March 7, 2010

Shall we watch the Oscars together?

I don't know if I can do my usual live-blogging, but I will try to watch, and I'll put numbered comments up if I think of anything amusing. The main point of this post is to give you a place to comment if you're so inclined.

1. Loved Penelope Cruz's red dress.

2. Have you noticed how many of the men are chewing gum? Morgan Freeman, etc.

3. Sarah Jessica Parker is chewing gum. She's 44 and she looks 60, but she's sweet and enthused about the Chanel column of gold satin. Meanwhile, no one wants to talk to Matthew Broderick, who's gone gray and portly.

4. "I like seeing all my friends cleaned up and looking good" — Meryl Streep on what she likes best about the Oscars.

5. Yikes. This production number is more painful than the crap they make "American Idol" contestants do on elimination night. (Elimination... crap... hmmm....) Men in suits singing, surrounded by scantily clad showgirls waving feather fans... what is this, 1962? So retro. So pre-women's movement. Oh, phew, it's over. Now, the talking. Yeeze. Steve Martin looks like Spencer Tracy in "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner?" ... i.e., just before he died.

6. Christopher Plummer looks way better indoors. Somehow the lighting bestows an artificial tan. Outdoors, he looked diseased.

7. Ah! Penelope Cruz again, in that dress. Lovely! She was last year's Best Supporting Actress, so she's giving the Best Supporting Actor award.  Dialogue chez Meadhouse: "Is that Robert Duvall?" "No, Woody Harrelson."... "Everyone knows Christoph Waltz is going to win." And he does. "Oscar and Penelope. That's an uber-bingo."

8. So the first predictable thing has happened. Will all the other predictable things happen to?

9. Sandra Bullock is "a member of the NRA" and "always packing"... according to the clip show of "The Blind Side."

10. Meadhouse dialogue: "IPad ad. Oh, man! Ohhhhhh!" "Still want one?" "Yeeeeaaaaahhhhh."

8a. "Up" wins animated pic. Predicatably.

8b. "The Hurt Locker" wins screenplay, not "Inglourious Basterds." That's not what was predicted, right? I wanted "A Serious Man." The acceptance speech is anti-Iraq-war, btw.

11. Molly Ringwald and Matthew Broderick introduce a tribute to John Hughes (who died in the past year). "Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it." Beautifully done. Genuinely touching. That made the argument that pop culture is, in fact, deep.

8c. "Precious" for adapted screenplay.

8d. Best Supporting Actress, Mo'Nique. Predicted. But she says something interesting and unexpected: "It can be about the performance, and not the politics."

8e. Art Direction, "Avatar."

12. The tribute to horror movies ends with a cut to Quentin Tarantino loving it all. Nice. As for the clip show, I think it was argued that the 2 greatest horror flicks of all time are "Psycho" and "The Shining"... with music from "Psycho."

13. Sound editing... does anyone care? Did I mention costumes earlier? No. Then, mindcrushingly, sound mixing, a separate award. "Hurt Locker" with its amorphous, ponderous music, wins both. [NEXT MORNING CLARIFICATION: I know this award isn't about the music. I'm just complaining about the theme music the band played for this movie.]

8f. "Avatar" wins Visual Effects. Whoever this guy is who accepts the award says the movie is a film about "learning to see the world in new ways" and that sets me off cursing incoherently. 

14. In Memoriam, with James Taylor singing "In My Life." They gave Karl Malden the final spot, and that was not predicted. People thought it would be either Patrick Swayze (who was put first) or Natasha Richardson (who was tucked in the middle). Only one choked me up, Brittany Murphy. She was so young. Malden was 97. Nothing to be sad about. It's not, then, what's saddest. It's a tribute to life. "In My Life," not in my death.

15. I'm recording this with my DVR and pausing, then fast-forwarding. Otherwise it would be intolerable. Right now there's a dance routine (that's supposed to showcase the scores). It's ghastly. I watched a second, sped ahead, watched a second, cursed, paused, and am now waiting for enough time to pass for more fast-forwarding. Why must they waste our time with this musical crap?

16. I love film documentaries, but I don't care about any of these nominees. What the hell happened to this category?

17. "The White Ribbon" doesn't win best foreign film. I was all ready to do an "8g" entry. Wow. Thrilling. Hell. Get me out of here.

18. Wait. A good joke! "I want to thank the Academy for not considering Na'vi a foreign language."

8g. Come on, give Jeff Bridges the Best Actor award and get me out of here. Oh! The blather, praising each of the nominees. There's an insipid reference to "courage." I scream. Ah, finally, Kate Winslet comes out, in a dress made of steel — or fabric that looks like it — and she gives the award, of course, to Jeff Bridges. He whoops. He looks heavenward and addresses his parents. He says "groovy." He's going on too long. I groan. Meade says "He's The Dude."

8h. Another predictable one: Sandra Bullock gets Best Actress. She's wearing bright red lipstick and a pretty dress, beaded and sparkling. She rattles off a prepared speech. She chokes up and cries appropriately when she gets to the part about not thanking her mother.

19. "Oh, no!" "Why? Why?!" — another Meadhouse dialogue... as Barbra Streisand takes the stage. She's giving the Best Director award (for some reason). I guess this one isn't predictable, other than that it's one of 2, James Cameron or Kathryn Bigelow. "Well, the time has come," Barbra says, meaning that for the first time, a woman has won Best Director. It's Kathryn Bigelow.

20. The band plays her off the stage with "I Am Woman." Gag.

21. Tom Hanks does his part to nail the time. With 2 minutes left to go to the top of the hour, he blurts out "The Hurt Locker."

22. For all this honoring of "The Hurt Locker," did anyone say anything valuable and worthy about the war in Iraq? Bigelow praised the troops and wished for their safe return, but that's not what I mean. There's a lot of talk about the bravery of the filmmakers making the film. There was never anything said in support of the fighting in Iraq, but, to be fair, there was never any opposition to it expressed. In fact, I don't think there were any political statements tonight at all, unless you count Mo'nique's anti-political statement: "It can be about the performance, and not the politics." So: modesty. It's film art. Art, not politics.

MONDAY MORNING UPDATE: Wow. I did not enjoy that show at all. Surely, nothing made me want to go see a movie — or even look for it to come up on my cable Video on Demand. The actresses with their hard, frozen faces and their sinewy bodies encased in lavishly ruffled dresses showed that movies are no longer a source of fresh inspiration about beauty, femininity and womanhood. And frankly, I'm not sure what Mo'nique meant by "It can be about the performance, and not the politics." Maybe she just meant that she totally deserved the award on merit, and there were no "political" considerations in the sense of how career and business interests weigh into people's decisions. At the time, I thought that she meant that voters were able to appreciate the artistic value of the movie "Precious" instead of rejecting it because it isn't politically correct to depict black people as lowlifes. That was the only memorable thing that anyone said last night, and it's just a Rorschach test.

131 comments:

Deborah M. said...

I would really appreciate live-blogging because I don't have cable. I am rooting for The Hurt Locker.

Leland said...

Awesome, Amazing Race is on...

ok, ok, Oscars...

Tibore said...

Oh, professor, veg on the couch and watch. There's no bigger target for internet snark than awards shows like this. :D

Tibore said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Tibore said...

And man, the Fug Girls Red Carpet blog was sorta boring. I expected bite, but it sorta read like a half-hearted gumming instead.

themightypuck said...

I'm hooked into the locally contentious Ebert's twitter feed for this event.

John Stodder said...

When did the expression "I'm loving..." replace "I love..." What does it add?

I ask because my wife was watching the pre-Oscar fashion parade, and the fashion analysts kept saying "I'm loving that classic look," "I'm loving the cleavage," "I'm not loving the color."

It's weird. It's like the speaker is observing him or herself loving something, rather than experiencing the emotion directly.

Leland said...

Wonder how many belumic actress hate Sandra Bullock now.

Roman said...

Oscar who?

Maxine Weiss said...

http://www.deadline.com/2010/03/live-blogging-the-82nd-oscars/

"Come for the cynicism. Stay for the subversion."

Peano said...

As a more exciting alternative to the Oscars, and probably to most of the movies in contention:

1. Find a scrap of discarded plank, a piece of sheet metal, or any other useless flat surface.

2. Paint one side of it (the color doesn't matter).

3. Sit back and watch it dry. Popcorn optional

Leland said...

If Inglourious Basterds can get a best picture nomination; they don't need to nominate 10.

Tibore said...

Oh, good Lord... what happened to Sarah Jessica Parker? She looks garish now.

Sad now. :(

Leland said...

SJP needs to have lunch with Sandra Bullock.

Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
avwh said...

Looks like the "bling" is way down on the red carpet this year - no necklaces, but lots of big earrings....

My predictions for the "big 8" categories:

Best Picture.......THE HURT LOCKER
Best Director.....KATHRYN BIGELOW
Best Actress....SANDRA BULLOCK
Best Actor.......JEFF BRIDGES
Best Supporting Actor....CHRISTOPH WALTZ
Best Supporting Actress.....MO'NIQUE
Best Original Screenplay......INGLORIOUS BASTERDS
Best Adapted Screenplay.....UP IN THE AIR

Lem the artificially intelligent said...

Kathy Ireland (former Sports illustrated swimsuit model) is the worst interviewer I can remember.

joewxman said...

since we have cablevision, abc has been knocked off the air as they are fighting over programing fees. So i will rely on you kind people to fill me in on the goings on!

Anonymous said...

Have you noticed how many of the men are chewing gum? Morgan Freeman, etc.

Sarah Jessica Parker is chewing gum.


Therefore, Sarah Jessica Parker is a man.

Tibore said...

"sethfontana said...
Have you noticed how many of the men are chewing gum? Morgan Freeman, etc.

Sarah Jessica Parker is chewing gum.

Therefore, Sarah Jessica Parker is a man."


(*Shrugs*) I've seen worse logic. :-S

themightypuck said...

Predictions seem a bit lame for most categories if Intrade is to be trusted. I'm waiting for a year where there are easy to access prop bets.

My retire on an island I bought prop would be Cameron getting to the podium and saying "I'm the King of the world."

themightypuck said...

Cigarettes are way sexier than gum but I can't really get on the gum chewers about that.

Tibore said...

Opening dialogue: Waaaaay too long.

Chef Mojo said...

It really is a meh year for movies.

Tibore said...

"Men in suits singing, surrounded by scantily clad showgirls waving feather fans... what is this, 1962?"

Aw, c'mon professor, it was showy and fun!

... and I think that's costing me some of my heterosexuality to say that... o_O

XWL said...

"Steve Martin looks like Spencer Tracy in "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner?" ... i.e., just before he died."

Tracy's age at death, 67, Steve Martin's current age, 64.

themightypuck said...

#4 is an awesome insight.

Tibore said...

I'd love to know why George Clooney was looking like an ass during the monologue. Who wants to bet that wasn't scripted?

themightypuck said...

Uber-bingo.

joewxman said...

Oh glory abc and cablevision just struck a deal and the oscars are back on the air.

Tibore said...

"joewxman said...
Oh glory abc and cablevision just struck a deal and the oscars are back on the air."


Oh, you found out already. People were going nuts on the Zap2It chat about it coming back.

Sucks that they fought this long about it.

------

Word verification: raviza. Ibiza's sister city, where all the raves happen.

joewxman said...

Steve Martin had an absolutely terrible facelift.

Lem the artificially intelligent said...

The have only give away 4 out of 24 and it's 9:17

WestVirginiaRebel said...

A nice tribute to John Hughes.

avwh said...

Haven't seen a pair of presenters yet where the man is taller than the woman.

Guess that's just the acting biz: tall women, short men.

Tibore said...

@avwh: I noticed that too, and also in the red carpet interviews. The interviewers too were all giving up 2 to 4 inches to the actresses they were interviewing.

It's like Ryan Seacrest is a trend! ;)

Lem the artificially intelligent said...

"This show is a little Hitler heavy"

Tibore said...

"That made the argument that pop culture is, in fact, deep. "

Well, rather, that it can be, professor. Not necessarily that it is. When someone with a good touch like Hughes does it, it can indeed be deep. When some others... well... it's hit & miss, unfortunately.

Anonymous said...

Anyone want to put money down on whether anyone on that Hollywood stage tonight mentions that millions of Iraqis voted today?

Iraqis Defy Blasts in Strong Turnout for Pivotal Election.

*

Tibore said...

@Jeffrey: What, and look like they even remotely can hint that something good could possibly have come of the whole thing? Hollywood?? 'll never happen. Not that crowd, and not in public.

Freeman Hunt said...

Re: gum chewing

Probably Nicorette.

Lem the artificially intelligent said...

Samuel L. Jackson gave Mo'Nique a mocking look after her speech.

Unknown said...

i loved penelope's dress, demi moore's dress, and sandra bullock's dress.

mo'nique's speech was excellent !

Anonymous said...

Tibore,

I'm with you. My money is on not a single mention of the Iraqi people voting today. Believe me, I would love to be proven wrong.

I've never watched one of Oscar these nights all the way through, and tonight while I'm at the internet I've un-muted the TV to catch a few minutes here and there. The concentrated narcissism of these shows is really something to witness. It's a tiny group of elite stars and star-makers who nod and wink to each other and sing each other's praises in front of each other, knowing at the same time that millions of TV viewers out there are watching them, too. Talk about "advertisements for myself." Hey, I laugh at the good jokes like everyone else, but if you actually think about what you're watching for a couple minutes it starts to become grotesque.

Millionaires as far as the eye can see. In comparison, people like us are just a bunch of losers.

*

Unknown said...

what happened to sarah jessica's hair ?

Daniel Fielding said...

Oscars are the Superbowl for gay men.

Irene said...

Freeman Hunt wrote . . .

Re: gum chewing

Probably Nicorette.


Bingo!! LOL.

AST said...

To illustrate my lack of interest in the Academy Awards, I'm watching shows about Hitler and WWII on the Military Channel.

Calvin Dodge said...

Re the relative height of actors and actresses - some of the difference is in the shoes. For example, Matthew Broderick and Molly Ringwald are the same height, but you wouldn't have known that by watching them tonight.

Tibore said...

@Jeffrey: While I'm as cynical at the state of Hollywood politics as the next guy, I don't know if I'd be quite that cynical about Hollywood itself. For every speech fellating overlarge egos like Cameron's, you have someone like Geoffrey Fletcher who was genuinely touched. Not all of it is about garish narcissism.

And just as I end writing this, the winner of costume design, of all categories, delivers a diss to all her compatriots... real high class there, lady. Realy high class. :-/ Yeah, not all of it is about garish narcissism... but some of it is, and there's an example.

magpie said...

This seems to be a passing-of-the-torch Oscars. Old Hollywood (including the John Hughes cast) getting the nudge from the youngsters.

Anonymous said...

Tibore,

I like your balanced reply. I'm a an ESL teacher here in NYC. I make a reasonable living by teaching. I teach students from other countries and immigrants who need to learn English to get better jobs and who want to be able to communicate with English-speaking Americans. My daily life is so far removed from the life of everyone in that Oscar room. If they came and looked at my life, looked at my apartment, they would shudder at my relative poverty compared to them. THAT's the reality behind this Oscar night. And on top of their immense wealth, we are required to shower them with love and admiration?

Listen, I like that Waltz got the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor. I was in Berlin last September and watched "Inglorious Basterds" with an all-German audience in an old theater where the East German big-wigs used to to watch propaganda films (Photo: Kino International, Berlin). When I laughed, the Germans were quiet, and when the Germans laughed, I smiled. So good for Waltz for a great performance and a humorous evening of movie-going for me.

*

Unknown said...

who is sitting behind Quentin Tarantino?

Lem the artificially intelligent said...

Demi Moore?.. sounds familiar ;)

Nichevo said...

Wow, the prof let her inner bitch out of her cage. Or is it more appropriate to say cat than refer to a female dog. Meow!

When you were bragging in the other thread about how you were FIRST!!! in your class at law school, did anybody retort that it might have been because you were a fresh young blue-eyed blonde with big tits who could suck a golf ball through a garden hose, and most likely slept your way to the top? Or turned A- to A with just a smile and a bit of leg? That there were probably ten Ugly Bettys with you in your year who were smarter than you?

...

Not to assert the merits of that argument, only that your post here appears to be on the same level. Actually, as the above description is largely complimentary, it is actually nicer than the things you said.

To come to that level, one would have to say that you are much less sexually desirable than you once were, being so very old and probably well-worn.

It does look like you quieted down later, so let me end on a soothing note, and assure you that I'd still throw you a lay if you weren't married, as you probably have enough left to show a guy a good time, especially if you're properly motivated. Just as long as you're clean, I'm a blood donor.

-

Wow! That was fun. Now I almost don't blame you for letting the fangs (claws?) show. One can see the attraction of spreading for the Dark Side.











Moral of the story: DON'T FUCK WITH SPENCER TRACY! Bitch, this is Rick James, telling you that there are LIMITS.


(On the other hand, give us more dish on Sarah Jessica Parker. At least link to Trooper York's spread showing her next to her stunt double, Mr. Ed.)

Tibore said...

Avatar is about seeing the world in a new way?? If by "new", you mean, clichéd, forced, and naive, right Mr. Letteri?

(*Rolls eyes*)

Ann Althouse said...

Yo, Nichevo. Law school exams are blind graded.

Joe said...

BTW, how can Avatar win Best Cinematography? (not watching, just caught a glimpse at IMDB) Pure CGI/Special Effects is NOT cinematography. What a slap in the face to actual cinematographers.

LonewackoDotCom said...

I'm going to live-blog the cartoons I'm going to watch and the music I'm going to listen to while doing some work.

I haven't seen a movie in a theater since the early 90s. I wish they'd all just go away.

Anonymous said...

I would like one of these directors to make a film that follows all of the stars and star-makers in the room as they return to their mansions after tonight's show. That, I believe, would be illuminating. All the cars -- stretch limos and whatnot -- pulling up to gated mansions -- after a night of watching their thirty-foot-high faces broadcast around the world.

*

TS said...

Geez, you've been in a bad mood for the last few days. What gives?

Ann Althouse said...

@T No, that's a good mood. It's all in fun.

Beth said...

Sound editing and sound mixing aren't about music, are they? We're not watching silent movies, and it's about much more than dialogue, though sound editors/designers and mixers deal with dialogue. Sound editors layer in all the textures of what makes watching a scene feel like being in a place. It's quite important; otherwise, movies would be aurally flat.

Beth said...

I have been hanging out with a sound editor recently, who moved here to work on a series being shot locally. She does very cool things to create time and place. There's much research to do, along with the science of sound itself.

Anonymous said...

All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.
All work and no play makes Jack a dull biy.
All work and no play makes Jacl a dull boy.

Nichevo said...

Well, Prof. Althouse, I think the proper Peyton Place retort to that is that if you didn't know who was grading, you just slept with all of them - and left them little mash notes on the pillow, in your handwriting with the heart-dotted i's, so they would know whose writing they read.

SRSLY, I admit to ignorance of your profession - admit? I boast of it - but you don't have classwork factor in grading, only rigorously enforced exams?

The scenario I drew up implies corruption of the process anyway. "That's the great thing about power, it's arbitrary." You mean to tell me that a corrupt professor could not give, within some sort of limits, any grades she wishes?

Can't you come to the prof with a tear in your eye, a B- exam (or a D exam, depending on how dumb I make you out to be in this scenario - or what exertions I expect you to perform ;>), and a few buttons undone, and tremblingly beg for mercy?

"It's so unfair! I'd do, just anything, for another chance!"

"Did you say ANYTHING?!?!?"

"Why yes, yes I did..."

"Muahahahahahahahhaha..."

Sheeyit, I bet you and Meade play that game in bed!

TW: hoaefor This stuff writes itself. (What's a hoaefor, if not to boost grades with sex and sexuality?)

Lem the artificially intelligent said...

ok ok they are all generous!

Tibore said...

Jeff Bridges... giddy and drunk. :-D

WestVirginiaRebel said...

Well, I'm glad he finally won one.

Unknown said...

AST said...

To illustrate my lack of interest in the Academy Awards, I'm watching shows about Hitler and WWII on the Military Channel.

You and me both. 'World At War' is probably the best documentary series showing the British perspective (tonight Japan (very good) and Barbarossa).

Skipped 'The Commanders' (Kursk) and flipped between 'Hitler's Bodyguard' and 'From Russia With Love' on BBCA.

Anybody who watched the Hollyweird love-in is a better woman than I am, Gunga Jane.

Ann Althouse said...

@Beth I'm not saying the sound isn't important. I'm saying I don't want to watch an award given for it. Well, I don't want to watch any of this too much. Just give the acting awards and publish the list of the rest of it. I don't need to see these people and hear them list their thank yous. It's horrible.

Tibore said...

Oh, look! Uma's introducing Gabourey!

(*ducks*)

TS said...

Well, then don't watch it. It's the Academy, not the People's Choice Awards. It's an industry event. Interesting to read you and Nikki Finke. Both bitching, whining, bitching but completely opposite takes.

Tibore said...

Note to Sean Penn: When they say "Black Tie", they usually mean something more formal than a literal black tie. Usually, it's supposed to look like a bow? You know?

the jackal said...

The musical crap is a lot better than any of the talking crap.

Tibore said...

Ok, if somehow Avatar wins Best Pic, Cameron had better give thanks to Fern Gulley and Dances With Wolves for the script.

Tibore said...

Good, Ms. Bigelow, for not forgetting to include the soldiers after giving a kudos to the scriptwriter for risking his life. Good.

Peter Hoh said...

And a record for giving the fastest award goes to Tom Hanks.

Lem the artificially intelligent said...

Cameron was shaking his head in disappointment.

That was quick!!

Laurie said...

Haha! They should say "Did we earn this or you just want to make a political statement?!"

michaele said...

The only one of the 10 Best Nominated Films that I saw was District 9. Walking out of the theater, I said to my husband, "Whew, that was strange...kind of like Mad Max meets The Office meets ET."

Anonymous said...

Thanks for blogging! I can't watch ABC on my television. There is no way that I would stay up for this if I didn't live in Los Angeles.

Lem the artificially intelligent said...

The director apologised for thanking the troops once again?

Ann Althouse said...

Oh, lord, am I glad it's over.

Alex said...

Come on, did anyone seriously expect Hollyweird lefto libtard maniacs to praise the troops courageous mission?

Tibore said...

If she didn't thank the troops, she would've been in for a big bowl of publicity shitstorm. Especially after gushing about everyone else involved with the movie.

Fred4Pres said...

Your comments were spot on as they almost matched my own. Good job.

I give thanks for Ms. Bigalow thanking the troops. It was classy.

Alex said...

Fred - but she didn't praise their mission which is a backhanded slap.

Anonymous said...

Hmm. I think that Mo'Nique was referring to studio politics, but maybe not.

Fred4Pres said...

I am just thankful Avatar did not win. Not because I have anything against Jimmy Cameron, I just thought it was not that good a movie.

Cedarford said...

Sandra Bullock was a fine choice. Same with Jeff Bridges. And it was about paying dues, for being great for movies, and being very special people.

Next year we will be back to the "amazing method actor" who convincingly carried a facial tic and authentic 1950s Texas accent in a film that displays their full emotional range.

-------------------
Katherine Bigelow - Deserved, and the lady frankly was one of the best-looking on stage. Not too shabby for a lady pushing 60...

Meade said...

"Oh, lord, am I glad it's over."

Me too. Now come to bed.

Skippy said...

You hit the nail on the head with the horrors of the Oscars. I'd rather read your comments than watch them. Thanks for doing the heavy lifting for me!

Ann Althouse said...

Ah! Midnight at Meadhouse!

Tibore said...

"There's a lot of talk about the bravery of the filmmakers making the film."

That sort of bugged me. I know that journalists covering wars are every bit as in danger as the troops - Ernie Pyle is the classic example of that; so's Bernard Fall - but it just seems unseemly to trumpet that in an awards show without noting the danger to the troops themselves.

Maybe I'm being oversensitive to this, but it felt like the statement was "So-and-so put himself in danger for the material for this film", not "So-and-so was with others, and they all put themselves in danger". I'm not going to denigrate the importance of reporters in combat - and I mean that; for all the innumerable faults of reporters and the news reporting media in general, war does need to be covered, even as imperfectly as it is - but at the same time, in this context, it's declassé to make statements about the reporters' risk without mentioning the others who are actually the direct targets.

Again, maybe I'm reading too much into things, but my feelings are genuine: It bothers me.

Cedarford said...

" Alex said...
Fred - but she didn't praise their mission which is a backhanded slap."

That is stupid partisanship as bad as femininst Babs dropping anvils on stage that the "correct" choice for the Director's Oscar would be the female or the black.
Why do you think every conflict the US gets into must be reflexively praised as noble, wonderful idea of a war, the absolute right mission, and the best possible use of a trillion dollars and people's lives?????????
You don't have to be from Hollywood to question the wisdom of certain wars and certain tactics.
Or be tactful enough knowing the nation is divided on a conflict not to use an awards ceremony to propagandize one way or the other...after past Oscar folks stepped in it pushing their personal politics.

Scrutineer said...

He's going on too long. I groan. Meade says "He's The Dude."

He's not into the whole brevity thing.

Luke Lea said...

I was struck by how tired, old, fat, and frumpy Hollywood is looking these days.

Alex said...

C4 - the difference between you and Hollywood shitfaces is that they are just reflexively anti-war, anti-American. They never give any solid reasons why they hate Bush, hate the troops. It's all just their maniacal ideology.

Porphyrogenitus said...

LoL Dance routine reminded both me *and* my mum of Canopy Dance, which my sister was in for a year back in the good ol' days in MadTown.

Chris Althouse Cohen said...

Just got back from watching the Oscars at Rusty Spurs, which I'd never been to before but assume was a bear bar.

I just have two comments: 1) Monique's comment about the politics of the Oscars had to do with the things people do in an effort to win the Oscars, like talking to Academy members and saying what they're supposed to say about the awards, which she spoke out against and said she wouldn't do; 2) The Hurt Locker winning in the sound categories was a big deal. It was NOT for music, it was for the sound in the movie other than music. Those are categories that, like visual effects, almost always go to big special effects movies, and for a small budget film to win against the biggest budget, highest grossing movie of all time was a major accomplishment that might be unique in the history of the awards (for all I know).

Christopher - Conservative Perspective said...

Who care really?

LonewackoDotCom said...

Hey, look, another episode of FamilyGuy!

Anonymous said...

My wife was on the phone this evening with her childhood friend, who lives in Hollywood with her film editor husband. During the call the husband kept trying to tell his spouse something, and in the end could be heard shreiking and cursing her. F bombs were prominent.

Put the pieces together: a 30-year Hollywood veteran, at home watching the Oscars, to which he's never been invited let alone nominated for anything.

It's gotta suck being a nobody in that town.

Jeff Vaca said...

Dear God, what cynicism. For what it's worth, I've been watching these things for 42 years now, and I thought this was one of the best. Have at me, folks. Good night.

Jeremy said...

Alex said..."C4 - the difference between you and Hollywood shitfaces is that they are just reflexively anti-war, anti-American. They never give any solid reasons why they hate Bush, hate the troops. It's all just their maniacal ideology."

Good lord...ONLY a mental midget like you could throw out tripe this this on an blog discussion of the Oscars.

Get-a-life.

former law student said...

16. I love film documentaries, but I don't care about any of these nominees. What the hell happened to this category?

This was actually a great year for documentaries. The story of the making of the Cove is fascinating by itself, because the Japanese did not want tales of the horrors there to get out. And the Daniel Ellsberg movie is simply excellent.

I'm saying I don't want to watch an award given for it. Well, I don't want to watch any of this too much. Just give the acting awards and publish the list of the rest of it.

That's three minutes out of the professor's life she will never get back. But I agree: give me the name of the Cy Young award winner and who cares who got Golden Gloves.

As pointed out, this is an industry event for professionals. They allow outsiders to look in. We can't complain that it wasn't fascinating to us because it wasn't intended for widespread consumption.

I'm just happy NBC didn't carry it because then it would have been tape-delayed for the West Coast.

avwh said...

Miley Cyrus needs a posture coach, pronto!

Jeremy said...

"As pointed out, this is an industry event for professionals. They allow outsiders to look in. We can't complain that it wasn't fascinating to us because it wasn't intended for widespread consumption."

And of course, Ann could just choose not watch.

But then we wouldn't get to hear the w-h-i-n-i-n-g.

Dustin said...

"But then we wouldn't get to hear the w-h-i-n-i-n-g."

You're talking about you, right? You're the one whining. Ann enjoyed the show, at least some of it, so why should she not watch it? Because she wanted to critique it? How does this make sense?

Of course Ann is trolling sometimes, but in this post she's not.

Dustin said...

I completely forgot that she doesn't like her first name being used. I've been corrected on that before, but still forgot.

Kinda reminds me of Barbara Boxer, and I think the sensitivity is for the same reason. But I didn't mean anything by it.

Revenant said...

We can't complain that it wasn't fascinating to us because it wasn't intended for widespread consumption.

It is pretty silly to think that the Academy Awards aren't intended for widespread consumption. The average Best Picture nominee is seen by fewer people than the awards show itself. :)

LoafingOaf said...

Althouse claims: 8b. "The Hurt Locker" wins screenplay.... The acceptance speech is anti-Iraq-war

My recollection of the acceptance speech is that it said it was an unpopular project about an unpopular war. Isn't that just a fact?

For all this honoring of "The Hurt Locker," did anyone say anything valuable and worthy about the war in Iraq? Bigelow praised the troops and wished for their safe return, but that's not what I mean.There's a lot of talk about the bravery of the filmmakers making the film. There was never anything said in support of the fighting in Iraq, but, to be fair, there was never any opposition to it expressed.

Yet you previously claimed that the screenwriter of the film made some big anti-Iraq war acceptance speech. You imagined that because you were looking for some opportunity to feed your hillbillies something to go off on.

But you think it is a bad thing that no one got on the podium praising George W. Bush and Dick Cheney for invading Iraq. Your husband, after all, wants statues built honoring Dick Cheney. But most intelligent people would not support invading Iraq knowing what we know now. It was a mistake. I supported it when we first invaded, and I was wrong. Althouse doesn't like to admit she was wrong about anything.

The reason no one stood at the podium praising the foreign plicy of George W. Bush is because even George W. bush himself would not do what he did had he had the chance to do it all over again knowing what he knows now. All his daddy can do is weep over his son's lack of prudence.

Revenant said...

I know that journalists covering wars are every bit as in danger as the troops

Well, they used to be. These days they mostly hang out in hotels and let local stringers do the news-gathering.

There are exceptions, but they ARE exceptions.

wright said...

Ann said, "Why must they waste our time with this musical crap?" Sorry Ann, no sympathy here. You're the one who chose to waste your time with the whole Oscar crap. It is all of a piece...

Unknown said...

The Oscars: An evening of Hollywood punishing you for not watching their dumb movies.

Fen said...

There's a lot of talk about the bravery of the filmmakers making the film."

Did they mention any of the filmmakers who Spoke Truth To Islam and were murdered for it?

Or did they simply call each other "heroic"?

Fen said...

Loafing Libtard: But most intelligent people would not support invading Iraq knowing what we know now.

Wrong.

And its ironic that you claim "intelligence" while playing the rhetorical fallacy that "all the smart kids believe x".

I bet you were the girl who thought blowing the football team would make you popular.

You're spoon-fed lefty lies and propaganda, and you swallow it all up. Your entire belief system is a result of wanting to sit at the "cool kids" table.

Tank said...

In NJ Cablevision and ABC were having a contract dispute which they "paused" 13 minutes into the show, ie. they started showing the Oscars 13 minutes in. We didn't know, by that time we were watching NCIS. Good show. I have a crush on Abby.

The Hurt Locker. This, I thought, was a good small movie. In ten years people will look back and say, how did that win? Think about some of the GREAT movies of all time that you've seen. Compare that to Hurt. Really, not in the same league. IMHO.

Automatic_Wing said...

But most intelligent people would not support invading Iraq knowing what we know now. It was a mistake. I supported it when we first invaded, and I was wrong. Althouse doesn't like to admit she was wrong about anything.

It's pretty funny that you believe supporting a war until something goes wrong makes you some kind of fucking moral exemplar. You're the type who would've been calling for Mr. Lincoln to sue for peace after the first Bull Run.

Nichevo said...

Jeremy, where have you been? I got to call Althouse a grade-climbing fellatrix and she said in essence The system was set up to avoid climbing. (Very lawyerly BTW! Kudos!)

She didn't even deny making teacher porn with Meade! Is there no spirit of fun in you?

TW: antancu. I think you better take an antancu, it might cure your sour disposition. (Oh, "antancu" means "Drano" in Hungarian? D'oh!)

oh, new TW: pomye. TW called you that, I didn't.

prairie wind said...

I didn't watch the Oscars, and Blind Side is the only movie I watched. Oh, I guess I saw Up, too (which was good until those weird dogs showed up).

But about The Hurt Locker and the oohs and ahs about the bravery of the filmmakers... Terri Gross interviewed an actor from the movie the other day and she was all breathless "So what did it feel like, putting that helmet on?" and the actor talked very seriously about how isolated he felt in the helmet. I heard only that much of the interview--just enough to make me wonder why she doesn't interview a real soldier on one of those crews? Instead, we get to hear what it felt like to pretend to be a soldier.

Swoon Queen said...

Regarding Mo'Nique's speech and the performance vs. politics comment, David Carr of the NYT wrote a great piece on her that explains the statement perfectly. http://nyti.ms/bfDOsz

Michael said...

"And frankly, I'm not sure what Mo'nique meant by "It can be about the performance, and not the politics.""

All that meant is that she was seen as not playing Hollywood politics to win the award. Has nothing to do with anything bigger than that.

David said...

Everytime you write about Hollywood, you should use the tag "smug."

orbicularioculi said...

@Nichevo. Your unfunny base commentary is neither amusing nor useful. It really is "nothing", just like your name.

Rob said...

Am I the only one who discerned in Streisand's "Well, the time has come" a strong note of self-pity? She clearly believes her not winning a best director Oscar for "The Prince of Tides" was a result of gender prejudice. Suck it up, Babs.

Richard said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Richard said...

"They gave Karl Malden the final spot, and that was not predicted. People thought it would be either Patrick Swayze (who was put first) or Natasha Richardson (who was tucked in the middle). Only one choked me up, Brittany Murphy. . . . "

Your initial reaction is a faux-quandary that manifests a generational myopia, understandable indeed; but Karl Malden's awards and achievements, and his entire body of work were deserving of the honor beyond any peradventure. So many memorable performances (and all with that nose!)

kkollwitz said...

"...sinewy..."

Thanks for this adjective. Hollywood women have been looking weirdly stringy to me for the last decade or so, but your choice of 'sinewy' describes them more accurately.

Nichevo said...

Orby, I have to be modest here. Jeremy is my utter superior in the production and delivery of nothing. And I see you too are a contender.

Since you are just a camper anyway I will not bother explaining anything else, like the subtleties of Prof. Althouse's reaction. Be satisfied that I read your remarks and that I will never get those thirty seconds of my life back. KTHXBAI