<p>I didn’t watch the Grammys- but planning on watching this.
[Oscar</a> Voters Are Older, Whiter, and Maler Than You Thought](<a href=“http://gawker.com/5886586/oscar-voters-are-older-whiter-and-maler-than-you-thought]Oscar”>Oscar Voters Are Older, Whiter, and Maler Than You Thought)
and maler?</p>
<p>^ Not at all suprised at that article. The entertainment industry is male dominated and a majority of white guys. Sounds like Congress in all honesty. Because the Academy is homogeneous it explains what films get nominated and what films will win. </p>
<p>The Artist will probably pick up Best Picture next Sunday. The other nominees include a film about 9/11, a film filled with African-Americans, George Clooney movie, a Steven Speilberg film that got bad ratings, Martin Scorcese film in 3-D, Woody Allen’s film which to me is eye candy, a film with no chance in winning (The Tree of Life), and lastly a movie with everyone’s favorite guy Brad Pitt. </p>
<p>When you nominate those films you see the inner-workings of the Academy. It is filled with predominately white characters directed by white dudes. The old boys club mentality is shown also with Meryl Streep (whose one some but lost more). Industries want to nominate people who are widely known and gain and audience. It explains Brad Pitt, George Clooney, Meryl Streep, and other nominees. </p>
<p>The Oscars’ ratings have been fickle. Last year they choose bad hosts (James Franco and Anne Hathaway) who had no chemistry. The year before with Alec Baldwin and Steve Martin who are well known, funny, and know the industry pretty well.</p>
<p>I will say I am excited to see Bill Murray host this year. He knows what he is doing unlike the two duos above. Murray will get laughs and try to get people back to the Oscars of the 90s and early 2000s. </p>
<p>The Oscars and a pain to sit through for the audience. No drinks are served in the theatre unlike others where the alcohol of flowing freely. </p>
<p>I am not a fan of most of the movies nominated this year. Actors are missing from certain categories (Tilda Swinton in We Need To Talk About Kevin mainly) and some shouldn’t be nominated at all (Melissa McCarthy was wonderful in Bridesmaids but going up against these ladies she has no chance).</p>
<p>I’m watching the Oscars a little more closely this year: There are five movies nominated for Best Visual Effects… and my son worked on the visual effects teams for two of the five! My favorite to win, though is not one of his: Rise of Planet of the Apes., which won last night in the Visual Effects Society Awards.</p>
<p>Very cool, digmedia! But I hope one of your son’s movies wins (whatever they are!). I am still annoyed that I believed a great review in the New Yorker and spent 2 hours on Rise of the Planet of the Apes.</p>
<p>I’m so happy to find like-minded movie critics here! I thought I was the only one on the planet who didn’t love “The Help”: book OR movie. Such two dimensional characters. i couldn’t stand it.</p>
<p>I saw The Artist last night and loved it. It was such a relief to sit and watch a movie without being blasted with sound effects and jiggly camera angles.</p>
<p>I saw “Midnight in Paris” and liked it but didn’t love it.</p>
<p>I’m seeing “The Descendants” tomorrow and am curious because I have gotten mixed reviews from friends.</p>
<p>I plan to see Iron Lady later in the week and maybe Extremely Loud…</p>
<p>Favorite Academy Awards moments: Roberto Begnini climbing across the seats to get to the stage when he won for “Life is Beautiful”.</p>
<p>And Billy Crystal doing pushups after Jack Palance did them!</p>
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</p>
<p>“whose one some?” </p>
<p>Actually, Meryl Streep has won 2 Oscars (one for Best Supporting for Kramer vs. Kramer, the other for Best Actress for* Sophie’s Choice*). Both well deserved, I thought. And you are right, she has been nominated for a total of 17 times!</p>
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<p>Well, you’re going to be disappointed, because Billy Crystal is hosting this year.</p>
<p>Has anyone seen Pina? I can’t wait to see it again!</p>
<p>Just found out we got tickets to the Live With Kelly After the Oscars show! It should be great fun to be in the audience at 6am on Monday morning! Hoping George clooney wins…and then shows up for the show!
What to wear? What to wear?..time to find a stylist.</p>
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</p>
<p>I almost went the other day and decided to go to Hugo instead. What did you like so much about it?</p>
<p>Nrdsb4 - you may want to watch the trailer and read up on the movie. [url=<a href=“Pina - tanzt, tanzt sonst sind wir verloren | Review, Kritik & Besetzung”>Pina - tanzt, tanzt sonst sind wir verloren | Review, Kritik & Besetzung]PINA</a> - A film for PINA BAUSCH by WIM WENDERS - about the movie<a href=“though%20I%20went%20to%20it%20blind”>/url</a></p>
<p>It is for people who love music and dance, the scenery is gorgeous (Wuppertal, Dusseldorf),
interesting use of elements and the 3D is like nothing you have seen before.</p>
<p>I thought the editing was superb - the combined use of music and dance and space. There are interesting transportation scenes (for those interested in transit)</p>
<p>Nominated for Documentary. Story of Pina, the dance teacher, who died during the filming. Wim Wenders.</p>
<p>I just watched the trailer and it is a poor portrayal of the movie.</p>
<p>[Orphee</a> et Euridice - Pina Bausch - YouTube](<a href=“- YouTube”>- YouTube)</p>
<p>This is a video of a live production by Bausch, and I think the quality of the dancing is much better here.</p>
<p>^^^^^^parent1986, the closest theatre showing Pina does not have it in 3D. Should I go farther out to find one, or would it still be worthwhile?</p>
<p>As to Oscar night:</p>
<p>Do any of you make a special evening out of it, as in special meal enjoyed in front of the TV, or Oscar watching parties with friends?</p>
<p>I’m usually the only one in my house who is interested, so I often sit in front of the TV with a glass of wine commenting about movies (and the injustices when the Academy doesn’t get it right :D) out loud to an empty room.</p>
<p>^ love to watch the red carpet walk with my daughter.</p>
<p>Nrdsb4 - Your call. Some people find 3D very annoying, but it is a big draw of the film, imo.
Would you like the sensation of rain on your face, etc.?</p>
<p>I only watch bits and pieces of Oscars. Michael Moore’s speech when he got boo’d of the stage is my favorite Oscar moment.</p>
<p>Well, this week I’ve seen The Artist, The Descendents, Hugo, and The Iron Lady. Saw War Horse a few weeks ago.</p>
<p>Honestly the only one that I think is worthy of Best picture is The Artist. The rest were “eh”.</p>
<p>I was amazed that The Adventures of Tin Tin was not nominated for best animated feature.</p>
<p>EPTR, I’ve seen several of the nominated films, and while I enjoyed them all, I agree with you about The Artist. I even think it would have been in the running in a year with other truly amazing contenders.</p>
<p>Tintin has one nomination, but I don’t think it is the favorite.</p>
<p>I love movies but I’m not planning to watch after Billy Crystal’s monologue unless the show is much better than it’s been recently. Since the advent of Youtube, I can just look up the parts of the show I want to see afterwards. I hate the lame banter before each award is presented. I’d rather see the recipients have a little more time for their acceptance speeches - though those are usually lame too, to say nothing of cringe-inducing. I usually hit the mute button when it’s obvious that the speech isn’t going to be a good one.</p>
<p>One part I look forward to is the “In Memoriam” section. I haven’t liked the recent shows when they’ve had a singer perform during the montage, which seems distracting.</p>