What's wrong with this picture?


By Tom Wilson, Section Opinions
Posted on Mon Mar 06, 2006 at 07:54:17 PM CST

picture by Universal Studios

As I write this, the news media all across the world is discussing the winners of the 2006 Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Science Awards, the Oscars. As I review the lists of both winners and nominees in almost all major categories, I realize that almost none (with the exception of Walk The Line--Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role and King Kong --special effects and sound editing)  of even the nominees has played at our local movie theater.

More, including a poll (scroll down), in the Full Story...

To be sure, in our free-market society the owners of the Vernon Square Cinema have no legal obligation to provide us with a well-balanced offering of top-quality movies, but is there no inherent moral obligation (not to mention financial benefit) to let us locally see the best movies the industry has to offer?

I recognize that the demographic niche of adolescence is the largest movie-going group, but when I am forced to go to LaCrosse, Madison or Eau Claire to see intelligent adult movies, I always find those theaters well attended.

Sure many of these movies are not without controversy. But is our community so backward that it needs to be shielded from the issues of racial bigotry, the power of international oil, the evils of the McCarthy era and the importance of a free press, and the harsh reality of violence and intolerance against homosexuals?  If these subjects are too challenging for some individuals, they need not attend.  But should our entire community be denied the opportunity to confront the critical issues that face our society and to enjoy the best cinematic art the industry provides?

Am I missing the big picture?

Tom Wilson
Suite 201 Landmark Center
500 Jefferson Street
Viroqua, WI 54665
Phone/fax 608/637-3356
Home phone 608/637-8592
resenergy@mwt.net

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Poll

Want to See More Diverse Movie Offerings?
No I like the movies offered just fine
Yes I want more diversity
I would not go to any movie--thank you

Votes: 8
Results | Other Polls

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+ Also by Tom Wilson
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What's wrong with this picture? | 2 comments (2 topical, 0 editorial, 0 hidden)
Community values (none / 0) (#1)
by Jack Condor on Tue Mar 07, 2006 at 07:51:35 AM CST
Community is an idea, the truth of which is reflected in all the greater and lesser impressions,  desires, and ideals of a people.

Search as we may, one would be hard pressed to find a better mirror into the health of our community and perhaps our nation than the weekly 'lettre de marque' of the Vernon Square Cinema.
Jack Condor is a former defense contractor living in Vernon County.

Community needed (none / 0) (#2)
by borges on Fri Mar 10, 2006 at 11:59:17 AM CST
The issue being community seems true.  We have the option of using the movie theater for alternative films if we get a movie society or group together and they manage to bring people out to watch different movies.  The theater has a DVD system that would be easy to use, relatively cheap, and given copyright oks, would provide a big screen for what we deem important.

Also there have been movies there at the request of concerned people--in particular the Michael Moore films.  So it is not a wall put up, just a hoop to jump through.

So get organized, support the efforts people make to bring more diversity and we will have it.

What's wrong with this picture? | 2 comments (2 topical, 0 editorial, 0 hidden)
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