shadowkat | Entries tagged with oscars

I should talk about the Oscar nominations. Okay, should is not the right term here - but I will talk about them anyhow.

Prior to the Oscar nods, Vulture (section of NY Magazine) provide various nominations that "scared" them. The Five Oscar Nods that Scare Vulture Editors. (It's behind a paywall - although it does grant up to one or two free articles a month.) And wouldn't you know..only one got a nod - Sebstain Stan for The Apprentice. (Yes, it's the bio-pick about the Doofus, with Stan starring as the Doofus, in a pic that was definitely not endorsed by the Doofus. I won't watch it - because I can't watch the Doofus, anyone satirizing him, or anything about him. I'm blatantly pretending he doesn't matter or exist and/or will soon disappear - in the somewhat futile hope that I can self-actualize this into being. I said futile. But it's making me happy. I wonder if that logarithm that turns anything with his name or photo into kittens, still exists?)

The other nominations are interesting. I may have to check out some of the films - although I can't watch Demi Moore's The Substance - it's body horror and I can't watch body horror. It's a horror trope that I have issues with.

I've seen Emile Perez - it's excellent. But possibly not for everyone? It's a Spanish Opera about a Mob Boss who hires a lawyer to aid him in finding a surgeon and legally transitioning to a woman. Note - Opera not musical.
Directed by a French director. It's also among the few films that have been nominated in both -Best International Film and Best Picture categories. Although the animated film "Flow" is for both Best Animated Film and Best International Film.

Good news? A trans-woman was nominated in the best actress category. They had a transgender actor portray the transgender role as opposed to a non-trans actor. (Although I think actors should be permitted to portray any role - it's called "acting" for a reason but folks mileage as in all things under the sun, moon, and stars - varies.)

Here's the Oscar Nods for the remotely curious

List of the top ones...I've checked which ones I've seen.

Best picture

Anora - AppleTV, Amazon, Fandango at Home

The Brutalist

A Complete Unknown - unfortunately only available in theaters.

Conclave - Peacock, AppleTv, Amazon, Fandango at Home

Dune: Part Two - available on Max, Apple TV, Amazon, Fandango at Home

Emilia Pérez - SEEN - on Netflix US, free to subscribers.

I'm Still Here

Nickel Boys

The Substance - sorry can't watch, it's body horror. Also apparently has a high walk out audience ratio (possibly due to body horror and subject matter - it's about someone hunting eternal youthful looks and finds what they believe to be a cure to aging...) ( summary of what the movie is about ) - available on MUBI, Apple TV, Amazon, Fandango at Home. (I'm beginning to think they are only available to rent or buy at this point?)

Wicked - AppleTV (apparently available on AppleTV - free to subscribers?? Will have to check that one out this weekend), Amazon, and Fandango at Home (all rentals or buy for approximately $19.99. (Although that's basically a NYC ticket price right there.)

Performance by an actor in a leading role

Adrien Brody, The Brutalist

Timothée Chalamet, A Complete Unknown - really want to see

Colman Domingo, Sing Sing

Ralph Fiennes, Conclave - really want to see

Sebastian Stan, The Apprentice - won't watch, dark biopic on what's his face, but basically Hollywood's way of sticking the finger to what's his face. (What's his face per Mother hired Sylvester Stallone, Mel Gibson, and I can't remember the third guy's name at all (which probably tells you everything you need to know about him) - to be ambassadors to Hollywood and beat it into shape. ME: uhm good luck with that, considering no one wants to hire them, their films sink, they are all past their prime, and the audience no longer cares or knows who they are.)

Performance by an actor in a supporting role

Yura Borisov, Anora

Kieran Culkin, A Real Pain-Hulu, Apple TV, Amazon, Fandango at Home

Edward Norton, A Complete Unknown - he's been gone for a while.

Guy Pearce, The Brutalist -Only in Theaters

Jeremy Strong, The Apprentice - Apple TV, Amazon, Fandango at Home

Performance by an actress in a leading role

Cynthia Erivo, Wicked

Karla Sofía Gascón, Emilia Pérez - seen, first transwoman!

Mikey Madison, Anora

Demi Moore, The Substance - can't watch, sorry Demi.

Fernanda Torres, I'm Still Here

Performance by an actress in a supporting role

Monica Barbaro, A Complete Unknown

Ariana Grande, Wicked

Felicity Jones, The Brutalist

Isabella Rossellini, Conclave - about electing a pope

Zoe Saldaña, Emilia Pérez - excellent performance.

Best animated feature film

Flow

Inside Out 2 - Disney + - saw half of, didn't like it. Might try again, could be a mood thing. First time - it just irritated me.

Memoir of a Snail

Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl - NETFLIX US, and I think UK - found it uplifting but disappointing? I like the previous ones better? The Norberts were annoying.

The Wild Robot - curious about this one. Peacock (streaming Friday), Apple TV, Amazon, Fandango at Home

Where to Stream Oscar Nominated Movies Online

Did you watch the Oscars last night? I did, and it was really boring until Chris Rock came on, and then it got weird.

Depending on where you happened to live and which ABC affiliate was televising it - you saw various takes. In NYC we got the whole thing more or less, except it was muted when they started to curse each other out. Mother got nothing after the slap, her screen froze. And some folks just got a delay or a blank screen, while Japan and Australia got it all - live and in living color.

What happened, in case you are living under a rock, have no access to a television set or social media, didn't watch the Oscars...don't have to work with other folks in an office...basically a hermit in the hills somewhere (in which case can I join you?).
( summary of what happened )
That's the summary of what basically happened.

We chatted about the Oscars at work today, since most of my co-workers also saw them - and most of my co-workers are either Caribbean or African-American heritage. Their reactions were split. Most felt that Smith was out of line, and T stated that her estimation of him had gone down considerably - she felt it was immature. AA stated that his favorite comedian is Chris Rock.

Also, knowing Rock's brand of comedy - he's an insult comedian, which as T pointed out is the popular brand of comedy in the US. It's used a lot at the Oscars. Everyone from Don Rickles to Johnny Carson to Bob Hope to Joan Rivers to Chris Rock has used it. Amy Schuamer's brand is more self-deprecating comedy, but both Wanda Sykes and Regina were utilizing jokes that were insult comedy.

I'm admittedly biased, since I don't like insult comedy. It makes me cringe. And outside of Schuamer's two jokes - one about the Spiderman outfit and the other about the seat savers, I didn't think the jokes were funny.

As I told my co-workers and folks on FB and Twitter - I don't think we're in a position to judge. We don't have all the information and we don't know what was going on behind the scenes. What I do know - makes me think that Jada had had it with Rock making her the brunt of his jokes, and everyone laughing. And made her husband, Will Smith, aware of it. She was there to support him - and he'd initially laughed at the joke. She got upset - and he reacted. Rock was out of line - and shouldn't have made the joke which was in poor taste. (Although he does that - a lot.) I don't like a lot of stand-up comedy - because it tends to be cruel by nature. (If you've never seen it - I strongly recommend Hannah Gadfrey's Nannette which kind of rips stand-up comedy a new one.)

Also, he didn't hit him that hard. He's fine. There wasn't a bruise.

At any rate, Will was obviously upset and regretted what he did - because he did a tearful apology with his acceptance speech for Best Actor. How much of it was real, and how much was acted, isn't clear.

I felt he deserved the win for King Richard, he was unrecognizable in the role. Also, they shouldn't take it away from him - how many Oscars does Woody Allen, Roman Polanski, Mel Gibson, Harvey Weinstein, Kevin Spacey, and various others of that ilk have? Plus the Oscars aren't for humanitarian achievement in the arts, they are about what performances or films members of the academy of motion arts and sciences deem to be the best.

But at the end of the day...this quote I picked up from Twitter resonates..

My opinion is that it isn’t always needed. Yet, for some reason that doesn’t always keep me from voicing it.

A co-worker was upset that we were talking about this instead of more important things. That it was 1% problem. To which, I stated, yes, but, this is more fun to talk about. The Ukraine is depressing, homeless situation, all our problems, the pandemic, etc - it's depressing and we can't do anything about it. Why not take a break from it - and talk about this?

We can go back to talking about the Ukraine tomorrow - no, actually, you can, I prefer to continue to ignore it as much as I can - living in NYC, surrounded by Russian and Ukrainian immigrants.

***

The Oscars themselves...
( Read more... )

See? All of this is so subjective. You really can't compare them. They are kind of fun though in a way. I wonder if there will ever come a time in which we don't need or want awards shows, and people just make art for the fun of it? With no need for validation, awards, or accolades - just to share something they made or created with others.

Perhaps when this happens...life will be easier for all of us?

One can hope, right?

Tomorrow night is the Oscars, I'll probably skip it or tape it and just watch fast-forwarding throughout.

Below, for what it's worth are my predictions for the major categories. The field is a bit harder to predict this year.
( Read more... )

So the Academy Awards aka The Oscars air tomorrow night. And all the predictions are in, more or less.
I was reminded today that they are voted on by a select few, lifetime members of an elite club - where membership is based on a member of the board nominating you to join. In short not everyone votes on the films, just the people lucky enough to be selected as members of the Academy of Film and Motion Picture Sciences. Which, if you think about it, puts a bit of a damper on things, but also explains a lot. Such as why a lot of people in the industry don't take it seriously.

So...I thought I'd do a poll, where you get to vote on which nominated film, actor, actress, supporting actor, and supporting actress, and director should win in your not so humble opinion. I haven't seen all the films? Has anyone?

Here's the poll. If you have an opinion or a write-in candidate provide it in the comments. I have provided a box for not listed or none of the above.

[Poll #2038227]

I'll put my predictions in a separate post.

Yes, I'm sucking at subject headings lately, sorry. Absurdly happy today. Had a lovely little wander down to the promenade which over looks the Brooklyn Bridge and the Manhattan skyline/Statue of Liberty. One side you have the views of the Manhattan skyline, on the other side old brownstowns and gardens, with a myriad of people wandering with dogs, strollers, sitting and chatting. It remains one of my favorite places to visit in the city. Very peaceful. Since it was 67 degrees today, I wandered to this little promenade and sat on a bench, looked out at the view, closed my eyes and soaked in the sun - my percentage of Vitamin D today. Honestly I think if I was out in the sun more, I'd be happier. Wandered back, did the old window shopping - dropping into a shoe store and a comic book store (was looking for mags with pics could draw from), also dropped into assorted artisan stores specializing in hand-made jewelry, dishes and other pretty things...then off to buy food at Met Foods, and more wandering - looking at real estate options, noting I do not have the money to afford these outlandish prices. An one bedroom apartment in Brooklyn goes for $295,000 dollars. A two bedroom? 575,000. Some for 1.2 million. This does not include the maintenance fee or the property taxes. These aren't houses, these are apartments. It's rather frightening. Rents range from $1300-4200. But I figure I have time. And...my federal tax return came today!! YAY!!! You have no idea how worried I was about this. I was so scared the nit-wits that took my lap-top, would also attempt to steal the tax return. But they didn't. YAY!!! What did I do with it? Well...it was just enough to pay for my lap-top. Upside: The lap-top is much better than the last one. And was cheaper. (Thumbs nose at thieves.) And I still get the state one, which is coming. May use it to buy a new tv or go towards Lake Tahoe. My Dad asked me today if I was still planning on going to that...I think so, yes. Be nice to relax and not worry, just sit and look at a bird sanctuary, maybe do a bit of gambling in Reno, maybe do some hiking, and spend time with folks who I share so many interests with. Wales said the other night, "maybe some day you'll find people who like and enjoy same things you do..", my response was: "well, sort of already have - my correspondence club."

At any rate, came home, poured myself glass of wine mixed with Newman's blackberry soda (yes, I'm making my own wine coolers and they are really good - the soda kills the sulfites and no heartburn). Also ate the chocolate gluten-free, dairy-free, and sugar free cupcake (which was also, oddly, very good. ( gluten-free stuff )

Got this week's Entertainment Weekly - which is my pulp mag of choice. It reviewed the Oscars. I did watch a good percentage of the telecast, did not watch all of it. Mostly because, I more or less knew who'd win - I may be the only person on the planet that was not suprised by Crash winning best picture. Also because I find the whole thing a little silly and self-congratulatory. Do you really need someone giving you a reward to tell you the film was good? OTOH - I noticed that Crash, which has been out of the theaters since well May, has returned to the theaters in my area. So winning an Oscar does give a film a second chance at theaters apparently. More people may actually look at it - out of curiousity - to see why a group of people, namely the group that produces, acts in, and makes movies thought it was the best thing out there. So there is a purpose to the whole thing - just as there's a purpose behind all the other award shows and prizes - National Book Award, Pulitizer, Nobel, Stoker, etc... Ask yourself - would you have gone to see, read, or considered listening to a specific piece of art if it didn't win an award? (I don't mean generally, I mean say something you discounted when first looking at it, but changed your mind because well, it won.)

Unlike most people - I sort of liked George Clooney's speech. ( longish bit on movies, oscars,and which movies stood out for me... )

Okay signing off...getting sick of my security system telling me it has detected and blocked a malicious network virus that I downloaded a patch for yesterday. Going to make dinner. Watch flicks and maybe write a bit tomorrow.

Hope everyone had a lovely day...