Why All the 'Oscar' Fuss?

Why any human being would sit at home on a Sunday night and watch a bunch of zillionaire Hollywood actors and actresses pat themselves and one another on the back is beyond me. But there they were last night, parading before the cameras on 'Oscar' night at the annual Academy Awards.

I mean, I do get it for the actors and actresses themselves, of course. Almost every industry takes time out during the year to recognize and honor those in each profession or business who excelled during the previous year. Dinners are shared, toasts are made, speeches are given, trophies and plaques are handed out.

But while the nation's leading architects, novelists, construction workers, police officers, firefighters, bankers, small business persons, mass transit employees, entrepreneurs, secretaries, priests, and many others receive their honors in near-anonymity surrounded by family, friends, and colleagues their exploits are almost never celebrated in front of a television audience.

Why would any office worker, home maker, student, or businessperson care who took home what trophy for some movie that the vast majority of them have never seen and likely will never see? Why should I care what kind of dress Sandra Bullock or Meryl Streep wears as they walk down some red carpet and into a theatre to receive their awards?

Frankly, I don't. Which is why I never watch a minute of the Academy Awards, the Emmy's, the MTV Music Awards, the Grammy's, the Espy's or any other awards show. The fact of the matter is that James Cameron, Kathryn Bigelow, George Clooney, Jay-Z, Koby Bryant, Fergie, Ray Romano, Jay Leno and every other celebrity could care less about me beyond whether or not I spend my hard-earned money on one of their products or artistic endeavors. They wouldn't watch a police awards show if their lives depended on it.

This all falls in line with my similar thoughts on television shows such as 'TMZ' and 'Entertainment Tonight' and 'Extra' as well. Why should any normal, regular, hard-working, family-raising American give a damn about what is happening between Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie, and Jennifer Aniston? Why do you care how many African babies Madonna is adopting this year? Why should you be giving up your valuable time to watch a bunch of paparazzi stand around and bust on some borderline star who took their baby for a walk in the park today while wearing giant sunglasses and an unflattering sweat suit?

You shouldn't, and that is the point. Now I can just hear the celebrity addicts who do watch these shows whining now. "Who are you to tell someone else what they should like or enjoy, Veasey?" Legitimate question for sure. And of course the answer is, I am no one. So why are you reading this in the first place? Why do you care what I think about anything?

My advice is simple. Stop watching these pieces of trash, junk television shows. Stop caring about Halle Berry and Sarah Jessica Parker and Tiger Woods personal lives. You want to spend your money to enjoy their music, their movies, their sporting contests? That's a whole other story, and a valid method of entertainment and enjoyment. But caring about what dress they wear or who they are sleeping with this week? I don't and never will get it. Why all the fuss?

Defending Your Life

The wry comedy of Albert Brooks was on full display in the 1991 heavenly comedy "Defending Your Life" which he directed. In the film, Brooks stars as a man who has died and finds himself in a purgatory-like pleasant way station where he must actually, literally defend his life in order to advance into Heaven itself. In his preparations for his 'hearing' he meets a character played by Meryl Streep, someone who appears in so many ways to be more intellectually and morally advanced than Brooks. Through the emotional help of this woman along with a self-examination of his own life, Brooks is able to find success in his defense, and entry into paradise. What this pleasant little film highlights is that there are any number of moments and periods in all of our lives where we fall short as human beings. Where our own physical, intellectual, and moral shortcomings win out, and our human weakness takes over. Where we do the wrong thing when we clearly know what is right, or where we fail to learn from past mistakes, and where these errors end up hurting not only ourselves but also those around us. In the end, Brooks is saved from his many moments of failure and weakness by the overall generosity of his heart and spirit, his ability to love truly, and particularly by his faith. In my own life there have been many challenges, some circumstantial, many self-induced, which I have had to overcome in this life journey to self-improvement and character building. On that journey, I have had tremendous, soaring highs and deep, destructive lows. But the one abiding, over-riding habit that I can point to for my salvation is the fact that I have never, ever lost faith along the way. In my weakest, darkest moments the Lord has been there for me, to not only chastise me, but to wrap his arms around me, comfort me, forgive me, and welcome me home. When I had forgotten Him or placed my will above His own for me, the truth was that He had never left my side. I have recently been reminded of my many faults in life, and how my own children have had theirs as well. I have three beautiful, wonderful daughters and two adorable grandchildren, all of whom fill my heart with joy and love. Have they and will they make mistakes during their lives? Absolutely, and like my own, some of them have been particularly self-destructive and others have created what might seem to be overwhelming challenges. But what I have learned to tell them, what took me so long to learn because I had no one to properly guide me on the path, is that they are not alone, and things are never hopeless. You only need one thing to overcome all of the hardship and hurt that this world can throw at you, and that you can insert into your own life. That one thing is true faith. Faith that God is there for you, that Jesus loves you, that Christ came to this world and died for these sins that you have committed. He has already redeemed you. You only need do two things: turn and acknowledge Him, and then begin to set aside your old ways and move forward. Once you have done the first, you will find that any time you slip again it will not be into total darkness. You will always have that light of Christ's love to guide you back to the right path, the path towards salvation. Having at times to defend your life is a good thing. In fact, I would recommend that we should all be doing this kind of self-evaluation from time to time. We should also never fail our loved ones by failing to shine a light on their misstepes, not judgmentally, but lovingly in a genuine, caring concern for their welfare, and for their immortal soul. In the end, it is that soul that needs nurturing, so that when your own inevitable time comes you will be successful in defending your life.

This is another in a series of 'Sunday Sermon' postings, which come each Sunday here at the website, and which can all be accessed by searching under that label.

Mamma Mia !

A classic movie musical put out in the 21st century, with song and dance numbers, whatever will they think of next? A bit skeptical of something that is based on a Broadway play that was itself inspired by the music of ABBA? The 1970's-era world-wide supergroup ABBA? So was I. It's not that back in my teen years that I didn't find some of their dance, disco, and early emo ditties catchy, the Swedes put out some timeless tunes for sure. But an entire story based on those tunes, how could that work? Well, it does, because 'Mamma Mia !' is simply outstanding. The story line basically follows the upcoming wedding of a young girl named Sophie, played by dazzling young American actress Amanda Seyfried. As her wedding approaches, there is just one thing missing for Sophie, her father. For years she has been raised alone by her mother, fantastically played in a starring turn by the incomparable Meryl Streep, whose character Donna simply doesn't know which of three men are Sophie's dear-old dad. Seems that Donna had spent a randy summer a couple decades earlier 'befriending' three guys in a matter of weeks. For years now, she has told her daughter Sophie that her father had run off before she was born, but Sophie finds mom's diary from that period, and finds the truth about the three men, along with enough distinctive information on each to track them down. Sophie invites each man to the wedding, luring them by pretending to be Donna wanting them back. All three show up, and Sophie begins her quest to find out which is her real dad. The movie is poignant at times, particularly in a scene where Streep helps Seyfried prepare for the wedding ceremony. This is a real mother-daughter, chick flic tearjerker moment for the ladies. There are plenty of comedic turns as well, especially by the character Tanya as played by veteran actress Christine Baranski who is tremendous in the 'cougar' role perfected by Sex & the City's Samantha character. The film is supported by a strong cast who are a bit underused in this plot, including Euro-actors Colin Firth, Stellan Skarsgard, and Julie Walters (all of whom you will know when you see their faces.) Oh, and Pierce Brosnan can sing. He won't win any awards, mind you, but he can carry a tune. While Momma Mia! is a definite chick-flic, I have no shame in admitting that I enjoyed it. And the music, especially as presented here, is infectious. Some of the credit for pulling this all together has to go to the Executive Producers, the great Tom Hanks and his wife Rita Wilson. If you're a gal, go with some friends. If you're a mom of a daughter entering young womanhood, go together. If you're a guy, take your woman. But go, no matter who you are, and feel good at the movies for once. Mama Mia! is a hit not to be missed.