It’s not “the gay agenda.” There’s no such thing as “the gay agenda,” but if ever there was an industry which would want to show solidarity with the GLBT movement in the wake of Prop 8, it’s Hollywood.
Having said that, they wouldn’t have given it to Penn if he hadn’t actually given a legit, Oscar caliber performance. I said myself I think he deserves it, so don’t throw that “gay agenda” stuff at me.
ETA, I actually think there were at least three nominees for whom a win would have been justified on the merits: Penn, Rourke, and Frank Langella (I caught up late to Frost/Nixon, but I though Langella was fantastic).
I haven’t seen The Visitors, so there might be four. I don’t think Penn got it just because of Prop 8, but I think it couldn’t have hurt as a tie brealer in a close race, especially since Rourke has reputedly burned a few bridges in that town.
I know he was, but I objected to the suggestion that I myself thought Penn’s win was purely political or that I believe in any such thing as “the gay agenda.”
Of course there is. I probably shouldn’t be saying this in light of my rant against prescriptivism, but an agenda is just “a list of things to be done”. Somewhere along the way someone got the idea that it’s a dirty word. But if gay people in America have anything they want done (like I dunno, legalization of gay marriage), it’s the gay agenda. There’s nothing inherently bad about that.
And all this time I feared Penn had hurt his chances with the Academy by going “full homo” with his performance in Milk!
(A reference to Robert Downey Jr’s classic “full retard” speech in Tropic Thunder…just in case anyone thinks I’m being serious!)
Wow, I think that went rather well. I’d say it’s most I’ve enjoyed the Oscars on their own merits (putting aside watching for specific nominees) since the big Billy Crystal / Jack Palance / Silence of the Lambs year.
Hugh was great - although not really comparable to past hosts since he was more of a “join in on the singing and dancing” sort of host than the past “let’s make this a stand up comedy routine” hosts. But a real class act.
Somehow the whole thing seemed like it fit in more random fluffy stuff and intros, but at the same time seemed like it was overall shorter, and also didn’t have everyone racing to finish their thank yous before getting the guillotine.
No terribly surprising wins. I’m glad the Slumdog guy won for score and song but he was very odd with his thank yous. Dev Patel looked very excited, and it was great that his young counterpart got to get up on stage, that’s got to be an amazing experience for a little kid. Lance, MILK writer seemed really touched by his win. Glad Sean Penn gave a shout out to Mickey Rourke, his only likely competitor, and for his self deprecating joke. It’s nice that they recognized the past winners in introducing the new ones for the acting roles, but several of them seemed to have a lot of difficulty with their intros, presumably because they are ESL. Was surprised at the small number of nominees for some of the categories. Thought they could have done a better intro for the short films and documentaries as people are less likely to already know what they were about. Was surprised that Seymour Hoffman was considered a supporting role. Also interesting that a lot of the various nominees in many categories were for the same movie in the same category.
But yeah – over all a different feel, but entertaining and classy, without the rushed feeling of past ceremonies.
Late to the party as usual, but just finished watching.
I agree this was one of the best Oscar telecasts in years!
I liked that they brought out past winners to announce the nominations…very classy and put things in perspective; not a whole lot of people can say they won an Oscar.
Hugh Jackman was far better than I thought he would be; funny, entertaining and I had forgotten that he really is a great song and dance man.
Was really happy Penn won; still think Mickey Rourke is a jerk and this was a fluke - let him prove me wrong, but Penn (and others) deserved it far more than he did.
Since most of this happened when most of us Eurotypes slept, I wonder if we should start a new thread to discuss the results? Wading through 7 pages of play-by-play is no fun. Or should we just add comments to this thread? What do you guys think?
Different groups vote for the different awards. The Academy Awards are voted on by members of the Academy, which is pretty much the Hollywood Establishment. Rourke allegedly alienated enough of these people that, despite being nominated, and despite having won other awards for the same performance, he wasn’t likely to win the Oscar. I don’t think Prop 8 hurt Penn, but I’m not sure it was the driving force behind his win.
Add me to the chorus of skeptics who have to wonder if Heath would have won, or even been nominated, if he were still alive. Don’t get me wrong, his interpretation of the Joker was, IMHO, a great combination of hammy and frightening (I couldn’t take my eyes off him while he was on screen), but that tiny voice in the back of my mine is still saying: “This is a pity Oscar.”
Overall, pretty good, not near as bad as I feared. I hated the Hugh Jackman song and dance numbers and had to leave the room in anger though. I heard later that Beyonce sang? Of course. Why am I so not surprised. Mediocrity is always given precedence over brilliance.
So yeah, knives thrown at a tied-up Bill Condon sound pretty good to me.
YAY SEAN AND DUSTIN though! Best speeches of the night.
No, it’s mostly popularity, palatability, pitiability, and dues.* Penn won on all four counts; Rourke wasn’t even shortlisted for any of them. The outcome would’ve been the same entirely absent Prop8. To suggest otherwise is more “liberal guilt” bullshit. The only relevance to the gay thing is that I think on some level it was something of an apology for not awarding Heath Ledger’s performance in Brokeback Mountain. Still no Prop8.
