The Oscar Push!

[Motown Marvel]

michael bay isnt even a popcorn film director. he's a s#!tty popcorn film director. popcorn films are fun and light hearted, yet still worthwhile quality entertainment, they're not void of plot and story. nor do they distract you from lack of plot with explosions, cock-tease girls, and shiny things....that explode. this is what s#!tty popcorn flicks do. this is what michael bay does. it's like, a real popcorn flick is the '64 beatles...and michael bay is the monkees.

[Etienne]

I like to think of Michael Bay films as the cinema equivalent to McDonalds, it's seems like a good idea at the time, but afterward you just end up feeling sick and wondering why you bothered wasting your money. Seriously, if he knew anything about good story and character development he would be without doubt the best director in the world, but alas it is not his strength, nor does he seem to care.
To quote Dee Dee from Dexter's Lab, you can't have brains and be a model too.
To quote Christian Bale "No amount of explosions or terrific stunts will keep you entertained as well as a good story." :brucebat:

[terry78]

I am a straight male....I like the occasional 'splosion in my movie. I could sit through 90 minutes of pyrotechnics and above average CG and top off the night with some sex, and I'm good. Yet in the same breath I know the process and depth behind a movie like Revolutionary Road and could watch that and ponder the intricacies behind it.

[byte19]

you know... all this talk ripping on Bay... Uwe Boll has done his job... you all have forgotten about him while complaining about a better director between the two. Bad Ass Boll has done 3 count 'em THREE God Damn awful flicks, all nominated for razzies and you guys jump on a guy whose 'making' this years summer popcorn flick? i thought we were hating the 'worst director'?

[Motown Marvel]

you know... all this talk ripping on Bay... Uwe Boll has done his job... you all have forgotten about him while complaining about a better director between the two. Bad Ass Boll has done 3 count 'em THREE God Damn awful flicks, all nominated for razzies and you guys jump on a guy whose 'making' this years summer popcorn flick? i thought we were hating the 'worst director'?

yeah, but everyone knows boll is a douchebag, and the box office receipts reflect that. bay on the other hand, is some how successful and popular. i never got that. his movies make tons of money and do quite well.

[byte19]

cause sometimes, even Einstein has to turn off his brain a little....

[Motown Marvel]

but theres a difference between turning your brain off (the crow), and allowing it to turn to mush (transformers).

though granted, to be fair....the rock was pretty cool.

[El Payaso]

The only thing holding back more superhero flicks being made like TDK is movie studios who treat their audience like 12 year old kids by making candy coated garbage. Films up to TDK standard are not going to happen every year, but if it become more and more common that the overall quality of superhero flicks starts getting close to that level the TDK reached each year, eventually one will come along that will match it, or perhaps even exceed it. It may not happen for 5-10 years, but if the quality improves, the chances will improve.

Oh absolutely. I can't disagree. My point is that the general level won't improve. Superhero movies won't get made better just because TDK is there. You would need another talented director at the right place and moment, highly talented and interested in the genre. And that's not all; you'd need the studio to give him artistic freedom.

First thing execs thought after TDK's success: we'll make Superman dark. They got it all wrong instantly. At most they'll try to copy TDK characteristics as if with that you could catch some of its quality. It won't happen.

At most they'll get Spiderman-like movies; enjoyable, highly profitable but so-so. And with the "highly profitable" part they'll be satisfied, why go further?

[byte19]

that's if that mush brings back childhood memories.... the cartoon was never some intelligent O'Barr source...

[Motown Marvel]

that's if that mush brings back childhood memories.... the cartoon was never some intelligent O'Barr source...

ha, well, bay's transformer's only degraded childhood memories for me.

[byte19]

kewl... i'll watch tranformers before house of the dead..... and i have it!

i know, whats wrong with me?

[Anita18]

Oh absolutely. I can't disagree. My point is that the general level won't improve. Superhero movies won't get made better just because TDK is there. You would need another talented director at the right place and moment, highly talented and interested in the genre. And that's not all; you'd need the studio to give him artistic freedom.

First thing execs thought after TDK's success: we'll make Superman dark. They got it all wrong instantly. At most they'll try to copy TDK characteristics as if with that you could catch some of its quality. It won't happen.
I think WB is still waiting for Superman's Nolan. Clearly it's driving the Supes fans nuts, but at least we know they aren't cashing in immediately on the hype.

[batman11]

I think WB is still waiting for Superman's Nolan. Clearly it's driving the Supes fans nuts, but at least we know they aren't cashing in immediately on the hype.

Superman's Nolan or Nolan's Superman? :woot:

[Anita18]

Superman's Nolan or Nolan's Superman? :woot:
:funny:

I'd like someone else to have a try at the big blue boy scout. As much as I LOVE Nolan, Superman doesn't need to be Nolanized.

Speaking of Oscar race, I just read a few articles today about Slumdog glorifying poverty or jipping its child actors' salary. The backlash has begun....I wonder if a certain Weinstein is behind it. :oldrazz: It would HILARIOUS if he pushed The Reader all the way.

[Paradoxium]

I am rooting for The Reader, best way to make a mockery out of the Oscars :woot::up:

[Anita18]

I am rooting for The Reader, best way to make a mockery out of the Oscars :woot::up:
Then they'll only be encouraging Weinstein! That man must be stopped! The nomination was bad enough! :cmad:

[General Vulcun]

A win for The Reader wont do anything to help Weinstein's company. The more money he sinks into its Oscar campaigns, the bigger the hole becomes. Will his dirty deeds help The Reader win the top prize? Very will be. But if people didn't want to see it before, why would they even bother seeing it after a Best Picture win? It's still the same movie no matter what award it wins.

His company is finished no matter what happens.

[Nina7]

:funny:

I'd like someone else to have a try at the big blue boy scout. As much as I LOVE Nolan, Superman doesn't need to be Nolanized.

Speaking of Oscar race, I just read a few articles today about Slumdog glorifying poverty or jipping its child actors' salary. The backlash has begun....I wonder if a certain Weinstein is behind it. :oldrazz: It would HILARIOUS if he pushed The Reader all the way.

Yes, the backlash is in full force. I just saw a report on my local news station about protests in India over the word "dog" in Slumdog. They said there were "hundreds" of protesters. I don't think Weinstein is behind the protests, but I bet you anything he's encouraging the press to write about it. It's his M.O. It worked with Saving Private Ryan. I don't doubt for a second that Weinstein is exploiting every possible angle to discredit his competition and get The Reader the Best Picture Oscar. He can't help it. It's what the man does.

[philranger]

if you look very closely, i think you might see Weinstein in the background of that pic pushing those kids up front! That slimball!!!! he even gave them a cute dog!!!! :wow:
that should be out motto from here on out: "Weinstein again!"

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1129632/Dont-dogs-Indian-slum-dwellers-riot-Slumdog-Millionaire-film.html?ITO=1490

from the article:
"Slum dwellers objecting to the word 'dog' in the film 'Slumdog Millionaire' have attacked a cinema hall.

Protesters tore down posters and ransacked a movie theatre showing the rags-to- riches tale of a Mumbai slum dweller.
Hundreds of slum dwellers shouted slogans saying the film's title was humiliating and must be changed for protests to end.

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2009/01/27/article-0-0333A0C9000005DC-120_468x312.jpg Residents of a nearby slum demonstrate outside the office of Bollywood actor Anil Kapoor, one of the main casts of the movie Slumdog Millionaire, demanding that the name of the film be changed

Tateshwar Vishwakarma, a social activist said: 'Referring to people living in slums as dogs is a violation of human rights.'

'We will burn Danny Boyle (the film's director) effigies in 56 slums here'
Police said they have deployed armed police outside cinemas in the state to thwart any further attacks in eastern Indian state Bihar.

Last week, Vishwakarma filed a case against an actor, the music director and two other people associated with 'Slumdog' in a local court.

The case will be heard in a Patna court on February 5th, police said.
Simon Beaufoy, the screenwriter, said last week: 'I just made up the word. I liked the idea. I didn't mean to offend anyone.'
The hit film has been nominated for 10 Oscars and won top prize at the Screen Actors Guild over the weekend.

Meanwhile, the parents of actors Rubina Ali and Azharuddin Ismail have accused producers of exploiting and underpaying the child stars.
Boyle recently revealed that he has set up trust funds as well as paying for the education of the eight-year-olds.
But it has since emerged that the children, who play young couple Latika and Salim, were only paid a total of £2,100.
Ali was only given £500 while Ismail received £1,700 for their roles, which took a year to film, the Daily Telegraph has reported.

The pair currently live a few hundred yards from each other in makeshift shacks along Mumbai's railway tracks.
But their parents hoped the film deal would be a way out of living in squalor.
Ismail's father has claimed that they never received any details of the trust fund.
Mohamed Ismail told the Telegraph: 'We feel that the kids have been left behind by the fill. They have told us there is a trust fund but we know nothing about it and have no guarantees.'
Ali's father, Rafiq Ali Kureshi added: 'I am very happy the movie is doing well but it is making so much money and so much fame and the money they paid us is nothing.
'They should pay us more.'
Boyle released a statement confirming he had carried out the agreed financial arrangements for the children.
He said: 'The children had never attended school and in consultation with their parents we agreed that this would be our priority.'
'Since June 2008 and at our expense, both kids have been attending school and they are flourishing under the tutelage if their dedicated and committed teachers.
'Financial resources have been made available for their education until they are 18.'"

[philranger]

oooooooo...backlash galore! i smell weinstein! I swear, if the Reader wins....

http://www.hindustantimes.com/StoryPage/StoryPage.aspx?sectionName=NLetter&id=4f9619f8-bfdb-4588-8c2b-a302d704a2dc&MatchID1=4905&TeamID1=8&TeamID2=6&MatchType1=2&SeriesID1=1238&PrimaryID=4905&Headline=%27Slumdog+Millionaire+is+going+to+do+no+ use+to+India%27

http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/hindi/article/44581.html

Dang, these stories are all over the foreign press.

[CapedCrusader14]

lol at the sign that says "I.AM.NOT.A.SLUMDOG
I AM THE FUTURE OF INDIA"

Sure you are buddy :cwink:

[WVsax27]

if something upsets Slumdog it probably wont be The Reader, a movie hasn't won best picture without an editing nomination since 1981. I have heard older members of the Academy LOVE Frost/Nixon though. It will be interesting to see if that foreign backlash hurts the movie any...

[jmc]

Burning Danny Boyle effigies? I get the western politicians and the Indian Cricketers when they play crap but a film director over a title? Seriously Mumbaians, just watch the damn film, you might actually like it.

[Nirvana]

I'd be okay with Frost/Nixon or Benjamin Button winning over Slumdog. I'd just hate to see The Reader win...I also don't think Milk has a very good chance. That is, if the academy is still homophobic.

[Ace of Knaves]

India and Pakistan just look for any old excuse to burn effigies of people, it's just what they do. Seriously, why the hell are they protesting about the word "Slumdog"? Idiots.

[RakuMon]

Burning Danny Boyle effigies? I get the western politicians and the Indian Cricketers when they play crap but a film director over a title? Seriously Mumbaians, just watch the damn film, you might actually like it.

Actually, I know of a few South Asians who aren't as taken with the film as a lot of westerners are. The main criticism being that the film just perpetuates a lot of Indian stereotypes and exoticizes Indian culture. I've yet to see the film, but just wanted to pass along why some authentic Indians might not be as taken with a film that is essentially a Westerner's interpretation of actual Indian life.

India and Pakistan just look for any old excuse to burn effigies of people, it's just what they do. Seriously, why the hell are they protesting about the word "Slumdog"? Idiots.

Actually, calling someone a "dog" is a highly offensive slur in many parts of Asia. I believe "slumdog" is even used as a pejorative term in the movie.

[Ace of Knaves]

So, it's a movie. If there was a movie called "You wanker" i don't think British people would be up in arms about it.

[RakuMon]

Oh absolutely. I can't disagree. My point is that the general level won't improve. Superhero movies won't get made better just because TDK is there. You would need another talented director at the right place and moment, highly talented and interested in the genre. And that's not all; you'd need the studio to give him artistic freedom.

Agreed. My feeling is that if a movie like The Dark Knight couldn't get nominated, than it's going to be a long, long time before a superhero film is going to get Academy love in the artistic categories. TDK had everything going for it: it had bravura performances by elite actors; it was simultaneously innovative (filming in IMAX) and old school (minimal CGI, practical effects); it was hailed by critics across the board; it made a billion(!) dollars world wide; it was recognized by every major guild (except SAG, tellingly); and it had all of the momentum going into January 22 (which is why most of the post-nom news articles led with "Dark Knight Snubbed"). Heck, it even had the sentimentality of being Heath Ledger's last film (is any Oscar as in the bag as Heath's? I don't think so.) I mean, that's a lot of stars to align to offset the Academy's superhero/blockbuster bias and it still didn't get nominated! I can't see that happening again for a good, long while.

First thing execs thought after TDK's success: we'll make Superman dark. They got it all wrong instantly. At most they'll try to copy TDK characteristics as if with that you could catch some of its quality. It won't happen.

I am so with you on this. Triplet in the Smallville forum has a sig that reads "Warner Bros. is Run By Idiots" and I have to agree with the sentiment. The absolute wrong lesson was learned by TDK's success. That movie didn't succeed because it was dark. It succeeded because the director's singular vision meshed so well with the source material. It was respectful of the mythology, yet reinterpreted in a way that retained the essence of the source. Plus, everyone involved--from cast to the crew--took every aspect of their job seriously. Nobody was self-conscious about the fact that they were "just making a comic book movie." Everyone involved was serious about making a good film.

Now, it seems that the WB has missed all of this and only got the "TDK was a dark comic book movie" part. Totally missing the fact that TDK was dark because Batman is essentially a dark character (he is called the Dark Knight after all. That's why they shelved Shazam (not dark enough, even though Cap's not supposed to be a dark character.)

:funny:

I'd like someone else to have a try at the big blue boy scout. As much as I LOVE Nolan, Superman doesn't need to be Nolanized.

Yeah, I don't think Nolan has any interest in Superman anyway. But I agree that they need a director that can do to Supes what Nolan did for Bats. That is, give an original take on a character that retains the essence of the source material. Giving a director complete autonomy is not enough. Ultimately, this is where WB failed with Singer. They gave the guy free reign, but his "singular vision" was too jumbled. (Is it a sequel to the Donner/Reeve movie? A remake?) Plus, its principal cast may have had a few respectable actors (Spacey, Langella, Posey) but two of those three hammed it up for 2 1/2 hours (which is the opposite of how Nolan's actors approached their roles) while the two leads (Bosworth and Routh) were too inexperienced and too wooden to carry the flick.

Speaking of Oscar race, I just read a few articles today about Slumdog glorifying poverty or jipping its child actors' salary. The backlash has begun....I wonder if a certain Weinstein is behind it. :oldrazz: It would HILARIOUS if he pushed The Reader all the way.

Speaking of "The Reader," Box Office Mojo has an interesting article about how much money the nominations have added to the movies' grosses. The reader took in $1.4M on 367 screens for a per screen average of just $3,815. By comparison, The Dark Knight, which was only on 350 screens, took in a little over $667,000 for a per screen of just under $2,000. The difference being, of course, that TDK is already available on DVD and Blu-ray, yet enough people still went to the cinemas to earn the movie half of the grosses of "The Reader."

Plus, BOM had this nice take on the Oscar snub:

http://www.boxofficemojo.com/news/?id=2540&p=.htm


Meanwhile, a picture that didn't need the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences to help get the word out but that the Academy may have needed in the Best Picture race to boost the sagging ratings of its telecast, The Dark Knight, had a modest re-launch at 350 venues and generated $667,397, slightly augmenting its phenomenal run that stands at $531.7 million in 192 days. The Academy claims that the Oscars are "The biggest movie event of the year," yet The Dark Knight, an actual movie that people had to leave their houses for and pay to see, sold more tickets than the typical viewership of the Oscar telecast.

[Anita18]

if something upsets Slumdog it probably wont be The Reader, a movie hasn't won best picture without an editing nomination since 1981. I have heard older members of the Academy LOVE Frost/Nixon though. It will be interesting to see if that foreign backlash hurts the movie any...
Be thankful for small favors, I guess. TDK got a Best Editing nom. :oldrazz:

I wonder if they'll split that, like last year. Bourne Ultimatum won Best Editing. Slumdog had pretty good editing, but it was rather by-the-book near the end. TDK had a lot of peripheral story things going on that were difficult to bring together coherently. (The action scenes could still be better, but that's not so much the editing as the way it was shot and staged.)

Actually, calling someone a "dog" is a highly offensive slur in many parts of Asia. I believe "slumdog" is even used as a pejorative term in the movie.
It is, but the point is that a lowly boy from the slums could make it out. But if it's as derogatory as the "n" word here, I can see how it could cause an uproar.

And I don't think that Danny Boyle is "glorifying" poverty, either. Slumdog's world looks VERY tactile - colors, movements, sounds - but if anything, it caused me NOT want to go to India! :funny:

Ultimately, this is where WB failed with Singer. They gave the guy free reign, but his "singular vision" was too jumbled. (Is it a sequel to the Donner/Reeve movie? A remake?) Plus, its principal cast may have had a few respectable actors (Spacey, Langella, Posey) but two of those three hammed it up for 2 1/2 hours (which is the opposite of how Nolan's actors approached their roles) while the two leads (Bosworth and Routh) were too inexperienced and too wooden to carry the flick.
It can be argued that Heath "hammed" it up as well, but put his own dark, disturbing twist on it. ("I just want my phone call!") The difference was that despite his hamming, you really did the believe the guy could thrust a knife through you at any second. :hoboj:

Speaking of "The Reader," Box Office Mojo has an interesting article about how much money the nominations have added to the movies' grosses. The reader took in $1.4M on 367 screens for a per screen average of just $3,815. By comparison, The Dark Knight, which was only on 350 screens, took in a little over $667,000 for a per screen of just under $2,000. The difference being, of course, that TDK is already available on DVD and Blu-ray, yet enough people still went to the cinemas to earn the movie half of the grosses of "The Reader."

Plus, BOM had this nice take on the Oscar snub:
Meanwhile, a picture that didn't need the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences to help get the word out but that the Academy may have needed in the Best Picture race to boost the sagging ratings of its telecast, The Dark Knight, had a modest re-launch at 350 venues and generated $667,397, slightly augmenting its phenomenal run that stands at $531.7 million in 192 days. The Academy claims that the Oscars are "The biggest movie event of the year," yet The Dark Knight, an actual movie that people had to leave their houses for and pay to see, sold more tickets than the typical viewership of the Oscar telecast.

http://www.boxofficemojo.com/news/?id=2540&p=.htm
:hehe:

I saw this on RopesofSilicon:

http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd87/sugarfiend06/dkoscars.jpg

[RakuMon]

It can be argued that Heath "hammed" it up as well, but put his own dark, disturbing twist on it. ("I just want my phone call!") The difference was that despite his hamming, you really did the believe the guy could thrust a knife through you at any second. :hoboj:

True. But he's playing The Joker after all. He's supposed to ham it up. And stick you with a knife at the same time. But no one would argue that Heath made Joker into an actual, living, breathing person.

The problem with Spacey's turn as Luthor (and Parker Posey's turn as Miss Kitty Tessmacher Kowalski) is that they were self-consciously playing "cartoon characters" and not real human beings.

:hehe:

I saw this on RopesofSilicon:

http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd87/sugarfiend06/dkoscars.jpg

Heh. That's awesome.

[Anita18]

True. But he's playing The Joker after all. He's supposed to ham it up. And stick you with a knife at the same time. But no one would argue that Heath made Joker into an actual, living, breathing person.

The problem with Spacey's turn as Luthor (and Parker Posey's turn as Miss Kitty Tessmacher Kowalski) is that they were self-consciously playing "cartoon characters" and not real human beings.
I've seen it described as, "They just seemed like blanks, hoping that the audience would imbue them with some sort of malevolence." And it's so true.

[Nirvana]

The problem with Spacey's turn as Luthor (and Parker Posey's turn as Miss Kitty Tessmacher Kowalski) is that they were self-consciously playing "cartoon characters" and not real human beings.



I'm so happy people agree on this case. Spacey was completely wasted. I'm still waiting for a day when Lex Luthor will be taken seriously and not a giddy real-estate swindler.

[RakuMon]

I'm so happy people agree on this case. Spacey was completely wasted. I'm still waiting for a day when Lex Luthor will be taken seriously and not a giddy real-estate swindler.

Ahem.

ldjhBAqha80

:D

[philranger]

I'm so happy people agree on this case. Spacey was completely wasted. I'm still waiting for a day when Lex Luthor will be taken seriously and not a giddy real-estate swindler.

yeah. i just don't buy Lex Luthor as a landgrabber! He's a freakin' brilliant evil genius for crying out loud!!! Rosenbaum gets close, at least imbues the character with something we haven't seen before

[philranger]

Ahem.

ldjhBAqha80

:D

NICE! :grin:

[batman11]

Michael Rosenbaum FTW! :up:

[Motown Marvel]

while it was fairly underwhelming to see luthor's scheme to be a rehash complete with moments of ham, he was still a pretty damn nasty individual in the movie. i mean, he raped superman's heritage, gutted him with it, and left him to die.

[JStorm]

This may not be Oscar worthy, but I appreciated the attention to detail.

Upon watching TDK, in IMAX, last night, I noticed the attention to detail per Harvey's business attire vs. Gordon's.

In the scene where they first speak, at least to us, Harvey is clearly wearing a much more expensive suit. Clearly indicating that a single DA makes much more, and can spend more, than a Lt with a family.

Nolan could have slapped any suit on these guys and said "action." But the mere understanding that Harvey would pay more attention to his slacks - cuffs, hemmed, etc - vs. Gordon's cheap, unhemmed, knock-off slacks was fantastic.

Thoughts.

[Paradoxium]

Then they'll only be encouraging Weinstein! That man must be stopped! The nomination was bad enough! :cmad:
Duuuude why pretend a cat is a dog, and just see it as it is. Irreparable and corrupt... not to mention the outpouring reactions will be hours of entertainment superior to the Oscars :woot::up:

[Anita18]

This may not be Oscar worthy, but I appreciated the attention to detail.

Upon watching TDK, in IMAX, last night, I noticed the attention to detail per Harvey's business attire vs. Gordon's.

In the scene where they first speak, at least to us, Harvey is clearly wearing a much more expensive suit. Clearly indicating that a single DA makes much more, and can spend more, than a Lt with a family.

Nolan could have slapped any suit on these guys and said "action." But the mere understanding that Harvey would pay more attention to his slacks - cuffs, hemmed, etc - vs. Gordon's cheap, unhemmed, knock-off slacks was fantastic.

Thoughts.
My friend (who's way more knowledgeable about clothing than I) actually noted how Harvey wore cheap suits. She pointed it out after her first viewing of TDK - apparently she could tell the fabric on Harvey's suit was of a lesser quality than Bruce's. Which shouldn't surprise, since Giorgio Armani was providing suits for the Bruce Wayne character during the production. :funny: And Harvey is an "everyday working man," moreso than Bruce Wayne.

I didn't notice such a thing. :oldrazz: To me, suits are suits.

My friend was also thrown off by the mayor's nice suits. She immediately assumed he was on the take with Maroni because of that. :funny:

[Cmill216]

This may not be Oscar worthy, but I appreciated the attention to detail.

Upon watching TDK, in IMAX, last night, I noticed the attention to detail per Harvey's business attire vs. Gordon's.

In the scene where they first speak, at least to us, Harvey is clearly wearing a much more expensive suit. Clearly indicating that a single DA makes much more, and can spend more, than a Lt with a family.

Nolan could have slapped any suit on these guys and said "action." But the mere understanding that Harvey would pay more attention to his slacks - cuffs, hemmed, etc - vs. Gordon's cheap, unhemmed, knock-off slacks was fantastic.

Thoughts.

Eh, I think it's just basic costuming 101.

[JStorm]

My friend (who's way more knowledgeable about clothing than I) actually noted how Harvey wore cheap suits. She pointed it out after her first viewing of TDK - apparently she could tell the fabric on Harvey's suit was of a lesser quality than Bruce's. Which shouldn't surprise, since Giorgio Armani was providing suits for the Bruce Wayne character during the production. :funny: And Harvey is an "everyday working man," moreso than Bruce Wayne.

I didn't notice such a thing. :oldrazz: To me, suits are suits.

My friend was also thrown off by the mayor's nice suits. She immediately assumed he was on the take with Maroni because of that. :funny:

Eh, I think it's just basic costuming 101.

I suck. Thank you, both.

[Doctor Jones]

Seriously guys calm down with this. I hate it how people are still sore at the academy. It still got 8 nominations. Yeah they weren't in the major catagorites, but the other achievment are great as well. What about those people? What about those people who put their work into making this film for what it is? They helped out just as much and I'll be watching to see those fine people win.

Boycotting or not watching it is absurd and an insult to those other people who were involved in the film. Pfister was rightfully nominated so. He shot the film beautifully, and without cinematography there's no cinema. Nathan Crawley designed great sets, the make-up for the Joker primarilly, and the great editing by Lee Smith.

All these fine people came together to make the film for what it is now. You can thank them too.

You got your adult Batman film, now start acting like an adult. Not generalizing here, but some of the talk on here is absurd.

[Etienne]

Ahem.

ldjhBAqha80

:D
I've never liked Smallville. I always thought Bruce Timm's Lex (Clancy Brown) is the best Luthor I've seen.

#9 and #5 :up::up:
NbvSyPcD6g0

[byte19]

Seriously guys calm down with this. I hate it how people are still sore at the academy. It still got 8 nominations. Yeah they weren't in the major catagorites, but the other achievment are great as well. What about those people? What about those people who put their work into making this film for what it is? They helped out just as much and I'll be watching to see those fine people win.

Boycotting or not watching it is absurd and an insult to those other people who were involved in the film. Pfister was rightfully nominated so. He shot the film beautifully, and without cinematography there's no cinema. Nathan Crawley designed great sets, the make-up for the Joker primarilly, and the great editing by Lee Smith.

All these fine people came together to make the film for what it is now. You can thank them too.

You got your adult Batman film, now start acting like one.
:dry:

[Silverglade]

I will only agree with the fact that yes 8 noms is badass. But still.. wtf. Best Director was justified. No 2nd directing unit? IMAX in a major feature film? Please. Nolan was snubbed. Even the Director's Guild pushed it and nominated him. Those are his peers.

[Captain Planet!]

You got your adult Batman film, now start acting like one.
I need to start acting like an adult Batman film? :huh:

.............I'm sorry.

[vanson]

i would love to see pfister win the academy award for best cinematography...
after BB and prestige he would deserve it for sure this time.. especially for the whole imax stuff !

[Etienne]

This may not be Oscar worthy, but I appreciated the attention to detail.

Upon watching TDK, in IMAX, last night, I noticed the attention to detail per Harvey's business attire vs. Gordon's.

In the scene where they first speak, at least to us, Harvey is clearly wearing a much more expensive suit. Clearly indicating that a single DA makes much more, and can spend more, than a Lt with a family.

Nolan could have slapped any suit on these guys and said "action." But the mere understanding that Harvey would pay more attention to his slacks - cuffs, hemmed, etc - vs. Gordon's cheap, unhemmed, knock-off slacks was fantastic.

Thoughts.
I suck.
Na, I do the same thing. :funny: When you see a movie a few times you start to notice the details. I took notice of Gordon's awesome short trench(I'm still looking for that :o) which was like a modern twist to the trench Gordon would wear in the comics and animated series. :word:
I need to start acting like an adult Batman film? :huh:
:lmao:

[Doctor Jones]

I need to start acting like an adult Batman film? :huh:

.............I'm sorry.

I meant act like an adult.

I just think that all this whining and everything is out of control.

We should be thankful it got those other nominations too.

And damn you, you made me edit my post. :woot:

[Doctor Jones]

:dry:

What is it? You think that because it still got nominated in those other catagories means it doesn't do anything for the film?

It gives those people recognition for the film. That's why this talk of boycott is stupid. These are nominations for TDK guys, nothing major, but they still worked on the film, and helped make it for what it is.

[philranger]

with all do respect, i think people are talking about boycotting not because TDK was snubbed in general, but more as a result of the situation in which TDK was snubbed. cough* weinstein* cough cough *the reader?*

i know i'll still be watching, though! Heath all the way!!!!!:brucebat:

[byte19]

What is it? You think that because it still got nominated in those other catagories means it doesn't do anything for the film?

It gives those people recognition for the film. That's why this talk of boycott is stupid. These are nominations for TDK guys, nothing major, but they still worked on the film, and helped make it for what it is.
dude... that was my adult face!:hehe: besides, i'll be 40 soon, i got all my frustration out a couple days ago.... and believe me, i wasn't talking bout boycotting or smearing bad peanut butter on me and letting Wienerstien lick it off so he could die....... wait, what was the question?:oldrazz:

[philranger]

dude... that was my adult face!:hehe: besides, i'll be 40 soon, i got all my frustration out a couple days ago.... and believe me, i wasn't talking bout boycotting or smearing bad peanut butter on me and letting Wienerstien lick it off so he could die....... wait, what was the question?:oldrazz:

lol... he would too! :applaud

[TNC9852002]

TDK was great and all, but I've got to live with the fact that there was plenty of other very deserving films that came out last year and I'm sure TDK was in the final preliminaries for Best Picture/Director before the final nominations were selected..

But like I said before, The Academy PRIDES itself on a certain tradition and even having a movie like TDK in their Best Picture category would question that tradition.

Even if it were nominated, it still wouldn't win, but then, it wouldn't been nominated to begin with. :p What's worse is that TDK is probably the closest a mainstream comic book movie will ever get to achieving this kind of Oscar recognition. I'm just happy that the film is being recognized globally and winning among every other single major award ceremony imaginable and that it will definitely take home at least 2 of its 8 Oscars that it's being nominated for.

-TNC

[WVsax27]

Ebert is going through and doing all of the major categories "without logical thought of reference to rumors and odds, but entirely on the basis of my emotions, with reference to the newly-named human emotion of Elevation."...he is going to do his "real" predictions on the 8th, but I doubt this one will be any different. http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090128/OSCARS/901289995

Oh, and if you really just want to hear Chris and Jonah have their names called here is the nomination announcement from 2002 :woot: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_xsrA7TWvUE&feature=channel_page

[Jokers_Wild]

I really don't have to watch the Academy Awards to support those who were nominated. I already did that by seeing the film 5x. :whatever:

And I really, really don't have to watch them just because some dude tells me I should on a message board.

[RakuMon]

Ebert is going through and doing all of the major categories "without logical thought of reference to rumors and odds, but entirely on the basis of my emotions, with reference to the newly-named human emotion of Elevation."...he is going to do his "real" predictions on the 8th, but I doubt this one will be any different. http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090128/OSCARS/901289995

That is a great article! Thanks for that.

There's a reason why Ebert is one of my favorite writers about film.

I especially agree with this bit that kind of echoes what I was saying about the difference between how Nolan and the Dark Knight actors treated their characters as human beings whereas Singer and the SR cast treated theirs as cartoons:

This Batman film, while still an over-the-top comic book extravaganza, is curiously more human than before, giving greater weight to the characters as if they actually were, however impossibly, human beings.

[Octoberist]

What is it? You think that because it still got nominated in those other catagories means it doesn't do anything for the film?

It gives those people recognition for the film. That's why this talk of boycott is stupid. These are nominations for TDK guys, nothing major, but they still worked on the film, and helped make it for what it is.

I agree. You still have to support the film.

[Etienne]

Ebert is going through and doing all of the major categories "without logical thought of reference to rumors and odds, but entirely on the basis of my emotions, with reference to the newly-named human emotion of Elevation."...he is going to do his "real" predictions on the 8th, but I doubt this one will be any different. http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090128/OSCARS/901289995
That was beautiful. :up:

[terry78]

Yeah, Ebert did a pretty good deconstruction of what Ledger's Joker was. He has the facade of being jovial and a trickster, but he's actually just angry at the way society is, though what brought him to that point is a mystery.

[Danilo]

http://img244.imageshack.us/img244/9200/revistaset200902fj0.jpg

[Dark Sentinel]

Ebert's article was an awesome read..in my opinion, Ledger's joker is a character that has become an essay against the current state of our society's mentality: superficiality and materialism are running rampant, and those of us who are on the "lower societal classes" are looked down upon because we aren't as pretty or wealthy as the rest of them..that's why I tend to believe Joker's second scar story over the first one.

[animexcel]

Ebert's article was an awesome read..in my opinion, Ledger's joker is a character that has become an essay against the current state of our society's mentality: superficiality and materialism are running rampant, and those of us who are on the "lower societal classes" are looked down upon because we aren't as pretty or wealthy as the rest of them..that's why I tend to believe Joker's second scar story over the first one.

I could go for that theory too. The first scar story, the Joker was thinking a little bit before he said his father was a drinker.

[Dark Sentinel]

I could go for that theory too. The first scar story, the Joker was thinking a little bit before he said his father was a drinker.

not only that, but there was more emotion in the second story. The first story I thought was more of a taunt, while the second made me feel like Rachel actually reminded him of his wife, which pissed him off even more

[mrwho]

yeah, i definitely believe the second scar story more than the first one, because of all the emotion he showed when telling her. Of course, it could still be false, but I'll bet bits of it (or both stories) are true

[Etienne]

not only that, but there was more emotion in the second story. The first story I thought was more of a taunt, while the second made me feel like Rachel actually reminded him of his wife, which pissed him off even more
Possibly but I'm more inclined to believe that he just made up stories depending on what situation he was in. I do like to think of him as more of a self made maniac rather than someone who just had a bad day. :hoboj:

[Doctor Jones]

What a great article by Ebert. That is the reason he is the only critic I read.

[byte19]

no!!! why you do that? i ain't home!!! :)

[Anita18]

Possibly but I'm more inclined to believe that he just made up stories depending on what situation he was in. I do like to think of him as more of a self made maniac rather than someone who just had a bad day. :hoboj:
Yup. Since Gambol snapped when Joker mentioned his grandmother, it's safe to say that his home life was probably not the best. Wouldn't be surprised if Gambol's s parents really did meet an end similar to Joker's scar story.

The scar story for Rachel is more insidious - Joker implies that he was abandoned by the woman who inspired him to become who he is. That's what Rachel did to Bruce, and that's probably why she looks guilty/defeated when Joker nears the end of his story.

[Etienne]

Yup. Since Gambol snapped when Joker mentioned his grandmother, it's safe to say that his home life was probably not the best. Wouldn't be surprised if Gambol's s parents really did meet an end similar to Joker's scar story.

The scar story for Rachel is more insidious - Joker implies that he was abandoned by the woman who inspired him to become who he is. That's what Rachel did to Bruce, and that's probably why she looks guilty/defeated when Joker nears the end of his story.
Exactly. I can only imagine what story he would have told Batman.

[Steelsheen]

Yup. Since Gambol snapped when Joker mentioned his grandmother, it's safe to say that his home life was probably not the best. Wouldn't be surprised if Gambol's s parents really did meet an end similar to Joker's scar story.

The scar story for Rachel is more insidious - Joker implies that he was abandoned by the woman who inspired him to become who he is. That's what Rachel did to Bruce, and that's probably why she looks guilty/defeated when Joker nears the end of his story.
hmm i never thought of it that way. i figured they were stories he made up to hit the vulnerabilities of his victims' given their background-- Gambol had a typically hard ghetto life, Rachel was a pretty lady who (he thinks) habitually break men's hearts.

for some strange reason i got the feeling that Joker's father (or maybe father figure) may really have been a fiend and primarily responsible for Joker's behavior/ psychosis. he had two references to this in the movie: one was the Gambol scene and the other was with Senator Leahy's character ("You remind me of my father.... I hated my father!). of course it could just be his intimidation tactic as i mentioned above, but it seems like that is what the writers were implying.

[RachelDawes]

Yup. Since Gambol snapped when Joker mentioned his grandmother, it's safe to say that his home life was probably not the best. Wouldn't be surprised if Gambol's s parents really did meet an end similar to Joker's scar story.

I just took Gambol's reaction as a sign of his machismo. Some really macho men men blow up if you sound like you're insulting their moms, sisters, or grandmas.

hmm i never thought of it that way. i figured they were stories he made up to hit the vulnerabilities of his victims' given their background-- Gambol had a typically hard ghetto life, Rachel was a pretty lady who (he thinks) habitually break men's hearts.

That's kind of how I see it.

for some strange reason i got the feeling that Joker's father (or maybe father figure) may really have been a fiend and primarily responsible for Joker's behavior/ psychosis. he had two references to this in the movie: one was the Gambol scene and the other was with Senator Leahy's character ("You remind me of my father.... I hated my father!). of course it could just be his intimidation tactic as i mentioned above, but it seems like that is what the writers were implying.


Either the Joker's dad really was a fiend or the Joker wants to believe he was. I wonder if the Joker can't remember who he used to be and has fabricated a complicated past for himself that includes an abusive dad.

[Kargo Warrior]

After watching Happy Go Lucky,In Bruges,The Visitor,The Wrestler and Wall-E again in the last 2 weeks i'm over the TDK snub.

There are so many better movies than the ones nominated,one snub doesn't make any diference.

The only deserving movie there is Slumdog and i haven't seen Milk so i can't talk about it.

[Boom]

Milk definitely deserves its spot.

[Maze]

:funny::up:

[Cmill216]

Guys, please refrain from posting the Hitler TDK video. It is indeed hysterical, but posting material with profanity of any kind is a no no.

[Anita18]

Milk definitely deserves its spot.
Grargh, I have to see that too.


Quint's latest interview with Danny Boyle on AICN reveals that 75% of Slumdog Millionaire is shot on digital. Knowing that, and knowing that the cinematography branch of the Academy prefer work on film, TDK might actually have an edge over Slumdog for best cinematography. Even though Slumdog is looking good for a overwhelming sweep on Oscar night. :funny:

[Cmill216]

I'm pretty sure Slumdog wouldn't even be a contender anyway with Button standing in its way.

[The Chris]

I'm pretty sure Slumdog wouldn't even be a contender anyway with Button standing in its way.

Which is also shot in digital I think.

[Crook]

Is there really such a hatred for digital? I can't for the life of me wonder why. Preference I can understand, but distaste for a film format? Especially when it's produced wonderful images? Eh.

[The Chris]

Is there really such a hatred for digital? I can't for the life of me wonder why. Preference I can understand, but distaste for a film format? Especially when it's produced wonderful images? Eh.

I guess it's just old school people really love film. I say what ever projects beautiful images is just awesome.

[Anita18]

Which is also shot in digital I think.
IMDB lists a Sony CineAlta F23 (digital), Arriflex 435 (35mm), and Thomson VIPER FilmStream (digital) for Benjamin Button. So it's probably in the same realm as Slumdog - lots of work in digital, but not completely so.

And no, I don't know these cameras off the top of my head. I had to Google them. :oldrazz:

[The Chris]

IMDB lists a Sony CineAlta F23 (digital), Arriflex 435 (35mm), and Thomson VIPER FilmStream (digital) for Benjamin Button. So it's probably in the same realm as Slumdog - lots of work in digital, but not completely so.

And no, I don't know these cameras off the top of my head. I had to Google them. :oldrazz:

:up:

[Anita18]

Is there really such a hatred for digital? I can't for the life of me wonder why. Preference I can understand, but distaste for a film format? Especially when it's produced wonderful images? Eh.
You know the Academy, old school and everything. :funny: This is the one instance where it actually might help Nolan and Pfister, in their unabashed old-schoolness. :oldrazz:

[WVsax27]

a lot of Button's "look" was done in post. I think TDK has a good chance at Sound Mixing also..maybe sound editing, but I personally think Wall-E should win that one.

[Anita18]

a lot of Button's "look" was done in post. I think TDK has a good chance at Sound Mixing also..maybe sonud editing, but I personally think Wall-E should win that one.
Agree that Wall-E has to win one of the sound awards, even over TDK. Ben Burtt :bow:

[Anita18]

:lmao: The latest "get over it, Dark Knight fans" article I've come across is in the Huffington Post (although, not written by Ariana Huffington).

Somehow that just makes me :lmao:.

[Anita18]

TDK was nominated for the following by the Visual Effects Society

OUTSTANDING MODELS AND MINIATURES IN A FEATURE MOTION PICTURE

The Dark Knight - Garbage Truck Crash Models And Miniatures
Ian Hunter, Forest Fischer, Branden Seifert, Adam Gelbart

Indiana Jones And The Kingdom of The Crystal Skull
David Fogler, Craig Hammack, Brian Gernand, Geoff Heron

Iron Man - Suit Up Machine
Aaron Mcbride, Russell Paul, Gerald Gutschmidt, Keiji Yamaguchi

My Darling of The Mountains - Hot Springs
Taro Kiba, Kenji Nagatani, Yuki Minagawa, Hideo Udo

OUTSTANDING CREATED ENVIRONMENT IN A FEATURE MOTION PICTURE

Cloverfield - Brooklyn Bridge Sequence
David Vickery, Phil Johnson, Victor Wade, Sean Stranks

The Dark Knight - Imax Gotham City Scapes
Peter Bebb, David Vickery, Philippe Leprince, Andrew Lockley

Indiana Jones And The Kingdom of The Crystal Skull - Temple Heart
Michael Halsted, David Fogler, Steve Walton, David Weitzberg

The Mummy: Tomb of The Dragon Emperor - Avalanche Sequence
Mike Meaker, Rich Mahon, Jason Iverson, Sho Hasegawa

Synecdoche, New York - Created Environment
Brett Miller, Garrett Eaton, MatThew Conner

OUTSTANDING SPECIAL EFFECTS IN A MOTION PICTURE

The Dark Knight
Chris Corbould, Peter Notley, Ian Lowe

The Dark Knight - Garbage Truck Crash Mechanical Effects
Scott Beverly, Robert Spurlock, Jon Warren, Brian Kelly Hahn

Defiance - Special Effects
Neil Corbould, Steve Warner, Anne Maria Walters, Alan Young

Full nominees here http://www.variety.com/index.asp?layout=awardcentral&jump=news&articleid=VR1117998754
Apparently TDK's crew re-read the rules of the nominations and discovered that the mechanical effects were ineligible, so they have taken themselves out of the list.

They're definitely still up for best overall special effects, although the article doesn't state if the created environments nomination was affected.

Effects done for the garbage truck crash mechanical effects in THE DARK KNIGHT were deemed ineligible and withdrawn from consideration.

Okun said this mistake has not happened in past years and changes have been made to ensure that it is not repeated. "We are incredibly proud of [the entrants] for stepping up and doing the right thing to help us maintain the integrity of the awards," Okun said.

http://news.awn.com/index.php?ltype=top&newsitem_no=26231

[Anita18]

In other Oscar-related news, Kung-Fu Panda sweeps the Annie Awards over Wall-E. :lmao: I guess this is Pixar's version of TDK's Oscar snub.

[terry78]

Anita, you are just reveling way too much in peeps' misery over there. I may have to watch your ass.

[Cory]

kungfu panda won an award? wtf? OVER wall-e?!?

[Anita18]

Anita, you are just reveling way too much in peeps' misery over there. I may have to watch your ass.
I am not reveling in misery, I am reveling that this Oscar season is totally nuts. :oldrazz:

[I Am The Knight]

I am not reveling in misery, I am reveling that this Oscar season is totally nuts. :oldrazz:

Then it will happen this way: TDK finally gets the Best Picture Award, but your pain doesn't dies with the Oscar, it grows. So you run out into the night to find another award, and another, and another...Until one terrible morning you wake up and realize that TDK has become your whole life. And you won't know why.

[Doctor Jones]

Then it will happen this way: TDK finally gets the Best Picture Award, but your pain doesn't dies with the Oscar, it grows. So you run out into the night to find another award, and another, and another...Until one terrible morning you wake up and realize that TDK has become your whole life. And you won't know why.

:woot: Genius.

[WVsax27]

photos from the DGA "Meet the Nominees"

http://www.gettyimages.com/Search/Search.aspx?contractUrl=2&langua%20ge=en-US&family=editorial&p=dga&assetType=image&src=qu%20ick#

[WVsax27]

double post

[Steelsheen]

In other Oscar-related news, Kung-Fu Panda sweeps the Annie Awards over Wall-E. :lmao: I guess this is Pixar's version of TDK's Oscar snub.
again its the popularity contest rule that affected TDK. i really liked Kung Fu Panda, but i agree that WallE had more substance.


Then it will happen this way: TDK finally gets the Best Picture Award, but your pain doesn't dies with the Oscar, it grows. So you run out into the night to find another award, and another, and another...Until one terrible morning you wake up and realize that TDK has become your whole life. And you won't know why.

lmao! brilliant :up:

[byte19]

Then it will happen this way: TDK finally gets the Best Picture Award, but your pain doesn't dies with the Oscar, it grows. So you run out into the night to find another award, and another, and another...Until one terrible morning you wake up and realize that TDK has become your whole life. And you won't know why.
we're apart of TDK whether you like it or not!
*runs away like a girl*:hehe:

[I Am The Knight]

Mwahahahaha....!

*Twirls mustache*

[WVsax27]

Bale with Nolan and his nomination plaque. Danny Boyle won

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b372/Fallglimmer/captda6e6f58142c44f0ba8103c26b60768.jpg

[philranger]

Bale with Nolan and his nomination plaque. Danny Boyle won

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b372/Fallglimmer/captda6e6f58142c44f0ba8103c26b60768.jpg

he looks so happy! i wish he had won. But getting nominated is a big enough honor, i guess.

[WVsax27]

Nolan will have his close-up at some point

[Anita18]

Pics of all the DGA nominees:

http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd87/sugarfiend06/dganoms.jpg

Note how Nolan is the best dressed of the bunch. As usual. :funny:

[Steelsheen]

Bale with Nolan and his nomination plaque. Danny Boyle won

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b372/Fallglimmer/captda6e6f58142c44f0ba8103c26b60768.jpg
first time in a long time i've seen Bale smile at a function. must be real proud of Nolan-- as we all are :)




Pics of all the DGA nominees:

http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd87/sugarfiend06/dganoms.jpg

Note how Nolan is the best dressed of the bunch. As usual. :funny:
he's English, its kind of expected ;)
edit: btw, is he wearing his favorite/ lucky vest again? :D

[WVsax27]

does anyone else think Danny Boyle looks like Chucky and Tiffany's son from Seed of Chucky?

[BLACK-SPIDEY]

does anyone else think Danny Boyle looks like Chucky and Tiffany's son from Seed of Chucky?

****face?:oldrazz: probably.................hurm......

[Doctor Jones]

Sweet photo!

*right clicks and saves*

[WVsax27]

Just an FYI...Heath's family will accept the Oscar if he wins

http://hollywoodinsider.ew.com/2009/02/heath-ledgers-f.html?xid=rss-hollywoodinsider-Heath%20Ledger%27s%20family%20will%20accept%20Osca r%20if%20late%20actor%20wins

[Clark Kent]

Pics of all the DGA nominees:

http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd87/sugarfiend06/dganoms.jpg

Note how Nolan is the best dressed of the bunch. As usual. :funny:

Who's the guy on the far right?

[Paradoxium]

Who's the guy on the far right?I'm surprised you asked this question, considering pretty much everyone was screaming for him to direct a Batman movie prior to Nolan (pre-BB). I'll give you a hint: Se7en

[Clark Kent]

That's David Fincher? I didn't think he looked like that.

[RakuMon]

Interesting article in the NY Times about how everyone at ABC is desperate to get eyeballs to its Oscar broadcast despite the fact that the Academy isn't helping with their nominees:

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/02/movies/awardsseason/02oscars.html?partner=rss&emc=rss&pagewanted=print

Oscars Suspense: Will People Watch?
By MICHAEL CIEPLY

LOS ANGELES — Flanking the grand staircase of the Kodak Theater here are pillars with spots reserved for the titles of Academy Award-winning best pictures through 2071.

But right now Hollywood will be happy just to wring a show from the movies of 2008.

The nominations of a still relatively little-seen crop of best-picture contenders — “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button,” “Frost/Nixon,” “Milk,” “The Reader” and “Slumdog Millionaire,” which together have accumulated less than half the box office of “The Dark Knight,” which was snubbed — are making it harder for producers of the Oscar ceremony to deliver on an earlier promise: to create a big night for the movies, even if some of the movies are not so big. Operatives of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences are quietly scrambling to assemble an event that would make some extraordinary bows in the direction of the crowd while trying to do right by the honorees.

Producers of the show — to be hosted by Hugh Jackman and broadcast Feb. 22 on ABC — are even trying to liven up the proceedings by asking studios and others to provide scenes from future films, according to a request sent to various companies last month.

The idea, if the clips prove watchable, is for Mr. Jackman to sign off the broadcast with fresh 10-second snippets of two dozen new movies, to run on a split screen with the end credits.

That and other changes are aimed at raising low ratings for what the academy, which depends on the Oscars for almost all of its roughly $70 million in annual revenue, has been calling “The Biggest Movie Event of the Year.”

There is inherent drama in an off-center Oscar race that finds what many consider the presumptive best picture, “Slumdog Millionaire,” with no acting nominations while “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button,” which leads the pack with 13 nominations, is viewed as an underdog.

But some of Hollywood’s most prominent players — including several with films in this year’s race — are privately grumbling that the rituals of Oscar night have outlived any real sense of excitement about the event.

After the American audience for last year’s Oscar show hit an all-time low of about 32 million viewers, ABC cut its rate for a 30-second ad on this year’s broadcast to $1.4 million from $1.7 million, according to Advertising Age.

The academy’s deal with ABC runs through 2014. But Walt Disney’s international television unit, which distributes the Oscar telecast abroad, has yet to renew the foreign-rights contract, which expires after next year’s show.

Kevin Brockman, executive vice president for Disney’s global communications, declined to say whether the company had begun negotiating a new deal for foreign rights or to say how much revenue comes from those sales abroad. But published reports have put the figure at about $15 million, and international interest in the Oscars appears to have remained strong while American ratings languished.

Laurence Mark, the show’s producer, and Bill Condon, its executive producer, declined to discuss further specifics of a broadcast they had said would have surprises and a party atmosphere. But a number of people involved with the production — most of whom spoke on condition of anonymity to avoid conflict with the academy — described details of a ceremony that would try to reconnect with the moviegoing culture.

A production team under the immediate supervision of Michael Seligman, who has been a behind-the-scenes manager of Oscar shows since the 1980s, closed the Kodak Theater to its usual daily tourist visits as preparations began in earnest last week.

“They’re always obsessive about keeping things secret, but especially this year,” said the writer Bruce Vilanch, another Oscar perennial who is again working on the show.

That Mr. Seligman, Mr. Vilanch and Danette Herman, a longtime talent coordinator for the Oscars, remain on board signals that not everything is changing. All of the awards, other than those for scientific and technical achievement, for instance, will still be presented on screen, despite repeated attempts over the years to push some of the less exciting categories — say, documentary short subject — to an off-camera forum.

Though tight-lipped, Mr. Vilanch, whose role has expanded from supplying his usual one-liners to more elaborate script work, let slip that there might be a shift in what he called “the grouping” of awards, though he declined to say what that might mean.

Others said the show itself would have a narrative line, with the awards arranged to tell a story that will involve presenters as well as nominees. In all, it is a bit of show business elaborate enough to require guidance from Fatima Robinson, who worked with Mr. Condon as choreographer of his film of the musical “Dreamgirls.”

Exactly who the presenters might be remains something of a mystery. Academy officials said last month that they planned to preserve an element of surprise this year by declining to identify in advance the stars who will hand out the prizes.

There has been a whisper as well that some celebrity arrivals on Oscar night might not walk the red carpet at all — a twist that would force the curious actually to watch the show itself to see all the celebrities and the gowns, rather than getting their fill from outside news media that cover the arrivals for a host of outlets.

One of the more ticklish situations has involved the nominated songs. Mr. Mark and Mr. Condon lost a ratings draw when Bruce Springsteen, an Oscar winner for “Streets of Philadelphia,” was not nominated for his theme song for “The Wrestler.” Meanwhile the nomination of two songs from “Slumdog Millionaire” could give the evening a Bollywood flavor if the songs were performed onstage, as has often been done. The other nominated song, by Peter Gabriel and Thomas Newman, is from “Wall-E.”

As of last week the plan was to build part of each song into a single production number. Mr. Jackman was expected to sing in another sequence assembled by the director Baz Luhrmann, whose credits include the movie musical “Moulin Rouge!,” and by the Broadway choreographer Rob Ashford.

Yet another film director, Bennett Miller, who was nominated in 2006 for his work on “Capote,” has been putting together a similarly novel sequence. It will feature some of the nominated filmmakers swapping thoughts with what the show’s insiders are calling “civilians,” the ordinary moviegoers who have drifted away from the last few broadcasts.

The biggest challenge, given the record, may be getting viewers to check out the retooled show at all. To that end ABC and the academy have for the first time begun a joint promotional program, coordinated by the Omelet advertising agency. “We decided that we’d get more bang for our buck if we had a fully integrated campaign with a consistent message,” said Janet Weiss, director of marketing for the academy.

The message, on posters and Web sites and in televised ads, aims to tell people that this year’s show has something even for viewers who may not care much for the nominees.

Anyway, Ms. Weiss said in a recent telephone interview, the more pop-minded fans should find a glimmer of comfort in the supporting actor nominations that went to Heath Ledger, as the Joker in “The Dark Knight,” and Robert Downey Jr., for his blackface turn in “Tropic Thunder.”

“The Oscars,” she said, “is a show for them too.”

Rebecca Cathcart contributed reporting.

[Anita18]

That's David Fincher? I didn't think he looked like that.
What did you think he looked like? :funny:

[batman11]

Haven't seen this posted yet:

http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s216/batman111111/darknightacademynominationsad.jpg

[Silverglade]

fantastic photo

[Asr]

WTF, Nolan was robbed of his deserving Director's Guild award! This is madness! Now Slumdog Millionaire was a good film (a great one even) but the directing was nothing special. TDK on the other hand clearly had masterful directing! I say we revolt!!!

[WVsax27]

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b372/Fallglimmer/darkknight2.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b372/Fallglimmer/darkknight.jpg

[WVsax27]

oh, the BAFTAs are going to be aired on BBC America on tape delay 8 pm EST Sunday. They should actually be over at 6 in real time, so the winners will be out before hand.

[Steelsheen]

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b372/Fallglimmer/darkknight2.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b372/Fallglimmer/darkknight.jpg

oh, the BAFTAs are going to be aired on BBC America on tape delay 8 pm EST Sunday. They should actually be over at 6 in real time, so the winners will be out before hand.

nice photos dude, thanks for posting those :up:

anybody gonna be recording the BAFTAS?

[Pennyworth]

Great photos WVsax27. Thanks :up:

[Kargo Warrior]

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/files/2009/01/ballot-alert-ac.html

Sigh...at least he's voting for Heath :oldrazz:

[Anita18]

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/files/2009/01/ballot-alert-ac.html

Sigh...at least he's voting for Heath :oldrazz:
Sigh indeed.

Or maybe I just don't get it. The Reader...I suppose I could take more out of it if I saw it more than once, but I really, really don't care to. And I want this guy to explain to me why the protagonist has to go to the concentration camp. :oldrazz:

TDK is really the first film where I want to sit and pick it apart.

[batman11]

I really, REALLY hope The Reader wins. I want to see the Oscar-watching community explode. :woot:

[byte19]

dude!!! c'mon man!! make a video of that!!;)

[batman11]

dude!!! c'mon man!! make a video of that!!;)

Hahaha...I've actually got another funny thing in mind, however, I'm not sure if I'll ever be able to pump it out. Just to let you know, its in the vein of Tropic Knight...sorta. ;)

[byte19]

oh dear.....

[batman11]

oh dear.....

Hehehe....:hehe:

[Kieser1]

So when is the Oscars btw?

[Silverglade]

Feb 22

[FCEEVIPER]

Haven't seen this posted yet:

http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s216/batman111111/darknightacademynominationsad.jpg
Just, beautiful.

[WVsax27]

I'll probably tape the BAFTAs...if not they normally load the whole show on their website. They are a bit more layed back about that stuff

[Paradoxium]

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/files/2009/01/ballot-alert-ac.html

Sigh...at least he's voting for Heath :oldrazz:wooooo wooo gogo The Reader FTW :woot::up:

:down:cmad: Heath FTL :cmad:

[WVsax27]

Varitey did a Director/Actor thing for the Oscars, while the rest were all new photos they did make this cool composite of Heath and Nolan

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b372/Fallglimmer/actors-directors-0903-pp09.jpg

[NickyTea]

Sigh indeed.

Or maybe I just don't get it. The Reader...I suppose I could take more out of it if I saw it more than once, but I really, really don't care to. And I want this guy to explain to me why the protagonist has to go to the concentration camp. :oldrazz:

TDK is really the first film where I want to sit and pick it apart.

Don't bother with The Reader. I delved in and found a giant pit of lonely nothing *****. Totally awesome-less.

It has, in my opinion, the worst example of audience-superior in movie history. Did anyone ... ANYONE take it as a surprise when the film "reveals" the secret of the lead female character of The READER?

They FLASHED to CLUES at the hour-fifteen mark, when we all knew it at the twenty MINUTE mark. Un-friggin-believable. My jaw fell to the floor for minutes after that friggin' court-room "reveal." Spice that up with the fact that the tension and drama thereafter lies in the male lead's "dilema" over this "discovery" ... it just underscores the entire dramatic basis with an air of unbelievable stench-drenched *****.

The Dark Knight rules.

[Anita18]

Don't bother with The Reader. I delved in and found a giant pit of lonely nothing *****. Totally awesome-less.

It has, in my opinion, the worst example of audience-superior in movie history. Did anyone ... ANYONE take it as a surprise when the film "reveals" the secret of the lead female character of The READER?

They FLASHED to CLUES at the hour-fifteen mark, when we all knew it at the twenty MINUTE mark. Un-friggin-believable. My jaw fell to the floor for minutes after that friggin' court-room "reveal." Spice that up with the fact that the tension and drama thereafter lies in the male lead's "dilema" over this "discovery" ... it just underscores the entire dramatic basis with an air of unbelievable stench-drenched *****.

The Dark Knight rules.
I did watch it, but laughed at the "Property of the Weinstein Company, do not duplicate" watermark. :hehe:

I thought it was all right. The "reveal" wasn't the part that made me :whatever:, it was the fact that they introduced the film's main theme of guilt and shame halfway through, when there was nary a glimmer of it in the first half. And that it took an outspoken minor character to EXPLAIN it to us then, in case we missed its introduction. :oldrazz:

Also, can you explain to me why the main character has to go to the abandoned concentration camp to prove to himself that the Holocaust was terrible? Please, he can be dumb but he's not THAT dumb.

I dunno, I feel a better film was in there, but it needed a few more passes in the editing room.

[Paradoxium]

You guys are hatin' and bashin' on The Reader 'cause your jealous of its superior quality over TDK. Your tastes are clearly inferior to teH Academy :o :cmad:

Nothing like watching some relaxing Holocaust Porn Award Fodder on a Tuesday evening whilst swishing down and sniffing the cork of a Chateau de cul. :grin:

[jmc]

I really, REALLY hope The Reader wins. I want to see the Oscar-watching community explode. :woot:

Add Ledger and WALL-E losing and that community will declare war on The Academy.

[Anita18]

You guys are hatin' and bashin' on The Reader 'cause your jealous of its superior quality over TDK. Your tastes are clearly inferior to teH Academy :o :cmad:

Nothing like watching some relaxing Holocaust Porn Award Fodder on a Tuesday evening whilst swishing down and sniffing the cork of a Chateau de cul. :grin:
In a hot bath, I assume? :cwink:

[Nirvana]

If the Reader won Best Picture, I have no idea what I would think...That picture of Nolan, Boyle, Fincher, Howard and Van Sant at the DGA is really nice.

[$klaary]

Haven't seen this posted yet:

http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s216/batman111111/darknightacademynominationsad.jpg

Do you have a bigger version?

[Etienne]

http://www.imdb.com/news/ni0667851/
"Surprises" Promised For Oscars

Producers of the Feb. 22 81st Annual Academy Awards (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1219288/) telecast indicated Monday that it will offer a number of surprises but they gave little hint of what sort of surprises they intended to produce. Today's (Tuesday) New York Times reported that at the annual Oscar nominees luncheon at the Beverly Hilton hotel, Motion Picture Academy President Sid Ganis (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0304398/) told the nominees that the show would carry "many, many risks" and that the nominees should "be prepared." He said producers Bill Condon (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0174374/) and Laurence Mark (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0548257/) had asked him to tell the nominees "to stay alert." The Times, citing people close to the show, said that this year's Oscars show will "have its own narrative line -- not merely handing out the awards, but doing it in a way that tells a story -- while including surprises that are designed to staunch the ratings erosion of recent years."

[Motown Marvel]

^^im intrigued.

[Paradoxium]

In a hot bath, I assume? :cwink:
Don't be silly, that's not pretentious and sissy enough, a lavender and honey bubble bath :grin:

[Paradoxium]

^^im intrigued.This reeks of gimmicks. Somehow someway those bastards are going to make the best supporting actor award one of the last awards just to milk people into watching the whole thing :cmad:

[p.marlowe]

This reeks of gimmicks. Somehow someway those bastards are going to make the best supporting actor award one of the last awards just to milk people into watching the whole thing :cmad:

I agree. It's like they are trying to copy WWE wrestling or something.

[Anita18]

Some more predictions trickling in...

I swear, if The Reader gets Best Cinematography over TDK or Benjamin Button or heck, even Slumdog, I will kick an old person. :cmad: Didn't even see The Reader on a big screen, have no care to. TDK on the other hand...if they re-released it in IMAX every year I'd go. :hehe:

[Steelsheen]

This reeks of gimmicks. Somehow someway those bastards are going to make the best supporting actor award one of the last awards just to milk people into watching the whole thing :cmad:
dammit, now that you said it, they might just pull that off.

f-ing amateurs :cmad:

[RakuMon]

This reeks of gimmicks. Somehow someway those bastards are going to make the best supporting actor award one of the last awards just to milk people into watching the whole thing :cmad:

If that's true, me and the Oscars, we're f-ing done professionally. :cmad:

[Bim]

If that's true, me and the Oscars, we're f-ing done professionally. :cmad:
:hehe:

[FlawlessVictory]

Good to see The Reader is holding up well on RT. It is now considered rotten. 59% rating (93 fresh, 64 rotten) 6.3/10 avg rating. :down

[LostSon88]

If the Oscars really wanted a ratings boost, they would've dropped The Reader and popped in TDK into the Best Pic category...that or even The Wrestler. I seriously have no plans to watch it. I'll catch the BSA award on youtube or somthing...

http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j98/JaYd_88/NolanLedger.jpg
Photoshopped or not, its an awesome photo.

[shadowman2]

I still can't believe those snobs in the Academy nominated The Reader or Frost/Nixon over The Dark Knight! What a shame. TDK was my personal Best Pic of the year. It deserved more love than it got. Its a shame Nolan didn't even get a Directing nod. Nor a screenplay. I mean, really?! WTF is wrong with the Academy?! *******s. There's my rant. I could go on. I know there's politics involved though.

[shadowman2]

I think Slumdog should win Best Picture, Director, and screenplay. It is the most deserving nominee IMO. Milk deserved a nod as well. So did Benjamin Button (haha....but no way a win). The Dark Knight deserved to be among the best for sure. A win would've been really hard, but at least a nomination would do the film justice.

[Twofaceguy]

omg the dark knight didint get teh oscar i must kill my self


seriously you guys are over reacting

[Anita18]

NYT on the Oscar campaigning for Heath:

Delicately Campaigning for a Star Now Departed
By DAVID CARR

It’s a Hollywood studio dream come true. One of the best young actors of our age turns in a bravura performance in one of the top-grossing films of all time and is rewarded with an Oscar nomination.

There’s just one catch. One year to the day before he was nominated for best supporting actor in “The Dark Knight” Heath Ledger was found dead in a New York apartment. So how do you run an Oscar campaign for someone who is no longer with us?

Very carefully. Warner Brothers has managed to walk the line between elegy and ghoulishness, reminding the public and the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences that one of the great performances in 2008 was the last of Mr. Ledger’s career, but doing so without seeming to commodify his death.

There is a kind of institutional graciousness at work. Many Oscar campaigns are executed not because of the quality of the movie — see the campaign for “Seven Pounds” — but because A-list talent requires it. Mr. Ledger, though, has no needs on this earth; a victory will not serve as a career booster and fee raiser.

The movie did stupendously in theaters ($532 million domestically and counting), and it continues to do well as a DVD; an added laurel or sticker connoting Oscar recognition will not alter that math. Still, it seems right. If this body of work is all that we as moviegoers will have from Mr. Ledger, probably best to hold this performance dear.

Warner Brothers entered the Oscar season with big hopes for “The Dark Knight.” The studio, and many who follow the Oscar competition, felt that the movie, a sequel to “Batman Begins” from 2005, had a legitimate shot at best picture, a rare feat for a franchise film based on a comic book series. “The Dark Knight” was not just a popcorn movie. With its noirish visual template and mordant take on human motivation, critics flocked to its corner and elevated it beyond its cartoonish origins.

The film was conjured by the British director Christopher Nolan, whose pedigree derives from “Memento” and “The Prestige.” But the singular achievement that the put “The Dark Knight” into a higher orbit was the glory of Heath Ledger’s performance as the Joker.

The New York Times critic Manohla Dargis clearly liked the movie but was completely smitten — as were we all — by Mr. Ledger’s version of the Joker.

“No matter how cynical you feel about Hollywood, it is hard not to fall for a film that makes room for a shot of the Joker leaning out the window of a stolen police car and laughing into the wind, the city’s colored lights gleaming behind him like jewels,” she wrote last July when the movie came out. “He’s just a clown painted on black velvet, but he’s also some kind of masterpiece.”

It is exactly this image, with a make-up-smeared Mr. Ledger meeting the wind and speed with canine glee, that is one of the more oft-seen print ads in the trade press this season, where everything and anything with a shot at an Oscar (and sometimes something without a shot) is offered “For Your Consideration.” It is a vivid image, but you don’t have to veer too far into semiotics to see that the man hanging his head out the car window is on his way to a reckless, chaotic death.

Is it wrong for us to stare, to reminisce, to regret? Hardly. Mr. Ledger’s death, which created a huge wave of public grief, was clearly a seminal moment in popular culture. The studio needed to navigate all those currents in releasing the film and in the Oscar ritual as well.

When the nominations were announced, the studio’s broader aspirations were not fulfilled — best picture and best director nods were not to be — but the film did receive eight nominations, including a best-supporting-actor acknowledgment for Mr. Ledger.

That left the studio with both an opportunity and some problems. Mr. Ledger’s death created a reservoir of sympathy and an opportunity for tribute from his colleagues. But it was unlike other instances in which the Academy was considering the work of someone had died.

Peter Finch, who played Howard Beale in “Network,” was on tour in 1977 promoting the film when he had a heart attack and died. He went on to become the first and still the only posthumous winner of an acting Oscar. Mr. Ledger’s death by accidental drug overdose was a terrible event that occurred before the movie was even released.

On a more practical level it meant he would not be a physical presence on the promotional trail. I worked the Oscar circuit in 2006 and watched Mr. Ledger in support of “Brokeback Mountain,” then a favorite for best picture, and can say he never was much of a campaigner. A polite, nice man, he had little aptitude or appetite for trite talk at parties or events, even when he was up for a best actor Oscar, as he was then. For “The Dark Knight” the studio has eschewed any R.I.P. allusions in its trade advertising, instead relying on a steady (and not frantic) visual presence of somebody now best known for his absence, showing him in various guises: the crazed man in the nurse’s uniform, the immovable object standing in the middle of the street.

The specter of Mr. Ledger has created a large overhang this award season. His performance was recognized with victories at both the Golden Globes and the Screen Actors Guild ceremonies. And what would usually be moments for agent thanking and mom waving suddenly became something as solemn and reverent as an observance at Arlington.

“All of us who worked with Heath on ‘The Dark Knight’ accept this with an awful mixture of sadness but incredible pride,” Mr. Nolan said as he stood in for Mr. Ledger at the Golden Globes, adding, “He will be eternally missed, but he will never be forgotten.”

Sasha Stone, who blogs at Awards Daily (awardsdaily.com) and has been a ferocious advocate for “The Dark Knight,” said she thinks the noncampaign campaign has been effective.

“They had to walk a tightrope there, and no one really knew if they could,” she wrote in an e-mail message. “The studio didn’t flood the press with ‘Dark Knight’ ads, and they really could have.” (She remains, by the way, unconvinced that Mr. Ledger is a lock to win.)

Warner Brothers’ cautious approach — speaking of which, the company did not respond to a request for comment about the campaign — has served both the actor and the moment very well. When it came to the show part of the business, Mr. Ledger the person was always a bit of a ghost even when he was alive. On Feb. 22 when the awards are handed out, he will not be at the Kodak Theater, but his presence will be hard to miss.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/06/movies/awardsseason/06carr.html?_r=1&ref=arts

[BatmanEVH]

If the Oscars really wanted a ratings boost, they would've dropped The Reader and popped in TDK into the Best Pic category...that or even The Wrestler. I seriously have no plans to watch it. I'll catch the BSA award on youtube or somthing...

http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j98/JaYd_88/NolanLedger.jpg
Photoshopped or not, its an awesome photo.

It is photoshopped, but still nice

http://movies.yahoo.com/feature/buzz-log-vanity-fairs-digital-redux.html

[WVsax27]

I still can't believe those snobs in the Academy nominated The Reader or Frost/Nixon over The Dark Knight! What a shame. TDK was my personal Best Pic of the year. It deserved more love than it got. Its a shame Nolan didn't even get a Directing nod. Nor a screenplay. I mean, really?! WTF is wrong with the Academy?! *******s. There's my rant. I could go on. I know there's politics involved though.

There might be some politics involved in The Reader selection, but there are a number of people in the Academy who genuinely LOVE Frost/Nixon.

[hatebox]

omg the dark knight didint get teh oscar i must kill my self


seriously you guys are over reacting


Who said that, exactly?

[WVsax27]

guys, all is well with the world...why? The Dark Knight is up for Best Movie at the kids choice awards, and we all know that is the one that really matters.

[I Am The Knight]

omg the dark knight didint get teh oscar i must kill my self

Bwahahahaha... :grin:

guys, all is well with the world...why? The Dark Knight is up for Best Movie at the kids choice awards, and we all know that is the one that really matters.

Will Nolan attend? :oldrazz:

[WVsax27]

Will Nolan attend? :oldrazz:

With stiff competition like High School Musical 3 and Bedtime Stories, probably no chance to win. Iron Man was also nominated though

[WVsax27]

lol

From Entertainment Weekly:

''I love Danny Boyle's movie. It's breathtaking,'' Weinstein says of Slumdog. ''It's a shame they're going to come in second.'' Harmless trash talk, perhaps. But could The Reader actually win? And if it does, could it resurrect Harvey Weinstein's status as the industry's most feared and fascinating studio head?

Even now, no one expects him to play by the rules. ''I bet you right now he's back to his old habits, out there trashing Slumdog,'' says an industry veteran who has gone toe-to-toe with Weinstein in the past. ''Those five noms he received are like crack for a recovering addict.''

[The Chris]

I hate that man sometimes.

[Anita18]

lol

From Entertainment Weekly:

''I love Danny Boyle's movie. It's breathtaking,'' Weinstein says of Slumdog. ''It's a shame they're going to come in second.'' Harmless trash talk, perhaps. But could The Reader actually win? And if it does, could it resurrect Harvey Weinstein's status as the industry's most feared and fascinating studio head?

Even now, no one expects him to play by the rules. ''I bet you right now he's back to his old habits, out there trashing Slumdog,'' says an industry veteran who has gone toe-to-toe with Weinstein in the past. ''Those five noms he received are like crack for a recovering addict.''
Oh snap. :lmao:

[Anita18]

Rest of the EW article here:

http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20007870_20164475_20257262,00.html

If The Reader wins BP, I will laugh my ass off.

But after reading that article, if The Reader wins Best Cinematography over TDK, Benjamin Button, and Slumdog, I will kick an old person AND a baby. :cmad:

[The Chris]

Anybody else think this can go down as one of oscar's biggest blunders if reader actually wins? (Probably is already one of the biggest blunders considering the movies it got a nod over)

[WVsax27]

In normally takes about 5-10 years before something is really seen as a true blunder when it comes to the Oscars, but that would probably be one.

[Anita18]

In normally takes about 5-10 years before something is really seen as a true blunder when it comes to the Oscars, but that would probably be one.
I think some are still wiping the :wow: off their faces from the Crash win over Brokeback Mountain, and that was just 4 years ago. :oldrazz:

[Crook]

*sigh*

It's people like him that taint the Oscar image. I'm still in utter amazement at how The Reader managed to make it into the biggest awards show over other movies that have had massively more success both with critics and box office.

I hope his company burns slow. :down

[Twofaceguy]

Who said that, exactly?

oh how these "civilized" people

[WVsax27]

I think some are still wiping the :wow: off their faces from the Crash win over Brokeback Mountain, and that was just 4 years ago. :oldrazz:


Yes, but even that is just now starting to have a real backlash because there were a few people who, at the time, truly did feel that Crash was the best movie. That was an upset, but a few of the "upsets" people like to talk about now weren't really upsets at all at the time. Just to go recent, some people act like A Beautiful Mind and Chicago winning were upsets when both were favorites going in.

[philranger]

if the Reader wins anything, i think Weinstein should apologize. let's just save time. he should apologize now! :cmad:

[The Chris]

Yes, but even that is just now starting to have a real backlash because there were a few people who, at the time, truly did feel that Crash was the best movie. That was an upset, but a few of the "upsets" people like to talk about now weren't really upsets at all at the time.

You know what, I like Crash, I liked it more than Brokeback at the time the oscars happened that year, but seeing Brokeback Mountain overtime, I've gotten to appreciate it much more, to the point that I say a mistake was made.

[WVsax27]

You know what, I like Crash, I liked it more than Brokeback at the time the oscars happened that year, but seeing Brokeback Mountain overtime, I've gotten to appreciate it much more, to the point that I say a mistake was made.


I wasn't really crazy about any of the nominees that year, but I did and do genially hate Crash. I saw it on TV a little while ago and it already looked dated

[The Chris]

I wasn't really crazy about any of the nominees that year, but I did and do genially hate Crash. I saw it on TV a little while ago and it already looked dated

2005 wasn't much of a year for me. My two favorite movies from that year are Still King Kong and Batman Begins. My favorite out of the BP noms was Munich.

[Steelsheen]

lol

From Entertainment Weekly:

''I love Danny Boyle's movie. It's breathtaking,'' Weinstein says of Slumdog. ''It's a shame they're going to come in second.'' Harmless trash talk, perhaps. But could The Reader actually win? And if it does, could it resurrect Harvey Weinstein's status as the industry's most feared and fascinating studio head?

Even now, no one expects him to play by the rules. ''I bet you right now he's back to his old habits, out there trashing Slumdog,'' says an industry veteran who has gone toe-to-toe with Weinstein in the past. ''Those five noms he received are like crack for a recovering addict.''
i am honestly dumbfounded how an arsehole like Harvey Weinstein can 1.) continue to get away with what he's doing and 2.) is still alive.


I think some are still wiping the :wow: off their faces from the Crash win over Brokeback Mountain, and that was just 4 years ago. :oldrazz:
i'm actually still wiping the :wow: off my face with Shakespear in Love's win over Saving Private Ryan.

[byte19]

hey what's going on?

*reads last couple of pages and quietly walks out of the room*

f**k.....

[WVsax27]

i'm actually still wiping the :wow: off my face with Shakespear in Love's win over Saving Private Ryan.

Again, Shakespear in Love wasn't totally out of nowhere like some people seem to remember. A number of people were picking it to win, it was a bit of an upset in terms of the precursors(Ryan won PGA and DGA and Shakespear had WGA and SAG) but a number of people saw it coming

[Steelsheen]

Again, Shakespear in Love wasn't totally out of nowhere like some people seem to remember. A number of people were picking it to win, it was a bit of an upset in terms of the precursors(Ryan won PGA and DGA and Shakespear had WGA and SAG) but a number of people saw it coming
yeah i knew that. but the fact that they gave Spielberg the Best Director Oscar was a bit anticlimactic when less than a minute later, Shakespeare In Love people trooped to the stage. i saw both, and i will say that SIL was good, but SPR was way way better.

[jmc]

*sigh*

It's people like him that taint the Oscar image. I'm still in utter amazement at how The Reader managed to make it into the biggest awards show over other movies that have had massively more success both with critics and box office.

I hope his company burns slow. :down

The man must have done some serious kissing arse to get The Reader in, little recognition in prior awards and guilds, little recognition by critics, absolutely no recognition by the general public, it makes absolutely no sense how a film of that nature can suddenly make it's way onto the biggest stage of them all when there were at least half a dozen films better than it. He is a stain on the Academy but he seems proud of it, and worse yet the Academy falls for whatever tricks it is he pulls.

[Boom]

If Slumdog Millionaire loses to The Reader, then I will honestly be speechless. I honest-to-God won't know if I can treat them with any sense of legitimacy anymore.

The Reader snubbing The Dark Knight for Best Picture? I can live with it, seeing as how I never would have bet on TDK making it on that list to begin with.

But it beating a vastly superior film? I just can't ****ing fathom that.

[Dark Donnie]

If Slumdog Millionaire loses to The Reader, then I will honestly be speechless. I honest-to-God won't know if I can treat them with any sense of legitimacy anymore.

The Reader snubbing The Dark Knight for Best Picture? I can live with it, seeing as how I never would have bet on TDK making it on that list to begin with.

But it beating a vastly superior film? I just can't ****ing fathom that.

What would you rate The Reader? Out of 10

[Red Mask]

How ironic that I just watched Kate Winslet's comment about Holocaust films winning Oscars. (Extras!) Looks like the odds are stacked in their favor.

[jmc]

How ironic that I just watched Kate Winslet's comment about Holocaust films winning Oscars. (Extras!) Looks like the odds are stacked in their favor.

It's funny coz it's true. :woot:

[Anita18]

What would you rate The Reader? Out of 10
I voted 6/10 on IMDB. I grade pretty harshly - if a film is baaaaad, I feel no qualms about giving it a 1 or 2.

It has some nice moments, but I didn't feel that it was coherent as a whole. And as for overall cinematic experience, TDK has The Reader beat. (Would anyone want to watch The Reader in IMAX? :lmao: )

But I guess the Oscars aren't grading for overall cinematic experience. :oldrazz: 2001: A Space Odyssey wasn't nominated for Best Picture, and I've barely heard of the 5 that did.

[p.marlowe]

"Crash" was a rip-off of Spike Lee's "Do the Right Thing".

[BatMatt]

"Crash" was a rip-off of Spike Lee's "Do the Right Thing".

Do the Right Thing is ten times the movie Crash was

[redfirebird2008]

If Slumdog Millionaire loses to The Reader, then I will honestly be speechless. I honest-to-God won't know if I can treat them with any sense of legitimacy anymore.

The Reader snubbing The Dark Knight for Best Picture? I can live with it, seeing as how I never would have bet on TDK making it on that list to begin with.

But it beating a vastly superior film? I just can't ****ing fathom that.

The Dark Knight is a vastly superior film to the Reader.

[gwynplaine]

How ironic that I just watched Kate Winslet's comment about Holocaust films winning Oscars. (Extras!) Looks like the odds are stacked in their favor.
Lol:woot:.
TDK, the wrestler and Gran Torino were robbed imo.

[p.marlowe]

Do the Right Thing is ten times the movie Crash was

Exactly my point. :yay:

[FCEEVIPER]

i'm actually still wiping the :wow: off my face with Shakespear in Love's win over Saving Private Ryan.
To this day, That still hurts. :csad:

[JaD]

I just saw a TV spot for the Oscars on the 22nd. They had clips of Christopher Nolan and TDK interspersed in there during a montage of actors and films.

I wanted to throw my TV out the window. :cmad:

[TNC9852002]

I just saw a TV spot for the Oscars on the 22nd. They had clips of Christopher Nolan and TDK interspersed in there during a montage of actors and films.

I wanted to throw my TV out the window. :cmad:
lol. Well, like many people have said.

Whether they get the recognition that they deserve or not, it won't make TDK less remarkable or any of the winning/nominated films morseo.

-TNC

[Anita18]

I just saw a TV spot for the Oscars on the 22nd. They had clips of Christopher Nolan and TDK interspersed in there during a montage of actors and films.

I wanted to throw my TV out the window. :cmad:
:lmao: Oh, the poor ABC guys are trying....

Since we already know Heath's family will pick up the Oscar if he wins, will Nolan even have a reason to show up?

[Anita18]

And this is pretty amusing:

Five Oscar-Night Surprises We'd Like to See

With less than 17 days remaining in the bone-grinding death-march that is the awards season, we find ourselves limping to the end of a week where the most significant Oscar-related news is generated by a fancy lunch, a yearly event where nominees are treated to a free meal before being shown photographs of the bound-and-gagged loved ones who will be harmed in the event their acceptance speeches run long. Given that Slumdog Millionaire’s seemingly inevitable steamrolling of the Best Picture competition has drained the tension from the evening’s biggest contest, it’s fallen to first-time Oscar producers Laurence Mark and Bill Condon to generate some excitement with a totally revamped telecast, the details of which—such as the small matter of who will actually be on stage to hand out all those tiny, petrified eunuchs—have been guarded like the location of Dick Cheney’s secret suspended-animation chamber. What mind-melting innovations will Mark and Condon let loose on an unsuspecting audience of millions on Hollywood’s Biggest Night? Some hints have already been pried loose by reporters, but now we present our best guesses about what we might see during this reimagined ceremony.

“Hey, We Screwed Up”: A Tribute To The Dark Knight
In a ground-breaking attempt to lure viewers alienated by this award season’s most glaring Best Picture snub, the usually doggedly out-of-touch Academy will dedicate a ten-minute segment to celebrating critical darling The Dark Knight’s $500-plus-million box office run immediately following Heath Ledger’s posthumous Best Supporting Actor win. The tribute package will include the unprecedented gathering of every living Batman (Adam West, Michael Keaton, Val Kilmer, George Clooney, and Christian Bale) on a single stage, who’ll join in an imaginatively choreographed piece set to Prince’s “Bat Dance.” At the segment’s conclusion, the recently embattled Bale will be given a moment to publicly apologize to the Terminator: Salvation director of photography he berated in a now-infamous clip virally circulated via the internet, explaining, “Once you’re Batman, there’s a certain darkness you can never quite escape, especially when somebody ****ing starts fiddling with the lights when you’re trying to access a really painful emotion. Sorry, sorry. There I go again,” a sentiment that prompts the nearby Kilmer to collapse in a sobbing, empathetic heap.

The Oscar Cannon
Acknowledging the impolitic truth that the television audience couldn’t care less about the not-so-sexy (but still vitally important to the moviemaking craft! etc etc) categories that leadenly occupy the show’s middle hours, Condon and Mark will instruct victorious editors/sound designers/short-form documentarians to remain at their seats following their wins, then deliver their statuettes to their places in the Kodak Theater balcony with a high-powered, pneumatic cannon wielded by specially trained spokesmodel-marksmen. Not only will this change save precious airtime, it will inject a sports-arena-like atmosphere into the proceedings, transforming normally reserved attendees into rabidly engaged fans eager to snatch a lofted Oscar from the outstretched hands of a costumer with poor reaction time. (Winners in these categories will still receive their customary standby tickets to the Governor’s Ball, where they’ll be free to nosh on any Wolfgang Puck–catered leftovers cooling on the largely picked-clean buffet tables.)

A Trip To The Green Room
Coverage of the red carpet, the ceremony itself, and backstage press conferences only tell part of the Oscar story. In an attempt to recapture some of the uninhibited, clubby feel of a Hollywood golden age unfamiliar to many younger viewers, neophyte host Hugh Jackman will occasionally drop by the show’s green room for some comic relief, where presenters, bored stars tired of sitting in the audience, and other open-bar-seeking VIPs throw back drinks and crack wise about the evening’s highlights. The segment will generate a watercooler-worthy moment when Best Actor nominee Mickey Rourke threatens to staple-gun an overeager Jackman for repeatedly offering to recreate one of the The Wrestler’s lapdancing scenes as Rourke tries to relax on a couch, insisting that “Marisa Tomei will think it’s hilarious!”

The Being Jack Nicholson Cam
A staple of the Oscar telecast for decades, reaction shots of a Ray-Ban-clad, shark-grinning Jack Nicholson have long been the best friend of producers looking to salvage a clunky acceptance speech joke with one of the living legend’s inimitable “Hey, don’t look at me!” shrugs. This year, Nicholson’s signature sunglasses will contain a tiny camera that allows the audience to experience what he sees from his front-row seat (the tips of his shoes, the glistening flop-sweat of a floundering presenter, the Armani-draped cleavage of a nearby starlet) in real-time.

Robert Downey Jr. Does Whatever The Hell He Wants
After three hours of speeches, montages and musical numbers, incorrigible Hollywood raconteur and Best Supporting Actor nominee Robert Downey Jr. will be given five minutes with which to do anything he wishes, in hopes that the thespian’s boundless energy will revive an exhausted audience’s flagging interest in the show. Due to the inherent unpredictability of such a segment, the Oscar producers will impose an additional 15 seconds of censor-appeasing delay, just in case an improvised, one-man scene involving Downey’s Iron Man and Tropic Thunder characters on a Tijuana bender takes an FCC-provoking turn.


http://www.vanityfair.com/online/oscars/2009/02/five-oscarnight-surprises-wed-like-to-see.html

:lmao: The Oscar Cannon and RDJ doing whatever he wants - I'd watch that. :hehe:

[WVsax27]

Bat Dance makes EVERYTHING better...

[redfirebird2008]

I just saw a TV spot for the Oscars on the 22nd. They had clips of Christopher Nolan and TDK interspersed in there during a montage of actors and films.

I wanted to throw my TV out the window. :cmad:

Talk about false advertising. Out of the three major snubs it received, the one I'm most bothered by is Director. WTF does this guy have to do to be nominated? Apparently you have to completely sell out like David Fincher did this year with the ultimate Oscar-bait Benjamin Button. Aronofsky, Nolan, and Fincher were 3 of the best directors who haven't been nominated for Best Director until Fincher went the Oscar bait route and managed to get a nomination, even though it's for vastly inferior work compared to the likes of Seven, Fight Club, and Zodiac. Aronofsky and Nolan are still making great work and still not selling out to the Academy. Good for them.

[Anita18]

Talk about false advertising. Out of the three major snubs it received, the one I'm most bothered by is Director. WTF does this guy have to do to be nominated? Apparently you have to completely sell out like David Fincher did this year with the ultimate Oscar-bait Benjamin Button. Aronofsky, Nolan, and Fincher were 3 of the best directors who haven't been nominated for Best Director until Fincher went the Oscar bait route and managed to get a nomination, even though it's for vastly inferior work compared to the likes of Seven, Fight Club, and Zodiac. Aronofsky and Nolan are still making great work and still not selling out to the Academy. Good for them.
Nolan and Aronofsky are still pretty new directors. Nolan's only done 6 feature films, Aronofsky 4.

And Fincher's definitely been snubbed more than either of them. :funny: Shame that he finally got a nomination for his "Oscar bait" movie. But I guess they're all about the bait, and giving the awards to people who should have won them earlier. :oldrazz:

[Paradoxium]

And this is pretty amusing:



http://www.vanityfair.com/online/oscars/2009/02/five-oscarnight-surprises-wed-like-to-see.html

:lmao: The Oscar Cannon and RDJ doing whatever he wants - I'd watch that. :hehe:Hell with that, RDJ should of host the damn thing over Jackman. Despite being Wolvie... Jackman's real personality is a bit too fey for my taste.

[Anita18]

Hell with that, RDJ should of host the damn thing over Jackman. Despite being Wolvie... Jackman's real personality is a bit too fey for my taste.
Nah, that'd never happen. Because RDJ is too cool to host the Oscars. :oldrazz:

[redfirebird2008]

Nolan and Aronofsky are still pretty new directors. Nolan's only done 6 feature films, Aronofsky 4.

And Fincher's definitely been snubbed more than either of them. :funny: Shame that he finally got a nomination for his "Oscar bait" movie. But I guess they're all about the bait, and giving the awards to people who should have won them earlier. :oldrazz:

How has Fincher been more snubbed than either of them? I think Fincher has made, prior to this year, 3 films worthy of nomination. Nolan too has made 3 films worthy of nomination prior to this year.

[Anita18]

How has Fincher been more snubbed than either of them? I think Fincher has made, prior to this year, 3 films worthy of nomination. Nolan too has made 3 films worthy of nomination prior to this year.
I'll give you Memento, but Prestige was too small in terms of effect (I mean, hello, Fight Club and Se7en!) and...were you referring to BB as the third? I dunno if I'd give him BB for Best Directing.

[redfirebird2008]

I'll give you Memento, but Prestige was too small in terms of effect (I mean, hello, Fight Club and Se7en!) and...were you referring to BB as the third? I dunno if I'd give him BB for Best Directing.

Nolan's direction in Batman Begins was just as good as it is in TDK. It IS one of the best movies of 2005. Memento is better than both Seven and Fight Club while The Prestige is on similar turf to those two. Zodiac is the best movie of 2007. So yes, I think both had around 3 movies that they should have been nominated for Best Director prior to this year. And unlike Fincher, Nolan hasn't had any garbage Alien 3 debacles in his career so far. Meanwhile, I think Aronofsky's The Wrestler is the best movie of 2008 and he definitely should have been nominated.

[Pennyworth]

I just saw a TV spot for the Oscars on the 22nd. They had clips of Christopher Nolan and TDK interspersed in there during a montage of actors and films.

I wanted to throw my TV out the window. :cmad:

I saw the same spot...same reaction. Between the numerous shots of Heath, Batman landing on the roof of the van, and Nolan - on set - saying "action," I was beyond irritated. It's like ABC is hoping people don't remember who is nominated and is just pimping out the TDK footage in a last minute attempt to gain viewers. Lame. :down

[Crook]

TDK is nominated for 8 categories. It's not like it's false advertising.

[Caped Crusader]

TDK is nominated for 8 categories. It's not like it's false advertising.

:up:

[Jokers_Wild]

Nolan will eventually make his Oscar-bait film, and get the Oscar. It'll never be for a Batman film, although we know that's what it'll really be for. :cwink:

[WVsax27]

the BAFTAs will be streamed live here..the red carpet is on now.

http://www.justin.tv/baftas (http://www.justin.tv/baftas09)

[Doctor Jones]

Nolan will eventually make his Oscar-bait film, and get the Oscar. It'll never be for a Batman film, although we know that's what it'll really be for. :cwink:

No, this is the academy. When they make stupid decisions and snub somebody and this goes for a director mostly they will eventually nominate them down the line because they feel they need to make up for when they didnt nominate them before when they rightfully should of so they think they have to owe up to that and give it to them. This happened with Scorsese.

[p.marlowe]

Nolan will eventually make his Oscar-bait film, and get the Oscar. It'll never be for a Batman film, although we know that's what it'll really be for. :cwink:

Yes. They missed the boat on Memento as well.

[WVsax27]

Memento came out just before the Oscars went indie crazy

[p.marlowe]

Memento came out just before the Oscars went indie crazy

They've been clueless for decades. Cary Grant never won an Oscar for a piece of work he did. He received an honorary Oscar in 1986 (I believe) for his body of work.
(I should maybe mention that I think Cary Grant is the greatest screen actor of all-time.)

[WVsax27]

They've been clueless for decades. Cary Grant never won an Oscar for a piece of work he did. He received an honorary Oscar in 1986 (I believe) for his body of work.
(I should maybe mention that I think Cary Grant is the greatest screen actor of all-time.)

I was referring to Independent Film, which the Oscars have been jumping all over in recent years

[BLACK-SPIDEY]

the BAFTAs will be streamed live here..the red carpet is on now.

http://www.justin.tv/baftas (http://www.justin.tv/baftas09)

in what categories is TDK in these awards?

[WVsax27]

in what categories is TDK in these awards?


Sound,Makeup, Visual Effects, Cinematography, Production design, score, Supporting Actor, Editing, Costume Design

I'll update for those of you that don't feel like watching. The nomination clips can be seen here http://www.bafta.org/awards/film/film-nominations-in-2009,657,BA.html

[BLACK-SPIDEY]

Sound,Makeup, Visual Effects, Cinematography, Production design, score, Supporting Actor, Editing, Costume Design

I'll update for those of you that don't feel like watching. The nomination clips can be seen here http://www.bafta.org/awards/film/film-nominations-in-2009,657,BA.html

NICE!! i prefer this over the oscars.

[Anita18]

Nolan's direction in Batman Begins was just as good as it is in TDK. It IS one of the best movies of 2005. Memento is better than both Seven and Fight Club while The Prestige is on similar turf to those two. Zodiac is the best movie of 2007. So yes, I think both had around 3 movies that they should have been nominated for Best Director prior to this year. And unlike Fincher, Nolan hasn't had any garbage Alien 3 debacles in his career so far. Meanwhile, I think Aronofsky's The Wrestler is the best movie of 2008 and he definitely should have been nominated.
I dunno, I didn't feel Nolan's stamp as much on BB. BB is the least Nolanesque movie in his filmography. That's why I was amazed when the first reviews of TDK came out and some called it Nolan's "pinnacle." I wasn't sure if he'd really go full Nolan on a tentpole Batman movie. :cwink:

But I suppose being an auteur is certainly not a prerequisite for an Oscar nomination. :funny:

TDK is nominated for 8 categories. It's not like it's false advertising.
It IS somewhat false advertising if they show Nolan directing, because he was not nominated for that. But TDK was nominated for 8, so...it's not like they're totally lying. :cwink:

NICE!! i prefer this over the oscars.
The BAFTA still shafted TDK for Best Director and Best Picture. :oldrazz: It was the second sign that the Academy wouldn't go for it - the first was the Golden Globes.

[Anita18]

Sound,Makeup, Visual Effects, Cinematography, Production design, score, Supporting Actor, Editing, Costume Design

I'll update for those of you that don't feel like watching. The nomination clips can be seen here http://www.bafta.org/awards/film/film-nominations-in-2009,657,BA.html
Heh, apparently the BAFTAs are tape-delayed and some of the results have already transpired, although all of the awards blogs are under a "strict embargo" not to reveal them. How lame. :funny:

[WVsax27]

Slumdog won score and Sound...yes, you heard right, SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE won best Sound.

Button won Production design and Makeup

[Anita18]

Slumdog won score and Sound...yes, you heard right, SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE won best Sound.

Button won Production design and Makeup
Over Wall-E...sigh, what else is new aside from the Slumdog love. :oldrazz:

My sound mixing friend was pissed that Slumdog was nominated for Best Sound anything at the Oscars. And now this. :funny:

[WVsax27]

Slumdog wins Cinematography...I think they are just voting for anything it is nominated for.

[Anita18]

Slumdog wins Cinematography...I think they are just voting for anything it is nominated for.
After the Sound win, duh.

At least The Reader didn't win. :funny:

[WVsax27]

Dev Patel is going to win best actor...just you wait and see

[Anita18]

Dev Patel is going to win best actor...just you wait and see
Don't forget Frieda Pinto for Best Supporting Actress! :woot:

At least that would throw a wrench into things instead of joining the snooze train.

[Ace of Knaves]

How did TDK not win cinematography?

[Anita18]

How did TDK not win cinematography?
The entire BAFTA committee (as will AMPAS) votes on the tech categories. So it's not like they have ANY clue what they're doing - they're just swept along in the Slumdog love. And Wally Pfister will win his Oscar for a later movie which he might not deserve to. :oldrazz:

As long as The Reader doesn't win! :hehe:

[WVsax27]

BAFTA missed Cinematography last year...this seems to me like a year where they are just going crazy for a British film. I again bring up the year when Titanic won NOTHING...not even tech awards.

The Duchess wins costumes

[Anita18]

BAFTA missed Cinematography last year...this seems to me like a year where they are just going crazy for a British film. I again bring up the year when Titanic won NOTHING...not even tech awards.
Better to be pleasantly surprised. I have no more faith in the rest of the awards season - Slumdog will win everything it's nominated for. And anything else will be an upset. :oldrazz:

[WVsax27]

I don't think it will win both Sound awards at the Oscars

[Anita18]

I don't think it will win both Sound awards at the Oscars
At this rate, you never know. :oldrazz:

Although it really either should be Wall-E or TDK. But as I said, no more faith.

[scifiwolf]

I think WALL-E is the hands-down best-mixed film of the year. Especially when taking into consideration there is no sound recorded on a location. Ben Burtt and his collaborators kicked all kinds of a** on that project.

[WVsax27]

I think the Oscars will give TDK something other than supporting actor

[Aloys]

Does anyone knows the sizes of the Imax screens in New York City? Are they really big? I want to catch the rerun of The Dark Knight over there. But since we in Amsterdam only got some crappy small screen Imax I wanna know if it's "worth the trip".

[WVsax27]

at least Cruz won supporting actress..I was afraid they might give that to Freida Pinto

[Anita18]

Does anyone knows the sizes of the Imax screens in New York City? Are they really big? I want to catch the rerun of The Dark Knight over there. But since we in Amsterdam only got some crappy small screen Imax I wanna know if it's "worth the trip".
It depends on the theater - you'll have to look up each one. And hopefully you'll be in NYC for more than that, LOL! Otherwise you might as well just make the trip to London and be done with it. (And even then....)

[WVsax27]

Button won effects...can't argue with that one

[Ace of Knaves]

I bet Heath doesn't win.

[Kargo Warrior]

Heath!!!!!

[Anita18]

I bet Heath doesn't win.
Nope, he did.

At least they aren't totally messing up the acting categories. :funny:

[Kargo Warrior]

Anyone doubting the Oscar lock yet is sorry to say but a fool!

[WVsax27]

Charles Roven picked up the award

[Ace of Knaves]

I'm glad I was wrong. :D Well done Heath :up: :(

[WVsax27]

I think Goldie Hawn was high

[Ace of Knaves]

She started crying didn't she?

Sharon Stone was on something.

[Kargo Warrior]

To be honest i hardly controlled myself from shading a tear...so emotional.

I'm so happy for Heath :csad:

[terry78]

Now watch, if he don't win the Oscar, yet wins every other award under the sun, people will still gripe. Because the Oscar is like the big man on campus to people, whereas everything else is just vying to be like him.

[TDKfanatic]

Roven's speech was pretty moving.

[Anita18]

Now watch, if he don't win the Oscar, yet wins every other award under the sun, people will still gripe. Because the Oscar is like the big man on campus to people, whereas everything else is just vying to be like him.
The Oscars are also supposed to be fairly relevant. :oldrazz:

I dunno if people would gripe as much as completely dismiss the Oscars if he loses.

[GlasgowBat]

well.........that's becuase that's the way it is.........