Of Award Shows, Oscars and In-Flight Movies

I'm a sucker for an awards show. Grammies, Tonys, Emmies, Logies (our Aussie Emmies), Golden Globes--you name it, I'm there. I'm one of the few who sits riveted throughout the RITAs/Golden Hearts. When others around me are moaning about the neverending show, I'm lapping it up, cheering the winners and not really feeling too bad for the non-winners because I really do believe that being one of the select final handful is the prize.

I don't want to dig too deeply into why I get such a kick out of these shows. I'm afraid it may reveal something telling about love of competition and/or need for peer approval. On the other hand, it could just be that I love the frocks and the jewels and all those pretty people. *wg*

So, last night was the Oscars. Not the most stellar year in terms of entertainment, I admit, but I made it through to the surprise twist at the end. Crash wins Best Picture! I did not see that coming.

I really liked Jon Stewart as compere. Favorite line: toss-up between why Bjork wasn't at the Oscars (she tried on her dress and Dick Cheney shot her, boom boom) and how Clooney's movie Good Night, and Good Luck was also the line Clooney offered at the end of his dates. Favorite presenters: Meryl Streep and Lily Tomlin's introduction to Robert Altmann, which was funny and clever and full of personality. In contrast many of the other actors/presenters were wooden, boring, some even appeared nervous. Hello--they're actors delivering prepared lines and they have stage fright???

Can't comment on any of the major Oscar movies because I haven't seen them yet. So, instead, I'm going to comment on the in-flight movies on our recent trip. The flight to New Zealand is about the perfect length, IMHO. Time for a meal, two of those dinky little bottles of wine, and a movie. Going over was An Unfinished Life, a movie I'd never heard of (unusual for me) and a pleasant surprise. In a nutshell: to escape her abusive boyfriend, Jennifer Lopez and her daughter run away to Montana where she has to deal with her grumpy ex-father-in-law (Robert Redford) and the circumstances of his son's death.

It's really about relationships and as much about Bob getting to know the grand-daughter he didn't know existed as anything. There's also Morgan Freeman, a bear, and a new romance for J Lo. Worth hiring on video/DVD. The return trip featured Elizabethtown, a quirky romance starring Orlando Bloom and Kirsten Dunst. Because of the quirky part, I'm not sure this'll appeal to everyone--especially if you're not a fan of the two stars. Susan Sarandon plays Orlando's mum. I rated it okay. If I weren't so tired (5 am start to catch the 7am flight) I'd have read a book instead.

So. Anyone seen any good movies (or award shows) lately?

posted by Bronwyn Jameson @ 12:18 PM

Comments:

Hey Bron!

I actually saw a couple of the pics nominated this year, including one up for best pic. Good Night, and Good Luck is an excellent film (too bad it didn't win anything...sniff), and especially relevent to things happening in this country today. I had hoped to see a couple others, but never had the chance.

(I also saw Narnia, which won for makeup, and the latest Harry Potter.)

I did watch/listen to the Oscars last night, and thought both one-liners you offered up were good ones. I think Jon Stewart did a pretty good job, though no one can ever compare to Billy Crystal.

Crash winning best pic was definitely a surprise, but even bigger was Three-6-Mafia winning best original song. What the heck was up with that? Was the music in the past year's films so terrible that the best they could do was an ode to a pimp?? I didn't really care for the Dolly Parton song from TransAmerica but did like "Deep" from Crash. Sometimes you can't help but wonder what the Academy was thinking.

The frocks: I loved those worn by J Lo and Reese Witherspoon. As for Charlize Theron...it seems people are divided on that one, and I'm on the side that positively hated it. Did not like that bow almost as big as her head (one critic said it looked like she'd been gift wrapped) or the weird pleat criss-crossing the front.

posted by

Heather : 6:22 PM

I saw the TiVO version of the Academy Awards, which means my husband tapes it and then fast-forwards through anything that doesn't interest him. Since he's a Jon Stewart fan, I did get to hear a lot of his repartee. Loved that Bjork line too. *g*

The only movie I'd seen was Brokeback Mountain and it really is a good movie. I'd like to see TransAmerica and Good Night and Good Luck too.

As for the songs... well, I guess the days of great music coming from the movies are gone. I remember when they all had songs by composers like Henry Mancini. I'm with ya, Heather, on not being excited about the pimp song. However, Jay Leno did get a great joke from that. He said that apparently the song from King Kong was overlooked -- It's Hard Out Here for a Chimp. **gg**

Marilyn

posted by

Playground Monitor : 2:09 AM

I think the only movie that I have seen from the best pictures was Crash(always liked Matt Dillon from the Outsider days) Want to see Walk the Line. I'm glad one movie didn't dominate the evening.
Good monies that I have seen recently would have to be Coach Carter with Samuel L Jackson. There was another one but I can't remember the name. It had Denzel Washington, Dakota Fanning and Marc Anthony. Denzel played Dakota's bodyguard and Marc played her father. If I remember the name I will post it.

posted by

christa : 3:36 AM

That should say movies not monies(see what happens when you get 4 hours sleep)
I remembered, the movie was called Man on Fire.
I also liked the song for Crash, In the Deep.
I think Jon Stewart had a lot to live up to and there were a lot of expectations as a host.

posted by

christa : 4:17 AM

have not seen much, saw mr and mrs smith. george clooney is hott

posted by

kim : 6:55 AM

I am another award show addictee, Bron! Love 'em. But to me the Oscars are the be all and end all.

I went home to visit my folks recently and Mum brought out a huge box of video tapes for me to go through to see if I wanted to keep any and I had every Oscars ceremony of the 1990s in that box. Sad?

My fave part was the opening scene when Steve Martin said he couldn't do the show as he was spending more time with his kids. Cracked me up. And Will Ferrel and Steve Carell in make-up. And Lily Tomlin and Meryl were gorgeous! And I could go on and on...

Heather, I'm with you on Charlize's dress. Ick. I felt sorry for the guy sitting behind her left shoulder.

Wonder what next year will bring...

posted by

allyblake : 12:50 PM

I love movies and movie award shows, particularly the Oscars. I had hoped Brokeback Mountain would keep up its momentum and win, but there was actually some murmering among the critics before the show that in the past week Crash was getting a lot of mentions.

I definitely liked "In the Deep" from Crash better than either of the other songs. I was really glad that the soundtrack to Brokeback Mountain won. I have both it and the one for Memoirs of a Geisha (which won the Golden Globe), and I think the BM one is better.

One of my favorite dresses was the black and silver one worn by Ziyi Zhang.

I just rented Mr. & Mrs. Smith over the weekend. What a fun movie.

Last thing I saw at the theater was Underworld: Evolution. Enjoyed it, but if you don't like vampires and werewolves, it might not be your thing.

posted by

Trish Milburn : 1:02 PM

I Love the Oscars and Golden Globes the best(I tape them so I can zoom thru the ads)Don't worry Bron we all have the same problem with the award shows,lol.

I love seeing what the stars are wearing. My fav was Reeses and Ziyis,worst was Cherlizes and Lily Tomlins. What was the deal with Selma Hayaks,she should have gotten a different cut or altogether different dress so here boobs weren't pushed into one!

Crash was a surprise, I seen it when it came out on video and thought it was good but not great,it did portray racial issues realistically though.

I though Jon Stewart did great and loved the same lines.Also ladies gentlemen Felicity.Lauren Bacall did horrible,don't know if she needed glasses or just was out of it?

An Unfinished Life sounds like good movie I look forward to seeing,Elizabethtown was slow and boring to me,the best part was the ending.I really liked North Country with Cherlize Theron and could have done w/out seeing The Weatherman and Hustle and Flow.Its ridiculous the pimp song won,there had to be better movie songs then this,the Dolly Parton one wasn't great but I'd rather it won than pimp song.

posted by

Dena : 1:37 AM

I love that I'm in such good company, enjoying the Oscars along with you all. My favourite frock was Naomi Watts, but then she always looks gorgeous IMHO. I agree that Charlize should win the Worst Frock Razzie!

posted by

Bronwyn Jameson : 6:11 PM