The semi-official Oscars Thread

[Celeval]

Billy Crystal is pretty damn good, they've missed him.

[cthomer5000]

agreed. Crystal makes the Oscars far more entertaining.

[cthomer5000]

In retrospect, Robbins should have been nominated for Arlington Road (one of the best "under the radar" movies of the last 10 years).

[Easy Mac]

Thank John Kerry dammit

[sachmo71]

Why didn't Robbins get nominated for Shawshank Redemption? One of his best roles, if you ask me.

[cthomer5000]

quick, someone blow up the stage while Robin Williams and Angelina Jolie are on it!

[cthomer5000]

Why didn't Robbins get nominated for Shawshank Redemption? One of his best roles, if you ask me.
lord only knows. For my money, this is EASILY the best movie to never win an Oscar.

[Celeval]

If Diet Pepsi comes out with more commercials with other not-nominated actors like that Jason Biggs once, it might be a better commercial run than the Super Bowl for a cola company.

[WussGawd]

Hmm. Wonder how Mystic River's Best Supporting Actor oscar bodes for LOTR:ROTK for Best Picture.

Agreed with you guys on Shawshank...great, great, movie.

[Easy Mac]

BUrn on Bush!

[Draft Dodger]

Catherine Zeta-Jones has to be the most stunningly beautiful woman on the planet.

[Easy Mac]

Catherine Zeta-Jones has to be the most stunningly beautiful woman on the planet.
I think Monica Belucci finishes a close second.

[cthomer5000]

Catherine Zeta-Jones has to be the most stunningly beautiful woman on the planet.
Michael Douglas has to have signed some pact with the devil.

[Easy Mac]

You bow to no one... best movie moment... ever.

[cthomer5000]

oh lord... please strike Robin Williams down now.

[Buccaneer]

Absolulety no surprises so far. The only suspense will probably be Best Actor.

[Easy Mac]

Absolulety no surprises so far. The only suspense will probably be Best Actor. You mean whether Shawn Penn will win for Mystic River or if the Academy will write in for his 21 grams performance?

[Celeval]

Did Liv Tyler think this was the 1954 Oscars?

[Calis]

What exactly was the instrument Sting was playing there?

[Celeval]

And when did they get Gollum to sing the song from Lord of the Rings?

[Celeval]

Dola... sorry, that's Annie Lennox. My mistake.

[Easy Mac]

There were 20 better songs on the ROTK soundtrack. Why pick the Annie Lennox one? Give me Billy Boyd.

[cthomer5000]

What exactly was the instrument Sting was playing there?
I believe that was a hurdy gurdy.

[Celeval]

There were 20 better songs on the ROTK soundtrack. Why pick the Annie Lennox one? Give me Billy Boyd.
Eh, it won the Golden Globe.

[timmae]

wasn't Alec Baldwin supposed to leave the country awhile back??? I could have swron I saw him sitting in the audience!?!?

[cthomer5000]

I hope they remembered to include Elliott Smith in the montage of those who have died this year.

[cthomer5000]

sofia coppola is pretty tough to look at.

[Fonzie]

How did ROTK not win best Documentary Feature?

Best. Documentary. Ever.

[Celeval]

Tiger Woods as Bill Murray in Caddyshack. Classic.

[cthomer5000]

I hope they remembered to include Elliott Smith in the montage of those who have died this year.
so of course the second I step away from the TV I miss the beginning of this segment... I have no idea how much I missed.

Just curious... did anyone see if they did include Elliott Smith?

[Chief Rum]

No, they didn't.

CR

[cthomer5000]

No, they didn't.

CR
dick move, Academy.

[KWhit]

Um... Who's Eliott Smith?

[Easy Mac]

I'm just pissed Billy Zabka didn't win for live action short film... Cobra Kai for life

[cthomer5000]

Um... Who's Eliott Smith?
Musician. Wrote and performed the oscar-nominated "Miss Misery" from the movie Goodwill Hunting (not too long ago).

[Chief Rum]

He wrote the song for "Good Will Hunting", I think, the one at the end of the movie.

I don't know what standards the Academy used for that roll call (other than the obvious), but from what I read, it doesn't seem Smith did a whole lot in movies outside of penning and singing that tune. I could be wrong, though--it was a short biography that I read.

Was Smith nominated?

Incidentally, that Nazi chick was in the roll call.

CR

[cthomer5000]

cool. Mitch and Mickey, baby!

[Easy Mac]

7 years ago

[Chief Rum]

Musician. Wrote and performed the oscar-nominated "Miss Misery" from the movie Goodwill Hunting (not too long ago).

Hmm, well the fact is what Oscar-nominated makes his omission a little more noteworthy, but even so, he didn't seem to have a rich history in movies, but in music. I don't think we should be putting every musician who gets a leading song on a soundtrack for a popular movie on this annual role call as a huge contributor to movies. Music, yes. Movies? Not so sure.

But that's just me. I'm guessing plenty of other people who contributed to famous movies died in the past year, too, and most of them weren't shown either.

Plus, I can't imagine why Hollywood or the Academy would have anything aginst the guy. There more to the story I don't know, cthomer?

CR

[Easy Mac]

Did they have Jonathan Brandis on there, I miss the little Seaquest kid.

[AgPete]

Billy Crystal is pretty damn good, they've missed him.

I guess I haven't been keeping up with the Oscars. I didn't realize Crystal had stopped hosting them. Who were the last hosts? The only person I remember besides Crystal was David Letterman.

[cthomer5000]

Hmm, well the fact is what Oscar-nominated makes his omission a little more noteworthy, but even so, he didn't seem to have a rich history in movies, but in music. I don't think we should be putting every musician who gets a leading song on a soundtrack for a popular movie on this annual role call as a huge contributor to movies. Music, yes. Movies? Not so sure.

But that's just me. I'm guessing plenty of other people who contributed to famous movies died in the past year, too, and most of them weren't shown either.

Plus, I can't imagine why Hollywood or the Academy would have anything aginst the guy. There more to the story I don't know, cthomer?

CR
Well, he died this year from what appeared to be suicide, but was later ruled inconclusive (potentially a murder). He had a history a drug issues and depression, and was constantly on again/off again.

I'm sure the Academy is just faced with a number of judgement calls on who qualifies for their montage, I guess it would be easy enough to count someone out who has basically only contributed 1 original compisition & performance to a movie.

He performed the afformentioned "Miss Misery" at the 1998 Oscars.

[cthomer5000]

I guess I haven't been keeping up with the Oscars. I didn't realize Crystal had stopped hosting them. Who were the last hosts? The only person I remember besides Crystal was David Letterman.
1 of them was Whoopie Goldberg, who was beyond horrible. I think Steve Martin hosted 1 as well.

[cthomer5000]

We need more Jack Black...everywhere.

[Easy Mac]

YEAH!!!!!!!!

They need to team up for a movie.

[AgPete]

That was funny as hell.

[Easy Mac]

so, are there any surprises tonight.

[AgPete]

So is Gibson's Passion of the Christ in the category of Best Foreign Lanuage Film next year even though it was intentional? :)

[cthomer5000]

So is Gibson's Passion of the Christ in the category of Best Foreign Lanuage Film next year even though it was intentional? :)
I don't think these other films were "accidentally" not in English. :)

[cthomer5000]

I must admit I thought that Diet Pepsi martian rover ad was great. :D

[Chief Rum]

Hate to say it, but I think these Oscar commericals, as a whole, beat out the Super Bowl ads.

CR

[AgPete]

I was wondering that myself Chief Rum. It seems like Oscar commercials are starting to get as big as Super bowl commercials.

[Easy Mac]

skinny and ugly, she's got it all.

[Fonzie]

We need more Jack Black...everywhere.

Don't tell me Jack Black was on?! And I missed it?!

[cthomer5000]

Don't tell me Jack Black was on?! And I missed it?!
He and Will Ferrell even sang.

[Chief Rum]

Man, you missed out. He and Wil Ferrell sang lyrics to the "get off the stage" tune. It was hilarious. :D

I'm sure you can figure out what the lyrics were like. ;)

CR

[Fonzie]

I MISSED IT! NOOOOOOOOOOOO!

[Fonzie]

Dola-

I guess that's what I get for having regular bowel movements. :mad:

[AgPete]

The camera even went to Sean Connery because he was cracking up during the Black/Ferrell skit. You know you're hilarious when you can get the old Scottsman to burst. :)

[QuikSand]

I'm very glad Sofia won for her script... wonderful movie.

[cthomer5000]

I'm very glad Sofia won for her script... wonderful movie.
Agreed. And it left me with the perfect feeling of wanting more, which is always better than the "boy, there was way too much of that" feeling.

[cthomer5000]

The camera even went to Sean Connery because he was cracking up during the Black/Ferrell skit. You know you're hilarious when you can get the old Scottsman to burst. :)
I thought Billy Crystals "what you're thinking" segment was good, too. "Pussy Galore... now I get it!"

[Calis]

I'm very glad Sofia won for her script... wonderful movie.

I actually jumped out of my chair and cheered when they announced that one. :)

Glad she won that, very much deserved.

Too bad there's no hope for Bill pulling it off..man that'd be great. Of course I haven't even seen Mystic River yet, so I can't comment on Penn's performance.

[Suicane75]

Why is Diane Keaton dressed like Johnny Depp?

[cthomer5000]

I'm rooting for Bill Murray on a "collective effort" basis. He should have been nominated for Rushmore, and Groundhog Day just gets better every time I see it.

[cthomer5000]

rooting for Watts here....

[Suicane75]

Charlize, sweeet.

[Celeval]

Adrien Brody popping a breath mint before announcing the Best Actress... classic.

[AgPete]

Did the makeup artist in Monster win an Oscar? I haven't seen Monster but I know half of that Oscar for Charlize Theron as best actress is because the movie made her look so damn ugly.

[QuikSand]

Hooray for Charlize!

[Suicane75]

Did the makeup artist in Monster win an Oscar? I haven't seen Monster but I know half of that Oscar for Charlize Theron as best actress is because the movie made her look so damn ugly.

No, she was GREAT in that movie. She earned every bit of that award.

[sabotai]

Charlize won...there's a shocker...

[Hurst2112]

So how many did LotR 3 win? They won 3 before tonight i think. I can't remember if they were nominated for 10 or 11.

If it's 11, I think they have won everything they have been nominated for.

[cthomer5000]

Ah, don't worry Bill. Hopefully the next Wes Anderson movie will bring it home.

[Easy Mac]

Wow, all kinds of surprises tonight.

[Calis]

Think there was a couple Master and Commander won that LotR was up for.

Frigging Penn had to win..yeah I know it was expected, but it hurts nonetheless. ;)

[cthomer5000]

Wow, all kinds of surprises tonight.
Is that sarcasm? Because I would say Penn was definitely the front-runner for actor.

[Easy Mac]

ET is on TV!!!!!!!!

[Calis]

I would assume sarcasm, as this is about the most predictable Oscars in quite a while.

Maybe they can spice it up with Best Picture...

EDIT: Or not.

[Suicane75]

Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

[Easy Mac]

Finally, vindication.

[sabotai]

Yeah! The nerds finally have their Best Picture Oscar!

[Celeval]

:P

Lord of the Rings - 11 for 11 tonight. Damn straight.

[cthomer5000]

:P

Lord of the Rings - 11 for 11 tonight. Damn straight.
well... i think you have to downplay it a bit when you realize they weren't nominated in any acting category.

[Celeval]

Yeah... too much of an ensemble cast for any of the specifics. One reason I like the SAG awards - Best Enemble or some such. Good for movies with a large cast of specific characters.

[Chief Rum]

Makes sense actually, considering they had an intricate ensemble cast with a number of major characters. Ian McKellen certainly deserved to win an award at some point in the last three years, and while it may have been a bit over the top, Sean Astin was really good in the last one.

I don't think I will be holding it against them that they didn't have any acting awards, considering it was still well acted.

But then I thought Fellowship should have beaten A Beautiful Mind, too.

Best Pic, Best Director and Best Adapted Screenplay are no small awards either.

CR

[AgPete]

Was it just me or did those four LotR actors still look as short as hobbits on the stage?

[Chief Rum]

I think one of the reasons they picked them up (besides their cherubic young looks and curly hair,making them suitable for hobbits) was because they are shorter people. Makes it easier to work the ole computer magic, I think. :)

CR

[Karim]

I'm really glad the three writers for LOTR won. Taking Tolkien's trilogy and making it into a workable screenplay that translates well on screen while retaining the fundamental themes and elements of the story... welll, it was a monumental task.

[Pumpy Tudors]

As much as I love Jack Black and Will Ferrell, I don't think their song was THAT funny. Maybe compared to the usual stuffiness of this annual ass-kissing exhibition, yes, but it just wasn't that great.

I'll have to scold the wife for making me watch that entire show.

[Sun Tzu]

Congrats to Sean Penn. I cheered when they called your name.

[Honolulu_Blue]

Well, the Oscars are just fluff but they mean a lot to the people in showbiz. So, that being said, very good to see ROTK get the sweep. Jackson and his crew definitely deserve all the praise and awards one can shower onto filmmakers. These films were a cinematic triumph. Utterly fantastic and absolutely amazing. Good to see them get them recognition. Also, in some ways, this makes up for the pain that was Star Wars losing out to Annie Hall. Revenge of the Nerds indeed...

[PsychoCop]

Bill Murray got robbed. :(

But I'm happy for Penn, I'm sure he also deserved it.

[QuikSand]

There cannot have been a clearer case of the Academy simply deciding to look outside the bounds of the one year / one film to grant an award, though. The first two LOTR movies were nominated, only to be summarily trounced in nearly all categories (I confess I cannot recall if either one won for technical merit awards like costumes and such). The third film in the series wins every single award for which it was nominated -- clearly an homage to the collective accomplishment of the three films all together.

I really don't have a wholesale problem with this outcome, but I can't recall any clearer illustration of the academy's willingness to do this -- not even the various "career achievement" acting oscars for people like John Wayne, Paul Newman, and Al Pacino seem as stark to me.

[rkmsuf]

bah --- Lightning Bolt, Lightning Bolt was much better...

[Honolulu_Blue]

bah --- Lightning Bolt, Lightning Bolt was much better...

I think we'll see a similar pattern with "Lightning Bolt, Lightning Bolt". After the next two come out, the academy will once again look outside the bounds of the one year/one film. The entire scope of the epic that is "Lightning Bolt, Lightning Bolt" will be recognized. And there is no way the "Lightning Bolt, Lightning Bolt" guy isn't walking away with Best Actor. Unlike, LOTR the "Lightning Bolt, Lightning Bolt" trilogy is NOT an assemble piece.

[HornedFrog Purple]

Lightning Bolt Dude should have won every category.. Best Actor, Actress, Supporting Actor/Actress, Special Effects, Costume, Documentary, Musical Score...

This was highway robbery.

[Subby]

Oscar viewing strategy:

TiVo the show, then start watching at around 9p or so. You can skip the commercials, the acceptance speeches for Best Sound, the technical awards recap - then you can replay the Blake Edwards intro and Jack Black Will Ferrell song over and over.

Our TiVo version caught up with the live version right at midnight...perfect timing.

[Maple Leafs]

So for those who have seen "Monster", is Theron's performance really that good? From various clips I've seen, it seems like they covered her in makeup, had her bug out her eyes and yell a lot.

[Celeval]

The first two LOTR movies were nominated, only to be summarily trounced in nearly all categories (I confess I cannot recall if either one won for technical merit awards like costumes and such).
Fellowship of the Ring:
13 Nominations, 4 Oscars
Best Adapted Screenplay
Best Sound
Best Picture
Best Music, Song
Best Editing
Best Director
Best Costume Design
Best Art Direction
Best Actor - Supporting
Best Music, Score
Best Makeup
Best Visual Effects
Best Cinematography

The Two Towers
6 Nominations, 2 Oscars
Best Picture
Best Sound
Best Editing
Best Art Direction
Best Visual Effects
Best Sound Editing

Return of the King
11 Nominations, 11 Oscars
Best Art Direction
Best Costume Design
Best Directing
Best Editing
Best Makeup
Best Music, Score
Best Music, Song
Best Sound
Best Visual Effects
Best Picture
Best Screenplay, Adapted


For the trilogy - 30 nominations, 17 Oscars.

[johnnyshaka]

Somebody have a clip of Jack and Will's song??? I heard a bit of it on the radio this morning...

[CentralMassHokie]

So for those who have seen "Monster", is Theron's performance really that good? From various clips I've seen, it seems like they covered her in makeup, had her bug out her eyes and yell a lot.

Yes, it's that good.

She deserved it.

I saw a bunch of the movies for the acting categories. Neither Penn nor Robbins deserved their awards (they've both been far better in far better movies). Murray (definitely) and Baldwin (probably) should have won those respective categories.

Theron was amazing in Monster, from the physical trasformation to the simple fact that she lived that character on screen. I love Renee Zellwegger, but everything about Cold Mountain was putrid except for Philip Seymour Hoffman. Marcia Gay Harden or Patricia Clarkson out-performed her by miles. Miles.

I won't comment on Best Picture other than to say that we're going to look back 5 years from now at ROTK beating Lost in Translation much like we look back at Forrest Gump beating out Pulp Fiction, Quiz Show, *and* Shawshank.

[Honolulu_Blue]

I won't comment on Best Picture other than to say that we're going to look back 5 years from now at ROTK beating Lost in Translation much like we look back at Forrest Gump beating out Pulp Fiction, Quiz Show, *and* Shawshank.

I don't know about that. ROTK beats the pants off of Forrest Gump. And Lost in Translation, though an excellent little film, is no Pulp Fiction or Shawshank. I've said it once and I'll say it again, The Lord of the Rings trilogy is a cinematic masterpiece, a triumph of the power of film. The academy decided to acknowledge the series at the end (which makes some sense) and the awards were justly deserved.

[rkmsuf]

Besides, lightning bolts would have been released all over that place last night if it hadn't won...

[Samdari]

I won't comment on Best Picture other than to say that we're going to look back 5 years from now at ROTK beating Lost in Translation much like we look back at Forrest Gump beating out Pulp Fiction, Quiz Show, *and* Shawshank.

I don't think so. People are going to remember the LoTR trilogy (which is what they really won the awards for). Lost in translation is a nice, forgettable little film. You watch it once, say "what a good movie", take it back to the video store and never feel a need to view it again. LoTR was a monumental filmmaking achievement, and people will be watching it on DVD with their kids years from now.

The general public does not consider "Forrest Gump" such an outrage. Not that many people actually saw those other three films. And the ones that saw Quiz Show hated it.

[WSUCougar]

People are going to remember the LoTR trilogy (which is what they really won the awards for). Lost in translation is a nice, forgettable little film. You watch it once, say "what a good movie", take it back to the video store and never feel a need to view it again. LoTR was a monumental filmmaking achievement, and people will be watching it on DVD with their kids years from now.Bingo!

Not bad for a Virginian. ;)

[ISiddiqui]

BOOOOOOO!!

I hate this moving away from one year, one film! It ain't a Trilogy award, it is a Best Picture for that year award. Got little problems with it winning Best Picture, but to win everything just smacks of placating the fanboys. Kind of like "we're sorry the other ones didn't win... here take the kitchen sink the last year.. hope this makes everything better", bah!

Even if they had lost in ONE catagory, it would have shown they were voting on each award individually and deciding which was better. This way, it smacked of, let's give LOTR everything because it sure was a nice idea and a lot of people loved it.

*sigh*

[ISiddiqui]

People are going to remember the LoTR trilogy (which is what they really won the awards for). Lost in translation is a nice, forgettable little film. You watch it once, say "what a good movie", take it back to the video store and never feel a need to view it again.

You are kidding right? I feel that LIT will be a Citizen Kane like movie. Beat out for the Oscars, but in 40 years or so will be among the Top 10 films of All Time when AFI comes out with another list.

people will be watching it on DVD with their kids years from now.

Like they do with Star Wars (well not on DVD, but you get it)? Annie Hall was definetly a superior movie, but has been tarred since it went up against the popular trilogy. Most critics believe Annie Hall to be better acted, directed, etc. Star Wars is just cooler.

The general public does not consider "Forrest Gump" such an outrage.

Yes they do. Almost no one I've ever spoken to thought Forrest Gump deserved it over Pulp Fiction and Shawshank Redemption.

[Butter]

Reading all of these critiques, all I can say is:

there's no accounting for taste.

I disagree with nearly everyone here in some way.

[CentralMassHokie]

LoTR was a monumental filmmaking achievement, and people will be watching it on DVD with their kids years from now.

I don't disagree that it's a monumental filmaking achievement. I just don't think that makes it a great movie.

Like all 3 of the Matrix movies, the LOTR Trilogy movies were in desperate need of an editor willing to stand up to the director.

And maybe Gladiator would be a better comp than Forrest Gump. Another overrated epic movie by a fairly big name director relying significantly on special effects.

The LOTR movies were much much better than Gladiator. I just don't think any of them deserved to be nominated for Best Picture, much less win it.

However, who am I to judge, I liked Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone better than Fellowship.

[ISiddiqui]

If any of them won, I'd say Fellowship should have beaten ABM two years back. This year, you have many films which will be remembered: Lost in Translation, Master & Commander: The Far Side of the World, Mystic River. It is a shame that in the rush to crown the 'trilogy', it was lost that these movies were just as good, if not better, than ROTK.

[CentralMassHokie]

I think I preferred In the Bedroom of the Best Picture nominees the year ABM won and FOTR was nominated.

I don't particularly remember feeling too strongly about the nominees. I really liked In the Bedroom, I liked Gosford Park, thought FOTR was good, and was pretty lukewarm on the whole ABM phenomenon.

I liked Amelie, Monsters Inc, and Memento better than all but In the Bedroom that year. I would have picked any of those 4 movies over the rest of the Best Picture nominees.

In 2003, I'm not sure what I would have picked. Maybe Far From Heaven? I did like Chicago, but I'm not sure it was the Best Picture. The Pianist was strong, but again needed an editor. Y Tu Mama Tambien was pretty good. I was in the "minority" in thinking Minority Report was really good.

2004 was Lost in Translation in a walk.

[cthomer5000]

I think I preferred In the Bedroom of the Best Picture nominees the year ABM won and FOTR was nominated.

I don't particularly remember feeling too strongly about the nominees. I really liked In the Bedroom, I liked Gosford Park, thought FOTR was good, and was pretty lukewarm on the whole ABM phenomenon.

I liked Amelie, Monsters Inc, and Memento better than all but In the Bedroom that year. I would have picked any of those 4 movies over the rest of the Best Picture nominees.

In 2003, I'm not sure what I would have picked. Maybe Far From Heaven? I did like Chicago, but I'm not sure it was the Best Picture. The Pianist was strong, but again needed an editor. Y Tu Mama Tambien was pretty good. I was in the "minority" in thinking Minority Report was really good.

2004 was Lost in Translation in a walk.
In 2002 (2001 movies) I would have taken In the Bedroom or Amelie over A Beautiful Mind (which *I* was completely unimpressed with).

2003 awards... tough to argue with Chicago. It was pretty solid, and had all the ingredients that usually lead to a victory. Far From Heaven was slightly disappointing, and The Pianist definitely needed an editor, I'm actually surprised Brody won the acting award as well. Y Tu Mama Tambien was a pretty solid film.

[Calis]

I don't think so. People are going to remember the LoTR trilogy (which is what they really won the awards for). Lost in translation is a nice, forgettable little film. You watch it once, say "what a good movie", take it back to the video store and never feel a need to view it again. LoTR was a monumental filmmaking achievement, and people will be watching it on DVD with their kids years from now.


Hmm, I don't agree with this at all. I saw all three of the LotR movies and enjoyed them quite a bit, but I feel no need/urge to watch them again. I believe they'll have lasting appeal, but I don't consider them the types of movies people will watch over and over for reasons already discussed quite a bit here.

I've already watched Lost in Translation numerous times, and I don't see that slowing up anytime soon. I'm not sure how it will do down the road, but I think it'll be sticking around.

I just find RotK as Best Picture hard to swallow. It just doesn't feel right.

Oh well, to each his own.