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Live Blogging the 82nd Academy Awards
7:02 p.m.: It begins, in its chintz-glitz way. Red carpet congestion, upon which strolls a thousand scripted cliches (“You’ve been through a long journey,” “Just so happy to be here,” “It’s been great,” “It feels amazing”). This is the happiest place on Earth.
7:05 p.m.: Austin’s own Sandra Bullock, stomping the carpet: “It’s the journey … It’s been an amazing ride …” Thanks!
7:07 p.m.: Announcer just informs, “It’s the most famous red carpet in the world.” And, at 82 years old, it’s the oldest and smelliest.
7:12 p.m.: Matt Damon and Morgan Freeman getting lots of “Invictus” love on the carpet. The only love they’ll get all night. Sorry.
7:17 p.m.: Ten best picture nominees. All of them are “wonderful,” gushes Cameron Diaz. Unlike awesomely honest “Up in the Air” nominee Vera Farmiga, who earlier told E! that she’s totally rooting for “Hurt Locker” and Kathryn Bigelow over her own film and director, Jason Reitman.
7:21 p.m.: Austin alert — don’t forget the awards’ local ties: Bullock for best actress, UT alum Wes Anderson’s “Fantastic Mr. Fox” for best animated film, Ryan Bingham, co-writer of best original song “The Weary Kind.”
7:25 p.m.: Did the carpet lady actually just say that Taylor Lautner played the most famous werewolf in movie history? Think about that, for like two seconds.
7:30 p.m. Best actor/actress nominees all stand on stage like animatronic pals (except Gabourey Sidibe, who did a sassy shake). Awkward. I believe I will remain commentless about this musical number with Neil Patrick Harris and the (?) Rockettes.
7:34 p.m. I retract that. That was horrible.
7:36 p.m. Can this be happening? Steve Martin and Alec Baldwin — fine comics of past and present belovedness — are TANKING? Where’s Letterman?
7:40 p.m.: Cringe, cringe, cringe …
7:45 p.m.: Finally, an award bestowed. Christoph Waltz snatches his much-deserved best supporting actor trophy for “Inglourious Basterds,” in which he made a Nazi even slithier and nastier than ever imagined, and did it with sinister glee. This is his 250th award for the role. Acceptance speech is laden with ship and ocean metaphors. He has a good beard.
7:55 p.m.: It’s the night of polite chuckles. And then: Cameron Diaz flubs it big time. She’s putting a hit on the Teleprompter dude. Now: Nominated animated characters talking about being nominated. Ill-conceived at best. (And UP will win it, easily.)
7:59 p.m.: Yup, it’s “Up.” Even though Anderson’s “Fantastic Mr. Fox” was funnier, smarter, fresher. Every year, Pixar owns this place.
8:03 p.m.: Former Austinite Ryan Bingham and T Bone Burnett win best original song for the plaintive “The Weary Kind” from “Crazy Heart.” Bingham in his acceptance speech says he loves his wife “more than rainbows.” And he gives a salute to late, great Austinite Stephen Bruton.
8:14 p.m.: Showing bits of the actual script text put next to the movie scenes playing out — love it. A peek behind the mysterious artistry.
8:16 p.m.: Quentin Tarantino upset! Beaten by Mark Boal for “The Hurt Locker” for best original screenplay. We are happy.
8:19 p.m.: Molly Ringwald and Matthew Broderick pay tribute to the late John Hughes, who made high school slightly more tolerable. Onto the montage, which is like sweet time travel.
T Bone Burnett and Ryan Bingham get their Oscars for best original song “The Weary Kind”
8:36 p.m.: “The New Tenants” wins best live-action short. My least favorite of the five. It’s kind of shockingly bad.
8:38 p.m.: We like Ben Stiller, but his “Avatar” get-up gag is a groaner. Worse, you are wasting time! Move, show. Move.
8:49 p.m.: Geoffrey Fletcher is breathless with emotion as he accepts the best adapted screenplay Oscar for “Precious.” The win is a small surprise, as it won no guild awards.
8:55 p.m. Everyone talking about how fitting it is that Jeff Bridges, the “Dude,” introduced the Coen brothers’ “A Serious Man.” He not only was in their “Lebowski,” but he’s playing Marshal Rooster Cogburn in the Coens’ remake of the 1969 western “True Grit,” shooting this spring in the Austin area.
8:59 p.m.: Mo’nique takes best supporting actress for “Precious.” This was preordained. She thanks Hattie McDaniel, first black performer to win an Oscar, for “Gone with the Wind.”
9:07 p.m.: “Avatar” snatches best art direction with far too much ease. … Only 2 hours, 25 minutes left.
9:11 p.m.: Austin-born fashion-designer-turned-filmmaker Tom Ford (“A Single Man”) co-presents best costume design award, which goes to Sandy Powell for “The Young Victoria,” a, uh, costume drama. It’s Powell’s THIRD Oscar.
9:20 p.m.: And why do we need a tribute to horror movies? Is it to showcase those nubile “Twilight” stars who introduced the montage? Or is it to keep us tuned in through late Monday?
9:27 p.m.: “The Hurt Locker” wins both sound editing and sound mixing. “Locker” momentum gathering.
9:35 p.m.: Sandra Bullock, glittering like a disco ball, presenting outstanding achievement in cinematography. “Avatar” grabs it. Bullock, a wee gaunt with flowing dark hair, looks vaguely Na’vian.
9:38 p.m.: Roger Ebert just Tweeted: “I don’t remember when i’ve seen a less exciting Oscarcast.” Agreed. And I’ve been watching at least since “Annie Hall” won best picture in ‘78.
9:51 p.m.: Best original score goes to “Up.” Take that, new-agey, la la la “Avatar” music.
9:54 p.m.: “Avatar” wins biggest no-brainer — best visual effects.
10:03 p.m. The important, very upsetting “The Cove,” about dolphin massacres in Japan, wins best documentary feature.
10:07 p.m.: The brilliant editing in “The Hurt Locker” wins the Oscar. “Avatar” losing heat?
10:15 p.m.: How bonkers is Tarantino? (Answer: muy.) He and Pedro Almodovar present best foreign language film. The irony: Almodovar’s acclaimed “Broken Embraces” isn’t up for the award. Wonder if he’s sour.
10:16 p.m.: An upset? Certainly a surprise: Argentina’s “The Secret in Their Eyes” wins best foreign film. “A Prophet” was ROBBED.
10:21 p.m.: A Tweet from IMDB.com: “A groan went up from the international press crew when ‘Secreto’ won.” Like we said …
10:27 p.m.: Jeff Bridges is about to win best actor for “Crazy Heart.” You can cut the non-anticipation with a knife.
10:33 p.m. Jeff Bridges just said “Woo!” and “groovy” in the same breath. For that, he earns the Oscar.
10:36 p.m.: If Bridges says “man” one more time, they take the award away from him.
10:54 p.m.: Austin’s Sandra Bullock graciously accepts the best actress award. Now, she’s weeping about how good her mama was. Nice.
10:55 p.m.: First woman to win the best directing Academy Award — Kathryn Bigelow gets it for “The Hurt Locker.” This is great. Beats out her ex-husband James Cameron while she’s at it.
10:58 p.m.: “The Hurt Locker — best picture. It wins six Oscars tonight. We picked it, we hoped it. (Tom Hanks didn’t even wind up his announcement of the winner. He just came out and blurted it. He, too, was watching the clock?)
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By Renee
March 7, 2010 10:01 PM | Link to this
You’ve nailed this uneventful event and you’re funnier than the hosts and so are some of the commercials!
I think it is bed time!