The Oscars 2020.

Yesterday (9/2/20) saw the 92nd Academy Awards. Known as the Oscars this traditionally marks the end of America's long popular culture season.

It always puts me in a difficult position. Of having to write detailed discussions of movies I've not actually seen.

Seriously. I've only recently watched "Get Out" from 2017. I'm still looking forward to finding the time to watch "Hidden Figures" from 2016.

This year though I decided to really confuse matters. I've actually seen one of the movies in Oscars contention this year.

So it seems appropriate I start there;

Jojo Rabbit: Aka; "The Scarlett Vengeance."

In 2014 Scarlett Johansson made a Super Bowl commercial for SodaStream. An Israeli company which, at the time, operated in the Occupied Palestinian West Bank.

As I think was both SodaStream and Scarlett Johansson's intention this invoked all the issues surrounding the Israel/Palestine conflict.

Such was the backlash it was actually never shown. The Super Bowl broadcaster that year, FOX, pulled it. Officially on the grounds that it embarassed Super Bowl sponsor Pepsi.

Honestly I think most people's reaction to the controversy though was simply to shrug and go; "Huh. Didn't realise Scarlett Johansson was Jewish."

However people with long experience of the Israel/Palestine conflict lept to Scarlett Johansson's defence. Pointing out that while SodaStream's Lehavim plant was in an illegal Israeli settlement it was amongst the least of Israel's crimes.

It acted as something of a mechanism for peace through prosperity. Boosting the Palestinian economy by providing jobs in an area where they are scarce.

Along with providing and environment where Israeli Jews and Palestinian Arabs worked together in peace. Helping to break down barriers and show both communities that the other isn't the sort of cartoon villian they're so often portrayed as.

The viciously anti-Semitic Boycott, Divestment Sanctions (BDS) movement though responded with ferocious personal attacks against Scarlett Johansson. Both as a Jew and as a woman. Demanding that she be beaten, raped, killed etc. All the usual Twitter pleasantries.

The movie Jojo Rabbit is very much Scarlett Johansson's revenge on them.

It centres around the Hitler Youth movement in Nazi Germany, right at the end of the Second World War. A fanatical, anti-Semitic organisation which at times seems to have provided the template for BDS.

It particularly focuses on the title character; "Jojo Rabbit." A 10 year old boy who is so fanatical about the Nazi cause that he has, as an imaginary friend, an outlandish, cartoonish and frankly very camp version of Adolf Hitler. Played by the director Taika Waititi.

The fact that Taika Waititi is of New Zealand Maori descent and therefore disctintly non-Aryan just adds to the general comedic insanity of the satrical movie. Essentially it features a black Hitler.

I speculated that this fanatical Nazi child with Hitler as an imaginary friend is a reference to former US President Barack Obama. If you pay close attention there is a Nazi, Gestapo Agent Mueller. As in FBI Agent Robert Mueller.

Scarlett Johansson plays Jojo Rabbit's mother and her performance is amazing. Massively overdoing it for comedic effect in every scene.

I also don't think it would be possible for her to play the character as more Jewish. Creating the frequent spectacle of an outlandish stereotype of an overbearing Jewish mother. Marching in the HQ of the Hitler Youth and bossing them all about.

Jojo Rabbit's mother is far from fanatical about the Nazi cause as he is. In fact she's an active member of the anti-Nazi resistance. To the point that she is hiding a teenage Jewish girl in the attic of the family home.

Israel won the 2018 Eurovision Song Contest. Prompting me to joke that we'd soon find out what Netta looked like once she'd lost some weight. Because she was going to spend the next year; ""Sweating like the proverbial Jew in the attic."

This prompted people to be outraged by my anti-Semitism. Tellingly American and European leftists who support BDS were the most outraged. Demanding I be immediately silenced.

Israel, particularly their Eurovision community, responded by basically declaring me their new king.

If you know about Jewish and particularly Israeli and Eurovision culture you would know that was exactly the type of joke called for at that moment.

In the movie Jojo Rabbit discovers the Jewish teenager hiding in the attic. He rationalises his decision not to turn her in by getting her to tell him all about Jews and their culture so he can write a sort of manual to better guard against them.

She responds by telling him some of the just most ridiculous secrets about Jews. Such as how they can control people's minds, they sleep upside down like bats and have horns growing of their heads. Those horns don't grow in until the mid-twenties though. So she's still waiting for hers. Like an angel waits for its wings.

I think the main reasons I have an above average knowledge about Israeli and particularly Israeli Eurovision culture is that I've been watching Eurovision since I think before I could talk. I also spent the five years between 2014 and 2019 reading an Israeli newspaper every day.

However I did briefly date an Israeli Jewish woman back in 2001. She's sometimes dubbed; "The Israeli Meghan Fox." Due to Meghan Fox playing her in the video for the Eminem and Rihanna song; "Love the Way You Lie."

If we're being honest though Thomasin McKensie is probably more accurate casting. Or at least more accurate costume and make-up. She was, after all, a very dirty Jew.

As hosts Israel were represented by at the 2019 Eurovison Song Contest Kobi Marimi. Who rose to prominance playing; "Natan/Nathan of Gaza" in the musical; "Messiah Now!" The Thomasin McKensie character keeps referencing her boyfriend, Nathan.

At Eurovision 2019 Iceland were represented by Hatari. Who are Situationist perfomance artists.

Part of Hatari's two week long performance included inventing this imaginary brand of Icelandic sparkling spring water called; "SodaDream." They insisted in drinking it at all their press conferences. In clear violation of the contest's sponsorship rules.

Bringing a whole new level to the Eurovision game Hatari even created a marketing campaign, including a web presence. All for this SodaDream product which simply does not exist.

It was all done as a very clear reference to Scarlett Johansson's 2014 Super Bowl commercial for SodaStream.

So it seems highly appropriate that Jojo Rabbit ended up winning the Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay.

Hustlers & The Farewell: These two movies are noteworthy because they were not nominated in any of the Oscar categories.

Both were made by female directors. Both also feature majority female, non-white casts.

So, along with Greta Gerwig not being nominated for Best Director, their omission has added fuel to the fire of the Diversity debate. This began with the Black Lives Matter (BLM)/#OscarsSoWhite campaign and expanded with the #TimesUp/#MeToo campaigns.

Rather than being snubbed I think both of these movies were deliberately left out. In order to raise some valid but overlooked elements of the diversity debate.

Hustlers is a movie about strippers. In the wake of the 2008 Financial Crash they're suddenly struggling to make the money they once did. Leading them to start drugging their Wall Street banker clients in order to rob them.

So when you stop and think about it Hustlers is a movie about sex workers and criminals. Some pretty unpleasent criminals at that. Can really imagine a comedic crime caper about a group of Wall Street bankers drugging and humilating strippers?

Sex workers and criminals are topics which make a great many people uncomfortable. In middle-America, let alone in the rest of the World. There are still people who think sex workers are criminals.

So Hustlers isn't the type of movie that normally gets made by Hollywood studios. It certainly doesn't get recognised by the Oscars which are broadcast in primetime.

These types of stories about marginalised groups though have long been the preserve of the independent film industry.

Highbrow cinemaphiles actually look down on the Oscars as too mainstream and commercial. They're much more interested in independent film festivals. Such as the Sundance Film Festival. Or the Cannes Film Festival.

Independent cinema is celebrated by Hollywood. At the Independent Spirit Awards. Which take place the night before the Oscars ceremony.

So I don't think Hustlers and The Farewell were snubbed by the Oscars. So much as given as gifts to the Independent Spirit Awards. Which could take sole responsibility for showering them with the praise they deserve.

Hustlers was produced and stars Jennifer Lopez. Who performed the Super Bowl Half-Time show the previous Sunday (2/2/20). She used this really promote the movie Hustlers.

So you'd think that huge publicity from the Super Bowl would carry over and boost the profile of the Independent Spirit Awards. Particularly the Arts side of the Academy understand the importance of supporting the independent film industry.

In part the 2020 Super Bowl show was inspired by Greece's 2019 Eurovision Song Contest entry. Which in turn was really heavily inspired by the 2001 movie; "Lost And Delirious."

Lost And Delirious was produced and distributed by an absolutely tiny independent production company called Peccadillo Pictures. This is set up specifically to tell Gay and Queer stories. The trailers for some of their movies manage to make even me blush.

At Eurovision I sort of joked that Lost And Delirious is a Lesbian Porno. In the sense that it's got about 10 minutes of sex in it and about two hours of neutrotic emotional psychodrama.

The Mischa Barton character "Mary" really functions as a cipher for the relationship between Piper Perabo's character "Paulie" and the Jessica Pare character "Tori." Slightly predatory it is clear that Paulie is gay. However it is less clear whether Tori is actually also gay or has been pressured into the relationship.

When the relationship becomes public Tori immediately breaks it off with Paulie. Denying that she is gay and making a very public display or dating men/boys in an effort to show the World just how not gay she is. That obviously destroys Paulie emotionally.

Even today I think you would struggle to find a major Hollywood studio prepared to make a movie about a teenage lesbian love story. Particularly one which has strong overtones of coercion and possible rape. Certainly nobody would touch it back in 2001 when this movie was released.

Obviously it's not my experience so I can't really comment on it. However I think if you were a young gay woman growing up in some middle-America backwater it would be really important that you would be able to see such a movie. In order for you to see it somebody first has to get it made.

There is something important that those calling for more diversity seem not to have grasped. Being inducted into the Academy, let alone winning an Oscar is supposed to be the absolute peak of a filmmakers career. It is not supposed to be the first step.

Perhaps pointedly this year saw Brad Pitt recieve his first ever Oscar. Best Supporting Actor for his role in; "Once Upon A Time In Hollywood." That is after 33 years in the business and 5 nominations.

I, for one, think the guy who does Leonardo DiCaprio's stunts should have been rewarded with much more gold. Much earlier on.

Many of those who are now at their peak as filmakers spent many long years paying their dues and learning their craft. Often in tiny independent films that were hardly seen by anyone. Let alone showered with awards.

Long before Martin Scorsese made; "Goodfellas" for Warner Brothers in 1990 he was doing; "Who's That Knocking At My Door." In 1967 for Joesph Brenner & Associates.

Straight off the back of Lost & Delirious Piper Perabo went on to do; "Coyote Ugly." While Mischa Barton went on to do; "The O.C" and Jessica Pare went on to do; "Mad Men" and; "SEAL Team." Although TV shows which perhaps lack the glamour of Hollywood they're both certainly solid acting careers.

Particularly with Jessica Pare you suspect they pay for the more interesting things she does. Just like how; "Castle" pays for the more interesting things Stana Katic does. Like the Independent Spirit Awards.

Despite all the complaints about a lack of diversity and opportunity there is currently far more opportunity for young filmakers than there ever was before. The Farewell is a good example of this.

The Farewell is about an Chinese American woman who returns to China to be with her terminally ill grandmother. It is one of those character driven pieces which is all about emotions, families and cultural differences.

For this type of movie to be recognised at the Oscars one of its elements such as directing, writing or acting has to absolutely standout. I'm don't mean simply good or even excellent. It has to be amongst the best there has ever been.

It is though the type of movie that is traditionally produced and supported by the independent film industry.

Even if you are Martin Scorsese getting any movie made is a difficult task. In the past The Farewell's director Lulu Wang would have had to line up a dozen difference financiers. All paying a small part of the total budget.

Lulu Wang actually had the luxury of being able to choose between two, large backers who each wanted to fund her movie in its entirety. An online streaming service, I think Netflix, and the A24 independent production company she eventually opted for.

So it is hard not to question whether those complaining about the lack of diversity and opportunity are, in fact, not looking at the issue in the right way. An important talent for a filmaker.

I also can't help but think that by not being nominated both Hustlers & The Farewell are being talked about in ways they just wouldn't be if they'd simply been nominated but just not won.

Parasite: Unusually for a movie nominated for six Oscars Parasite is not American. It is not even in English.
It is from the Republic of Korea (RoK/South).

2020 is of course an Olympic year. With the Summer games to be held in Tokyo, Japan. This represents something of an Asian adventure for the Olympics. Following on from the 2018 Winter Games, held in PyeongChang in the RoK.

So Parasite serves as a little test. What have we all learnt about Asia, and South Korea in particular, since the 2018 Winter Olympics. We suspect it will be on the exam at the 2020 Summer Olympics.

The first thing we've learnt about Koreans is that they are really, really funny. Not only that they have a really cheeky, mischievous sense of humour.

A group of Asians who are certainly not to be mistaken for the incredibly reserved and deferential Japanese.

For example the Opening Ceremony of the 2018 Winter Olympics began with the striking of the Sacred Bell of King Seongdeok the Great. However the press releases the Korean hosts handed out to broadcasters claimed it was the "Peace Bell." Which was gifted to the United Nations by Japan in 1952.

The Koreans just wanted to see how many foreigners they could make look stupid.

Later on the Opening Ceremony introduced us to a popular character from Korean folklore. The Dokkaebi.

Mischevious spirits that live in the forest Dokkaebi love to play pranks and practical jokes on humans. One of their favourite games is to block the paths of foreigners travelling through their part of the forest.

Obviously prior to the 2018 Winter Olympics I knew there were some funny Koreans. You even get German comedians these days.

I've seen Korean movies such as 2009's; "Thirst." This is billed as a horror movie in which a Catholic Priest is turned into a vampire and goes on a blood-thirsty killing spree.

It's really not though. It's really an absolute p*ss-take of the "Twilight" movies that were popular at the time.

Likewise I've seen 2015's; "Veteran." Which is billed as a martial-arts, police action movie.

It's not though. It's an absolute p*ss-take of all those martial-arts, police action movies. It is as if the 2011 Indonesian movie "The Raid" had been done as a slapstick comedy.

However I was never sure if these hilarious Koreans were an embarassment to their families.

Since the 2018 Winter Olympics I've learnt that no. The TV Show; "Family Guy" is basically the Korean national sense of humour.

Something worth remembering when US President Trump and Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK/North Korea) Kim Jong Un are hurling childish insults at each other.

The other thing we've learnt since the 2018 Winter Olympics is that under former President Barack Obama the US Democrats tried to rig the 2016 Presidential Election.

They did this by simply copying then South Korean President Lee Myung-bak's much more successful attempt to rig South Korea's 2012 President Election. To ensure it was won by his designated successor Park Guen-hye.

This involved inventing the threat of; "Foreign Interference." Then tasking South Korea's equivalent of the FBI to combat that "Foreign Interference." By monitoring social media and removing any messages critical of Park Guen-hye or supportive of her opponent Moon Jae-in.

Well, I say; "We." Americans were almost completely shielded from this global discussion about how the Democrats tried and failed to rig the 2016 Presidental Election. They were all suddenly distracted by the massacre at the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in the Parkland area of Florida.

Roughly 20% of the Korean population have the family name; "Park." Making it the original; "Parkland."

Parasite centres around the Kim family. Dirt poor they all live in a single room basement apartment. Floating from temporary job to temporary job they are essentially con-artists. Having to rely on cons and scams to get by.

One day the son, Ki-woo, tricks his way into become the English tutor to the daughter of a wealthy family. Gradually the entire family trick their way into becoming the live-in household staff of this wealthy family. Conning and tricking them every step of the way.

So, at this stage, you would assume that the Kim's are the parasites of the movie's title. Living off, first society and then the wealthy family. Giving nothing back in return.

The wealthy family are the Parks.

In light of the US Democrat backed "March For Our Lives" which followed the Parkland massacre it is a biting satire. The parasites living off the backs of the Parks, in their own lands.

However as the movie goes on you get to see the dismissive way the Parks treat both their domestic staff and the poor in general. Making you wonder whether they are in fact the parasites, living off the backs of the poor.

It is that eternal question of who is the parasite and who is the exploited which runs throughout the social satire.

That question of; "Who's the Parasite?" no doubt provided lots of loaded and euphemistic discussions during the swirl of parties that make up the cultural season.

Given all the people who still seem to think they can get rich of my back it is a question I very much approve of. While trying to boost my profile by associating myself with the Oscars.

Parasite was the absolutely huge winner at this year's Oscars. Winning four of the six prizes it was nominated for. A 66% success rate.

At the Oscars there are the traditionally Big Four prizes; Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Actress. Parasite won two of these Big Four;

Best Picture and Best Director for Bong Joon-ho.

Ethnically speaking the cast and crew of Parasite are fairly typical for Korea. However they most certainly represent an ethnic minority in America. They are far removed from the supposed old, white, straight men who keep the #OscarsSoWhite.

As a result Parasite's success obviously makes a large contribution to the diversity debate.

One of the current hot topics within the diversity debate is the somewhat dubious concept of; "Unconcious Bias." Apparently members of the Academy suffer from a deeply ingrained racism. This prevents them from seeing past a person's skin colour and cultural background and understanding the brilliance of their work.

Honestly it's getting embarassing to watch Britain even try at the moment. However the British Academy of Film and Television Awards (BAFTA) now employs; "Unconcious Bias Consultants." Black people who are employed to help members of BAFTA to understand their racism.

Parasite's success really drives a coach and horses through that argument.

The Academy has been able to see past the fact that Parasite's cast and crew have a different skin colour. They've been able to see past the fact they speak and entirely different language. They've also been able to see past the fact they come from a significantly different cultural background. Meaning that the movie has a very different visual style or language to it.

That really cuts to the heart of the diversity debate. Particularly the #OscarsSoWhite campaign.

It seems pretty clear the people behind that campaign are not interested in a society free from racism. Where talented people are able to achieve regardless of their race or cultural background. Instead they simply want to carve out a special advantage for their particular ehtnic group.

In truth it probably goes even further than that. They're not even interested in their ethnic group. They just want, for themselves, the job, rewards and success they are not talented enough to earn and do not deserve.

That feeds into the wider Affirmative Action debate. Particularly over university admissions. In the name of; "equality" US universities are allowed to reject highly qualified Asian candidates in favour of poorly qualified black candidates.

There is currently a case on just this matter making its way through the American Courts. Harvard University's argument is that allowing in too many Asians would disrupt campus and collegiate life. They're argument is seriously;

"We're not being racist. We just don't like Asians." 

(Originally posted at 10:25 on 11/2/20 (UK date)).

Continues in Part 2;

19:45 on 17/2/20 (UK date).