Finneran: The Oscars & The Marines
Tom Finneran, GoLocalProv MINDSETTER™
Finneran: The Oscars & The Marines
For in a world without the Marines, all we have are Streep, Clooney, and some other intolerant Hollywood poseurs. That’s semper surrender rather than semper fidelis.
They talk about “courage” a great deal in Hollywood, particularly on that garish evening dedicated to the Oscars and the fake town’s vapid celebrities. Those courageous stars should walk a perimeter patrol, alone, in the dark, thousands of miles from home, say in Afghanistan or Iraq. That’s where the click you hear is not a publicist’s camera. It’s the click of a land mine or a rifle and quite possibly the last sound you’ll ever hear.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTThat’s courage. And duty. And honor. And service.
And it’s a lot harder to do than to play some social justice hero, putting the always rotten America in some deranged historical perspective, sure to be applauded by the highly educated yet ignorant intelligentsia at the New York Times.
How truly brave all those celluloid stars are, how utterly connected to real life, as they stroll the red carpet in their evening gowns and tuxedos. The only things that they are really connected to are their egos, their agents, and their mirrors. Thus my viewing pleasure on “Oscars night” is really easy---it’s anything but the Oscars, usually just a good book.
My wife and I are amused by the hyperventilating build-up to the spectacle---“celebrities” talking about “celebrities”, a who’s who, who’s in, who’s out, who will be seen with whom, is the Academy racist, homophobic, too Jewish, anti-Semitic? Such drama! And such nonsense.
Give me a coal miner any day of the week. Not an actor playing a coal miner, but a real coal miner from West Virginia. Or give me a farmer from the Mid-West, running a dairy herd and a thousand acres of wheat, all sweaty and calloused. Said miner and said farmer might lack wealth and fame but they possess a moral sensibility that Hollywood not only lacks but derides.
Which brings me to the Marines and to all the other members of the nation’s armed forces.........
Let’s not forget that these men and women of the uniform are not a frill. They are essential to our freedom and, perhaps expensively for us, but happily for others, essential to the freedom of many people around the world. These men and women don’t get to play at make-believe, nor do they get paid millions for putting on makeup and pretending to be someone they’re not.
I suppose that that’s the thing---the sheer hypocrisy--- that galls me most about Hollywood. It’s all pretense, married to a lecturing, hectoring, condescending attitude about the rest of us, the rubes who work, raise families, and pay the bills. They’re all phonies. How else to explain Hollywood’s professed love affair with open borders and other inanities, a love uttered by their press agents while the principals hunker down behind the gated walls of their private estates, completely cocooned from certain grim realities........limos, private jets, and muscular armed bodyguards make sure that these paragons of virtue can glide through life completely undisturbed by any actual engagement with real people.
Contrast that hypocrisy and that pat-your-own-back moral pretense with a Marine. Or with any other member of our armed forces. There, what you see is what you get---riding the train or the bus, flying coach, shopping at Walmart, doing without, raising families, coaching kids, serving multiple tours in dangerous lands, speaking courteously and respectfully, and grateful for the opportunity to serve their country.
Much has been written about the phrase “make America great again”. Truth be told, there’s always been an aspect of America’s greatness on vivid display. It can be seen in the thousands of ordinary Americans who want to be a part of something special, something meaningful, something larger than themselves. They become soldiers, sailors, and pilots. They continue an American tradition and they set an American example. They make America great every day. May God bless their work.
This weekend, do something special---skip the movies and thank a Marine.
Rhode Island’s Academy Award Connections
Viola Davis (2017)
Central Falls native Viola Davis is nominated for "Best Actress in a Supporting Role" for the movie "Fences" where she starred alongside Denzel Washington.
The movie details the life of a working-class African-American father who tries to raise his family in the 1950s, while coming to terms with the events of his life.
Davis is already having an award winning year, having won a Golden Globe for "Fences" back in January.
Prior to the Golden Globes, Davis was given a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Silence (2017)
The movie "Silence" was executive produced by Rhode Island's Chad Verdi along side legendary movie director Martin Scorsese.
"Silence" is nominated for best Cinematography.
The film stars Andrew Garfield and Adam Driver as Jesuit priests who travel from Portugal to Japan to locate their missing mentor — who is played by Liam Neeson — and spread Catholicism even though the religion has been banned.
Hacksaw Ridge (2017)
'Hacksaw Ridge" starring Andrew Garfield was produced by David Permut.
Permut also produced the movie "The Polka King" in Rhode Island. According to Rhode Island Film and TV's Steve Feinberg, Permut's parents got engage at Roger Williams Park.
"Hacksaw Ridge" is nominated for best picture.
The film is based on the true story of WWII American Army Medic Desmond Doss, who served during the Battle of Okinawa, refused to bear arms, saved the lives of more than 75 men and became the first man in American history to receive the Medal of Honor without firing a single shot.
PHOTO: Hacksawridgemovie.com
La La Land (2017)
La La Land director Damien Chazelle was born in Providence.
La La Land is nominated for 14 awards, the most of any other movie.
The movie stars Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone and details the story of a jazz pianist who falls for an aspiring actress in Los Angeles.
Spotlight (2016)
The nominated movie "Spotlight" features local Rhode Island dentist Anthony Paolucci plaing the role of Kevin in the film.
Five other Rhode Island residents worked as part of the crew. They are: Brenda McNally, Shayna Passeretti, Ollie Amerigian, Mike Buonanno, Brinton McFarland.
The movie is based on the Boston Globe's massive uncovering of a child molestation and cover up in the local catholic archdiocese.
The film stars Michael Keaton and Mark Ruffalo
Photo courtesy of IMDB
Emma Watson (2015)
This Brown University graduate received her bachelor’s degree in English literature, and played the role of Hermoine Granger in the 8-part Harry Potter series saga. The Harry Potter series has been nominated for a total of 12 Academy Awards, including for Best Art Direction, Best Visual Effects, and Best Original Score.
Seth MacFarlane (2013)
This RISD grad and Family Guy creator hosted the 85th Annual Academy Awards in 2013.
Moonrise Kingdom (2012)
Moonrise Kingdom was filmed around southern Rhode Island, and Wes Anderson and Roman Coppola were nominated for Best Writing in 2012.
Richard Jenkins (2008)
Richard Jenkins was nominated as Best Actor in 2008 for his role in "The Visitor." The Cumberland resident is a veteran of Trinity Rep in Providence, as well.
Ben Affleck (1997)
Ben Affleck won the Best Original Screenplay award in 1997 for cowriting "Good Will Hunting" with Matt Damon. He received an honorary Doctorate of Fine Arts from Brown University in 2013.
Nicholas Cage (1995)
This former Newport resident won Best Actor for his role in "Leaving Las Vegas" in 1995.
James Woods (1987)
Woods grew up in Warwick and attended Pilgrim High School. He was nominated for two Academy Awards, including Best Actor in 1987 for “Salvador” and Best Supporting Actor in 1997 for “Ghosts of Mississippi.”
The Great Gatsby (1974)
This Paul Newman vehicle was filmed in part in Newport at Rosecliff Mansion and Marble House, and won Best Costume Design, and Best Music.
High Society (1958)
High Society was nominated for Best Score and Best Music in 1958. The movie stars Bing Crosby, Grace Kelly, and Frank Sinatra and was based in and partially filmed in Newport.
Anthony Quinn (1952)
This Bristol resident who died in 2001 won Best Supporting Actor for Viva Zapata! in 1952 and Lust For Life in 1956. He was nominated in 1957 for Best Actor for Wild Is The Wind and in 1964 for Zorba The Greek.
John Huston (1948)
This actor/director won Oscars for Best Director and Best Adapted Screenplay in 1948 for The Treasure of Sierra Madre. He was nominated for Best Director for African Queen in 1951 and, Prizzi’s Honor in 1985. Huston died in his home in Middletown in 1987.
