Pebrero 27, 2011

Oscars, anyone?

I haven't seen any of the movies, but I'm DVR-ing the show and will dip in from time to time. You can talk about it here and I might say something now and then.

For example, Jennifer Hudson has a smashing dress.

UPDATE: Man, this show sucks so bad.

UPDATE2: I'm IM-ing with my son Chris. I write: "is any celebrity saying anything pro-union or in support of the wisconsin protesters?" And he's all:
haven't heard anything

oh gwyneth paltrow mentioned you

in the middle of the song

she stopped and said you know ann althouse

needs to stop criticizing those protestors
LOL.

113 komento:

Tibore ayon kay ...

The show's not 10 minutes in, and the first lesbian joke comes out.

Fen ayon kay ...

No thank you.

1) its boring

2) bunch of pampered elites with little talent

3) they won't be able to resist some ignorant political statement

4) they poison the world with their cultural values. Its one of the few things I agree with Al Queda on.

Shanna ayon kay ...

She's come a long way from that hideous pink thing she wore on AI years ago.

I love JHud, but I'm not watching the Oscars.

Known Unknown ayon kay ...

Like I said, something worthwhile, like Mildred Pierce is on TCM right now.

Being a screenwriter, I enjoy parts of the Oscars, just not the whole thing.

rasqual ayon kay ...

Maybe I'm just getting old, but 10 minutes into the red carpet stuff I'd had it. One word came to mind: "vapid." Then "banal" chimed in. Before a lexical parade of pejoratives could propose themselves, I tuned out. Some great films this year, but loving film doesn't oblige me to care much about this increasingly lame ceremony.

MadisonMan ayon kay ...

Being a screenwriter, I enjoy parts of the Oscars, just not the whole thing.

I feel the same way about so many screenplays! (ba-dump!)

I'm being productive at work, but I don't like to miss out on the Oscars. I wonder if someone will mention backwater little Wisconsin!

rasqual ayon kay ...

"The show's not 10 minutes in, and the first lesbian joke comes out."

Who was she?

Hindi-nagpakilala ayon kay ...

The mere idea of ten nominees per award gives me a headache. So, this will be my 30th consecutive year of Doing Something Else.

Tell me the winners tomorrow. I might even put them in my netflix.

Skay ayon kay ...

"The show's not 10 minutes in, and the first lesbian joke comes out."

I stopped to watch it for a minute and that is what was on.

I have better things to do.

Tibore ayon kay ...

And now the first F-bomb.

Seriously, folks, this is better than a train wreck.

Tibore ayon kay ...

Come back, Billy Crystal. All is forgiven.

Fen ayon kay ...

I wonder if someone will mention backwater little Wisconsin!

Of course they will. They can't help but prostitute their craft. See, they need to get invited to the right parties, to meet the right directors and producers, to be taken to the right casting couch.

Whores all.

bwebster ayon kay ...

As I said elsewhere, it's hard to take the Oscars seriously when Christopher Nolan wasn't even nominated for Best Director.

That said, "The King's Speech" was (IMHO) the best film of 2010, edging out "Inception", so I'll be happy if it wins lot of awards.

bwebster ayon kay ...

Oh, and I was amused when the guy who won 'Best Cinematography' for 'Inception' thanked his union crew. I thought, "Yeah, that's why so many movies and TV shows are made in Canada, right?"

Unknown ayon kay ...

helena bonham carter usually looks like she dresses blindfolded in her closet and then, as a final touch, she takes a blow torch to her hair.

One good thing about the oscars is that you can watch them and sleep at the same time.

Tibore ayon kay ...

@bwebster: You ought to go watch the Roger L. Simon Pajama's TV video on that exact topic:

http://pajamasmedia.com/rogerlsimon/2011/02/25/poliwood-what-wisconsin-unions-could-learn-from-hollywood-unions/

That's exactly what happened. Yet, too few people get the irony of the shoutout.

john ayon kay ...

Halie Steinfeld did not win best supporting actress. That's too bad. I thought she was just great.

I don't have high hopes for Jeff Bridges as best actor since he won that not too long ago.

Tibore ayon kay ...

Well, there is some justice in the world. Aaron Sorkin just got played off the stage.

Tibore ayon kay ...

That justice is offset by the fact that he actually won an award, but still... he got played off.

You take 'em where you can get 'em.

Unknown ayon kay ...

Haven't watched the Oscars since Duke Wayne won. Mainly because movies haven't been that good.

PS Meade did a great Greer Garson in the last post, but he forgot to mention all the "little people".

Chennaul ayon kay ...
Naalis ng may-ari ang komentong ito.
Hindi-nagpakilala ayon kay ...

Christian Bale? Seriously? Did he use his Batman voice in that movie?

Chennaul ayon kay ...

I read some where-that they were abstaining from ostentatious jewelry during the Obama Recovery Summer/Winter in the name of *Shared Sacrifice* for the-

"little people".

Aren't we just so lucky?

Widmerpool ayon kay ...

Well Ann, I've seen all the best picture nominees and here's my two cents:

Godawful: Black Swan, Inception

Nothing special: The Kid's Are All RIght

Pretty good: The Fighter, The Social Network, True Grit, Toy Story 3

Best of the lot: The King's Speech, 127 Hours, Winter's Bone

Much better movies not nominated: Never Let Me Go, Blue Valentine, Another Year

dix ayon kay ...

Best score-whoever knocked up Natalie Portman

Tibore ayon kay ...

Trent Reznor now has an Oscar?? Trent Reznor?? From Nine Inch Nails??

D. B. Light ayon kay ...

As far as I was concerned, "Winter's Bone" was the best film of the year. So far tonight it is oh for two.

Tibore ayon kay ...

LOL... on the one hand, there was a second shout-out to the "union" in Hollywood. On the other, he got zero applause, and then got played off.

Sweet.

Synova ayon kay ...

The Poliwood thing about unions is good because both of the guys, Simon and Chetwood?, are union guys and were involved closely with organizing and negotiating and they're clear about the issues that the unions needed to deal with, as well as what has happened since.

Our film crews here in New Mexico have a union, too. As it was explained to me, before they had a union the crew (as an example) would have to show up bright and early or lose their job but wouldn't get paid until the star got there, whenever that happened to be. I don't know anyone who would think that enforcing basic rules, such as if one is required to be at work then one is also required to be paid, is unreasonable.

The problem, as the Poliwood guys point out, is when the union gets those reforms and goes on to the next thing, and the next thing, until they chase movie business away... to Canada.

Tibore ayon kay ...

1.5 hours before the first African-American sighting. And it was in a taped piece.

bwebster ayon kay ...

1.5 hours before the first African-American sighting. And it was in a taped piece.

The Oscars must be a Tea Party rally in disguise! It's so white!

Chennaul ayon kay ...

Ya but I think we finally got the Obama Doctrine:

As Time Goes By.

***

D. B. Light ayon kay ...

Morgan Freeman was in the intro, but is he really black?

Chennaul ayon kay ...

Ooooh goodie!

A Carl Levin cameo.

****

Lem Vibe Bandit ayon kay ...

I just started watching did I miss anything?

Tibore ayon kay ...

I stand corrected. So: 1.5 hours betwee African American appearances.

Rialby ayon kay ...

Anyone else struck by the fact that Obama named a song in a movie that takes place in occupied North Africa? MESSAGE: I CARE!

Lem Vibe Bandit ayon kay ...

I'm rooting for Winters Bone.

Out of all the nominees I've only seen Inception, The Social Network and Winters Bone.

Lem Vibe Bandit ayon kay ...

Did Hollywood just do a bed intruder auto tune?

Tibore ayon kay ...

Yeah, that auto tune moment was when the broadcast officially jumped the shark. I mean, there were runs at the ramp before that, but...

D. B. Light ayon kay ...

Lem, you should check out "True Grit". The Dude isn't up to the Duke's standards but the rest of the film is pretty damn good. Barry Pepper is even better than Robert Duvall, Damon is better than Campbell, and the Steinfeld kid is a wonder to behold.

Chip Ahoy ayon kay ...

Highlights in Advance, possibly more interesting than the real thing.

Revenant ayon kay ...

The Dude isn't up to the Duke's standards but the rest of the film is pretty damn good.

I have to disagree, there. Bridges was vastly better in the role than Wayne was. That was a pity Oscar for Wayne -- it was one of his worst roles.

Tibore ayon kay ...

Line I never thought I'd ever utter: Billy Crystal can save the day.

bwebster ayon kay ...

Want to bet that someone drove out and got Billy Crystal to save this show?

bwebster ayon kay ...

Tibore: apparently great minds think alike.

RuyDiaz ayon kay ...

Who is Jenniffer Hudson?

Perhaps I should get off the Internet....

The Dude ayon kay ...
Naalis ng may-ari ang komentong ito.
bwebster ayon kay ...

OK, the bit with Bob Hope thanking Billy Crystal and then (at the end) introducing Robert Downey and Jude Law was just plain creepy.

Lem Vibe Bandit ayon kay ...

Who is Jenniffer Hudson?

An American Idol graduate..

Not that there is anything wrong with that.

Lem Vibe Bandit ayon kay ...
Naalis ng may-ari ang komentong ito.
bwebster ayon kay ...

Watched "The Man Who Shot Liberty Valence" this weekend...

An outstanding film, and one that's a lot darker than most people who haven't seen it might expect. That and "The Searchers" may be the Duke's best Westerns.

rcocean ayon kay ...

The new "True Grit" is pretty good, but its much more darker and much less rousing and comic than the original. But its better directed and has a bigger budget.

As for Jeff Bridges, I knew John Wayne, John Wayne was a favorite of mine, and Mr. Bridges you are no John Wayne.

Bridges is a fine actor who gives a fine performance pretending to be Rooster Cogburn, John Wayne WAS Rooster Cogburn.

Chennaul ayon kay ...

Oh gawd I tuned out after Carl Levin-and then I turn it back on....

what do you call what Gwyneth Paltrow is doing?

***

Tibore ayon kay ...

Paltrow? I was wondering what the hell Dido was doing.

Lem Vibe Bandit ayon kay ...

Where is Trooper?
Somebody wake up Trooper.

I found Randy Newman graciously funny.

bwebster ayon kay ...

Are the Oscars still on?


;-)

Lem Vibe Bandit ayon kay ...

Paltrow? I was wondering what the hell Dido was doing?

You think that if you are married to a musician that musician husband would give you some pointers.. like.. don't!

Lem Vibe Bandit ayon kay ...

oh God.. look whos up at the plate..

Tibore ayon kay ...

And for the final insult to the dead: Celine Dion!

DADvocate ayon kay ...

I can't remember the last time I watched the Oscars. More than ten years, probably more than 20. Couldn't care less. I only go to the theater 2-3 times a year.

D. B. Light ayon kay ...

Tom Doniphan was definitely one of Duke's best roles, but "The Searchers" is a far more important film, and Duke really sells the western hero as borderline psychopath.

madAsHell ayon kay ...

ahh....Aren't all these awards bought, and paid for, BEFORE the actual event. I mean....good movies are overlooked while marginal movies will be rewarded with lavish awards.

It's like an auction, they want to create a frenzy, and draw in a few more dollars for their product.

oh yeah, and maybe sell a few designer dresses to 18 year old prom queens.

w/v: codula - the academy awards!...they play it again, and see if anybody will sing along!

Tibore ayon kay ...

Brittany Murphy and Corey Haim get shafted in the "dead actors" montage. Yep.

Lem Vibe Bandit ayon kay ...

A save.. I see Lena Horne died last year..

Lem Vibe Bandit ayon kay ...

Wait a minute.. there is a nomination called Black Swan..

Whats all this there are no blacks nominated this year?

Lem Vibe Bandit ayon kay ...

The Brits.. allways stealing the show.. bastards ;)

Tibore ayon kay ...

Anne Hathaway definitely deserves much credit as an actress. She completely sold that "my co-host is doing a great job" line as if she believed it.

Lem Vibe Bandit ayon kay ...

Oh wait, I did see that lesbian movie.. The Kids are Alright. I totally forgot.

It just was not that good.

shake-and-bake ayon kay ...

Mmmm. Marisa Tomei.

Tibore ayon kay ...

And not only did Annette Benning lose to another young actress, but the first reaction close-up was on her. That had to hurt.

Lem Vibe Bandit ayon kay ...

And Rush said there were no blacks nominated..

Rush's percentage on being right just went down big time.

Lem Vibe Bandit ayon kay ...

Yea Javier looks like a real man..

Not your baby Leonardo D Caprio baby face.

Lem Vibe Bandit ayon kay ...

Speaking of baby face .. the guy that played Zuckerberg.

Lem Vibe Bandit ayon kay ...

The Brit actors by the time they make it to Hollywood they have been prepared, they have been thru the ringer in the English theater.

They are good.

They can sing, play an instrument and they can act.

Lem Vibe Bandit ayon kay ...

.. for the most part..

Once in a while a Hugh Grant comes along making us pause.

Lem Vibe Bandit ayon kay ...

I predict the kings speech

Lem Vibe Bandit ayon kay ...

I was right

bwebster ayon kay ...

OK, "The King's Speech" got best picture, best director, best actor. There is some sanity in Hollywood.

I'm a Shaaaaark ayon kay ...

Damn, was this tonight? Shit. 49th year in a row I've missed it. Crap.

Rialby ayon kay ...

I've raised it before and I'll raise it again - why hasn't some enterprising reporter asked Obama about "The King's Speech"? If it was Bush in the same situation, there would have been MoDo column about it every week analyzing the anger that it was causing Bush and the hatred he had for the British.


The movie is about someone that Obama detests - the man who imprisoned his radical Muslim grandfather. Did he see it? Does he plan to?

I'm a Shaaaaark ayon kay ...

Errr... I mean 40th.

William ayon kay ...

On a per capita basis there are more academy awards given to dramas involving royal family tribulations than to Holocaust survivor stories......I understand that James Franco will be starring in a movie about Prince William and his struggles with male pattern baldness.

Beau ayon kay ...

Yeah, that's why so many movies and TV shows are made in Canada, right

Wrong. Have be a union member in Canada as well. Movies are made in Canada because until recently the US $ v the Canadian $, amongst other things. Another being, it's just easier to block of sections of town and cities for whatever reason. The small municipality I live has at least one movie being filmed at any one time. The community loves the business the movie industry brings to the town.

Chip Ahoy ayon kay ...

Ha ha ha, son Chris is funny.

Jeremy ayon kay ...

Lem said..."A save.. I see Lena Horne died last year.."

You're happy Lena Horne died?

Very strange.

Jeremy ayon kay ...

I see The Queen's suck-ups aren't exactly movie fans.

I'm shocked.

Lem Vibe Bandit ayon kay ...

You're happy Lena Horne died?

A head fuck for Jeremy..

It doesn't count.. it was too easy.

Fred4Pres ayon kay ...

I watched the Towering Inferno tonight. It holds up well despite the seventies decor.

God it reminds me of 9/11.

former law student ayon kay ...

If the professor is looking for a non-Wisconsin story, here's the latest news from Lake Zurich, IL:

All four candidates for the Lake Zurich Unit District 95 school board believe creationism should be taught alongside evolution in science classes.

One, Chris Wallace, went so far as to say creationism is fact and evolution is just a theory.


Read more: http://www.dailyherald.com/
article/20110225/news/702259898
/#ixzz1FEW70pbS

Lem Vibe Bandit ayon kay ...

I watched the Towering Inferno tonight.

A fireman stole the woman I loved.. I decided from that time forward that I hated them all... including the 9/11 "heroes".

Revenant ayon kay ...

If the professor is looking for a non-Wisconsin story, here's the latest news from Lake Zurich, IL:

Maybe the Wisconsin Democrats can do something about it while they are over there.

former law student ayon kay ...

Oh, and I was amused when the guy who won 'Best Cinematography' for 'Inception' thanked his union crew. I thought, "Yeah, that's why so many movies and TV shows are made in Canada, right?"

Hello? There are filmworker unions in Canada -- probably stronger than in the US. Try sitting through the credits some time.

Lem Vibe Bandit ayon kay ...

I'm just kidding.. I hate all fireman ;)

former law student ayon kay ...

A fireman stole the woman I loved

He did you a favor, Lem. A woman who truly loved you wouldn't even look at another man, much less violate your trust. She would have broken your heart sooner or later.

Lem Vibe Bandit ayon kay ...
Naalis ng may-ari ang komentong ito.
Lem Vibe Bandit ayon kay ...

that's nice of you to say fls..

BJM ayon kay ...

@rasqual

One word came to mind: "vapid." Then "banal" chimed in.

Exactly, the ditzy fashion coverage on E! has become more entertaining than the Oscars.

I bailed when they gave Sorkin an Oscar for being a partisan asshole.

Largo ayon kay ...

DON'T FEED TROLLS.

BJM ayon kay ...

@D.B.Light

Ford's final shot gets me no matter how many times I've seen The Searchers.

el polacko ayon kay ...

sure it's an industry patting itself on the back, but the fact is that there was some mighty fine acting talent on display in several movies this year. i had some favorites who weren't awarded, but i can't really gripe about any of the winners.
there were a few sweet and touching moments, some glaring gaffes, and james and anne were fresh and fun as the hosts..what else can one ask from an award show ?

Hindi-nagpakilala ayon kay ...

Just read the following on eonline by Joal Ryan:
"One point if you guessed Pfister was making a statement by thanking his "union" crew on the telecast. "I think what's going on in Wisconsin right now is madness," he says.

Read more: http://www.eonline.com/uberblog/b228232_you_thought_oscar_show_was_bad_guess.html#ixzz1FEcPkCTl

Hindi-nagpakilala ayon kay ...
Naalis ng isang administrator ng blog ang komentong ito.
Toad Trend ayon kay ...

Gwyneth Paltrow beclowns herself every time she opens her trap.

You and Meade do what you do. No shame. Well done.

Hindi-nagpakilala ayon kay ...

The new True Grit was darker because it was more true to the book. The Wayne version played to Wayne's style. I disagree that Wayne didn't deserve his Oscar - he played Rooster wonderfully. But so did Bridges, in another way.

Hindi-nagpakilala ayon kay ...

Christopher Nolan wasn't even nominated for Best Director.

Didn't he direct "Inception," which we turned off after 25 dreary, stupid, pretentious, physics-challenged* minutes?


* Really? The chair alone couldn't hold the weight of Leo rappelling down the wall but the chair plus a 110-lb actress could?

rasqual ayon kay ...

"The chair alone couldn't hold the weight of Leo rappelling down the wall but the chair plus a 110-lb actress could?"

You take exception to this but not to how that scene ended in a flood of inexplicable water?

I hope you take my point. ;-)

lemondog ayon kay ...

I pre-ordered 'Inside Job' dvd from Amazon after listening to an interview with Investment banker Daniel Alpert who is featured in the film.

Interview dated 2/26/2011 at FinancialSense

prairie wind ayon kay ...

Didn't watch the Oscars...but wanted to thank Sixty Grit for bringing The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance into the discussion. Watched it just a couple of weeks ago with the family. My son loves it like I do, so I'm doing the mother job pretty damn well.

Jeff Bridges had a tough job--playing Rooster without looking as if he was playing John Wayne, and yet he couldn't stray too far, or we wouldn't have recognized Rooster. Because John Wayne was Rooster, as someone else said. Bridges deserved an Oscar more for True Grit than for Crazy Heart, though.

I'll try to watch The Searchers next weekend.

lemondog ayon kay ...

TWM said...

The new True Grit was darker because it was more true to the book. The Wayne version played to Wayne's style. I disagree that Wayne didn't deserve his Oscar - he played Rooster wonderfully. But so did Bridges, in another way.

Have seen Wayne's version and only trailer on Bridge version. Like your observation on actors providing differing interpretations. Also different period. Wayne's True Grit was 1969. At the time a darker version may not have been considered salable.

jr565 ayon kay ...

When Crystal came out and spoke for a few minutes you could tell that his type of banter was what was missing and the crowd seemed to notice it as well.
Franco had one or two funny lines but otherwise stuck very close to script and seemed a little uneasy. And Ann seemed nice and energetic. But almost came across like a chearleader.No personality to speak of at all.
The two hosts couldn't do the job of one Billy Crystal.

The only time I even chuckled was when Franco came out in drag and said that Charlie Sheen had beeped him. BUt that was it.
Really boring show. I can't believe I even watched it.

tim maguire ayon kay ...
Naalis ng may-ari ang komentong ito.
Unknown ayon kay ...

Hi, Ann.

Love your Bloggingheads spots.

1. It is a conflict to have government employees in the same retirement (pension) system as elected government officials. That should end.

2. Perhaps the answer to collective bargaining would be to just always go to binding arbitration with a neutral, independent 3rd party, streamed online on the internet. This would force the union and the government to put forth its best proposal right at the start and then the arbitrator will chose which one is more realistic and fair. It would cut down on a lot of posturing and the people would learn something.

3. You don't think that the use public employee union dues to the Democratic party is sustainable or correct. Yet what about commercial interests who are given tax breaks and monetary incentives for setting up businesses in the state. That's tax monies too, (or the burden is on the taxpayer). Oftentimes, these schemes do not produce the number of jobs predicted, and when the tax breaks expire, the businesses leave as well. Buffett is famous for this, as well as companies like Wal-Mart and Bass. Don't you think that corporate interests have lived off the taxpayer gravy train as well?

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