lundi 24 mars 2003

Different drums Most of what Michael Moore had to say at the Oscars was almost drowned in the soundbite I heard this morning by the boos and the cheers. As it has done for months, 'Bowling for Columbine' still tops a 'Hit Parade' of French film critics published weekly by Pariscope ('The Hours' is in 17th place, 'Chicago' at 19 and 'The Pianist' at 11). This rating is based on the number of stars 11 critics gave each film when it came out here. The Magdalene Sisters is currently in 2nd place, while in 3rd is Etre et Avoir, a slice-of-life school year in a small class in Auvergne farming country. This last won three Césars at Cannes. Marianne and I acknowledged that it's fine documentary film-making, but were reproached for suggesting that the two classroom tortoises that appeared as the first characters set the pace for the rest of it. 1:12:26 PM  link   your views? [] Beyond saturation The mass coverage given the Oscars, even when you don't have a TV, is one reason I've almost nothing to say about them. I imagine visitors here know what they think of the ceremony and have no need of my two cents' worth. The same largely goes for the conduct of the war. Before it began, I had plenty to say, starting with a comment on Turkey, whose role in the region remains a cause of much speculation, concern and analysis. The media and the Net have left no excuse for ignorance, unless one insists on being spoon-fed by TV. Friends have helped point me to scores of reports, weblogs and pertinent sites, including articles about matters allegedly ducked by chunks of the press. Many bloggers have cited briefing papers and items produced by the Project for the New American Century to underscore for or against views. This right-wing think-tank describes itself as: "a non-profit educational organization dedicated to a few fundamental propositions: that American leadership is good both for America and for the world; that such leadership requires military strength, diplomatic energy and commitment to moral principle; and that too few political leaders today are making the case for global leadership." Others turn to the Centre for Research on Globalization: "an independent research and media group of progressive writers, scholars and activists committed to curbing the tide of 'globalisation' and 'disarming' the New World Order." I'm simply adding both today to my links. Unless anything further occurs to have me vent my spleen or I come across something singularly offbeat, I'd rather henceforth not waste people's time by piling it on about current events, but try to focus on what might happen after the immediate conflict. It's evident that if Bush's "coalition" doesn't plan to dispense with the UN altogether, hammering out a Security Council resolution for the future governance and rebuilding of Iraq, after one tackling the humanitarian issues, could prove as tough as the tussle over the resolution that never happened. 1:08:45 PM  link   your views? []

nick b. 2007 do share, don't steal, please credit under artistic licence terms; contributing friends (pix, other work) retain their rights.