Tuesday, February 01, 2005

"The Passion of the Christ" did not deserve a Best Picture nomination!

Recently, there's been a hoop-la of ink spilled calling the recent Oscar nominations anti-God as "The Passion of the Christ" only garnered three award nominations (i.e., Best Musical Score, Best Cinematography, Best Make-Up). These feverent Christians are saying the film was snubbed for not getting a Best Picture or Best Director nomination and gripe also that it was one of the best edited pieces of the year (citing those quick cuts from the whippings to the people's disgusted faces and then back to the whippings I suppose) and was not noted for this in the Best Film Editing category either.

Now, this made me roll my eyes repeatedly and I happen to like the movie. But with many Christians, I think we forget that this movie is not Jesus and it's actually a movie about Jesus. Confusing the two sounds impossible but trust me, it's happening all over. I'm not sure if it's because Christians feel they need their own super-hero-like movie to hide behind or to rally up against and root for, but it's really getting a bit ridiculous. I wonder if the movie had been as bad as "Left Behind" and not made any money like "Left Behind," if Christians would still be out on the Oscar prowl?

I don't believe "The Passion of the Christ" deserved a best picture nomination. In fact, I don't believe it deserved a best original score nomination (did the Academy even SEE "Bad Education," "Friday Night Lights," or "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind"?). The cinematography and make-up nods were well-deserved though, and I'm happy the Academy's memory did not fail them when they came to these two categories. But anyways, back to Jesus.

I guess I shouldn't be surprised about people fearing that by snubbing the film the Academy was REALLY snubbing Jesus himself because that kind of mentality has been going on for thousands of years. Hot-wired Christians who think they are protecting the sacredness of Christ with their raving rants were around during the Crusades and I guess to some extent, they're still around today. I talked to one woman who insisted that if the movie didn't get nominated for Best Picture it would be a "travesty." Now correct me if I'm wrong but since when did getting nominated for Academy Awards mean so much to the majority of evangelical Christians in the first place? It's as if this is a make-or-break, Left Behind-ish, prophetic "mark" of what end times are soon to come. Apparently, this Oscar snub might have more to do with the book of Revelation than many of us would think. If this is true and these people riling up against this national travesty are right, then I for one will be very glad because it would mean all along that God really does care about movies more than most Christians would like to think.

6 comments:

nateshorb said...

i would have wet my pants if friday night lights got a nomination for best score. granted, i havent seen the movie, but still.

im going to call you sometime. i promise.

Chalupa said...

I just watched Friday Night Lights last night and liked it. The music did rock my stocking cap off.

Yeah, I imagined that the good ol christians would be getting their undergarments bunched over this one. I try not to discuss it with people because then I won't get worked up about it.

Tara said...

Most of the films that get nominated for best picture don't deserve it either (to be honest). On the other side of the fence, there are multiple rallies objecting to the absence of "Farenheight 911" from ALL categories. You can't deny that Hollywood is very political when it comes to their plethora of mundane and overrated awards spectacles. And speaking of "The Passion" from a strictly objective viewpoint, one cannot disagree with it being a beautifully filmed work of art that displays the talents of not only the director, but the actors (where was THIS nomination?) and crew as well. But then again, the same could be said of "Raising Helen" right?

nateshorb said...

it IS surprising that fahrenheit 911 didnt get any recognition. not that it should have. just surprising.

Neville said...

Nate, sorry again about no 'friday night lights' nomination. Chalupa, glad you liked 'friday night lights.' Tara, I don't think there is such a thing as a "strictly objective viewpoint"...?? Is there? :)--Mark, you are sooo right! Amen! And Magicfingers, I'm so sorry to hear you disliked "Eternal Sunshine," however, I'd suggest a second viewing to be sure you hate it. It's one that often tends to make much more sense the second time around. But after that, if you still hate it, then that's fine with me. Go Passion!

Tara said...

You're right, there's no such thing as objectivity, but there IS such a thing as fairness, and you CAN look at The Passion strictly as a film, (which is what it is, duh) regardless of its purpose, content, "agenda", etc...Is "the Last Supper" any less (or more) of a work of art just because it depicts Jesus?