Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

It’s the corruption, stupid.

Despite his magical powers, I don’t think Trump is thinking this through, to be honest.

It may be funny to you motherfucker, but it’s not funny to me.

Insiders who complain to politico: please report to the white house office of shut the fuck up.

When your entire life is steeped in white supremacy, equality feels like discrimination.

The next time the wall wtreet journal editorial board speaks the truth will be the first.

I’d like to think you all would remain faithful to me if i ever tried to have some of you killed.

Make the republican party small enough to drown in a bathtub.

Republicans don’t want a speaker to lead them; they want a hostage.

Balloon Juice has never been a refuge for the linguistically delicate.

Accountability, motherfuckers.

Our job is not to persuade republicans but to defeat them.

Do not shrug your shoulders and accept the normalization of untruths.

All your base are belong to Tunch.

Come on, man.

Today’s GOP: why go just far enough when too far is right there?

Take hopelessness and turn it into resilience.

Let me eat cake. The rest of you could stand to lose some weight, frankly.

The words do not have to be perfect.

Too often we confuse noise with substance. too often we confuse setbacks with defeat.

Accused of treason; bitches about the ratings. I am in awe.

Prediction: the GOP will rethink its strategy of boycotting future committees.

After roe, women are no longer free.

We cannot abandon the truth and remain a free nation.

You are here: Home / TV & Movies / Movies / Oscars Open Thread

Reader Interactions

404Comments

  4. 4.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    Following Ebert is almost enough to make me sit through the whole show.

  6. 6.

    MikeJ

    It’s a pity ABC didn’t have the Olympics. Even here on the west coast we’re getting live 3 in the afternoon coverage of the red carpet, even if, like me, you don’t give a shit.

  7. 7.

    demo woman

    This afternoon I watched the Big Lebowski on netflix instant. Still can’t believe that Bridges did not win for his performance.

  13. 13.

    taterstick

    “Jesus, you can already tell this is gonna be a smarmy, self-fellating embarrassment of weapons grade horseshit.”

    No, that was in the Greenwald thread upstream from here. Compared to him, this is a fucking day in the park.

  14. 14.

    Brachiator

    Jesus, you can already tell this is gonna be a smarmy, self-fellating embarrassment of weapons grade horseshit.

    It wouldn’t be the Oscars otherwise.

    Did they ever resolve the New York cable tv “We don’t got to show you no stinkin’ Oscars” mess?

  15. 15.

    JoePo

    Just saw The Hurt Locker last night. It takes a distant third to Inglorious Basterds and A Serious Man for best 2009 movie I’ve seen. Still haven’t seen Avatar, and will never see it. It seems like the sort of movie you’d like if you don’t really like movies. That’s one thing I’m not afraid to be a snob about.

  17. 17.

    Linkmeister

    @Brachiator: Nope.

    Updated at 6:25 p.m. Sunday
    Cablevision and the Walt Disney Company traded barbs Sunday after WABC was removed from the company’s cable television lineups, a consequence of a failed contract negotiation.

  20. 20.

    demo woman

    @JoePo: Avatar is worth seeing. After a moment you understand why it cost so much money. You are right that the acting is limited and the story is slight but none of that matters. When I walked out of the theatre I just said wow.
    I also saw The Hurt Locker and think that it is the best war movie that I’ve seen. It was like watching a documentary and I’m in awe at the directing.

  24. 24.

    demo woman

    ABC is now showing the red carpet. I have to say that I’m not a fashionista but I love all the bold colors the stars are wearing.

  25. 25.

    JoePo

    @demo woman: While there’s something to be said for sheer spectacle, the premise of the movie is so laughably thin, I just can’t bring myself to see it. I know you acknowledge that, but the disregard for story and character at the behest of special effects (I hate to rely on reviews and the opinions of my friends to make this point, but the idea is that their opinions are almost uniform) represents everything I hate about moviemaking.

    Some of my reluctance is just animus towards James Cameron, who seems to think of himself as something other than a purveyor of extremely expensive (and expensive-looking) schlock.

  26. 26.

    SIA

    @Lennox:

    besides, wouldn’t y’all rather watch a youtube of my dogs (a Great Pyr and a Newfie/Pitt) wrestling like Puppies…

    Yes. Yes I would! Never have and never will get the appeal of awards shows.

    Love the pyrennes breed. Until last September we had a golden/pyrennes mix – the best dog ever ever ever.

  27. 27.

    Max

    I haven’t seen many, if any of the movies this year, but I’m excited for the Oscars because Adam Shankman is producing and he’s super gay in the best way possible and my favorite judge on So You Think You Can Dance.

    Plus, I’m totally on Team Gabbie.

  28. 28.

    General Egali Tarian Stuck

    I hope Hurtlocker wins big cause I like Katherine Bigelow, and she made a top shelf movie on a shoestring budget. Cool lady/

  29. 29.

    demo woman

    @JoePo: It’s a movie. You might reconsider because the 3-D is worth it.
    I have not seen several of the films nominated including The Blind Side. The reason I did not see the Blind Side is I thought the story would play as well on TV. For pure enjoyment UP is my favorite. Lots of laughs and tears and great screen writing.

  30. 30.

    WereBear

    @JoePo: It doesn’t matter. The Jazz Singer isn’t famous because it’s a good movie.

    (I’m not talking about the one with Neil Diamond. Ow.)

  32. 32.

    Lennox

    Love the pyrennes breed. Until last September we had a golden/pyrennes mix – the best dog ever ever ever.

    Abbie is the Pyr, and I’m considering breeding her with my neighbor’s giant choco lab.

  33. 33.

    Bad Horse's Filly

    Red Carpet chatter is inane. I wouldn’t have it on, but I’m sitting here trying to distract myself waiting for my dad to call again. My mom went to the hospital today and waiting on test results. So far everything is inconclusive, which is far more unnerving than an actual diagnosis. At least that’s how it feels right now.

  36. 36.

    fraught

    Does anyone here remember listening to the Oscars on the radio before they were on TV? If you do, come sit over here by me.

  37. 37.

    PurpleGirl

    Tried watching the red carpet thing but my TV is a Sony Trinitron I got through Freecycle and the color transmission is messed up. (I knew this when I picked up the TV.) It isn’t bad normally but for the Oscars you want to see the colors of the gowns.

  40. 40.

    SIA

    Blast. Can’t access netflix – wanted to watch a movie instead of dressed up people talking about them.

  41. 41.

    fraught

    Who is that white woman interviewing movie stars? I hope I hope I never have to see her again, ever.
    I love Kate Winslet.

  42. 42.

    Brachiator

    @JoePo:

    While there’s something to be said for sheer spectacle, the premise of the movie is so laughably thin, I just can’t bring myself to see it. I know you acknowledge that, but the disregard for story and character at the behest of special effects (I hate to rely on reviews and the opinions of my friends to make this point, but the idea is that their opinions are almost uniform) represents everything I hate about moviemaking.

    Movies have always used special effects. From Day Freaking One. Matte shots, rear and front projection, models, forced perspective, trick shots. If you don’t know this, you don’t know nothing about movies.

    Thin premise? Psycho is about a woman who steals money from her employer and makes a getaway. The Godfather is about Italian gangsters. How often had that been done before?

    Movies are about visual storytelling. The shower scene in Psycho will endure long after rants about “story and character” have faded away into the ether.

    Avatar is a great piece of visual storytelling. It is not the greatest movie ever made, but like any number of great films, it ups the ante on what filmmakers can do.

  43. 43.

    mr. whipple

    You gotta admit Hollywood has built up one hell of a propoganda apparatus. Awards, awards, awards. So freaking pompous.

  45. 45.

    Nellcote

    Tina Fey needs a new stylist. And Mylie Cyrus needs to stand up straight. Sheesh.

  48. 48.

    JoePo

    @Brachiator: I wasn’t saying special effects are bad. I’m saying brain-dead storytelling augmented by special effects is bad. I don’t particularly care if a movie ups the ante for other filmmakers – I’ll wait for a filmmaker who’s actually skilled at telling stories to use that technology. But thank you for the lecture.

  58. 58.

    burnspbesq

    @Lennox:

    Abbie is the Pyr, and I’m considering breeding her with my neighbor’s giant choco lab.

    Where do I sign up for a pup from that litter?

  60. 60.

    Brachiator

    @JoePo:

    I wasn’t saying special effects are bad. I’m saying brain-dead storytelling augmented by special effects is bad. I don’t particularly care if a movie ups the ante for other filmmakers – I’ll wait for a filmmaker who’s actually skilled at telling stories to use that technology. But thank you for the lecture.

    You haven’t seen the film. No matter how brilliant your friends, you simply cannot comment intelligently about Avatar. Your more general critique about “brain-dead storytelling augmented by special effects” is easily contradicted by any number of great films.

    Movies ain’t just stories with pictures or special effects sprinkled on top.

  64. 64.

    burnspbesq

    The Oscar telecast is a great reason to fire up the DVR and relive last night’s ass-whuppin of the Tarheels.

  66. 66.

    Betsy

    I did love the look Clooney just gave them. “Don’t even fucking start with me, Steve.”

  67. 67.

    Lennox

    @burnspbesq:

    Where do I sign up for a pup from that litter?

    If it happens, I promise to give Balloon Juicers first dibs on any pups not claimed by my immediate friends and fam.

  68. 68.

    Max

    Sandy Bullock’s eyes are showing her age.

    That makes me feel better about myself somehow.

  70. 70.

    Comrade Mary, Would-Be Minion Of Bad Horse

    The line about Walz looking for Jews actually made me LOL. The rest: well, I loved The Jerk and 30 Rock. This format doesn’t serve either actor well.

    Bad Horse’s Filly: Hope all goes well. Hugs until you get the word. My sister had her own inconclusive/scare saga this week, but the latest test results seem to sound the all-clear.

    EDIT: How did they manage to both mispronounce and misspell Walz’s name? He was the shining star of that mess of a movie and I hope he does more.

    Shallow: he looks younger and cuter with the beard for some reason.

  76. 76.

    Comrade Mary, Would-Be Minion Of Bad Horse

    Mike, I just heard about Woody’s film recently and from all accounts (including yours) he was awesome. But there are worse to lose to than Walz.

  81. 81.

    Genine

    I thought Steve and Alex were kind of funny. Not the best, but pretty alright so far.

  85. 85.

    Brachiator

    The craptastic opening was partly redeemed by Walz’s eloquent speech. He also managed to weave his “thank yous” into his remarks (people have been warned about simply streaming out long thanks to everyone).

  91. 91.

    fraught

    @Mike Kay:
    Woody Harrelson worked for me as a busboy when he was a starving actor in New York a long time ago. I had to fire him because he was so terrible. He deals with bad news with good humor and a joint.

  94. 94.

    madmommy

    The bit with the various characters from the Best Animated films was well done.

    And Pixar wins again!

    @Max:
    Isn’t he though! Yum.

  95. 95.

    dmsilev

    I’m shocked, simply shocked, that Pixar won another Best Animated Film.

    On a peripheral note, I see that Apple ran an ad for their New Shiny Object. I’m not quite sure why, but I think I want one.

    -dms

  99. 99.

    Genine

    @Comrade Mary, Would-Be Minion Of Bad Horse: @SGEW:

    Hey guys,

    I am still in the hospital. I will be here for about 3 more days. They want to make sure my situation is stabilized. But I have to go the doctor twice a week after I am let out.

    I was kinda freaked yesterday. I’m not even 35 and “mini-strokes”? Really? But it was better than the alternative. Anyway, I am on the mend, keeping positive energy.

    Thank you all for the positive thoughts and energy. They helped a lot. I said a thank you in the previous thread as well. I just got my laptop today.

  100. 100.

    Mike Kay

    @fraught:

    He was probably doing background research for his role on Cheers!

    What’s you establishment. It would be nice to drop in and say hi to a fellow OBot.

  102. 102.

    MikeJ

    I don’t know these girls. Are they teen idols?

    One is Miley Cyrus/Hannah Montana, but I don’t know which one.

  103. 103.

    Comrade Mary, Would-Be Minion Of Bad Horse

    @Mike Kay: Thanks! I keep meaning to install torrents, and I guess this is the push I need.

    Miley — stand the fuck UP, girl. You look like an embarrassed Playtex 18 hour longline bra ad. If you’re not comfortable in that dress, you should have chosen something else. (Of course, I remember that Lady Gaga was better dressed and more decorous than Miley when they met the Queen a few months ago, so this is nothing new.)

    EDIT: Hey, Genine, good to hear that you feel a bit better and that things seem under control. Now relax and watch the Oscars!

  106. 106.

    Max

    @MikeJ: Brunette is Miley. The blonde is Amanda something from Big Love / Mamma Mia.

    Miley is not even 18. That dress was way too grown up for her.

  108. 108.

    demo woman

    @Genine: Gotta say.. stay off the Rahm blog. It’s way to stressful down there.
    Please keep mending, I can’t imagine anything scarier.

  109. 109.

    SGEW

    @Genine: I think I would be more than “kinda freaked” if all that had happened to me.

    But at least you have your laptop now. Best wishes, and get well soon!

  112. 112.

    Comrade Mary, Would-Be Minion Of Bad Horse

    Reposting because things are getting busy enough here that edits are scrolling away:

    Hey, Genine, good to hear that you feel a bit better and that things seem under control. Now relax and watch the Oscars!

  114. 114.

    ajr22

    @freelancer (itouch): In there Britney Spears episode they said the entire country was in a plot to build up teenage girls into stars, so they could watch them collapse and eventually kill themselves. At the end of they turn to a Tv screen an see Miley and give the signal she is next. She just seems like the next Lohan to me.

  117. 117.

    Mike Kay

    @mr. whipple:

    well, that’s a television charachter on the Disney channel that’s very popular. She’s played by “Lolita”-like, Miley Cyrus.

  119. 119.

    You Don't Say

    Anyone talking dresses? I like Vera F., J Lo and Queen Latifah. And Penelope Cruz, but that goes without saying.

  121. 121.

    fraught

    @Mike Kay: it’s closed, I’m retired. Woody was one of the coolest guys; he chose to hang out with the Bangledeshi busboys rather than the other actor/waiters. He kept trying to crack them up by learning their language and using the new words on the customers. But he was late every day by about and hour or two. He always forgot what time he was working.

  123. 123.

    Max

    I love Robert Downey, Jr.

    Mon, Weds, Fri – I go to Obama Cult meetings.

    Tues, Thurs, Sat – It’s the Downey Cult.

    Sundays – @JohnCole Cult

  124. 124.

    madmommy

    Blue bow tie and tennis shoes with a shiny tux, Robert? Really??

    @You Don’t Say:

    Did you see Sarah Jessica Parker? A satin Chanel sack with a barnacle stuck on the back. Fug.

  130. 130.

    Comrade Mary, Would-Be Minion Of Bad Horse

    Ooh — Downey and Fey! My fave never-to-be-attained sandwich.

    Fey’s worn better, I’m afraid, and those senior citizen shades on Downey are less than thrilling. But hey, they’re still funny.

    Best Original Screenplay this early? OK.

    Whoa. Hurt Locker? Not Basterds? I guess this isn’t the year for science fiction.

    There are only two ways to interpret this award: it’s a sign that HL will get best pic and/or best director. Or else it’s a sop to make up for not getting either or both.

  135. 135.

    Max

    @madmommy: RE: SJP – she had on so much bronzer, it was Boehner-esque. She is from Ohio, so maybe it’s an Ohio thing.

    ETA – I love Molly’s hair color. Me want.

    ETA #2 – The women are all so much taller than the guys tonight. Bunch of short men in Hollywood.

  139. 139.

    Gordon, The Big Express Engine

    I was scrolling through the comments and my 3 year old was looking at the numbers and successfully counted to 50! He needed help with 20, 30 and 40, but got the that the progression sort of resets every 10 numbers. Thanks BJ!

    Carry on!

  142. 142.

    HRA

    Glad to see you back here, Genine.

    I watched some of the live stream and it was hard on the eyes besides the sound cutting out. Was Miley one of those two girls giving the music award?

    Man has TV (history, military and auto auctions channels) Daughter has my own TV at her house until she gets her TV back from the repair shop.

  143. 143.

    You Don't Say

    OK, not trying to be mean, but is something wrong with Molly Ringwald? She seems about 90 … or paralyzingly nervous.

  145. 145.

    MikeJ

    Ick. I was bang in the demo for Hughes and never saw one of his films I liked. Too bad he’s dead and all, but my teenhood was more Penelope Spheeris (pre Beverly Hillbillies and Little Rascals).

  150. 150.

    MikeJ

    @Mike Kay:

    Petticoat Junction had some hotties.

    Did the director of Decline of Western Civilization do the big screen remake of that too? She put Darby Crash on the screen in the 80s and Jim Varney as Jed Clampett in the 90s.

    And Max, I was a teen for both of those movies and wanted to stab everybody in them to death.

  151. 151.

    Cain

    Hi Genine,

    I’m glad everything went okay, and I’m rooting for a 100% recovery, girl!

    cain

  152. 152.

    Cain

    I don’t know about you guys, but Samuel Adams Doubule Bock (from the imperial series) is really damn good.

    cain

  154. 154.

    CaseyL

    @fraught: Actually, I was thinking how heartbreaking it was, to see those clips of those actors when they were young and dewy and their careers stretching out before them; and see them now, when life has kicked them around pretty good, and how some of them were has-beens post-Hughes. I wondered how that line reverberated for some of them.

    But then, I’m a soppy sentimentalist.

  157. 157.

    madmommy

    Zoe Saldana’s gown is a whole lot of look. It looks as though it is dragging her down. The purple is a pretty color, though.

  158. 158.

    fraught

    @CaseyL: I was thinking much the same thing. Several of them looked pretty dis-heartened. But as a statement, it’s pretty hopeless. Most people don’t have lost acting careers to feel distraught about.

  159. 159.

    You Don't Say

    @madmommy: I don’t like it.

    That whole short-series was kinda weird. ;-)

    lol. Stiller.

    Cameron not looking too impressed. That alone makes it worthwhile.

  160. 160.

    John O

    It IS fun to see everyone dolled up.

    S. Bullock looks quite fetching, IMO.

    And Tina Fey could wear a burlap sack as far as I’m concerned.

    Ben Stiller on doing Avatar now…not bad.

  162. 162.

    Nellcote

    The should give the winners of the short films/docs some slack on thank you time. Those films are so very hard to get made and the chances that the winners will get another chance to say something again at the Oscars is so remote.

    I filming in HD the thing that makes people look less glamorous?

  163. 163.

    madmommy

    @John O:

    Sandra is my husband’s not-so-secret crush. She seems like such a nice person and is so lovely I can’t say I blame him!

  165. 165.

    John O

    I like Coen Bros. movies, so I’ll add that one.

    Those are two sick, smart, funny puppies.

    Yeah, madmommy, Sandra trips my trigger as well. She’s even age-appropriate!

    Mostly, I’ll always like her for “While You Were Sleeping.”

  166. 166.

    PurpleGirl

    Ben Stiller’s bit was good. (Two pairs of Spock ears… neato.)

    Stiller read children’s stories at two benefits for the organization I used to work for — he’s a nice guy.

  167. 167.

    CaseyL

    The women in the high-bodice dresses all look strange: too high-waisted, and as if they can’t bend in the middle. Is this a new fashion? It looks uncomfortable and isn’t even flattering.

  168. 168.

    Bad Horse's Filly

    @You Don’t Say: Ringwald just had twins and is doing a television series. Maybe she’s sleep deprived. She did look out of it.

    Thanks for all the good thoughts. Word is still inconclusive and they’ll run more tests tomorrow. Yippee. Bet mom is just thrilled. I’m not allowed to talk to her tonight, because she told my dad he couldn’t call the kids, which of course he did anyway. Now we have to play dumb. God don’t ya love family dynamics?

    EDIT: Can I just say when her H1N1 test came back negative, I was relieved, considering what my cousin just went through.

  174. 174.

    madmommy

    This ought to be a good speech. Mo’Nique has won every award given for this role.

    The flowers she’s wearing in her hair look a lot like what Hattie McDaniel wore when she won for Gone With The Wind.

  180. 180.

    John O

    I wanted Mo’ Up In the Air actresses on that one.

    Vera F. was stunning in that movie, and so was the youngster. I liked it a lot.

  181. 181.

    RedKitten

    @Genine: Glad to hear you’re on the mend, honey. Now you make sure to follow your doctor’s advice and take care of your bad self. We need you around, girlie.

  182. 182.

    Mnemosyne

    @RedKitten:

    She’s just on my TV now and I think I understand the slouch — she’s convinced that her boobs are going to pop out of that too-small top if she stands up straight.

    I can’t say she’s wrong.

  185. 185.

    RedKitten

    @Genine: Glad to hear you’re on the mend, honey. Now you make sure to follow your doctor’s advice and take care of your bad self. We need you around, girlie.

    Did anybody see Sam Jackson giving that weird sort of “Hoo-boy!” facial expression after Mo’nique’s speech? What was up with that?

    Oh, and Queen Latifah looks GORGEOUS tonight. Love her.

    Ahhhh….SJP! What the fuck is on the front of your dress?

  188. 188.

    Betsy

    @Mnemosyne:
    That’s what I was thinking too. I think she was afraid if she stood up straight her nipples were gonna pop outta there.

  189. 189.

    CaseyL

    OMG with the giant flower tits on Theron’s dress!!

    What is it with the dresses tonight? Did everyone email one another and say “Hey! Let’s have a fugly dress contest and not tell anyone!”?

  191. 191.

    mai naem

    Sarah Jessica Parker looks like a teapot. I have no idea why I said that but that’s what I thought of when I saw her.

  192. 192.

    gwangung

    What is it with the dresses tonight? Did everyone email one another and say “Hey! Let’s have a fugly dress contest and not tell anyone!”?

    That was so bad, even I could tell it was a mistake….

    (nobody’s ever accused me of having any fashion sense)….

  196. 196.

    Comrade Mary, Would-Be Minion Of Bad Horse

    Really, who is dressing Miley, or who, rather, is failing to tell her to smarten up and start choosing better fitting dresses? As I linked above, she wore this orange rag that made her look exposed and droopy when she met the Queen. I mean, she’s young and lovely and has a nice figure, and the colour and detailing on that dress could have made almost anyone look at least good and her great, but she was slouching in that one, too.

    Now that you’ve made me feel old, Miley, GET OFF MY LAWN.

  197. 197.

    madmommy

    @CaseyL:

    If the boob flowers had been closer together it might have worked. I saw the whole dress earlier, the lighter color continues around the back and forms the train. One of those “looked good on paper” sorts of ideas.

  199. 199.

    PurpleGirl

    Yahoo has a lot of pictures of the dresses, so I’m seeing what they look like. Some of them are fantastic, some not so much.

  200. 200.

    Max

    I tried to watch that “Twilight” movie and it was unwatchable.

    I must officially be an old person.

  201. 201.

    vheidi

    @Genine: I know a woman your age who had the same thing, and is absolutely fine after a year- good luck and best to you!

  202. 202.

    Mnemosyne

    @mai naem:

    Actually, it means child porn charges for the Oscar producers.

    Add me to the list of people who was not that fond of John Hughes’ movies. They were okay at the time, but I never got the big deal about The Breakfast Club and hated hated hated Ferris Bueller’s Day Off.

    Wasn’t it a little weird to use a quote from Hughes about how “growing up means that your heart dies” since the guy dropped dead from a heart attack?

    Just sayin’.

  205. 205.

    madmommy

    @Comrade Mary, Would-Be Minion Of Bad Horse:

    When she was interviewed with her mom on the pre-show, she said that her mom has great taste in tattoos. Mom is bleach-blonde and spray tanned. How does one pick an evening gown meant to show off one’s tattoos? The didn’t even look like good tats, but they took up most of her upper back.

  206. 206.

    Genine

    @vheidi:

    That’s good and very encouraging to hear. After I am let out, there is some medicine I have to be on for six months. The plan is to let the artery heal itself.

  207. 207.

    CaseyL

    Two so far for Hurt Locker. Both behind-the-camera awards, but still: an interesting trend, maybe.

  211. 211.

    Comrade Mary

    I missed the pre-show: Miley’s mom was showing off her upper back tattoos? I’d have to see that, but my first feeling is not great, which is weird as I think tattoos are awesome. Maybe it’s Miley’s series of inappropriate dresses and that icky Vanity Fair photo spread that bias me.

  213. 213.

    jeff

    I know this one, but she is at least 30

    Is it me or do the really young ones not know how to carry themselves?

  215. 215.

    RedKitten

    Theron’s dress is really weird. Why would you want to distract from that face by sticking giant flowers on your ta-tas?

    My best-dressed so far is Cameron Diaz, which is weird. Usually she shows up in the equivalent of a satin bathrobe.

  216. 216.

    Corner Stone

    Ok. I just tried to watch 10 minutes of this mess and I feel like I have ADHD now.
    This is awful. Back to internet pr0n.

  217. 217.

    Mnemosyne

    I’m way behind everyone else, but who the fuck was that who came up on stage and wouldn’t let the director of the best documentary short talk?

  218. 218.

    John O

    Sure is a lot easier for us men to dress up.

    Get a tux, do what you want with it, and you’re fine unless what you want to do is really weird.

  219. 219.

    Nicole

    Worst. Horror. Montage. Ever.

    First of all, “37 years since horror was honored”? What was Silence of the Lambs, a musical farce?

    Seriously, one of the nominees for Best Director directed one of the best vampire flicks ever and they can’t be bothered to show a single clip from it? What, it was too important to include that terrifying gorefest Edward Scissorhands?

    Yes, we get it; there’s a remake of Nightmare on Elm Street coming out.

    And not a single shot of Vincent Price? I hope the Tingler gets whoever put that thing together.

  220. 220.

    Max

    @RedKitten: I like Kate Winslet’s dress. Tina Fey’s was good too.

    ETA – Wow! Sandy Bullock looks older than I thought. Maybe it’s the dark hair and red lips.

  221. 221.

    Comrade Mary

    @RedKitten: RedKitten, she even brushed her hair, too. Weird.

    To further descend into shallowness, I am developing a serious crush on Walz. I thought he was the single best part of IG, but was simply appreciating his work as an actor. Civilian Walz gave a great speech tonight (another graceful European showing us colonials how it’s done), has a marvelous beard, and just before commercial break, in that audience shot, he looked precise and worried, like a brilliant scientist who knows the world is about to end, but needs to check his figures one more time. So hot.

    He also reminds me a lot of someone else, but I can’t place who.

  224. 224.

    madmommy

    @RedKitten:

    And she combed her hair, too! Amazing.

    Sandra Bullock’s gown looks like quicksilver, so pretty.

    @John O:
    And yet so many manage to bugger it up. Half-a-tux with jeans? Tux with tennis shoes? Yuck.

  226. 226.

    Betsy

    What is the deal with George Clooney scowling at the camera? Is that some kind of inside joke?

  230. 230.

    Max

    @Mnemosyne: I think so. I’ll be 39 soon, and her eye wrinkles make me want to go out and buy eye cream stat.

    The stupid academy forgot Farrah.

  231. 231.

    Nicole

    @CaseyL: Come to think of it, Silence was done as a musical here in NYC at the Fringe Festival a few years back. Can’t believe I forgot that. Never saw it. Bummer; I would have loved to have seen “It Puts the Lotion in the Basket” as a tap number.

  232. 232.

    fraught

    @Max: Agree about Bullock. Some stylist said, “let’s make you look like Anne Hathaway last year, only older and not as pretty.”

  233. 233.

    Brachiator

    James Taylor was nice, but unnecessary. The show’s producers didn’t have the sense to let images and clips of honored people’s work speak for itself.

    The horror movie montage — more craptastic stuff.

    The dance routine was blah. And for this they cut performances of Best Song nominees?

  234. 234.

    gwangung

    Some stylist said, “let’s make you look like Anne Hathaway last year, only older and not as pretty.”

    Looks like they slathered on makeup to get the 90s supermodel look (like Stephanie Seymour in the 90s, except she looks so much better now, looking like herself).

  237. 237.

    CaseyL

    @Max:

    The stupid academy forgot Farrah.

    Maybe because she was “only” a TV actress? Do you have to have been in major studio releases to rate a mention in the memorial?

  239. 239.

    Mike in NC

    The current Mrs. Cameron looks ghastly. Does he allow her to eat every now and then? Looks like she shed 30 pounds since “Titanic”.

  242. 242.

    Mnemosyne

    We are way behind — we’ve only just gotten to SJP and Tom Ford, who was clearly too vain to wear his glasses onstage.

    Why is SJP wearing a grocery bag for a dress? Did she lose a challenge on “Project Runway”?

  245. 245.

    gwangung

    Facebook quote: “The guy who won for sound editing on The Hurt Locker looks like he belongs on the Horror Film Montage minutes earlier.” – Tony Vinh

  246. 246.

    CaseyL

    Fischer Stevens! I used to have a huge crush on him. He did a wonderful bit as a cunning murderous director on Columbo. So he’s producing documentaries, now? For old time’s sake, I’m glad he won.

  247. 247.

    Max

    @CaseyL: She was in quite a few movies… The Apostle, Dr. T & The Women, Man of the House, Cannonball Run, hell, she deserved a mention for The Burning Bed alone.

    Apparently, Ricardo Montebalm and Bea Arthur were also left out.

    the Twitter is aflame.

  254. 254.

    Nicole

    @Max: I’m thinking Khan might have been in last year’s telecast, since he died in January? I think I remember complaining (probably here) I didn’t think he was given enough deference during the segment.

  256. 256.

    Brachiator

    @CaseyL:

    RE: The stupid academy forgot Farrah.

    Maybe because she was “only” a TV actress? Do you have to have been in major studio releases to rate a mention in the memorial?

    Farrah was in a number of movies. By contrast, Michael Jackson made the montage based mainly on his appearance in The Wiz and, I suppose, his posthumous performance film.

  258. 258.

    CaseyL

    @Max:

    [S]he deserved a mention for The Burning Bed alone.

    Yes, but that was a TV movie – and she won a Golden Globe and an Emmy for that role.

    But your point is taken; she did do a few theatrical releases. And, yes, she wasn’t the only one the Academy overlooked – I think whoever the executive producer was should never ever do this again.

  259. 259.

    Mnemosyne

    @Mike Kay:

    Huh? There were two Lon Chaney clips — Hunchback and Phantom.

    I actually didn’t think it was bad at all, but I love Chuck Workman’s shorts. I loved that they worked in Evil Dead 2.

  261. 261.

    madmommy

    Quentin Tarrantino looks like he spent the last few hours throwing back tequila shots in the bar.

  262. 262.

    Gordon, The Big Express Engine

    @CaseyL: she was in Logan’s Run!!!!

    That right there should have gotten her in the montage.

  266. 266.

    gbear

    @freelancer (itouch):

    Someone shit in Clooney’s cereal? He looks pissed tonight.

    Maybe because of this?

    Bad Horse’s [email protected]:
    …
    @freelancer (itouch): Sheppard to Clooney, in front of his date: “you’re a famous commitment phobe.” (paraphrased) Really, who says that? I could have sworn I saw him roll his eyes. I stopped listening after that.

  267. 267.

    You Don't Name

    I wish I lived in a part of the country where theaters showed documentaries and foreign films. Grrrrr.

    They should give people some time to speak, ffs.

  268. 268.

    Max

    @Mike Kay: I know, but she did a really good job in it.

    Husbands were sleeping with one eye open for years.

    She deserved to be included in the montage.

  271. 271.

    Comrade Mary

    I stepped away. Who won editing, Avatar or Hurt Locker? Ebert says that’s usually a sign of who gets best pic.

  272. 272.

    Mike Kay

    Ebert was at the Independent Spirit Awards this weekend and he received a standing ovation when he was introduced.

  275. 275.

    fraught

    Avatar seems to be getting dissed. Unless it wins best picture this would seem to be personal against James Cameron.

  278. 278.

    lamh31

    4 more awards to go, I’m hoping for an upset for Best Actress. I have a heavy aversion to “The Blind Side”

  279. 279.

    Mike Kay

    @Mnemosyne: I bet it was because her entire performance was in french. I can’t think of a foreign language performance that was ever nominated.

  280. 280.

    Mnemosyne

    @Max:

    I finally saw Bullock and she looks pretty damn good for her age, IMO. She didn’t even go too crazy with the Botox since her forehead was still moving as she talked.

    Of course, I think I look pretty damn good for my age, too (40), so I may be delusional. :-)

  281. 281.

    Comrade Mary

    Ah. Thanks, Nicole. OK, fingers crossed that this is a good predictor this year.

    This is an embarrassingly bad show. There’s Rob Lowe and Snow White OMG!Trainwreck!Can’tNotLook! bad, and there’s sloppy and boring, like tonight. The set is drab, the majority of the presenters are slipshod and unfunny, and they couldn’t even run the dead people tribute correctly. I think the Oscars usually gets nominated for an Emmy most years, but they don’t deserve it for this one.

  282. 282.

    Nicole

    My husband is googling James’ Cameron’s wives, and he’s been married five times. After the starter marriage, his wives have been:

    Producer
    Director
    Lead actress
    Bit actress

    I’m not sure what that means.

  283. 283.

    madmommy

    @Mnemosyne:

    Yeah, but still. If you know you’re going to be on stage later perhaps you could put off the Oscar night bender until after your stage bit was done. But it’s Tarrantino, so…

  285. 285.

    Nicole

    @lamh31: Look at it this way, if Bullock wins, she’ll make history as the first actor to win both the Oscar and the Razzie for the same role.

  286. 286.

    PurpleGirl

    The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences lists Farrah in their memoriam list at their web site. They do include TV people.

  287. 287.

    Comrade Mary

    @Nicole: There’s an inverse relationship between the growth of his ego and their professional stature? (I don’t know any of these women, and they may be smart and lovely human beings in every way, but hey, shove data in front of my nose and I’ll hypothesize.)

    Bullock: I’m a bit older than her, and I think her eyes look fine. The makeup is a bit heavy, though. And she got the Razzie for a different role. Maybe this will be the first time the same actress got the two awards in the same year, though.

  292. 292.

    Mike Kay

    @Nicole: It means he marries the people he works with. Away on locations, on set romances spark. Perhaps he’s been married so long to this one because he hasn’t made a move in 13 years.

  293. 293.

    Mnemosyne

    Leaving Farrah out was an a-hole move, frankly. The only time I’ve seen them do it before is if they do a separate tribute to the person like they did with Stanley Kubrick, but I doubt that’s going to happen.

  294. 294.

    Emo Pantload (fka Studly)

    ‘Nother question: Have they ever presented Best Actor before Best Actress before?

  295. 295.

    You Don't Say

    They won’t let anyone give more than a 30-second acceptance speech, then they spend 5 minutes paying tribute to already well-recognized and overly praised actors? Really annoying.

  297. 297.

    Nicole

    Morgan Freeman can try to look as dignified and Oscar important as he wants; I still remember Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves. So there.

  301. 301.

    Nicole

    @Max: Oops. You’re right. (I’m now reprimanding my husband for making me look dumb here since he’s the one who told me. He’s reprimanding me for not listening to what he was actually saying. He’s probably right.)

  305. 305.

    Comrade Mary

    Wasn’t it last year that they had previous best actor/actress winners say something on stage for each of that year’s nominee’s? I remember a lot of lovefests but a couple of people (who didn’t win) got a lazy once over. Humiliating.

  306. 306.

    Nicole

    @Comrade Mary: Yes. I thought it was a creepy and boring “Welcome to our special club” initiation ritual. Though I thought Shirley Maclaine at least sounded like a human being, as opposed to the animatronic robots that were Jolie and Kidman.

  309. 309.

    Mnemosyne

    I guess this makes me a true film geek: I’m really excited that Michael Giacchino won for Best Score.

  311. 311.

    lamh31

    @ Genie

    My Colin Firth love affair, started with reading “Bridget Jones Diary” the novel, which lead me to watching BBC’s Pride & Prejudice, then Bridget Jones the movie, then Love Actually, and now I’m hooked.

  312. 312.

    mai naem

    Well, Colin Firth and George Clooney are either going to have to be doing this another 15 yrs and finally win an Oscar or do a Forrest Gump/Rainman kind of character and then win a movie. Also too, didn’t Ed McMahon die in the last few months. Granted he was in teevee but he was also in showbiz. He should have been in the obits too.

  315. 315.

    Nicole

    And now the women get some licky licky. We get it, Helen Mirren is a sexy 60-something. We get it.

    (Full disclosure: I really do like her, but enough already)

  317. 317.

    Nicole

    It would be so awesome if, next year, they would do this for the cinematographers… I would so watch that.

  318. 318.

    Genine

    @Max: @lamh31:

    Yeah, Bridget Jones’ Diary really opened my eyes to him. I adore “Love Actually”.

    Deep down, I’m really a romantic twit.

  319. 319.

    madmommy

    I would really like to see Gabourey win, though I know Sandra will. Every interview I’ve seen or read with her just makes me like her more. She just seems so comfortable with herself and enjoying everything that is happening to her.

  322. 322.

    madmommy

    @Genine:

    Love, Actually is a great movie and Colin Firth is indeed dreamy.

    Glad to see that you’re on the road to recovery!

  323. 323.

    Comrade Mary

    Gabourey looks great in the blue dress.

    There’s a really weird passive-aggressive vibe to the script tonight that I hate. The missing hosts talking about “damn” Meryl Streep, the way they called two beautiful women ugly. Yeah, sarcasm, I know, but it just seems so junior high. This is a really shabby, amateur Oscars show in every way.

    Oh well, Bullock’s speech should be fun.

  325. 325.

    YellowJournalism

    Amen to this from Ebert:

    7:15 — Tease: “Coming up! Twilight!” How stupid do they think we are? So only “Twilight” fans are watching? Hook those kids!

    And this:

    6:05 — Doesn’t T-Bone want you to know more about him? Let him SAY SOMETHING!

    And, especially, this:

    6:57 — Lauren Bacall and Roger Corman win Governor’s Award, stand up, applauded, sit down. Let them SAY SOMETHING.

    It’s a terrible shame that such greats are not allowed to speak for what is supposed to be a great honor from the Academy.

    And fuck Sandra Bullock winning over Meryl Streep and the star of Precious. (Too pissed to look up her spelling.)

  328. 328.

    Mnemosyne

    @Genine:

    I can beat all of you: I developed a massive Colin Firth crush after he had a cameo in the Hallmark production of “The Secret Garden” way back in 1987.

    Trust me, if it comes on the Hallmark channel sometime, fast forward to the end for his one scene. Yowza.

  329. 329.

    Nicole

    Awww…. Sandra! Winning the Julia Roberts Oscar for This Is the Only Time You’ll Be in Anything Decent Enough to Justify Giving This to You.

    (Sorry- residual bitterness over Roberts beating out Burstyn)

  330. 330.

    YellowJournalism

    @freelancer (itouch): Exactly.

    It has nothing to do with Bullock as an actress or a person. I love her, love many of her movies. Just don’t think this is the one to get it for. Don’t understand why the movie was nominated for Best Picture, either, even with the ten spots open.

  333. 333.

    madmommy

    Whoa! Barbra Streisand?!

    Props to Sandra for a gracious and funny acceptance speech.

  335. 335.

    YellowJournalism

    And ditto to Colin Firth being the hotness. Loved the delivery of the last line from him in Bridget Jones’ Diary.

    Yay for Bigelow! Almost makes up for the Best Actress category.

  336. 336.

    Nicole

    Yay for the woman winning Best Director!

    (And for the first woman being an actual director, and not a movie star playing director)

  338. 338.

    Comrade Mary

    Oh fuck, having Babs out to talk about how the best director winner could be a woman — for the FIRST time.

    And “the time has come”? Gah. Way to put a bad taste in my mouth about the result I wanted. But yay, Bigelow!

    And she’s 59. Holy fuck.

  340. 340.

    CaseyL

    Bullock is such a surprise. I’ll bet that’s a result of the Instant Run-Off; I think the Best Actress category was really, really strong this year, and no one got an outright majority.

    ETA: Bigelow, OMG!!!!

  341. 341.

    Max

    Congrats to Katherine! But, um, would it have killed you to run a brush through that hair?

  342. 342.

    Mnemosyne

    You know how George Clooney has been wearing the same Armani tux to every awards show for, like, 20 years?

    Someone should have told Quentin he couldn’t get away with doing the same thing once he gained weight. That’s just embarrassing.

  343. 343.

    Emo Pantload (fka Studly)

    Apologies to the Firth fans, but total hotness just won Best Director.

  345. 345.

    Nicole

    After watching her onscreen, my husband just informed me that if Kathryn Bigelow casts him in a movie, but only on the condition he sleep with her, he may just have to.

    Heh.

  348. 348.

    YellowJournalism

    @Nicole:

    (And for the first woman being an actual director, and not a movie star playing director)

    Was that a Babs jab or one at the Mel Gibson win? Either way, heh.

    @Genine:
    Sends shivers up my spine.

    Tom Hanks’ delivery of The Hurt Locker’s win was short but classy.

  350. 350.

    Comrade Mary

    HELEN FUCKING REDDY? Jesus, if anything is going to make me burn my Feminist Card and start shaving my legs, it’s that lazy musical choice.

    Wait — and they rushed to best pic? Hurt Locker? The naked enthusiasm in the female announcer’s voice and Bigelow’s look of disbelief are WAY better celebrations.

  351. 351.

    Nicole

    I know she’s going to be classy, but it would be so awesome if she’d say “I’m king of the world!” Ha. Ahahahahahahahaha.

    Slate was right- never bet against the war movie.

  353. 353.

    CaseyL

    WOW Hurt Locker got both the big ones.

    I think the Academy was pissed off that Avatar was nominated mostly on the strength of its box office take. Everyone in the universe agrees the story is profoundly non-original, and the visual brilliance a product of a computer lab.

  355. 355.

    MikeJ

    (And for the first woman being an actual director, and not a movie star playing director)

    Ida Lupino sez “Fuck you.”

  356. 356.

    Tattoosydney

    @Mnemosyne:

    I can beat all of you: I developed a massive Colin Firth crush after he had a cameo in the Hallmark production of “The Secret Garden” way back in 1987.

    Another Country, 1984, along with a young Rupert Everett and a young and stunningly beautiful Cary Elwes.

  358. 358.

    fraught

    @Betsy: Used to be ladies first.

    Hurt Locker wipes the mouth right off Cameron’s face.
    Ohhh, the stinging I can feel all the way here in Brookland.

  360. 360.

    Mnemosyne

    @Nicole:

    IIRC, James Cameron’s comment about his marriages is that he’s attracted to extremely smart women who eventually figure out he’s an idiot and leave him.

    I will say one thing — probably the only person more pleased about the win than Bigelow right now is Cameron. He’s been a huge supporter of hers through this whole awards season and I do think that his unwavering support (and his own irritating egotism) helped her overcome the insane sexism of the DGA and the Academy to win.

  361. 361.

    Comrade Mary

    Oblomova at Rump Roast: “Since a chick beat a black dude, the sins of 2008 have been washed clean.”

  362. 362.

    YellowJournalism

    @Nicole:

    I know she’s going to be classy, but it would be so awesome if she’d say “I’m king of the world!” Ha. Ahahahahahahahaha.

    “Who’s King of the World now, asshole?”

    Oh, Steve Martin, an “Oscars are too long” joke? Really? You’re above that.

    Scratch that, you did those Pink Panther remakes.

    But I forgive you for your writing career, your comedy routines, your SNL appearances, Parenthood, and Planes, Trains, and Automobiles.

    Oh, and Roxanne and The Man with Two Brains.

    Okay, now I’m off to watch my PVR’d finale of Big Love.

  370. 370.

    Nicole

    @Mnemosyne: I think him taking up with the next Mrs. Cameron while still married to the (soon-to-be) previous probably helps motivate them.

    Mind you, I don’t hold his marrying habits against him. I do hold his writing dialogue, however. The man can plot story like nobody’s business, but seriously, he needs to leave the dialogue to those who can write things people would actually say.

  371. 371.

    Mike in NC

    Bigelow = holy cow she’s tall and good look’n

    58 years old? This cannot be! Yowza!

  373. 373.

    Mnemosyne

    @MikeJ:

    Being an actor didn’t make Mary Pickford any less of a director, either.

    I just get annoyed at the whole “Ida Lupino was the first woman director!” crap, because, good as Lupino was, she wasn’t the first by any stretch of the imagination. And Lupino would have told you the same thing.

  377. 377.

    Mnemosyne

    @MikeJ:

    I’m pretty sure the reference to a movie star playing director was to Barbra Streisand, not Ida Lupino. If nothing else, Lupino was never an actual star.

  378. 378.

    GregB

    Proof of Hollywood’s liberal elitism once again shines through.

    James O’Keefe and Hannah Giles weren’t nominated for best actor and actress.

    This snub will not be forgotten.

  379. 379.

    Mnemosyne

    Tivo just bumped us to the end credits in the middle of the Hurt Locker‘s big acceptance speech. Gah.

    Neil Patrick Harris had a “groomer”? What is he, a horse?

  382. 382.

    Mike Kay

    @Steeplejack:

    nice catch.

    For her performance as Édith Piaf in La Vie en Rose (2007), she received an Academy Award for Best Actress and a BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role — in both cases it was the first time that an actress had won those awards for a French language performance.

  383. 383.

    Mnemosyne

    @Mike Kay:

    I think other actors and actresses have won for performances in foreign languages, but I’m too lazy to go look for them right now.

    It was a pretty tight year in the acting categories, though, so she may just have been squeezed out.

  387. 387.

    Mnemosyne

    @Tattoosydney:

    That one I checked — he was nominated for writing and directing but not acting.

    Here’s a few from the Academy database just going back the past 20 years of Best Actress nominees:

    1989 – Isabelle Adjani, “Camille Claudel”
    1992 – Catherine Deneuve, “Indochine”
    1998 – Fernanda Montenegro, “Central Station”
    2004 – Catalina Sandino Moreno, “Maria Full of Grace”

    So it’s actually fairly common for foreign language performances to be nominated. I return to my opinion that Melanie Laurent was robbed.

  388. 388.

    Tattoosydney

    @Mnemosyne:

    That one I checked—he was nominated for writing and directing but not acting.

    Um. He won Best Actor in 1999 for Life is Beautiful, which I am pretty sure was a foreign language film…

  391. 391.

    Mnemosyne

    @Tattoosydney:

    Wins are uncommon for foreign language performances, but nominations are pretty common. So I stand by my statement that Laurent was robbed of a nomination. :-)

  392. 392.

    Mnemosyne

    I’m idly watching TCM and, holy shit, Luise Rainer is still alive! She’s going to be hosting some films at the TCM Film Festival.

    She’s got to be the oldest living Oscar winner — she just turned 100 in January.

  393. 393.

    asiangrrlMN

    I just watched on DVR. The most common phrase that escaped from my lips? “Who the fuck are you?” Man, this year was the dullest yet. Good thing I can whiz through everything but the actual awards and the people I want to see.

  394. 394.

    Zuzu's Petals

    @Max:

    The stupid academy forgot Farrah.

    I think she may have been in one of the farther-away shots.

    I choked up a bit seeing Natasha Richardson up there.

  396. 396.

    Uriel

    @Comrade Mary:

    And she got the Razzie for a different role. Maybe this will be the first time the same actress got the two awards in the same year, though.

    Halle Barry did as well, I believe, for Monster’s Ball and Catwoman.

  397. 397.

    Uriel

    @Mike Kay:

    I can’t think of a foreign language performance that was ever nominated.

    Several have been, including Robert De Niro, Roberto Benigni, and Marion Cotillard.

  398. 398.

    Uriel

    Sorry, guess I repeated some information that had already been covered. Didn’t read far enough into the thread.

    Ignore the other two and just pretend that I only pointed out that De Nero has also been nominated for a foreign language performance in Godfather II.

  400. 400.

    debbie

    This year, they went back to saying “And the winner is” instead of “The award goes to.” This seemed pretty symbolic of their self-reverence. I really love movies, but I wish these people would be less self-involved.

  402. 402.

    Mnemosyne

    @Uriel:

    Brian Helgeland won the Oscar and the Razzie for screenwriting in the same year (Oscar for LA Confidential and Razzie for The Postman). He claimed he was going to pick up the Razzie so he could store them side-by-side, but I don’t know if he actually did it.

  403. 403.

    Nicole

    @Mnemosyne: Thank you for figuring that out. I was baffled as to where the whole Ida Lupino thing came from in the first place. Kind of like when you’re on a horse racing thread about Spectacular Bid and someone starts screaming that Mineshaft gets no respect.

    (Okay, no one would actually seriously compare Mineshaft to the Bid, but you get the idea)

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