Post-Oscars 2014

[bigpern23]

Since there was no running thread last night, thought I'd start one to post some thoughts about the show.

• Wayyyyy too long. I know it gets mentioned seemingly every year, but it ended just after midnight last night. That seemed long even by their standards.
• Neil Patrick Harris' opening was the best one I've seen in years. Unfortunately, it was downhill after that. You could probably count on one hand the jokes that really worked.
• One that did work was the Oscar predictions bit. I was prepared for it to suck, but it turned out pretty funny, particularly the Travolta gag.
• Common and John Legend put on the best performance of the night (and best in recent memory) and their acceptance speech was equally moving. Major goosebumps and David Oyelowo's reaction was pretty powerful.
• I didn't think Travolta deserved a chance to present and "redeem" himself after last year's debacle. And his wig was horrendous.

 

[Steak Snabler]

The speeches were pretty good, especially Common/John Legend, JK Simmons, Patricia Arquette and the young guy who wrote The Imitation Game. But a lot of dud moments otherwise.

I wish Zadan and Meron (the producers again this year) would stop making every Oscars a tribute to musicals, since nobody in America has given a **** about musicals in like 40 years. That said, Lady Gaga knocked it out of the park with the Julie Andrews tribute.

The one part I always look forward to is the In Memoriam, and they ****ed it up again with the stupid water colors, no film clips and the overly long Jennifer Hudson song that just happens to be from a TV show (Smash) produced by Zadan and Meron (shocker!).

Also, Sean Penn ... what a ****. I know he and Inarritu are old friends and he was trying to make a joke, but it just came off as unfunny and stepped on the biggest moment of the guy's life.

 

[bigpern23]

I thought the painted style of the In Memoriam was pretty neat, though I do prefer to see clips of the films. Thought it was odd that Robin Williams was randomly in the middle of it. I get that the Academy doesn't like to "rank" the deceased, but come on. Guy should have been last.

 

[Batman]

The Lady Gaga song blew me away. My wife was in the other room, and I actually ran in there to tell her to turn it on -- as much because Gaga was dressed like a normal person and singing a normal song as for the performance itself. It was jarring (in a good way) to see her in that light.

 

[Steak Snabler]

I was fine with Mike Nichols being last. His films were nominated for like 50 Oscars during his career.

 

[RecoveringJournalist]

Kimmel destroyed his after show again. His "School of acting" is one of the funniest things you'll see all year.

 

[WriteThinking]

The highlights, in my opinion:

1.) A lot of the music segments, especially Lady Gaga with the "Sound of Music" medley, and Tim McGraw with Glen Campbell's nominated last song, "I'm Not Gonna Remember You." Lady Gaga looked, well, normal, and was appropriately and, I think, appreciatively, respectful of some great stuff and was truly amazing. She relied on her talent alone and the only reaction, probably, was "Wow." And McGraw's performance hit a lot of people in the heart.

2). Julianne Moore with her acceptance speech for "Best Actress in a Leading Role." See comment about McGraw's performance. Such true, heartfelt words.

3). Neil Patrick Harris' opening performance. I had no idea he could be such a "performer," per se, and I thought he did a good job keeping things moving along well all night, too, except for the awkward "best and whitest, eh, brightest" joke early on. I get it, given the some of the run-up to the Oscars about diversity, and it was a little daring, as intended, I guess. But it really wasn't funny and didn't work, in my opinion.

Overall, it was a really good show, though. I didn't think I'd sit and watch the whole thing, but I did, happily.

 

[RecoveringJournalist]

I haven't seen Birdman yet, but I was glad Boyhood didn't win. I just didn't think it was on that level. It was good, even very good, but not Best Picture quality.

 

[Boom_70]

The Lady Gaga song blew me away. My wife was in the other room, and I actually ran in there to tell her to turn it on -- as much because Gaga was dressed like a normal person and singing a normal song as for the performance itself. It was jarring (in a good way) to see her in that light.

What was really jarring were the tats on her arms in contrast to her normal dress and song.

 

[JackReacher]

I heard Ethan Hawk talking about Boyhood on the red carpet. I know he was trying to say, but every time he tried to describe the movie, it sounded awful. "This movie is a collection of scenes that get cut from every other movie." "There's nothing really memorable about it. Pretty mundane stuff."

 

[WriteThinking]

What was really jarring were the tats on her arms in contrast to her normal dress and song.

Yeah, she could've used the red dish-washing gloves.

 

[Boom_70]

The highlights, in my opinion:

1.) A lot of the music segments, especially Lady Gaga with the "Sound of Music" medley, and Tim McGraw with Glen Campbell's nominated last song, "I'm Not Gonna Remember You." Lady Gaga looked, well, normal, and was appropriately and, I think, appreciatively, respectful of some great stuff and was truly amazing. She relied on her talent alone and the only reaction, probably, was "Wow." And McGraw's performance hit a lot of people in the heart.

2). Julianne Moore with her acceptance speech for "Best Actress in a Leading Role." See comment about McGraw's performance. Such true, heartfelt words.

3). Neil Patrick Harris' opening performance. I had no idea he could be such a "performer," per se, and I thought he did a good job keeping things moving along well all night, too, except for the awkward "best and whitest, eh, brightest" joke early on. I get it, given the some of the run-up to the Oscars about diversity, and it was a little daring, as intended, I guess. But it really wasn't funny and didn't work, in my opinion.

Overall, it was a really good show, though. I didn't think I'd sit and watch the whole thing, but I did, happily.[/QUOTE

Always hard to move beyond Julianne Moore telling Marky Mark to cum on her tits.

 

[RecoveringJournalist]

I heard Ethan Hawk talking about Boyhood on the red carpet. I know he was trying to say, but every time he tried to describe the movie, it sounded awful. "This movie is a collection of scenes that get cut from every other movie." "There's nothing really memorable about it. Pretty mundane stuff."

Hawke is one of those people, and I think he's a good actor, but he comes across as such a pretentious douche in most of the interviews he does.

 

[bigpern23]

I haven't seen Birdman yet, but I was glad Boyhood didn't win. I just didn't think it was on that level. It was good, even very good, but not Best Picture quality.

I totally get why Birdman won, but I don't think history will look back at it as a truly great film.

 

[Dick Whitman]

I have a 5 1/2 year old son, who is wonderful, and it's already tough, emotionally, when I think about the fact that his childhood is moving right along.

Am I going to be able to handle watching "Boyhood," those who have seen it?

 

[Amy]

I have a lot of respect for Lady Gaga's intelligence and talent. However, I don't want to listen to anybody sing a Sound of Music medley. I found that one of the weirdest segments of the show. I'm assuming its inclusion was a reflection of Lady Gaga's ability to market herself.

John Travolta is so icky.

 

[Boom_70]

I have a 5 1/2 year old son, who is wonderful, and it's already tough, emotionally, when I think about the fact that his childhood is moving right along.

Am I going to be able to handle watching "Boyhood," those who have seen it?

Not likely. I couldn't and I think I'm mentally tougher that you are ****
It's a very emotional thought provoking film. Never saw it coming.

 

[Batman]

Also, Sean Penn ... what a ****. I know he and Inarritu are old friends and he was trying to make a joke, but it just came off as unfunny and stepped on the biggest moment of the guy's life.

Can't wait to hear some of the talk radio reaction today. Sean Hannity's head might explode on the air.
Yes they're friends, and Inarritu was said to have laughed it off, but that would have been a career-ending comment for 99.9 percent of people in the entertainment industry regardless of their relationship. Plenty of people have seen their careers end over far less.
The reaction (or lack thereof) is astounding. I suppose it shows just how much liberal street cred Sean Penn has.

 

[RecoveringJournalist]

I totally get why Birdman won, but I don't think history will look back at it as a truly great film.

Haven't seen it yet. When it came out, it just kind of seemed like one of those movies that is more for critics. I'll see it eventually. I love the actors in it.

Loved American Sniper, Whiplash and Theory of Everything. Thought Boyhood was good, but overrated. Was disappointed by Selma. I'll see Birdman and Imitation Game. I have not liked the last few Wes Anderson movies and I really have no desire to see Grand Budapest Hotel. I liked the first three movies he directed and haven't liked anything of his since...

 

[Steak Snabler]

The hair, the chain, Travolta has ceased to be human.