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Oscars Thread

By Jeralyn, Section Media
Posted on Sun Mar 02, 2014 at 07:36:24 PM EST
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It's time for the Oscars. Up for Best Picture:

  • American Hustle
  • Captain Phillips
  • Dallas Buyers Club
  • Gravity
  • Her
  • Nebraska
  • Philomena
  • 12 Years a Slave
  • The Wolf of Wall Street

Here's a thread for your thoughts.

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    Oscars Thread | 100 comments (100 topical)

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    Jared Leto: Amazing (5.00 / 2) (#1)
    by Militarytracy on Sun Mar 02, 2014 at 07:47:38 PM EST


    His mom is gorgeous too (5.00 / 1) (#2)
    by ruffian on Sun Mar 02, 2014 at 08:08:08 PM EST


    Parent
    He gave me sniffles and damp eyes (5.00 / 1) (#6)
    by Militarytracy on Sun Mar 02, 2014 at 08:43:11 PM EST
    Thank God poetry wasn't involved :)

    Parent
    Matthew McConaughey is so sweet (5.00 / 1) (#3)
    by ruffian on Sun Mar 02, 2014 at 08:14:58 PM EST
    with Kim Novak.

    Ellen is ok, not all that funny yet. Kind of low key.

    I think she is doing well (none / 0) (#5)
    by Militarytracy on Sun Mar 02, 2014 at 08:42:02 PM EST
    She will receive glowing reviews simply for not being Seth MacFarlane :)....and not singing boob songs.

    Parent
    I liked the selfie with the stars (5.00 / 1) (#9)
    by ruffian on Sun Mar 02, 2014 at 09:11:31 PM EST
    JLaw threatening to grab someone's b**b. That was funny.

    Parent
    You're (none / 0) (#39)
    by lentinel on Mon Mar 03, 2014 at 08:13:49 AM EST
    probably right.

    It is enough of a relief that she is not Seth.

    But...

    I guess they can't unearth Bob Hope --- or maybe someone who actually has had some contact with Cinema...

    but...

    Not Seth = whew!

    Parent

    Lupita Nyong'o! (5.00 / 3) (#7)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Sun Mar 02, 2014 at 08:51:35 PM EST
    She took my breath away, and looked positively gorgeous and radiant this afternoon on the red carpet. I'm in love. Please don't tell The Spouse.

    And congrats to Jared Leto for his well-deserved Oscar as supporting actor. Let's hope he doesn't wait another six or seven years before gracing us again with his big-screen presence.

    Aloha.

    Obviously everyone who knows her (none / 0) (#10)
    by Militarytracy on Sun Mar 02, 2014 at 09:18:27 PM EST
    Loves her.

    Parent
    She graduated from Hampshire College (5.00 / 1) (#13)
    by Peter G on Sun Mar 02, 2014 at 09:36:30 PM EST
    in Amherst, Massachusetts half a dozen of years before one of our daughters. (And then got her MFA at Yale.) Word is, you are quite right about her.

    Parent
    Beauty and brains. (none / 0) (#24)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Sun Mar 02, 2014 at 10:54:20 PM EST
    The combo certainly becomes her.

    Parent
    Oh, Goldie Hawn (5.00 / 5) (#15)
    by shoephone on Sun Mar 02, 2014 at 10:16:25 PM EST
    You used to be so cute, and then you went and got your face injected with all that garbage. Who convinced all these Hollywood women that looking like a freaky clownfish is better than just growing old gracefully?

    Make it stop. Please.

    O! M! G! Make it stop, indeed! (5.00 / 1) (#37)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Mon Mar 03, 2014 at 02:32:11 AM EST
    Our Oscar telecast began after the show was mostly over, so we're just watching it now.

    And you're complaining about Goldie Hawn and her gravity-defying injections, and rightly so. But honestly now, why are women so hard on other women when it comes to looks, to the point of ignoring the even more obvious?

    I mean, let's get real here. And yes, I'm talking to you, John Travolta! What in the ever-lovin' world are you thinking, with that age-denying face lacquer probably first patented by Earl Scheib, and that shiny, dark burgundy-sheened rugpatch adorning the top of your head?

    Dude, you are 62 years old! Effin dealing with it already, learn to age gracefully, and stop scaring other people's grandkids like that!

    =:-O>

    Parent

    Life imitates art, I guess. (none / 0) (#23)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Sun Mar 02, 2014 at 10:51:12 PM EST
    In the 1996 film "First Wives Club," she played a middle-aged actress whose Botox injections go similarly awry.

    Parent
    Agreed. (none / 0) (#53)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Mon Mar 03, 2014 at 11:43:34 AM EST
    When she smiled the corners of her mouth were behind her ears.

    Parent
    Ha! Travolta totally renamed Idina Menzel (5.00 / 1) (#16)
    by ruffian on Sun Mar 02, 2014 at 10:26:29 PM EST
    He had one line....

    John Ridley (5.00 / 2) (#18)
    by shoephone on Sun Mar 02, 2014 at 10:30:42 PM EST
    Best acceptance speech of the evening.

    dang good show tonight (5.00 / 3) (#20)
    by DFLer on Sun Mar 02, 2014 at 10:42:14 PM EST
    Ellen: good job, pace: good enough, orchestra: fabulous even though they were down the street instead of in the pit.

    My highlight: Pink's outstanding performance on Somewhere Over the Rainbow.

    I agree on the orchestra (none / 0) (#25)
    by ruffian on Sun Mar 02, 2014 at 10:57:57 PM EST
    And  many good acceptance speeches. But I kept wishing Pink was kd lang singing that song.

    Parent
    whatever (none / 0) (#27)
    by DFLer on Sun Mar 02, 2014 at 11:03:55 PM EST
    KD would have done a good job, but Pink's reading  was fantastic. Dare I say KD would have been good but more standard.

    Parent
    I guess I'm old fashioned (5.00 / 2) (#30)
    by ruffian on Sun Mar 02, 2014 at 11:06:18 PM EST
    I didn't like her taking breaths every  phrase. Just a matter of taste. The audience seemed to love it.

    Parent
    How funny, I had a problem with (none / 0) (#33)
    by Militarytracy on Sun Mar 02, 2014 at 11:12:53 PM EST
    The breath in the middle of lines too.  And as it bothered me I scolded myself that I was being old fashion and needed to have a more encompassing acceptance of artistic expression and experience, because Pink obviously has an amazing voice and is an amazing talent.  It was intentional

    Parent
    Yes, me too (none / 0) (#35)
    by ruffian on Sun Mar 02, 2014 at 11:24:30 PM EST
    I know she has the pipes, so it was definitely intentional, trying to make it her own. Just not my cup of tea.

    Parent
    I saw Oprah interview her... (none / 0) (#52)
    by sj on Mon Mar 03, 2014 at 11:38:37 AM EST
    ...  and she said that she sometimes does that on purpose to show she is singing live and not lip synching. Especially when she is being a gymnast and a singer.

    Parent
    If that is really the reason (none / 0) (#92)
    by ruffian on Tue Mar 04, 2014 at 12:20:21 PM EST
    even when she is standing perfectly still....I don't know what to say. Can I demand a do-over?

    I can see needing to regulate breathing differently while  singing and doing gymnastics. Can't imagine wanting to watch anyone do that  though.

    Parent

    Might be a bit of habit now (none / 0) (#96)
    by sj on Tue Mar 04, 2014 at 02:53:36 PM EST
    Who knows?

    But you should watch before deciding if you would want to see that :) Speaking for myself, I'm really sorry I missed her concert.

    And, while I was looking for that, I found where she talks about it on Oprah.

    Parent

    her Oscar song is on youtube (none / 0) (#99)
    by DFLer on Tue Mar 04, 2014 at 07:26:28 PM EST


    Parent
    I think one of the most beautiful ... (none / 0) (#69)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Mon Mar 03, 2014 at 04:29:18 PM EST
    ... covers of "Over the Rainbow" is by Eva Cassidy, a locally renowned singer from the Washington, D.C. area in the early 1990s. She died tragically from complications of advanced melanoma in November 1996, at only 33 years of age.

    Ms. Cassidy achieved fame posthumously due in large part to a home video recording of her live performance of "Over the Rainbow", which was taped in January 1996 at the popular Washington jazz club Blues Alley.

    "Over the Rainbow" was included in a compilation of her recorded work, "Songbird," which became a huge bestseller in Britain thanks to extensive airplay on the BBC, and eventually charted at No. 1 across the pond. In response to her reception in Britain, ABC News' Nightline devoted an entire show to Ms. Cassidy's life in 2001, which served as her re-introduction to her own countrymen.

    I dare you to listen to Eva's haunting cover of "Over the Rainbow," and not get "chicken skin" (goosebumps). Hers was truly the voice of an angel.

    Aloha.

    Parent

    Eva Cassidy's rendition of "Songbird" (none / 0) (#70)
    by vml68 on Mon Mar 03, 2014 at 04:46:23 PM EST
    is one of my favorites on my playlist.

    Parent
    And Sting admitted that ... (none / 0) (#73)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Mon Mar 03, 2014 at 06:04:51 PM EST
    ... her live rendition of his 1993 hit "Fields of Gold" -- which was similarly recorded on home video at Blues Alley, the very same night as "Over the Rainbow" -- stirred him in a way that few artists who cover his work can:

    "A friend of Eva's sent me the recording after her death. I thought it was a beautiful rendition; I heard this voice and it was so beautiful, so pure. And the next thing I hear, it's almost a year later, and Terry Wogan is playing it on [BBC Radio 2]. Then lo and behold, it's number one in England and I'm happy for her. Even though it's a sad tragic story, there's a kind of poetry about it, as though knowing her fate somehow gave the song another emotional level of resonance. I'm very happy the work saw the light of day. It's an extraordinary success."

    For someone who's as territorial and protective of his creative work as Sting is, that's really saying something.

    Aloha.

    Parent

    I prefer your own homegrown (none / 0) (#71)
    by CoralGables on Mon Mar 03, 2014 at 04:49:38 PM EST
    Israel Kamakawiwoʻole, especially when he tied it in with What a Wonderful World.

    Parent
    It's okay. (none / 0) (#72)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Mon Mar 03, 2014 at 05:34:33 PM EST
    But I think that particular recording's actually received way too much airplay, especially out here, at the overall expense of the rest of the late Mr. Kamakawiwo'ole's extensive catalogue.

    Bruddah Iz was a consummate musical artist and a gentle soul, with plenty of original compositions to his credit. He should be recognized for more than his offhand ukulele cover of two haole songs.

    Aloha.

    Parent

    Oh Daniel Day Lewis, you rescue any evening (5.00 / 4) (#21)
    by ruffian on Sun Mar 02, 2014 at 10:42:24 PM EST


    I wanted to be the one to run up on stage and (5.00 / 2) (#26)
    by vml68 on Sun Mar 02, 2014 at 10:58:16 PM EST
    give him a kiss. I love that man!

    Parent
    I really am afraid of what would happen (5.00 / 2) (#43)
    by ruffian on Mon Mar 03, 2014 at 08:28:54 AM EST
    if I ever got within 20 feet of him. It would be supremely embarrassing for all concerned.

    Parent
    worse acceptance speech goes to (5.00 / 1) (#28)
    by DFLer on Sun Mar 02, 2014 at 11:04:54 PM EST
    Matthew McC...sheesh..get the hook!

    I think he is still on stage (5.00 / 1) (#32)
    by ruffian on Sun Mar 02, 2014 at 11:07:35 PM EST
    Projecting his heroism another 10 years.

    Parent
    It was like a televangilist's sermon (5.00 / 2) (#34)
    by shoephone on Sun Mar 02, 2014 at 11:15:08 PM EST
    Not my cup o' tea. I'm still happy for him though.

    Parent
    Be happy you weren't in the audience ... (none / 0) (#67)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Mon Mar 03, 2014 at 03:41:03 PM EST
    ... in March 1943, when Greer Garson won the Best Actress award for "Mrs. Miniver." Although she actually spoke for only a little over five minutes that night, it must've seemed a truly tedious offering to attendees, because urban legends would soon have her droning on for the better part of an hour. Whatever length of time it was, it led to the current Academy policy of limiting acceptance speeches to a short duration.

    Parent
    It was all about him (5.00 / 1) (#36)
    by MKS on Mon Mar 03, 2014 at 12:08:48 AM EST
    Narcissism writ large....

    Couldn't he even pretend to be humble....he is an actor after all.

    Parent

    I actually liked McConaughey's acceptance (none / 0) (#38)
    by Angel on Mon Mar 03, 2014 at 08:02:28 AM EST
    speech.  He thanked the people most important to him, those who help him get through each day.  As for his hero chasing comment I took that to be his quest to improve himself, to become a better person year after year; nothing wrong with that.  Alright! Alright! Alright!

    Parent
    I know, I actually did too (none / 0) (#41)
    by ruffian on Mon Mar 03, 2014 at 08:22:52 AM EST
    ...up to a point about 5 seconds before it ended.

    Parent
    Did you see his wife? Talk about gorgeous! (5.00 / 3) (#44)
    by Angel on Mon Mar 03, 2014 at 08:44:57 AM EST
    And his mother there with them, so sweet.  Loved, too, Jared Leto's speech, brought me to tears.  Again, mother with him as well as his older brother, I really liked that.  

    I also liked Bette Midler's Wind Beneath My Wings, thought it was beautiful and moving.  I also thought Pink did a great job - and she's oh so beautiful, loved the red dress.

    Parent

    Yes, she is a knockout (none / 0) (#49)
    by ruffian on Mon Mar 03, 2014 at 10:36:15 AM EST
    Liked seeing the moms too. Lovely women, obviously and justifiably proud.

    Parent
    It got wordy (5.00 / 1) (#46)
    by Militarytracy on Mon Mar 03, 2014 at 09:23:58 AM EST
    He lost me for a minute.  I was in the middle of learning the secret to all life success and then he lost me :)

    He is very driven though, and tears in his wife's eyes at one point too when they connected, whatever their journey is about, a little reveal took place.  I liked his speech overall.

    I'm also getting into True Detective.  It was hard because it was weird at first, but now we are getting some Dexter on maybe :)

    Ex cops harvesting their own brand of justice probably won't be one of Jeralyn's favorites though.

    Parent

    ha, yes, I don't think she will approve (5.00 / 1) (#50)
    by ruffian on Mon Mar 03, 2014 at 10:58:41 AM EST
    of where it seems to be going. Did not see the latest, will watch tonight. I am anxious to see what Rust has really been up to. I don't beleive he is really a drunk.

    Parent
    Even worse than Steve McQueen's (none / 0) (#45)
    by Peter G on Mon Mar 03, 2014 at 09:09:11 AM EST
    did you think?

    Parent
    Steve McQueen's ? (none / 0) (#77)
    by NYShooter on Mon Mar 03, 2014 at 10:15:18 PM EST
    I know he wasn't know n for being overly loquacious. Anyway, I have no clue what about his speech was memorable.(I didn't see it, btw,)

    Any chance you'd have a link handy?

    Parent

    I was referring to the acceptance by (none / 0) (#81)
    by Peter G on Tue Mar 04, 2014 at 10:06:08 AM EST
    Steve McQueen as producer of "12 Years a Slave."  He clearly is not comfortable speaking before a large crowd, or at least not before millions on TV (which is fine; he is a director, not an actor).  Had not gotten (or hadn't absorbed) any coaching on how to deliver it.  He read a long thank you list, stumbling over some names and too fast to understand.  He did include however, the central quote from the movie, and ended with a good theme and message about slavery continuing to exist in the modern world, affecting some millions of people.

    Parent
    Nebraska (5.00 / 1) (#48)
    by dk on Mon Mar 03, 2014 at 10:29:47 AM EST
    I only saw about half of the best film nominees, but nonetheless I was rooting for Nebraska do get some Oscar love.

    I can understand why it didn't win anything, as it didn't have the size and scale of the big winners.  But even though it was quite understated, I was really impressed as to how many themes they managed to fit in, quite effectively, to such a "small" movie.  I thought it was actually quite a meditation on a number of themes, including family, marriage, growing old, the choices one makes in life and the effects they have on others and war (the main character was a Korean war vet and that plays a part in the story).  Plus, the performances were very authentic, and some really snuck up on you.

    I thought Nebraska was clearly.... (none / 0) (#54)
    by magster on Mon Mar 03, 2014 at 12:14:43 PM EST
    the second best movie. I had been rooting for it until I watched 12 Years a Slave about a week ago, and thought that it was even better.

    I was very impressed with Wil Forte in Nebraska. I thought he was great. SNL member Terran (sp?) Killiam in 12 Years a Slave.

    Parent

    I figured it wouldn't win best picture (5.00 / 1) (#55)
    by dk on Mon Mar 03, 2014 at 01:01:10 PM EST
    But I was still rooting for it to win one of the acting awards, or screenplay or even director.  I knew it was a long shot, but winning at least something can help boost ticket sales.  In any event, I hope more people end up seeing it.  It's really worthwhile.

    Parent
    It's hard to rank films versus one another, ... (none / 0) (#59)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Mon Mar 03, 2014 at 01:49:47 PM EST
    ... given the diversity of the works and subjects. That "Nebraska" received multiple nominations is testament to its status as one of the year's best. Same thing goes for Stephen Frears' "Philomena." And kudos to Bruce Dern, June Squibb and Judi Dench for their marvelous respective performances in those films, infused  as they were with the experiences of their long lifetimes.

    I saw every nominated film, save for "Her." I actually thought "American Hustle" to be arguably the weakest contender in a strong field, simply because I found it to be quite amusing but otherwise mostly unmemorable -- except, of course, for Christian Bale's opening comb-over (which I think probably scored him his best actor nod). But even that observation noted, "Hustle" is still one of the year's best by virtue of its acting ensemble and tight direction from David O. Russell.

    Aloha.

    Parent

    Her suffered from being too long.... (none / 0) (#60)
    by magster on Mon Mar 03, 2014 at 01:58:44 PM EST
    and became one of my least favorite of the nominees. It was good, just not best picture worthy. Philomena is the only movie of the nominees I hadn't seen yet.

    Parent
    Travoltify Your Name (5.00 / 3) (#68)
    by Angel on Mon Mar 03, 2014 at 04:18:46 PM EST
    here.

    Don't know if they were joking, (none / 0) (#78)
    by NYShooter on Mon Mar 03, 2014 at 10:21:47 PM EST
    or, not, but, I was watching a news program tonight and the reporter was saying they thought Travolta might be dyslexic.

    Parent
    He was not, in the least, prepared. (none / 0) (#85)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Tue Mar 04, 2014 at 11:06:37 AM EST
    What an embarrassment.

    Parent
    I'm watchin' hockey (none / 0) (#4)
    by scribe on Sun Mar 02, 2014 at 08:18:46 PM EST
    Bruins @ Raynnn--jusss

    Good game so far.

    Bono trying too hard (none / 0) (#8)
    by ruffian on Sun Mar 02, 2014 at 09:09:52 PM EST
    Can't really out-earnest the Oscar community in their own theater.

    do you mean his vocal performance? (none / 0) (#31)
    by DFLer on Sun Mar 02, 2014 at 11:06:26 PM EST
    He sang it great.. I didn't get any pretense.

    Parent
    Maybe just me, never been a big U2 fan (none / 0) (#42)
    by ruffian on Mon Mar 03, 2014 at 08:27:27 AM EST
    with the exception of 'Achtung Baby' which for some reason is one of my favorite albums by anyone anytime -  but I've heard that real U2 fans don't care for it much.

    I just thought he oversang what was really a simple pretty song. Not arguing for sitting on the stairs next to the acoustic guitar though, like that barista music lady.

    I don't know why I was so cranky last night - I am usually a lot easier to please!

    Parent

    that's funny ruff! (none / 0) (#47)
    by DFLer on Mon Mar 03, 2014 at 09:53:41 AM EST
    (the cranky part)

    Parent
    OMG..Harrison Ford (none / 0) (#11)
    by Militarytracy on Sun Mar 02, 2014 at 09:23:56 PM EST
    Is genuinely hungry and wants the pizza and a napkin.

    They left poor Angelina Jolie with an empty plate (5.00 / 2) (#12)
    by ruffian on Sun Mar 02, 2014 at 09:25:19 PM EST
    Someone please feed that girl

    Parent
    Zorba? (5.00 / 1) (#14)
    by Yman on Sun Mar 02, 2014 at 10:01:44 PM EST
    Maybe some nice Moussaka?

    Parent
    If they offered (5.00 / 1) (#64)
    by Zorba on Mon Mar 03, 2014 at 02:59:41 PM EST
    to pay me enough, sure, they could fly me out and I'd cook them some nice Greek dishes.  My food might even possibly (emphasis on"possibly") tempt Angelina Jolie and put some meat on her bones.     ;-)

    Parent
    best song... (none / 0) (#17)
    by DFLer on Sun Mar 02, 2014 at 10:27:40 PM EST
    how disappointing....Let It Go..worst song and worst live performance...

    Well everyone I know personally that saw Gravity (none / 0) (#19)
    by ruffian on Sun Mar 02, 2014 at 10:37:00 PM EST
    hated it, so I didn't see it.  Apparently I hang around with idiots.

    Josh was beside himself (5.00 / 1) (#29)
    by Militarytracy on Sun Mar 02, 2014 at 11:05:28 PM EST
    With everything that Gravity won.  I have not seen it, but he has and he says that nerds the world over did not like the movie and that it was too inaccurate.  Everytime it won he groaned.

    Parent
    Ha! He should have been at my brother's (5.00 / 1) (#40)
    by ruffian on Mon Mar 03, 2014 at 08:20:03 AM EST
    house in Atlanta. I hope they did not actually throw anything at the TV. They did not object on technical inaccuracy grounds, just basic storytelling grounds of the same thing happening over and over. They got tired of watching SB spin around in space.

    Parent
    He sounds just like (5.00 / 1) (#58)
    by Zorba on Mon Mar 03, 2014 at 01:41:56 PM EST
    Mr. Zorba.  Any time we watch a movie that involves a lot of science (especially biology, but also physics, chemistry, etc), he starts picking apart everything wrong with the science and technology.  He's a nerd, too, what can I say?
    Congratulations, you are the proud parent of a Junior Nerd!  Nerds of the world, unite!    ;-)

    Parent
    My son... (5.00 / 1) (#66)
    by sj on Mon Mar 03, 2014 at 03:15:48 PM EST
    ... has lost enjoyment in movies with swordplay and most martial arts.

    Apparently sometimes ignorance can work for you.

    Parent

    I think they call it (none / 0) (#75)
    by DFLer on Mon Mar 03, 2014 at 09:00:20 PM EST
    suspenders of disneybelif

    Parent
    The wikipedia article on the movie.... (none / 0) (#61)
    by magster on Mon Mar 03, 2014 at 02:02:04 PM EST
    (for whatever that's worth) quoted astronauts as saying it was surprisingly realistic. Flaws were minor as in: Bullock would have been wearing a space diaper instead of black undies under her space suit if doing space walk, and something very technical about the way the space walk before the attack of the junk was off. But otherwise....

    Parent
    Also, (none / 0) (#76)
    by NYShooter on Mon Mar 03, 2014 at 10:03:05 PM EST
    in no-gravity atmosphere their hair should stand up like any other objects you see floating around.

    Parent
    Nothing against the technical gods (none / 0) (#80)
    by CoralGables on Tue Mar 04, 2014 at 09:41:25 AM EST
    and computer geeks in the editing room, but Gravity failed in the 5 big categories of Best Picture, Actor, Actress, and both supporting roles. From my perpective, Gravity got zip. To be fair those are the only 5 categories I care about.

    Still 2 more for me to see: Nebraska and Philomena. For those that like to view cheap, Nebrasks is now at Redbox and Philomena arrives there April 15.

    Parent

    I know wasn't that weird? (none / 0) (#83)
    by Militarytracy on Tue Mar 04, 2014 at 10:45:44 AM EST
    But it kicked everywhere else

    I have not seen Nebraska or Philomena either.  I must see Nebraska after seeing the clips.

    Parent

    There was really no supporting actress or actor... (none / 0) (#87)
    by magster on Tue Mar 04, 2014 at 11:14:12 AM EST
    in Gravity.

    Parent
    True. So 0 for 3 (none / 0) (#88)
    by CoralGables on Tue Mar 04, 2014 at 11:19:43 AM EST


    Parent
    Best Director... (5.00 / 1) (#93)
    by kdog on Tue Mar 04, 2014 at 12:26:13 PM EST
    don't count for nuthin'?

    The first Mexican to win the top director prize.

    Parent

    Nebraska was great.... (none / 0) (#89)
    by magster on Tue Mar 04, 2014 at 11:21:48 AM EST
    Enjoy.

    Parent
    Reply fail to Militarytracy. (5.00 / 1) (#90)
    by magster on Tue Mar 04, 2014 at 11:26:08 AM EST


    Parent
    They always seem to try and make (none / 0) (#51)
    by jondee on Mon Mar 03, 2014 at 11:20:01 AM EST
    sure the big-budget nominee gets a few awards so the investors are more likely to make their money back.

    Exhibit A: that American Idol-audience-friendly travesty Titanic from some years back.

    Parent

    Or sometimes, voters go the other way and ... (5.00 / 1) (#65)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Mon Mar 03, 2014 at 03:15:06 PM EST
    ... make contemporaneous choices for best picture which really don't hold up well over time, because they were living in the moment and either felt overly sentimental at the time, or wished to avoid controversy.

    Personally speaking, I find it rather amazing and inexplicable to consider that Academy voters at the time actually preferred:

    • "How Green Was My Valley" over "Citizen Kane" in 1941;
    • "The Greatest Show on Earth" over "High Noon" in 1952;
    • "Gigi" over "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof" in 1958;
    • "My Fair Lady" over "Dr. Strangelove: Or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb" in 1964;
    • "Kramer vs. Kramer" over "Apocalypse Now!" and "All That Jazz" in 1979;
    • "Chariots of Fire" over "Reds," "Raiders of the List Ark" and "Atlantic City" in 1981;
    • "Rain Man" over "Mississippi Burning," "Dangerous Liaisons" and "Working Girl" in 1988;
    • "Shakespeare in Love" over "Saving Private Ryan," "The Thin Red Line" and "Elizabeth" in 1998;
    • "Crash" over "Brokeback Mountain" in 2005; and
    • "Slumdog Millionaire" over "Milk" and "Frost / Nixon" in 2008.

    Further, I consider one of the great Oscar travesties to be the utter failure of Academy voters to give proper and honest consideration to Elia Kazan's brilliant (and still-topical) "A Face in the Crowd," by allowing their personal animus for its red-baiting director to overcome their better judgment. As a result of that disdain, the film was completely shut out of the 1957 Academy Award race, and two of the truly brilliant big screen performances of that decade by Andy Griffith and Patricia Neal went completely unacknowledged.

    Please feel free to add your own respective Oscar travesties below.

    Parent

    Indeed (none / 0) (#82)
    by jimakaPPJ on Tue Mar 04, 2014 at 10:39:17 AM EST
    and you just defined why I pay no attention to what Gollywood thinks is the best anything in any given year.

    Parent
    dang good show tonight (none / 0) (#22)
    by DFLer on Sun Mar 02, 2014 at 10:42:26 PM EST
    Ellen: good job, pace: good enough, orchestra: fabulous even though they were down the street instead of in the pit.

    My highlight: Pink's outstanding performance on Somewhere Over the Rainbow.

    I am again proud to announce that (none / 0) (#56)
    by jimakaPPJ on Mon Mar 03, 2014 at 01:12:33 PM EST
    I have not seen any of the films.

    But based on the comments I think I will buy the DVD's for Dallas and Slave.

    Sound like two good flics.

    Why are you proud you haven't seen any of the (none / 0) (#57)
    by Angel on Mon Mar 03, 2014 at 01:25:53 PM EST
    films?

    Parent
    What Angel said. (none / 0) (#62)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Mon Mar 03, 2014 at 02:03:10 PM EST
    I find that to be a rather curious statement you made.

    But that aside, to your too-short list I would also recommend that you see "Philomena," a very moving film (based on a true story) about the legally severed yet undying maternal bonds between a then-teenaged mother and her toddler son, and the rather extraordinary journeys upon which both individuals would ultimately embark in their attempts to finally reconnect with one another. Further, the actual identity of that son might indeed surprise you.

    Aloha.

    Parent

    It is my protest to the rising (none / 0) (#63)
    by jimakaPPJ on Mon Mar 03, 2014 at 02:36:44 PM EST
    costs of popcorn and coke!

    No, really, no special reason, just didn't see any reason to see them. Now I'll wait for the DVD and enjoy them with a glass of wine in the comfort of my den.

    The last "adult" film my wife and I saw was "Lincoln." Very enjoyable but completely mis titled.

    And since Grandson has reached the age of not needing my attention I no longer have an excuse to see the latest kid flic.

    Parent

    Who needs an excuse? (none / 0) (#74)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Mon Mar 03, 2014 at 07:09:48 PM EST
    If it's getting rave reviews and enough positive public buzz, I'll go and see it regardless of whether or not it's a "kid flick." The children's pictures that generally tend to do best at the box office are those whose producers and filmmakers remember that nearly half of their audience will be comprised of adult parents and chaperones, and they'll fashion their product accordingly.

    Aloha.

    Parent

    You're proud for no special reason :) (none / 0) (#84)
    by Militarytracy on Tue Mar 04, 2014 at 10:47:26 AM EST
    That's just weird Jim

    Parent
    Me too. I can't (none / 0) (#79)
    by Wile ECoyote on Tue Mar 04, 2014 at 05:40:13 AM EST
    Remember the last time I watched a movie in the theater. It's way down on my list of what to do in my spare time.

    Parent
    The last time (none / 0) (#91)
    by NYShooter on Tue Mar 04, 2014 at 12:14:31 PM EST
    I went to an actual movie theater, and, it was a movie I really wanted to see, I was so annoyed by the loud, clueless talking by many patrons I almost walked out. It seems many people go see the same movie several times and so, just before an actor says his/her critical line, the movie goer spits out their lines, out loud.

    In talking to friends about this they tell me it's the new normal.

    Anyone else have this complaint?

    Parent

    I usually just toss a few M&Ms their way and (none / 0) (#95)
    by Angel on Tue Mar 04, 2014 at 01:15:55 PM EST
    that quiets them down or makes them turn off their gadgets.  But after two or more recent theater shootings I won't be doing the M&M thing anymore. Guess I'll just have to suffer the fools.

    Parent
    Haven't experienced that (none / 0) (#98)
    by Yman on Tue Mar 04, 2014 at 07:11:58 PM EST
    ... but it would drive me crazy ... and I doubt I would just be able to ignore it.

    Parent
    kdog (none / 0) (#86)
    by CoralGables on Tue Mar 04, 2014 at 11:14:03 AM EST
    thought you might enjoy

    Lebron putting up a Roger Maris number last night

    Dude... (none / 0) (#97)
    by kdog on Tue Mar 04, 2014 at 02:57:18 PM EST
    the 2013-2014 NBA Season never happened.  It's an illusion.

    Same goes for the 2013-2014 NHL season.  

    And the 2014 MLB season, may as well get that outta the way now;)

    Parent

    A much better performance.... (none / 0) (#94)
    by magster on Tue Mar 04, 2014 at 12:26:28 PM EST
    of "Let it Go" than what we saw on the Oscars.

    Interesting article at Salon.com (none / 0) (#100)
    by DFLer on Tue Mar 04, 2014 at 07:30:08 PM EST
    How "Breaking Bad" and "House of Cards" killed the Oscars
    It's not that Hollywood can't make great movies -- but all the talent and energy is migrating to HBO and Netflix

    link

    Oscars Thread | 100 comments (100 topical)

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