An Inconvenient Oscar

by digby

Can I just say how thrilled I am that Al Gore’s movie “An Inconvenient Truth” and the Melissa Etheridge song “I Need To Wake Up” from the same film are both nominated for Oscars?

Hollywood was very, very, very slow off the mark with Bush and Iraq and failed to use their power for good for much too long. A bunch of people booed Michael Moore at the 2003 awards in a shameful show of chickenshit conformity. It took some Dixie Chicks, from Texas and Nashville, to show what artistic and political courage was.

So now we have an extremely important documentary (which needs to be seen by everyone on the planet) nominated for the highest achievement award the film community bestows. I know that there is a lot of controversy about how documentaries are rewarded and wehther social conscience should be a factor. But this is different. It isn’t yet another film about the holocaust, as enlightening and moving as they may be — it’s about the most important challenge humankind currently faces. The notorious Hollywood liberals should earn their keep on this one and reward this film.

And I would bet money that Melissa is going to tear the roof off when she sings her song. I grant you that it’s no “It’s Hard Out Here Fo A Pimp” but it’s a great song nonetheless.

And I would just love to see Al Gore give an oscar acceptance speech.

.