The Golden Globes happened last night. Normally, this would not be a notable or interesting fact. There is nothing more excruciating or pointless than a four-hour ceremony consisting of celebrities congratulating themselves. But this year’s event did feature one noteworthy moment. It was a moment of honesty. Unintentional honesty, but still honesty.
Christian Bale won the Best Actor award for his cartoonish portrayal of former Vice President Dick Cheney. I haven’t seen the movie, but by most accounts it is unabashed agitprop. The filmmaker does not attempt to disguise his feelings, showing more contempt for the subject of his film than the guy who made “Downfall” (about Hitler’s last days) showed for his. Bale certainly didn’t worry about dispelling the impression that “Vice” was a leftist hit piece, calling Cheney a “charisma-free a**hole” during his remarks, and suggesting that maybe he should play Mitch McConnell next.
It goes without saying that you would never see a reverse spectacle on a Hollywood stage. If Jason Clarke, who played Ted Kennedy in “Chappaquidick,” had won an award and then called Kennedy a “negligent drunk” or something similar during his acceptance speech, he would have been roundly condemned by the very people who are applauding Bale’s rant today.
But the hypocrisy is so transparent that there’s no reason to point it out. Let’s leave it to the side and focus on the rare and possibly historic moment of honesty: Bale thanking “Satan” for inspiring his performance in the role. Now, obviously he meant this to be tongue-in-cheek, but I think it accidentally revealed a deep truth. To my knowledge, Satan has never before been thanked by name at a major Hollywood awards show. Usually God is given the credit for all of the stupidity and filth that movie studios have produced in the given year. It’s refreshing to see the credit go where it is rightfully due for a change.
There is something rather profound about a famous actor expressing gratitude to the Devil. Many of these people have traded their souls in exchange for fame and fortune. The artistic fruits they bear give testament to their spiritual emptiness. Bale may have winked at Hell as a joke, but a lot of truth is said in jest. And this may have been the truest thing ever uttered at a ceremony of this type.