Member Center

February 22, 2009 | Sir Critic on Cinema
 

Home > Blogs > Sir Critic on Cinema > Archives > 2009 > February > 22

Sunday, February 22, 2009

And that’s a wrap! What did you think of the Oscars?

By Eric Robinette | Sunday, February 22, 2009, 11:57 PM

On the whole, this year’s show was very entertaining - indeed, one of the best in years. An overindulgent production number (the one about musicals) and overabundant montages aside, I thought producers Bill Condon and Laurence Mark did a fine job, particularly in the actual awards presentations. Having former winners pay tribute to the nominees made for some lovely moments.

And overall, Hugh Jackman made a very fine host. He wasn’t QUITE as good as he was on the Tonys, but he’s welcome to come back.

My favorite moment: Shirley MacLaine’s tribute to Anne Hathway. I’d like to see her in a musical. Close runner up: Danny Boyle bounding like Tigger on stage.

Least favorite moment: I love Baz Luhrmann, but that musicals production number was nothing more than a time-killer.

I don’t know yet what the ratings are, but if they’re low again, you missed a fun show - and you’re probably missing some great movies featured on the show too, I’ll wager. Check em out.

Your take?

Permalink | Comments (10) | Post your comment | Categories: Oscars Sunday Night

Best Picture …

By Eric Robinette | Sunday, February 22, 2009, 11:50 PM

… is “Slumdog Millionaire.” Of course. As they bring the entire cast on stage!

What else is there to say except see it, if you haven’t? Or see it again, if you have.

Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment | Categories: Oscars Sunday Night

Best Actor

By Eric Robinette | Sunday, February 22, 2009, 11:37 PM

Hey, Ben Kinglsey’s taking a break from appearing in the likes of “Bloodrayne” and “The Love Guru!”

Sean Penn is named, and as much as I loved Rourke’s work, I really have no problem with this win. He was absolutely brilliant in the role, showing a light-hearted side of him we rarely see. If only “Milk” were as good as he was …

Powerful speech. All that remains is “Slumdog’s” coronation.

Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment | Categories: Oscars Sunday Night

Best Actress

By Eric Robinette | Sunday, February 22, 2009, 11:26 PM

On second thought, having the previous winners speak to the nominees is really working out nicely. Seeing the nominees touched by what the presenters are saying really makes for great TV.

And Kate Winslet wins, as expected. Honestly, I have mixed feelings about it. I strongly disliked “The Reader.” She is one of our very best, and I love her work, but “The Reader” wasn’t even her best performance last year - that was in “Revolutionary Road.” I’m glad to see Kate finally get her due, but I wish it were for a better movie and performance.

Permalink | Comments (1) | Post your comment | Categories: Oscars Sunday Night

Best Director

By Eric Robinette | Sunday, February 22, 2009, 11:20 PM

Danny Boyle takes it of course. He’s done so much great work. I LOVE his energy - and the Tigger reference! Terrific emotional speech. I think the choreographer has his due now.

Permalink | Comments (1) | Post your comment | Categories: Oscars Sunday Night

The In Memorian montage

By Eric Robinette | Sunday, February 22, 2009, 11:11 PM

Having Queen Latifah sing is actually a nice touch. Lots of people we will miss. And as expected, it caps with Minghella, Pollack, and of course, Paul Newman. They all still live as long as their movies do.

Permalink | Comments (1) | Post your comment | Categories: Oscars Sunday Night

Best Foreign Language Film

By Eric Robinette | Sunday, February 22, 2009, 11:06 PM

Wow, another surprise. I thought “Waltz with Bashir” or “The Class” would take it, and neither did. I must see it now to see how deserved this is. Course, I’d like to see “Waltz with Bashir” and “The Class” too.

Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment | Categories: Oscars Sunday Night

Best Orginal Score/Song

By Eric Robinette | Sunday, February 22, 2009, 10:52 PM

Nice performance of the scores, but wow, it sounded like it was hard to capture the “WALL-E” sound live.

AR Rahman wins for “Slumdog,” and that is a terrific score, but I really loved Thomas Newman’s work for “WALL-E.” Let’s see how the song category goes.

Now that may be a first - has anybody ever won and then had to perform immediately afterward like Rahman just did?

Clever touch to kind of combine “Jai Ho” with “Down to Earth.” Well done.

And “Jai Ho” wins too. I expcted that but I can’t help but be a little sad. I was really hoping for Thomas Newman to win something. Oh well. It took cousin Randy a while too.

Permalink | Comments (1) | Post your comment | Categories: Oscars Sunday Night

Jerry Lewis’ Jean Hersholt award

By Eric Robinette | Sunday, February 22, 2009, 10:41 PM

Eddie Murphy presents - how apropos!

A richly deserved honor for Jerry - and as is so often the case with these kind of awards, it’s rather surprising that it hasn’t happened already. Simple, elegant speech. Wonder if they had him keep a lid on time.

Permalink | Comments (1) | Post your comment | Categories: Oscars Sunday Night

Sound awards/FIlm editing

By Eric Robinette | Sunday, February 22, 2009, 10:28 PM

Hm. “The Dark Knight” was well done and Richard King is an outstanding sound designer (he also did “War of the Worlds”), but I really would have preferred “WALL-E” Here. Ah well. No biggie.

WOW! “Slumdog” takes the sound mixing award! It’s well-deserved, actually, the movie DOES sound great, but I thought “WALL-E” or “Dark Knight” would take this. That just goes to show how strong the “Slumdog” love is. First real surprise of the evening.

However, it is NOT a surprise to see Chris Dickens win, his editing was truly outstanding. He used a lot of very clever match cuts to keep a clear view of the storyline, even as he was veering between time periods and settings. Sterling work.

Permalink | Comments (1) | Post your comment | Categories: Oscars Sunday Night

The action montage/Visual effects

By Eric Robinette | Sunday, February 22, 2009, 10:23 PM

Hey, the editing of this piece is better than the editing of the overly caffeineated “Quantum of Solace” - but then, that’s not saying much, is it?

PS - Hey Will - you forgot to mention jellyfish!

Clever segue from that to the visual effects award - and the true groundbreaker, “Ben Button” wins. Now WHAT was that silly theory about the movie going 0-fer?

Permalink | Comments (1) | Post your comment | Categories: Oscars Sunday Night

Best Documentary

By Eric Robinette | Sunday, February 22, 2009, 10:12 PM

The producers are doing a wonderful job with the presentations of the awards - nice move hiring the Maysles to put that together.

“Man on Wire,” about the man that walked a tightrope wins. It was one of the best films of the year of any kind. See it.

Nice to see the wire-walker - wonderful moment! Highlight of the show so far!

Can’t comment much on the short film winner …

Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment | Categories: Oscars Sunday Night

Time for Heath Ledger’s Oscar

By Eric Robinette | Sunday, February 22, 2009, 10:02 PM

Yes, I’m confident enough to put that in my subject header ….

Apparently, Philip Seymour Hoffman has taken fashion tips from Janusz Kaminski, and borrowed one of his knit caps …

Let Heath Ledger’s family talk as long as they need to please …. NICELY done, very smart move, letting all the family members have their say.

Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment | Categories: Oscars Sunday Night

Our musical number!

By Eric Robinette | Sunday, February 22, 2009, 09:53 PM

You know, this is all entertaining enough, but if this is a reason why we won’t get full presentations of the Best Song nominees, I’m not sure I’m all for this detour. (Peter Gabriel bailed from performing because the songs would not be played in complete form.)

Permalink | Comments (2) | Post your comment | Categories: Oscars Sunday Night

The comedy montage/Live action short

By Eric Robinette | Sunday, February 22, 2009, 09:38 PM

Well, OK, if you’re going to hire Judd Apatow, I guess the montages can at least be amusing …

Janusz Kaminski and “Pineapple Express” - I must admit I never would have dreamed up that combination ….

and to have Kaminski come out? Inspired!

And yes, the Holocaust film won best short. When in doubt …

Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment | Categories: Oscars Sunday Night

Best Cinematography

By Eric Robinette | Sunday, February 22, 2009, 09:32 PM

How INTERESTING to turn the Cinematography award into a riff on Joquin Phoenix what’s the connection? How to see yourself through the clearest lens and realize you look ridiculous?

“Slumdog” wins, making it, I believe, the first winner to be shot at least partly using digital cameras - and it was beautifully lensed.

Permalink | Comments (1) | Post your comment | Categories: Oscars Sunday Night

And another montage …

By Eric Robinette | Sunday, February 22, 2009, 09:25 PM

The romance montage is actually nicely done, but what does it add to the show … other than an excuse to have Robert Pattinson present? Yes, I know that’s good enough for some people, but …

Permalink | Comments (1) | Post your comment | Categories: Oscars Sunday Night

Best Makeup

By Eric Robinette | Sunday, February 22, 2009, 09:23 PM

Nice idea by the producers to include makeup in this group of awards. “Ben Button” wins, as I predicted … woulda preferred “Hellboy” but “Ben” was nicely done.

Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment | Categories: Oscars Sunday Night

Best Costume Design

By Eric Robinette | Sunday, February 22, 2009, 09:19 PM

The winner is “The Duchess” which, again, is like an award for MOST costume design!

Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment | Categories: Oscars Sunday Night

Best Art Direction

By Eric Robinette | Sunday, February 22, 2009, 09:15 PM

INTERESTING way to present this … I very much like the way the producers are thinking out of the box.

The Oscar goes to “Ben Button,” which is kind of a “Most Art Direction” award, but I’m not complaining … the film was beautifully designed. It would be nice to let ALL the winners talk …

Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment | Categories: Oscars Sunday Night

Best Animation

By Eric Robinette | Sunday, February 22, 2009, 09:03 PM

Well isn’t Mr. Black a CHEEKY fellow!

Let’s see if the mega-bomb “Delgo” makes the montage! Hmm, didn’t see it ….

WALL-E wins … love Andrew Stanton mentioning being cast as Barnaby in “Hello Dolly.”

Hmm, Pixar LOST the short film … I’ll have to seek the winner out. NICE capper by the person who accepted!

Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment | Categories: Oscars Sunday Night

Best Screenplays

By Eric Robinette | Sunday, February 22, 2009, 08:52 PM

Fun intro by Martin and Fey. Love the idea of showing how we move from script to screen.

And the winner, as I expected is Dustin Lance Black, for “Milk.” VERY moving speech. That’s a model of how to make a point without being too obtrusive.

And Simon Beaufoy wins, most deservingly, for “Slumdog.” Let the march begin …love the eternal look of delight on Danny Boyle’s face.

Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment | Categories: Oscars Sunday Night

Best Supporting Actress

By Eric Robinette | Sunday, February 22, 2009, 08:42 PM

Looks like we start with Supporting Actress one of the tighter races of the night. Really like the idea of multiple winners presenting.

Are we having the presenters do these descriptions, though, instead of playing clips? Not sure I like that idea, but I appreciate the attempt to try something different.

And the Oscar goes to …

Penelope Cruz came through! Fine with me, she was terrific in Woody Allen’s film. Good of her to name-check Pedro Almodovar. Nice touching speech.

Permalink | Comments (2) | Post your comment | Categories: Oscars Sunday Night

The opening …

By Eric Robinette | Sunday, February 22, 2009, 08:30 PM

A jazzy take on the “Lawrence of Arabia” theme! I LIKE this already! Producers Bill Condon and Laurence Mark and Bill Condon are off to a good start, and so is conductor Michael Giacchino.

Host Hugh Jackman takes a cue from Billy Crystal - but Billy didn’t dance much, did he?

LOVE the rehearsed “unrehearsed” number with Anne Hathaway! Yes, folks, she sings too!

OK folks it’s settled. Hugh Jackman can host next year! And the year after that ….

Permalink | Comments (1) | Post your comment | Categories: Oscars Sunday Night

WOW! Something CLEVER during the red carpet part!

By Eric Robinette | Sunday, February 22, 2009, 08:20 PM

We get our first montage of the evening, and it’s actually a good one, I was amused by the movie accountant assemblage. I’m really rather amazed, we have nine minutes to go to the actual show, and my brain doesn’t hurt yet. What’s the deal?

I like that they’re talking to a good cross-section of people, even ones who aren’t ultra famous like Richard Jenkins.

I think we may have a winner in our stupidest question contest: If there was an earthquake at the Kodak, who would you save?

I don’t know … I can think of a few people I would LEAVE …

Permalink | Comments (1) | Post your comment | Categories: Oscars Sunday Night

Oscar live blogging: Let us begin ….

By Eric Robinette | Sunday, February 22, 2009, 08:02 PM

Well, time once again to live blog the Oscars! For the red carpet portion let us begin by playing a game - which correspondent (or celebrity) will ask the dumbest question or make the stupidest statement?

Keep hitting the refresh button for updates to the posts …

Pardon while I admire Amy Adams in her red dress …

Nothing brain-meltingly stupid so far, although the “Richard Nixon could not be here” remark was of the “duh” variety.

Fun to see the whole “Slumdog” crew there - they look happy just to be at the party. Get ready guys, you’re going to collect a bunch of statues.

Permalink | Comments (2) | Post your comment | Categories: Oscars Sunday Night

 

Things to do