***The 84th Academy Awards***

[SanJoaquinSooner]

Each year, I regret not seeing more films before the Oscars, so I’d have a better sense of the films, actors, directors, etc to appreciate.

Yesterday, I watched two films up for best picture: The Help and Midnight in Paris. I had already seen Moneyball.

I regret not having seen The Artist, A Separation, The Descendants, and Hugo.

[SanJoaquinSooner]

Viola Davis (The Help) is Oscar-worthy as Best Actress. I say that even though I’m a big Meryl Streep fan and would love to see her grab another Oscar (didn’t see The Iron Lady).

The Help is a good film, but I would be disappointed if it’s named Best Picture. I expect Octavia Spencer to win Best Supporting Actress too, but I didn’t think her performance was distinguished. Melissa McCarthy in Bridesmaids was fantastic, but probably has no chance of winning. Bridesmaids was so ****ing funny.

I understand The Artist is the overwhelming favorite to win Best Picture with The Help as a long shot.

[SanJoaquinSooner]

I loved Woody Allen’s Midnight in Paris. That old ****er can still write a good script. Owen Wilson plays the main protagonist that Woody Allen would have played himself when he was younger.

It’s a clever story. At midnight each night, during a trip to Paris, the Owen Wilson character goes back in time to Paris during the 1920s. He rubs elbows with the likes of F. Scott Fitzgerald, Gertrude Stein, Ernest Hemingway, and Pablo Picasso.

Rachel McAdams plays the present-day fiancé of the Wilson character.

Marion Cotillard plays Wilson’s romantic encounter in the 1920s. Man, could I fall in love with her. She won the Best Actress Oscar for her role in La Vie en Rose from 2007.

Lots of great minor character performances.

[SanJoaquinSooner]

Iranian A Separation is favored to win Best Foreign Language film. There’s been some very good films out of Iran. Also an Israeli film, Footnote, nominated so a little natural competition there….

[SanJoaquinSooner]

It’s frustrating that it’s not easy to go see all the shorts and all the documentaries unless you live someplace like LA. However, the short live and short animated nominees are presently available On Demand.

I’ve seen only one short live, Tuba Atlantic, at the San Joaquin International Film Festival. It was so funny, I hope it wins. It’s a Norwegian film about a cantankerous old man who has 6 days to live. But maybe I’ll watch all of them On Demand and change my mind.

[picasso]

I saw the Clooney flick. It was very good.

My wife and I can't get past the fact that Woody married his wife's adopted daughter.

[SanJoaquinSooner]

I saw the Clooney flick. It was very good.

My wife and I can't get past the fact that Woody married his wife's adopted daughter.

lol. Your namesake Picasso, in real life, had a secret affair with a 17-year-old while he was married and in his late 40s.

In this film, there is a similar scenario, when the Wilson character meets Picasso's young lover (Marion Cotillard), and falls for her.

Love/infatuation makes people stupid.


I'm sure I'll see the Clooney film (Descendants) when it comes out on DVD.

[A Sooner in Texas]

The Descendants is good; a quiet film about family and trying to keep it together. I don't know that it's a remarkable performance by Clooney - my son always says "Clooney's playing himself again." Haven't seen The Artist yet, but I think it's probably the film to beat, as is Jean DuJardin for best actor.

I watched My Week with Marilyn Friday and The Iron Lady last night (found them streaming online). Michelle Williams is fantastic as Marilyn but without her, the film is just meh. Meryl Streep really was brilliant as Margaret Thatcher. I saw The Help some time ago, and I think it's definitely between Streep and Viola Davis. Hard to say who's going to take it...either would be a wonderful choice.

[StoopTroup]

Hugo was an awesome movie. I took two boys to see it and they totally loved it even though Hugo's situation is a pretty sad one for a child. Scorcese does a great job with this movie. The 3D is fantastic.

[SanJoaquinSooner]

Hugo was an awesome movie. I took two boys to see it and they totally loved it even though Hugo's situation is a pretty sad one for a child. Scorcese does a great job with this movie. The 3D is fantastic.

From what I've read, many expect Hugo and The Artist to take the most awards.

[StoopTroup]

From what I've read, many expect Hugo and The Artist to take the most awards.I haven't seen but bits of the Artist. It looks like one of those movies that Hollywood gets excited about. I really liked Moneyball and think Jonah Hill was great. Also Clooney should get Best Actor. I just think this is his best stuff ever.

[GDC]

Unfortunately I live in the sticks and don't get to see many good movies until they come out on dvd. The best movie I saw this year was Drive.

[ouwasp]

I have the awards on now while The Walking Dead is recording on the dvr. Later I'll be able to ffwd thru the commercials.

Now who woulda thought TWD would be mentioned in an Academy Award thread? :)

[StoopTroup]

Cirque du Soleil was incredible.

Johnny Rango! LoL

[SanJoaquinSooner]

Natalie Portman is like fine wine.

[StoopTroup]

There's a Hugo.

[StoopTroup]

Pretty cool seeing Christopher Plummer win. Great actor.

[Blue]

Heard they gave best foreign film to an Iraninian film. Typical hollywood bs.

[SanJoaquinSooner]

Five for Hugo, so far.

[SanJoaquinSooner]

Heard they gave best foreign film to an Iraninian film. Typical hollywood bs.

Unlike their politicians and religious leaders, Iranian filmakers are great. Hollywood is dominated by Jews. The fact that an Iranian film won, makes it even more impressive.

[Blue]

Unlike their politicians and religious leaders, Iranian filmakers are great. Hollywood is dominated by Jews. The fact that Iran won it makes it even more impressive.

You think Hollywood jews care more about Israel than looking pc? Heh.

[StoopTroup]

I liked it when Angelina showed leg.

[SanJoaquinSooner]

You think Hollywood jews care more about Israel than looking pc? Heh.

I think most do.

Sure they take up for liberal causes often. I haven't seen A Separation, but it's not only the top foreign language film, but the top rated film by critics for all films of 2011. I suspect it actually is a great film. It's about the quandry of family relationships & divorce under Islam -- not about uranium.

http://www.metacritic.com/browse/movies/score/metascore/year?sort=desc&view=condensed&year_selected=2011

[SanJoaquinSooner]

I liked it when Angelina showed leg.

She's on the downslope of her prime, but she still has the vibes.

[SanJoaquinSooner]

Greatest Actress Ever. Meryl Streep.

[picasso]

lol. Your namesake Picasso, in real life, had a secret affair with a 17-year-old while he was married and in his late 40s.

In this film, there is a similar scenario, when the Wilson character meets Picasso's young lover (Marion Cotillard), and falls for her.

Love/infatuation makes people stupid.


I'm sure I'll see the Clooney film (Descendants) when it comes out on DVD.
I know man. I've probably read 10 books on Picasso. He used women as bad as anyone and was a heartless bastard. That doesn't clear Woody's name though.

[StoopTroup]

She's on the downslope of her prime, but she still has the vibes.

I like her slopes too.

Will and Zac....lol

It's about time for Meryl Streep. Great speech.

Sasha Baron Cohen showed up dressed up as his character "The Dictator" carrying the ashes of Kim Jong Il and then spilled the ashes on Ryan Seacrest and told him that now when someone asks you what you are wearing you can tell them "Kim Jong Il!"

ROTFLMAO.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mhAg0COnqds&feature=youtube_gdata_player

[bluedogok]

Unlike their politicians and religious leaders, Iranian filmakers are great. Hollywood is dominated by Jews. The fact that an Iranian film won, makes it even more impressive.
As typical in most of those countries, the population tends to be much more progressive than the dictators and those in power are. They just don't have the power to effect change because those in power control the police and military and will use anything in their means to hold and consolidate their power. The "elections" in those countries are bogus.

[StoopTroup]

BTW...Sasha was told he couldn't show up as The Dictator by the Oscars and did it anyway. He was escorted out by Security evidently. I guess Oscar doesn't have a sense of humor...but enough to let Will and Zac play cymbals as presenters.

[SanJoaquinSooner]

I know man. I've probably read 10 books on Picasso. He used women as bad as anyone and was a heartless bastard. That doesn't clear Woody's name though.

I agree Woody was a dick for what he did with Mia Farrow's adopted daughter. By appreciating his talent I don't intend to endorse that behavior.

I was surprised he won the screenwriting award this evening, given that he shuns award shows.

[Wishboned]

BTW...Sasha was told he couldn't show up as The Dictator by the Oscars and did it anyway. He was escorted out by Security evidently. I guess Oscar doesn't have a sense of humor...but enough to let Will and Zac play cymbals as presenters.

He was banned at first, but then they decided to let him come as The Dictator.

[TUSooner]

She's on the downslope of her prime, but she still has the vibes.

Dude, she needs a sandwich or some doughnuts. She's skinny in the worst way, like she'd just come from a concentration camp. blechhh. creepy.

[TUSooner]

I saw that somebody (some young and snotty critic, no doubt!) panned the show as "boring" "safe" "retro" and "aimed at the over-50 crowd." Yeah well, so f***ing what!? Really, I was glad - for once - to do without the edgy, jaded, bored, super-ironic, too-hip- for-this-**** attitude of so many show-biz people these days. I think as the movie stars get a bit older, they start to appreciate the old days when show-biz people were cool and gracious and acted like they actually enjoyed what they were doing and had a bit of class (even if they were really bums). I like that illusion; it says that the celebs have some respect for the audience and don't need to browbeat or annoy them just to prove some real or imaginary point. And if anybody got up on their hind legs and started preaching politics lat night, I missed it and was glad to have done.

[sooneron]

Crystal sucked tho. Most of the presentation was lame. I felt sorry (well not really) for Paltrow and Downey having to do that craptastic bit. HORRIBLE.
It was good to see Streep finally win again, she was heading into Susan Lucci territory. I heard that Iron Lady sucked with the exception of her.
I didn't see The Artist,but I intend to do so. Saw A Separation and it was fantastic. The Artist had better be all that to win (not that its usually the case). Calling out pc Hollyweird because an Iranian film won is ****ing stupid. really. It was a good film. Very Good.
The Descendants was really good- saw it Sat night. Clooney was NOT playing Clooney in it. I like understated roles and he did a great job with it. I was also happy that Rango won.

[StoopTroup]

Yeah if Clooney is doing Clooney it's usually about something he knows about. Being a Widower that finds out his Wife was cheating on him after she's dead isn't anything that Clooney seems to understand. I think he did a great job in the role.

[picasso]

Dude, she needs a sandwich or some doughnuts. She's skinny in the worst way, like she'd just come from a concentration camp. blechhh. creepy.
Totally agree. She looks nasty. Billy Bob Thornton's leftovers nasty.
But, most of Hollywood is chock full of emaciated women these days.

[StoopTroup]

She just needs a few wieners.

[Blue]

Calling out pc Hollyweird because an Iranian film won is ****ing stupid. really. It was a good film. Very Good.


Yeah I'm sure it was just a coincidence. he even got to do an anti war rant. Doesn't the idiot know the people have no say in those matters?

Meh. Whatever. I didn't watch it and I'm not sure on why I'm commenting on the thread.

[A Sooner in Texas]

I love Clooney, and he was great in The Descendants (which is extremely true to the book, btw), but he just is not able to lose himself in a role the way truly gifted actors can...like Streep. She's done so many incredible roles but the Iron Lady is one of my favorites. You do not see Streep in the movie; you see Margaret Thatcher at her highest and her lowest.

[hawaii 5-0]

I saw the Decendant's author's father in Starbucks a month ago. Fred Hemmings is a surfer dude turned Repub local politician for many years. I congratulated him on his daughter's success.

5-0

[StoopTroup]

I love Clooney, and he was great in The Descendants (which is extremely true to the book, btw), but he just is not able to lose himself in a role the way truly gifted actors can...like Streep. She's done so many incredible roles but the Iron Lady is one of my favorites. You do not see Streep in the movie; you see Margaret Thatcher at her highest and her lowest.

Quite one thing for Clooney to do a part about someone none of us really know and Streep doing a Modern Day High Profile British Politician like Thatcher though. Streep really had quite a bit of material to make sure she portrayed Thatcher and George was pretty much left to his own to try and create a believable character that none of us know but envision from maybe reading a book. Many folks maybe didn't even go that far....they just watched the Movie. With Thatcher....so many of us grew up watching her and Streep won an Oscar because of her performance of a very well known Margaret Thatcher.

[sooneron]

If you want to win a best actress oscar these days, you have to play some historical British B****. :D

[sooneron]

Yeah I'm sure it was just a coincidence. he even got to do an anti war rant. Doesn't the idiot know the people have no say in those matters?

Meh. Whatever. I didn't watch it and I'm not sure on why I'm commenting on the thread.

Yeah, seriously, why do you care so much? I know, you got to post "****ing hollywood liberals or whatever pc blah blah balbbity blah"... It's obvious you didn't see it by calling what he said in his speech as a "rant".

http://www.slate.com/blogs/browbeat/2012/02/27/asghar_farhadi_s_oscar_speech_the_best_of_the_nigh t.html

He's obviously some Muslim extremist judging by those words. :rolleyes:

[Blue]

Yeah, seriously, why do you care so much? I know, you got to post "****ing hollywood liberals or whatever pc blah blah balbbity blah"... It's obvious you didn't see it by calling what he said in his speech as a "rant".

http://www.slate.com/blogs/browbeat/2012/02/27/asghar_farhadi_s_oscar_speech_the_best_of_the_nigh t.html

He's obviously some Muslim extremist judging by those words. :rolleyes:

Lets just agree to disagree that it was more than a coincidence. Ok?

[TUSooner]

Yeah I'm sure it was just a coincidence. he even got to do an anti war rant. Doesn't the idiot know the people have no say in those matters?

Meh. Whatever. I didn't watch it and I'm not sure on why I'm commenting on the thread.

If you thought that acceptance speech was an "anti-war rant" then you really need to get your head out of ... wherever you keep it locked up... and look around once in awhile. He was certainly more enlightened and open-minded than you are. But then, I suspect open-mindedness is a sin in your world. (You prefer pro-war speeches?)

[Blue]

If you thought that acceptance speech was an "anti-war rant" then you really need to get your head out of ... wherever you keep it locked up... and look around once in awhile. He was certainly more enlightened and open-minded than you are. But then, I suspect open-mindedness is a sin in your world. (You prefer pro-war speeches?)

Did I say any of that, TU? Like I said I didn't watch it. Thats what I heard. And it wouldn't surprise me.

Do I want war with Iran? No. Do I think most of the wars and uprisings are propaganda to advance agendas? Yes. Am I voting for Rick Santorum? No.

Take your assumptions and shove them up your self righteous ***.

[TUSooner]

Did I say any of that, TU? Like I said I didn't watch it. Thats what I heard. And it wouldn't surprise me.

Do I want war with Iran? No. Do I think most of the wars and uprisings are propaganda to advance agendas? Yes. Am I voting for Rick Santorum? No.

Take your assumptions and shove them up your self righteous ***.

It seemed like a pretty fair assumption at the time. And there you go saying *** when I went to such trouble to avoid it!

[Blue]

Yeah, I suck at message boards. I think I'll take another break. ;)

I shouldn't have commented on something I didn't watch. And yes I do despise most of hollywood so I'm biased.

[TUSooner]

Yeah, I suck at message boards. I think I'll take another break. ;)

I shouldn't have commented on something I didn't watch. And yes I do despise most of hollywood so I'm biased.

I gave it up for Lent last year and should have done it this year, too. :-/

EDIT: Wow. I think we almost got a MOVIE thread kicked to the politics board. <shakes head sadly>

[ouleaf]

Big night for the Artist and Hugo overall. Thought the presentation was fine and Billy did a good job IMO. Way better than last year's fiasco with Franco and Hathaway. Billy had some smart/simple jokes, and took a few shots at various folks throughout the night. Just not sure why all the presenters felt they had to do their own bit.