Pete, you dispense scorn as advice.
If you are right that “most times movies are just movies” then this website will die a slow and painful death. However, I don’t think you will get that satisfaction.
CHILLAX is my favorite new word. LOL
Joe Weldon,
Oh…”and others”….so you were able to name five whole films and four documentaries that have come out over a four year period? How do you explain that before W, Oliver Stone made a non-political film called World Trade Center? Not a single movie in contention for Best Picture this year could plausibly be called an “anti-Bush” or “anti-war” movie.
Chris…reading these comments on this thread and others on this board, the comments themselves are filled with scorn. There hasn’t been even remotely an insightful point made about the movies or pop culture that you wouldn’t see on Bill O’Reilly.
Pete,
Yeah, off the top of my head I could only name 9 anti-war/anti-Bush movies and 2 HBO series’ of the same stripe.
And in defense, all you can name is Oliver Stone’s 9/11 movie in which they don’t even say the words ‘terrorist’, ‘terrorism’ or ‘Muslim’.
Great comeback. Now go back to sleep.
Hey Pete,
by the way,
how many PRO-Iraq War movies were made? Can you name any?
How about a PRO-Bush documentary?
(2nd attempt)
Yeah, Pete,
Off the top of my head I was able to list 9 anti-war/anti-Bush movies and 2 HBO series’ of the same stripe.
All you could come up with was Oliver Stone’s 9/11 movie in which the words ‘terrorist’ terrorism’ or ‘Muslim’ were never mentioned.
Great comeback.
By the way, how many PRO-Iraq War movies were there?
Or PRO-Bush documentaries?
Anyone who knows how the game is played behind the scenes, from pre-production to post; to release understands that you get further if you closet your “right-wing sentiments”. Otherwise, you may not even be invited to play the game at all.
Pete- sorry I was late picking you up from school the other day. Mommy and I won’t be late again.
“There’s a saying that politics is show business for ugly people. But recently show business has been politics for mean people. It has to stop.”
Great point. Personally, I could care less about the leftist agendas of any individual film – to paraphrase Freud, “Sometimes a George Clooney movie is just a George Clooney movie.” But it’s the sheer volume of leftist films and the hatred for any other viewpoint exhibited by the Hollywood machine that turns me off.
A Hollywood dominated by conservatives and conservative values (ain’t gonna happen), would be just as annoying and heavy-handed. It would be refreshing (and more realistic) to see actors, directors, producers and films that are politically neutral – or at least keep the political agendas to themselves, both on and off screen.
POPCON, you describe the dream scenario and that is what we are all working towards — political neutrality in popular entertainment. A movie business full of different opinions yet with civil respect for your peers differing views. When that happens and movies go back to being about how good we can be instead of how bad the other guy is — I expect billion dollar opening weekends for tent pole features worldwide to be a regular thing. (Across multiple platforms at once) Halo 3 made $500 million in one weekend and it’s a video game. Thanks for the great comment!
(Nice rip, Humby T.)
I meant The Dark Knight in my earlier comment.
I’m forced to disagree with the author in practice. The Left wants to silence the Right. The hatred spewed toward anyone who doesn’t follow the liberal crowd comes especially from Hollywood. You cannot work as a conservative in Hollywood, unless you come out of the closet AFTER you have a hit. Or unless you executive produce. Even liberals get nasty toward other liberals for not being far left enough to suit their tastes. It’s very childish and dangerous. I hate Whoopie Goldberg with a purple passion, but I would not be met with flashing applause signs if I said the stuff that she says to conservatives on that crappy TV show of hers.
The only black list should be for anyone who practices bullying or hate. It should be looked down upon like the creativity killer that it is. The behaviour you describe goes on, I know, and it’s really depressing. But when conservatives get their chance at the wheel (And I believe that we will) we cannot make the mistake of going for revenge.
Entertainment should come with warning labels. “This song, painting , film reflects the views of the producers, artist and promoters.We are not here to entertain you . We are here to influence you toward our world view.”
How many films are made with a man and a woman raising a child in the last decade? How many portray families as broken if divorce has occurred? Remember the term “broken home?” How many show a family attending a church or synagogue where the religious leaders were portrayed positively? How many showed an at home mom who delayed her career to raise her own children? I was offended when the kangaroo villain in Dr. Seuss’s “Horton Hears A Who” was cruel, narrow and a homeschooling mom. The anti homeschooling remark was not included in my copy of “Horton Hears A Who.”
Frankly, I think if we aim for political neutrality in Hollywood we’ll achieve nothing.
But if we aim for political domination of Hollywood we MIGHT achieve political neutrality.
One person, one vote. Unless you are George Soros/Acorn.
Pro-Bush movies….bwhaahahahhahahahaaaa….seriously, are you guys kidding?
As for World Trade Center not including invective against Muslims, considering the movie was told from the point of view of two firefighters buried in the rubble, when exactly did the screenplay have time to get around to inserting some geopolitics?
By the way, correct me if I’m wrong, but Paul Greengrass’ superb United 93 was nominated for several major Academy Awards, and that movie hardly sanitized anything.
Michael,
Now we have to come together and start to get along. Please.
Liberals don’t want to get along. As long as they agree with what you are saying, they believe in free speech. If they don’t believe in what you are saying, you can’t say it to them or anyone else. That is their definition of free speech. They want to remove conservatism anywhere they see it and have socialism as the system we live by.
“Pro-Bush movies….bwhaahahahhahahahaaaa….seriously, are you guys kidding?”
Thanks for proving our point. Has Bush done nothing good, nothing worthwhile? Your hatred burns so bright its blinding you.
MRS BIGGLES — those themes you wish for will be in films once there are more conservatives working in the business and free to produce that kind of material — like FIREPROOF. When liberals attempt to make family entertainment it’s always fake feeling and ultimately done with sarcasm under the surface. We need public demand for product that does not tear down the family. I agree.
Michael,
I enjoyed the article and the ensuing discussion. I like the point that Mrs. Biggles made and that you answered.
Unlike most other posters I am not interested in the political. I simply believe that man trying to govern himself, despite the purest of intention, is doomed to failure. It’s just what we are.
But I do have deeply held beliefs and convictions. I rarely see them mirrored in popular entertainment. I am not interested in blatant, religious messages, or the like. Most movies today are like waking up in a hotel room. There are fixtures and decor that mimic home, but it’s not home. Once in a while they can be enjoyable to visit, but most people wouldn’t choose to live there. And many of the movies of late are badly decorated, filthy, foreign environments that are impossible to get comfortable in.
My goofy screen name is a homage to a virtually unknown kids show that was on more than a decade ago. Based on the guest stars on that show I can only guess how the creators would identify themselves in the ‘Conservative V. Liberal’ bloodbath. Regardless, in creating a surrealistic depiction of growing up they made a place that felt like home to me.
That’s what I want from SOME movies (especially those that outwardly would not seem to be a political statement). I want to come in, feel at home, be entertained and not kicked in the back of the head by some unnecessary jab at the simple things that I think are good and moral.
If it wasn’t for history proving otherwise, sometimes it’s hard to believe that a vast majority of people used to honor the same things.
Oh and note to the bomb throwers: Yes, I’d like to see more intact families and honorable authority figures, etc. Despite what you might be thinking, that is in no way welded to a desire to see segregated drinking fountains, subjugated women or mistreated people of foreign descent. Just thought I’d get that out of the way for y’all.
Great article Michael. I’m not in the biz (aging wannabe) but I spent a good deal of my childhood in and around Indiana Pa – and GEORGE BAILEY WAS BORN THERE. They gave Jimmy a bronz statue shortly before he passed on. The first thing to greet you before you walk into City Hall.
I luv Big Hollywood and am a true believer. Capra and Wilder and Stevens have got grandchildren working in the shadows TODAY. And Americans want to see those movies.
Pete: go back to watching Deal or no Deal with your hack imitation of Brad Pitt on the couch in TRUE ROMANCE. (’don’t condecscend to me’)
everybody else: Forget Pete.
McCLAIN — Do you not believe that we as conservatives can reach powerful positions in Hollywood? And more importantly make mega hit movies that break box office records year after year? I do. And when we are in charge I am merely suggesting that we can end their style of gameplay all together by changing the game on them. Of course we’ll be thinking ten steps in front and behind them at the same time — but they will be totally lost in an industry that puts a premium on class and character again. On dignity and the right to your own individual opinion. Someone has to take the high road eventually and we can take it because we are Right and they know it. I trust the movie going public will know when that has happened in earnest too. Truth, Justice and The American Way will be back and it’s going to be conservatives that do it. Because we’re the only one’s that can.
There is def. bias. If you look at the Hollywood Reporter and Variety (industry mags) you see how the left controls the industry. As “An American Carol” gets a small blurb and is bashed but then “W” or “Milk” gets great kuddos and huge write-ups. This is just one example. Articles bashing the political right are also written up which has nothing to do with the industry ( and no need to be published in these mags.) And I guess it is just expected that every Hollywood artist who subscribes holds these beliefs.
It is tiresome
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