Oh Me! Oh Mayan! A Funny Thing Happened To Mel Gibson On the Way To Hell

It took only a little bit more than four months for Mel Gibson's reputation to be fully restored in the wake of his drunken Malibu highway meltdown back at the end of July -- and I'm not gonna say I told you so, but, OK, yes I will. With "Apocalypto's" ruling of the box office over the weekend, the notion of any lingering after-affects from Mel's "The Jews are responsible for all of the wars!" rant can now officially be put to rest. True, the film took in only $14.2 million, which ain't exactly a blockbuster performance for a weekend chart-topper, but it was more than enough to dispell any theory that the man may be damaged goods.

I actually predicted that he'd easily weather this storm two days after his big blow-up. And in fact, I maintained that Gibson already had more or less been forgiven literally hours after the fact. In a country where only about 3% of the populace is Jewish, any perceived anti-Semitism is simply not a career killer. Neither are alcoholism or sexism. Shouting "Nigger!" repeatedly is a tougher one to live down, as Michael Richards already is discovering. But whatever penance Gibson had to pay evidently did the trick. And he certainly got off easy enough. He didn't even need to do in-patient rehab, and I haven't heard much lately about his holding out an olive branch to the Jewish community (if it's happening, it isn't being much publicized).

So confident was Disney that Mel's name wasn't mud that it released the film as "Mel Gibson's Apocalypto," evidently to distinguish it from all of the other "Apocalyptos" out there. In so doing, the studio was basically saying, "Hey, he may be an anti-Semite, but he's our anti-Semite, darn it!". It was very much a solidarity move that underscores just how little the studio really cared about Gibson's verbal transgression from a moral standpoint. It was always about business, and as long as Mel's bringing it in he can disparage anyone he wants aside from maybe, you know, Bob Iger or Anne Sweeney. And even those studio chieftains would probably look the other way if Gibson can continue to rule the box office with ultra-violent epics told in dead languages.

I'm not going to see "Apocalypto" even though I'm vaguely curious. It isn't a matter of not giving the guy a second chance. I simply have no desire to contribute financially, or symbolically, to Gibson's career redemption. Not that it even necessarily needed redeeming. We've forgiven and we're moving closer every day to forgetting. Maybe that's just human nature. As a journalist, I have to give Gibson the benefit of the doubt and put my own feelings aside. But as a human being and as a Jew, I'm not yet ready to let this go.

Comments

[Gabriella]

Its an interesting thing Richmond-in most people's opinion, God will decide who goes to hell, not you, not me, and not Hollywood.
And it is also fascinating that you feel Mel Gibson is going to hell, and not all those other degenerates you spend your life covering on a daily basis. I mean they all live such pure and holy existences. Keep up your hatred for Mel Gibson, Ray, it will make you a better person, and ensure your path to heaven.

[Cheryl]

It seems to me the folks who would want to see Mel's latest snuff film aren't likely to be bothered by Mel's bigotry. I won't see it because it's another snuff film by Mel Gibson.

[Gabriella]

Yes Cheryl, all those people who see Mel's films are either bigots or they like snuff films.
If you don't want to see it fine-but don't make judgments about people who do see Mr. Gibson's films and love them. I just saw Apocalypto, and it was not a snuff film. I don't know if you are aware that it got raves from Variety, Rolling Stone, Ebert and Roeper, and The New York Times, just to name a few.
It seems to me that the people who make judgments about Mel Gibson and his fan base are just as narrow minded as they make Gibson out to be.

[Theodora]

As several Evangelical maniacs have proven in recent years --what is preached is only meant for others to follow...

Gumflaps Gibson's HateSpew towards everyone who (**thankfully**) isn't like him will never be redeemed --regardless of the cinematic exercises he's allowed to exhort.

One weekend's box office gross does not a success make.

Will the film recoup the expenses layed out to make this epic??? Only time will tell.

As a half-Jewess, I only half-accept his 'apology'... It's rather like a kid with his hand caught in the cookie jar --apologizing for the attempted theft. Can I 'forgive' him for his mania?

I don't hold myself in that elevated posit to offer forgiveness. I haven't seen any level of sincerity in any of the post-incident interviews that beg redemption.

As for the film, itself...

While I respect the effort put into making it --I have no desire to see it. Blood and gore are not my cuppa tea or coffee.

Insofar as supporting Gibson's career --I long ago stopped putting personal effort in his direction after witnessing his behaviour during the filming of the much-overdone "Lethal Weapon" franchise.

He was over-bearingly rude to some well-intended fans who weren't aware that cameras were rolling and inadvertantly walked into frame.

Where were his sacred PA's at that point??? Off at craft service, chowing down on sugar-shock.

He blustered his way towards *me* --standing well out of range --started swearing off about the "f...kn... sons of..." female dawgs --then **ordered** me to get him a carton of cigarettes and a pint.

I politely told him I wasn't part of his production staff --and he bitched me out for being in his sacred way...

Gibson is DEMENTED and extremely too high on himself...

And all it takes is a very small footstool for him to get over himself.

Gibson groupies --rejoice...

The spirit of the John Birch Society still dwells at Disney --and nothing he does will ever be considered worse than Uncle Walt's racism...

[Gabriella]

Theodora, you are actually being too easy on Mel Gibson when you call him "demented". Gibson himself has referred to himself as a "monster" during those days, and called his behavior "evil". I am certain that you didn't see the worst of it when he was drinking, and since he asked you to "get him a pint", you must have known that he was under the influence.
Those of us know Mr. Gibson know that there are two Mel's-the sober Gibson, and the drunk Gibson-and the drunk Gibson, is not pleasant.
That is the shame of July 28th, 2006, the world got to see the drunk Mel Gibson.
There is one thing that I will say-anyone who believes that Mel Gibson has NOT been suffering for his behavior that night is mistaken. Mel Gibson is a true Catholic in every sense. He may or may not have shown it in his mea culpa interviews (that is a matter of opinion) but Mel Gibson has been going down a shame spiral that would make any guilt ridden, self-loathing Catholic proud.