Monday, February 23, 2004
Savior or Cash Cow?
In Rooney's latest editorial, he posed the question to Mel Gibson How many million dollars does it look as if you're going to make off the crucifixion of Christ?
This question just irks me. It's obvious Mel made the film because he believes in the subject passionately. If he was making the movie for financial gain, he would have made the movie in English, not in Latin and Aramaic with subtitles.
Would Rooney have made the same accusation to Max Von Sydow, Sydney Poitier, et al if the film in question was the Greatest Story Ever Told? Did he ask the same questions of Scorsese and The Last Temptation of Christ? Or any of the other score of films that have dealt with the life and death of Jesus.
I saw the same interview that Andy saw. I don't see a man looking to make a quick buck. I saw an actor that believes in his subject matter, and wants to tell what he believes happened. If he was making a film to make millions, he would have gone a different route, and would have had a major film distributor far more sooner than he did. If it makes millions, it is because people want to see it, not just because it was made.
I like Andy Rooney, the old curmudgeon. I have watched him for years, and when I do watch 60 minutes, I always make time to watch him. But this time I feel he has made an accusation that has little weight and little substance to back it up.
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