<p>I was actually surprised that Philip Seymour Hoffman won as was he I suspect, he was up against some other very strong performances-</p>
<p>I think he is a very good actor and has done some very good work- admittedly I haven’t seen Capote yet- although I have read Plimptons book on Capote and really enjoyed it- have to go see Capote next I guess before it moves out of the neighborhood theatre.</p>
<p>Although the Pimp song was a surprise, this category is often sketchy…it did make for a Jon Stewart moment…Martin Scorcese: Zero Oscars, Hard to be a Pimp: One.</p>
<p>hey out there to any CCers thinking of Wm and Mary…Stewart is a grad.</p>
<p>I am thrilled that Crash won and hear that its producer Cathy Schulman thanked Oscar voters for honoring a film “about love, about tolerance, about truth.” </p>
<p>Too bad the Best Achievement in Directing award was wasted as another evidence that the best way to win an Oscar is be passed over in a prior year as Lee did with “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.”</p>
<p>ouch - how can you say it was wasted? Lee is a truly great artist - would it be better for him to be passed over entirely (as with Hitchcock and, so far, Scorcese and Altman)? I never think of the Oscars as delivering what they say they will - they’re often more of a lifetime achievement award than the “best” in any given year (as if that can ever be determined anyway …)</p>
<p>I’d hate to be the writer of one of the other two songs that lost to “It’s Hard Out There for a Pimp”.</p>
<p>I thought Lily Tomlin and Meryl Streep were hilarious in their tribute to Robert Altman, but my daughter, who has never seen an Altman film, was very confused!</p>
<p>Interesting theme in acceptance speeches - motherhood.</p>
<p>Although I was a tiny bit surprised at the upset, despite all the rumors flying, I’m happy that Crash won. I think it’s an important film, if only to get people talking about the issues. A lot of people hate this film, think it’s pretentious and too self-involved, but I think a lot more people love it and appreciate the difficult issues and the fact that much of it is very difficult to watch. Many of the performances in Crash were wonderful. Nice to see a Canadian win, too! (even though there was a Canadian connection to every best pic nominee!)</p>
<p>The wins by Philip Seymour Hoffman and Reese Witherspoon were so well deserved. Both gave performances of a lifetime. I thought their speeches were heartfelt and honest, although PSH forgot to thank his girlfriend and the camera kept focussing on HER when he was talking about his mom! For the ‘off’ year that movies had in 2005, there was some very strong competition in the top categories, in my opinion. </p>
<p>How crazy that that song won but, wow, those guys sure were excited. The song from Crash by Kathleen York from The West Wing was pretty and haunting, I would have voted for it! And Dolly Parton, yikes, she’s starting to look like Joan Rivers.</p>
<p>Favorite moments for me were the montages of various film clips, I always enjoy those; Jon Stewart was good, he didn’t try to do TOO much and be over the top, he hit the right balance of off-the-cuff and scripted humor; the Robert Altman segment was great, Lily and Meryl did a hilarious job introducing it (two fabulously talented ladies), he’s such a fantastic director; and I loved the joy on the faces of the people involved with Crash when it won. :)</p>
<p>Thought that Stewart had the right mix of reverence and wry humor. Otherwise, I thought the show dragged. And enough with the montages.</p>
<p>My HS senior D didn’t get the Altman reference either, although now she is planning to seek out some of his works.</p>
<p>Didn’t Hollywood consider Robert Altman an outsider or an outcast?</p>
<p>I felt sorry for Stewart, who is actually funny in his own element. This wasn’t it. I just don’t think he had the stature within the industry to pull it off.</p>
<p>I thought Diana Ossana really needed to lighten up and loosen up - maybe try smiling. I mean I know that Brokeback Mountain is supposed to be an Important Film and all, but we haven’t seen anyone that sourly earnest at the oscars since Sacheen Littlefeather.</p>
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<p>and went in self-mockingly to diffuse such comparisons. Unless you missed the opening sequence while preparing your snack. Also Stewart has the political antigravitas capital and so never had to flout it,…seemed to largely dispel any heavy-handed displays. Everything was assumed. And you have to admire his improvisation. but it was all surprisingly dull. Ranting does make for a better night. I thought the quality of this year’s dead was also surprisingly low. I usually look forward to the tearduct enema. Although Anne Bancroft was a loss,…and there’s Mickey Rooney who will possibly outlast Nicholson.</p>
<p>Regarding Diana Ossana, everyone can enjoy fifteen minutes of fame. Cannot blame her to try extend it by a few seconds. As far as the “importance” of the film, that ought to be in the eye of the beholders. A few weeks ago, I saw Tom Hanks’ Philadelphia again, and I still have a few of the scenes … and the music playing in my head. </p>
<p>I’ll take a wager that the success of this alternative lifestylers’ movie will be as ephemeral as the number of jocular copycats floating on the net.</p>
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<p>nice phrase,…unsure what it means. There is a difference between the popularity contest of an awards show and the importance of movies.</p>
<p>I am a movie junkie, and had seen most of the ones that were up for big awards. Of the best pic nominees, Crash and Munich had the biggest effect on me. Among documentaries, the penguin movie was good, but my 18-year old S and I thought that Murderball was even better. Transamerica was surprisingly good – a touching story and absolutely amazing acting.</p>
<p>The pimp song was sung throughout the movie Hustle and Flow, and it sounded better as Terrance Howard’s character tried to work it into something successful. Last night’s presentation fell flat for me.</p>
<p>I will have to try and see Darwin’s Nightmare. Billy Crystal is still the best Oscar host. </p>
<p>George Clooney just keeps getting better . . .!</p>
<p>I was surprised little attention was given to the movie Match Point. I thought that had some strong acting, and a fascinating plot.</p>
<p>Dresses – I mostly like the pale look, although I thought Jessica Alba’s matched her skin too closely and didn’t have much effect. I realize others loved it! I liked Reese’s dress and Selma Hayek’s best.</p>
<p>It was a long boring night. The movies were all okay. The jokes were okay. And the clothes were really less than okay(aka boring). It’s so much more fun with Billy Crystal hosting, and then the outrageous outfits/hair-dos by J.Lo, Cher, make for fodder all week.</p>
<p>The Oscars are made for Tivo. I started watching about an hour after it started and then fast forwarded through the commercials and boring categories and most acceptance speeches. After not too much time I was caught up to real time so then I watched another show on Tivo while Tivo kept recording the Oscars. When I came back to the Oscars I again did the fast forward thing and ended up catching up to real time right at the end of the show.</p>
<p>A couple of one-minute reviews:</p>
<p>Brokeback Mountain: Beautiful cinematography, nice music, great acting, but just a little on the boring side after a while and not quite up to best motion picture.</p>
<p>Walk the Line: Great music (obviously), great acting, but too long. Plus, how many biopics must we see with the same storyline (rough childhood, with fame comes drugs and alcohol, then we’re supposed to celebrate that they become clean and sober).</p>
<p>Crash: To me, an absolutely incredible movie for what it was - a message film. Yes, the stories were contrived, the coincidences a little much, BUT to me, it represented almost perfection in crafting a film around what needed to be said. I liked the direction, acting, cinematography, …everything. Plus, it was worth it just to watch reactions when it was announced last night as the best motion picture.</p>
<p>Finally (from a male pov): Best dress of the evening: Ziyi Zhang. Of course, with her beauty, who cares what she was wearing.</p>
<p>Jon Stewart: No major problems, but not as good as I had hoped.</p>
<p>George Clooney’s acceptance: I agree with the term “classy.”</p>
<p>Slept through it all. But delighted with the results. Bought Crash on sale at a local bookstore when son was here at Christmas time and watched it with him and sent him back to school with the film. Had never heard of it before. The only films that get press here are the “blow em up” variety. So I don’t go…oh yes, an award for an alum and teacher from my son’s school that they are all excited about. Best Short Documentary about a radio broadcaster. I would like to see that one along with Good Night and Good Luck.</p>
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<p>I don’t blame her for that either. I just thought she was way too solemn for someone who had just WON. Imagine if she had lost. When coupled with her speechifying I took it to mean that she was a little carried away with earnestness and The Message of her film. Perhaps I’m wrong. Perhaps she is simply just a dour person to begin with and makes no exceptions for moments of great triumph.</p>
<p>I was pleased with the selection of “Crash” and of “Tsotsi” the South African entry for Best Foreign Language Film.</p>