Sunday, February 22, 2009

Oscar Thread – Red Carpet, Nominations and Winners!

The Oscars are tonight at 5PT/8 ET. Do you plan to watch? Care to wager predictions on who will win? Have you seen any of the nominated films and have a particular favorite? And let us not forget the most anticipated aspect of the Oscars – the red carpet. Please share your thoughts throughout the day and during the telecast.

You can view a ballot of all the nominations here.

27 comments:

merryway said...

I haven't seen a single movie that's up for nomination. I do plan on seeing The Dark Knight and Doubt sometime, I love watching Philip Seymour Hoffman, he's good in everything.
I didn't watch last year and I don't plan on watching this year. I used to enjoy them more. I don't even know who's hosting this year.
I liked the movie satire of the whole Oscar experience, For Your Consideration. The movie they were filming inside the movie, Home For Purim, was hysterical. Hearing Yiddish phrases in the southern accent was so funny. It was also funny how Catherine O'Hara's character changed her looks after she was nominated. I think all the Christopher Guest movies are funny.

Anya@IW said...

Merryway, I love all the Christopher Guest movies too. For Your Consideration had some great moments and the movie within the movie (Home for Purim makes me laugh just typing it) was some of the best stuff.

The actor Hugh Jackman is hosting. I think that might be an improvement over the comedians who are never as funny as you expect them to be.

I never sit down and watch the telecast - I just have it on in the background when I am doing other things and pop in to watch the big categories.

Of the nominated best films, I have seen Benjamin Button and Milk. I can't decide between Sean Penn and Brad Pitt for best actor. Sean Penn probably deserves it, but Brad Pitt did an amazing job too.

Anyway, I'll probably pop in with other thoughts later....

Denise said...

They keep changing the host as if that is the reason so few watch the Academy Awards. I don't watch them anymore because the movies nominated are so lousy.
Hollywood sucks now.

Lizzy said...

I am not a huge fan of awards shows since they tend to drag on forever... the only ones I really catch are the music ones like the Dove awards or Country Music awards. That being said, The Dark Knight was amazing and I really hope Heath Ledger wins the Oscar. If so, it will go to his daughter Matilda which would be a wonderful legacy.

Nina Bell said...

My guess is Sean Penn for Best Actor, Heath Ledger for Supporting Actor, Kate Winslet for Best Actress, Penelope Cruz for Supporting Actress and Slumdog Millionaire for best movie.

Eileen said...

I wasn't interested in watching the Oscars at all, I haven't seen any of the movies that are nominated, but then my husband told me that Hugh Jackman is the host. I'm a big fan, so I'll tune in tonight.
I saw him in The Boy From Oz on Broadway, I knew he was a good actor but I didn't realize until then what a great singer he was!

MonicaW42 said...

I think the winners will go like this:

Leading Male: Mickey Rourke - The Wrestler
Leading Female: Kate Winslet - The Reader

Supporting Male - Heath Ledger- The Dark Knight

Supporting Female - Amy Adams - Doubt

Best Picture - Slumdog Millionaire

Not that I agree with those choices. I have seen Doubt, very good, The Dark Knight also very good but dark and violent, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button was okay, not my favorite Brad Pitt movie...

I always catch Barbara Walters show before and try to catch the red carpet arrivals to see what they are wearing.

Kikibee said...

Anybody watching the red carpet arrivals? I'm switching back and forth between E and tv guide channel. Lisa Rinna's lips make Octomon's look normal. Her top lip is so icky looking.
The little Indian kids from Slumdog are so cute and so excited to be there.

Nina Bell said...

Kikibee

I have always thought that about Lisa's lips. Huge. I am not watching it but usually see it in the next day's paper or People Magazine. Not sure I am going to watch the Oscars this year.

Kikibee said...

I wish they had the Oscars on President's day weekend so I could sleep in the next day. This is going to be even longer than usual
unless they cut out all those technical and short subject awards.
Which they won't.

Denise said...

I have never seen Hugh Jackmnan. Who is he?

Nina Bell said...

Hugh Jackman is an Australian actor who was in Swordfish and all the X-Men movies among many others. He has also hosted Saturday Nigh Live a number of times.

Nina Bell said...

Penelope Cruz won best supporting actress.

Original screenplay went to Milk.
Adapted screenplay went to Slumdog
Millionaire.

Jenn said...

Who else loved the opening Hugh Jackman did? My hubby even liked it. Most years, I get bored and channel surf during the show. This year I watched the majority of it. I liked how they had the past Oscar winners introduce the nominee's. To me, it was more meaningful. I actually enjoyed the show this year even though I hadn't seen most of the movies that were nominated.

Guinevere said...

My guess is Sean Penn for Best Actor, Heath Ledger for Supporting Actor, Kate Winslet for Best Actress, Penelope Cruz for Supporting Actress and Slumdog Millionaire for best movie.

Wow! Are you psychic? :-)

I didn't get much of a chance to see the show, but I am looking forward to reading about the highlights tomorrow and dissecting all the gowns.

I was happy Sean Penn won. That was a great performance.

Eileen said...

I thought Hugh Jackman's opening was funny (especially the 'home-made' cardboard sets), but I've heard him sing better (and he did later in the show). I agree with Jenn about the past Oscar winners presenting, that was a nice touch.
Other than that, I'm not star crazy, and somehow Hollywood always bothered me, the fact that they think their voice matters more than ours sometimes (even when I agree with them!), I think they have their art form to speak their minds while the rest of us don't. I'm not saying they shouldn't speak their minds and stand their ground, I just hate when Hollywood acts like their opinion is the only one that matters and the rest of the world is just plain ignorant for not agreeing with them. I'm generalizing here but to me most of them seem too full of themselves.
I didn't see any of the movies so I can't say if the winners deserved it, but the cast of Slum Dogs seemed really sweet and I'm glad their movie got quite a few awards.
Also, I've seen Jennifer Aniston act, I like her movies, I loved "Friends", I've seen her do a very good job acting, but didn't she seem like she couldn't deliver a line last night? Maybe the awards venue is so different and she felt out of her element.

Nina Bell said...

Yes Guin I am! Not bad for only seeing one of the movies!

I only watched the show for a few minutes here and there, but Ben Stiller doing a Joaquin Phoenix on Letterman impersonation was priceless.

He appeared on stage with a big bushy beard, sunglasses and chewing gum. Among other things he said "I heard Slumdog was shot entirely on a cellphone."

Lizzy said...

I just caught some of the musical numbers that Hugh Jackman did online and was impressed-- here is a link to the opening number...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IPgAQ_SW_Wk

and to the medley with Beyonce and a few others...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wKhZtWHmels

He did a phenomenal job!

Eileen said...

Oh, I forgot about Ben Stiller, he was the highlight of the show!

EveryoneLovesErin said...

Love Hugh Jackman! I loved the musical number. I didn't watch the whole thing because usually I'm not into award shows either but I thought it was pretty good. I haven't seen most of the movies but now I really want to see Slumdog Millionaire.

Kuromi said...

Eileen, I think Aniston was probably nervous since Brad&Angelina were right there in the front row, staring at her. They even showed Angelina looking and laughing during Aniston's presentation.

For those who haven't seen any of the movies: Slumdog really is worth all the hype. The Millionaire TV show is a catalyst for the male lead's life story, rather than being a big part of the movie. And I thought Rourke should've won for The Wrestler, though I admit I haven't seen Milk so can't speak to Penn's performance.

Anyone see the Barabara Walters Oscar special? Six words: Wolverine grinding on Barbara Walters. Ew!

Eileen said...

Yes, Kuromi, I think you're probably right about Brad and Angelina sitting front and center. I guess I'd be the same way if I were in Jennifer shoes, she just didn't seem like the same old Jennifer I'm used to.
And I did see some of the Barbara Walter's special and you are too much!! I can't stop laughing! And Jackman lifts Barbara's chin and says for her to look at his face - where was she looking?!

MoreCowbell said...

I felt bad for Jennifer Aniston. Will she EVER get to make an appearance and NOT have the cameras cut to her ex and his current baby mama? I mean, she was there to present an award that had nothing do do with Pitt or Jolie, and what do we get? TWO shots of Mr. and Mrs. Pretentious' reactions to it. Instead of it being about the category Aniston and Jack Black were presenting in, and having the moment actually be about the nominees and the winners, it was all about Brangelina and Aniston's personal conflicts. Nice job, producers. You couldn't resist, could you? Cheap.

Kikibee said...

Well, this was the first time that Jen, Brad and Angie have been in the same "room" together since the break up and no one's head exploded. Maybe the press will let up on it now.

I really liked having the previous winners praising the nominees. The nominees seemed really touched by it, and it gave them a little personal attention and face time that normally only the winner would get. Plus, it was nice to see some stars you don't get to see as often. It used to be that "everyone" showed up at the Oscars whether they were nominated or trying to promote something or not.

I really liked Hugh Jackman and all the comedy bits. And it didn't go on as long as I thought it would.

Guinevere said...

I felt bad for Jennifer Aniston. Will she EVER get to make an appearance and NOT have the cameras cut to her ex and his current baby mama? I mean, she was there to present an award that had nothing do do with Pitt or Jolie, and what do we get? TWO shots of Mr. and Mrs. Pretentious' reactions to it.

Aw, don't be hatin' on Brad and Angie. I love them. I like Jennifer Aniston, too. I don't think it's more their fault than hers that the situation gets so much coverage. I didn't see her last night but it's probably for the best; I would've been squirming watching that!

Other than that, I'm not star crazy, and somehow Hollywood always bothered me, the fact that they think their voice matters more than ours sometimes (even when I agree with them!), I think they have their art form to speak their minds while the rest of us don't. I'm not saying they shouldn't speak their minds and stand their ground, I just hate when Hollywood acts like their opinion is the only one that matters and the rest of the world is just plain ignorant for not agreeing with them. I'm generalizing here but to me most of them seem too full of themselves.

I'm sure a lot of stars are full of themselves - I think it goes with the territory. And they do sometimes come off like they know more than you or I do.

But are they really any different in that way than the average person? I don't think so. Some people are overbearing in their opinions, celebrity or not. I think celebrities get a bad rap for giving political opinions because I really don't think that one's choice of a career in entertainment should inhibit one's freedom of speech. I don't think it's necessarily that all celebrities think their opinions are more important; they just have a wider audience for their views.

Does that mean they should be more responsible about what they say? Maybe. I don't care so much about political opinions, because I feel like that's not going to have too much of an effect either way - or if it does, it will have it on people who are too dumb to help, really. It bothers me more when Tom Cruise spouts off about psychiatric drugs or Jenny McCarthy goes on about the (non-existent, according to scientific studies) link between vaccinations and autism. I think *those* opinions are potentially harmful. I think they still have the right to express them, of course, but I would like to see the media be more responsible in their reporting of such topics.

Samantha@IW said...

Jennifer Aniston is a beautiful woman who in my honest opinion can do better than Brad. Yes ladies, there is better. Anyway- its the Oscars, not a TMZ awards show, it totally cheapened the ceremony to do the obvious pan to Brad and Angie. Do we know the details surrounding the beginning of their relationship and the end of Brad and Jenn? Probably not, but the part of me that finds it highly suspect that those two film a movie together, then Brad and Jen are over and then bam Brad and Angie are together can't help but dislike Mr. & Mrs. Smith. I can't help it and I don't want to.... somehow I doubt that Brad and Angie are losing sleep about it lol and clearly Jen has moved on :)

Anonymous said...

I only saw parts of it, I'm just not a fan of awards shows. I did see Jen and Jack Black's skit, it was cute. I agree, it was very unclassy to show Brad and Angie twice during the skit.

The only movie I saw of those nominated was "The Dark Knight". Love it, I've seen it twice.

One of my favs was there, Robert de Niro. I'd like to see him in more movies.