Ray's Oscar Picks

Discussion in 'Visual Arts' started by RDK, Mar 21, 2003.

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  1. Ed Bishop

    Ed Bishop Incredibly, I'm still here

    Well, it was an interesting evening, as Oscar ceremonies go, because it was more subdued and less politically hot that I'd expected, frankly. And no, as one who has followed Michael Moore's career since ROGER & ME on through his two TV series(TV NATION was the better of the two, THE AWFUL TRUTH more erratic and predictable)and the film he won an Oscar for last night, I knew if he won just what he was going to say--remember, this is a guy who thinks OJ might not have murdered his wife and her friend! So not a word he uttered surprised me in the slightest. Beyond that, in this country he is not slightly left of center--he is as far left as it gets.

    The Brody and Polanski wins were the genuine shockers of the evening--the former, possibly, more than the latter, since you had four previous Oscar winners there, and this guy Brody is relatively new and young. But he apparently is a capable actor. Roman should have won years ago for CHINATOWN, but back then the competition was much fiercer than it is today. Marty's a great director, but he should have won years ago either for RAGING BULL or GOODFELLAS, two of his masterpieces. I haven't seen the new one, but critics were divided, which is unusual for a Scorsese film: when he has a winner, we find out right away.

    One misperception that should be dispelled is the idea that most of Hollywood is anti-war. Like most of America, the acting community is divided over it. It's just that guys like Moore are more vociferous and visible(and strident)than those who support the action, like, say, a Mel Gibson, Bruce Willis, or Tom Selleck.

    You're correct that Best Picture, Director and at least one acting category tend to win in tandem, but this is rarer than it used to be. When films like AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS and CABARET would win one major category but no other, it was written off as a fluke. But modern cinema is different: not one movie nominated in the major categories is considered an instant classic; most are thought of as very good, at best. The great films tend to announce themselves; you don't have to wait years to find out they're great. The PRIVATE RYAN thing was a shock, yes, but the dynamics of Academy voting are complex. I do know this much: accusations of voter manipulation tend to be off the mark. If it were at all possible to truly sway voters toward a film, Moore's would never have won. Believe me, everybody knew what he would do if given the podium. He came off as he usually does--a self-righteous crank. But, if you noticed, he got his 45 seconds in before the lead-out music began. Ironically, it's moments like that--totally unrelated to the ceremony itself--that are best remembered. Winners are very quickly forgotten.

    ED:cool:
     
  2. JohnG

    JohnG PROG now in Dolby ATMOS!

    Location:
    Long Island NY
    I must say that the minute Michael Moore won and was walking up to the stage was the most exciting moment of these Oscars (as we knew he was gonna let his freak flag fly).

    That he got booed in liberal Hollywood was amazing. I'm shocked the damn audience didn't give a standing ovation and gave him some more Oscars! :D It made for the best line of the night by Steve Martin (that the Teamsters were escorting Mr Moore into his trunk for the ride home).

    Now can LOTR win next years Oscars? :)


    JohnG
     
  3. Ed Bishop

    Ed Bishop Incredibly, I'm still here

    I think the response to Moore's speech had a lot to do with the venue--the time and the place not being the most appropriate for that kind of talk. A few others said things in a much better, thoughtful manner. Moore just came off as the crank he really is. I also think most people are concerned for the troops and the situation in general, regardless of their stand on the issue. Moore's rant indicates he cares only about his own beliefs, and little else.

    ED:cool:
     
  4. RDK

    RDK Active Member Thread Starter

    Location:
    Los Angeles, CA
    You did notice that Moore got one of the few standing-O's when he was announced as winner? It was only after he opened his mouth that the (otherwise supportive) audience turned on him.
     
  5. Ed Bishop

    Ed Bishop Incredibly, I'm still here

    Sure did. He made an imperfect but pointed(and all too true)documentary, and deserved the win. He knew it was a rare opportunity, and came prepared, obviously.

    ED:cool:
     
  6. Evan L

    Evan L Beatologist

    Location:
    Vermont
    While I admire Michael Moore's film-making ability, I feel that his speech was inappropriate for the forum in which it was made(not unlike here, actually!). It's interesting that he was both cheered and booed; Hollywood, like the rest of the country, is obviously divided. Catherine Zeta-Jones(even more gorgeous while preggers!)deserved her oscar, the first of many, IMO. Brody, while a surprise, was more more reserved in his war comments, and was a class act(and won my admiration for planting that smacker on Halle Berry! YEAH!). And Chicago was no surprise as a Best Picture winner. Did everyone laugh their butts off at Steve Martin's opening monologue? The best laughs I have had recently(and boy, I needed them). The list of people he slept with(topped by ERNEST BORGNINE!)was the capper. All in all, however, this year's awards ceremony was a big snoozefest; the lowest rated ever.
     
  7. Ed Bishop

    Ed Bishop Incredibly, I'm still here

    I thought Martin did a great job under very difficult, uncertain circumstances. When you have all this going on, and the potential for any presenter or winner to go off on a war tangent, he did well to sidestep the issue as much as he could while taking friendly jibes at some of the attending celebs. Although Tom Cruise didn't make his annual appearance(and where was Peter Jackson?!?), the celeb quotient was high despite earlier reports many would not attend. Looks as if most did.

    ED:cool:
     
  8. JohnG

    JohnG PROG now in Dolby ATMOS!

    Location:
    Long Island NY
    BTW, did anyone notice that that kiss of Halle Berry was your classic Hollywood kiss, it looks like he deep throated her but actually just kissed the outside of her left cheek.
    Still it was daring and well-done. I would do the same :D she's a peach!

    JohnG
     
  9. ATR

    ATR Senior Member

    Location:
    Baystate

    He was prepared with bile, but not eloquence. A couple of times the word 'fictitious' didn't even fit into the sentence he was spewing. I agree with some of his opinions, but rhetorically he and the president are birds of a feather. He was just spluttering. It's probably why I don't like his films, but at least they seem to be an honest expression of who he is as a person.
     
  10. JohnG

    JohnG PROG now in Dolby ATMOS!

    Location:
    Long Island NY
    Though I didn't agree with Mike Moore last night using the Oscars as a platform to discredit the President Of The United States in regards to an election that was 2 years ago (give that a rest).
    I do like his films especially Roger and Me and his book is funny.
    He likes to push buttons and their is a need for that kind of stuff but when the US is in a war, it's time to tone down the rhetoric (especially a Canadian) and support the US (when we have to do the dirty work of evicting a person that will and has used Nerve Gas on civilians).

    JohnG
     
  11. ATR

    ATR Senior Member

    Location:
    Baystate
    This is really an off topic discussion, but because it's here I'll point out as Barbra Streisand so eloquently put it that one of the purposes of song is to protest, and democracy means that the majority rules but dissent and diversity of opinion is not shouted down and stifled by the majority. After all that I see here about Hoffmanites being misunderstood and not listened to by the record companies and audio manufacturers I would think there'd be some identification with being in the minority. Disagreement with the decision to use military force does not equate to sympathy for Hussein or his actions. I was pointing out that I found Moore to be as obnoxious in his pronouncements as I have our own president. A sad commentary on the quality of public discourse in our country.
     
  12. Matt

    Matt New Member

    Location:
    Illinois
    I was real happy to see Polanski win it. Though his career has been wildly erratic, he's made some amazing films, and the Pianist is definitely one of his best. It was probably my favorite of all the nominees, and I was hoping for a best picture upset after the best actor and director upsets. Marshall is good, Chicago is good, but I feel like it's overhyped a bit, partially because we haven't had a good musical (old-fashioned Hollywood musical, that is) in a long, long time. Scorsese is a sentimental favorite, long overdue, but again, Gangs wasn't his best work. Still liked it, though. Not only is Polanski an overdue, sentimental favorite, this is probably one of his best films. There's also a small but priceless moment just before Harrison Ford reads the name. You can just imagine what's going on in his mind, a mixture of disbelief and probably amusement at a dark horse like Polanski winning, ahead of two heavy favorites, an unlikely winner partially because there's no way he'd come back in the country, and a guy he actually worked with once.
     
  13. RDK

    RDK Active Member Thread Starter

    Location:
    Los Angeles, CA
    Well, you guys are a good luck charm for me as I just learned that I won $98 in the Oscar pool! (The whole pot was nearly $400, but was split through a most correct picks/most points system.)

    It was a tough year but I got 16 out of the 24 picks right and came in second on points. I was very surprised to win with so few correct picks - I think last year I got 19 right, but that wasn't enough to win.

    If it wasn't for that damn Polanski I would have won it all! ;)

    Ray
     
  14. Matt

    Matt New Member

    Location:
    Illinois
    Did you get Brody? That would've been impressive if you did.

    I remember when the Tribune did their contest (they don't do it anymore) for '92 Oscars, only one person got all the major awards right. He was the one guy who thought Marisa Tomei would win; I think his wife told him to go with her.
     
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