The Academy Awards Discussion Thread

[Qrazy]

Stopped watching after 'I have an erection just saying his name'.

[number8]

Stopped watching after 'I have an erection just saying his name'.

So brave.

[number8]

I just really like how much Laura Dern enjoyed Rogen's Chris Brown joke.

[Lucky]

I just really like how much Laura Dern enjoyed Rogen's Chris Brown joke.

Wasn't that Patricia Clarkson? You talking about 5:45?

[Dukefrukem]

I just really like how much Laura Dern enjoyed Rogen's Chris Brown joke.

My favorite was the Michael Shannon joke.

[Spinal]

At what point did we as a society forget how to do the damn Oscars? Maybe this is nostalgia or something, but I don't remember it being that tough to make it a watchable, enjoyable evening when I was younger.

[Dukefrukem]

At what point did we as a society forget how to do the damn Oscars? Maybe this is nostalgia or something, but I don't remember it being that tough to make it a watchable, enjoyable evening when I was younger.

The older we get, the more sinister we become.

[number8]

Wasn't that Patricia Clarkson? You talking about 5:45?

Oh...


...She looks like Laura Dern to me.

[Spinal]

The older we get, the more sinister we become.

Sinister or cynical? Because I actually think I'm less cynical than I was in my 20s. I've been trying to be more sinister though. I bought a cauldron.

[MadMan]

The problem with the Oscars is that you either for a tightly paced, faster show that ends up being boring, or go for the more entertaining show that ends up running way too long. Of course the Oscars right now is a mix of both so it ends up satisfying no one. Also they should really stop worrying about ratings and trying to please everyone and just nominate movies that are clearly worthy instead of crowd pleasing crap such as that Incredibly Loud movie or The Help for Best Picture.

[Spinal]

I always feel like they do this weird mix of rushing people in the moments we don't want them to be rushed and, on the other hand, wasting time on ill-conceived diversions that we don't want to take. I really don't think it's that hard. Just stay on task. Don't nominate 9-10 films for Best Picture. I'm a movie lover and I can't keep all that in my brain. When I talk to people about the upcoming Oscars and they say 'What's nominated?', I should be able to say 'Bam, bam, bam, bam and bam.'

But the main thing I want is clips from the nominated performances. It's the right thing to do.

[MadMan]

It should be that simple, but they just make it complicated. And for God's sake have the balls to actually select a host that may mix things up a bit.

[number8]

I seriously do not understand the decision to expand the Best Picture nominees. I am 90% convinced that it was a backend deal between the Academy and the studios with absolutely no other goal other than to be able to boost the dwindling market by giving more movies the opportunity to market itself as a Best Picture nominee.

[Ezee E]

How about clip montages that extend beyond "the love of film."

[Spinal]

How about clip montages that extend beyond "the love of film."

To paraphrase Planes, Trains and Automobiles ...

When you do these little montages, here's a good idea ... HAVE A POINT!

[Derek]

I seriously do not understand the decision to expand the Best Picture nominees. I am 90% convinced that it was a backend deal between the Academy and the studios with absolutely no other goal other than to be able to boost the dwindling market by giving more movies the opportunity to market itself as a Best Picture nominee.

It also allows them to cater the red staters who are usually turned off by Hollywood liberals with drek that otherwise wouldn't pass for Best Picture (ie, Blind Side last year, EL&IC this year).

[Qrazy]

I seriously do not understand the decision to expand the Best Picture nominees. I am 90% convinced that it was a backend deal between the Academy and the studios with absolutely no other goal other than to be able to boost the dwindling market by giving more movies the opportunity to market itself as a Best Picture nominee.

I like the fact that it allows for increased marketability. It helps people learn about solid films (the fluff pics aside). Remember when we'd all complain about how if a film wasn't nominated it was snubbed? Well now it's a little rarer for a top end domestic film not to receive at least a nom.

[Boner M]

As a Blockbuster employee, the expanded Best Picture nominees has meant much strained, feigned sympathy with numerous jilted customers who rented Tree of Life and A Serious Man and didn't get the 'great stories' of The Help/The Blind Side/et al.

[Grouchy]

I seriously do not understand the decision to expand the Best Picture nominees. I am 90% convinced that it was a backend deal between the Academy and the studios with absolutely no other goal other than to be able to boost the dwindling market by giving more movies the opportunity to market itself as a Best Picture nominee.

I just chalk this up to "there are more people in the world". So, if before the studios once got settled with five films, now they've got more money to distribute.

[Grouchy]

Grouchy, you should watch the Spirit Awards. I always prefer it.

[youtube]qL8yFsle6l4[/youtube]

Well, see, you're right. I enjoyed that.

[Grouchy]

Specially the Argentina joke.

[Rowland]

the expanded Best Picture nominees has meant much strained, feigned sympathy with numerous jilted customers who rented Tree of Life

I've had multiple people bring up their bafflement/irritation/etc. over The Tree of Life, knowing that I'm the movie guy and all. My boss knew that I loved the film, and upon renting it insisted that I explain to her what it was about and why I liked it. She said she was so bored that she had to get up and clean the house while it was on, so she missed bits and pieces of it, but her theory was that the children were molested. :frustrated:

[MadMan]

Well the children did have an abusive asshole for a father, but there was no evidence of molestation....

Unless the ratings for the Academy Awards have been going up, there is no real point in expanding the Best Picture nominees to 9 or 10. ABC is going to keep airing the awards and people are going to keep watching no matter what, so why not just limit it to 5-6 and simply stop worrying about what stupid neo-con radio hosts think. The Oscars will always be see as too elitists by those who don't properly appreciate film, and too mainstream by folks like us who post on message boards and heavily discuss movies.

[Ezee E]

I blame The Dark Knight not getting nominated as one of the reasons that the Best Pics nom went to 10. Then the Blind Side for why they went with 5-10. Extremely Loud and INcredibly Close may change that now.

Seriously though, do red staters even like that movie? The book was good, but yikes... The preview was so bad I didn't even bother.

And yes... montages need to have a point. I don't think any of those from this year did. I was pleasantly surprised that Amelie was spotlighted at one of them though.

[baby doll]

As a Blockbuster employee

Is that still a thing?