2015 Academy Awards

[Walter Sobchak]

I saw American Sniper over the weekend and enjoyed it [...] I was bothered by the length of the closing funeral cortege as the credits rolled. A vat of Diet Coke was seeking egress and I was EXTREMELY uncomfortable, but I didn't dare walk out lest I be branded as insensitive as the rest of the audience was wiping away tears.

I watched AS with two other CSers. They can attest to the fact that no one in the packed theater left during the end credit funeral footage... except one person. Me.

[Northwestcoug]

I saw American Sniper over the weekend and enjoyed it, thanks in part to diminished expectations that were set by CS'ers. Like fusnik, I was bothered by the length of the closing funeral cortege as the credits rolled. A vat of Diet Coke was seeking egress and I was EXTREMELY uncomfortable, but I didn't dare walk out lest I be branded as insensitive as the rest of the audience was wiping away tears.

Having seen all of the Best Picture nominees, I'd give the nod to Boyhood, but Birdman seems to have momentum. It has several really good performances, the dialogue is crisp and entertaining, the camera work is innovative, blah blah blah, but I can't bring myself to love it, in large part because I don't get the ending. Can anyone enlighten me? I often like ambiguity but this time it just bugs me.

Spoiler for My questions, such as they are...:

Why is Emma Stone looking up and smiling at the end? Are she and her dad both insane? Is the end just a fantasy, confirming that Keaton has finally found inner peace and has taken flight? Yeah, I'm obtuse. But I'd welcome a thoughtful explanation.

At least I liked the movie better than did Howard Stern who really ripped on it.

On the other hand, this is the first year in memory that I liked every best picture nominee. They're not necessarily great films, but I thought all of them were very good. I'm really interested in the outcome of this race and the Best Actor category which is filled with great performances.

Spoiler for Possible spoiler for your spoiler question:

I saw it like you said, that he finally found inner peace. Remember the scene right before. He was in the bathroom looking at his new nose, and he turned around to see his alter ego on the toilet, reading a paper. To me, that meant to show Birman was finally subdued, emphasized by Keaton saying 'eff you' to him. He then walks to the window, opens it up and flies out. His daughter then sees him flying without the 'shackles' of his past.

I also really liked Boyhood. Not so much for the technical brilliance, but for the sheer ambition of taking 10+ years to make a single film. To me, that feat makes up for some of the clunky dialogue and acting.

[Katy Lied]

I liked Boyhood, but I dont get the adulation. Okay, Ethan Hawke did a great job of aging in the film, but that's because he actually aged. It's not that he had to act older or younger; he was older and younger. Same for the kid and Patty Arquette. If anything, it was great directing, but not so much anything else.

I really did like how the movie shows kid's misreading of adult signals. Like the kid only had the one hint before his mom marries her professor, but as he gets older, he picks up on the adult cues faster and earlier, and it makes him cynical.

[jay santos]

Watched Whiplash last night. Really intense. Still haven't seen Foxcatcher or Imitation Game.

I liked Birdman. I'd put it at the top.

I thought Nightcrawler should have gotten a nomination and especially Jake Gylennhal a nomination for best actor.

J.K. Simmons is a no brainer for best supporting actor. Incredible job.

Michael Keaton should get best actor. I wouldn't have put Eddie Redmayne in the top 5. The female lead was the star of that show.

Bummed out that Inherent Vice is not even in the conversation. He's my favorite director, and I looked forward to that film for a while, but I can't even bring myself to see it yet with the reviews so weak.

[Northwestcoug]

Whoa. Eddie Redmayne. Is that the first upset winner?

[old_gregg]

doogie was off his game tonight. the dress joke after the suicide lady was pretty bad.

[Uncle Ted]

How about Poitras' "Citizenfour" getting the best documentary? Man, I was surprised.

[UVACoug]

Whoa. Eddie Redmayne. Is that the first upset winner?

Redmayne was favored.

[UVACoug]

How about Poitras' "Citizenfour" getting the best documentary? Man, I was surprised.

Not a great movie. I'm guessing most of the academy voters didn't even bother to watch it. I saw two of the other nominees (Virunga and Finding Vivian Maier); both were significantly better than CITIZENFOUR.

[Donuthole]

So Grand Budapest gets blanked in the meaningful categories but cleans house in all the kitschy categories that nobody cares about. That Wes Anderson is so brilliant!

Also lol @ Foxcatcher and American Sniper.

[old_gregg]

the right movie won best picture. biopics are lazy, boyhood was a gimmick, american sniper was probably fabricated, nobody likes wes anderson, and who even cares about the other ones

[Northwestcoug]

Redmayne was favored.

Really? I thought Keaton was favored.

[UVACoug]

Really? I thought Keaton was favored.

After the Golden Globes a lot of people thought Keaton had it locked up, but then Redmayne won most of the guild awards he was eligible for and was the favorite in most of the expert polls I saw. 538 blog predicted Redmayne would win:

http://fivethirtyeight.com/datalab/a...to-the-oscars/

There weren't really any surprises, except maybe Whiplash for editing and Budapest for score.

[PaloAltoCougar]

That was the weakest Oscar show in memory. Doogie Howser was unusually bad (I think he's very good in other settings), and his stupid "what's in the box?" bit throughout the show surpassed "Oprah Uma" for banality. But I'm an upbeat, loving human being so I'll only mention a few (of the very few) bright spots.

Graham Moore's acceptance speech for the best screenplay (Imitation Game) was really great. He said that when he was 16 he attempted suicide because he was "different" and didn't fit in. But now, his standing there, holding an Oscar, should serve as a symbol to youth today who may harbor similar thoughts, that things can get better, a lot better.

I was frankly amazed at how good Lady Gaga did with the Sound of Music medley. She didn't vamp at all and she has a great singing voice; it was a fitting tribute, and Julie Andrews' appearance was a great coda to a fine presentation. I'm showing my age here, but it was still jarring to see Lady Gaga in a very traditional gown but with the inside of both biceps heavily tatted. Looked like a trumpet on one side and a steamboat on the other.

I thought it was nice Eric Holder accompanied Oprah to the show.

I thought Boyhood deserved to win over Birdman (strange that the latter won both best picture and director, while the best thing about that movie, Michael Keaton, lost), but I thought it was close, so no big deal. I was glad Grand Budapest Hotel won a few, and I look forward to seeing that again more than any of the others.

[MartyFunkhouser]

People actually watch the Oscars?