The LOB Goes to the Academy Awards!
I love the Oscars, I have to admit. Sure - the Academy rarely awards the kind of movies I love, but it's a cultural moment that I always take the time to watch. Tonight, it's Billy Crystal pinch-hitting as host for Eddie Murphy, with "The Artist" the hot favorite to sweep the awards. I'll be pulling for "The Descendants," Alexander Payne, Gary Oldman and Christopher Plummer. Join me if you're watching, won't you?
posted by The Blue Devil @ 4:58 PM
292 Comments:
Here are the nominees for "Best Picture:"
The Artist
The Descendants
Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close
The Help
Hugo
Midnight in Paris
Moneyball
The Tree of Life
War Horse
The favorite is "The Artist," but I'll be hoping Alexander Payne's "The Descendants" can make a late darkhorse run to the award.
E-TV's Red Carpet coverage has started with everyone's favorite "little person" Ryan Seacrest hosting. Luv it!
I'm enjoying some pre-Oscar snacks with a Harpoon "Grateful Harvest" ale. Yum!
Good afternoon, BD. I might have some Rolling Rocks in a little while.I don't think we have Harpoon in the Harlingen area.
Welcome, MUR - should be a fun evening of culture watching. You know - Rolling Rock is a good, clean lager. I drank a lot of it in college. Another good Pennsylvania beer is Yuengling. No nonsense - just a good, tasty lager.
Milla Jovovic is the first star to gay-bait Ryan Seacrest tonight - she won't be the last one.
We're an hour away from the ceremonies now. So, how many of the nominated "Best Pictures" have you seen this year, MUR? I've seen five of them.
C'mon you proles, dig out something fancy. Mix up a Jack and Ginger with an orange twist.
I've seen two of the best movie noms, The Descendants and Moneyball. I also saw the three-way tie for best picture that shoulda been: Win-win, Drive, and Margin Call. Scandalous to add War Horse and Extremely Dull & Incredibly Pointless in favor of those where something special was achieved.
I'm going to work up to the cocktails, mate. I've got a nice bottle of ruby port that I might break into later on, especially if there are some surprises.
I've just seen a trailer for "The Hunger Games," which looks absolutely absurd. A must miss for me for 2012.
Steve's right. Drive should have had a nod. Also I find it sad Bridesmaids which was clever and witty has been reduced by pundits toa film about a girl in a sink. It was so much better than that.
The Artist all the way. I am watching on 90 minute delay to kill the ads so i cant follow live.
I read the Hunger Games - terrifc book. Sort of The Running Man meets some teenage love story. The film looks a bit off to me. If they are to do it right it will be need to quite violent, ie) The Running Man.
IFC's "Independent Spirit Awards" are always closer to my taste. They awarded "Win Win," "Beginners" and "The Descendants" along with a load of really interesting movies that are on my Netflix list.
Welcome, Simon - thanks for joining the discussion!
Uh oh - tennager alert; it's the kid from "The Descendants" who is apparently "super stoked" to be at the Oscars.
My "couture" choice tonight by the way is a Football Philosophy t-shirt and yoga pants. I'm working it, baby!
Hello BD and Gooner. There is a good chance that I have not seen any of them. I rarely go to the movies.It will be interesting to see the highlights.
I am not familiar with Yuengling. we do not have that in our area. I will have to try it when I am up North.
What was your favorite film of 2011, MUR?
The official ABC-TV coverage of the Oscars red carpet approach is starting up at the top of the hour. I'm going to hang in there on E-TV though.
Best film of all time is clearly The Arsenal Stadium Mystery
A twitch faced grump brings 10 overpaid superstars and an offbalance monkey, trained by submarines, to Arsenal and they get systematically murdered one by one.
Looks as if Sacha Baron Cohen has arrived dressed as a Gaddafi style dictator. A new role?
It sounds eery, Simon.I am watching the Red Carpet Ceremony as Maya Rudolph was being interviewed.
Nice one, Simon. Did you ever come across "Incendiary," a small 2008 film with Michelle Williams and Ewan McGregor, during which the Emirates Stadium suffers a terrorist attack? Not a happy Arsenal day, that one.
Believe it or not I don't think we saw any of the new releases. Several horror movies were brought to my attention, but that is not my genre.
Probably not much worse than some of their recent matches or a spending an entire day with Arsene.
Elizabeth doesn't like the color of the dress on the woman being interviewed by Robin Roberts.
I hope I am better behaved than I was during the Grammys
Mila Jovovic looks like she could be A 40s movie star or a modern day soccer mom. How versatile!
Nice one - Sacha Baron Cohen has just poured a bit of Kim Jong Il over Ryan Seacrest.
An interesting dragon lady style by Jessica Chastain.
Viola Davis portraying a simple , yet elegant look. Better than those phony , flashy styles.
A BD favorite as Michelle Williams is being interviewed.
WOW! Christopher Plummer, a real legend. I hope wins an award.
The actress from "Mike and Molly" is nominated for a Best Supporting Actress award.
I really hope that Melissa McCarthy wins tonight. "Bridesmaids" was one of the most fun evenings I had at the movies this past year. It's laugh out loud funny.
I saw the ads for that movie, so that probably would have been my favorite movie of 2011 if I had gone out to watch a movie.
I'm getting a bit overdosed on the couture coverage; I'm off over to ABC.
So who are you wearing tonight, MUR?
I have been watching ABC the whole time. I forgot about the coverage on E.I am wearing a t-shirt and underwear. How about yourself?
There they are. Those black satchels! what is inside? Solve the mystery and win the grand prize.
It's Clooney and the missus. He says he pays people to cheer for him, LOL.
Brad Pitt on the red carpet looking disgusting good looking.
Now it's Brad Pitt. Pitt and Clooney. What next?
It's Sandy Bullock with tons of make-up to disguise the aging process.
Poor Sandra Bullock is starting to look really Joan Rivers-like due to plastic surgery. Shame - she's a really good comedienne.
So what are you wearing? The missus says that I could never be drag queen. I guess we will have to agree to disagree.
I'm on to a Saranac India Copper Ale. Yummy!
My couture choices tonight are a Football Philosophy t-shirt and yoga pants and I'm making it work, baby!
Same here. I am going for the casual look.That's the style man!
I am on my last Rolling Rock. There are two Winter Lagers that a friend was supposed to get six weeks ago. I think they have waited long enough and I will exercise my squatters rights option.
Oi Hoi! Eric D coming aboard.
I'm styling red flannel pyjamas and fleece socks...
I don't like Tom Hanks with a goatee.It looks much better when sported by BD.
Good evening, Bivalve . You have been officially declared the winner of the best LOB Oscars wardrobe!
CONGRATULATIONS!
Evening, Bivalve - great to have you on board. That's a chic choice with the red pjs.
And We're off! it starts with Morgan Freeman, one of my favorites.
Welcome, Eric! Who are you rooting for tonight?
I owe evrything to my stylist. Jewels by Lane.
Here we go, then. The Billy Crystal opening montage.
That resembles a group of teachers being asked to volunteer at school after hours.
Clooney and Billy Krystal make a cute couple.
Kudos to your stylist, Bivalve!
Billy Krystal is one of my favorite comedians. A classic!
Billy really shouldn't do blackface. It's 2012.
What is in that pie?
Who the hell let Bieber anywhere near the academy awards? The academy awards are reserved for those who have talent or can fake it.
Good point, BD. I concur.
Good evening, Eric . I agree 100%. They could always use an extra bus boy.
Billy Krystal was gawking at Maggie Thatcher! Guilty as charged.
Billy Crystal is a safe pair of hands for tonight after last year's shambles.
Elizabeth and I are looking forward to Billy Krystal's Monologue.
Hey Bob! Did Crystal just get get off the set of Downton Abbey?
Justin Bieber could get a broom and dust pan unless he prefers to wash dishes.
Good point. Those gold statues could put a dent in the deficit.
I predict that the Bieber moment will be the low point of the evening.
Now for the patented Billy Crystal medley.
Oh dear, Billy's singing...
Billy's definitely been hanging out with the Chicken Lady.
I think Billy is a hilarious singer. Quit picking on Billy!
I still don't understand what was confusing to people about "The Tree of Life." Haven't any of those so-called Christians read the Book of Job?
Tom Hanks will present the first award. BD sports a better goatee.
Not sure what the problem is , BD?
To be fair to Tom, he (and I) sport a Van Dijk - the "goatee" is merely the chin bit sans moustache.
Hugo Robert Richardson wins the cinematography award.
Whoever made that comment about Hanks goatee, I concur. He's starting to look like a disney villain.
I present you with a trophy , regardless.
First award for the night - a Motley Crue roadie is picking up the Oscar for Cinematography for Hugo.
It was yours truly. Thanks , Eric.
Set direction now - does anyone give a toss?
"Hugo" again - that's two-nil to them.
Two in a row for Hugo. Seems a little charitable. Not that it wasn't great but compared to it's competition, I don't know.
Hugo wins another award. This balances out the Motley Crue dude.
If all the technical awards get a full speech, we're going to be here into the wee hours tonight, friends.
Elizabeth was hoping for War Horse, but i cannot criticize as I was a no show at the movie theaters.
Pharrell and Sheila E. are drumming up in the luxury box for some reason. Who asked them?
I cannot stay up that late . I have to be up early in the morning.
I am not sure . It was not me. Perhaps it was Justin. He could wait tables.
Hope it doesn't go on too long. I gotta catch Walking Dead later on tonight.
I will probably be one of the walking dead by the wee hours!
It always goes back to Titanic.
Back from the ads and we've got the first movie montage.
I'm guessing we're here until about 12:15am EST.
some classics from the past . Indy Jones and Forest Grump. Well at least good movies.
A gratuitous piece of Billy Crystal's "When Harry Met Sally" at the end there.
I may have to leave a little early as I did not finish grading.
Cameron Diaz and Jen Lopez. Jen is a bit revealing, but who am I to complain. They are presenting the winner for best costume design.
Costume design now....
Jane Eyre's my choice - beautiful movie.
First award for "The Artist" of many to come tonight, I suspect.
I think BD and Mur should be nominated for best costume. The Artist wins instead . BD will be pleased.
The Artist nails costume design. Hope it's not it's last one for the night.
What's your pick for "Best Picture" Eric?
I would love to see Harry Potter win Best Costume design.
The Artist. Definitely. Did you ever see it?
Make-up now...
"The Iron Lady." I'm surprised. How was that better than "Harry Potter?"
I meant makeup artist and its The Iron Lady.
It's coming in a few weeks - looking forward to it.
You ever think anyone working in make-up can win anything if they worked on the right person? If it had been anyone but Streep would Iron Lady have won?
There must be closet Maggie Thatcher fans out there.
The mystery behind Maggie!
This is cool - a montage of actors talking about their first movie experiences. I can't really remember mine.
I would have preferred to have see4n Barbara Streisand as Maggie Thatcher. I would have definitely watched Iron Lady if she was playing Maggie.
Strange as it may seem the first I remember was Fiddler on the Roof.
Mine may have been Toy Story. Although I vaguely remember Muppet Treasure Island.
Best Foreign Language picture now....
Unfortunately, I haven't seen any of these yet but I've heard great things about "A Separation" and "In Darkness."
The favorite - Iran's "A Separation" wins. It's on my Netflix list - should be coming soon.
I haven't seen any of these either, but Dad and I immediately called it with Separation.
Nice speech there from the director. Take that, sabre rattlers.
Man - Nick Nolte is looking really rough!
Anyone notice how Bale's natural accent is the least convincing of any he's ever used?
Best Supporting now - come on, Melissa!
Bale is definitely trying to pull off a Mockney accent - I suspect he's boarding school educated.
Wow - Octavia Spencer. She was terrific in "The Help," which I didn't think was that good overall.
Uh oh - we've got a crier here.
I just got off the phone and missed some of the action.Octavia won a best Supporting role in the help .
Octavia's come along nicely considering the first thing I ever saw her in was a reality show on comedy central with Nick Swardsdan.
She was definitely emotional, but it seemed genuine.
I heard Wally in a Brolly as up for Best Supporting Actor in "The Muppet!"
So far the awards have been spread about a bit:
Hugo - 2
The Help - 1
The Artist - 1
Iron Lady - 1
I'd rather have them spread out than put in one place the entire time.
Thanks for the update,BD. I had not kept track . It is almost evenly distributed.
I agree, Eric. Not unless one film was obviously superior to the rest and that does not seem to be the case.
Is that Eugene Levy in the B& W scene.It's Fred Willard. Hilarious!
The SCTV crew in the B&W scene. They're classic!
DON'T THANK BIEBER FOR THINGS!
The Wizard of OZ is slammed by Catherine O'Hara and co!That was Chris Guest, but he was on SNL at the same time as Billy Crystal.
I second that.
Film editing now....
Might be a nice one for Girl with a Pearl Earring.
The award for film editing.And the winner is.......................
Yes - good one for them.
The Girl with the Dragon Tatoo.
Sorry - Girl with a Dragon Tattoo that is.
Was that Rooney Mara? She looked less scary as Lisbeth.
Sound editing...this might be a chance for "Drive" to pick up something. More than any other movie, my friends mentioned that one.
Nope - Hugo; third one for Scorcese.
Achievement in Sound Editing. The Oscar goes to Hugo.
Who wanted Drive to win that one?
Yep - she's wearing Givenchy tonight. Not liking it?
Well, your dad and several of my friends liked "Drive" a lot - and it's not up for any of the big ones tonight.
Sorry FSC . Better luck next year!
Now it's sound mixing. Tina Faye and some bloke seem to be getting lots of air time.
Hugo wins that Oscar too.
Transformers was nominated for something. We now live in a world where that happened.
Sound mixing now....
Hugo - #4 - could be have an upset on the cards tonight?
I don't mind dreck like "Transformers" getting technical nominations.
Michael Bay doesn't give a toss about awards anyway - he'll keep churning them out as long as idiots are going to see them.
Confiscate his license. who gave him permission to drive a train?
That's Bradley Cooper from the "Hangover" movies next to Tina - if you haven't seen the first "Hangover" movie, it's worth a rental.
Cheers BD. I will check that out . Perhaps during Spring Break.
Jean Dujardin for best actor. It'll increase his presence in America. Everyone everywhere wants that, even if they don't know it yet.
Those bloody Muppets. They are always on the Oscars.
I suspect that Dujardin is a bit limited in what he can do. He's a bit old-fashioned and broad, much like Roberto Begnini - what's happened to that guy?
Ah - here's the Cirque de Soleil bit that they mentioned earlier.
Bob if you're not already biting your tongue or dipping your fingers in acid, I demand you commence doing one or the other within the next five minutes.
I think I will pass on that. Good luck, Bob.
Billy says the acrobats are a pony away from being a Bar Mitzvah
I'll grant it that I don't think Dujardin's english is that great. But give him time.
It's Gwyneth Paltrow and Robert Downey,Jr.
Now it's the crew from "Iron Man." Not nominated. Duh.
It's Best Documentary and Downey is really annoying.
Best documentary feature....
Again, none of these have come to Fred-town yet. I'm really looking forward to Paradise Lost 3.
"Undefeated" wins - I must put that on my Netflix.
GET ON WITH IT! They are a really annoying and irksome couple.
The Best Documentary Oscar goes to Undefeated
First bleep of the night. And they're played off by the band. Embarrassing!
Now it's Chris Rock. He must be presenting the Animation Award.
Awards update:
Hugo - 4
The Help - 1
The Artist - 1
Iron Lady - 1
Girl with a Dragon Tattoo - 1
Best animated feature....yawn.....
Chris Rock is a definite improvement over Paltrow and Downey, Jr.
The winner is Rango.
"Rango" wins - good for them. Let's move it along, folks.
I second that. Short speeches please.
Bob I'm assuming you've bitten your tongue since you couldn't possibly be typing with your fingers in acid. Good choice.
You are correct , BD. Nick Nolte looks old enough to be me Great Grandad.
Rango!!
I think Emma Stone is drunk!
Just voicing my opinion, mate.
I think she's earned it.
Visual Effects now....good chance for a last Harry Potter award. Come on, Oscar!
Hugo - #5. I'm wondering if this might be a Hugo sweep night. Scorcese is brushing up his acceptance speech in the bog.
Hugo wins the Best Visual effects Oscar.
I was rooting for Planet of the Apes.
I would agree. Emma Stone should have let Ben Stiller present.She was horrible.
I saw the original.
Best Supporting Actor now....
Hoping for Christopher Plummer.
I am rooting for Plummer.
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