[The Annual Academy Awards - General Discussion]

I know I said I wasn't going to say anything more about it, but oh well, here are my thoughts...

I didn't expect Will to have a well thought out apology for Chris during his acceptance speech, since he was clearly emotional and probably not thinking clearly.  He's apologized now, good for him.  I really don't care if his publicist convinced him or not, he's obviously going through something and he needs to work it out, so he's taking this first step.  Here's hoping he's okay and is able to process why he did what he did.

If Chris did improvise that G.I. Jane line, that was not cool.  I don't have alopecia, but I can imagine it's not an easy thing to deal with at all, and apparently Jada has talked about how hard it is for her.  Even if Chris didn't know, you should never assume the reason a person is bald.  It could be for health reasons you know nothing about, and it's just not necessary to comment on it.  And the joke isn't even worth defending because it's 30 years out of date and just plain dumb.  Chris Rock is a very funny dude, he is capable of being better than that.

I don't think it is up to anyone else but Jada on whether or not she gets to be offended by a joke made at her expense.  She was offended, she had every right to be, her feelings are valid.  

I like Will Smith.  I like Chris Rock.  I think they are two very talented men, and I hate to see things unfold this way.  What happened was unfortunate, and any act of violence can be hard for some people to see.  However, I do not think this is an event that *made* the Oscars "bad".  As others have pointed out, actual rapists, pedophiles, and abusers have Oscars, and no one is crying for their awards to be taken away.  I can't help but think this attitude is very hypocritical, but that is JMO.  Anyway, those are my thoughts on what went down, and Will's apology.  *shrug*

[The Annual Academy Awards - General Discussion]

14 minutes ago, DrSparkles said:

Also, every time I’m reminded that Michael K Williams is dead, I want to cry.

You and me, both. :(

I have not seen Encanto, but I wasn't impressed by that Bruno song everyone has been talking about.  I heard it wasn't performed very well, but the catchiness and the fun of the song really didn't come through, for me.

[The Annual Academy Awards - General Discussion]

The joke was dated and lame, and it shouldn't have been written.  Will Smith shouldn't have resorted to violence.  That's my stance, and that is all I'm going to say about it.

I loved Tory Kotsur's acceptance speech.  I like it when lesser known actors win, they seem so much more touched and appreciative than the bigger, A-list stars.  And Troy was incredible in CODA and deserved his win.  

I also liked Jessica Chastain's speech, and I thought her dress was very pretty.  The colors kind of looked like a Tammy Faye palette without being too over-the-top, so maybe I'm reading too much into it, but I thought it was a nice choice.

Timothe Chalamet can be shirtless all he wants.  I don't have a problem with seeing naked male torsos onstage, since we've seen side-boob and under-boob, and all kinds of fun stuff from the women over the years.  I am not in the camp that thinks everyone needs to cover up, I think we're WAY past that, and the genie can't be stuffed back in the bottle.  At this point, I just want equal opportunity nekkidness.

Speaking of Timothe, I'm glad Dune won so many Oscars.  I liked that movie the best out of all the BP nominees, so I'm glad it got some recognition.  I think it's a great adaptation.

The dumbass comedy bits need to be cut entirely.  They're not funny, and they take up WAY too much time.  Might as well include those other awards if you're still going to go over the runtime because Amy Schumer needs to wear a Spider-Man costume for some reason.  Ugh, I hate those stupid bits SO MUCH.

Lastly, I wanted Kirsten Dunst to win Best Supporting, because I have loved her for years, but I'm not upset about Ariana DeBose's win.  I'm not a fan of West Side Story because it's just not my thing, but I thought she did a great job as Anita.  I wouldn't have been upset about Benedict Cumberbatch winning for The Power of the Dog, but I knew it wasn't going to happen.  Anyway, can't wait until next year.  Actually, I can, I kind of don't want to see it...

[Licorice Pizza (2021)]

Well, this movie didn't do a thing for me.  The acting was very good, especially Alana Haim, but I couldn't get invested in the story and I kept checking the time every few minutes.  I don't need every movie to portray inappropriate relationships exactly the way they would go down in real life, but this was all surface level stuff to me, and I kept wondering what the POINT was.  Not my thing.

[What Are We Currently Reading?]

Finished Equal Rites, and now I'm reading Mort.  I think I might be a fan.

[What Are We Currently Reading?]

Well, I'm reading my first Terry Pratchett novel, Equal Rites.  I'm not the biggest fantasy reader, but I'm really enjoying it.  It's a lot of fun.

[Who, What, When, Where?!: Miscellaneous Celebrity News 2.0]

I don't think the Kardashians are dooming our future.  I think climate change and the threat of global war is doing that.

[Who, What, When, Where?!: Miscellaneous Celebrity News 2.0]

On 3/15/2022 at 4:10 PM, DearEvette said:

I respect Dolly's stance and agree more people should recuse themselves graciously from awards and honors they do not believe they fit wit the precis or deserve.

That said, the Rock and Roll hall of Fame and foundation don't just celebrate and indeed was not created for just "rock" music.  It actually uses the original definition of Rock and Roll as coined by Alan Freed which is the type of pop music that evolved in the 50s that was an amalgamation of R&B, country, Jazz and gospel as epitomized by such people as Elvis and Chuck Berry and meant to evoke ideas of youth, freedom and rebellion. 

The first inductees included Elvis, Fats Domino, James Brown and Sam Cooke amongst others.  Their influence on the wider music that came later was a reason for their induction and other inductees who are not pure rock are inducted because of their wide ranging contributions to music.

Dolly definitely meets the criteria if for no other reason that her music has absolutely had a huge influence in pop and culture -- look no further than 'I Will Always Love You.'

Thank you for saying this.  If there is one thing I get tired of, it's the *very* rigid definition of 'rock' some people have, and the stink they make whenever an artist who is different from the norm is nominated/inducted.  I hate it when people complain about the nominees every single year.  'Rock' is a huge umbrella that covers a lot of different subgenres, and...yeah, I got no ending for this post, I'm just in agreement with you.

[The Twilight Series]

Well, here it is eight years after I posted this thread, and I have a confession to make: I finally started reading the books, and...I'm kind of enjoying them?  Maybe?

I have no excuse for this.  I am a middle aged woman, I have no kids, and I know the books are trash.  However, with everything going on in the world right now, I can't deny that Twilight has been the corny distraction I really need.  I'm WAY late to the party, but oh well.  That's the way it usually is with me, I never read or see anything when I'm supposed to. 

So, opinions: I don't like Bella, but I don't hate her.  I kind of like Edward, even though he is a creep.  Jacob is likable, but I might change my mind once I get to Eclipse (I'm nearly finished with New Moon).  The rest of the Cullens are okay, but I haven't learned much about them yet.  I'm old, so I think Charlie is actually the hottest dude in the series.  The true hero is Lauren, though, the bitchy girl in Bella's high school friend group.  She doesn't like Bella, and Bella never wonders why, she just comments on how mean Lauren is.  But then Bella will admit straight up that she doesn't care about her boring human friends, and it's hilarious how Bella lacks so much self-awareness.  Lauren can see right through Bella's bullshit, and it is beautiful, lol.

[Who, What, When, Where?!: Miscellaneous Celebrity News 2.0]

About the Olivia Munn thing: isn't EVERY celebrity a social climber, in some form?  I don't want to be annoying, but that seems like a weird thing to criticize about a famous person.

[Spencer (2021)]

Okay, I'm a You're Wrong About fan who absolutely loves Michael Hobbes's deep dive on Princess Diana and has listened to it several times, so I feel like I was a bit more prepared than others might be when it comes to the overall tone of this movie.  BUT, I really didn't like it much.  It seems like the filmmakers wanted to tell a story about a beautiful princess who slowly goes insane and used Diana to tell that story.  The appearance of Anne Boleyn's ghost was what really made me turn on the movie and give up on it.  A much more apt comparison to Diana would be Georgiana of Cavendish, but the audience is much more familiar with Anne Boleyn, so they had to use her.  All righty, then.

I will say that I thought Kristen Stewart did a good job with the material she was given.  Not a great job, but a good job.  I don't think it was Oscar-worthy, but I am one of those people who believes Stewart gets a bum rap in terms of her acting ability, so I have to give her credit for giving the role her all.  I'm not sure why she had to whisper nearly every single one of her lines, though.  That was annoying.

A couple more things before I leave this film in the past: why the HELL would Althorp be condemned and boarded up?  The Spencers have lived there for five centuries and counting.  I know they say this movie is "a fable based on a true tragedy" but that was puzzling, to me.  Oh, and Kristen Stewart could actually play a convincing Anne Boleyn, IMO.  When we had that flash of her in the costume, I thought they cast her as the wrong royal.  She would have rocked as Anne.  She has the right look, and she can pull off that steely ambition Anne had.  What a missed opportunity.

[Being the Ricardos (2021)]

14 hours ago, Spartan Girl said:

It was really hard not to think of Sorkin’s tone-deaf comments about how the show wouldn’t be funny today during the scene where the female writer tells Lucille her concerns about Lucy being infantilized. I just rolled my eyes at that bit.

The movie just lacked the same heart that was in the Lucy and Desi documentary. Don’t just end it with the postscript that they split after their final performance, at least add something about how they still remained close and got along better afterwards! Without it, it just feels like the overall message was like the show was all for nothing because the marriage was a big sham. But Sorkin is going to Sorkin.

Yeah, it was all very cynical.  I consider the story of Lucy and Desi to be a great love story, the love just changed and evolved over time.  I wish more stories like that would be told.

As for the show not being funny anymore, well, I still laugh my ass off at the grape stomping scene and the Vitameatavegamin bit.  Sorkin can speak for himself.

[Don't Look Up (2021)]

Just watched it this afternoon.  I thought it was okay.  I thought the political satire was funny, but it also depressed the shit out of me.  I know that was the point, but goddamn.

More than anything, it reminded me of that Steve Carell/Keira Knightley movie, Seeking A Friend For the End of the World.  Anyone else remember that movie, or am I the only one who saw it?

[Being the Ricardos (2021)]

I was not impressed.  It was by no means a bad movie, but I feel like we've seen plenty of biopics just like it, and I'm worn out by actors portraying dead celebrities in an effort to get a little naked, gold man.  It's so completely stale. I'm over it.

I don't think Nicole Kidman's acting was bad, but I was so distracted by her face not moving.  If you're going to portray a legendary physical comedian, your face needs to be expressive.  She looked frozen and wide-eyed, like a deer in headlights.  Javier Bardem as Desi Arnaz didn't work for me, either.  He was all wrong physically speaking, and he didn't have the same vibe at all.  I don't know how to explain it better than that, but I could never believe the two leads as their characters.  I was always watching Kidman and Bardem.

I know people are saying Debra Messing should have gotten the role, or Cate Blanchett, but I wonder why there has to be such a small pool to choose from?  I mean, I know why, Hollywood doesn't like actresses over the age of 35 and only a select few get to work in movies, but when the hell are we going to move past that?  That's all I kept thinking the entire movie.  So much talent out there that could have been tapped, but we keep using the same actresses, over and over again, for everything.  It frustrates me.

I will wrap it up by saying I didnt care about the story or the characters, but I was thrilled to see Buster Bluth and Maeby Funke together again onscreen.  I sat up in my seat and nearly squealed.  So, maybe it was all worth it.

[The Power of the Dog (2021)]

6 hours ago, Brn2bwild said:

I'm surprised this is Kirsten Dunst's first Oscar nomination.

I think she should have been nominated for Interview With the Vampire back in '94.

I'm not even kidding.

[tick, tick...BOOM! (2021)]

I have never seen Rent and I knew nothing about Jonathan Larson going in, but I watched this on Netflix today and I really enjoyed it.  I'm not even a big fan of stage musicals/movie musicals, but Andrew Garfield's performance was excellent, and he really impressed me.  All I'd ever seen him in was the first Spider-Man movie he did, so I didn't realize how talented he was.  He totally won me over in this movie.

 

[The Power of the Dog (2021)]

I saw this last night, and I didn't know what to think of it at first.  I thought all the performances were great, especially BC and KD.  I don't think I will ever watch it again, but I'm glad I watched it at least once.  And I absolutely loathe The Piano, so at the very least it showed me that I don't hate ALL Jane Campion movies, like I assumed I would.  That's the only other only film of hers I've seen.

If it wins Best Picture I won't be surprised, but I won't be excited, either.  It's one of those movies.

[Jenelle: Birther Of 3, Mother To None]

Didn't she start a Patreon?  And doesn't it have, like, two patrons?

[Jenelle: Birther Of 3, Mother To None]

Oh, no.  Whatever will we do without Jenelle's spark and motivation?

[Who, What, When, Where?!: Miscellaneous Celebrity News 2.0]

Chiming in late to the Lindsay Ellis topic.  I hope she can get the help she needs and move forward with her life.  Lindsay almost singlehandedly created the YouTube we know today, where thoughtful and interesting video essays are the norm and not dudes screaming over bad video games and movies.  I applaud her for that, so it makes me very sad to read that she regrets everything she ever did.  She brought so much joy to so many people, and encouraged them to think about the media they consume.  I just hope she can find peace and happiness with whatever she chooses to do with her life.  And I sincerely hope that every person who harrassed her and bullied her over a tweet never have the same happen to them.  NO ONE deserves that.

[Jenelle: Birther Of 3, Mother To None]

8 hours ago, lovesnark said:

I can't remember if Keiffer dumped her or if their breakup was because he was in jail. I know he did attempt to break up with her more than once. There is a great scene of Jenelle running after the car Keiffer is in screaming that she just wants to talk to him.

She had a few others that dumped her, one being a guy who had planned on making the military a career and Jenelle accusing him of DV wrecked that.

Then she met and married Courtland. They got busted for heroin and Dustin the miracle lawyer was able to get her a plea deal where she only got probation and Courtland got prison time. She was pregnant with Courtland's kid when he got locked up and she had an abortion. That's when she met Nathan and almost immediately got knocked up with Kaiser. There is a scene with her talking to (I think) Tori where she tells her she's not sure if she's pregnant or if it's hormonal remnants from the pregnancy she just aborted. It's a classic, right up there with more classier court heels. Nathan dumped her, she didn't break up with him while he was in jail. She begged him to take her back and he wouldn't do it. There is another classic Jenelle cringe scene where she's talking to him on the phone, bawling and begging him to take her back where she tells him she hasn't even touched another man's skin in like two whole months.

After Nathan wouldn't get back with her,  she hit Tinder, found Swamp Dick and got knocked up with Enchilada right away. Swamp Dick was in prison with Courtland, so his claim of not knowing anything about her was total bullshit. He was a broke, violent loser living with his mom and latched onto her wallet the minute he met her. I think they dated for about a week before she moved him into her house and he completely took over all communication with Nathan about Kaiser and Barb about Jace. He ran Barb out of the house when she came over to get Jace and found him and Maryssa out by the road unsupervised while Jenelle and Swamp Dick were locked in the bedroom. He wouldn't let Barb talk to her and told her she was 'disrespecting him in HIS house' and he was going to call the cops if she didn't leave. 

Bolded because, yeah...that is a HUGE red flag.  I haven't gotten to the season where Jenelle starts dating Swamp Thing (I'm still on the Nathan years), but I'm very, very scared for what's to come.  Dude is possibly the WORST Jenelle has ever done, and that's saying something.

[Jenelle: Birther Of 3, Mother To None]

I finally buckled and started watching the show on streaming.  I have a question for all the Jenelle experts out there...

Has Jenelle ever properly broken up with a boyfriend, or have they always gone to jail?

Because, it seems like she never has to break up with these dudes.  They have a domestic dispute, he goes to jail, then Jenelle starts scrolling through Tinder looking for a new guy.

Do I have the wrong idea about this?  

[Jenelle: Birther Of 3, Mother To None]

I don't know what is going on with Jenelle, but I know she recently made a TikTok video with David, where she is shaking her ass at a gas station and David is trying to act sexy while taking the receipt from the gas machine.  Is that "resting"?

Here it is.

[Except Chelsea (and Cole)]

Coming in really late to the party, but I've been watching this show on streaming and I'm currently on season four.  I know Chelsea has her fans, and that's cool, but I have to confess that I can't stand the girl.

Seriously, I don't think I've ever seen a human on TV act as spoiled and dumb as Chelsea does the first few seasons of this show.  Constantly going back to Asshole Adam, who can't even *pretend* to respect her in front of the cameras, letting her Frenchie get mauled by a bigger dog and doing fuck-all to stop it (what is it with these girls and murdered Frenchies?), having sex with Asshole Adamn without a condom even though it should be clear to a fucking rock that he is never, ever, EVER going to stay with and her and then tee-heeing that she might be pregnant with her friend over pizza like it was nothing, putting off her goddamn GED for two years and only focusing on it if Asshole Adam isn't giving her dick, referring to cosmetology school as "hair school" like an idiot, having Randy pay for her to live in a house when she has no job and bitching when he has a problem with Asshole Adam moving in, talking in that ridiculous baby voice and ending every word with -UH, dyeing her hair that hideous, hideous shade of platinum blonde...yes, some of these things are superficial and I'm not being fair, but Jesus god, Leah, I CAN'T STAND THIS GIRL.  I would rather be watching fucking JENELLE than Chelsea.  It's THAT bad.

I know Chelsea eventually grew up and got her shit together and found a good guy, and I'm happy for her- I don't hate her, or anything- but good LORD, does she annoy the ever loving fuck out of me.  I'm sorry, I just can't get on the Chelsea love train.  I think she GRATES.

[Who, What, When, Where?!: Miscellaneous Celebrity News 2.0]

5 hours ago, Blergh said:

I've never heard of Miss Lohan's flame Mr. Shammas before but I have to wonder why someone would believe she is the person  it worth be  spending the rest of one's life with- to say nothing of being worth forsaking all others for. Has he spent his whole life under a rock or in a space capsule and never been exposed to other people who might be more relaxing than living on top of a sinkhole?!  Has he never met any of    her relatives?  And it's hard to imagine that any relatives of his would be bragging this up for their impending Christmas cards! 

But as I said at the start, I've never heard of Mr. Shammas before so perhaps it might be a case of 'trainwrecks  think it's now or never/ so trainwrecks crash together'!

 

Wow.  As a person with messed up family members and a somewhat rough past of their own (though not nearly as rough as Lindsay's), I find this whole post to be extremely judgmental and unfair.  Thank god my own husband didn't care about my dysfunctional family, or the things I had done before I met him.  We've been together for twenty years, and are very happy.

Obviously, I don't know Lindsay personally or her fiancé, but I wish them the very best, and I hope Lindsay keeps the good momentum going and continues to work.  If the harsh treatment of Britney Spears has taught us anything, let's just be nice to women who have struggled in the same way and be supportive instead of painting them with a scarlet 'A' for life.  Everyone deserves to grow and change and find happiness.