Rourke should have bloody one it; a repeat of the stupid, PC friendly non-sense that struck the Academy when Ben GHANDI (he looks like him!!) Kinglsley won over Paul THE VERDICT Newman’s staggering performance.
Well if you’re judging by who won, then sure, I disagreed with all of them…. but that happens every year.
As television, the show was actually pretty good. The highlights were Steve & Tina, Dustin Lance Black’s speech, & the Pineapple Express bit.
The lowlight was the musical montage with Beyonce and the High School Musical kids…. rough man.
I saw The Verdict again this weekend, and I agree it’s a magnificent performance by Newman.
What’s interesting, though, is who Newman was up against: Jack Lemmon in “Missing,” Hoffman in “Tootsie,” O’Toole in “My Favorite Year,” and Kingsley in “Gandhi.”
Five stellar performances, but but it seems like the competition would have been between Newman and Hoffman, both truly working at the top of their game.
Tina and Steve Yes, but let’s not forget Ben Stiller doing Joaquin Phoenix. I hated the “In Memoriam” segment; we could not see the faces highlighted most of the time because the Director was too concentrated on Latifah.
Why was there a clip of BRAVEHEART, among the most homophobic of Hollywood films, inserted into the Best Picture montage for MILK? Some kind of pathetic sick joke?
Roscoe: JAajaja, I think the same as you BRAVEHEART=MILK wtf?
Why I don’t like Slumdong Millionare???
Will Kate Winslet go far away now? How is it that Philippe Petite had more charisma than all the “actors” on stage and in the audience combined? Sean Penn, he’s probably an alright fellow, but I’m tired of his always reaching for profundity. Werner Herzog is probably a dick, but he was the only filmmaker in the entire goddamn room I’d want to sit down with. Peter Gabriel couldn’t be invited to sing his own nominated song, but we get loads of face time with Beyonce? And where is it written that she has to participate in every goddamn awards show? And what has Zach Posen ever written besides his Facebook profile? It’s all just a staggering pile of bullshit. But Natalie Portman is exquisite.
I was as bored as David Fincher the whole night. Did anyone else notice his almost groan when his name was announced? It seemed like the Slumdog crew was overjoyed, and everyone else was annoyed that they were taking all the awards.
Peter Gabriel was indeed invited to perform. He was in attendance, but did not sing in protest of the fact that he would have to perform an abbreviated version of his song.
Overall, I thought the show itself was pretty well put together. I agree that the High School Musical/Mamma Mia number was pretty terrible and I really couldn’t figure out the Best Picture montage they showed before announcing the nominees at the end of the night. As someone pointed out with the Braveheart bit, it seemed strange, arbitrary, and off-putting. The past winners introducing/addressing the nominees was also pretty deadly for tv. I am sure it was nice for the nominees themselves, but it was dreadfully boring to watch in lieu of a film clip.
On the plus side, I thought the other musical numbers were very entertaining. Anne Hathaway was good, the Tina Fey/Steve Martin bit was very funny, Stiller as Phoenix was hilarious, the “Milk” screenwriter’s acceptance speech was cogent and compelling, Sean Penn was good (yes Rourke would have been dynamite), Kate Winslet came off as phony, but the father’s whistle thing was cute. As for the actual awards – they sort of are what they are. Once you get past the fact that many great films and contributions are not nominated and/or will not win, it is still the one big U.S. awards show with a modicum of respectability.
I was happy with Sean Penn’s win over Mickey Rourke.
I agree with you Michael, but let’s face it….it’s fun to complain about them too.
I went to the OSCARS website and compared the level of great films that won Best of the year in decades past; as soon as it got to late 70’s early 80’s and onwards….the films really lacked in character compared to the 60’s and early 70’s.
How is BRAVEHEART homophobic?
I actually thought Hugh Jackman did a great job as host. I was cracking up during the opening number when he was singing about the plots of all the best picture nominees, and skipped the plot of The Reader and instead sang about how he hadn’t seen it. Good stuff.
@ KJ
Peter Gabriel refused to sing the song he was nominated for because it would be cut down to about one minute. He WAS invited.
And why is Werner Herzog probably a dick?
Haha, I missed that part, sounds great.
I with Keagan I didn’t even bother to watch the show show i just left my PVR running and watched The Abyss then clicked back. I called out more winners than any other years, and when David Fincher practically rolled his eyes and scoffed when his named was called i didn’t even bother to watch the rest.
double post!
the only movies i’ve seen this year to have a best actor nomination was milk and the wrestler. both performances were perfect, and there’s no way i could decide which was better. penn’s performance was outgoing, and rourke’s performance was introspective. i don’t know.
Rourke should have won I think, mostly for the story. But I have to say that Penn is amazing in Milk, a great biopic portrayal which is so difficult to do without falling into either impression or two-dimensional, episodic portrayals. I was happy for Slumdog Millionaire too, probably the best film nominated for Best Picture, possibly with the exception of Milk. The story of its win though its too heart-warming to deny and, for all those out there angry about the constant mainstream love shown by the Academy, here’s a movie that was made with genuinely independent money.
I also couldn’t decide between Penn and Rourke. Amazing performances by both.
I really enjoyed what I saw, and I am happy that Slumdog took the big prize home.
Sorry y’all but i personally thought they were dull as ever. Plus Rourke got robbed at least Senn Penn noted it(but what he shoud’ve done is just handed him the award), plus any other year and Slumdog would not even be nominated(nice film but best picture c’mon)(i mean best picture people, best picture)
I thought the production of the Oscars was amazing, personally. The set design (which I am usually more interested in, frankly) was beautifully restrained and seamlessly executed. And I like how much more intimate the show felt, at least on TV. The audience being so close up to the stage (a part of the stage, even) added a much needed personal touch to the “huge” event.
As for who got what, meh.
@Walmsley, I agree with every single thing you said.
And did anyone else feel the Slumdog sweep was a rebuke to Oscar-bait?
But you cant go in expecting a good movie to win Best Picture… or you’ll be disappointed almost every year.
I didn’t have any problem with Slumdog winning. This was a mediocre year for films and I wasn’t overwhelmed with very much this year.I can name 10-15 movies from last year that were better or as good as any film I saw this year.
I’ve seen every Oscars show since THE GODFATHER won in 1972 and I thought the show itself was one of the best. If nothing else, it LOOKED really good, and I loved the five past winners in each category coming out to award the actors.
I was rooting for MILK and THE WRESTLER all night. I was happy for Penn and writer Black.
I, as always, agree with John Gruber: http://daringfireball.net/2009/02/best_picture
Oscars are a humongous farce.
Mark Penny
Stink, Stank, Stunk