Didn’t see him. Or Julia Roberts or George Clooney. Aren’t they Oscar stalwarts?
I read that Mo’Nique refused to present the Supporting Actor Oscar. It’s been a tradition that prior year’s winners present the next year’s award, for their opposite number, so WTF was her problem?
Dewey Finn, “ungracious” is a good word for Newman.
I’m still fuming over Melissa Leo’s remarks. The F word doesn’t bother me, but she acted like it was a big deal. Very attention-whorey all 'round. Her comment to Kirk Douglas “What are you doing later?” was patronizing, and using his cane to “hobble” off the stage was just stupid. She’s the reason I never watched Homicide. She gave off an “I’m special and edgy” vibe even back then.
I didn’t care because I thought the rest of his speech was funny. And I’m not into his music. I did think his song was the least bad.
I don’t see the problem. She got caught up in the moment, said “fucking” on one of the most-watched TV shows of the year, and was embarrassed when she realized what she said. That kind of thing does happen.
I don’t buy the “too busy” excuse. As was said, it’s customary that if you win one of the acting awards that you present the opposite award the following year. So you should have the date set aside in your calendar for the following year. (And unless you’re a major star, it’s a good idea to be a presenter so that you can remind everyone of who you are.)
No, I thought it was hysterical. In fact his acceptance speech was one of my favorite parts of the entire show – I remember it being one of the only times I applauded. He was just saying what anyone who is a committed regular viewer of the show was thinking – that it wouldn’t be the Oscars without Randy. I loved his line about the “Randy Newman chicken” at the nominees lunch.
I think it’s ungracious to mention all the many times you’ve won. But mentioning all the times you’ve lost is self-deprecating and funny.
Agreed. Everything from her sitting there looking ridiculously stunned when her name was announced to her looking up in wonder at the people in the balcony to her “shocked” reaction after having said the “F-word” to her bucking up and soldiering on afterward all looked contrived and done for effect.
And Oprah’s dress! Gads! The gown itself would have been very pretty on someone else, but…Jeez! I mean, I’ve heard boobs called melons before, but those suckers looked like cannonballs. The gown didn’t do much for her hips either.
Agreed on Randy Newman’s remark. I’ve always like him and I was glad that he won, but that was a pretty classless, bitter-sounding thing to say. Liked the rest of his speech though.
I think ol’ Kirk did pretty well for a 94-year-old stroke and helicopter crash survivor.
Along those lines one has to consider that whenever an award winner (and I’m thinking of Halle Berry’s atrocious acceptance speech a few years back) talks about how “brave” the Academy are for being willing to give the award to a black/woman/other minority, they’re really saying “Thanks for not being the racist sexist assholes you usually are”. What’s so brave about giving an Oscar to a minority these days?
If you think about it, the entire awards season is joke. What other profession goes to these lengths to celebrate itself? It’s not like these people are saving orphans or actually putting their lives on the line – they’re just pretending to do so. And they get paid gobs of money to do so, much more than the people who inspire them!
Some of the speeches that they give, oh, the histrionics!, are so out of perspective with reality that it’s borderline crazy. Seriously, the last time I got a public award, I stood up, smiled and waved thanks. I didn’t give a speech thanking my parents for giving me the education so that I could kick ass in Excel, I didn’t weep buckets of tears, nor did I stand there as if in shock, even though there was a 1 in 5 shot that I’d get the award, and then “blurt” out the F bomb. These folks are being recognized for play acting, for Chrissake, not orchestrating world peace!
Honestly, I believe that they add in these little “causes” to make them feel less like overindulged, superficial brats. One year the cause is minorities, the next it’s women directors…this year, their cause du jour was stammering. Now they can go home with their $10,000 worth of free bling and feel that they’ve given stammerers a glimmer of hope. (Cue orchestra.)
It does get nauseating doesn’t it. The annual gathering of narcissists all there to pat eachother on the back. “You’re so great!” “Oh no, you’re so great!” “Oh what an honor to a great person among so many other great people!”
I imagine you weren’t being watched by millions of people at a world-famous awards show. Whether it’s actually true or not is debatable, but many people consider winning an Oscar to be the highest point in an actor’s career, it’s something dreamt of as a kid, “When I grow up, I’m going to be an Oscar-winning movie star!” I’m not sure why you seem surprised or offended that those who win can get a bit emotional.