Post-Oscar Thread

By Jeralyn, Section Media
Posted on Sun Mar 07, 2010 at 11:19:08 PM EST
Tags: Oscars (all tags)

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A first in Oscar history: Kathryn Bigelow wins Best Director for The Hurt Locker, which also won big picture.

Sandra Bullock takes Best Actress on a night when Precious seemed to rule. Mo'Nique wins for best supporting actress.

Jeff Bridges for best actor in Crazy Heart -- I really liked Michelle Pfeiffer's introduction of Jeff Bridges.

Christoph Waltz was one of my favorite performances of the year, I'm so glad he won for best supporting actor for Inglorious Basterds.

Steve Martin and Alec Baldwin as co-hosts are getting good reviews. I didn't think they were funny or memorable. [More...]

The show itself was less glitzy and spontaneous than usual. Even the dresses were less glamorous, lots of beige, cream metallic, not much color.

What did you like about the show? Which films are you now wanting to see? And of course, where do you think it fall short?

Update: Who was that horrid woman who grabbed the mike from her co-winner for one of the short film awards and then wouldn't let him say a word? (Answer here, video here.)

Question: Does Oprah have a financial stake in Precious?

Who looked great? Demi Moore; Sandra Bullock; Kate Winslet; Cameron Diaz and Meryl Streep.

Who could have done better? Sarah Jessica Parker (pretty but shapeless Chanel); Maggie G. (LA is not Hawaii); Vera Farmiga (looked like a stuffed seashell); Mariah Carey (too polyester-ish looking and skimpily cut); Jennifer Lopez (pretty top line and color but way too much material); Sigorney Weaver (toga night?) and Charlize Theron (it looks better when you see a full shot of her than it does when you just see the top, but it's still ugly.)

< Tonight at the Oscars and On the Red Carpet | Monday Morning News and Open Thread >

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Post-Oscar Thread | 90 comments (90 topical)

Congrats to Katherine Bigelow (5.00 / 4) (#5)
by nycstray on Sun Mar 07, 2010 at 11:28:00 PM EST

As happy as I was that she won, a part of me wondered how many women's films did not get the support they needed to get off the ground, get exposure etc. Hopefully things will change and we don't have to wait years to see more films directed by women, and see more women nominated for directing at the Oscars.

One more ceiling broken, hoping for many more to come ;)

Wasn't it great that Barbra Streisand (5.00 / 5) (#10)
by hairspray on Sun Mar 07, 2010 at 11:37:10 PM EST

gave out the award to Kathyrn Bigelow? I recall when a film Barbra directed years ago won best picture and a few other awards, but the academy chose to ignore her for director. It was really hers but politics or misogeny were working. I was sad about that.


It was (5.00 / 4) (#17)
by nycstray on Sun Mar 07, 2010 at 11:43:42 PM EST

I remember when she didn't win years ago. And the saddest part of that sentence is "years ago" and it took till now?!

I actually teared up when KB won. And BS gave her the award. Had a flashback to my enthusiasm in JrHigh when women's lib was making waves . . . and here we are all these years later . . . .


She's directed more than one that (5.00 / 1) (#29)
by Inspector Gadget on Mon Mar 08, 2010 at 03:20:40 AM EST

was award-worthy. She did win the Best Director Golden Globe for Yentl. but wasn't nominated for the Oscar. Then, Prince of Tides was nominated for Best Picture, but lost to Silence of the Lambs. I recall that being a major disappointment year for Barbra.


And Nick Nolte (5.00 / 1) (#72)
by BackFromOhio on Mon Mar 08, 2010 at 05:45:16 PM EST

who gave the performance of a life time, for which Barbra deserves at least some credit, was ignored.


He got the Golden Globe (none / 0) (#87)
by Inspector Gadget on Tue Mar 09, 2010 at 01:58:44 AM EST

but, I thought he over-acted the part to an extreme and was very disappointed in his performance.


: James Lipton & (none / 0) (#88)
by BackFromOhio on Tue Mar 09, 2010 at 08:39:18 PM EST

I heartily disagree. But, as they say, that's what makes horse races!

Barbra had some pretty good (none / 0) (#91)
by hairspray on Wed Mar 10, 2010 at 11:28:53 AM EST

movies, as you say. Yentil was wonderful. The movie I liked a lot was "Up the Sandbox" It was a kind of Walter Mitty spoof. I am not sure that she directed that tho. I found many of her films had underlying themes that were missed by the crowd who were so busy painting her as a loud difficult female.


I loved that (5.00 / 3) (#36)
by ruffian on Mon Mar 08, 2010 at 08:46:17 AM EST

Barbra really paved the way. Really would have sucked if she had had to hand it to James Cameron. I think that presenter choice must have been made with knowledge of the winner.


: :) Streisand doesn't come out for big events (5.00 / 1) (#58)
by Inspector Gadget on Mon Mar 08, 2010 at 11:03:06 AM EST

unless she knows exactly what she's getting into. My guess is they guaranteed her the moment would be one she would treasure, whether they came right out an admitted knowledge of who the winner would be, or not.
I enjoyed the show last night. Extremely happy for Bigelow. (She and Elizabeth Hurley could be sisters!)

Interesting isn't it that the first woman won (5.00 / 2) (#54)
by esmense on Mon Mar 08, 2010 at 10:53:28 AM EST

with a war movie? Women often seem to have to prove they can be as macho as, or more than, men before they can break the ceiling.


tim robbins (5.00 / 3) (#9)
by Turkana on Sun Mar 07, 2010 at 11:36:21 PM EST

was hilarious.

ten years from now, people will appreciate the brilliance of a serious man. haven't yet seen hurt locker, but it looks great.

Have you seen "A Single Man"? (5.00 / 2) (#11)
by oculus on Sun Mar 07, 2010 at 11:37:14 PM EST

unfortunately not (5.00 / 2) (#13)
by Turkana on Sun Mar 07, 2010 at 11:41:06 PM EST

and i love colin firth.

two small boys and not enough babysitting means i haven't seen many movies, this year.


The approaching whirlwind (5.00 / 1) (#46)
by jondee on Mon Mar 08, 2010 at 10:13:06 AM EST

very Old Testament. The Coens seem to like to slip those kind of mythic-scriptural reference points into their films. The left-open-endedness is the Great Mystery..what the Rabbi was talking about during that great Band of Gypsies accompanied sequence when he says "who knows what Hashem wants?"

I didnt see that ending as a cop out at all. But that's just me.


Wrong movie. I think I see the problem (5.00 / 1) (#53)
by oculus on Mon Mar 08, 2010 at 10:43:24 AM EST

as to why Colin Firth had no chance of winning Best Actor!


: I'd like to see him in a Coen (none / 0) (#69)
by ruffian on Mon Mar 08, 2010 at 03:05:50 PM EST

brothers film though. Maybe as the next guy that Javier Bardem character terrorizes.

I've seen it (none / 0) (#73)
by BackFromOhio on Mon Mar 08, 2010 at 05:46:15 PM EST

kinda depressing, but the performances are wonderful. Firth was masterful.


Yes, Tim Robbins (5.00 / 2) (#20)
by shoephone on Sun Mar 07, 2010 at 11:51:11 PM EST

gave the best intro of the evening.


: Michelle Pfeiffer 's intro for the (none / 0) (#78)
by bridget on Mon Mar 08, 2010 at 06:29:12 PM EST

"dude" was the best IMO.
So thrilled that Jeff Bridges finally got his Oscar.
Sad Meryl Streep didn't win hers. That was a huge disappointment to me since her Julia Child was a truly gifted performance.
Otherwise, this was the worst Oscar show since ... well, the last worst Oscar Show.
Last year's was the best after years and years of mediocre shows thanks to the amazing talent of the Wolverine. He should have been given the job permanently. Why not? Is because he is from Australia? Just wondering.
The Hosts Martin and Baldwin this year were not just boring but lacked any charm. And The opening number was one of the very worst ever. Pity.

a great film (3.66 / 3) (#14)
by sher on Sun Mar 07, 2010 at 11:41:53 PM EST

by the Coen brothers


You are thinking of "A Serious Man." (none / 0) (#16)
by oculus on Sun Mar 07, 2010 at 11:43:03 PM EST

yes (n/t) (none / 0) (#18)
by sher on Sun Mar 07, 2010 at 11:45:05 PM EST

: I agree. I thought it was a little stereotypical (5.00 / 1) (#19)
by shoephone on Sun Mar 07, 2010 at 11:49:21 PM EST

in parts, but overall, I really liked it. And the ending was great.

Bigelow is fabulous talented (5.00 / 4) (#32)
by mcl on Mon Mar 08, 2010 at 03:37:34 AM EST

Have admired her work as a director ever since her 1987 film "Near Dark." She suffered from having mediocre scripts to work with, but with "The Hurt Locker" she got a great script and knocked it out of the ballpark.

Sandra Bullock also deserves recognition for her work. For some reason a lot of folks seem to get a lot of hate on for her, but she's built up a fine repertoire of work in light comedy. She's sort of the Claudette Colbert of the 90s-early 2000s.

A great performance, and well-earned (5.00 / 2) (#37)
by KeysDan on Mon Mar 08, 2010 at 09:05:19 AM EST

Oscar to Christoph Waltz for best supporting actor. Indeed, his character, Colonel Hans Landa, was truly the support and undergirding to Inglorious Basterds, with either a success or failure based on how the character was played. And, in my view a success. Although, I must say that Brad Pitt did a pretty good job, much better than expected from some of the preview clips portraying a pretty boy with a southern accent in need of more coaching lessons. Quentin Tarantino spells like he dresses, but he is great in my view.

I'm just very happy (none / 0) (#1)
by CoralGables on Sun Mar 07, 2010 at 11:23:14 PM EST

I went two for two in the prediction category.

Perhaps Jeralyn will set you (none / 0) (#2)
by oculus on Sun Mar 07, 2010 at 11:24:47 PM EST

up for Oscars Left.


: That would mean (none / 0) (#4)
by CoralGables on Sun Mar 07, 2010 at 11:27:38 PM EST

I'd have to pick them all. I prefer to cherry pick.

Plan to see "Hurt Locker" and (none / 0) (#3)
by oculus on Sun Mar 07, 2010 at 11:26:05 PM EST

"Last Station." Will pass on Sandra Bullock.

Your judging Sandra (5.00 / 3) (#7)
by CoralGables on Sun Mar 07, 2010 at 11:32:37 PM EST

on Ms Congeniality instead of for her work in The Blind Side. She did an excellent job and it's worth seeing just to see her change in acting style. The film itself never had a shot at Best Movie but she was wonderful and worthy.


Agreed. Bullock took serious time off (5.00 / 3) (#23)
by Cream City on Mon Mar 08, 2010 at 12:05:28 AM EST

from movies, turning down more of the froth at which she is so good, a great comedienne -- but she wanted to break that stereotyping so sacrificed to accomplish that. She waited, and she finally got a shot at a serious role and is excellent at that, too.

So I also suspect that those so critical of her here have not seen The Blind Side and may have one of their own.

The nominees all were deserving, and that says a lot for a lot of women who are doing what it takes to be taken seriously -- and doing so graciously, as Bullock did in her acceptance speech, sharing it with all of them. From what she said of their weeks together, it sounds like a good and supportive group. Good for them all.


Well said (5.00 / 3) (#31)
by Inspector Gadget on Mon Mar 08, 2010 at 03:33:35 AM EST

I, for one, am a solid Sandra Bullock fan. She is a very good actress (never heard of "Two if by Sea", though) who simply got most of her work in Romantic Comedy. I thought she did great in The Net, Murder by Numbers, 28 Days, In Love and War, Premonition, in addition to all her comedy roles. Personally, I think it takes a much greater actor to pull off the comedy bits.


Also 'Crash' (5.00 / 1) (#40)
by ruffian on Mon Mar 08, 2010 at 09:07:37 AM EST

I didn't like that movie much, but I liked her in it.


I applaud her for "Speed" and (none / 0) (#51)
by oculus on Mon Mar 08, 2010 at 10:41:54 AM EST

"While You Were Sleeping."


Yet, you have no interest in seeing (none / 0) (#57)
by Inspector Gadget on Mon Mar 08, 2010 at 10:58:54 AM EST

the work she did to earn herself an Oscar.

Practical Magic is one of my favorite movies for a rainy weekend indoors.


Secrets of the Ya-Ya sisterhood (5.00 / 1) (#74)
by BackFromOhio on Mon Mar 08, 2010 at 05:49:14 PM EST

was also an excellent movie, and Sandra Bullock was excellent in it, although I think the fellas won't like it if they generally don't like anything that could come under the rubric of "chick flick".


Interesting, as I didn't care for (none / 0) (#60)
by oculus on Mon Mar 08, 2010 at 11:25:08 AM EST

"Practical Magic" either. Probably saw that one because Aidan Quinn was in it.


Here's another reason for you (none / 0) (#62)
by CoralGables on Mon Mar 08, 2010 at 11:37:32 AM EST

to see it then.

If only to see the well played bit parts of Sandra's husband turned in by Tim McGraw (a registered Dem I might add).


: It had the best line of any movie this year (none / 0) (#71)
by samtaylor2 on Mon Mar 08, 2010 at 05:01:59 PM EST

The husband says to Sandra Bullock about Michael's tutor something like, "Who would have thought we would have had a black kid living with us before we met a Democrat."

The entire cast (none / 0) (#63)
by Inspector Gadget on Mon Mar 08, 2010 at 12:09:45 PM EST

was a collection of some of my favorites: Bullock, Nicole Kidman, Diane Wiese, Stockard Channing, and Aiden Quinn....great music, too.


You certainly are defensive about Bullock, (none / 0) (#64)
by shoephone on Mon Mar 08, 2010 at 12:17:01 PM EST

which I find odd. But whatever. To each their own. I happen to think she's a ridiculously bad actress.


: How silly of you (5.00 / 1) (#65)
by Inspector Gadget on Mon Mar 08, 2010 at 02:13:49 PM EST

to come up with such a foolish comment. Entertainment is as individual as each person who views it. The criticism has been completely without substance and I see no reason for anyone to try to diminish the award for any of the recipients. You do. We're different. So what?

: Well, I think, factually speaking, (5.00 / 2) (#66)
by sarcastic unnamed one on Mon Mar 08, 2010 at 02:32:37 PM EST

she is a very good and talented actress. You, personally, may not like her nor the movies she makes, but she is by no means and by no measure of the craft a "ridiculously bad actress."
I personally can't stand Michael Bolton, but, factually, he is a good and talented singer.

Mea culpa. (none / 0) (#26)
by oculus on Mon Mar 08, 2010 at 12:23:27 AM EST

I liked Sandra's acceptance speech (none / 0) (#92)
by hairspray on Wed Mar 10, 2010 at 05:34:15 PM EST

best of all. In addition to thanking many people and acknowledginh her competitors rather humorously she thanked her mother ever so poignantly. Then she gratefully acknowedged the opportunity she had to portray the very worthy woman of the film. At the end she said something to the effect that "here's to all the mothers who take care of all the children wherever they find them." What a tribute.


Actually, I am judging her on (none / 0) (#8)
by oculus on Sun Mar 07, 2010 at 11:35:45 PM EST

"Two if by Sea."


: Never saw it (5.00 / 1) (#15)
by CoralGables on Sun Mar 07, 2010 at 11:42:29 PM EST

I'll take your advice and consider myself lucky.

She said she would appear in person if she won (5.00 / 1) (#35)
by Inspector Gadget on Mon Mar 08, 2010 at 08:14:22 AM EST

and that is why she got it over Mylie Cyrus...they just wanted to get her there. She walked out to accept pulling a wagon full of DVDs of All About Steve and said she was giving one to every member of the audience.


: I'm all for Mylie Cyrus (none / 0) (#39)
by ruffian on Mon Mar 08, 2010 at 09:06:53 AM EST

being deprived of awards, even the ones for bad acting.

Both are good movies (none / 0) (#6)
by samtaylor2 on Sun Mar 07, 2010 at 11:29:07 PM EST

Though I am not sure why Sandra Bullock won for her role, I would recommend the Blind side and her performance was good.


I look at it as a joint award (none / 0) (#38)
by ruffian on Mon Mar 08, 2010 at 09:05:58 AM EST

for 'The Blind Side' and 'The Proposal'. I thought that was a pretty cute comedy, but of course they can never give an Oscar to a comedic actor, for some reason.


: I think it was a joint award for (none / 0) (#93)
by hairspray on Wed Mar 10, 2010 at 05:36:39 PM EST

her role in the "Blind Side" and for the strentgh and character of the people who were the subject of the movie.

your update (none / 0) (#12)
by Turkana on Sun Mar 07, 2010 at 11:39:43 PM EST

you confused actor fisher stevens with actor gary sinise.

: thanks, indeed I did (5.00 / 1) (#24)
by Jeralyn on Mon Mar 08, 2010 at 12:19:17 AM EST

just deleted that question. Much appreciated.

I am watching but not listening to (none / 0) (#21)
by oculus on Sun Mar 07, 2010 at 11:53:17 PM EST

Barbara Walters' Special. The clothes. And the dazzling smiles. And the look of stunned disbelief on the faces of some of the younger actors.

: This year is the last (none / 0) (#22)
by caseyOR on Sun Mar 07, 2010 at 11:56:58 PM EST

Barbara Walters has said that this year is the final Oscar special that she will do. Can't say that I am going to miss them.

story behind (none / 0) (#25)
by kmblue on Mon Mar 08, 2010 at 12:21:45 AM EST

who Jeralyn called "that horrid woman" is in salon.com's collection of oscar stories tonight.

Did the male director's 87-yr. old (none / 0) (#28)
by oculus on Mon Mar 08, 2010 at 12:40:26 AM EST

mother block the woman's path to the stage with her cane? Inquiring minds want to know.


: To the (5.00 / 2) (

Post-Oscar Thread

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