The Annual Academy Awards - General Discussion

[AnswersWanted]

So a movie based on lies and white knight fiction won...you had one job, Oscars, sheesh.

Apparently Oscars 2019 told the Oscars of 1990 to hold their beer after that Driving Miss Daisy win. 

At least it's over for another year.

Hey, Academy, make sure you book this year's host again. 

[yowsah1]

1 minute ago, tennisgurl said:

I guess they went for the most conventional "Oscar bait" style movie. I guess? 

The conventional "Oscar bait" movie 25 years ago, maybe.

I'm reeling in shock here.  I'd give my eye teeth to see the actual vote counts on this one.

[tennisgurl]

Yeah, Julia has to take a second to make it about her. To the surprise of no one ever.

1 minute ago, yowsah1 said:

The conventional "Oscar bait" movie 25 years ago, maybe.

The second film in the Driving Miss Daisy Cinematic Universe!

[ShellsandCheese]

3 minutes ago, tennisgurl said:

SHUT THE FRONT DOOR THEY FUCKING DID IT CRITICS ARE HAVING HERNIAS!

Its Crash all over again!!!!!

I thought Green Book was pretty basic but critics loved it. It's been winning awards all season and it's got a friggin 93% audience score on Flixster / RottenTomatoes. It was also better-reviewed than say Bohemian Rhapsody. Crash is in a category all to itself. 

[Silver Raven]

4 minutes ago, thuganomics85 said:

I will say to filmmakers though that between this and Moonlight, if you want to win Best Picture, cast Mahershala Ali!  Cast him in everything!!!

He was also in Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse.

[Stenbeck]

WTF Green Book!

The night had been a rollercoaster, and just as it peaked...it fell flat!

I was expecting Roma, Black Panther, The Favourite, Bohemian Rhapsody to be called out... NOT GREEN BOOK!!!

[Macbeth]

7 minutes ago, sally-can-wait said:

Tell that to Cate Blanchett

I give you Judi Dench, Colin Firth, and Helen Mirren. 

 Cate, as well as Saving Private Ryan, were defeated by Harvey Weinstein's publicity machine. 

[AnswersWanted]

Just now, vb68 said:

She still is a genuine star. I think that's all they wanted. At least it wasn't Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway round three.

Thank God for that. I was just thinking they might get someone relevant to the category or maybe a nominee from last year.

But a star she is and always will be.

Viggo has an oscar now so...that's something I guess.

[Vermicious Knid]

19 minutes over. For this show, that's not bad.

[SiobhanJW]

I haven't been paying much attention to what's been going on in Oscar land this season- in terms of controversies and so forth- and I didn't see Green Book- but saw most of the other movies. But I did see my Twitter timeline erupt with disgust when it won. Can someone fill me in as to why? I figured this was the best place to ask! 

Edited February 25, 2019 by SiobhanJW

[sally-can-wait]

So did VICE get shut out?

[WonderWuman73]

Exactly why Julia should take several seats in the back. 

[legaleagle53]

1 minute ago, Macbeth said:

I give you Judi Dench, Colin Firth, and Helen Mirren. 

 Cate, as well as Saving Private Ryan, were defeated by Harvey Weinstein's publicity machine. 

That, plus people felt that Judi Dench had been robbed by Helen Hunt the year before.

[sally-can-wait]

Just now, Macbeth said:

I give you Judi Dench, Colin Firth, and Helen Mirren. 

 Cate, as well as Saving Private Ryan, were defeated by Harvey Weinstein's publicity machine. 

That year was infuriating. My dad still laments Saving Private Ryan losing and Cate was robbed. 

[chitowngirl]

Just now, sally-can-wait said:

So did VICE get shut out?

It won a makeup award

[ShellsandCheese]

3 minutes ago, GreekGeek said:

I'm going against the tide here, but I'm happy about Green Book. It was my favorite of the nominated films I saw. I was rooting for Spike Lee for Director, though.

Right. It wasn't my fave but I enjoyed it more than ASIB, Bohemian Rhapsody, and Vice just to name a few. I really wanted Roma or BlackKklansman to win but Green Book winning in my opinion is better than some of the other alternatives. (The film I really wanted to win wasn't even nominated so there's that).

[AshleyN]

I wonder what hurt Roma more -- the foreign language factor or the Netflix factor? Maybe it could have survived one but the combination was too much to overcome.

[CherryMalotte]

I have to say I've been probably learning more about what won from the forum and youse all (doing colonoscopy prep, yuck and double yuck) and it's really appreciated.  I'm so glad I didn't get to see Green Book win over Roma...or the other films.  Don't get me wrong, I went and saw it, and liked it, but I didn't love it.  It was Viggo and Mahershala that kept me there and I liked their performances.  Wow...I am surprised, maybe not shocked but surprised, very surprised.  

I never get best flick right unless it's screaming obvious win.  I thought for sure that Leave No Trace, one of my faves of the year, would sneak in a couple of noms, or that Ethan would get nommed for First Reformed.  Shows you not to bet the same way I do.

Edited February 25, 2019 by CherryMalotte

[childeroland]

1 minute ago, sally-can-wait said:

So did VICE get shut out?

I think it won Make-up

[ShadowHunter]

1 minute ago, sally-can-wait said:

So did VICE get shut out?

They won make up. Acting wise yes. 

[Growsonwalls]

IDK. Kareem Abdul Jabbar whose opinions on films I respect loved The GreenBook. Then again he's in his 70's. I think it's an age thing. The Green Book is a very old fashioned film and The Academy voters are as a rule older and more old school than the other voting blocs. 

[27bored]

3 minutes ago, AshleyN said:

The big winner tonight is clearly Crash -- I have a feeling it's about to be replaced as the go to example of terrible Best Picture winners.

Right. I’m all for diversity but it seems the Oscars try too hard to impress who have, shall we say, unsophisticated filmic opinions. Like, just because the movie is about racism or prejudice in the South doesn’t  make it “powerful” or “important”. Blatant pandering brings down the value of the awards just like not recognizing PoC and women altogether. 

[Kimmmmmm]

I LOVED Green Book and am thrilled it won!!!!!

[Silver Raven]

2 minutes ago, Macbeth said:

I give you Judi Dench, Colin Firth, and Helen Mirren. 

Judy Dench has an Oscar for Shakespeare in Love.

[Archery]

5 minutes ago, Vermicious Knid said:

And Hollywood gives the award to yet another movie about a black man's experience through a white person's perspective.

Look online for Seth Meyer' s spoof movie trailer with Amber Ruffin for "White Savior." So on point.  

[BuckeyeLou]

1 minute ago, SiobhanJW said:

I haven't been paying much attention to what's been going on in Oscar land this season- in terms of controversies and so forth- and I didn't see Green Book- but saw most of the other movies. But I did see my Twitter timeline Erupt with disgust it won. Can someone fill me in as to why? I figured this was the best place to ask! 

The story is based on real life experiences, and the man's family did not approve of how the movie portrayed their Father.

[tennisgurl]

Its not that I disliked Green Book, I liked it just fine. But I didnt think it was the best movie of the year. But, different strokes for different folks and all that. My parents LOVED it.

[Broken Ox]

Not watching, just following along here -- what did Julia say to (not unexpectedly) bring it back to her?

[slowpoked]

Awww, I like Julia. And she looked stunning tonight. She’s having some career revival of sorts, so I can see why the academy picked her.

[wallflower75]

You know, right up until the end, it had been a pretty pleasant Oscars show...mostly expected winners, including Rami (yes, I did squeal like a teenage girl), a big surprise with Olivia winning over Glenn, and then...they couldn't stick the landing, and we ended up with Green Book.  It's a real shame considering that there was a lot of diversity in the other winners tonight.

*sigh*  Just goes to show that the Oscars still have a long way to go diversity-wise. 

[thuganomics85]

All in all, I did think it was a solid telecast.  I think it actually helped not having a host, as most of the presenters were able to make it entertaining enough.  And while not all of my favorites won, I can't really think of any win that upset me.  Really, my biggest gripe is still that Won't You Be My Neighbor? snub.

I do kind of fell bad for Bradley Cooper, but then I remind myself that he's still Bradley Freaking Cooper.

Honestly, the worst part of the night was; as much as I love the site; the forums really were all out of wack.  Don't deny me my Oscar snark and witty remarks, Previously TV!

Anyway, off to take a break and then watch the True Detective finale, because apparently this is Mahershala Ali's world, and he's dominating everything!

[galaxygirl76]

5 minutes ago, AnswersWanted said:

Viggo has an oscar now so...that's something I guess.

I do like this.

Crash. Don't get me started on that shitfest.

[ShellsandCheese]

2 minutes ago, SiobhanJW said:

I haven't been paying much attention to what's been going on in Oscar land this season- in terms of controversies and so forth- and I didn't see Green Book- but saw most of the other movies. But I did see my Twitter timeline erupt with disgust when it won. Can someone fill me in as to why? I figured this was the best place to ask! 

There were issues with how Dr. Don Shirley was portrayed. His family said the film wasn't true to him but then he came out that he had some sort of falling out with his family - and he cut them out of his will (don't know if that is true). Mostly, a lot of people felt it was another White Savior movie; personally, I didn't get that impression and was more disappointed that it wasn't about The actual Green Book. A lot of the outrage surrounding the movie actually left a bad taste in my mouth because of who was most vocal; think about that scene in Get Out with the work liberal whites saying they'd have voted for Obama for a third time. A lot of the criticism in particular from white people just came across as too over the top and too try hard, trying to show they are woke or down for the cause. I'm happy that both Octavia Spencer and Mahershala Ali now have two Oscars each. 

[27bored]

1 minute ago, Broken Ox said:

Not watching, just following along here -- what did Julia say to (not unexpectedly) bring it back to her?

I’m pretty sure I heard her say she puts the pretty in Pretty Woman and Pretty in Pink. Then she dabbed and called us hoes before dismissing us.

It hurt my feelings.

[KaveDweller]

3 minutes ago, Broken Ox said:

Not watching, just following along here -- what did Julia say to (not unexpectedly) bring it back to her?

When she was closing the ceremony and saying good night she mentioned her kids.

[Crs97]

2 minutes ago, BuckeyeLou said:

5 minutes ago, SiobhanJW said:

I haven't been paying much attention to what's been going on in Oscar land this season- in terms of controversies and so forth- and I didn't see Green Book- but saw most of the other movies. But I did see my Twitter timeline Erupt with disgust it won. Can someone fill me in as to why? I figured this was the best place to ask! 

The story is based on real life experiences, and the man's family did not approve of how the movie portrayed their Father.

Dr. Shirley's niece said it best:  

“My name is Carol Shirley Kimble. I’m the niece of Don Shirley, supposedly the subject of the movie The Green Book,” she said.

“There was no due diligence done to afford my family and my deceased uncle the respect of properly representing him, his legacy, his worth and the excellence in which he operated and the excellence in which he lived. It’s once again a depiction of a white man’s version of a Black man’s life. My uncle was an incredibly proud man and an incredibly accomplished man, as are the majority of people in my family. And to depict him as less than, and to depict him and take away from him and make the story about a hero of a white man for this incredibly accomplished Black man is insulting, at best.”

[Archery]

3 minutes ago, Broken Ox said:

Not watching, just following along here -- what did Julia say to (not unexpectedly) bring it back to her?

Nothing.  She closed out the show by saying hi to her kids.  But if you're Julia Roberts that's a capital crime--on a program that was hours of personal TMI.  

[AnswersWanted]

8 minutes ago, 27bored said:

Right. I’m all for diversity but it seems the Oscars try too hard to impress who have, shall we say, unsophisticated filmic opinions. Like, just because the movie is about racism or prejudice in the South doesn’t  make it “powerful” or “important”. Blatant pandering brings down the value of the awards just like not recognizing PoC and women altogether. 

What gets me is that Spike's film was just sitting there for all the right reasons, and they still refused to embrace it.

 Spike's film was filled with actual, deep sintiments about racial tension and issues in this country that tie in to current day directly, but of course the Academy can only bring themselves to honor a saccharine film full of a white man's narrative about a black man's struggle, much of it lies, and make it nice and pretty and comfortable for the (white) viewer far more so than Spike ever would or has or will.

 It's Driving Miss Daisy 2.0, it's what they continue to do time and time again and it sickens me.

Edited February 25, 2019 by AnswersWanted

[opus]

Well, it didn’t take the LA Times long.....

https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/la-et-mn-oscars-green-book-worst-best-picture-winner-20190224-story.html

[Luckylyn]

Just now, AnswersWanted said:

What gets me is that Spike's film was just sitting there for all the right reasons, and they still refused to embrace it.

 Spike's film was filled with actual, deep sintiments about racial tension and issues in this country that tie in to current day directly, but of course the Academy can only bring themselves to honor a saccharine flm full of a white man's narrative about a black man's struggle, much of it lies, and make it nice and pretty and comfortable for the (white) viewer far more so than Spike ever would or has or will.

 It's Driving Miss Daisy 2.0, it's what they continue to do time and time again and it sickens me.

The Academy prefers movies that address race made by white people instead of stories by black film makers.   It's a problematic pattern.

[27bored]

1 minute ago, opus said:

Well, it didn’t take the LA Times long.....

https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/la-et-mn-oscars-green-book-worst-best-picture-winner-20190224-story.html

Wow, they must have had that in the tuck. They’re probably still on stage thanking people and the LA Times is already hating.

[KaveDweller]

1 minute ago, opus said:

Well, it didn’t take the LA Times long.....

https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/la-et-mn-oscars-green-book-worst-best-picture-winner-20190224-story.html

Do you think they pre-wrote articles about every possible winner? Like how papers pre-write obituaries for people? That is a really long article to churn out in 20 minutes or so.

[TVFan17]

Julia Roberts also directly addressed Bradley Cooper's mom and said goodnight to her -- which I am sure his mom loved and appreciated (his mom is also a big fan of Richard Gere, so I am assuming she loved Pretty Woman) -- but, yeah... that Julia is just an awful person, I guess??

(P.S.  I like Julia.)   

[mojoween]

I have to admit I squirmed when the one guy was like “we couldn’t have made this movie without Viggo” like I could do without him right now thanks.

[MerBearHou]

6 minutes ago, 27bored said:

I’m pretty sure I heard her say she puts the pretty in Pretty Woman and Pretty in Pink. Then she dabbed and called us hoes before dismissing us.

It hurt my feelings.

Tooooo funny!!!!

[Stenbeck]

Who are the producers for Green Book?

[Growsonwalls]

If it's any consolation, I don't think Green Book is even the top 5 for most egregious Oscar snub. Those will always be:

1) Citizen Kane losing to How Green Was My Valley

2) Double Idemnity losing to Going My Way

3) Taxi Driver losing to Rocky

4) Around the World in 80 Days winning. Period.

5) Brokeback Mountain losing to Crash

[AnswersWanted]

Just now, Luckylyn said:

The Academy prefers movies that address race made by white people instead of stories by black film makers.   It's a problematic pattern.

Exactly, a trend they see no reason to break until it stops working and sadly so few wish to push the issue or stand against it.

I get why Ali was involved  and it worked out well for him, as it did for Morgan, but it's a step back every time for films like Spike's and other truth tellers.

It's tiring really. 

[ebk57]

Not that I can explain it here (since I'm too lazy to actually Google it), but I think the Best Picture voting this year used something called Weighted Voting.  People were saying (many people...) that this could cause a not-best picture to win.  And they were right. 

Edited February 25, 2019 by ebk57
yes I do know the difference between to and too and two

[truthaboutluv]

6 minutes ago, KaveDweller said:

Do you think they pre-wrote articles about every possible winner? Like how papers pre-write obituaries for people? That is a really long article to churn out in 20 minutes or so.

Definitely. 

Quote

Interesting that actor who lip synced (mostly) an impression of a real musician wins over an actor who learns to play guitar and piano, and learns to sing a (mostly) original character.  Just wasn't that impressed with the craftsianship of Rami Malek. 

It's all subjective really. But here's the thing, one, Rami did learn to play the piano for the role. Two, great that Bradley sang but I think it's a bit unfair for some to compare what Bradley did to Rami having to play Freddie Mercury. 

Adam Lambert is a great singer and we saw tonight that even HE couldn't do Freddie. The man's voice was out of this world. But more than that, Bradley was playing a fictional musician. He could have made Jackson Maine anything he wanted him to be because he doesn't exist. 

Rami had to portray someone that the world knows and many love and all have their own ideas and opinions of who he was as a person. Everyone focused on the fake teeth and ignore that there was the physicality in the performance in having to capture Freddie's movements, mannerisms, speech (because Rami's American while Freddie was British), etc. 

I like Bradley Cooper and I thought he did an amazing job in ASIB. But I didn't feel like it was a performance that was unique to him. In my opinion, another talented actor could have done what he did in that film. I don't feel the same can be said for  Rami in Bohemian Rhapsody. But of course YMMV.

Edited February 25, 2019 by truthaboutluv