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Oscars 2008
February 2, 2009
Things to do in a movie theater
The Austin Film Society presents the third annual installment of “Children of Abraham/Ibrahim: Films of the Middle East and North Africa,” from Feb. 17 to March 31 at the Alamo South.
It kicks off with Deepa Mehta’s sumptuous Indian drama “Earth” at 7 p.m. Feb. 17 and continues with a slew of important films set in Iran, Morocco, Pakistan and beyond.
All films and full details HERE.
‘Earth’
Matt Radecki and Michael Caine’s doc “TV Junkie” gets a special showing at 8 p.m. Feb. 18 at Salvage Vanguard Theater (2803 E. Manor Rd.). It’s part of the Salvage UnReeled series. Admission is $5.
More about this amazing Sundance winner HERE.
Not quite the Butt-Numb-a-Thon, but still something of trial is the AMC Best Picture Showcase, taking place all day Feb. 21 at the AMC Barton Creek.
What it is: All five 2009 best picture Oscar nominees screened back-to-back for a flat fee of $30, which includes a large popcorn with unlimited refills for the entire day. You get other goodies, too.
The sked:
“Milk” — 10:30 a.m.
“The Reader” — 1:05 p.m.
“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” — 3:45 p.m.
“Slumdog Millionaire” — 7:15 p.m.
“Frost/Nixon” — 9:45 p.m.
More HERE.
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February 24, 2008
After the envelopes: Did the right people win?
A few big surprises on Hollywood’s biggest night, especially in the actress categories. Marion Cotillard came out of nowhere for her best actress win, and Tilda Swinton shocked with her supporting actress win for her role in ‘Michael Clayton.’ The other biggies held some suspense, especially with the ‘There Will Be Blood’ and ‘No County for Old Men’ battle, but the Coen brothers and their film, much of which was shot in Texas, carried the day, winning best director and best picture. As for Diablo Cody’s win for best screenplay, we’ll spare you our vitriol.
What do you think of the night? Did the right folks win? Who got snubbed?
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Sans CGI, still enchanting
Poor Amy Adams. She had to go up there and trill her little heart out in front of her peers like that.
She looked forlorn, all alone on the wide open stage. In the movie “Enchanted,” from which her song appears, Adams sings with a swirling, frisky team of cartoon forest animals. Not here. Not fair.
But she was a sport. Sort of blushing while she girlishly gripped her hands to her chest and sustained a smile that blinded billions.
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Hot host
Oscar emcee Jon Stewart begins with a bang, riffing, often ruthlessly, on the topical — the writers strike, politics, the war, Obama — Hollywood culture and the nominees. He’s got rhythm and beat and form. And he’s very funny.
We couldn’t keep up with the stream of quips — not a dud in the bunch — but liked how he described “this year’s slate of nominated psychopathic-killer movies” and addressed screenwriter newbie Diablo Cody.
Cody, “an exotic dancer, now an Oscar-nominated screenwriter. I hope you’re enjoying the pay cut.”
An OK joke went: “Oscar turned 80 this year, which automatically makes him the front-runner for the Republican nomination.”
There were lots more, we promise.
(Snide sider: Who does Jack Nicholson think he’s kidding with the sunglasses indoors?)
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Colin all fists
I might be the only person on Earth who really appreciates the performances of Colin Farrell, so I held high hopes — too high, perhaps — that the actor would punch Ryan Seacrest on the red carpet.
He failed me. He owes me one.
And, with Farrell, we’ve just the received the evening’s first mention of Heath Ledger, whose recent death surely will be lugubriously noted throughout the show. We hope speakers keep it tasteful and subtle, like the late actor himself.
Oh! Hilary Swank just threatened to slug Seacrest if he misbehaves. (Yes, yes, yes …)
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E!-rase, please
E! stands for: Egads!
I like most of the Oscar hoop-dee-do, but the red carpet parade isn’t part of it. (“Who are you wearing?” “My cleaning lady.” Now that would be fresh.)
E!’s fawning giddiness is toxic. It’s mike-mauling greeters spoil the lines of worshiped multi-millionaires as if they’re orphan children with self-esteem problems. Thank heavens the celebs get those vaunted goodie bags.
“You know what’s great about these shows?” Ryan Seacrest asked. “It’s live, so you can’t go back!”
We know, we know.
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I need a large polo mallet
Just when I thought Ryan Seacrest had redeemed himself playing it self-effacingly nasty in “Knocked Up,” he returns to his odious, obsequious, unfunny ways on the red carpet: hectoring Amy Ryan to fake punch him (I would have handed her an Oscar for really doing it); carrying-on about the lame “Crotch-Cam”; showing us the new, terrribly unwitty hairdo, “The Bardem,” on best actor nominees; and simply being an overbearing knucklehead.
But I will shut up, for the celestial Anne Hathaway has just appeared, unmolested by Seacrud, and summarily eaten my heart.
(Most unpleasant news of the night so far: “Let’s go back to Ryan.”)
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