The 2008 Oscars

[maggiethecat]

Well . . . um . . . I did a lot of yawning last night. And I mean a lot, starting with the opening. I quite like Jon Stewart and he got off a couple of very funny lines, but dammit! I still miss Billy Crystal's all-singing, all-dancing, all-hilarious opening numbers of yore. ;D

What with all those trips to the kitchen (snacks do relieve the boredom) I may have missed a few fabulous gowns, but I doubt it. Was it me or were there a LOT of black dresses? Nicole Kidman's was beautifully cut, I thought, but she should kill whoever did her hair in that lank unflattering style, not to mention the odd pinkish shade it is these days (meow, meow, meow). I decided on reflection that I adored Marion Cotillard's (is that her name?) fish dress. I mean, it takes nerve to come to the Oscars dressed as a trout. So let's give her points for a choice that was unusual and imaginative and not like every other little cookie cutter red carpet get-up.

But that was about it -- nothing much else stands out. I did like Helen Mirrin's dress; great shade of red and very clever of her to show off the figure but keep those upper arms covered. Oh, and WHAT in the name of all that's holy was Daniel Day Lewis's wife wearing? Black, with red ribbon bows on the shoulders and some sort of sequin headlight thing going on down the front. Veddy odd.

As for the awards themselves, I was not really surprised by any of the wins but very surprised that there was so little magic for what should have been a BIG anniversary show. Ou sont les movie stars d'hier?

Did anyone else even watch?

[inuvik]

I did my usual--recorded the Oscars and 2 1/2 hours of red carpet fun (in Canada, the son of a former prime minister does the red carpet interviewing!)

I will watch at a later date when I have lots more time and can fast forward through the commercials.

Perhaps there was little fanfare for the 80th anniversary because there was not much time to prepare the show. I think the writers have only been back for a week or so? The organizers didn't even know if there would be a broadcast.

[hoosier]

I saw one of the pre-Oscar shows and very little (minuscule actually) of the opening. I, too, miss Billy Crystal! Its just not the same. I thought overall the gowns were marvelous but what was with the one who won Best Supporting Actress? She was downright scary! And what about the woman who won for costume design (the one award I did see)? She chose a gown that was way too young for her.

[matilda]

maggiethecat said:

Well . . . um . . . I did a lot of yawning last night. And I mean a lot, starting with the opening. I quite like Jon Stewart and he got off a couple of very funny lines, but dammit! I still miss Billy Crystal's all-singing, all-dancing, all-hilarious opening numbers of yore. ;D

Me too MAggie - BC is SUCH a showman.

What with all those trips to the kitchen (snacks do relieve the boredom) I may have missed a few fabulous gowns, but I doubt it. Was it me or were there a LOT of black dresses? Nicole Kidman's was beautifully cut, I thought, but she should kill whoever did her hair in that lank unflattering style, not to mention the odd pinkish shade it is these days (meow, meow, meow). I decided on reflection that I adored Marion Cotillard's (is that her name?) fish dress. I mean, it takes nerve to come to the Oscars dressed as a trout. So let's give her points for a choice that was unusual and imaginative and not like every other little cookie cutter red carpet get-up.

That Nicole drives me mental - meow meow inspid is what I always think. And as my sister and I say, those Kidman girls are just such bad pickers (of husbands, we mean). This view could of course be influenced by the pathetic snivelling Sydney attitude to them. Gross.
But that was about it -- nothing much else stands out. I did like Helen Mirrin's dress; great shade of red and very clever of her to show off the figure but keep those upper arms covered. LOVE HER!!! Oh, and WHAT in the name of all that's holy was Daniel Day Lewis's wife wearing? Black, with red ribbon bows on the shoulders and some sort of sequin headlight thing going on down the front. Veddy odd. But she's a good picker don'tya think?
As for the awards themselves, I was not really surprised by any of the wins but very surprised that there was so little magic for what should have been a BIG anniversary show. Ou sont les movie stars d'hier?

Did anyone else even watch?

Yup - just for Clooners. And he delivered. As always.

M

[matilda]

hoosier said:

I saw one of the pre-Oscar shows and very little (minuscule actually) of the opening. I, too, miss Billy Crystal! Its just not the same. I thought overall the gowns were marvelous but what was with the one who won Best Supporting Actress? She was downright scary! And what about the woman who won for costume design (the one award I did see)? She chose a gown that was way too young for her.

Oh H, Tilda is wonderful (pardon pun). Wasn't she just BORN to be the White Witch in The Chronicles of Narnia (The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe???). SOOO hope she reprises in next one. And she gave Clooners a hard time (in the nicest possible way) - what a woman.

I agree the frock was ordinary but she's Tilda Swinton - ordinary frock, schmordinary frock. I thought the no make-up thing was VERY cool - wish I was so brave!!

Cheers

M

[maggiethecat]

Oh, bravo bravo bravo, Matilda, for "getting" Tilda, who is one of my favorites and has been since her amazing work in Orlando. I've only read one interview with her (in Vogue a few years back) and she is a rare bird indeed. A complete individualist, lives somewhere cold and damp like an island off Scotland (?), with her kids and current beau and masses and masses of books and no television set. Bright as hell, and I too thought her Oscar garb was distinctive and elegant, as was her VERY FUNNY speech. Love huh.

And yes, she was born to play Jadis. Brrrrrrrrrr. Too bad the White Witch is only in one other book, The Magician's Nephew, and they won't get around to filming that one for ages.

I think Nicole Kidman is a pretentious whiny annoying twit, and I've never been anywhere near Sydney! So there.

[Kasman]

maggiethecat said:

Did anyone else even watch?

No, although that's mostly coz my daughter has dancing on a Monday night and we don't get home until around 9.00 pm. She also has dancing on a Tuesday and I take her to her dad's on Wednesday night (he takes her to a TAFE course on Thursday/Friday) so even if I taped it, I wouldn't get to watch until late in the week. Really, I don't have much interest in it all. I'm such a heathen, lol.

However, I did record something else to watch when I get the chance . Anyone for Good News Week, 'Tilda?

[Kasman]

maggiethecat said:

I think Nicole Kidman is a pretentious whiny annoying twit, and I've never been anywhere near Sydney! So there.

I live in Sydney (sorta) and ITA!!

[mlm828]

maggiethecat said:

What with all those trips to the kitchen (snacks do relieve the boredom) I may have missed a few fabulous gowns, but I doubt it. Was it me or were there a LOT of black dresses? I decided on reflection that I adored Marion Cotillard's (is that her name?) fish dress. I mean, it takes nerve to come to the Oscars dressed as a trout. So let's give her points for a choice that was unusual and imaginative and not like every other little cookie cutter red carpet get-up.

But that was about it -- nothing much else stands out. I did like Helen Mirrin's dress; great shade of red and very clever of her to show off the figure but keep those upper arms covered.

Did anyone else even watch?

I didn't watch the whole thing, just bits and pieces here and there. The TV was on, but I was mostly doing other things, not sitting and watching. I thought there was a lot of red this year, and not only Helen Mirren's dress, which I liked, too. I agree that Marion Cotillard's dress did have a "fish-scale" effect, but I don't think she looked like a trout.

I was absolutely shocked, mags, that you didn't have anything to say about that leopard (?) print thing worn by the woman who won for best screenplay.

[maggiethecat]

mlm828 said:

I was absolutely shocked, mags, that you didn't have anything to say about that leopard (?) print thing worn by the woman who won for best screenplay.

Well . . . I'd seen her on Letterman a few times and I think she's adorable, right down to the vintage-y Varga Girl tattoo on her arm! I love it when the counter culture gets the better -- or best -- of Hollywood, and I also loved Jon Stewart's jibe about how, as a stripper turned screenwriter, he hoped she was "enjoying the pay cut." Heh.

So . . . has anyone managed to find out who (or what) designed that insane gown Daniel Day Lewis's wife, Rebecca Miller, was sporting? Black ill-fitted lace with red ribbons on the shoulders, sequinned headlamps all down the front, and she wore it with black-and-white CHECKED shoes. Then again, hubby was sporting a brown tux (last one to pull off that look was Noel Coward, darlings), twin hoop earrings . . . and mustard suede Hish Puppies. Du lieber Gott.

[hoosier]

matilda said:

hoosier said:

I saw one of the pre-Oscar shows and very little (minuscule actually) of the opening. I, too, miss Billy Crystal! Its just not the same. I thought overall the gowns were marvelous but what was with the one who won Best Supporting Actress? She was downright scary! And what about the woman who won for costume design (the one award I did see)? She chose a gown that was way too young for her.

Oh H, Tilda is wonderful (pardon pun). Wasn't she just BORN to be the White Witch in The Chronicles of Narnia (The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe???). SOOO hope she reprises in next one. And she gave Clooners a hard time (in the nicest possible way) - what a woman.

I agree the frock was ordinary but she's Tilda Swinton - ordinary frock, schmordinary frock. I thought the no make-up thing was VERY cool - wish I was so brave!!

Cheers

M

It certainly takes a free sprirt to follow their own way in the world and I can applaud her for that while still admitting that she was a tad scary!

[inuvik]

So, I'm sure I'm the only one who still is interested, but hey, I won't let that stop me....

I watched the red carpet and Oscar pre-show on Monday (2.5 hours), and the Oscars themselves last night (3.5 hours).

I guess I will always enjoy these! It's the only awards show I watch. And it is much better when you watch them after all the hype is over, and can fast forward through the commercials (and if you are like me, the musical numbers).

It was nice and short this year! Stewart did a good job of keeping them on track.

I was annoyed to see Jack Nicholson again--why is he at every Oscars, and at front row centre! I can't stand him!

I really enjoyed the posters and clip of every best picture winner, that was really neat.

Red Carpet stuff was fairly dull, except it turns out the some star (forget which one--Gary Busey maybe?) is a Montreal Canadiens (hockey) fan! When he realized he was talking to Canadian media he shook his arm and his Habs bracelet showed. And Michael Moore started singing our anthem and literally waving our flag (but I realize that is just in support of Sicko).