The Truly Golden Globe

Last night, watching the Golden Globes, I realized that the theatre is fast becoming the new UN. As politics inspire the masses (and not always in a good way), we see more and more films enter the multiplex will a message meant to be shouted to the masses.

It’s cyclical. Vietnam bred the Deer Hunter and Apocolypse Now. Reaganomics bred Wall Street. The Information age bred everything from Enemy of the State to the Net.

We live in turbulent political times, 9/11, Wars in the Middle East, Liberals vs. Conservations, Bush vs. Everyone, and the list goes on. With times like these it is not surprising to see our lives placed before us on screen. I’m a writer. I write from life. That’s how it works. I expect no different from anyone else.

Of course, the longer we find ourselves burdened by our politics, the more often we will find artists go to the well to prove a point.

What’s worth noting is that this is not a phenomenon unique to the United States. Just look at some of the years most acclaimed movies:

United 93
(Directed by Paul Greengrass, England)

The Queen
(Directed by Stephen Frears, England)

Babel
(Directed by Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu, Mexico)

The Last King of Scotland
(Directed by Kevin McDonald, Scotland)

The Children of Men
(Directed by Alfonso Cuaron, Mexico)

Pan’s Labrynth
(Directed Guillermo Del Toro, Mexico)

L’Enfant
(Directed by Jean Pierre and Luc Dardenne, Belgium)

Letters from Iwo Jima / Flags of Our Fathers
(Directed by Clint Eastwood, United States)

And so maybe you will need to search harder to find the escapism you often seek at the bottom of a popcorn bucket. I’m sure the opening weekend grosses of Spiderman 3, Shrek 3, and Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End will show that without a doubt.

Meanwhile, for those of you concerned about a lack of discussion on the part of the international community, I say that perhaps your best bet for intelligent debate will not be found within the UN borders of First Avenue west, East 42nd Street south, East 48th Street north and the East River east, but rather within the four walls of your local cinema.

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And then, under everyone's radar (because they weren't allowed to see it) is Mike Judge's Idiocracy.