Oscars

[mavrach]

So what did everybody think?

[mavrach]

They basically admitted that the nominated films didn't interest the general public. It was odd seeing something like Pineapple Express get an extended focus, while there were no joking references to any of the nominees since nobody would get it. It's sad, but probably a very smart strategy.

I haven't seen Slumdog Millinionaire yet, but I'm happy that Danny Boyle is now an Oscar winner.

Best Animated Film continues to be a joke, and even the presenter is making jokes that Pixar always wins. Actually I think any category that they can only get three nominees in probably shouldn't exist.

What's up with the Short Films? Why don't I ever hear of these movies (unless they're played in front of a Pixar release), and why are they all foreign films? Everybody seems to glance past these, but since they get such recognition each year you'd think they'd be in a higher profile.

If the announcer has to explain what a presenter is famous for, they probably shouldn't be presenting. They said "Amanda Seyfreid from Mama Mia..." Just give the stage to somebody who might actually be famous.

I've said this before, but a professional actor of Oscar calibre shouldn't need a telepromptor. You can tell when somebody knows what they're talking about and reads their audience, versus somebody just reading the words given to them.

[BenShultz]

I didn't see Penn's win coming, but I guess the Academy just can't avoid honoring at least 1 actor/actress for a biopic every year. I suppose he deserved it just as much as Rourke did.

[azul017]

An absolute sham -- it's a damn shame The Dark Knight didn't win any more nominations aside from the inevitable Ledger win and Sound Editing (the Cinematography snub was especially maddening, Pfister did an incredible job). Also sad to see Button didn't get the love aside from three technical wins.

Unsurprisingly, Slumdog lapped up virtually every nomination it snagged. Again, the Oscars favor snobbery over more popular, critically-acclaimed films -- I would've rather seen Milk or Button walk away with Best Picture instead.

On the other hand, maybe Boyle can get 28 Months Later rolling with that nice, shiny Oscar he has.

[Andrew Forbes]

An absolute sham -- it's a damn shame The Dark Knight didn't win any more nominations aside from the inevitable Ledger win and Sound Editing (the Cinematography snub was especially maddening, Pfister did an incredible job). Also sad to see Button didn't get the love aside from three technical wins.

Unsurprisingly, Slumdog lapped up virtually every nomination it snagged. Again, the Oscars favor snobbery over more popular, critically-acclaimed films -- I would've rather seen Milk or Button walk away with Best Picture instead.

On the other hand, maybe Boyle can get 28 Months Later rolling with that nice, shiny Oscar he has.

Except Slumdog actually had exceptionally good cinematography. And it's popular. And critically acclaimed. Oh, and it's a colorful, crowd-pleasing, feel-good flick. If you can explain how that equates to snobbery, then explain, by all means.

[Andrew Forbes]

Oh yeah, and Boyle deserves the win for making Slumdog as watchable as it is.

[Boba Fett]

The only award that I thought was a true sham was Milk over In Bruges for Best Original Screenplay.

Rourke screwed his chances weeks ago when he said he was wrestling at Wrestlemania; his last minute reversal saying he'll just be in attendance was too little too late. I say in a week or two, he'll be back on the card in a match; the guy is a great actor but acting always seems come second in his life to chasing childish dreams.

Penn as expected acted like a douche; ironic, such a bitter, angry, jerk wins for playing a compassionate and rational man.

I still think Eastwood deserved a Best Actor nomination, but the Academy didn't know what to do with a character like Walt Kowalski.

[Shmoooooo]

I loved how they presented the main awards with 5 previously winners of the said award each giving a speech about one of the nominees. It was classy, and a great way of giving honour to each nominee. Best change I've ever seen in the Academy Awards.

[Dan Mancini]

I loved how they presented the main awards with 5 previously winners of the said award each giving a speech about one of the nominees. It was classy, and a great way of giving honour to each nominee. Best change I've ever seen in the Academy Awards.

I found the format even more nauseatingly self-congratulatory than usual. The great jobs and you nailed its had me reaching for my barf bag. I kept waiting for one of the five presenters to walk out into the audience and fellate his nominee.

The musical numbers were, well, just gawdawful (as expected). And I was pissed that they reversed the normal order of the Supporting Actor/Supporting Actress presentations, forcing me to stay tuned in longer than I wanted. (As a side note, since actresses don't want to be called actresses anymore, shouldn't the lead and supporting awards be reduced to single, non-gender-specific categories? e.g. Best Lead Actor and Best Supporting Actor.)

Tina Fey and Steve Martin were awesome, though. They shoulda co-hosted.

[Steve T Power]

Didn't bother watching. But that winners list was pretty much exactly what i expected.

[molly1216]

i tuned in back and forth, i found it easier to watch with the sound off actually.
but i did find the video for the musical at the end of Slumdog Millionaire
http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fusea ... D=49482258

i'm gonna have to buy that.

[Bryan Pope]

The musical numbers were, well, just gawdawful (as expected).

Tina Fey and Steve Martin were awesome, though. They shoulda co-hosted.

I'll strongly second those two points. I thought Jackman did a fine job; he just needed better material (Joel Stein, if you're reading, sorry, but it's true).

But Fey and Martin rocked, as did Ben Stiller. Also liked Penn's speech, and I was pleased with Winslet's win.

[Pere Jules]

I really liked the tribute to Queen Latifah, and thought it was a particularly nice touch to show images of the notable people who died in the past year during her song. I just wish I could have read some of their names ...

[BrettCullum]

It was a good night if you were Indian or somehow affiliated with MILK.

I'm surprised nobody mentioned Penelope Cruz winning. It was a year too late considering her performance in Almovodar's VOLVER was far more Oscar worthy, but I thought it was cool she had the class to thank him first in her speech. She moved me as the most honestly grateful winner of the night other than the guy from MILK.

The speech from the screenwriter of MILK was very good, and everything Sean Penn's SHOULD have been. He was out classed by a young gay guy originally from San Antonio who just had his first big script filmed. I thought his moment was moving, and I certainly think he deserved the award for making the film so clear cut with his work. I loved him because his political message made sense based on who he is in real life.

I don't begrudge Sean Penn the win because it was his most likeable performance since he was Spicolli in FAST TIMES. But he did come off strange and smug, very self-congratulatory. I don't think Mickey Rourke should have won over him though. Penn did do the best job of any actor this year, biopic or not. It's just a shame he comes off as an ass in real life. Even him shouting out to the gay community seemed odd; whereas, James Franco looked more comfy with all of it in his Pineapple Express skit. LOL!

Speaking of appearing gay, how about that Hugh Jackman? He looked like a Broadway Queen prancing around with Beyonce in a Baz Luhrman spectacle. I'm never going to be able to sit through WOLVERINE ORIGINS with a straight face. I thought he was a "safe host" who said nothing interesting, and I sort of forgot about him other than his rather gleefully embarassing love of singing and dancing. I like the edgey hosts better, but he was fine for what he was. Yeah, Tina Fey and Steve Martin should totally host next year.

It was predictable and safe this year. We applaud the Internationally socially relevant movie with the foreign ensemble cast, the actor award goes to a biopic, actress is English, and supporting people are those who were snubbed last year by Oscar. I'm sorry but Heath Ledger should have won for BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN, even with his maniacal turn as the Joker. But the gay cowboy who swallows all his feelings was far more of a stretch and the real reason for him to win. Ah well!

[zircona1]

The speech from the screenwriter of MILK was very good, and everything Sean Penn's SHOULD have been. He was out classed by a young gay guy originally from San Antonio who just had his first big script filmed. I thought his moment was moving, and I certainly think he deserved the award for making the film so clear cut with his work. I loved him because his political message made sense based on who he is in real life.

Agreed.

I also really liked Hugh Jackman's opening musical number, where he pulled Anne Hathaway up - she can sing!

The actor/actress categories where the past winners spoke of the nominees I was mostly cold on. On the one hand, it was cool they were trying something new, but it made the show DRAG. And I wanted to see film clips of why these people were nominated, not just a gushing speech from someone else.

And I agree with Dan - have Tina Fey and Steve Martin host next year.

[BenShultz]

And I wanted to see film clips of why these people were nominated, not just a gushing speech from someone else.

Couldn't agree more. I was really hoping they would play Kirk Lazarus's "Oscar Moment" scene ("Ain't nothing but a thang!") as Downey's Tropic Thunder clip.

[hoytereden]

I loved how they presented the main awards with 5 previously winners of the said award each giving a speech about one of the nominees. It was classy, and a great way of giving honour to each nominee. Best change I've ever seen in the Academy Awards.

I found the format even more nauseatingly self-congratulatory than usual. The great jobs and you nailed its had me reaching for my barf bag. I kept waiting for one of the five presenters to walk out into the audience and fellate his nominee.

My sentiments exactly. After the first ccouple of these I would just put it on mute and wait till whoever was opening the envelope until I turned the sound back on. The presenters themselves looked uncomfortable and awkward doing these kiss-up speeches. Hopefully, a one and done experiment. I also agree with Pere Jules that the tribute to the many folks who died over the past year was terrible for the folks like me who were straining to see the picture and name while the camera kept acting like it was a moving target! Overall, this years shake-up made no improvement at all and, in fact, I found it worse than the previous non-memorable shows. Hugh Jackman tried but I quickly forgot he was even hosting the show. Btw, was Clint or Nicholson there? Usually they're front and center waith numerous close-ups and references. Just wondering-maybe I missed them when I was frequently changing back and forth to TCM.

[barnaclelapse]

Tina Fey and Steve Martin were awesome, though. They shoulda co-hosted.

That's pretty much the thought I had at the end of the show.

I kind of wanted Rourke to win, but I did actually really like Milk.

Sean Penn's speech was surprisingly humble, if that's the right way to put it.

[Dunnyman]

I really liked the tribute to Queen Latifah, and thought it was a particularly nice touch to show images of the notable people who died in the past year during her song. I just wish I could have read some of their names ...

I just couldn't believe that they missed George Carlin, I mean, one of the greatest entertainers ever, and they missed him completely?????

where he pulled Anne Hathaway up - she can sing!

Um...duh? This a surprise to you? She's a superb singer, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XPPH-UzsAgM as this should prove...

[BrettCullum]

I just wish they had made Natalie Portman rap like she did for SNL a few years ago.

I found it insane that Tilda Swinton somehow managed to find ANOTHER dress that looked like a trash bag. At least this year she wore makeup.

[mona]

i thought anne hathaway should hae won best actor in a supporting role ... i thought that was a let down. i also would have been full circle for Mickey but....Penn was good