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Viewer Email: "The Passion of the Christ" snubbed for Academy Awards Best Picture Nomination

Aired January 25, 2005 - 14:30   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


BETTY NGUYEN, CNN ANCHOR: All right. We want to get back to our LIVE FROM e-mail question of the day. We've been asking you if you think Mel Gibson's "The Passion of the Christ" should have gotten a best picture Academy award nomination.
MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: We've been tracking your responses. And now, without further ado, we will share some with you. No extra charge. This is from Joe in Live Oak, Florida. "Mel Gibson's "Passion of the Christ" was by far the best movie I've seen in the last 12 months if not longer. It is really a shame that the voters for the Oscars shy away from deeply religious and moving movies. Could they be bending to political pressure?" he asks rhetorically there.

NGUYEN: Yes, the next one is from John in New York City and he writes, "the "Passion of the Christ" was a flawed depiction of a great story. If you enjoy gore and drama that unrealistically exaggerated you will likely find the movie entertaining but it is not worthy of a best picture nomination." That's the first one of those that we've seen.

O'BRIEN: Yes, that was pretty strident there. S.M. in Athens, Tennessee with this: "the "Passion of the Christ" should have been nominated for that, it was the best movie of the year. Men and women who have not been to the movies in years went to see that. Come on, Academy, what are you thinking?"

NGUYEN: And this next one is from Paul. "There is a great deal of people who are taking their passion for the "Passion of the Christ" out of context. They're reacting to this movie like it's a religious experience and are blinded by the fact that it is a very poorly made motion picture."

O'BRIEN: All right. "Oscars are for Hollywood," says David. "Mel Gibson's "The Passion of the Christ" was for the people. The People's Choice award showed that. Give to Ceasar what is Ceasar's," he says.

And so it is written. Thank you for sharing your e-mails with us. We appreciate it.

NGUYEN: And people on both sides. A lot for, though, that being a best picture nomination.

O'BRIEN: Well, and you know what was good on both sides, very thoughtful. Nice to see those. Thank you for those.

NGUYEN: Well, it is the strongest rally of the year for stocks. Susan Lisovicz joins us from the New York Stock Exchange with a market report. Hey there, Susan.

(STOCK MARKET REPORT)

O'BRIEN: Well, the good book is good enough for "Rolling Stone" after all. Next hour, the magazine has a change of heart.

NGUYEN: And the personal story that made all of us here stop and think today. It's the inspiring life and sacrifice of Sergeant Carrie-Ann Gazwits (ph).

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com


Aired January 25, 2005 - 14:30   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BETTY NGUYEN, CNN ANCHOR: All right. We want to get back to our LIVE FROM e-mail question of the day. We've been asking you if you think Mel Gibson's "The Passion of the Christ" should have gotten a best picture Academy award nomination.
MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: We've been tracking your responses. And now, without further ado, we will share some with you. No extra charge. This is from Joe in Live Oak, Florida. "Mel Gibson's "Passion of the Christ" was by far the best movie I've seen in the last 12 months if not longer. It is really a shame that the voters for the Oscars shy away from deeply religious and moving movies. Could they be bending to political pressure?" he asks rhetorically there.

NGUYEN: Yes, the next one is from John in New York City and he writes, "the "Passion of the Christ" was a flawed depiction of a great story. If you enjoy gore and drama that unrealistically exaggerated you will likely find the movie entertaining but it is not worthy of a best picture nomination." That's the first one of those that we've seen.

O'BRIEN: Yes, that was pretty strident there. S.M. in Athens, Tennessee with this: "the "Passion of the Christ" should have been nominated for that, it was the best movie of the year. Men and women who have not been to the movies in years went to see that. Come on, Academy, what are you thinking?"

NGUYEN: And this next one is from Paul. "There is a great deal of people who are taking their passion for the "Passion of the Christ" out of context. They're reacting to this movie like it's a religious experience and are blinded by the fact that it is a very poorly made motion picture."

O'BRIEN: All right. "Oscars are for Hollywood," says David. "Mel Gibson's "The Passion of the Christ" was for the people. The People's Choice award showed that. Give to Ceasar what is Ceasar's," he says.

And so it is written. Thank you for sharing your e-mails with us. We appreciate it.

NGUYEN: And people on both sides. A lot for, though, that being a best picture nomination.

O'BRIEN: Well, and you know what was good on both sides, very thoughtful. Nice to see those. Thank you for those.

NGUYEN: Well, it is the strongest rally of the year for stocks. Susan Lisovicz joins us from the New York Stock Exchange with a market report. Hey there, Susan.

(STOCK MARKET REPORT)

O'BRIEN: Well, the good book is good enough for "Rolling Stone" after all. Next hour, the magazine has a change of heart.

NGUYEN: And the personal story that made all of us here stop and think today. It's the inspiring life and sacrifice of Sergeant Carrie-Ann Gazwits (ph).

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com