Controversy: The Hurt Locker

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So, apparently there have been some rumors about The Hurt Locker and some negative email campaigns against the other Best Picture nominees. There were two emails sent out by Nicolas Chartier, one of the producers of the film, basically bashing the other nominees. According to the rules and regulations of The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, you can’t send mailings of any kind that “attempt to promote any film or achievement by casting a negative light on a competing film or achievement,” so he is an idiot. He has since apologized and claimed he didn’t know the rules (which is just plain stupid and impossible). Possible disciplinary measures include a public censure of Chartier being a douche, not letting him come to the ceremony, refusing to let him into the academy, and last but not least, removing The Hurt Locker from the Best Picture race. Okay, we all know they aren’t going to do the last one. When the emails were sent, the Academy said they had already received almost all of the ballots, and a negative campaign probably wouldn’t have made much of a difference. For being an idiot and a complete loser, I think they shouldn’t let Chartier attend the Oscars and release a statement saying he’s a douche. They can use fancier words if they want, but the sentiment will be the same.

Another funny thing, in my opinion, is that stories are also starting to surface about the inaccuracies of The Hurt Locker from active duty and veteran soldiers, mostly EOD members. Google it because the stories are pretty funny. But these kind of controversies about the negative campaigning aren’t really new, and it happened in 2002, 2003, and 2004. So there. And besides, it isn’t going to win Best Picture anyway, and we all know it.

UPDATE:
An update on the situation – Chartier has been banned from attending the ceremony, and I am pleased with the decision. More bad news for the film, though. There is apparently a lawsuit brought by an Army Master Sergeant who is claiming that the film is not entirely fictional and it is not original – instead, it is based on his life and experiences. Google it. Roger Ebert still thinks this movie will win Best Picture, and I agree it has a chance, but it would be a crime not to give it to Avatar.

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