So Mel Gibson is on a long losing streak. After separating from his wife of 26 years in 2006, it’s been one embarrassing blunder after another. He’s been arrested and caught saying terribly offensive things. He’s been accused of misogyny, racism, antisemitism, and homophobia, all for good reasons. And when questioned about his actions, his beliefs, his statements, and missteps he has not fared well. The more he stepped in it, the more everyone piled on. One wonders where his publicist was. As a fan it’s been hard to watch. Nobody has needed a good body man like Mel Gibson has over the past few years.
Ten days ago Robert Downey Jr. was receiving and American Cinematheque award and to everyone’s surprise he asked Mel Gibson to present the award. RD Jr.’s history with addiction and the fallout from it has been well documented. He was down just about as far as one can be down. So it seems sort of noble that he would stand up in front of a room full of the Hollywood elite and ask them to forgive Mel Gibson. I sort of expected the crowd to go wild after he stuck up for Mel, but I would call their response polite. I wonder why?
I have no idea what Mel Gibson really thinks and neither do you. For one thing, artists are mad as hatters & he seems like someone who really lives on the edge (See Lethal Weapon). He says crazy stuff and then contradicts himself in other interviews(usually when he sobered up). I don’t stick up for his beliefs, comments, or troubles. But I think he must live a very peculiar life. I certainly have no idea what it must be like to have produced the highest grossing film ever… plus Braveheart. Gibson is rich beyond what is reasonable for one man to be and being so has wrecked even the best of men. I’m not surprised that his life is a train-wreck. Can you imagine? With all of that success, all that money, all that status, how would you ever find someone who would love your for who you are, especially once you’ve alienated the only friend you had before you made it huge (his wife). And how fun it must be for his competitors and former friends to finally find a way to feel superior to him. It’s shameful how we enjoy the misery of our competition, and yet we all do.
Downey Jr. said that Gibson had “hugged the cactus” for long enough. He’s owned up to what he had done so now it’s time to let him out of the doghouse and get to work again. RD Jr. told everyone that he forgave Gibson and hoped they would, too. It was a truly human moment, a moment where the divine broke into a Hollywood snob-fest and showed us what life is really supposed to be like. My opinion is that they missed it altogether, wondering what Icon production would outsell them at the box office next year.
Not me. I thought it was splendid. I thought it was a great reminder that everyone needs forgiveness. Me first. Me the most. Mel Gibson, too. So, take two minutes and watch one ragamuffin forgive another ragamuffin while a bunch of anesthetized Hollywood folks give them a golf clap:
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