The future of political films

I saw a movie today. Thats not unusual since I usually see and average of 5-6 movies a month and that's during the school year. I'm a film junkie, a future actor/director/critic, and a film encyclopedia.

I digress...I saw a film called "State of Play" starring Russell CroweRussell Crowe (a character actor in a lead actors body) Ben AffleckBen Affleck, Rachel McAdamsRachel McAdams and Hellen Mirren among many other great actors. It was a phenominal movie and probably one of the best that this year has brought so far. Great writing and great acting. But this film will never win any awards.

You know why?

Because its simple. People don't want to see political movies. I know anyone who reads this blog would disagree with me, as well as anyone in my family. But its clear to critics and the Academy as well as a great portion of the population.

Great films such as "Breach, The Sentinal, State of Play, Shooter, Body of Lies, The Sentinal, Vantage Point and The Kingdom" will never win any awards. They will never be remembered for their greatness. They will never be remembered period. It's quite simple really.

The mass populous is sick of politics.

We hear about it everyday on TV. Obama this, Madoff that, and somewhere inbetween Lindsey Lohan and the Octo-Mom. But between celebrities fighting and popping babies there is soooo much politics. We have numerous networks whose central focus is politics. In short...its everywhere. People are sick of it.

Does anyone remember the Great Depression? What was big during the depression? Movies. You know why? They gave an escape from all the crap in the world for two hours a day and it was cheap to boot. Life that was once unbearable became bearable.

Flash forward. 9/11, Bush, Clinton, Bush Jr., and now Obama. And inbetween it all is scandals and the economic downturn. Movies are still playing and they are still going strong...for now. You never know what's gonna happen in the future now really.

But what films have become huge? The thriller about a political scandal or the Paul RuddPaul Rudd/Judd ApatowJudd Apatow film about sex and farts? Not the thriller. While it get's great reviews and get's a lotta good press, the turnout for the films is abysmal. I actually heard someone today say they forgot about that movie and were too busy with the Hannah Montana movie. It just goes to show ya.

We see so much crap in politics that we've gotten sick of these films that show us more crap in politics. We now pay 8-12 dollars for movie tickets and people don't want to spent hard earned cash on stuff they wanna try to escape from. That's why comedies and romance dramas and other films have become so big.

We go to films to escape. And these films aren't doing that.

I say see those movies...but I can fully understand and explain why they aren't being seen and it's a shame.