# 87th Academy Awards viewing thread **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 21, 2015, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/87th-academy-awards-viewing-thread/713269 "2015-02-21T17:26:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 14
**Author:** ![ZebraShaSha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/eada6e/32.png) [@ZebraShaSha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZebraShaSha)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2015, 5:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/87th-academy-awards-viewing-thread/713269/261 "2015-02-23T05:15:19Z")
Don’t we hear every year how “Best Picture” is for best production, and that’s why the producer’s accept the award? “Boyhood” is one of the best productions… ever. IFC gave him a check year after year, for 12 years, never killing the project. They had to find 5 principle actors and have none of them back out, quit, or anything… for 12 years. And Linklater delivered a film that was pretty close to exactly what he pitched 12 years ago. ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2015, 5:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/87th-academy-awards-viewing-thread/713269/262 "2015-02-23T05:15:32Z")
Really disliked Birdman. I would have been satisfied with either Boyhood or Grand Budapest Hotel winning. What’s really annoying to me is that 10 or 12 years from now, the Academy will finally, out of guilt, give Wes Anderson a Best Picture Oscar for an inferior film. ---
**Author:** ![BOOM](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/c4cdca/32.png) [@BOOM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BOOM)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2015, 5:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/87th-academy-awards-viewing-thread/713269/263 "2015-02-23T05:23:57Z")
> [@BOOM](#): > > Seems an obvious carve up to me: > > Film: Boyhood > Director: Birdman > Actor: Redmayne > Actress: Moore > > If Sniper wins anything I’ll throw up. Well, the Acadamy screwed up one but mostly did okay 😉 ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2015, 5:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/87th-academy-awards-viewing-thread/713269/264 "2015-02-23T05:26:33Z")
> [@Roderick\_Femm](#): > > Too bad Joan Rivers is gone (and where was her In Memoriam moment?) Apparently you have to be an Academy member to be included in the In Memoriam. They also snubbed Elaine Stritch on that rule. ---
**Author:** ![Brynda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e79b87/32.png) [@Brynda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brynda)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2015, 5:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/87th-academy-awards-viewing-thread/713269/265 "2015-02-23T05:34:02Z")
Looks like at least Huff Post agrees with me about Oprah’s dress. I’m sure there will others who hate it, though. > **[Oprah's Oscar Dress Is Fit For A TV Queen](https://www.huffpost.com/entry/oprah-oscar-dress-2015-photos_n_6714518)** > > Oprah's Oscar Dress Is Fit For A TV Queen ---
**Author:** ![actualliberalnotoneofthose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e79b87/32.png) [@actualliberalnotoneofthose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/actualliberalnotoneofthose)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2015, 5:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/87th-academy-awards-viewing-thread/713269/266 "2015-02-23T05:45:40Z")
> [@Brynda](#): > > Looks like at least Huff Post agrees with me about Oprah’s dress. I’m sure there will others who hate it, though. > > [Oprah's Oscar Dress 2015 Is A Beautiful Gown Fit For A TV Queen | HuffPost Life](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/02/22/oprah-oscar-dress-2015-photos_n_6714518.html) The criticisms in this thread are not addressed in those pictures, though. Based on those pics I can’t form an opinion. ---
**Author:** ![actualliberalnotoneofthose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e79b87/32.png) [@actualliberalnotoneofthose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/actualliberalnotoneofthose)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2015, 5:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/87th-academy-awards-viewing-thread/713269/267 "2015-02-23T05:47:57Z")
> [@jayjay](#): > > Apparently you have to be an Academy member to be included in the In Memoriam. They also snubbed Elaine Stritch on that rule. Seems oddly restrictive to me. I thought it was a lot more subjective. ---
**Author:** ![actualliberalnotoneofthose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e79b87/32.png) [@actualliberalnotoneofthose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/actualliberalnotoneofthose)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2015, 5:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/87th-academy-awards-viewing-thread/713269/268 "2015-02-23T05:48:58Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > Like many did, I’m sure, I mentioned that Keaton would have won if he played his character with a disability. So my wife quips that had he done so, they could’ve renamed the movie “My Left Wing.” I haven’t seen the movie, but many of the articles I read about it left me feeling that the character WAS disabled. ---
**Author:** ![TonySinclair](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/49beb7/32.png) [@TonySinclair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TonySinclair)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2015, 7:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/87th-academy-awards-viewing-thread/713269/269 "2015-02-23T07:04:59Z")
I never knew who JK Simmons was before tonight. And I’ve been playing Portal 2 for the last week. ---
**Author:** ![CheapBastid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8baadc/32.png) [@CheapBastid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CheapBastid)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2015, 7:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/87th-academy-awards-viewing-thread/713269/270 "2015-02-23T07:08:31Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > Best Picture: > > **Birdman** > > Well deserved. Well Expected, but (in my opinion) far from Deserved. :mad: A ‘LOOK AT MEEEE!!!’ moment mixed with Disgusting Self Fellating Fan Service to/of ‘The Industry’. Pandering of the lowest order. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2015, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/87th-academy-awards-viewing-thread/713269/271 "2015-02-23T15:37:25Z")
> [@CheapBastid](#): > > A ‘LOOK AT MEEEE!!!’ moment mixed with Disgusting Self Fellating Fan Service to/of ‘The Industry’. > > Pandering of the lowest order. That’s about the size of it. It’s really frustrating watching Hollywood repeatedly fawn over movies about itself. 3 of the last 4 winners now are in one way or another about The Industry. . ---
**Author:** ![Pai325](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Pai325](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pai325)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2015, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/87th-academy-awards-viewing-thread/713269/272 "2015-02-23T15:46:45Z")
> [@Brynda](#): > > Looks like at least Huff Post agrees with me about Oprah’s dress. I’m sure there will others who hate it, though. > > [Oprah's Oscar Dress 2015 Is A Beautiful Gown Fit For A TV Queen | HuffPost Life](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/02/22/oprah-oscar-dress-2015-photos_n_6714518.html) I liked it from the front, but the back of the gown did her no favors. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2015, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/87th-academy-awards-viewing-thread/713269/273 "2015-02-23T15:51:02Z")
> [@CheapBastid](#): > > A ‘LOOK AT MEEEE!!!’ moment mixed with Disgusting Self Fellating Fan Service to/of ‘The Industry’. What the heck did you think you were watching? The _entire_ awards spectacle is a “look at me moment” (although it’s more like a Look At Me evening, preceded by weeks of discussion of the event). ---
**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 23, 2015, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/87th-academy-awards-viewing-thread/713269/274 "2015-02-23T15:56:49Z")
**Birdman** ’s win was entirely deserved and I am very glad it did so! It was my favorite film of the year. ---
**Author:** ![Skammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skammer/32/143_2.png) [@Skammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skammer)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2015, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/87th-academy-awards-viewing-thread/713269/275 "2015-02-23T16:00:55Z")
Boyhood wasn’t my favorite BP nominee, but I thought it was most deserving. Nice job Academy, conforming to your navel-gazing stereotype. Also, any typical audience members who go out and see it now on the basis of the win are going to be disappointed and/or baffled. Boyhood is a movie people will still be referring to in 10 years; Birdman not so much. I would have been happy to see Boyhood, GBH or Selma win instead. ---
**Author:** ![ISiddiqui](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/97f17d/32.png) [@ISiddiqui](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ISiddiqui)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2015, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/87th-academy-awards-viewing-thread/713269/276 "2015-02-23T16:02:11Z")
> [@actualliberalnotoneofthose](#): > > I haven’t seen the movie, but many of the articles I read about it left me feeling that the character WAS disabled. It’s basically up for interpretation for most of the film - either its magical realism or Keaton’s character is going mad. The ending seems to put it on one side of that divide. I loved Birdman. Saw it that afternoon (saw Boyhood the day before) and was mesmerized. Well deserved Best Picture award (I would have been totally fine if they gave the award to Grand Budapest Hotel as well, though :D). ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2015, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/87th-academy-awards-viewing-thread/713269/277 "2015-02-23T16:08:29Z")
> [@Fair\_Rarity](#): > > OMG this in memoriam is awful. I hated the sketches. I like to see real pictures, video clips, especially of someone standing on stage with the Oscars, Emmys, etc, they won. It makes it more poignant to remember them seeing them move or at least in photographs. Have a relevant snipped of dialog or something play every now and then. Thank you! It’s a minority opinion in regard to Oscar telecasts, but I _love_ video clip montages. And there was virtually none in this broadcast – snippets of actor performances and the Best Picture nominees, and that was it. ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_MB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steve_mb/32/5339_2.png) [@Steve\_MB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_MB)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2015, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/87th-academy-awards-viewing-thread/713269/278 "2015-02-23T16:11:20Z")
> [@Equipoise](#): > > NPH might be. “Edward Snowden couldn’t be here for some treason”??? I dunno if he’s stoned, but he definitely needs to fire at least one of his writers. Gah, I was expecting “I just flew in from Vegas and boy are my arms tired!” at any moment… ---
**Author:** ![Skammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skammer/32/143_2.png) [@Skammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skammer)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2015, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/87th-academy-awards-viewing-thread/713269/279 "2015-02-23T16:12:52Z")
I agree. I love the montages as well and miss them. I _am_ glad that they brought back performances of the best song nominees, even though some of them weren’t great. And get rid of the Memoriam performance! You can make the montage longer that way. ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2015, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/87th-academy-awards-viewing-thread/713269/280 "2015-02-23T16:14:36Z")
I’m OK with Birdman – I’ve seen all 8 of the BP nominees, and I put it at #5. I can appreciate it as a well-made film, but it didn’t grab & hold my interest, like Whiplash did. (Nobody asked, but I put Selma and Budapest Hotel tied for #2.) My biggest problem was with Imitation Game – it was good, but it had serious issues with story structure. The WWII parts (let’s say, 75% of the screen time) were compelling – except that they didn’t even attempt to explain how Turing’s machine worked. There was no reason for the flashback (gay math genius was a gay math schoolboy prodigy. Who knew?) And the flashforward, while critical, felt completely tacked on, and the dialog explaining the Turing Test (the “game” of the title) had nothing to do with the rest of the film. How it won an Oscar for screenplay is completely beyond me. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/87th-academy-awards-viewing-thread/713269.md?page=13) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/87th-academy-awards-viewing-thread/713269.md?page=15)