83rd Academy Awards (2/27/11)

[creekster]

The musical thing was pretty good. The bit about "he doesnt own a shirt" was pretty funny.

[Babs]

It never ceases to amaze me that she sold like a bazillion album-m-m-m-m-mzzz.

[woot]

It's a bit disturbing how much the Academy demands a happy ending. Dark pictures are rarely rewarded, but those with an uplifting message, even if it's artificially tacked on, tend to do fine.

This year, that means that King's Speech will probably win over the Social Network. Neither ends negatively, but the former is just so very uplifting compared to the conflicted ending of the latter.

This is also why Spielberg has done so well. His movies, while often extremely good, never fail to have a cheesily happy ending.

[SeattleUte]

I agree the academy awards are execrable. I hate them.

My ten year old son likes to needle me. One of his favorite ways is to say, "Dad, you hate _______, don't you," or, "Dad, why do you hate __________?" I don't think this is a good way for him to perceive me, so, even if he's basically right, almost invariably I will correct him and explain why it's more nuanced than that. Tonight he said, "Dad, you hate the Academy Awards, don't you." I had to admit that, yes, I do, I hate them.

One of the most disappointing things to me is how a guy like, say, Steven Speilburg, who ought to have all the accolades and pride in a job well done he needs, acts so slavishly delighted to get something so artificial as an academy award. George C. Scott did it exactly right. Just ignored it. No fanfare; just didn't come. Credit them for giving him Best Actor.

No less disappointing is that the actual best picture almost never wins the award. I've not cared for most of the winners.

[wuapinmon]

Awesome how all these sports fans are missing the point of the Oscars.

[woot]

I agree the academy awards are execrable. I hate them.

My ten year old son likes to needle me. One of his favorite ways is to say, "Dad, you hate _______, don't you," or, "Dad, why do you hate __________?" I don't think this is a good way for him to perceive me, so, even if he's basically right, almost invariably I will correct him and explain why it's more nuanced than that. Tonight he said, "Dad, you hate the Academy Awards, don't you." I had to admit that, yes, I do, I hate them.

One of the most disappointing things to me is how a guy like, say, Steven Speilburg, who ought to have all the accolades and pride in a job well done he needs, acts so slavishly delighted to get something so artificial as an academy award. George C. Scott did it exactly right. Just ignored it. No fanfare; just didn't come. Credit them for giving him Best Actor.

No less disappointing is that the actual best picture almost never wins the award. I've not cared for most of the winners.

When I was young I decided that I was going to write the Great American Novel. I had no idea what it was going to be about, but I knew that it would end badly for the protagonists, as that just didn't seem to ever happen.

Since then I've realized that it does happen sometimes. Herman Hesse did a terrible job of it in "Beneath the Wheel" long before I was born, for instance. The Perfect Storm also comes to mind, as does the recent "Skyline," a horrifically bad movie that is nevertheless memorable. I love a book or film that is willing to respect the audience enough to provide a realistic (within the framework of the story, at least) ending rather than always pandering to the audience's need to have their hero be completely victorious.

The opinion of the Academy seems to differ greatly. I imagine even 127 Hours isn't happy enough for them. Sure, he lives to tell the tale, but he lost his arm! OMG! The King's Speech is an extremely good movie, so when it wins I won't complain, but it's hard to ignore that it's yet another in a very long string of happy endings receiving the top honor.

Edit: I'll add that although I listed it as my 2nd favorite movie of the year recently, I've become a bit biased against it after reading of how inaccurate it is regarding the history of the time and the neurology of stuttering. It's still very good, and it isn't any less accurate than tons of other movies that I nevertheless enjoy, so bully for it.

[woot]

Awesome how all these sports fans are missing the point of the Oscars.

Please do enlighten us regarding the "point" of the Oscars.

[creekster]

Don't quit your day job, Gweneyth.

Wow. No kidding. You would think her hubbie might gently clue her in. I can only hope it was a contractual requirement for her lousy movie.

We are watching it on a DVR delay and you listen to Gwyneth sing and then FF to hear Celine Dion (who I dont like but who has a fabulous voice) sing and the contrastr is rather stark.

But Randy Newman's speech was well worth listening to.

[Babs]

hey! They played Oklahoma! That was sweet. Definitely the highlight (granted, not saying much).

[Babs]

Wow. No kidding. You would think her hubbie might gently clue her in. I can only hope it was a contractual requirement for her lousy movie.

We are watching it on a DVR delay and you listen to Gwyneth sing and then FF to hear Celine Dion (who I dont like but who has a fabulous voice) sing and the contrastr is rather stark.

you've got to be kidding me. I've never thought she could sing at all.

[creekster]

you've got to be kidding me. I've never thought she could sing at all.

wait. You dont think Celine Dion can sing at all? really?

[TripletDaddy]

you've got to be kidding me. I've never thought she could sing at all.

You obviously have never seen Duets.

[Babs]

wait. You dont think Celine Dion can sing at all? really?

nope. Her vibrato makes her sound like she's in the back of a pickup going over washboards on a gravel road somewhere. Or singing into a boxfan.

[woot]

While I recognize that Celine has more singing talent than Gwyneth, I would put them in the same category of "good singers whose voices I don't like". It's fun to discover that an actor you like also has musical talent (Donald Glover, for instance), so I give props to Gwyneth. But yeah, she shouldn't give up acting.

[creekster]

nope. Her vibrato makes her sound like she's in the back of a pickup going over washboards on a gravel road somewhere. Or singing into a boxfan.

I see. Well your standards are clearly very high and your ear must be very fine. Like I said I am not a fan but I think she has quite an instrument at her disposal.