That’s what I was thinking. C Z-J looked like she was about to pop, but she still got out there and belted it out. I always thought I didn’t like her, but seem to be warming up to her.
Would somebody mind telling me what two of the jokes that keep getting mentioned are?
-
Implication that Jack Nicholson is gay.
-
Whatever joke Jennifer Lopez didn’t take well.
-
Steve Martin made a joke about being gay in Hollywood, and they put the camera on Jack. When he saw he was on camera Jack started laughing, gave the camera loving looks from behind his ever-present sunglasses, and smoothed his eyebrows.
-
I don’t think J-Lo was offended at all by that joke. Steve said he was trying to convive her that the best way to remove two-way tape was with saliva. She used it a few years ago at the Grammys to keep her boobs in her dress (it’s a common practice in some dresses) and Steve, like many of us, apparently wouldn’t mind licking her breasticular region.
And see, to me it looked more like she didn’t get the joke than that she took it poorly.
The joke about Nicholson being gay was in the montage of people Steve Martin was “implying” he’d slept with – Nichole Kidman, Halle Berry…Julie Andrews (big laugh)…Ted Danson and Mary Steenburgen (big laugh)…Jack Nicholson.
Actually, I’m 90% sure it came before that gag, because I kept expecting Steve to hit Jack again in that bit. After Ted and Mary was the alien from Lilo and Stitch then Ernest Borgnine.
No, the joke about Nicholson was not a part of the montage. Steve Martin was joking about different types of actors. For example, for “old actor,” they showed a picture of Reese Witherspoon. When Steve said heterosexual actor, they showed a live shot of Harrison Ford in his seat. Then, Steve said homosexual actor, and they showed Nicholson.
Also, didn’t it look like Nicole Kidman wanted to say more at the end of her acceptance speech. She was signaling the maestro to stop conducting the orchestra, but they didn’t stop. I guess they only stop for Adrien Brody.
Brody was MUCH more forceful with his continuance! He may have taken a dive into the orchestra pit if they didn’t!
Also, I don’t think Russel Crowe was in attendance. My eyes were glued to the set the whole time and I didn’t see him. If he was there, he would have been on stage with the other 59 stars.
Did anyone else think that Scorcese’s smile at Polanski’s win looked forced?
Overall, I agree with the general sentiment that Steve Martin is an exceptional host. He had so many great moments, though one that nobody mentioned was his comment about cleavage being in. Then he introduced an older man who came back with the best response, “that’s the last time I share a dressing room with him.”
You guys are right, I misremembered the order of the montage.
My apologies.
I’m not sure if Brody was more forceful. Nicole Kidman looked pretty serious. I think it was just bad timing. Brody asked them to stop just when they began playing. Nicole asked them to stop just as they were shutting off her mic and the music was already pretty loud.
I was actually sort of surprised they did stop for Brody. I’ve had the impression, since they decided to end the Oscar-Marathons, that The Music Stops for No One. I’m glad it did though. Adrien is cute as a bug’s ear, and I’m dying to see The Pianist.
Agree that I don’t believe Russel Crowe was in attendance. I don’t think he made the trip from New Zealand, he’s getting married or something (I read that in the paper the other day) Nicole Kidman did mention him, though, she said, “Russel Crowe told me not to cry if I got up here, and now I’m crying”.
Other random thoughts:
I thought Salma Hayek looked absolutely GORGEOUS!!
Same thing goes for Diane Lane.
During the red carpet shows, I always look for who is in the background. On one of the interviews I noticed a woman standing in profile behind the interviewees and her boobs were jutting out what seemed like about a foot!!! It ended up being Queen Latifah, who looked great, but what did they use to hoist those things up, anyway!!?
Harrison Ford looked so OLD sitting next to Calista Flockhart (who looked fabulous). I’m almost starting to wonder why she wants to be with him rather than vice versa.
Agree that the reunion thing was boring and redundant. Maybe it would have been better to just have the “senior” acting winners present. I was also curious about Cher’s absence, but I think she is on tour now, singing of all things!!
I was wondering about the singing voice of Renee Z. I hadn’t seen “Chicago”, but when they showed a clip, it sure looked like she was lip-syncing.
All in all, a very entertaining show, and no annoying Billy Crystal or Whoopi!! Guess I need to go see The Pianist now.
I was glad to see Brody win, even though I was rooting for Nicholson. Both of them put in exceptional performances, but Jack’s was just so unexpected from a man from whom we’ve all come to expect so much. Brody was my second choice. I think he was Jack’s first choice, judging from his enthusiastic applause. Then again, maybe Jack is just that kind of guy.
Also, I was really happy to see Daniel Day-Lewis lose. Nothing against the actor, but there was so much public opinion in his favor and I just don’t think he measured up.
All of the actors in Chicago were singing along to their own pre-recorded tracks. In Zellwegger’s case, some have said that they tweaked the recordings to make it more enjoyable for the audience.
To be fangirlish–my favorite part was Sean Astin’s reaction to Mickey–he looked so much like an enchanted little kid meeting his favorite cartoon character! I could just hug him!!
And has he lost more weight? He looks fantasic–more power to you, my friend! ::pumps fist::
((((((((((Mr. Astin))))))))))
Ah, sticklebats. That should be ::pumps fist::
“What’s this? The Ring? Very funny, Frodo!”
All recordings, by anyone, for any purpose, are tweaked in some manner or another, except perhaps for some live performances.
I’ve seen several “behind-the-scenes” specials on Chicago and many of them have shown bits with Renée Zellweger in the studio recording tracks for the movie. She sounded pretty good there.
And anyway, she’s not a professional singer. Latifah is, and Zeta-Jones came up the ranks via musical theater (she was Annie as a kid. That says a lot!). The fact that she isn’t a professional singer (but can carry a tune) is key to her character in Chicago. She dreams of being Velma Kelly and she knows she’s not as good. The character is intended to be sub-par (compared to Velma) and she knows she needs the publicity of the trial to get herself an act. She has delusions of grandeur (along with other delusions) but knows at heart she ain’t so hot. That was my take on her character.
Singing in a studio where everything is tightly regulated, and where endless takes can be recorded, is very very different from singing live, especially when you’re singing with with a seriously good singer like Catherine Zeta-Jones. Snipes (by others) at Zellweger’s singing ability are misguided, I think.
My own theory, with nothing in print to back it up, is that she was nervous. I’ve heard several stories about how people wouldn’t believe how shy Zellweger is (Which is odd, but many actors are shy. Nicole Kidman is one of the shyest people on the planet). She did take singing lessons prior to the filming of Chicago, but that’s been wrapped for a year. Whether she was shy in general, or shy because the thought of singing live to a huge audience was terrifying, I don’t know. Either way, I think she should be cut some slack in the singing and dancing department.
I assumed it was because she forgot to thank Virginia Woolfe.
I think Renee Zellweger, not being a singer - but she sounded good in the film, probably knew she couldn’t pull a live performance. I am glad she didn’t try, singing in front of an audience is tough.
Catherine Zeta-Jones and Queen Latifah were very good, I enjoyed their performance, and I enjoyed Chicago - the Movie, now I wish I could see it on Broadway.