Munich, Medved & Brokeback

Some of you may be familiar with radio talk show host Michael Medved. He is well know for being a conservative and a Jew and a historian as well as a good movie critic - he used to host Sneak Peeks. He recently wrote an editorial for USA Today criticizing the movie Munich for distorting history. He makes some good points in this article, like this...

The readiness to embrace a leftist message movie such as Munich— with its implicit critique of the Bush administration's harsh, violent response to terrorism — indicates that it's utopian liberalism, rather than any form of Jewish commitment, represents the reigning faith of the entertainment elite.

I haven't seen the film, but the way it is portrayed in commercials makes me somewhat suspect of the claims of the movie. Interestingly enough Munich did not win any awards at last nights Golden Globes, which are supposed to be - in some small way - a predictor of who will win come Oscar time. But still in thinking about who did win last night and some of the comments made before and after the show, there were quite a few revelations about the motives of Hollywierd. For example, Brokeback Mountain which is infamous for its plot of two gay cowboys that hide their relationship from their wives, won four awards - none for acting interestingly enough - and yet has been quite frankly a box office flop. It has been out as long as Chronicles of Narnia and has taken in about 85% (currently Chronicles is at $226 million and Brokeback is at $32 million) less money than the Chronicles. I know it's unfair to compare the two, since one is a classic children's novel beloved by many and the other is...well....something. But still if it's this amazing film that, in the words of the Will & Grace cast-mates, "is touching middle America with the struggle of gay men" then why is it not making any money? If it's that good then shouldn't people be clamoring to see it? Apparently not. I know there are some films that are so good that they transcend the understanding of the ordinary watcher, but is this really one of those movies? I somehow doubt it.