# 84th Academy Awards 2012 - ongoing discussion thread **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 25, 2012, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/84th-academy-awards-2012-ongoing-discussion-thread/613979 "2012-02-25T18:05:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 14
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2012, 5:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/84th-academy-awards-2012-ongoing-discussion-thread/613979/261 "2012-02-27T05:05:43Z")
> [@Equipoise](#): > > Yes, and most will say it in wonder and awe. No, sorry, this is not a movie that will in future years be regarded as a classic. It is a transient bit of fluff, much like _Chicago_. ---
**Author:** ![Rodgers01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b19c9b/32.png) [@Rodgers01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rodgers01)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2012, 5:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/84th-academy-awards-2012-ongoing-discussion-thread/613979/262 "2012-02-27T05:12:25Z")
Pretty good ceremony. One complaint: why do they always _rush it_? Does anyone _really_ care if the ceremony runs long? It’s only on once a year, for god’s sake. It would have been nice, for instance, to hear James Earl Jones talk more about his lifetime achievement award, or for them to include more clips during the tribute to the people who died last year. ---
**Author:** ![Equipoise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/equipoise/32/151_2.png) [@Equipoise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Equipoise)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2012, 5:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/84th-academy-awards-2012-ongoing-discussion-thread/613979/263 "2012-02-27T05:15:12Z")
Those who love it will be very happy. Those who don’t, won’t. It’s that way every year. I happen to really like Chicago. I don’t think it deserved Best Picture, I was rooting for The Pianist, but it’s fine by me. I was rooting for Hugo this year, but think The Artist is such an odd, totally bizarre, turn-the-world-upside-down-on-its-head winner, I’m absolutely delighted at its win. I for one, will always shake my head in wonder and awe when I think that it actually won Best Picture. I think I’ll go ahead and be totally obnoxious and point out that I [called this outcome](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=628779) back in October. Ok, I did then backtrack, but still. Only 26 people voted and the results were… > [@](#): > > Have you heard of THE ARTIST, next year’s Best Picture Oscar winner? > > Yes, I’ve been hearing about The Artist and want to see it. 6 23.08% > No, I hadn’t previously heard of The Artist but it looks interesting. 9 34.62% > Yes, I’ve heard of The Artist but will not see it 2 7.69% > No, I hadn’t heard of The Artist until now and have no interest in it. 8 30.77% > Other (specifiy) 1 3.85% ---
**Author:** ![Equipoise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/equipoise/32/151_2.png) [@Equipoise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Equipoise)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2012, 5:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/84th-academy-awards-2012-ongoing-discussion-thread/613979/264 "2012-02-27T05:24:01Z")
> [@Rodgers01](#): > > Pretty good ceremony. One complaint: why do they always _rush it_? Does anyone _really_ care if the ceremony runs long? It’s only on once a year, for god’s sake. Amen. ---
**Author:** ![Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eyebrows_0f_doom/32/3119_2.png) [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eyebrows_0f_Doom)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2012, 6:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/84th-academy-awards-2012-ongoing-discussion-thread/613979/265 "2012-02-27T06:15:46Z")
Woohoo! I won (in a tie) the Oscar pool at the party I went to tonight and won $30 bucks! I got 17 winners correct. ---
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2012, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/84th-academy-awards-2012-ongoing-discussion-thread/613979/266 "2012-02-27T14:37:00Z")
> [@Horseface](#): > > Angelina looks like a tranny. I \*assume \*you mean that as a compliment, as in “what lovely nigger skin,” or “fashionable kike jewelry?” ---
**Author:** ![drm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a88e57/32.png) [@drm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drm)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2012, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/84th-academy-awards-2012-ongoing-discussion-thread/613979/267 "2012-02-27T14:59:50Z")
> [@Spoke](#): > > No, sorry, this is not a movie that will in future years be regarded as a classic. It is a transient bit of fluff, much like _Chicago_. I agree. Thing is, I can’t think of anything really transcendant this year that causes me to get really upset over it winning. Chicago on the other hand… (and I’m not just talking about The two Towers) The lead in The Artist was really good, credit where it’s do. ---
**Author:** ![corkboard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e9bcb4/32.png) [@corkboard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/corkboard)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2012, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/84th-academy-awards-2012-ongoing-discussion-thread/613979/268 "2012-02-27T15:05:51Z")
OK, it\* may \*not have been J-Lo’s nipple, but it sure as hell looked like areola to me. And to my wife, who is convinced the viewing audience was nip-slipped. And the whole “tight enough so they know you’re a woman, but loose enough so they know you’re a lady” (paraphrased) was funny, delivered by those two. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2012, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/84th-academy-awards-2012-ongoing-discussion-thread/613979/269 "2012-02-27T15:18:58Z")
> [@Horseface](#): > > Angelina looks like a tranny. This is crude and inappropriate. Don’t do it again. ---
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2012, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/84th-academy-awards-2012-ongoing-discussion-thread/613979/270 "2012-02-27T15:27:34Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > This is crude and inappropriate. Don’t do it again. Thank you. I apologize for \*my \*outburst, but I was sorely tried. ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2012, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/84th-academy-awards-2012-ongoing-discussion-thread/613979/271 "2012-02-27T16:03:50Z")
> [@drm](#): > > I agree. Thing is, I can’t think of anything really transcendant this year that causes me to get really upset over it winning. > > Chicago on the other hand… (and I’m not just talking about The two Towers) > > The lead in The Artist was really good, credit where it’s do. Yes, I don’t begrudge him the Best Actor award. It was a nice performance. But _The Artist_ was a very weak Best Picture winner. Among the nominees, I thought The Help, Midnight in Paris, The Descendants, and Moneyball were all better pictures, and more worthy of the award. All have a better chance (IMHO) of being the kind of movies that get watched and re-watched, and becoming classics. I think there are several movies which didn’t receive nominations which were better films than _The Artist_, and much more likely to bear repeat viewing over the years: _50/50_; _The Adventures of Tintin_; _Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy_; _Crazy Stupid Love_; even _Rise of the Planet of the Apes_ (which is, somewhat amazingly, an excellent movie). _The Artist_ had an appealing gimmick for Academy voters, a couple of good performances, and not much more. ---
**Author:** ![DMark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@DMark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMark)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2012, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/84th-academy-awards-2012-ongoing-discussion-thread/613979/272 "2012-02-27T16:18:53Z")
Billy Crystal was like a comfortable shoe - out of date, wearing thin and could use an odor-eater. The funniest comedian of the night was Ellen Degeneres in the JC Penny commercials. Cirque du Soleil was pretty amazing. The death montage was done well this year and almost gave everyone the same elegant photo and name and job description. The acceptance speeches were, for the most part, better than in years past. Didn’t love the Iranian speech, but understood what he was trying to do (although it seemed to have been written by the Iran Consulate), and Mr. Plummer was eloquent and prepared, as I have suggested nominees should be. When I found out the French winners of the The Artist had all spent a long time making the film in Los Angeles, I was a bit surprised that their English sucked as bad as it did. Come on - take a few English classes while you are here, and at least get a vocal coach to train you on your little acceptance speeches. I could only understand about 40% of what they said. Best surprise win was Meryl. Haven’t seen the film yet but her obvious surprise was charming and she gave, as usual, a heartfelt, humorous, touching speech. Nice touch that her Oscar matched the color of her dress. All in all, a decent show - but it really is time to put Billy Crystal back to pasture for good. ---
**Author:** ![ministryman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f6c823/32.png) [@ministryman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ministryman)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2012, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/84th-academy-awards-2012-ongoing-discussion-thread/613979/273 "2012-02-27T16:29:40Z")
I find out it ironic that on the night that a FOREIGN, Silent Film that is a throwback to the Golden Days of Hollywood (when the first African-American woman won an Oscar for playing a maid) wins an Oscar, an African-American woman wins an Oscar…for playing a maid. Kinda reminds me of The Hollywood Shuffle and Black Acting School. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2012, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/84th-academy-awards-2012-ongoing-discussion-thread/613979/274 "2012-02-27T17:33:28Z")
> [@El\_Kabong](#): > > To be even more shallow, that’s one strangely-cut tux Billy’s wearing. It’s a [tail coat](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tailcoat#Dress_coat). ---
**Author:** ![randwill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a3d4f5/32.png) [@randwill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/randwill)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2012, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/84th-academy-awards-2012-ongoing-discussion-thread/613979/275 "2012-02-27T17:47:16Z")
Is there any way for mere mortals to see all those short live-action and animated nominees? I think I may know a way to predict the winners of any award. It appeared as if Gary Oldman was seated somewhere in the middle of his row. Did any of the winners have to cross in front of others in their row to get to the aisle to go up onstage? My theory is that the winners are always positioned in aisle seats or in the front row. If so, you pretty much know you’ve won when you get your tickets. ---
**Author:** ![corkboard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e9bcb4/32.png) [@corkboard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/corkboard)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2012, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/84th-academy-awards-2012-ongoing-discussion-thread/613979/276 "2012-02-27T17:56:35Z")
I may be wrong, but I think there’s a lot of seat shuffling that goes on during commercials at the instruction of the producers- “OK, the Best Supporting Actress award is coming up after the break, so let’s put you all in aisle seats now”, then reshuffled for Best Supporting Actor, etc. ---
**Author:** ![hogarth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hogarth/32/1773_2.png) [@hogarth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hogarth)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2012, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/84th-academy-awards-2012-ongoing-discussion-thread/613979/277 "2012-02-27T18:01:23Z")
I thought the show was pretty awful. Billy Crystal with dyed hair making hacky jokes about bar mitzvahs and interrupting the show to thank the actors from the video clips, sub-SNL level sketches, painful mumbled presenter banter (Downey/Paltrow, Stiller/Stone), cutting the two Best Song nominees to shoehorn in some random Cirque du Soleil routine, etc. The only bit I thought was an improvement was removing the Applause-o-Meter from the “In Memoriam”, but they also removed the context for most of the lesser known folks (in past years, they had pictures showing which famous movies the lesser-knowns had worked on) so that was a wash at best. ---
**Author:** ![That\_Don\_Guy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/that_don_guy/32/538_2.png) [@That\_Don\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/That_Don_Guy)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2012, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/84th-academy-awards-2012-ongoing-discussion-thread/613979/278 "2012-02-27T18:08:32Z")
> [@El\_Kabong](#): > > Didn’t fade out Plummer, did they? There is an unwritten rule that the lead actor, lead actress, director, and picture winners aren’t subject to the time limit. > [@Carol\_the\_Impaler](#): > > Aw, it’s the Flight of the Conchords guy! I can’t believe there were only two songs nominated? Blame a combination of a strange nominating process (a committee of musicians rates the nominees, and only songs with a certain minimum score can be nominated, unless only one makes the cut, in which case the second highest rated song gets nominated as well) and a technicality (Madonna had a song in a movie that, I assume, was supposed to be the first song over the credits, but they inserted a bit of the theme song before it, so it was no longer “before, or the first piece of music during, the closing credits”, making it ineligible - I assume the rule is there so they don’t slip in songs that have nothing to do with the movie in the middle of the credits just for Oscar eligibility purposes). > [@fusoya](#): > > Maybe that’ll make people stop refering to art direction, visual effects and documentary shorts as “technical awards which don’t count and just make the show longer” Are you kidding? I wouldn’t be surprised if the only reason ABC airs the categories is because AMPAS makes them (and one of these years, ABC is going to realize, “If the Oscars take that long, then we’ll split it into two parts - part one with the ‘unpopular’ awards, then an intermission so we can get the ‘popular’ awards to start at a particular time so the people interested in just these awards can tune in at that time”). > [@Sigmagirl](#): > > He’s come only once, in 2002, just month after the 9/11 attacks, to encourage people to continue making movies in New York. Otherwise, he passes. I like to joke that Woody is pretty much the only person you don’t have to worry about running long with a speech, because even if he does show up to accept, when his time runs out, you just have somebody from the Academy come out to “present” him with one of his Oscars. > [@randwill](#): > > In Memoriam was well done. I think this is the first time that the audience didn’t applaud the big names and (probably) ask “Who?” about some of the rest. They must have implored them to hold the applause until the end. Since there are always some people who will clap and/or cheer regardless of any instruction, I assume they just cut all of the audience microphones. This is a lot easier to do with the seven-second delay (which was definitely in use, since one of the documentary winners was censored). > [@Meltdown](#): > > Don’t they still have to do the lifetime achievement award? Or the humanitarian award? Or did I sleep through those? They were in a separate Governor’s Awards ceremony, held last November; they showed highlights, then showed the winners (makeup artist Dick Smith (honorary Oscar), James Earl Jones (honorary Oscar - he actually got his in London, where he was doing the stage version of Driving Miss Daisy), and Oprah Winfrey (Jean Hersholt Huminatian Award - remember, Oprah was in _The Color Purple_) in one of the boxes. > [@JohnT](#): > > Glad they didn’t drag out the Price-WaterhouseCoopers guys this year… when did they stop doing that? I think they only mentioned them in the show’s opening (when they show other red carpet arrivals) in recent years, and they didn’t do that this year (probably because ABC airs the red carpet arrivals live now). > [@randwill](#): > > Is there any way for mere mortals to see all those short live-action and animated nominees? Usually, they are released as sets (one for live-action, and one for animated) on DVD, although I can’t find any of the recent ones on Amazon. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2012, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/84th-academy-awards-2012-ongoing-discussion-thread/613979/279 "2012-02-27T18:10:27Z")
They also no longer have the president of the academy speak. Unless they did that again last night(I only flipped over to it a few times). Did they? ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2012, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/84th-academy-awards-2012-ongoing-discussion-thread/613979/280 "2012-02-27T18:19:59Z")
> [@That\_Don\_Guy](#): > > > [@](#): > > > > Didn’t fade out Plummer, did they? > > There is an unwritten rule that the lead actor, lead actress, director, and picture winners aren’t subject to the time limit. Dujardin, not Plummer, won for lead actor. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/84th-academy-awards-2012-ongoing-discussion-thread/613979.md?page=13) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/84th-academy-awards-2012-ongoing-discussion-thread/613979.md?page=15)