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Nice and Mild and...Well, Fine
For me tonight's Oscar show was defined by an agreeably classy vibe, nice but less than historic production numbers, and a couple of big shockers -- the defeat of The Wrestler's Mickey Rourke by Milk's Sean Penn in the Best Actor race, and Departure's defeat of Waltz With Bashir and The Class to take the Best Foreign Language Oscar.
And the utter predictability of just about everything else.
The best innovation by producers Bill Condon and Larry Mark was having five Oscar-winning actors of the past come out as a group and praise each of the five nominees. Nice tough -- classy, gracious, communal. Keep it.
The biggest non-shock of the evening came when Slumdog Millionaire took the Best Picture Oscar -- a triumph that had been predicted for many months. Watching the entire happy Slumdog family together on-stage was certainly a moment. The difference was that "we had a script that inspired mad love," said a smiling producer, and "we had a shared love for Mumbai, the city where we made the movie," and "we had passion for the movie itself."
It was a pleasant-enough Oscar show, but the wild voltage just didn't happen. What voltage could have happened? It wasn't in the films, not really, and the show itself, while very crisp and professional and agreeably slick in many respects, felt almost too smooth. No missteps, no bad moves except for the awarding of Departures, nothing gauche or excessive, no streakers, no Sasheen Littlefeather, no Jack Palance push-up jokes...nothing.
Judd Apatow's short film costarring the great Seth Rogen and James Franco and Janusz Kaminsky was easily the best thing on the show. Hilarious. Laughed out loud often. Rogen and Franco should have hosted the show with their dopey-sharp-brilliant Pineapple repartee. Would've been great.
The shocker of the night finally (if not all that welcomely) came when Sean Penn won the Best Actor Oscar for his work in Milk, and Mickey Rourke, whom everyone was picking to win based on the momentum of the last two or three weeks, didn't. But no shame on the vote or the choice. Penn did very, very well by Harvey Milk in Milk. He found his inner gay man and made him smile and sing out.
Kate Winslet won for Best Actress, and good for that. Many of us are convinced that this award is really for her work in Revolutionary Road, which is a far, far better film than The Reader.
Slumdog Millionaire's Danny Boyle won the Best Director Oscar. There was a realistic choice?
Penelope Cruz won the Best Supporting Actress Oscar for Vicky Cristina Barcelona. As expected and predicted by everyone in the world except for David Carr, a.k.a., "the Bagger," who wrote that the great Viola Davis (Doubt) would take it. It would have been great indeed if she had, but Davis got a serious career bump and that's what counts.
The opening number aside, I wasn't getting a lot of personality from the show in the early stages. It felt a little like the Tony's, a little bit like the Broadcast Film Critics People's Choice Awards, a little bit like the WGA Awards, a little bit like the 1937 Oscar Awards, etc. It moved along quickly enough but...well, there's no winning, is there? It looked good all through, I felt a distinct lack of jolt and nerve.
The opener was okay. Hugh Jackman was relaxed and into it as far as it went. We were all watching an Oscar ceremony at the Ambassador Hotel in 1937. Where's Fredric March? Jackman sang a bit of a hokey medley song, okay, but the silly-foolish energy appealed. Anne Hathaway, I felt, did herself proud. Chummy, loose, felt fine.
Departures, reportedly a nice, good-enough drama, shocked much of the civilized world (with the exception of Kris Tapley, who predicted that it might win) by taking the Best Foreign Language Oscar. Israel is weeping and stamping its feet over the loss suffered by Waltz With Bashir, which is incontestably one of the most original and searing films of the year.
Kim Ledger, Kate Ledger and Sally Bell accepting Heath's Best Supporting Actor Oscar.
It's a crime that this happened. Those infuriating foreign language people! To go by Tapley's recent description, Departures is a kind of Japanese Salieri film. Decent, heartfelt, respectable -- and not even close to Bashir's calibre.
A sense of boredom was manifest due to the predictability. Every award except for Best Actor and Best Foreign Language feature fell right into line.
Ben Stiller's Joaquin Pheonix routine was, for me, quite funny. The first time I laughed out loud as opposed to chortling or chuckling or just smiling.
Slumdog Millionaire's A.R. Rahman won -- not very surprisingly, almost disappointingly -- the Best Musical Score Oscar. Rahman's "Jai Ho" also won the Best Song Oscar.
The Best Original Screenplay Oscar went to Dustin Lance Black for political reasons. Politics and political point- making as it affects the here-and-now -- particularly the bruising that was Prop 8 -- always matters. Black's thank you was eloquent and very emotional. "Thank God for giving us Harvey Milk."
The first Benjamin Button tech Oscar was for Best Art Direction. The Costume Design Oscar always goes to the movie set in a ruffly and exotic time period, so naturally the winner was the 18th Century The Duchess. Button has also won the Best Makeup Oscar.
Slumdog Millionaire's Anthony Dod Mantle won the Best Cinematography Oscar...naturally.
Congratulations to Toyland for winning the Best Live-Action Short Oscar.
The Best Adapted Screenplay Oscar went to Slumdog Millionaire's Simon Beaufoy as an expression of the general sweep mentality surrounding and supporting this film.
"The man who wrote that is now dead...every blank page was once a tree." Steve Martin's Oscar podium material (which I presume he's written himself) always plays better than the material in his films.
Andrew Stanton's WALL*E won the Best Animated Feature Oscar...shocker. Kumio Kato's La Maison en Petits Cubes has won the Best Animated Short.
The Dark Knight's Heath Ledger, of course, took the Best Supporting Actor Oscar. Ledger's dad, mom and sister accepted. "An original and enduring legacy" indeed. A feeling of sadness, solemnity, finality. "On behalf of your beautiful Matilda....thank you."
Bill Maher's introductory remarks for the awarding of the Best Documentary Feature Oscar contained, naturally, a slight plug for Religulous . The Oscar, of course, was won by Man on Wire and director James Marsh. Phillipe Petit 's coin trick and Oscar nose-balancing was exquisite. And congratulations to Megan Mylan and Smile Pinki for winning Best Doc Short.
Visual Effects Oscar went to Benjamin Button. Naturally.
The Dark Knight's Richard King took the Best Sound Editing Oscar. And the Best Sound Mixing Oscar went to the sweeping Slumdog.
Jerry Lewis accepted his Oscar with dignity, brevity, graciousness. Not a trace of snip or caustic wit, even. Short and sweet, in and out, thank you from the bottom of my heart, etc.
Posted by Jeffrey Wells on February 22, 2009 at 8:57 PM
comment #1
Brigadier Pudding
says ...
Loved the shout-out to Rourke/the greatness of the American spirit at the end of his speech, but would it kill Sean Penn to thank his lovely wife?
Posted by Brigadier Pudding
at February 22, 2009 9:25 PM
comment #2
DeafBrownTrashPunk
says ...
I also LOVED the shout-out that Penn gave to Rourke, that was sincere. The speeches that got me the most emotional tonight was Winslet's (I loved the 8 years old looking in the mirror line) and Dustin Lance Black's touching speech.
The Oscars was a great ceremony, one of the most enjoyable in years for me.
Posted by DeafBrownTrashPunk
at February 22, 2009 9:30 PM
comment #3
hawthorne
says ...
The show was so so. I actually liked seeing the former winners. I am glad Sean won also. I was already getting abit tired of hearing about Mickey coming back and seeing him dress in white all the time. He needs to keep acting and make more good movies. Sean was gracious but yeah he should have thanked his wife too.
Posted by hawthorne
at February 22, 2009 9:38 PM
comment #4
Doug Pratt
says ...
The dynamic of having a respectible peer look into the eyes of the nominee and praise his or her talent was a knockout, and really justifies the 'it's an honor just to be nominated' spiel.
The montages of moments from unnominated films from the year is a good idea that should be retained and improved upon, but mixing the oldies with the BP nominees in montage during the finale didn't work. Neither did the In Memoriam segment, which was probably immpressive in the hall, but wasn't shot correctly for TV viewers.
And thank goodness they've taken the stopwatch, at least the obvious one, away from the thank you speeches.
On the whole, it wasn't a bad show.
Posted by Doug Pratt
at February 22, 2009 9:49 PM
comment #5
Gordon27
says ...
I guess my post got deleted in the shift to one thread -- is 'Slumdog' the first movie to win Best Cinematography that wasn't shot on film?
Posted by Gordon27
at February 22, 2009 9:49 PM
comment #6
Gnome Sayin
says ...
The presentation of the acting nods, while a little bumpy, was the best change made to the show. The intros for the most part seemed genuinely personal, by people relevant to the topic, and created a sense of honoring all the nominees. After watching the other awards presented more traditionally with stilted jokey dialogues, I have no idea how anyone could prefer that.
Otherwise, really underwhelming. I was a Jackman defender from the beginning, but that's because I thought the producers had more in mind than letting him do the Tonys for a few minutes. He was practically invisible aside from the two dance numbers. I think they're on the right track to have a movie star host and not a TV comedian, and I saw some attempts to shake up and streamline the show. But back to the drawing board it should be.
Posted by Gnome Sayin
at February 22, 2009 9:50 PM
comment #7
Gordon27
says ...
"The montages of moments from unnominated films from the year is a good idea that should be retained and improved upon,"
Yeah, a good idea, but it didn't seem like they put any time or thought into it.
"but mixing the oldies with the BP nominees in montage during the finale didn't work."
It's funny, I liked that [not all of it, but how can you not love cutting from Langella to the bombing from 'Apocalypse Now'], but I didn't like the multiple presenters. I like the idea of one classic actor discussing all five of them like that, but the way it was, it wound up with at least as many weird pairings (Halle Berry talking to Melissa Leo about acting) and good ones (none better than Walken / Shannon). The best thing about the best picture part was that they did a decent job montaging the movies, rather than just picking one representative scene as they often do. But I would've liked to see actor's clips rather than former winners telling everybody how brilliant they are.
Posted by Gordon27
at February 22, 2009 9:53 PM
comment #8
Ray
says ...
I thought the show felt very different in a good way ... still too bloated, though.
I was stunned that WALL-E didn't win either sound award. The damn thing RUNS purely on sound effects and sound editing for 45 minutes!! And the sound SELLS that movie. Shocking ... maybe the Academy just doesn't like Ben Burtt after he (literally) crapped all over John Williams' score in the STAR WARS prequels ... I dunno.
I think we can all agree that Rourke should have walked away with that award, but it shouldn't come as that much of a surprise, I guess. This is the same Academy that failed to either see or nominate THE WRESTLER for Best Picture and Best Director. It's probably a testament to Rourke's performance that he even managed to get nominated from that film.
I also thought this was one of the worst-dressed Oscars I've ever seen, including Cher's outfit from years ago. Tilda Swinton was wearing a BAG, for God's sake. I thought Jennifer Aniston was the only person there who seemed to understand that they were attending an awards event, and not some fashion show in a fourth floor Parisian warehouse.
The show itself, though, was fairly well done, I thought. Could have done without that tribute to musicals number, though.
Posted by Ray
at February 22, 2009 9:53 PM
comment #9
Gordon27
says ...
I will say, I would've liked the previous winners thing a lot more if any one of them had taken the time to memorize their speech, or say something from the heart [like Maclaine telling Hathaway to keep singing]; the Oscar winning actors should be able to fake sincerity better, even on a cold reading.
Posted by Gordon27
at February 22, 2009 9:54 PM
comment #10
lipranzer
says ...
Wow, I'm surprised more people haven't commented here. Or maybe that's a reflection on the show?
I certainly don't think it was one of the better shows. Having one or two presenters presenting three or four awards at a time was a good idea well played. Having past winners introduce the acting awards and paying tribute to the nominees was a good idea not well played; too often, it came off as either self-satisfied or as if the winners had been replaced by robots delivering in monotone - only Robert DeNiro, Shirley MacLaine, and Whoopi Goldberg sounded real (and no coincidence, DeNiro and Goldberg both brought the funny).
I did like Sean Penn and Dustin Lance Black's speeches, even if I was rooting for Mickey Rourke and Mike Leigh, respectively. And I loved the animated short winner saying "Domo Arigato, Mr. Roboto." Who'd have thought Styx would get a shout-out at the Oscars?
Posted by lipranzer
at February 22, 2009 9:55 PM
comment #11
corey3rd
says ...
Having the "praise from your peers" to the nominees worked. It did the one thing that is hard to bring to such an event - make you not feel that bad about losing. and the end montage of the winning films and how they related to the past worked.
Posted by corey3rd
at February 22, 2009 9:56 PM
comment #12
Gordon27
says ...
"Could have done without that tribute to musicals number, though."
Yeah, I liked Jackman after the first number, which he sold on pure charisma, but the second one quickly used up my good will, and he didn't do anything else either way. They should've saved the "Why don't you nominate comic book movies?" thing for a bit where the joke is played up that he's Wolverine. (If only to give him something to do.)
Posted by Gordon27
at February 22, 2009 9:58 PM
comment #13
Glenn Kenny
says ...
Turns out Anne Thompson had a point about "Milk." Will Patrick Goldstein now do the right thing and go get fitted for his clown suit?
Posted by Glenn Kenny
at February 22, 2009 10:07 PM
comment #14
mtnz
says ...
Thought it was a terrific Oscars considering the films.
More suspense at the end would have made it a classic.
Jackman did a good, if limited job, but the Pantheon of 5 idea was genius. It made you realise just what the awards actually mean, and yes, what even being nominated means to the recipient.
Been many years since the Oscars had humor that made the event watchable in and of itself, and more often than not if fell flat. Going the sub-Broadway route was at least one way of trying to make a dazzling show that didn't rely purely on a thorough knowledge of English or of the Industry to work.
The Superbowl comparison is specious except in one respect: this is the most global film celebration on Earth. Yes it could be cooler/faster/louder/smarter. But that's like asking the Olympics to set its ring ceremonies to mash-up tunes.
This is an event that has to generate interest across political and language barriers that span the globe (now almost 65% of Hollywood's total income) yet still manages plugs for anti-Prop 8! God knows what they made of that in Italy or Mumbai.
Tonight was not classic despite a lot of great effort and some magic moments from the Japenese, English and French, but only a more compelling slate of films could have made it so. I think the producers deserve a well-earned cocktail right about now.
Posted by mtnz
at February 22, 2009 10:16 PM
comment #15
K. Bowen
says ...
Although I do miss the clipsI liked the peer review deal. When it was personal, like Anthony Hopkins praising Brad Pitt, it really worked well. In the future, they should do their best to match up friends.
Although it did look like the Krypton High Council. I was trying to figure out how they were going to sentence General Zod.
Posted by K. Bowen
at February 22, 2009 10:20 PM
comment #16
YRG
says ...
Liked that Heath Ledger won for best supporting. A nice capstone to a career that ended too soon. His "quiet determination" to be accepted was acknowledged posthumously.
Didn't like the ceremony as a whole, although it was better than I imagined. I'd heard that they were going to try to do it as a narrative, with the awards being given as part of a plot in a show. The dance numbers were over the top, although the introductory one was funny and called to mind Billy Crystal's revues of the best picture nominees.
The 5 actors announcing the 5 nominees for dragged on. Although it was nice to see previous winners on stage, it would have been better to see the performances the nominees were up for.
The romance and action genre montages could have gone. All of the montages were too fast-- blurs of one movie to the next-- the juxtaposition was strange, a video mashup, as if to stay with one movie for more than 2 seconds would violate fair use.
I liked the choices overall, and was happy that Slumdog ended up with 8 statues.
Posted by YRG
at February 22, 2009 10:23 PM
comment #17
Mike
says ...
I thought Alan Arkin was a jerk for not knowing Phillip Seymorur Hoffman's name (even if Philly always comes off as pompous). Also didnt like Cuba Gooding Jr. using his time to talk about Cuba Gooding Jr instead of Downey's performance.
Other than that the show itself was terrible.
Posted by Mike
at February 22, 2009 10:33 PM
comment #18
K. Bowen
says ...
Other notes:
The set was lovely.
The opening number got better as it went along.
But the second musical number was a dud, despite the effort.
The Tina Fey-Steve Martin interplay was classic. As I said in one of the threads, put them in the balcony and let them do commentary like the two grumpy guys on the Muppet Show.
The Pineapple Express deal was pretty funny.
Liked Penelope Cruz's classy speech. Watching Winslet break out into tears was pretty amazing. The best part of the Oscars is seeing big stars overcome.
Man on Wire won, yay! Philippe Petit, making the coin disappear and balancing the Oscar on his chin was magnetic.
Someone needs to find Anne Hathaway a prestige musical.
On the whole, not bad, particularly given the films.
Posted by K. Bowen
at February 22, 2009 10:34 PM
comment #19
dinovelvet
says ...
LOL at the Krypton council reference. Hopkins, Kingsley etc would have been brilliant intoning "GUILTY!" It would have been even cooler if the Phantom Zone had come down and pulled Sean Penn away...
Posted by dinovelvet
at February 22, 2009 10:45 PM
comment #20
derby
says ...
they really screwed up the 'in memoriam' segment. who was doing he camera cues? i had to squint to see the names on the screen they were shot from so far back. why move away from the images filling up the whole screen as before?
the show was so-so. the guests closer to the stage worked. i thought the past winners thing was sappy. i am in the minority on the apatow bit - i thought it was pointless.
sean penn is a fine actor; he won because he played a gay man. he was good, but that's why. still, he's a blowhard who doesn't have all his facts straight. that's fine. he speaks to a very small, narrow-minded audience. but he means well on most points, yet overall he's a sanctimonious dolt whose level of self-importance has no end.
Posted by derby
at February 22, 2009 10:59 PM
comment #21
BurmaShave
says ...
Derby do you have multiple personalities or a Quato in your chest?
Posted by BurmaShave
at February 22, 2009 11:31 PM
comment #22
Marty Melville
says ...
Bummed that Rourke didn't take it, but take solace in that, a year later, just about nobody remembers the Oscar but everyone remembers the work.
The oddest thing about the telecast was the disconnect: not between the drooling Medved Nation and "Commie Lovin', Homo Hollywood", but between the ceremony itself (big money glitz and Ultra-Showbiz) and the movies it celebrated (16mm bio-pics set in trailer parks and slums.)
Posted by Marty Melville
at February 22, 2009 11:42 PM
comment #23
jeromejohn
says ...
I bet Sato Masuzawa Penn thanked first is Robin Wright-Penn. He or she (Sato means hometown in Japanese BTW) is credited on imdb as an assistant on all of Sean's non-paycheck movies ever since they've been together, and it makes sense (i.e. it doesnt make sense for him to be "best friends" with a PA, and not thank his family).
Posted by jeromejohn
at February 23, 2009 12:02 AM
comment #24
vansmith
says ...
Didnt see it, but saw clips on you tube, it looked like fun..love it or hate it but the oscars are American and its good we have it to celebrate movies. its tough to get to the top and get an oscar. movies are a great thing, a great window into the human spirit..
Posted by vansmith
at February 23, 2009 12:17 AM
comment #25
the400blows
says ...
This was one of the better Oscar telecasts. It had a little of something for everyone. I especially liked the previous Oscar winners acknowledging this year's acting nominees. It may have been an upset that DEPARTURES won, but I'm glad it did!!! As I said before, enough with docu-dramas like WALTZ WITH BASHIR and THE CLASS. Give the Oscar to an excellent, narrative film like DEPARTURES. Tonight was a BIG night for India and Japan.
Posted by the400blows
at February 23, 2009 12:17 AM
comment #26
rsgoald
says ...
It was the most over-produced Oscars ever! Ignoring the Dark knight was ludicrous. Who the fuck do these 5800+ Academy members think they are to ignore a film that grossed a BILLION $?
Posted by rsgoald
at February 23, 2009 12:47 AM
comment #27
Deathtongue_Groupie
says ...
Penn was a "shocker"? LOL!
It's funny how people can get so caught up in their own view of the world they lose sight of the reality of the situation.
No, for weeks everyone thought it would be a shocker if Rourke won and had convinced themselves that based on 87 unnamed foreign "journalists" and god only knows who votes for Spirit Awards, that it was a done deal.
Gravity returned is all....
Posted by Deathtongue_Groupie
at February 23, 2009 1:03 AM
comment #28
Deathtongue_Groupie
says ...
derby - Amen to that, someone needs to tell the director that he doesn't need to add his own camera moves, everyone was glued to the screen for that section.
Posted by Deathtongue_Groupie
at February 23, 2009 1:05 AM
comment #29
nola
says ...
I thought the only reason they had several actors present acting awards (breaking away from tradition of the previous winner presenting) is because last year's "foreign" winners were not big enough names. It worked when it was sincere. When it wasn't it was forced and boring.
I'd rather see clips.
Posted by nola
at February 23, 2009 1:48 AM
comment #30
MindlessObamaton
says ...
I didn't watch this thing. I caught Cruz's speech cause the wife flipped through the channels and hten I caught the tail end of the Ledger thing and that was it. the Oscars are dead and Rourke not winning is just stupid. Dead, I tells ya. Instead of watching this bloatfest, I gave my little boy a bath, put him to bed and went to bed early with hte wife. MUCH better than watching a dumb awards show.
Posted by MindlessObamaton
at February 23, 2009 4:01 AM
comment #31
Chicago48
says ...
With no comedian as host, nobody can quote what they said the next day. I don't remember a thing Jackman said. He was a host in the beginning disappeared in the middle and came back near the end. The homage to the musicals failed, and Beyonce showed me her limitations.
Loved the new stage setting very intimate. Loved the Slumdog people, and wanted more of the songs.
Grade: B
Bring back Tina Fey and Steve Martin next year.
Posted by Chicago48
at February 23, 2009 4:05 AM
comment #32
adorian
says ...
I thought they were going to turn off the auditorium sound for the In Memorium, so that we wouldn't hear the Applause-O-Meter effect. To me, it sounded as if Charlton Heston got zero applause, while Paul Newman got prolonged cheers.
I didn't like the way the 5 previous winners came off during the supporting presentations, but when the 5 lead actresses came out I started getting goosebumps and was so glad the audience gave them a loud standing ovation. Sophia sure knows how to work it. It's interesting that Nicole and Halle did not walk the red carpet, but still showed up in big gowns. Alicia Keyes was absolutely gorgeous. Mickey Rourke and Philip Seymour Hoffman were NOT !
That second big production number, the one with Beyonce and Zac, was totally unnecessary. I kept fearing someone was going to trip and fall.
How many of the changes will be retained next year? They need to go back to the one-presenter for the acting awards.
Posted by adorian
at February 23, 2009 4:06 AM
comment #33
Chicago48
says ...
Some good parts, Jackman's intro was very good and high spirited. I loved all the Slumdog anything, they are so grateful and happy. Hollywood-types could learn a few things about being happy and grateful (Sean Penn). The actors presenting was very innovative. Loved the stage setting. It moved fairly quickly.
Grade: B
Posted by Chicago48
at February 23, 2009 4:58 AM
comment #34
George Prager
says ...
F-
Posted by George Prager
at February 23, 2009 5:05 AM
comment #35
Rich S.
says ...
If they want to put the buzz back in the Oscars, they have to do something about their release model. Box office numbers are healthy, but not for the type of "prestige picture" that trolls for the awards.
The old model of "premiere at Sundance/Cannes - build anticipation for six-eighteen months - limited release in New York/LA in December - wide release in January" just doesn't work any more. If you want people to watch the Oscars, they have to have seen and become invested in the films.
I think the best solution would be to release "prestige pictures" in September, with a short turnaround to DVD around Christmas. Big films like Saving Private Ryan, Titanic, Lord of the Rings, etc. would not be affected because they wouldn't need the extra DVD boost to get seen.
That way, people will have actually seen most of the movies one way or the other by February. Otherwise, they just don't really care. For myself, I watched about 10 minutes of the Oscars during Hugh's opening and Steve and Tina's presentation. It was the least time I've spent watching the show during my adult lifetime. Don't know what it is exactly, but the thrill is definitely gone.
Posted by Rich S.
at February 23, 2009 5:11 AM
comment #36
Ray
says ...
I kinda wonder if those kids from SLUMDOG went back to their cardboard box this morning after starring at the Oscars last night.
Posted by Ray
at February 23, 2009 5:32 AM
comment #37
Randy W
says ...
My favorite part was when they kicked off the Romance Movie montage with a clip from 'Revolutionary Road'. No wonder that movie was undernominated by the Academy!
Posted by Randy W
at February 23, 2009 5:50 AM
comment #38
dixiedugan
says ...
I thought Jackman was a trainwreck. Liked the montages, the presenting...and that was about it. I have no doubt that Penn was great as Harvey Milk, but I'm really disappointed that Rourke didn't get it. Very disappointed.
Posted by dixiedugan
at February 23, 2009 5:51 AM
comment #39
PCP_Patriots
says ...
I'll say this, the Oscar show was definately for 14 and over as was posted on the show often. Some crude humor and such, not truly family oriented. Then again, do families even bother watching this marketing of hollywood anymore?
Posted by PCP_Patriots
at February 23, 2009 5:54 AM
comment #40
actionman
says ...
where the F was Jack Nicholson?
Posted by actionman
at February 23, 2009 6:20 AM
comment #41
Floyd Thursby
says ...
Unless I missed them, the following weren't acknowledged in the obits:
Edie Adams (who had a significant role in an Oscar winner)
Kathleen Byron
Hazel Court
Eva Dahlbeck
Jean Delannoy
Guillaume Depardieu
Jean Desailly
Ivan Dixon
Mel Ferrer
George Furth
Beverly Garland
Neil Hefti
Eartha Kitt
John Philip Law
Patrick McGoohan
Robert Prosky
Edmund Purdom
Dino Risi
Leonard Rosenman
Humberto Solas
Posted by Floyd Thursby
at February 23, 2009 6:23 AM
comment #42
adaml
says ...
I kinda liked the 5 presenters thing but really want the clips as well. I also would go for really long, showcasing clips.
The 5 presenters was pretty cool when 5 heavyweights came out like for Best Actor (or I suppose 4 heavyweights + Adrian Brody) but the tributes were hit and miss.
You have some really good ones where the presenter owns it and has stage presence and sincerity like Douglas, De Niro, Kingsley, Kidman, MacLaine but then others fluff it completely Arkin and Brody or mistakenly thought the moment was all about them (Cuba Gooding Jr - who should only ever be on an Oscar stage again if he is giving back his ill-deserved statuette.)
Posted by adaml
at February 23, 2009 6:28 AM
comment #43
Glenn Kenny
says ...
To Thursby: Rosenman was acknowledged. The rest of the luminaries you mention, not.
Posted by Glenn Kenny
at February 23, 2009 6:47 AM
comment #44
dixiedugan
says ...
I don't remember seeing Anita Page in the memorial either, which to me is rather shameful since her career spanned both silent and sound pictures.
Posted by dixiedugan
at February 23, 2009 6:57 AM
comment #45
raygo
says ...
Didn't anyone notice that Sean Penn's hands were shaking when he was up there? The guy was seriously nervous, and endearing. Could explain forgetting the wife.
Posted by raygo
at February 23, 2009 7:18 AM
comment #46
markj
says ...
raygo: He probably felt embarrassed for stealing Rourke's award.
Posted by markj
at February 23, 2009 7:26 AM
comment #47
PCP_Patriots
says ...
I actually think Sean Penn had no speech prepared at all. He had his little list but that's it. Just like the majority, he thought it was all but won by Mickey Rourke and so he was surprised as all the rest of us.
Posted by PCP_Patriots
at February 23, 2009 7:42 AM
comment #48
raygo
says ...
I personally think that Penn was more deserving for Milk than for Mystic River, which was a pretty standard (but quite good) Penn performance. His win for that was probably due more to the Eastwood goodwill. If Penn only had one Oscar, Milk would be a good choice.
Posted by raygo
at February 23, 2009 7:52 AM
comment #49
Princess of Peace
says ...
The show was okay. I liked the clips and the opening number. I also liked the tributes in the acting categories. But some of the presenters were not good. Ben Stiller was annoying. And Jennifer Anniston was not up to par. Maybe she was just too nervous.
I would have liked Rourke and Bashir to win but so be it. They are two of my favorites of the year and I look forward to owning them on DVD.
Posted by Princess of Peace
at February 23, 2009 7:57 AM
comment #50
PCP_Patriots
says ...
raygo, you are probably right ... and mystic river was screwed that year with best picture because of the 3rd lord of the rings.
Posted by PCP_Patriots
at February 23, 2009 8:15 AM
comment #51
MikeSchaeferSF
says ...
"mixing the oldies with the BP nominees in montage during the finale didn't work."
I *loved* the juxtaposition of Milk with Braveheart -- Mel Gibson must've shit his pants if he was watching.
Jackman didn't really distinguish himself. They made a big deal about what a "bold new direction" this was supposed to be; then his opening number is (basically) a pale imitation of what Crystal did for years? WTF? And the salute to musicals was horrendous -- badly staged and sung -- and has to go down as a classic Oscar-show clusterf--k. I immediately flashed on Rob Lowe dancing with Snow White in that Allan Carr fiasco years ago.
But the Acting presenters thing was really a masterstroke. The expression on Anne Hathaway's face when she said "I love you Shirley!" was worth the price of admission right there. Fey & Martin: funny. Stiller: very funny. Ditto the Rogen/Franco/Apatow filmed piece.
Posted by MikeSchaeferSF
at February 23, 2009 8:16 AM
comment #52
actionman
says ...
show went up 6% in the ratings from last year
Posted by actionman
at February 23, 2009 8:18 AM
comment #53
PCP_Patriots
says ...
Better ratings than last year? Good God, why? This crop of forgettables should have made the ratings drop by 6% compared to last year's great films. Must have been the Hugh Jackman presence I'd figure.
Posted by PCP_Patriots
at February 23, 2009 8:58 AM
comment #54
MikeSchaeferSF
says ...
Because Jackman is just SO popular in the heartland...
I believe the overnight ratings are from the big markets, so maybe the uptick makes sense. I suspect when the full report comes in that includes the rest of the country, the ratings will be down overall.
Posted by MikeSchaeferSF
at February 23, 2009 9:29 AM
comment #55
PCP_Patriots
says ...
Mike, thanks for the point. You are probably right. I'd love to know the ratings for each half hour to see if they dropped, etc. Would be interesting.
Posted by PCP_Patriots
at February 23, 2009 10:17 AM
comment #56
K. Bowen
says ...
My guess is that if the ratings are up, it probably has to do with the fact that this year the winners were all stars. Penn, Winslet, Cruz and Ledger versus Day-Lewis, Cotillard, and Swinton.
Posted by K. Bowen
at February 23, 2009 11:05 AM
comment #57
K. Bowen
says ...
And Bardem.
Posted by K. Bowen
at February 23, 2009 11:05 AM
comment #58
Jonah
says ...
Penn deserved to win as much as Rourke. Which of them played a character less like themself? That's right. He deserved it and I'm happy he won.
" Hollywood-types could learn a few things about being happy and grateful (Sean Penn). "
With some people Penn just can't win. He was clearly very happy to be up there, and was very gracious to single out Rourke.
Great speech.
Posted by Jonah
at February 23, 2009 12:37 PM
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