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November 30, 2005
Kaus On Goldstein
That's how I feel about sex! The LAT's Patrick Goldstein attacks Oscar prediction blogging, then produces the Buried Weasel Graf of the Week:
Full disclosure: I write an Oscar prediction column too, but I do it once a year, not 47 times a week.
Goldstein adds, "without getting into the Academy Award prediction business full-time, I may be doing an Oscar podcast in the near future too." ... That's OK. Go ahead, do it full-time! As long as you let us know you'd really rather "wrestle with questions about what our movies say about America today." God help us.
... P.S.: Hollywood is an isolated subculture populated by quirky egomaniacs, and movies have long lead times. They are lousy barometers of "America today." Indeed, wrestling with "what movies say about America today" is usually just a disingenuous, intellectually flattering, week-in-reviewish way of writing about glamorous stars and directors and attracting lucrative movie ads. At least Oscar handicappers are open and straightforward about what they're doing. ... 5:55 P.M.
Posted by poland at November 30, 2005 08:39 AM
Comments
Talk about a self important writer. Trying to disparage DP even as he writes about his Oscar column. Maybe deep down he knows he can't compete with Dave on it.
Posted by: BluStealer ![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.mcnblogs.com/thehotblog/nav-commenters.gif)
at November 30, 2005 01:19 PM
I'd hate the prediction game too if I picked a turkey like Jarhead.
Posted by: Bruce at November 30, 2005 01:21 PM
Goldstein seems to hate "the oscar prediction" thing yet can't help himself from trying to do it. So he has to take a few shots at the leader of the industry along the way. Childish, immature. For sure. Seen right thru? Yes.
Posted by: Terence D at November 30, 2005 01:26 PM
What's wrong with doing a prediction column all year long? Obviously, there is a strong market for it.
Posted by: Mark Ziegler at November 30, 2005 02:32 PM
That last paragraph is a pretty weak rationalization for being lazy and intellectually undemanding. It's okay to ignore "America today" because everyone _else_ is a self-centered celebrity chaser. Might as well report on box office numbers.
Posted by: jeffmcm at November 30, 2005 03:01 PM
Not Mark's paragraph...the one up top.
Posted by: jeffmcm at November 30, 2005 03:01 PM
I generally read a lot about the industry. Does it mean anything that I have never once heard of Patrick Goldstein in my life until Dave's column, but visit MCN and THB every day??
Posted by: ManWithNoName at November 30, 2005 03:08 PM
Saying everyone is " a self centered media chaser" is just a weak generalization. I'm sure if this Goldstein guy just wrote on what he wanted to everyday(like Dave does) he wouldn't be pissy and have to worry about anything.
What is stopping him from writing about what he wants to?
Posted by: joefitz84 at November 30, 2005 03:15 PM
Goldstein is just proving himself to be a hack who is scared of playing in a new arena with new rules.
Posted by: Richard Nash at November 30, 2005 03:46 PM
"At least Oscar handicappers are open and straightforward about what they're doing."
And that's what this guy doesn't understand. We like it, it's fun. Why shouldn't we be allowed to obsess over whether Keira Knightley will or won't get nominated. Or whether Munich will or won't win Best Picture. Or whether Woody Allen's Match Point is or isn't the big return.
It's fun. And it also adds something to movie watching. It really does make me at least pay more attention to subtle things.
Posted by: KamikazeCamelV2.0 at November 30, 2005 08:23 PM
Oscar handicappers are hacks with nothing better to do.
Last month Fark.com linked to a story [from Canada] about the Oscar Jinx. Google for Oscar jinx -- the story may still be around.
Posted by: Chucky in Jersey at December 4, 2005 11:27 AM
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