Apocalypto

As I said in a previous post, I am trying to watch all of the big Oscar contenders before the nominations come out. I've seen a bunch of them and will have thoughts here in a couple days.

So far, APOCALYPTO is the best by far and may be the best movie I have seen all year. It is a very small, very simple story about one man's dedication to his family. To be sure, it is violent, and graphically so. There were a couple of moments when I turned my face so I didn't see the carnage. But the repeated violence isn't simply thrown in for effect; It is a part of the movie as much so as any movie since PULP FICTION. It left me thinking about the complex themes and messages in the movie all day long.

Of course, the movie hasn't gotten the awards recognition it should (just as THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST did not) because many in Hollywood don't like Gibson's conservative and religious politics. They'll decorate a rapist and a child molestor who fled the United States to lowly France, which refuses to extradict him (Roman Polanski), but they won't give deserving credit to Gibson. When conservatives complain about liberal themes in Hollywood movies, they are always told that they should simply judge it as art; But when a vocal conservative like Gibson makes an incredible movie, they shun him. Such a shameful double standard.

Many reviews reflected this. While movie reviewers are supposed to stick what's on the screen, many of them dove into Gibson's personal reviews, like this amateur review from the Denver Post: "APOCALYPTO wants us to believe there is an overpowering darkness in the land, while I can't quite get past a suspicion of overpowering darkness in the filmmaker." I don't remember reading reviews of THE PIANIST that talked about Polanski's sexual misconduct. Of course, if you're liberal, you can be excused for things like molesting children.

To be sure, Gibson's indefensible anti-Semitic rant to a police officer did not help his case. But, again, we're told by Hollywood that we should judge artists for their art, not their actions; And that we should judge films for their quality, not for what the filmmakers snort up their nose or with whom they have sex.

Awards or no awards, APOCALYPTO is an incredible acheivement, and Mel Gibson has strengthened his position as one of the great filmmakers of our time.

FINAL ANALYSIS: Brilliant direction and performances, beautiful art direction and a haunting script. If this was made by almost any other director, it would be hailed as a cinematic acheivement. 10 out 10.

Comments

[Karl]

Yes, liberals support child molesters.

That's a new low Cyd! Congrats!

[Karl]

Hi Cyd,

Yes, TWO TIME OSCAR WINNER and multi-zillionaire hyphenate Mel Gibson has clearly been overlooked by the vast left-wing conspiracy (VLWC) that IS the Hollywood establishment. (Although the conspiracy must not be working so well since he’s already won TWO OSCARS. Pity him. Maybe he can only find solace in his millions of dollars and castle in Malibu.)

And look at these scathing reviews of Apocalypto from the so-called “intellectuals” of the Liberal Left!

“Gibson may not be much of a deep thinker, but he’s a heck of a storyteller.” Stephen Hunter, Washington Post

“Gibson has learned to tell a tale, and to raise your pulse in the telling. You have to admire this basic gift, uncommon in Hollywood these days.” Anthony Lane, New Yorker

“Mel Gibson is always good for a surprise, and his latest is that Apocalypto is a remarkable film.” Todd McCarthy, Variety

And this, from the Worst Paper in History! (NY Times):

“Mr. Gibson’s technical command has never been surer; Apocalypto is a model of narrative economy, moving nimbly forward and telling its tale with clarity and force. It is, above all, a muscular and kinetic action movie, a drama of rescue and revenge.” A.O. Scott, New York Times.

I share your outrage that those lefties in Hollywood don’t recognize Mel’s genius (again) “because the liberal Hollywood types don't like Gibson's conservative and religious politics.” His recent observation that “the Jews are responsible for all of the wars in the world,” is clearly an extension of his “religious politics” (your phrase) and shouldn’t be held against him by the crypto-Marxist cabal that frowns on such clear-thinking.

Could it be that Dreamgirls or Babel or whatever was more of a crowd pleaser? Could it be that awards typically go to films that are bigger financial successes? Could it be Disney didn’t do a big awards push due to recent controversial statements by said director? Could it be that awards organizations might be a bit squeamish with gratuitous violence like beheadings and cannibalism? Could it be a lot of Jews in Hollywood don’t want to recognize someone who recently accused them of being instigators of “all of the wars in the world?”

Clearly not. Clearly it’s another conspiracy from the bleeding hearts who don’t like Mel Gibson’s “conservative politics.”

[Cyd]

To be sure, his anti-Semitic comment was indefensible. Even he would say that, I think, as he has offered no defense for it.

To say he can't be a devout Christian because he has been caught drunk-driving is also not of Christian doctrine. If you educate yourself on Christianity, you will find that everyone sins, and no man should be judged for those sins. Of course, Hollywood judges him and other conservatives when they mispronounce the word "nuclear."

I do appreciate your comment, though. I didn't mean that Hollywood shuns Christians, but rather, as I said, they don't like his religious and conservative politics, which he wears on his sleeve.

[Tim Wilson]

It's obvious that the "darkness" that the reviewer was referring too wasn't Gibson's supposed Christian faith, but more likely his public humiliation due to drunk driving and anti-Semitic remarks.

Also, it should be noted that "Hollywood" or people in general don't dislike Mel Gibson because he's a devout Christian. That would be impossible because he's not a devout Christian. I don't think any form of Christianity condones drunk driving, hating Jews or using the term "sugar tits".

I don't know anything about your personal religious beliefs, but your inability to differentiate between Christianity and anti-Semitism is offensive to Christians and Jews.