Oscars (2006)

Subject: RE: OSCARS
From: Bill Hahn//\\
Date: 06 Mar 06 - 05:29 PM

I sat through the thing for one reason and one reason only---JOn Stewart. His best moments came when he relaxed a bit and also used some of the clips and promos spoofing the contending ads for the nominiees---ala Daily Show. His comments re: the montages was, to me, priceless. "...later we will have a montage of montages--but we are out of film clips so please send some in".

As to the nominations, the recipients---all opinions are subjective, obviously. So my thoughts---
Best acceptance speech (most touching)   Philip Seymour Hoffman
Classiest act on the dais---Altman
As to the award winners--- I was happy to see the industry try to move away from the big budget blockbusters and reward independent smaller budget meaningful work. DId I agree with the choices---mostly NO.   But--as said, that is subjective.   

I saw Crash and thought it just a later version of Altman's "Shortcuts" --which was a better film.   Having seen all the others (except Brokeback---or as Mad TV called it Humpback Valley)I would have opted for Good Night/Good Luck. Capote was -=to me--just so-so with the exeption of Hoffman who, I felt, deserved his award. the film was merely a one man show of talent---he really channeled Capote.

As to female actress--I cannot believe Witherspoon over some of the other nominees---especially Judi Dench.

As to music---I did not think there was a decent piece of music in the bunch ---but to the Academy's credit they moved far-a-field (though I cannot abide Rap).

I only wish that theaters would stop w/ all the commercials and let us see some of the short films that were on display last evening---they used to . I guess that is known as the good old days---or the less commercial ones.

Bottom line---an industry event (which it was at the beginning) has turned into a spectacle that compares unlike things. After all performances were not contests---they were what they are called performances.

As to the Hackensack insurance industry---or anywhere else---now that is a contest. Sell more policies---get the award.   The envelope please---and the signed policy.


Bill Hahn

Subject: RE: OSCARS
From: Greg F.
Date: 06 Mar 06 - 05:42 PM

Did Stewart have the rest of the Kingston Trio on with him?

Subject: RE: OSCARS
From: GUEST
Date: 06 Mar 06 - 06:11 PM

I thought Constant Gardener was a much better film than Munich or Crash. Ditto Squid and the Whale, which also wasn't nominated.

A much better ensemble film ast year was Nine Lives, not even on most Hollywood radar.

Also, if you didn't see Tommy Lee Jones' film that he directed--Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada--you didn't see one of the two best director/actor films in years (I hated last year's winner, Million Dollar Baby, a Clint Eastwood actor/director flick). I thought it was as good as Good Night and Good Luck, which I thought was excellent. But I liked Constant Gardener better than either of those two--just seemed better written to me.

Subject: RE: OSCARS
From: GUEST
Date: 06 Mar 06 - 06:14 PM

And another thing, I really don't think March of the Penguins deserved the win over the Enron movie, even though I loved it.

Also, The War Within--much better than Syriana.

Subject: RE: OSCARS
From: John O'L
Date: 06 Mar 06 - 06:42 PM

I thought Jon Stewart tried too hard to be funny and ended up being unfunny.
I didn't know who he was so I googled him, found his Today Show website and watched a few bits. He is actually a very funny entertainer.
This of course means that it's the Oscars extravaganza that's the dud. No surprise there.
It belongs to a more elegant era. (Giggle)

Subject: RE: OSCARS
From: DougR
Date: 06 Mar 06 - 07:22 PM

After listening to all the nominated songs, I had a vision of Henry Mancini, Franz Waxman, Ernest Lehman and several other previous Oscar winners spinning in their graves.

I thought all the nominated songs were pure crap.

I only saw a couple of the nominated movies for best picture (Crash and Capote, also saw I Walk the Line) but thought they were pretty weak movies. Didn't see Brokeback Mountain but I have a lot of respect for Larry McMurtry so I would imagine he deserved the award for best script adaption.

DougR

Subject: RE: OSCARS
From: Bill Hahn//\\
Date: 06 Mar 06 - 07:51 PM

John O'Lennaine---It is the Daily Show---and yes it is funny. Requires a different thing than hosting the Awards. Had he done it ( or been allowed to do it) the Daily Show way it would have been funny. He is, admittedly, not an MC---he is unique artist in his own right.

Doug R--I am guessing that the era of those you mentioned is over. For better or for worse---but, then again, Mozart, Beethoven, etc; are also long gone and music evolves. I was going to bet on anything by John Williams. Guess his time is over as well. Perhaps mine is too--and, perhaps, not too soon. Don't want to sound morbid, but there are generational issues here. Yet---I can relate to Stewart because of cleverness and sarcasm---can't relate to angry Rap---talking blues (its roots---in my opinion) was not that.   As I said-give the Acad. credit for widening their perspective---though I have to say I wonder (don't all take this the wrong way) who was voting and in what numbers and from what ethnicities---also from what commercial interests. Audience reaction to the music award seems to give a clue.

May I add a humble YO here. YO --I did not like any of the music but would have settled for Dolly and her sort of gospel like piece.

Bill Hahn

Subject: RE: OSCARS
From: John O'L
Date: 06 Mar 06 - 10:55 PM

The Daily Show it is, sorry.

I agree, it's a different thing altogether. There are very few who could do an Oscars show successfully. In fact I can't think of anyone. They are an anachronism. There's no-one left who can do that sort of stuff.

Subject: RE: OSCARS
From: Elmer Fudd
Date: 06 Mar 06 - 11:20 PM

Hey, how about that Mafia 36?!! When one of them thanked Jesus after winning for a song called "It's Hard Out There For a Pimp" I almost fell off the couch laughing.

Subject: RE: OSCARS
From: Ron Davies
Date: 06 Mar 06 - 11:30 PM

I didn't see the whole thing--could only stand about 20 minutes, even with Jon Stewart--and I think he's the best thing to hit TV in several eons.

I wish he'd said a lot more--but what I did hear was pretty good. After the Academy's self-congratulatory --(their strong suit)-- melange of clips from Guess Who's Coming To Dinner, All the President's Men, To Kill A Mockingbird and others, Stewart noted that Hollywood had dealt in movies with racism, discrimination, corruption, war, hatred and some other issues. And he said something to the effect that, as a result, those problems are all gone.

Subject: RE: OSCARS
From: Peace
Date: 07 Mar 06 - 12:52 AM

". . . Stewart noted that Hollywood had dealt in movies with racism, discrimination, corruption, war, hatred and some other issues. And he said something to the effect that, as a result, those problems are all gone."

Now, THAT'S funny!

Subject: RE: OSCARS
From: katlaughing
Date: 07 Mar 06 - 06:00 AM

There is a good article about the song which won and how some Americans of African descent feel about it on this page.

I thought all of the songs nominated were markedly unremarkable and easily forgotten.

Loved seeing and hearing Altman!

Subject: RE: OSCARS
From: GUEST,Oscar Brand
Date: 07 Mar 06 - 07:05 AM

I'm glad that walk the line got an oscar.

Subject: RE: OSCARS
From: Ron Davies
Date: 07 Mar 06 - 07:35 AM

Yeah, Stewart is great--but you have to see him in his habitat--the Daily Show. That's the first program I've wanted to see every day since 1966--at least the first half of the show --before his guest comes on--but even the guests have sometimes been worthwhile. He certainly has expert commentators (like Rob Kordry)--and Jon himself is the perfect straight man.

Subject: RE: OSCARS
From: GUEST
Date: 07 Mar 06 - 08:00 AM

Best song didn't bother because it was a rap song. I have no problem with rap. Problem I had with it, it was a BAD rap song, just like I thought Dolly's was a BAD gospel pop song.

Most objections to the winning song are racist reactions, IMO.

Subject: RE: OSCARS
From: MMario
Date: 07 Mar 06 - 09:38 AM

I don't normally care about the Oscars - but would have like to watch them Sunday (not enough to skip seeing Seamus Kennedy) but only because a kid I used to baby sit for was ushering people to their seats. would have been fun trying to spot him.

Subject: RE: OSCARS
From: closet-folkie
Date: 07 Mar 06 - 09:46 AM

"I have no problem with rap. Problem I had with it, it was a BAD rap song...Most objections to the winning song are racist reactions, IMO."

Huh?

Subject: RE: OSCARS
From: Mr Red
Date: 07 Mar 06 - 12:28 PM

saw Wallace & G and preferred (much to my amazement) Corpse Bride

But Walk the Line should have won more. We watched every credit and it said that Rees Witherspoon & Joaquin Phoenix sang the soundtrack themselves. Very impressed.

Subject: RE: OSCARS
From: M.Ted
Date: 07 Mar 06 - 03:43 PM

just how many Best Song nominees or winners from the past can you name?

"Somewhere over the Rainbow", "The Way You Look Tonight", "Moon River", "The Shadow of Your Smile", "Raindrops Keep Fallin' On My Head" and so on--and for those who feel folk music is left out, it seems like Bob Dylan and Buffy St. Marie got Oscars for one reason or another--my memory fails me, at this point, but there have been many great songs chosen, and many others nominated--

Subject: RE: OSCARS
From: WFDU - Ron Olesko
Date: 07 Mar 06 - 03:55 PM

Dylan won for "Things Have Changed" from Wonder Boys and Buffy Ste. Marie won for "Up Where We Belong" from Officer & A Gentleman, which she co-wrote as I remember.

Subject: RE: OSCARS
From: DougR
Date: 07 Mar 06 - 07:05 PM

Bill H. and kat: I agree regarding Altman. He was a breath of fresh air, so to speak. And yes, Bill H., I'm sure I'm dating myself when I complain about the "best" songs. The days of beautiful tunes in movies is probably long gone ...gone the way of the Western.

Also, I thought Jon Stewart did a fine job. After all, he didn't have a lot ot work with.

DougR

Subject: RE: OSCARS
From: Bill Hahn//\\
Date: 08 Mar 06 - 06:33 PM

Doug R---funny aside here. The expression---I am dating myself. A number of years ago Christine Lavin was on my show and she sang an older pop song and I made some comment like---"..hey,, I am dating myself but..." Her really quick and clever retort---"...Dating yourself---you are a pervert". I said, "... that like Narcissus I like to look at myself, hang around with myself, and sometimes I don't talk to myself for weeks on end."

I never forgot the exchange---she is so clever and quick---as she left the studio she said---I remember this---"..I'm leaving now---feel free to do whatever you like with yourself".

I can never hear that expression without thinking of that exchange with her

Bill Hahn

Subject: RE: OSCARS
From: autolycus
Date: 08 Mar 06 - 07:24 PM

Didn't watch it. OKaaaaaaay?

a) Use critics and friends' recommendations as better guides.

b) Much prefer to compile my own favourites lists - so much more fun.

c) Wouldn't an Awards channel, where the awards ceremonies in all areas of life, be more appropriate? awards ceremonies in the leather business?, Electronics Design? Top washing machine salesmen in the WHOLE of North Yorkshire?

   bet they'd be fabulous entertainment.



Ivor

Subject: RE: OSCARS
From: DougR
Date: 09 Mar 06 - 12:13 PM

Come to think of it, Bill, it is a rather strange "saying." Takes a devious mind, though, to come up with that interpretation I think. My mind is always "pure" of course. :>)

DougR

Subject: RE: Oscars (2006)
From: GUEST,M.Ted
Date: 09 Mar 06 - 04:36 PM

Thanks for spotting me on those tunes, Ron--i