The Academy Awards thread

[MichaelN]

It's the big night. React to it all right here. The fashion, the hosts, the awkward speeches, the moving moments, the surprises, and the disappointments.

... I'm being played off. Let 'er rip!

[TiggerBear]

Much better than the one last year. But am I the only one missing Cher in a crazy Bob Machie dress?

[pjpick]

Fashion: would have liked a longer red carpet segment. One of the best parts of Oscar night for me and my friends is to check out all the gowns. We don't see gowns like that in CO. Wonder if VH-1 will have a better segment. BUT my favorite gowns were: Sandra Bullock's, Kate Winslet's, Queen Latifah's, and Penelope Cruz's.

I enjoy the technique using 5 different actors discussing the lead actor/actress nominees (the speeches about Renner and Freeman were very amusing). Teared up during Bullock's speech and was touched during Bigelow's. But for the most part, I was a little bored and kept flipping back and forth to a B movie I'd seen before. No surprises. The only main categories which weren't really a lock were Best Director and Best Picture. Otherwise, it was the same winners from the previous shows. No surprises. Also felt the dance number was lackluster and was missing the big choreographed numbers for the nominated songs. I enjoyed Martin's and Baldwin's banter but after watching Neil Patrick Thomas on the Emmy's it's really hard to compare. NPT is just a natural at these things.

May skip the ceremonies next year as the winners don't seem to be a surprise anymore, it's like knowing how a mystery ends as you've just started the book.

Oh, loved the three actors from Hurt Locker standing arm in arm on the stage just grinnin' ear to ear after their pic won. They looked like they were going to just burst they were so happy.

[TiggerBear]

Oh could have lost the whole dance sequence entirely. What had that to do with ANY of the movies except Nine? Leave that crap to the Tonys.

Yeah I skipped the earlier award shows. They're just party excuses anyway. And since I'm not invited, not interested.

[TiggerBear]

Ripping good V plug though and the one for Modern Family (if I hadn't had to see it 4 times) was nice.

[Melissa_W Moderator]

I had fun watching the show last night - missed the first hour due to having to work/picking up pizza for our group of friends (because two had to close at my store so we required dinner) but we caught all the "big categories".  Overall I was really pleased with the show and distribution of awards (I'm a dancer and have always enjoyed the dance sequences - except the year "Riverdance" or "Lord of the Dance" performed since it had zero involvement with the Oscars otherwise).  Stray thoughts:

• what was up with the lampshades and faux-bookshelf sets?
• why did Carey Mulligan and Zoe Saldana have to walk down a moving staircase in their gowns and very high heels but the next presenter who happened to be male and wearing a tux/oxfords get to walk only six feet to the mic on a flat surface?  poor planning (Babs, however, pretty much demanded a young hunk help her down the stairs )
• Best Actress: I'm still trying to decide whether I agree with this one; Sandy really was last on my list...I don't dislike but I think the other roles showed more range/characterization
• Best Cinematography: I'll give Avatar the technical Oscars it got but I really think that a movie that falls to the animated side probably doesn't quite rate IMO compared to The Hurt Locker, Inglourious Basterds, and The White Ribbon
• I am a little worried about Sean Penn; didn't really understand a word of his intro and I was under the impression that if you win an Oscar you are pretty much made a member of the Academy if you weren't already?
• SJP needs to step away from the spray tan
• The teleprompter needs to have the text adjusted when presenters get replaced so we don't get the very-awkward-moment-when-Cameron-Diaz-called-Steve-Carrell-"Jude"-because-the-teleprompter-said-so in future.

We also spent part of the night frantically updating our Netflix queues via smartphone so we could catch the movies that release in the next two weeks.

[TiggerBear]

Melissa_W wrote:

• what was up with the lampshades and faux-bookshelf sets?

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  Who knows, it looked ok kind of classic to me.

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• why did Carey Mulligan and Zoe Saldana have to walk down a moving staircase in their gowns and very high heels but the next presenter who happened to be male and wearing a tux/oxfords get to walk only six feet to the mic on a flat surface?  poor planning (Babs, however, pretty much demanded a young hunk help her down the stairs )

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The cut short in front dress, a leg shot.

• Best Actress: I'm still trying to decide whether I agree with this one; Sandy really was last on my list...I don't dislike but I think the other roles showed more range/characterization

• ---

  Look the Oscar's snub comedies. When else is she going to get a chance? Two actresses who would just be picking up one more. And Two actresses who are just starting brilliant careers. That won't be either's only chance. And the Oscars like to award things they think were a role stretch for the actors.

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• 
  
• I am a little worried about Sean Penn; didn't really understand a word of his intro and I was under the impression that if you win an Oscar you are pretty much made a member of the Academy if you weren't already?

• ---

  Oh him, he regularly declines membership. Some protest thing of his. He was making a point of I respect you but I don't want to be with you. Typical Penn.

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• SJP needs to step away from the spray tan

• ---

• (chuckle)

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•  
• The teleprompter needs to have the text adjusted when presenters get replaced so we don't get the very-awkward-moment-when-Cameron-Diaz-called-Steve-Carrell-"Jude"-because-the-teleprompter-said-so in future.

• ---

I took that a very flat joke. Steve's pulled it on more than one award show.

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We also spent part of the night frantically updating our Netflix queues via smartphone so we could catch the movies that release in the next two weeks.

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So you're the one holding up my chance at seeing the foreign nominees?!

[pjpick]

Melissa_W:

I agree with you about Sandra Bullock. I really like her and think Blind Side was her best work however,  I'd seen 4 of the 5 performances of the best female actor nominees and would have put Sandra in 4th. Didn't see Helen Mirren in The Last Station so I can comment on her but felt Streep's, Sidibe's, and Mulligan's performances were fantastic!

Re: spray tan. I think we could include Demi Moore in that category too. She was the same color as her dress! Otherwise she would have been a knockout.

I didn't get the whole lampshade thing either. Maybe it was to hide any set ups that were going on behind them?

[Melissa_W Moderator]

Of course   Except The White Ribbon and Un Prophete don't have release dates for DVD yet

TiggerBear wrote:

Melissa W wrote:

We also spent part of the night frantically updating our Netflix queues via smartphone so we could catch the movies that release in the next two weeks.

---

So you're the one holding up my chance at seeing the foreign nominees?!

[Jon_B]

Un Prophete is still in theatres.  if there's a place in your town that shows foreign films there's a good chance they'll still have it.  I can't recommend that movie enough.  Absolutely beautiful film.  My favorite of the year by far.

[MichaelN]

I'm just pleased Avatar didn't win. Also, the best joke of the night was wholly underappreciated. It came from an Argentinian director durhing his acceptance speech for the Best Foreign Language film when he said "I'm just glad the Academy didn't consider Na'vi a foreign language." That's gold.

[Melissa_W Moderator]

You have obviously not been subjected to my rant about how much it bites to live in a town with almost zero access to art house/foreign films/non-mainstream-blockbuster-schlock unless someone is willing to let the University of Iowa's Bijou Theatre show it for maybe two nights on the cheap.

Jon_B wrote:

Un Prophete is still in theatres.  if there's a place in your town that shows foreign films there's a good chance they'll still have it.  I can't recommend that movie enough.  Absolutely beautiful film.  My favorite of the year by far.

[dulcinea3]

MichaelN wrote:

I'm just pleased Avatar didn't win. Also, the best joke of the night was wholly underappreciated. It came from an Argentinian director durhing his acceptance speech for the Best Foreign Language film when he said "I'm just glad the Academy didn't consider Na'vi a foreign language." That's gold.

I caught that one, but it seemed to go right over most of the audience's heads.  That was good, but like I said on another thread, I really loved Steve Martin's "There's that damn Helen Mirren," and Alec Baldwin's "That's Dame Helen Mirren, Steve."  And the looks the hosts were exchanging with George Clooney.  I also liked Martin's reference to having been born a poor black child, but wondered how many might have cringed or thought it was politically incorrect to make such a joke about such a serious movie as Precious.

Oh, and did we really need the band to play "I Am Woman" as the Best Director left the stage?

[TiggerBear]

Melissa_W wrote:

You have obviously not been subjected to my rant about how much it bites to live in a town with almost zero access to art house/foreign films/non-mainstream-blockbuster-schlock unless someone is willing to let the University of Iowa's Bijou Theatre show it for maybe two nights on the cheap.

Jon_B wrote:

Un Prophete is still in theatres.  if there's a place in your town that shows foreign films there's a good chance they'll still have it.  I can't recommend that movie enough.  Absolutely beautiful film.  My favorite of the year by far.

Nor mine either and I don't live in a small town. Look I've got 2 theaters that show the foreign films and they are showing Crazy Heart, Last Station, and Brooklin's Finest. Around SE foreign film have to share time with independent films. But heck 60% of normal films won't make it here either. Most films I never get to see until it's hits DVD. (sigh)

And Melissa (chuckle) you mean you didn't hit the save button on netflix for those movies yet? They'll let you save most movies there 1 month after it hit theaters. It's useful to me just so I don't forget what movies is some day down the line coming.

[Melissa_W Moderator]

The saved section of my queue went from about 20 to 45 after the nominations were announced.  I've been very vigilant in scooting the new releases up from the bottom of the queue (since you can't preset their location in your "to watch" queue prior to release).

TiggerBear wrote:

Melissa_W wrote:

You have obviously not been subjected to my rant about how much it bites to live in a town with almost zero access to art house/foreign films/non-mainstream-blockbuster-schlock unless someone is willing to let the University of Iowa's Bijou Theatre show it for maybe two nights on the cheap.

Jon_B wrote:

Un Prophete is still in theatres.  if there's a place in your town that shows foreign films there's a good chance they'll still have it.  I can't recommend that movie enough.  Absolutely beautiful film.  My favorite of the year by far.

Nor mine either and I don't live in a small town. Look I've got 2 theaters that show the foreign films and they are showing Crazy Heart, Last Station, and Brooklin's Finest. Around SE foreign film have to share time with independent films. But heck 60% of normal films won't make it here either. Most films I never get to see until it's hits DVD. (sigh)

And Melissa (chuckle) you mean you didn't hit the save button on netflix for those movies yet? They'll let you save most movies there 1 month after it hit theaters. It's useful to me just so I don't forget what movies is some day down the line coming.

[TiggerBear]

Melissa_W wrote:

The saved section of my queue went from about 20 to 45 after the nominations were announced.  I've been very vigilant in scooting the new releases up from the bottom of the queue (since you can't preset their location in your "to watch" queue prior to release).

Mine too and my que is notorious for being pretty full. That's 500 for completely full both saved and watch, for those unawares. For us it's for 4 adults, it has to be.  I cleared off 30 slots the weeks before the awards just for all the one's I never heard of.

Though I did pretty well this year seeing movies on the list before hand. Most years I'm lucky to get to see a fourth of them.

[Melissa_W Moderator]

Through the magic of the US mail, a distribution center 30 miles up the interstate, and a company that actually stocks good movies (do not ask my opinion of the rental places in town...it is lower than that of the movie theatres) I received The Hurt Locker Monday and District 9 and Inglourious Basterds will arrive tomorrow.  Sqeeee.

[TiggerBear]

Melissa_W wrote:

Through the magic of the US mail, a distribution center 30 miles up the interstate, and a company that actually stocks good movies (do not ask my opinion of the rental places in town...it is lower than that of the movie theatres) I received The Hurt Locker Monday and District 9 and Inglourious Basterds will arrive tomorrow.  Sqeeee.

(chuckle) YAH!

Oh bit of advice, all of the above are best watched without snacks.

[Melissa_W Moderator]

Lol, thanks.

TiggerBear wrote:

Melissa_W wrote:

Through the magic of the US mail, a distribution center 30 miles up the interstate, and a company that actually stocks good movies (do not ask my opinion of the rental places in town...it is lower than that of the movie theatres) I received The Hurt Locker Monday and District 9 and Inglourious Basterds will arrive tomorrow.  Sqeeee.

(chuckle) YAH!

Oh bit of advice, all of the above are best watched without snacks.