As promised, here is the place I will comment on the Oscars as they happen. Feel free to chime in throughout the evening…or not.
UPDATED:
Well, I said I wasn’t going to do a post-mortem on the Oscars, and I’m really not all that interested in doing one. OK, in my perfect world, The Grand Budapest Hotel would have gotten Best Picture, Wes Anderson would have gotten Best Director and Best Screenplay, but that didn’t happen. The thing is I’m not in the least unhappy with what did win. I think Birdman is a brilliant film on every level — and about as far as you can get from the “safe” choices the Academy usually goes with. I’m actually surprised they didn’t go for Boyhood, which is a “safe” movie disguised as a bold experiment — a having and eating your cake moment for Oscar if ever there was one. Yet they passed it by. And despite the fact that I have friends who are still complaining that Boyhood was robbed, I’m glad they passed it by. Those same friends should take heart that at least American Sniper lost. (I’d add The Theory of Everything and Whiplash to the list of “at least they didn’t win” consolations, but some of them wouldn’t.)
I could certainly name things I thought were idiotic — like giving Feast an Oscar for Best Animated Short, or singling out Whiplash for Best Editing (sure, if we’re talking the last 15 minutes, but otherwise…). On the other hand, I do not get the idea that Boyhood should have been given the editing nod. The idea that there were “billions of feet” of film to sift through is absurd. Plus, there’s nothing all that complex about the way any individual segment was put together. If you had to go for a gimmick, why not the sleight of hand that made Birdman offer the illusion of being one long take? Or the changing aspect ratios of The Grand Budapest Hotel?
Truthfully, I’m more intrigued by the post-Oscar reactions than anything else at this point. Maybe it’s always this bizarre wild west show and I’m just forgetting previous years — and that’s not impossible, since I had to look up last year’s Best Picture winner. Nothing is as forgettable as the Oscars. Always remember what Josef von Sternberg said when he resigned from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in 1932 — that it “has nothing to do with art and even less to do with science.” (OK, so he was probably pissed off over losing for Shanghai Express at the time — hard to blame him — and after his outburst, he was assured of never being nominated again.) I honestly don’t know what they have to do with — or why, except habit, we pay attention to them. I had, in fact, pretty much stopped watching or paying more than cursory attention after Ann-Margret in Tommy lost to Louise Fletcher in One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Next at the 1976 awards. Then I started being a regular critic and realized — somewhat to my horror — that they kind of went with the job. (I have one friend who won’t even read my columns during Oscar season, because he just doesn’t want to hear about them.)
Some of the reactions this year I expected. I expected the Boyhood Oscar backlash. It was inevitable. I certainly expected the wailing and gnashing of teeth from the right-wingers over American Sniper going home all but empty-handed. (Winning for the Best Sound Editing hardly counts.) I was fully braced for all the “liberal elite” remarks and the how Hollywood “hates America” and the how “an American hero has been snubbed” guff. I was more surprised by some non-right-wingers opining that voters remembered Clint Eastwood’s rambling “empty chair” speech at the Republican convention. It seems to occur to no one — perhaps because it’s made a lot of money (so did Transformers: Age of Extinction) — that it might have something to do with the fact that it’s a truly mediocre movie and historically as blatant a whitewash job as Aunt Polly’s fence. That it was nominated at all certainly suggests that a chunk of the Academy has not gone off Eastwood. At least no one seems to have issues with the Production Design and Make-up Oscars that went to Grand Budapest Hotel.
Perhaps the most fascinating thing is the way the award show itself has been scrutinized. Was it bad? By definition, all Oscar shows are bad. Some just have more notable grace moments than others. This was no exception. Was Neil Patrick Harris a bad host? Think back to Anne Hathaway and James Franco and seriously ask that question again. And was there anything as shameless as the Samsung commercial disguised as Ellen Degeneres taking a “selfie” with lots of famous people? Not really, no. Harris was probably fine, which is to say he didn’t annoy me. But the writing was bad and the direction (what direction?) was even worse.
However, the ratings were down, so it must be Harris’ fault, right? It couldn’t have anything to do with the fact that seven out of the eight nominated films were art/indie titles. The only mainstream title up there was…well, American Sniper. I suppose a case could be made that the Oscars finally did have something to do with art, but that strikes me as a stretch. I would never seriously call Whiplash or The Theory of Everything art. Would it not have made more sense to nominate Guardians of the Galaxy and Gone Girl? Both strike me as nearer art and both were popular. They’d have given the general public a shouting interest in the awards. Yes, I’m fully aware that this goes against the idea of the ballot. I’m even more aware that it’s apt to give us a set of nothing but hoi polloi titles next year. Of course, it’s worth remembering that 2014 was a particularly strong year for art/indie titles — and Oscar didn’t even appear to notice a lot of them. The prospect for 2015 duplicating that seems slim, especially since most of the filmmakers responsible will be between pictures.
And by the way, lighten up a little, you folks who are all bent out of shape over Sean Penn’s quip, “Who gave this sonuvabitch a Green Card?” concerning Alejandro González Iñárritu’s seemingly endless string of wins. Come on, it was a joke — made by a friend to a friend.
Just remember, no matter how unnecessary and trite the opening musical number is, it is bound to be better than the vapid red carpet interviews.
This is exactly the sort of thing for which a person should use a Twitter account.
That’s right, work it.
After the fifth nominated song was performed, I phoned my older sister, whose opinions I always respect, to ask her one simple question:`When did Hollywood outlaw music?’ After the insipid hour of musical depreciation, they staged the surprising highlight of the evening, Lady Gaga’s tribute to Julie Andrews and `Sound of Music’. The fact that last night’s producers had to dig back fifty years for some good music merely makes my point. Incidentally I just tried to send you a different comment, but it bounced. I’ll try again.
“I just bumped into your negative review of `Singin In The Rain’, the only pan on the Rotten Tomatoes page. Everyone else gushed at the `greatest musical ever filmed’. I have always found this a difficult film to get through. The plot and acting are juvenile. Kelly’s staging of the title song is one of Hollywood’s greatest sequences ever, and Donald O’Connor’s `Make ‘Em Laugh” are the two shining moments. Debbie Reynolds is just wrong as the romantic lead. She’s a so-so comedian, on a par with Martha Raye but just a bit better-looking, but back then the zeitgeist thought Doris Day and Rock Hudson constituted a romantic couple.
And as an aside I never agreed with the critics’ lock-step hallowing of `Rebel Without A Cause’, filmed exactly contemporaneously with my high school years. And don’t ask me about James Dean’.
My quite accidental discovery of your writing has inspired me to check out my local library for more of your contributions. Thank you
Thanks for your comments. They are much appreciated.
An award, huh?
Best Supporting Actor…J.K. Simmons. Well, the evening starts off with no surprise. Gotta admit he swears like a champ.
1 for 1!
Prediction-wise or personal choice?
Prediction-wise. Hawke or Norton would have been my preference.
I was for Norton.
Was Ralph Fiennes at least invited to attend the ceremony? I haven’t spotted him yet.
Went to 1 of 3 is be fine with, Norton and Ruffalo being the others.
I won’t really argue with that.
Screechy as this performance is, “Lost Stars” would actually be my preference for Original Song, but it won’t happen.
At work- see how long I’m able to actually participate.
I’ll be watching you.
Sounded like someone squeezing a cat.
Sometimes I wish we had a “Like” feature on here.
Thank you whoever made mute buttons. Yikes!
Costume design…GRAND BUDAPEST! Okay.
“Thanks, Wes…oh yeah, the rest of you are OK, too.”
Couldn’t she have been given Robert Duvall’s seat?
You came to the wrong guy for an argument.
This thing needs more Ricky Gervais.
My dream host! Or Bobcat Goldthwait.
Make-up…GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL. This is too good to keep happening.
I know…might be a dry spell until Original Screenplay, but I still think Production Design is likely.
I’m still hoping for BEST PICTURE and DIRECTOR, but it ain’t likely.
I liked seeing Zero sitting next to Max Fischer.
Who’s sitting next to Wes Anderson?
A lady friend? Dunno. I didn’t watch the red carpet hoopla so I missed out on all that insider info.
My PC went comatose for half an hour, plus I didn’t realize the thingummy began on the half hour.
So far I saw someone thanking the late Dick Smith. And then I got online and read people’s gripes (in other places as well) about the song I missed.
So maybe I timed it just right.
I don’t know if it was “thingummy” or “Dick” that tripped the damned profanity filter, but I just spotted this was in moderation. The least likely person I can think of to set off the profanity filter. Well done, Andrew!
I thought maybe it was just because I hadn’t logged in. I will take pride in having unintentionally fulfilled your SS prediction, though!
Best Foreign Language…IDA. Also predictable.
The Cinematography nomination pretty much sealed it.
Having just seen WILD TALES, I’d rather have had it win than IDA.
Me, too, but at least FORCED MANURE wasn’t up there.
That is its own kind of victory.
I think this may be too much music for me.
You can’t deny it was…busy.
Mark Mothersbaugh alert.
Are we not men? We are L E G O!
My mother is mostly baffled by what she’s seen of the Oscars so far (including Neil Patrick Harris talking to Steve Carell).
Baffled is not perhaps what I was by the LEGO MOVIE number.
It’s consistent with the last few years in terms of being a bit of a train wreck at this point.
Best Live Action Short…THE PHONE CALL. I am slightly surprised, but not sorry.
Ditto. Figured the Irish poultry had it.
I usually wind up recording and just going back to what I feel like sitting through (plus the TV which is actually connected is in another room).
I was rooting for BOOGALOO & GRAHAM, but PHONE CALL was superb (if a little intense for me right now). Dad’s favorite was actually “the Chinese photography one,” as he put it.
It’s more descriptive than THE BUTTER LAMP
Best Documentary Short…Damned if I saw any of them.
Will crisis centers factor in to the Best Animated Short winner as well?
We shall see.
More of the animated shorts felt rather pointless (or like they took too long to get to the point they had). Although the screening we went to included “Highly Commended” (i.e. non-nominated submissions) shorts, so that added to the feel.
The only live-action short my Dad didn’t understand was AYA. He stayed awake for all of them, but the animated DAM KEEPER had him dozing.
Now we have fake frantic cameraman VOs.
Oh, okay, so its a Birdman thing. (At least Mom’s not watching this, I hooked up the other TV).
Would NPH in his underwear have baffled her or been too much for her?
Probably both.
Mom found the clip of BIRDMAN too much for her as it was (I think she raised a hand to her eye, not sure).
*phew* Needed that BIRDMAN/WHIPLASH mashup. Things were getting pretty stale.
Sound Mixing/Editing…WHIPLASH. Does anyone who isn’t a sound editor get excited about this category?
I got excited that AMERICAN SNIPER didn’t win.
You spoke too soon.
I meant for the category that WHIPLASH won. Figured SNIPER would sweep the sound categories.
It depends on whether Ben Burtt is in the running.
Right….
Oh, that was just mixing. Sound Editing…AMERICAN SNIPER. (Let it end here, please.)
Yes, that’s enough. You may go home now, Mr. Eastwood.
He’s still waiting for the empty chair.
If Patricia Arquette wins, she may be the First Oscar Winner Related to a Fibber McGee and Molly Cast Member.
Yes, well…
Supporting Actress…Patricia Arquette…for God’s sake.
That was cold of her to shrug off Ellar like that.
Called it! Sort of. And just because I was thinking of Cliff Arquette.
Well, somebody has to. I guess.
It keeps me from thinking of Beulah.
When are they going to do away with these gender-Balkanized categories and promote a gender-neutral “Actron” award for best performance by a human?
Soon. Soon.
Say, what became of Mr. Xanadon’t?
He got caught commenting on the job.
Was that a bit of Moon River before the nodding off bi?
Ouch, painful lighting.
Hey, that’s art!
Visual Effects…INTERSTELLAR. Reasonable enough…even with no talking raccoon.
Glad to see spectacle rewarded, but would have been fine with any of those nominees winning.
Animated Short…FEAST. I may vomit.
Which would have been your choice, Ken?
THE DAM KEEPER or THE BIGGER PICTURE.
DAM KEEPER went on just a little too long for me.
At least they stopped the gimmick of having animated characters “present” the animated feature awards (or react to them).
It was nice the year FANTASTIC MR. FOX was a nominee.
Still here. Attention divided between bar patrons Oscars and my hockey game on the far corner TV.
Let me know when the badminton finals are on. Now, there’s a sport!
Animated Feature…BIG HERO 6. I’d’ve gone with BOXTROLLS, but this’ll make Lisi Russell happy because Baymax reminds her of Ken. (And she’s not wrong.)
I guess voters thought if they voted for FEAST, they had to also pick the feature film it played before.
I’m kind of disappointed Ghibli was denied again, especially after THE WIND RISES lost last year.
I’d’ve been four square for THE WIND RISES.
I’m a little surprised PRINCESS KAGUYA was nominated.
“I’d like to apologize to Dick Pope” – Cheryl Boone Isaacs
Is it sad that I’m enjoying Octavia Spencer’s expressions more than most of this?
The consensus at the bar is that N.P.H. has been a note. Haven’t been able to pay terribly close attention myself. Thoughts?
A note?
If J.K. Simmons was directing the show, he’d be saying “Not my tempo” a lot.
OK, so we’ve figured out which word sets off the filter.
The shortened version of Richard?
Indeed. I have a reference to a certain cinematographer with the last name Pope sitting in moderation hell.
Oh, fer Chrissakes!
I will be complaining about this tomorrow. Fer fuck’s sake.
It’s an insult to Richards everywhere.
If GRAND BUDAPEST loses production design, I will be irked (unless it wins Best Picture).
Production Design…GRAND BUDAPEST!!! Okay!
Even my mother can see why that won!
…And the MILLION WAYS TO DIE IN THE WEST joke just lay there. (But it beats actually having Seth MacFarlane host.)
Nice night for Budapest!
So far.
Was going for BORE. Oops.
Oscar hosts mostly are.
Cinematography…BIRDMAN.
Deserves a matching one for editing, but oh well.
Lady Gaga is coming. We have been warned.
I appreciate the heads up.
But where can we go?
To one’s happy place?
She’s not going to sing over the necrology, is she?
So, wherever the in memoriam people went, it’s snowing?
Although a friend will be thrilled that Lorenzo Semple Jr. was included.
They’ve moved on to the world of SNOWPIERCER.
Yikes, they are doing a song for it after all.
They keep inviting Hudson back each year so might as well put her to work.
That’s not Lady Gaga…
I’ll take it!
Say, how’d I miss that L.M. Kit Carson died?
I missed that animator Jimmy Murakami died (directed THE SNOWMAN and the bleak WHEN THE WIND BLOWS, in which a sweet old British couple slowly dies of radiation poisoning after surviving a nuclear war).
No love for Taylor Negron…
Someone is miffed that they left off Joan Rivers!
Maybe they got him an area rug. Taylor Negron, not Joan Rivers.
Film editing…WHIPLASH? Well, if we’re talking the last 15 minutes, sure.
Isn’t it traditionally given to an entire film, not one scene?
Traditionally? What is that?
I don’t know anymore!
Who knew Terrence Howard was such a huge fan of THE IMITATION GAME?
Best Documentary…CITIZEN FOUR. Blech.
Not a real movie!!!
Anyone else think Poitras looks …well…a little unhinged?
“I haven’t actually seen this movie, but I hear I’m in it” – Glenn Greenwald
I’d’ve gone for JODOROWSKY’S DUNE, but…
It’s the right choice.
It wasn’t nominated.
Write-in campaign.
That only worked once and it was in 1935.
I’d love to see a tie in a major category again. Hasn’t happened since 1969, right?
Best Song…”Glory.” A sensible choice.
Indeed.
And what a powerful performance of it.
They know what they’re doing.
There you are. I thought you’d run off.
That was addressed to Mr. N.
That performance was the most inspired moment of the night so far as I’ve seen. Uh-oh Lady Gaga threats are back.
Once again thank you inventor of the mute button.
Lady Gaga alert again…
We cross posted
You can never have enough warning.
Is it possible for a winner to filibuster so they have to drop Lady Gaga?
Sound of Mucus! It’s sappy time!
I’d rather hear that Gwen Stefani song that samples “The Lonely Goatherd.”
It could have been Carrie Underwood.
I just hope the bar doesn’t clear out.
Did Scarlett Johansson say “expanning”?
She’ll do that.
I’m also not sure I understand the reason for the Sound of Music tribute. At all.
Thank you oh mute button inventor!
It’s 50 years old.
I have a SOUND OF MUSIC story, but this may not be the place for it.
Oh, my God, oh my God, oh my God…
From our happy place to our sappy place!
ACK. Lady Gaga doing “Hills Are Alive.” RUUUUUN!
I was getting ready to say how I would probably prefer Lady Gaga to clips from THE SOUND OF MUSIC, but this wasn’t exactly what I had in mind.
This is all your fault, huh?
You got both!
I just broke out into a choking fit. I’m sure this is Lady Gaga’s fault somehow.
Ok I’m positive a standing o was so not called for
I’m just mildly surprised that Julie Andrews didn’t shiv her.
But what’s an Oscar night without a little kitsch?
We’ve had a sufficiency.
Best Musical Score…Alexandre Desplat, GRAND BUDAPEST. Am I surprised.
Mo’ Desplat, less problems. A wonderful choice!
Google’s ads seem to be getting more and more baffling
Are they trying to sell you Trojans on the IMDb?
The TV ad for “Google Aps,” which I failed to comprehend.
Also, MountainX thinks I’m the cat’s pyjamas.
That’s webtech humor.
Original Screenplay…BIRDMAN…well, I’m okay with it, but…
They can have it if Wes Anderson gets Best Director.
Yes, but…
My picture just froze for a few. And then Oprah manifested.
Did you rub a lamp?
Adapted Screenplay…THE IMITATION GAME. Okay.
Graham Moore looks younger than me, but he’s actually three years my senior.
I almost thought the announcer said “Best Glacier” instead of “Best Picture.”
That was the ’97 Oscars.
A lot of hate being thrown around on Twitter for those screenplay wins.
It’s Twitter. What’s their beef?
Folks of the “BIRDMAN is egotistical garbage” and “the dialogue in IMITATION GAME is crap” persuasion.
Best Director…I was hoping for Anderson, but I’m not pissy about Inarritu for BIRDMAN.
If this many major awards are going BIRDMAN’s way, Keaton may stand a real chance after all.
I’m very okay with this.
I liked his speech. I also need aspirin. (Unrelated).
I am tempted to just call it a night now though.
It’s not much longer, Andrew
Boyhood’s chances for Best Picture appear to be dwindling. This is a good thing.
Darn.
Best Actor…Eddie Redmayne. No, just no.
Yeesh, Academy…
It could have been Bradley Cooper.
He tapped on a window and yelled! So good!
That at least — ghastly as it woulda been — would have been a step toward proving my theory of Things Oscar Likes.
The musical cue choices as the presenters enter are downright baffling.
I hope Moore gives her acceptance speech in her MAPS TO THE STARS voice.
Dream on.
Best Actress…Julianne Moore. Well, 50% of my theory holds true.
Yes!!
And here it is…Best Picture…BIRDMAN. I’m okay with that, too, since I knew it wasn’t gonna be GRAND BUDAPEST.
BIRDMAN: such a weird, wonderful film. Nice to see the Academy embrace something so odd.
Is it unfair to ask whether Sean Penn was sober?
No. But it’s unanswerable.
Far fewer disappointments on the night than I anticipated.
BUDAPEST and Michael Keaton were the notable disappointments.
I’m surprised that Wes Anderson and Linklater went home empty-handed.
I thought Anderson would at least get Screenplay.
However, I’m not entirely sorry to see that Best Picture and Best Director matched.
Me too. I figured Linklater would get something, but Iñárritu took them all from him!
“Me too” for Anderson getting Screenplay…and for Picture and Director lining up. It’s weird when they don’t.
Okay, I’m about to wrap this up. I have one more review to deal with before morning. Any last thoughts?
Well, Iñárritu gave great speeches each time.
This is true. What became of Edwin?
I think Edwin got trapped posting about creative people who normally don’t go by Richard.
I did! I want to talk about Mr. Pope’s work so much!
They actually credited all the dancers, choir people, etc…. without shifting to tiny “credits shoved in a corner while a news promo airs”. And a local sportscaster just mentioned “Everything Is Awesome.” Ummm.
Okay. It’s not only been fun, it’s been time consuming. And I have to leave.
Farewell, Mr. Hanke. If only next year’s Oscar would have a musical salute to Jean Hersholt instead.
Night folks. Thanks for the chat.
I need to catch up on Foreign Language Nominations. That’s all. G’night gang.
Thanks to everyone for coming!
I’m even more aware that it’s apt to give us a set of nothing but hoi polloi titles next year. Of course, it’s worth remembering that 2014 was a particularly strong year for art/indie titles — and Oscar didn’t even appear to notice a lot of them.
I thought it was an especially strong year for blockbusters as well, though the Special Effects category was pretty much the only area where that was acknowledged. There are some decent candidates on the 2015 slate, but I doubt it will be as good a batch.
I admit to a curiosity as to what those were…
Which “those”?
Those blockbusters that were so good. I could concede Interstellar and Guardians and, of course, Gone Girl if it qualifies, but it’s not of the big tentpole variety. But I’m coming up blank on the others. Granted, I didn’t see Captain America or whatever Planet of the Apes this year offered, but I simply don’t like Captain America as a character, and have had enough cartoonish CGI apes for a lifetime.
In addition to those you mentioned (and I far prefer Apes to Cap’n), the main one is X-Men: Days of Future Past. Though hardly anyone else agrees, I’d also throw in the last Hobbit, and though you don’t agree, Godzilla. And does Noah count? I figure The Raid 2 doesn’t, but it nonetheless outdoes many of its blockbuster older siblings on numerous levels.
Then there’s an entire second tier of respectable action/CGI-heavy titles: Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit, Robocop, Need for Speed, 300: Rise of an Empire, Edge of Tomorrow and John Wick. Still, I don’t know if any of this group fit “blockbuster” criteria.
The only one I’d concede is the X-Men movie, which was certainly good, but there’s, I’m sorry, a certain ho-hummery factor to another X-Men movie. That factor in spades keeps me from even wanting to see that last Hobbity thing — to a point where I just wish Peter Jackson would stop altogether. The further away I get from Godzilla the more I actively dislike it. I guess Noah counts, even though it hasn’t made its money back, which raises the question of whether it’s a blockbuster or just a blockbuster wanna-be. The Raid 2 I liked a good bit. Too bad nobody went to see it.
Your second tier of respectability is perhaps kinder than mine.
And Edge of Tomorrow, which some people love to what feels like excess, just barely made the cut.
That a sequel to 300 exists at all horrifies me.
By the way, this thread now officially has more comments than Atlas Smug — without the aid anyone “proving” things by posting links to right-wing conspiracy sites.
That a sequel to 300 exists at all horrifies me.
I don’t like the first one, but a wild Eva Green makes the second one more fun than not.
I am content not to know.