2013 Oscars

[number8]

Isn't the obvious solution for the Visual Effects nerds to unionize?

It wouldn't mean shit unless there's solidarity from the DGA and WGA. What is a VFX union good for if the problem is that the jobs are being outsourced to other countries?

[[ETM]]

Of all the Charlize Theron films, why pick Monster?

Or Monster's Ball for Berry.

[Grouchy]

These are two controversies.

In the Life of Pi one, the open letter to Ang Lee is excellent, specially when it points out that the DP takes credit for a lot of images that were in fact created by them. The whole "I wish it'd be cheaper" mentality that Ang Lee is helping spread is the one that creates the problem. In an industry where an actor can get over 15 million dollars more than another one just because of name value, you can't tell me it's that important to cut corners in the budget for actual work.

The "boobs one" is stupid. It's a stupid song. If I was Naomi Watts or Charlize Theron I'd be visibly laughing when they call out my name, because who the fuck cares? Acting offended is somehow like admitting Seth called them out on something, when he was merely bringing up facts.

EDIT: Oh, and in the Wallis controversy, I'm glad the Onion apologizes. That's not even a joke, it's an insult. There's no humor in the comment.

[Dukefrukem]

RATINGS UP 20% FROM YEAR AGO...

[Winston*]

RATINGS UP 20% FROM YEAR AGO...

Daniel Tosh 2014

[DavidSeven]

I prefer hosts like Stewart and DeGeneres. Even Chris Rock, who I guess got a bad rap solely for going long on a Jude Law joke. They have the right mix of irreverence and honed joked-telling ability.

I didn't think MacFarlane was very funny, but it was still an improvement over the A-list-actor-as-host experiments and TAFKA Billy Crystal.

[number8]

The "boobs one" is stupid. It's a stupid song. If I was Naomi Watts or Charlize Theron I'd be visibly laughing when they call out my name, because who the fuck cares? Acting offended is somehow like admitting Seth called them out on something, when he was merely bringing up facts.

I wouldn't be so sure. Think of it like this. Seth MacFarlane is a very, very rich man. Imagine if we were scattered in the audience and he started doing a song about low annual salaries and all the rich celebs started guffawing at this, if he singled me out, he would just be bringing up facts, too, but I certainly wouldn't find it all that amusing.

[Dukefrukem]

In the words of Homer Simpson,

"I'm a white male, age 18 to 49. Everyone loves me".

So yeh, I guess if someone was raped in real life, and thought Seth was making light of those scenes and tossing them into the mix with sex scenes, they'd be upset about it.

But do people go around condemning Chris Rock or LouisCK's stand up act?

It's comedy after all. It's a joke.

[Grouchy]

I wouldn't be so sure. Think of it like this. Seth MacFarlane is a very, very rich man. Imagine if we were scattered in the audience and he started doing a song about low annual salaries and all the rich celebs started guffawing at this, if he singled me out, he would just be bringing up facts, too, but I certainly wouldn't find it all that amusing.
Well yeah, but having low annual salaries is not our choice, and it's also not something that can be made to be very funny. I don't think anyone on their right minds thinks any less of Halle Berry or Kate Winslet for showing their boobs in fictional films. He should have mentioned Kathy Bates in About Schmidt, by the way.

The quality of the hosts in Academy Awards is a boring subject, though. It's why I don't watch them - I find the show is long and not very funny. Just imagine a world where actually funny people host the Oscars. I guess Chris Rock is as close as we'll ever get, but... imagine the material Louis C.K. or Doug Stanhope could come up with.

[Spinal]

I never thought I would be a MacFarlane apologist, but the song was presented in the context of imagining the worst possible way that a host could screw up the Oscars. He was clearly juxtaposing the traditional dignity of the ceremony with his own low-brow comedy persona.

[number8]

Meh. It's whatever. All I know is that I've never had to deal with assholes trying to gawk at and condense my entire personhood into my boobs, so obviously my sensitivity level to jokes like that are different than those who have, and I don't actually know what I'm talking about in regards to a specific matter other than the fact that I don't wish to be one of the people who find that kind of thing likable.


I never thought I would be a MacFarlane apologist, but the song was presented in the context of imagining the worst possible way that a host could screw up the Oscars. He was clearly juxtaposing the traditional dignity of the ceremony with his own low-brow comedy persona.

I know, I just find it... cheap. It's like thinking it'd be so funny to wear wifebeaters and flip flops to a Fortune 500 job interview as a prank. How daring.

[Winston*]

It's comedy after all. It's a joke.

The fact that he was naming films with rape scenes wasn't the joke though. The joke would be the same if he only named films with consensual sex scenes.

Comparison to Louis CK doesn't work. In his rape bit, the joke is that he's saying something horrible. There's an implied moral center.

[Dukefrukem]

The fact that he was naming films with rape scenes wasn't the joke though. The joke would be the same if he only named films with consensual sex scenes.

Comparison to Louis CK doesn't work. In his rape bit, the joke is that he's saying something horrible. There's an implied moral center.

Correct. He didn't even bring up the scenes. Just that the actresses were nude. The context is not even there. The people who are getting offended are the ones bringing it up...

[Lucky]

Don't you think these women were let in on the joke beforehand, though? I mean, if not, they had some perfectly timed comic reactions that I'm impressed by.

[Dukefrukem]

Don't you think these women were let in on the joke beforehand, though? I mean, if not, they had some perfectly timed comic reactions that I'm impressed by.

Well of course. That was obvious right? It was mostly overacting that we saw.

[Grouchy]

Yeah, it's whatever. I don't want to defend McFarlane either because holy shit, did Ted suck. One of the worst comedies I've ever seen.

Since I mentioned Stanhope, this is one of my favorite videos by him which I think applies to most "offensive" comedy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l76IjT6Guaw

It's funnier when it's useful.

[Irish]

Meh. It's whatever. All I know is that I've never had to deal with assholes trying to gawk at and condense my entire personhood into my boobs, so obviously my sensitivity level to jokes like that are different than those who have, and I don't actually know what I'm talking about in regards to a specific matter other than the fact that I don't wish to be one of the people who find that kind of thing likable.

I know, I just find it... cheap. It's like thinking it'd be so funny to wear wifebeaters and flip flops to a Fortune 500 job interview as a prank. How daring.

^ This! Oh, this this this!

Aside from the skit being arguably off-tone, it shits on the efforts of these women, who were working professionally in a dramatic art form. He wasn't referencing the Skinemax stuff that Teri Hatcher did, or the soft-core stuff that Cameron Diaz did. He was referencing stuff like "Silkwood" and "The Accused", for godssake. It's just dumb and puerile.

Similar: that joke about the orgy at Nicholson's house, without thinking it through and remembering a certain incident about Polanski. Just dumb.

Or making that joke involving Q.Wallis, and saying "Haha, a nine year old can get nominated." Sorta rubs their noses in the fact that that Wallis' presence was an insult to every other female nominee.

[Irish]

Don't you think these women were let in on the joke beforehand, though? I mean, if not, they had some perfectly timed comic reactions that I'm impressed by.

I saw an article earlier that said those bits were pre-corded, not live (apparently, you could tell because their clothes are different).

[Winston*]

Correct. He didn't even bring up the scenes. Just that the actresses were nude. The context is not even there. The people who are getting offended are the ones bringing it up...

Wait, I thought I was arguing the opposite point.

[Scar]

I saw an article earlier that said those bits were pre-corded, not live (apparently, you could tell because their clothes are different).

Not to be an ass, but you guys didn't notice that they were wearing different dresses?

[Lucky]

Not to be an ass, but you guys didn't notice that they were wearing different dresses?

No, I didn't watch the red carpet events so I had no idea what anyone was wearing.

[Robby P]

EDIT: Oh, and in the Wallis controversy, I'm glad the Onion apologizes. That's not even a joke, it's an insult. There's no humor in the comment.

It was a joke, just not a particularly good one. The satirical component of the joke was that in our celebrity-obsessed culture we are too quick to form opinions about people we've never met and truly know nothing about whatsoever. The fact that it is directed toward a nine year old girl who is by all accounts a cute little bugger is what gives the joke its ironic connotation. Again, not a particularly funny or clever joke but far from the most offensive thing The Onion has ever published. I can understand why people are offended but I don't like the precedent of forcing The Onion to apologize just because the Twitter police have nothing better to do on a Sunday night.

[number8]

Yeah, it was definitely a defensible joke, though perhaps poorly constructed purely because of the word choice. I bet less people would've been fumed if they'd said she "seems like such an asshole" or something to that effect. As it was, especially on a medium as disjointed and often contextless as Twitter, it was harder to parse the humor.

[Grouchy]

It was a joke, just not a particularly good one. The satirical component of the joke was that in our celebrity-obsessed culture we are too quick to form opinions about people we've never met and truly know nothing about whatsoever. The fact that it is directed toward a nine year old girl who is by all accounts a cute little bugger is what gives the joke its ironic connotation. Again, not a particularly funny or clever joke but far from the most offensive thing The Onion has ever published. I can understand why people are offended but I don't like the precedent of forcing The Onion to apologize just because the Twitter police have nothing better to do on a Sunday night.
We have a satiric newspaper in Argentina which is called Barcelona and it's 100 times as offensive as The Onion. Lots of people are forever outraged at the headlines. But you know what? While it has run thousands of headlines and attacked every possible group or political side, I don't think it has ever picked an easy target to make fun of. I'm a huge fan of Barcelona because it does actual combative journalism better than everyone else. It's a newspaper without the bullshit. I don't read The Onion regularly and maybe I should, but I don't think it's as funny or as brave.

I'm aware that unless someone amongst you reads fluent Spanish there's no way to verify my claims, but I just think suggesting this fucking child is a cunt is not a very sharp joke.

[number8]

She's not supposed to be the target, though. If you'd checked twitter during the broadcast, people were saying equally if not more mean things about Adele, Kristen Stewart, etc. The Onion was making fun of those people who do that. Again, they could've phrased it better, but it was a pretty obvious joke to make when you're criticizing our snarky judgmental culture. The irony is that if Wallis was just 10 years older, some of the people who criticized The Onion for the joke might very well be making the same joke themselves.

[Grouchy]

Ok, then I didn't get it. I've never read a Twitter unless it's quoted somewhere else for some reason.

[D_Davis]

She's not supposed to be the target, though. If you'd checked twitter during the broadcast, people were saying equally if not more mean things about Adele, Kristen Stewart, etc. The Onion was making fun of those people who do that. Again, they could've phrased it better, but it was a pretty obvious joke to make when you're criticizing our snarky judgmental culture. The irony is that if Wallis was just 10 years older, some of the people who criticized The Onion for the joke might very well be making the same joke themselves.

Exactly.

And it hit really close to home to those overly-obsessed with celebrity culture.

The Onion shouldn't have apologized.

[Ezee E]

Billy Crystal never gets this much discussion.

Spinal hit it on the head though with the juxtaposition.

[Irish]

The Onion shouldn't have apologized.

I dunno. Using "cunt" toward a 9 year old is a bit beyond the pale, especially as that word is still highly taboo in the US.

I think 8 is right. Context and wording are important. If they had said she's an "asshole" or something, it probably would have gone over better.

[number8]

I think 8 is right.

If there's a marriage between poster and phrase that should happen more often...

[Irish]

If there's a marriage between poster and phrase that should happen more often...

:lol: You're on a roll today.

[Winston*]

I think 8 is right. Context and wording are important. If they had said she's an "asshole" or something, it probably would have gone over better.

Joke wouldn't have worked as well though. Not that it was particularly great to begin with.

[number8]

"Quvenzhane Wallis looks like a kid rapist."

[D_Davis]

I dunno. Using "cunt" toward a 9 year old is a bit beyond the pale, especially as that word is still highly taboo in the US.


They've written articles about pre-teens collecting premie-crack babies.

When the culture surrounding celebrity is as insanely unhealthy and disgusting as it is, they have to go to that extreme for there to even be a joke. That itself is part of the satire.

[Grouchy]

Can I find Tarantino's full acceptance speech somewhere on the Internet? Apparently not.

[ThePlashyBubbler]

Can I find Tarantino's full acceptance speech somewhere on the Internet? Apparently not.

Do you get Hulu where you are? Whole broadcast is available there.

[baby doll]

Personally, I'm pretty tired of professionally offended bloggers getting indignant about jokes at award shows, jokes on Twitter, and Lena Dunham. It's like every televised event is required to have X number of "controversies," and when there's nothing to get pissed about, they find stuff to get pissed about--as if the staff of the Onion really thinks that Quvenzhané Wallis is a cunt. The whole idea seems to be: Let's turn nothing into something so that we don't have to talk about anything important.

[MadMan]

Part of me thinks the Onion should have apologized because the joke was painfully unfunny, and the other part thinks they should have apologized because it was a truly horrible joke. I do agree that humor is all based on timing, context, and wording. After all Seinfeld had an episode where they made jokes about Schindler's List and had Seinfeld caught making out during the film.

[baby doll]

After all Seinfeld had an episode where they made jokes about Schindler's List and had Seinfeld caught making out during the film."We just started kissing during the coming attractions, and before we knew it, the war was over!"

[Spinal]

The more outrage I see, the funnier MacFarlane's opening bit becomes. It's like the "Springtime for Hitler" of Oscar opening numbers. The humor is not in the bit. The humor is in the reaction to the bit.

[MadMan]

"We just started kissing during the coming attractions, and before we knew it, the war was over!"
:lol:

The best part of that episode though was Judge Reinhold making fun of the classic "I could have done more!" speech. I'm not going to lie: Seinfeld has ruined that movie for me. I still haven't seen it partly because of that classic episode.

[Llopin]

Favourite Oscar moment: Joaquin Phoenix looking at his feet completely uninterested when his name is announced.

[Henry Gale]

A lot of this has already been brought up, but...


I never thought I would be a MacFarlane apologist, but the song was presented in the context of imagining the worst possible way that a host could screw up the Oscars. He was clearly juxtaposing the traditional dignity of the ceremony with his own low-brow comedy persona.

Exactly. It makes me wonder if anyone actually watched the show, or even the whole opening. The entire number, along with the audience reactions, were pre-recorded (something I thought was meant to be obvious). They were all in on the joke. The fact that it was Watts, Theron and Lawrence, actresses who have always been fine with making fun of themselves, whether it's in interviews, skits on Kimmel, Between Two Ferns, or this. The whole bit is designed to be juvenile and ridiculous because the set-up of the clip is Shatner throwing to it from a parallel future where everyone hated what MacFarlane did as host, and the number itself has no real meaning to it other than other-timeline Seth really thought it'd be cool to do a song about just how many actresses' boobs he'd seen.

Sure by actually doing the number on air instead of just writing a five-second line about it he's having it both ways, but at least he set it up in a way that the audience should've understood what it was.

So yes, I laughed. Especially at the reactions.


Similar: that joke about the orgy at Nicholson's house, without thinking it through and remembering a certain incident about Polanski. Just dumb.

Or making that joke involving Q.Wallis, and saying "Haha, a nine year old can get nominated." Sorta rubs their noses in the fact that that Wallis' presence was an insult to every other female nominee.

The Nicholson/Polanski connection was definitely intentional. Pretty sure he's done a joke or two about it before in other things. Whether or not he thought the audience would make the connection is a different story. But having Nicholson in the room pushes the line in a much edgier, unusual way than if he'd just said "it's at [Lindsay Lohan / current party-animal celebrity X]'s house!"

And I fail to see how the Wallis joke was insulting. If anything I thought it was one of the few tamer jokes that actually worked. Definitely more about how much people value getting nominated, and yet someone as young as her did on her first try than saying she de-valued anything. Pretty sure everyone that nominated her genuinely thought she did a good job and didn't just write her name on the ballot as a goof.

I had a lot of problems with Seth's hosting job, but seemingly none of them sync up with everyone else's. The second it was announced everyone knew they weren't choosing someone who'd be relatable and kind to the nominees, so if anything, I thought he almost held back too much and settled for easy punchlines. Right now, despite it being a bit of a mess, I'd say he was the best they've had since Jon Stewart, but that's only because I can't remember anything Jackman did after his solid opening number.

[Sven]

The more outrage I see, the funnier MacFarlane's opening bit becomes. It's like the "Springtime for Hitler" of Oscar opening numbers. The humor is not in the bit. The humor is in the reaction to the bit.

Though really, Springtime for Hitler is pretty hilarious.

[number8]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ACQpZW-eTg

[number8]

This is good too. The first question is awkward.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_L9KtHLUyXs

[Dukefrukem]

That was great, (@Jenn Law) but those were seriously the dumbest questions I've ever heard someone ask. Dumber than sports writers.

[Morris Schæffer]

Noob question: who writes the oscar jokes and skits? The host or a battery of writers? I always thought the host was merely delivering what others wrote.

[Mysterious Dude]

Noob question: who writes the oscar jokes and skits? The host or a battery of writers? I always thought the host was merely delivering what others wrote.
I think the host is allowed to use his own writers. I seem to recall that Jon Stewart brought in his colleagues from The Daily Show, but I could be wrong.

[number8]

Noob question: who writes the oscar jokes and skits? The host or a battery of writers? I always thought the host was merely delivering what others wrote.

It's exactly the same as hosting a talk show. There's a team of writers, but the host selects who to work with and what to use. The telecast producers may suggest writers that have done it before, or the host may want to bring in their own writers. MacFarlane's jokes were written by his Family Guy staff. When Jon Stewart hosted, he got the Daily Show/Colbert writers to write his jokes.

[Ezee E]

Why in the world did Franco/Hathaway allow Vilanche to write for them? No wonder they failed.

[Spinal]

Beyond MacFarlane, I thought this was a well produced show. Thanks for bringing back the clips for acting performances. Thanks for not doing the testimonials. Thanks for being selective on which song nominees to give air time. Not sure about the Michelle Obama choice, particularly with Zero Dark Thirty among the nominees. Mostly though, I thought it went well.

[number8]

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/michelle-obama-at-oscars-harvey-424146

She's been championing Beasts of the Southern Wild recently. I wonder if she was disappointed when she was told that it was Argo.

[Morris Schæffer]

Clear!

[Lucky]

RE: 8's Lawrence video

Ok. I get the fuss now. *smitten*

[DavidSeven]

Thanks for bringing back the clips for acting performances. Thanks for not doing the testimonials.

Yes. I also thought the category groupings were handled pretty well this year to make the most efficient use of time without insulting anyone. No handing out awards in the aisle or any of that nonsense. It didn't feel like the producers over-thought it this time, which was refreshing.

But mostly, thank you for not doing testimonials.

[angrycinephile]

More Jennifer Lawrence goodness:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Upw1w2yXZs0

[number8]

Let's keep it going. Best answer about a dress at the end.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H187Yt7w1s4

[Spinal]

Also, I have to give credit to Russell Crowe for going out and singing in front of a billion people after getting scathing reviews. That takes guts.

[amberlita]

Jennifer Lawrence is adorable. I want one.

[Irish]

The Nicholson/Polanski connection was definitely intentional.

Huh? If the connection was intentional, then that makes the joke really dark and ugly.


Pretty sure everyone that nominated her genuinely thought she did a good job and didn't just write her name on the ballot as a goof.

It was an obvious stunt nom, intended to be part of the red-carpet dog & pony show outside. The Academy has nominated a first-time, young, minority woman three times in the last decade alone. They don't do this with the Actor awards (the closest is Haley Joe Osment in the late 90s). The people nominated for the Actor awards are established players. They're taken seriously.

But a nine year old tyro, who wasn't even in the guilds? That's a bit insulting to someone who has dedicated years, if not decades, to their craft.

[number8]

Everyone keeps forgetting Keisha Castle Hughes.

[amberlita]

Everyone keeps forgetting Keisha Castle Hughes.

Yeah. She was a cunt too.

[Irish]

Yeah. She was a cunt too.

:lol:

You're a terrible person. :|

[EyesWideOpen]

I can't even watch those interviews. The questions are so stupid it makes me sad.

[Irish]

http://i.imgur.com/gL2w8BY.jpg

Ang Lee eating In-N-Out while holding his Oscar.

[DavidSeven]

http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/28989_10151484322071273_108892 6651_n.jpg

[number8]

Haha, reminds me of this:

http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_li2dkpB17C1qbxtlwo1_400 .jpg

[StanleyK]

Shit, I completely forgot that the Oscars existed until someone reminded me today. I'm looking at the list of nominees and I haven't heard of 90% of them. Should I... should I feel bad for being so out of touch? I kind of do.

But hey, Argo. I almost saw that movie (but it was sold out).

[EyesWideOpen]

I'm looking at the list of nominees and I haven't heard of 90% of them.



I don't believe you.

[Henry Gale]

Huh? If the connection was intentional, then that makes the joke really dark and ugly.

I mean, I watched it back and the joke isn't that good, but I don't see how it didn't cross MacFarlane's mind whether or not he figured audience would pick up on it. The punchline is still meant to play as "weird stuff goes on at Jack Nicholson's house" instead of "Polanski and minors will be there". But I still never understand the issue of acknowledging terrible but true things in jokes, especially when they aren't making light of them or excusing them. If anything, the Oscars giving Roman Polanski Best Director only ten years ago when they knew he couldn't be there and it would automatically read as a statement of sorts is much more problematic thing to me.


It was an obvious stunt nom, intended to be part of the red-carpet dog & pony show outside. The Academy has nominated a first-time, young, minority woman three times in the last decade alone. They don't do this with the Actor awards (the closest is Haley Joe Osment in the late 90s). The people nominated for the Actor awards are established players. They're taken seriously.

But a nine year old tyro, who wasn't even in the guilds? That's a bit insulting to someone who has dedicated years, if not decades, to their craft.

Or they genuinely loved the movie that she carried enough to nominate her and the film for Best Picture. I didn't even like Beasts but thought her performance was easily the highlight of it. I don't see why her age and the fact that she hasn't spent years consciously honing her acting chops makes any difference, especially when you think about how many actors probably put tons of effort and thought into their work only to be terribly off the mark. Wallis' is just a natural performance that was nominated exclusively by actors.

Plus, is an Oscar nomination really such a sacred thing that a kid getting nominated is so ridiculous?

[Irish]

The punchline is still meant to play as "weird stuff goes on at Jack Nicholson's house" instead of "Polanski and minors will be there".

Sure. Absolutely. It's a play off of Nicholson's reputation as a lothario. But c'mon. You write a joke like that and don't think out all the implications -- it wasn't "weird stuff" it was "orgy," and specifically "Hollywood sex orgy" -- then I'm gonna think you're not very bright.


Or they genuinely loved the movie that she carried enough to nominate her and the film for Best Picture.

The Academy is a political machine like any other. I can't really force this angle on you. I mean, if you're not seeing it you're not seeing. But ask yourself this: If what you're saying is true, that this was a genuine nom made in good spirit, then why don't the other categories frequently feature young, novice performers?

[Henry Gale]

The Academy is a political machine like any other. I can't really force this angle on you. I mean, if you're not seeing it you're not seeing. But ask yourself this: If what you're saying is true, that this was a genuine nom made in good spirit, then why don't the other categories frequently feature young, novice performers?

Because there probably aren't many excellent child cinematographers or screenwriters and acting is an easier thing to luck into by comparison?

Plus, how often are kid actors even good?

Of course the Oscars are extremely political, but they still can't control who their members are going to enjoy enough to want to vote for. The studios can only put enough money behind certain people and hope the awards leading up ensure them a spot. Only once the nominations are in stone is everyone allowed to vote for everything else to push whatever agendas they want. And at the end of the day, Wallis was nominated for a film that cost next to nothing that eventually became Fox Searchlight's golden child for the year, it's not like the academy nominated Lincoln's son or something.

[Irish]

Because there probably aren't many excellent child cinematographers or screenwriters and acting is an easier thing to luck into by comparison? Plus, how often are kid actors even good?

Statistically, you'd think it would even out. Not talking about cinematographers, ffs, but look at the Actor and Supporting categories. Look at Supporting Actress. Skim the names for the last ten, twenty, thirty years.

How many kids do you see on those lists? I see one*. Osment, who was eleven when he was nominated. But Osment was also a working actor, a white kid, with a half dozen credits to his name when he made "The Sixth Sense" (a movie that was also an enormous commercial success).

Yet you want to believe that, somehow, three minority girls being nominated in the span of the last ten years alone was purely genuine?

Seeing Wallis at a stunt nom was my gut reaction. This observation isn't unique to me. Every other pundit and writer on twitter was saying the same thing.

Personally, I think it's condescending and embarrassing for the other nominees, for the reasons already stated.

* Correction: Two. Saoirse Ronan was thirteen when she was nominated for Best Supporting for "Atonement." But this also points to the problem, really.

[Ezee E]

Anna Paquin.

[Irish]

Anna Paquin.

Great example.

Now where are the young male actors winning awards or even getting nominated?

[Winston*]

What are some comparable pre-teen male roles in widely embraced films from the last decade to Keisha's and Wallis's?

[Morris Schæffer]

:lol:

You're a terrible person. :|

Good thing a woman said it. If it was me, the board would have detonated.

[baby doll]

Ang Lee eating In-N-Out while holding his Oscar.To be fair, they don't have In-N-Out in Taiwan. To him, this is an exotic American delicacy.

In any case, don't they serve food backstage at the Oscars? I remember a few years ago there was that shot of Hillary Swank eating at a fast food joint in her Oscar dress; it's like as soon as everybody gets out their first thought is, "I haven't had anything to eat in six hours!" Imagine being some teenager working the late shift for minimum wage at Arby's when a pack of ravenous Oscar winners descents on the joint like a zombie army terrorizing the night.

[Boner M]

Can't believe Macfarlane's hosting has defenders here. He was liquid terrible throughout, easily the worst I've seen since I began watching the show about 15 years ago, and I say that as a mild fan of Family Guy.

The Adele/Rex Reed joke somehow stuck out. It's supposed to be at Rex Reed's expense but just revealed that "fat" is the first that comes to his mind when he thinks of her. Ugh.

[Watashi]

No way was McFarlane worse than Billy Crystal last year.

[Boner M]

No way was McFarlane worse than Billy Crystal last year.
I forgot Crystal instantly. I imagine Macfarlane's dead eyes and eternal smirking at his own strained offensiveness will paralyse me with rage for months to come, preventing me from conducting my routine life with the efficiency it requires.

[MadMan]

Jennifer Lawrence's reaction to Jack Nicholson coming up behind her was one of the most adorable things I've seen in a while. I just loved her reaction, which is what my reaction would be to a legend popping up right there. Whoa.

Loved QT's answers to the questions, the first awkward one aside. I still want to meet him and discuss film with him for hours on end.

[number8]

To be fair, they don't have In-N-Out in Taiwan. To him, this is an exotic American delicacy.

In any case, don't they serve food backstage at the Oscars? I remember a few years ago there was that shot of Hillary Swank eating at a fast food joint in her Oscar dress; it's like as soon as everybody gets out their first thought is, "I haven't had anything to eat in six hours!" Imagine being some teenager working the late shift for minimum wage at Arby's when a pack of ravenous Oscar winners descents on the joint like a zombie army terrorizing the night.

I don't think it has to do with it being exotic or anything. I think they just don't serve food, and I hear it's somewhat of a tradition for them to go get fast food after the show. I know that Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt go to In-N-Out after every Oscars, and apparently Jennifer Lawrence went to McDonalds with her statue.

[Skitch]

http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/28989_10151484322071273_108892 6651_n.jpg

"Ben Damon? BASTARDS."

[Ezee E]

Don't they serve food at the Vanity Fair parties and what not? Still seems kind of weird. Unless it truly is a tradition, in which case, I want to know who started it. Martin Scorsese, Ray Liotta, and DeNiro go into McDonald's after a failed Oscar run and drown their sorrows in McNuggets.

[Watashi]

I thought this was pretty cool. Photos of Oscar rehearsals. (http://deslide.clusterfake.net/?o=html_table&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ew.com%2Few %2Fgallery%2F0%2C%2C20311937_2 0677225%2C00.html%2321287116)

[baby doll]

I don't think it has to do with it being exotic or anything.Yeah, that was supposed to be a joke, but it is true that they don't have In-N-Out in Taiwan or mainland China. I don't know about Hong Kong, but I don't remember seeing any when I was there in 2011. In the PRC, the most popular western-style fast food chains are KFC, McDonald's, Pizza Hut, Subway, Dico's (a Chinese KFC), and Burger King in roughly that order.

[number8]

They don't have In-N-Out in most of America.

[Lucky]

They don't have In-N-Out in most of America.

Just Cali and Vegas as far as I know, right?

[number8]

Just Cali and Vegas as far as I know, right?

Originally. In the past few years, they opened some in Arizona, Utah and Texas.

[NickGlass]

Have any of you ever gotten hungry after drinking hooch all night?

[eternity]

Originally. In the past few years, they opened some in Arizona, Utah and Texas.

They're about as common in Arizona as Wendy's or any of the other not-McDonald's burger chains.

[DavidSeven]

I assume there's a lot of calorie counting going on leading up to these things. End of awards/formal wear season seems like a pretty good time to pig out.

Plus, In-N-Out is literally down the street from where the Oscars are held.

[Irish]

Sheesh, it was a joke. I thought it was a pretty good one.

What're you guys going to discuss next? The sodas they're drinking? Hipster tuxedos at the Oscars? :P

[StanleyK]

I don't believe you.

No, for real, homes. Silver Linings Playbook? Zero Dark Thirty? The Sessions? Beasts of the Southern Wild? Flight? What? I haven't seen a TV spot, or a news blurb, or even anything on MC. Last year I at least knew the nominees by name, this time I've seen 2 and don't know a good number of them.

[Winston*]

Silver Linings Playbook?

Clearly you haven't been reading any Match Cut thread in the last two months.

[number8]

No, for real, homes. Silver Linings Playbook? Zero Dark Thirty? The Sessions? Beasts of the Southern Wild? Flight? What? I haven't seen a TV spot, or a news blurb, or even anything on MC.

http://matchcut.artboiled.com/showthread.php?4369-Silver-Linings-Playbook-(David-O-Russell)

http://matchcut.artboiled.com/showthread.php?4440-Zero-Dark-Thirty-(Kathryn-Bigelow)

http://matchcut.artboiled.com/showthread.php?4344-The-Sessions-(Ben-Lewin)

http://matchcut.artboiled.com/showthread.php?4115-Beasts-of-the-Southern-Wild-(Benh-Zeitlin)

http://matchcut.artboiled.com/showthread.php?4333-Flight-(Robert-Zemeckis)

[Robby P]

Zero Dark Thirty has received so much media attention that I find it almost impossible to believe you've never heard of it.

[Winston*]

Zero Dark Thirty has received so much media attention that I find it almost impossible to believe you've never heard of it.

To be fair I don't think StanleyK lives in America. I don't think it's received nearly as much media attention elsewhere.

[StanleyK]

Clearly you haven't been reading any Match Cut thread in the last two months.

Not many of them, true. But I don't think they've ever been mentioned in the main discussion thread which is the one I mostly look at.

[Robby P]

Oh, sorry Stanley. I sometimes forget how much diversity there is on this board.

[EyesWideOpen]

They're about as common in Arizona as Wendy's or any of the other not-McDonald's burger chains.

Yep. I've got like 6 or 7 within 20 minutes of me.

[MadMan]

In-N-Out is not anywhere near Iowa last time I checked. Too bad as I would like to find out what the fuss is all about.

I wonder what 2013 release will be penciled in to win an Oscar or be nominated early off the bat? Last year it was Lincoln-practically everyone rightfully assumed that DDL was going to win Best Actor for it.

[Rowland]

I just recently had a Five Guys open near me, they're pretty good.

[Sxottlan]

Overall an average show. I generally liked Seth MacFarlane, but I agree he went the route of trying to have his cake and eat it too. The "theme" of music was very vague and the revelation that the show's producers also produced Chicago makes all the attention on that film in the show even more abhorrent. The Bond tribute was disappointing. Just music playing over clips covered in distracting graphics. No narration about highlights in the franchise's history or the playing of popular scenes.

Most of the categories had boring and uninspired presentations. Seriously, just some full screens pictures from the film and that's it. Horrible. I want to see actual clips damn it. Then sometimes some of the categories would randomly have footage. At least they dumped the awful "testimonials" from the acting categories and just went back to clips.

[ThePlashyBubbler]

Non fast-food restaurant burgers > Fatburger > In-N-Out > Five Guys > Wendy's > McDonald's > BK

[Fezzik]

What are some comparable pre-teen male roles in widely embraced films from the last decade to Keisha's and Wallis's?

Not quite the last decade, but there was Haley Joel Osment's performance in The Sixth Sense, but even that was thirteen years ago.

[Dukefrukem]

Non fast-food restaurant burgers > Fatburger > In-N-Out > Five Guys > Wendy's > McDonald's > BK

If you're saying that a burger from Chilies or Applebees or TFIFridays or the 99 or Unos is better than Five Guys, you are 100% mistaken.

[ThePlashyBubbler]

If you're saying that a burger from Chilies or Applebees or TFIFridays or the 99 or Unos is better than Five Guys, you are 100% mistaken.

No no no.

Restaurants.

[Dukefrukem]

No no no.

Restaurants.

OK OK good. Just checking. I didn't know what you were considering a "restaurant"

[ThePlashyBubbler]

OK OK good. Just checking. I didn't know what you were considering a "restaurant"

Haha yeah that's pretty vague I guess. I was thinking of "burger joint" type places that specialize in it and have a bunch of varieties. Umami, Father's Office were a few in LA.

[ledfloyd]

BRGR and Burgatory in Pittsburgh are both amazing.

[ThePlashyBubbler]

BRGR and Burgatory in Pittsburgh are both amazing.

Cosign on BRGR. Haven't made it to the latter yet but have heard good things.

[Skitch]

You guys need a B Spot. Trumps everything named so far.

[Winston*]

There's something quite apt about the progression of this thread.

[Lucky]

Culver's burgers are my favorite fast food burgers, but I admit I've never had In-N-Out. One of the few foods I'll actually crave. Their root beer is the only pop I'll drink, too.

[EyesWideOpen]

In-N-Out is not anywhere near Iowa last time I checked. Too bad as I would like to find out what the fuss is all about.



It's way overhyped. Out of the 7 drivers I work with (who probably eat fast food way more then the average person) none of them frequent In-N-Out. It reminds me alot of White Castle. People who don't live near one treat it like a holy grail but people who live close to one couldn't care less.

Red Robin is my favorite burger place. Whiskey River BBQ Burger (I get mine with Boca obviously) is the best.

[Skitch]

Red Robin is my favorite burger place. Whiskey River BBQ Burger (I get mine with Boca obviously) is the best.

Burning Love burger. Holy hell do I love that burger.

[Irish]

It's way overhyped.

Nah. I bet you're ordering wrong. If you stick to the menu, it's an okay experience. If you go off the secret menu (http://aht.seriouseats.com/archives/2011/03/the-in-n-out-survival-guide-we-ate-every-single-item-on-the-secret-menu.html), it's incredible. Any local will tell you that.


It reminds me alot of White Castle. People who don't live near one treat it like a holy grail but people who live close to one couldn't care less.

White Castle is popular for different reasons, not all of them based on the quality of the food (like being open really, really late).

[Ezee E]

THREAD IDEA.

[EyesWideOpen]

Nah. I bet you're ordering wrong. If you stick to the menu, it's an okay experience. If you go off the secret menu (http://aht.seriouseats.com/archives/2011/03/the-in-n-out-survival-guide-we-ate-every-single-item-on-the-secret-menu.html), it's incredible. Any local will tell you that.



White Castle is popular for different reasons, not all of them based on the quality of the food (like being open really, really late).

Everyone knows about the secret menu Irish. It's been common knowledge for like 5 years.

[Irish]

Everyone knows about the secret menu Irish. It's been common knowledge for like 5 years.

:lol: Uh huh.

A whole 5 years, Eyes? Really? Wow!

[EyesWideOpen]

:lol: Uh huh.

A whole 5 years, Eyes? Really? Wow!

Got to be longer actually. I remember people talking about it when I lived in california and that was ten years ago.

[Skitch]

THREAD IDEA.

Make it so, Number One!

[ledfloyd]

You guys need a B Spot. Trumps everything named so far.
B Spot is great, but I feel like both places in Pittsburgh are on par with it.

[Scar]

http://matchcut.artboiled.com/showthread.php?4598-BurgerTime

[Sven]

Armond mildly defends McFarlane: http://www.nyfcc.com/2013/03/oscars-post-mortified-reviewed-by-armond-white-for-cityarts/

[Lucky]

Armond mildly defends McFarlane: http://www.nyfcc.com/2013/03/oscars-post-mortified-reviewed-by-armond-white-for-cityarts/

Quit hijacking this thread, stay on topic.

[number8]

http://www.artboiled.com/2013/movies-better-than-the-2012-best-picture-nominees/

[Dukefrukem]

I hate Zodiac

[Grouchy]

I hate Zodiac
Well, that's certainly a problem with your bad taste.

[number8]

I hate Zodiac

That's too bad, because if you'd checked your horoscope today, it actually says, "It's your wrong day. Your lucky number is fuck you."

[Dukefrukem]

http://s3.amazonaws.com/mfw-production/image_post/581/medium/HAHAno.gif

[Irish]

http://www.artboiled.com/2013/movies-better-than-the-2012-best-picture-nominees/

I like these write-ups, but I'm going to second guess your editorial: You cheated. There's some great suggestions there (who doesn't love "Seven Days in May"?) but the connections are tenuous for almost every movie you recommended. And you didn't even limit yourself to other Oscar winners or nom. C'mon, dude! Anybody can do that. "Here's a list of movies, and I'm going to suggest another list based on, I dunno, everything ever made ever." Better, more strenuous editorial, better article. (I know you're gonna say you don't give a shit, but eh. I bet you do. Two cents offered, anyway).

As for specific picks:

I would have gone for "In the Heat of the Night" as a contrast to "Lincoln." "Heat" talks about race in an intelligent way, isn't heavy handed, and has a great story. Something like "Patton" would work to, if you want to suggest a lone-figure-in-history kind of thing. (I mean "Seven Days" is a lot of fun, but it's pure fantasy cheese).

For "Django," almost any Anthony Mann western starring Jimmy Stewart, but I particularly like "The Man from Laramie" in this spot. For "Zero Dark," I maybe would have gone with "Treasure of the Sierra Madre" or "The Maltese Falcon."

The problem with "Zodiac" is that, despite however well made it is, the story is ultimately unsatisfying. The real world forced Fincher into an awkward third act shift and makes him switch protagonists completely. This is required to remain truthful, but it also makes the movie overlong and tedious.

[number8]

I find all of those suggestions (except maybe Patton) to be even more tenuous. I get why you suggest them, particularly Sierra Madre and Maltese Falcon for ZDT, but eh.

[elixir]

The problem with "Zodiac" is that, despite however well made it is, the story is ultimately unsatisfying. The real world forced Fincher into an awkward third act shift and makes him switch protagonists completely. This is required to remain truthful, but it also makes the movie overlong and tedious.
Hmm. I see this as part of what makes the film good.

[Irish]

I find all of those suggestions (except maybe Patton) to be even more tenuous. I get why you suggest them, particularly Sierra Madre and Maltese Falcon for ZDT, but eh.

:lol: Fair enough. I second guessed your picks, you can do it back. On a message board, it doesn't matter so much. Who cares? On a blog post, maybe they do. This is the kind of thing stronger editorial lines help you with. (That is: If you're trying for traffic, and not just to hear yourself talk.) *shrug*

[Ezee E]

I prefer 8's picks. :confused:

[Mr. McGibblets]

The problem with "Zodiac" is that, despite however well made it is, the story is ultimately unsatisfying. The real world forced Fincher into an awkward third act shift and makes him switch protagonists completely. This is required to remain truthful, but it also makes the movie overlong and tedious.

I think Fincher chose the story because of that. He wasn't forced to do it.

[transmogrifier]

I prefer 8's picks. :confused:

So do I. The shift in Zodiac is part of the point of the whole bloody thing.

[transmogrifier]

:lol: Fair enough. I second guessed your picks, you can do it back. On a message board, it doesn't matter so much. Who cares? On a blog post, maybe they do. This is the kind of thing stronger editorial lines help you with. (That is: If you're trying for traffic, and not just to hear yourself talk.) *shrug*

But it seems "stronger editorial lines" means "what Irish prefers". Why limit the alternatives to other Oscar winners or nominations? Doesn't that take away from the point that the Academy Awards rarely award true excellence in their field? In fact, your suggestion merely reinforces the cult of the Academy - don't like these nominees? Well, here are some other nominees selected by the same dubious process that I'm criticizing.

Article gutted.

[number8]

This is now the crushing on Jennifer Lawrence thread, right?

http://i.imgur.com/Epp2hAr.jpg

[MadMan]

This is now the crushing on Jennifer Lawrence thread, right?I'm all in favor of it.

[Morris Schæffer]

Justin Timberlake to be the next host?

http://uk.eonline.com/news/401164/2014-oscars-date-set-as-justin-timberlake-hosting-rumor-heats-up?utm_source=eonline&utm_medium=rssfeeds&utm_campaign=imdb_topstories

[MadMan]

Justin Timberlake to be the next host?

http://uk.eonline.com/news/401164/2014-oscars-date-set-as-justin-timberlake-hosting-rumor-heats-up?utm_source=eonline&utm_medium=rssfeeds&utm_campaign=imdb_topstoriesWh y do I have a feeling I'll regret backing him as host? At least he'll have class and be well, funny.