Comments on: And While We’re On the Subject of the Oscars… http://www.noquarterusa.net/blog/2009/03/02/and-while-were-on-the-subject-of-the-oscars/ Mon, 22 Mar 2010 05:11:01 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Liz http://www.noquarterusa.net/blog/2009/03/02/and-while-were-on-the-subject-of-the-oscars/#comment-1152012 Liz Tue, 03 Mar 2009 16:12:14 +0000 http://www.noquarterusa.net/blog/?p=16032#comment-1152012 That's an odd take on the movie. For a short time during the scenes of the trial, it appears that the film will be sympathetic to this brutal murderer. But ultimately, the main character is shown to be just as culpable as the rest of the guards - and her act of claiming responsibility for writing a document she couldn't possibly have composed is clearly shown NOT to be an act of kindness to her coworkers. Instead it's revealed as just another sop to her own vanity (not wanting to be perceived as illiterate). The final scenes of the movie show dramatically how completely this loathsome woman destroyed the lives of everyone around her thru her amoral worldview and inability to empathize on even the most basic level with anyone. Perhaps in her inhumanity, the viewing audience could see her as horrible but pathetic. But in no way was the movie uplifting and it didn't try to excuse her behavior. Did we watch the same show? Maybe because no character actually mouthed words at the end about how awful she was, people missed the point. How could they miss seeing how completely destroyed Liam Neeson's character was at the end of the film? He tried to redeem himself by sending her the recordings. He had feelings of guilt for not speaking in her defense. At that point, the story is about him trying to come to grips his memories with her. At the end, he is unsucessful. I came from the movie with the idea that there are amoral people in the world. And they will do amoral things. And if you let them, they will destroy you. Not exactly uplifting. That’s an odd take on the movie. For a short time during the scenes of the trial, it appears that the film will be sympathetic to this brutal murderer. But ultimately, the main character is shown to be just as culpable as the rest of the guards – and her act of claiming responsibility for writing a document she couldn’t possibly have composed is clearly shown NOT to be an act of kindness to her coworkers. Instead it’s revealed as just another sop to her own vanity (not wanting to be perceived as illiterate).

The final scenes of the movie show dramatically how completely this loathsome woman destroyed the lives of everyone around her thru her amoral worldview and inability to empathize on even the most basic level with anyone. Perhaps in her inhumanity, the viewing audience could see her as horrible but pathetic. But in no way was the movie uplifting and it didn’t try to excuse her behavior.

Did we watch the same show? Maybe because no character actually mouthed words at the end about how awful she was, people missed the point. How could they miss seeing how completely destroyed Liam Neeson’s character was at the end of the film? He tried to redeem himself by sending her the recordings. He had feelings of guilt for not speaking in her defense. At that point, the story is about him trying to come to grips his memories with her. At the end, he is unsucessful.

I came from the movie with the idea that there are amoral people in the world. And they will do amoral things. And if you let them, they will destroy you. Not exactly uplifting.

]]> By: Ellen http://www.noquarterusa.net/blog/2009/03/02/and-while-were-on-the-subject-of-the-oscars/#comment-1151897 Ellen Tue, 03 Mar 2009 08:14:32 +0000 http://www.noquarterusa.net/blog/?p=16032#comment-1151897 you are talking a bit irresponsibly here. are you saying those who voted for Obama were following the evil satan of Hiler? and that Obama will turn out to be such a person? If you want to say that Obama had kool-aid drinking followers then say that - why would you make the Hitler analogy, unless you really mean it. you are talking a bit irresponsibly here. are you saying those who voted for Obama were following the evil satan of Hiler? and that Obama will turn out to be such a person?

If you want to say that Obama had kool-aid drinking followers then say that – why would you make the Hitler analogy, unless you really mean it.

]]> By: Magic Puzzle Box http://www.noquarterusa.net/blog/2009/03/02/and-while-were-on-the-subject-of-the-oscars/#comment-1151754 Magic Puzzle Box Tue, 03 Mar 2009 01:53:16 +0000 http://www.noquarterusa.net/blog/?p=16032#comment-1151754 Did you see Ann Coulter's crack at the CPAC meeting regarding Obama's 80% approval in Germany during the election? I don't normally like her, but this one was sooo funny. Something about the poll was so relevant since Germans really know how to pick a leader. (I'm German, so I can say that.) Anyway, what exactly about this whole movie plot for the Reader was supposed to be entertaining? It sounds absolutely dreadful. Did you see Ann Coulter’s crack at the CPAC meeting regarding Obama’s 80% approval in Germany during the election? I don’t normally like her, but this one was sooo funny. Something about the poll was so relevant since Germans really know how to pick a leader. (I’m German, so I can say that.)

Anyway, what exactly about this whole movie plot for the Reader was supposed to be entertaining? It sounds absolutely dreadful.

]]> By: AnnieCollier http://www.noquarterusa.net/blog/2009/03/02/and-while-were-on-the-subject-of-the-oscars/#comment-1151712 AnnieCollier Tue, 03 Mar 2009 00:38:01 +0000 http://www.noquarterusa.net/blog/?p=16032#comment-1151712 I liked Gran Torino too. A different story. Not cliched. One of Clint's best. I liked Gran Torino too. A different story. Not cliched. One of Clint’s best.

]]> By: John (from Liberal Rapture) http://www.noquarterusa.net/blog/2009/03/02/and-while-were-on-the-subject-of-the-oscars/#comment-1151698 John (from Liberal Rapture) Tue, 03 Mar 2009 00:04:20 +0000 http://www.noquarterusa.net/blog/?p=16032#comment-1151698 Thank YOU! This movie takes the weirdest most amoral turn imaginable at the midway point. It's creepy. And unfortunate. Thank YOU!

This movie takes the weirdest most amoral turn imaginable at the midway point.

It’s creepy. And unfortunate.

]]> By: sandi78 http://www.noquarterusa.net/blog/2009/03/02/and-while-were-on-the-subject-of-the-oscars/#comment-1151688 sandi78 Mon, 02 Mar 2009 23:45:20 +0000 http://www.noquarterusa.net/blog/?p=16032#comment-1151688 Sorry, but "Europeans" didn't fall for Hitler. Germans did, but their reasons for doing so are far more complex than the adoration of Obama. The Europeans who think Obama is great are a different generation. They do not remember World War II, or Hitler, or Mussolini. They were not born, and most of their parents were not born. It was their grandparents' era, and none of them will ever forget. Sorry, but “Europeans” didn’t fall for Hitler. Germans did, but their reasons for doing so are far more complex than the adoration of Obama.

The Europeans who think Obama is great are a different generation. They do not remember World War II, or Hitler, or Mussolini. They were not born, and most of their parents were not born. It was their grandparents’ era, and none of them will ever forget.

]]> By: catfish http://www.noquarterusa.net/blog/2009/03/02/and-while-were-on-the-subject-of-the-oscars/#comment-1151669 catfish Mon, 02 Mar 2009 22:56:22 +0000 http://www.noquarterusa.net/blog/?p=16032#comment-1151669 Looovved Grand Torino! While it was UN-PC it was very PC in a way. A break-through story IMO. Looovved Grand Torino! While it was UN-PC it was very PC in a way.

A break-through story IMO.

]]> By: Sonic Ninja Kitty http://www.noquarterusa.net/blog/2009/03/02/and-while-were-on-the-subject-of-the-oscars/#comment-1151667 Sonic Ninja Kitty Mon, 02 Mar 2009 22:53:39 +0000 http://www.noquarterusa.net/blog/?p=16032#comment-1151667 I think Spammy ate my comment. I didn't know "Keynesian" was an unacceptable word. I think Spammy ate my comment. I didn’t know “Keynesian” was an unacceptable word.

]]> By: ces http://www.noquarterusa.net/blog/2009/03/02/and-while-were-on-the-subject-of-the-oscars/#comment-1151633 ces Mon, 02 Mar 2009 21:18:23 +0000 http://www.noquarterusa.net/blog/?p=16032#comment-1151633 Three words... My. Pet. Goat. Three words…

My. Pet. Goat.

]]> By: No-nonsense-Nancy http://www.noquarterusa.net/blog/2009/03/02/and-while-were-on-the-subject-of-the-oscars/#comment-1151625 No-nonsense-Nancy Mon, 02 Mar 2009 20:54:49 +0000 http://www.noquarterusa.net/blog/?p=16032#comment-1151625 I do know that history repeats itself. Human nature never learns, it seems. This time around the world could be a lot worse off from it's passive attitude. I do know that history repeats itself. Human nature never learns, it seems. This time around the world could be a lot worse off from it’s passive attitude.

]]> By: American Girl in Italy http://www.noquarterusa.net/blog/2009/03/02/and-while-were-on-the-subject-of-the-oscars/#comment-1151608 American Girl in Italy Mon, 02 Mar 2009 20:15:11 +0000 http://www.noquarterusa.net/blog/?p=16032#comment-1151608 Those that fail to learn from history, are doomed to repeat it. - Winston Churchill (Hmmm, do you think that could have anything to do with Obama returning the bust of Winston Churchill to England?) ha Those that fail to learn from history, are doomed to repeat it. – Winston Churchill

(Hmmm, do you think that could have anything to do with Obama returning the bust of Winston Churchill to England?) ha

]]> By: No-nonsense-Nancy http://www.noquarterusa.net/blog/2009/03/02/and-while-were-on-the-subject-of-the-oscars/#comment-1151603 No-nonsense-Nancy Mon, 02 Mar 2009 20:08:58 +0000 http://www.noquarterusa.net/blog/?p=16032#comment-1151603 Sara, you are right on. I've said all along, The One's popularity is just like Germany with Hitler. But why would the European's fall for the same thing again by their adoration for BO? I would think they of all people would be onto him. Did they not suffer enough 60 years ago? Sara, you are right on. I’ve said all along, The One’s popularity is just like Germany with Hitler. But why would the European’s fall for the same thing again by their adoration for BO? I would think they of all people would be onto him. Did they not suffer enough 60 years ago?

]]> By: Docelder http://www.noquarterusa.net/blog/2009/03/02/and-while-were-on-the-subject-of-the-oscars/#comment-1151601 Docelder Mon, 02 Mar 2009 20:01:34 +0000 http://www.noquarterusa.net/blog/?p=16032#comment-1151601 Hitler was a "salesman". He told people what they wanted to hear. He was for the worker, against capitalism, and for strict gun control. He admired FDR and sought a "third way" government... a "tweener" between communism and capitalism. Sound at all familiar? Hitler was a “salesman”. He told people what they wanted to hear. He was for the worker, against capitalism, and for strict gun control. He admired FDR and sought a “third way” government… a “tweener” between communism and capitalism. Sound at all familiar?

]]> By: sarainitaly http://www.noquarterusa.net/blog/2009/03/02/and-while-were-on-the-subject-of-the-oscars/#comment-1151600 sarainitaly Mon, 02 Mar 2009 19:57:51 +0000 http://www.noquarterusa.net/blog/?p=16032#comment-1151600 Like Hugh Jackman sang, "the Reader, I didn't see it." Like Hugh Jackman sang, “the Reader, I didn’t see it.”

]]> By: sarainitaly http://www.noquarterusa.net/blog/2009/03/02/and-while-were-on-the-subject-of-the-oscars/#comment-1151598 sarainitaly Mon, 02 Mar 2009 19:51:13 +0000 http://www.noquarterusa.net/blog/?p=16032#comment-1151598 i think i witnessed this past year how someone like hitler could rise to power, and take over, and do the things he did.... i think i witnessed this past year how someone like hitler could rise to power, and take over, and do the things he did….

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