Wow. This is getting intense. First of all, I have to see ALL of the movies now, including "Crash" -- sounds like "Bonfire of the Vanities" brought to a much more realistic level, am I wrong? Plus, I'd love to see what parts of LA it was filmed in.
As for "Brokeback", which I saw in a matinee in Chico CA of all places, well, it does and it doesn't break new ground. I think that the attachment some people feel is that it, in some ways, shattered the preconceptions. The 2 actors were not "packaged" and in no way did they fit any stereotypes. In fact, they were simple people. The goings-on in the movie, however, are not new: infidelity, lack of communication, keeping up a front, lust, and longing. It's just that they were played out in a context or situation previously not entertained.
As for the acting, it was good. It was B+/A-. But then, it's the A that fetches the Oscar.
I earlier posted how I would have been disappointed if Clooney won. I said that he plays himself. I have only seen him in two movies and I thought he was mediocre. I made this comment to a co-worker, a New Yorker, and he said that it could have been the roles. I thought about this. Look at Travolta. Growing up, I thought he was a buffoon. Then he matured into better, more dynamic roles. I would now consider him a fairly good actor. Maybe Clooney is getting there.
Hollywood comments? EXTREMELY liberal, for the most part. In fact, it's almost too liberal for most of the people I know in LA - especially those who are in no way connected to "the industry." Ocn, stop going to Maryland/Delaware shore and try vacationing in California some time. You will see that there are no limits to anything in the Golden State and as my friend from Philly said, "California is very free-wheeling." She is in the tech industry in Princeton NJ but is originally from a Philly suburb.
I didn't see the Oscars. I was working on a presentation I had to do today. I also wanted to comment on what Moltar said -- a very good comment. He said that the films of the past year are more geared to the thinking man and woman. That means that they do not cater to the popcorn matinee crowd. There are some years in which there are bumper crops of intellectual films. There is nothing wrong with that. While I can watch a 007 flick or an "Office Space" several times, nothing is better than a film that taxes the mind.