'Star Wars' Wields Light Saber at Bush Policy

'Star Wars' Wields Light Saber at Bush Policy

James Hirsen
Tuesday, May 17, 2005

If there's one thing Europeans and U.S. film critics can spot a galaxy away, it's hatred of President Bush's policies.

Actually, some are claiming to see traces of Bush animosity in George Lucas' latest flick, "Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith," where Lucas may have stuck in an anti-U.S. military policy message.

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When you think about it, it makes sense that somebody at the Cannes Film Festival would step up and toss the Europeans some red meat since Michael Moore wasn't around this year to dish his documentary dog chow.

Apparently, the Cannes audience noticed similarities between Anakin Skywalker's fall to the dark side coupled with the cinematic rise of a warmongering emperor and President Bush's foreign policy approach.

Newsweek's David Ansen saw a resemblance. He wrote: "It's hard not to feel that Lucas's engagement with this story has a contemporary urgency, as line after pointed line invites us to see a parallel with today's wartime climate. As the Senate cedes power to Palpatine under the guise of intergalactic security, Natalie Portman's Princess Padme exclaims bitterly, 'So this is how liberty dies -- with thunderous applause.'"

Before Anakin (played by Hayden Christensen) transforms into Darth Vader, he declares, "If you're not with me, then you're my enemy." The line is reminiscent of Bush's post-Sept. 11 statement, "Either you are with us, or you are with the terrorists."

And Obi-Wan Kenobi (played by Ewan McGregor) explains that "only a Sith Lord deals in absolutes."

While at a Cannes news conference, Lucas said: "I hope this doesn't come true in our country. Maybe the film will waken people to the situation."

In case there was any confusion as to where Lucas stands, politically speaking, he made his proclivity clear, saying, "We were just funding Saddam Hussein and giving him weapons of mass destruction. We didn't think of him as an enemy at that time. We were going after Iran and using him as our surrogate, just as we were doing in Vietnam. ... The parallels between what we did in Vietnam and what we're doing in Iraq now are unbelievable."

Lucas added: "You sort of see these recurring themes where a democracy turns itself into a dictatorship, and it always seems to happen kind of in the same way, with the same kinds of issues, and threats from the outside, needing more control. A democratic body, a senate, not being able to function properly because everybody's squabbling, there's corruption."

The Left Coast Report says that while it's true Lucas is a typical Hollywood lib, Europeans hate us so much these days they see anti-Bush messages in "House of Wax."

2. Madonna and the Battle of the Diplomats

It could become an international incident. Apparently, an ambassador's wife believes she's been snubbed by Madonna.

A full-blown feud has erupted between Israel's ambassador to the U.S. and its foreign minister.

The issue that may have pushed a run-of-the-mill policy spat into the political warfare arena has to do with a potential meeting between the foreign minister's wife and that indispensable figure of Middle Eastern affairs, Madonna.

Two of Israel's diplomats, Danny Ayalon and Silvan Shalom, were already perceived as political rivals. Ambassador Ayalon appears to be of the same mind as the White House when it comes to Ariel Sharon's Gaza withdrawal plan, while Foreign Minister Shalom has given only lukewarm support to the idea.

But during Madonna's 2004 Israel visit, Shalom's wife, Judy Nir-Moses, was allegedly denied a meeting with the material girl.

Nir-Moses was purportedly so livid about the rebuff she tried to get Ayalon's assistant fired.

Ayalon has called in Israel's attorney general to investigate the claim that Nir-Moses attempted to have his personal assistant booted for blocking her chances to hook up with Madonna.

The Left Coast Report wonders how it is that Madonna could cause a guy named Shalom to get into a brawl.

3. Eye on 'Queer Eye'

The stars of "Queer Eye for the Straight Guy" have really been on a fame roller coaster.

At first they had the hottest hit around. But after the show's initial skyrocketing, it cooled off considerably.

Attention to the Fab Five had waned so much that the stars were no longer being scrutinized by the entertainment press.

Now the New York Daily News has a story about an event billed as the "Living With Fran" party for Fran Drescher that may put one of the "Queer Eye" guys on the defensive.

Jai Rodriguez, the culture expert of the group, was at the party and was evidently hitting on -- hold onto your three-step shave set -- a woman.

"She was tall and blond and really pretty," the source indicated.

Apparently, Jai went into a photo booth at the party and was snapped kissing the young lady on her bosom.

The source also indicated that the woman asked: "What do I do? This guy wants to go home with me!"

Rodriguez purportedly led her back to the festivities and the two were not seen for the rest of the evening.

The Left Coast Report asks, Could it be that right in their midst the "Queer Eye" guys have a closet heterosexual?

4. Runaway Comic, Dave Chappelle

The runaway bride's got nothing on Dave Chappelle.

Chappelle recently vanished from his successful Comedy Central show and $50 million contract only to turn up in Durban, South Africa.

Stories about drugs, rehab and mental hospitals popped up all over the media.

Based on an interview with Time magazine's Simon Robinson, Chappelle was trying to get to a place where he could get recharged and spend some time with a trusted friend.

The friend, Salim Domar, is a Muslim who assists Chappelle when he has questions about his new faith.

Salim told Time that "if he [Chappelle] wants to talk religion then I'm there as someone to talk to."

About Durban, South Africa, Chappelle said, "This is kind of my spot where I can come to fill my spirit back up." He also felt it was time to tell the public about the importance of his faith.

"I don't normally talk about my religion publicly because I don't want people to associate me and my flaws with this beautiful thing. And I believe it is a beautiful religion if you learn it the right way. It's a lifelong effort. Your religion is your standard," Chappelle said.

The comic likes to escape the celebrity trappings. He said: "Coming here I don't have the distractions of fame. It quiets the ego down. I'm interested in the kind of person I've got to become. I want to be well rounded and the industry is a place of extremes. I want to be well balanced. I've got to check my intentions, man."

The Left Coast Report notes that Chappelle has turned his back on a pile of money, star status, mansions, women, private jets and luxury cars, to which P. Diddy said, "Huh?"

5. Michael Moore's Censorship Stunt

Edward Jay Epstein, Hollywood industry guru and author of "The Big Picture: The New Logic of Money and Power in Hollywood," explains that despite news stories claiming that Michael Moore was a victim of Disney censorship with regard to his "Fahrenheit 9/11" flick, both Moore and Disney raked in a bundle of bucks.

According to Epstein, Moore manipulated the press in Madonna-like manner, faking a censorship threat to get cheap P.R.

In May 2003, Michael Eisner, then CEO of Disney, exercised his right under an agreement with Miramax to veto Disney distribution. But Miramax, a Disney subsidiary, still held the rights to the film.

Head of Miramax Harvey Weinstein planned to sell the distribution rights to "Fahrenheit 9/11" after it was screened at the Cannes Film Festival.

On the eve of Cannes and seemingly right on cue, a front-page article appeared in the New York Times. The headline read: "Disney Is Blocking Distribution of Film That Criticizes Bush."

The piece claimed that Eisner's action in keeping Disney out of the distribution loop was motivated by concerns that Disney could potentially lose tax breaks in Florida, "where Mr. Bush's brother, Jeb, is governor."

A couple of days after the Times article appeared, Moore did a Web site post that indicated Disney's board of directors had passed on the film "last week."

But the Disney board had done no such thing. The flick had been vetoed by Eisner the previous year.

Eisner retained the rights to profit on Moore's film but wanted Disney to maintain its distance. So Miramax sold the "Fahrenheit 9/11" rights to the Weinstein brothers, who then transferred the rights to another entity called Fellowship Adventure Group. In the process, the brothers were able to arrange some very favorable distribution deals.

In the end, Disney netted $78 million and paid Moore a hefty $21 million.

Moore never disclosed the amount of his profit participation. When asked about it, he told reporters, "I don't read the contracts."

The Left Coast Report hears Moore was so mad about the news that blemished his workingman image, he punched a hole in the wall of the servants' quarters.