I think he died right before the Oscars last year, so he wasn't included this year, right?

Well, the only movies of note we saw this year were Frost/Nixon and Dark Knight, so I can make no comment about any of the big category winners.

I will comment muchly about the short film winners. HORRIBLE CHOICES!!! HORRIBLE! HORRIBLE! Boo, boo, boo, and triple that. Boo.

Okay, with that out of the way, LOVED the show itself. The presentation of the big acting awards was fabulous, though after the amazing, heartfelt presentations for best actress, the old men reading their lines off teleprompters for best actor fell kinda flat.

Heath died in '07 or early '08 and was in last year's memorial.

I really liked the memorial this year. The multi-screen presentation, a beautiful live song performance. What wasn't to like?

Nicole Kidman was gorgeous. What the hell happened to Sophia Loren. Ouch.

Conspicuously absent were, Jack Nicholson and Samuel L. Jackson's hat.

But yeah, I though the writing, staging, and overall showmanship were outstanding this year, a real cut above what they've offered in a long time.

I wonder what they're cutting then because the show was a bit over three hours long.

And yes Ledger was a very late addition to last year's In Memorium. Though I wondered if they'd have him again since he was nominated.

Just looked up a picture of Loren, her sea monster has definitely died (look a joke that only Lani will get).

I have to agree - really enjoyed the show this year. Of course there were highs and lows.

Loved the opening number - hated the musical number.

I did like the presentation of the acting awards. It gave new meaning to the overused "It's an honor just to be nominated" statement. But yeah, the best actor presenters were generally awkward.

Torn on the memorial. I loved the multi-screens, but the camera work made it hard to focus - they actually pulled back at times to the point of not being able to read the captions. I generally like Queen Latifah, but I thought her performance was off. Not really a good song for her.

Overall, a B+.

Agreement. I really liked the new format, even though my friend just told me he thought the ego stroking was too much to stomach. I agreed that a few of the remarks were over the top, but not so offensive that I could give you an example. And I can't even remember the last time I saw Shirley MacLaine! I enjoyed it.


My mom came over and watched with us (she is 83) and cried at that song. She loved the whole show. And actually, I wouldn't have even watched the show at all if she had not asked. I didn't see enough of the nominated films to make the effort worth sitting through the boring bits, but did for Mom.

Hugh Jackman didn't offend me at all. I thought he did a fine job.

Dude, she's like, 500 years old, give her break. Well, ok, I just checked and she is actually 74. I am sure she's spent just plenty of money and had a lot of work done, but I think she is still beautiful. Her dress was lovely and her hair looked a lot better than Kate Winslet's -- who my mother insisted was wearing a wig.

Yay new format, yay Hugh Jackman! Nearly all of the planned stuff was perfect. I loved the way they handled everything that had been annoying in the past. Medleys, thank you. Movie clips were blended very well. Liked the nods to prior films. Presenters were mostly great. The sets were fantastic. Jackman out-BillyCrystaled Billy Crystal. :snap:

Can't believe Wall-E didn't get something for sound. Sound was the entire movie.

Nicole Kidman is the only person who can pull of feathers like that. Just seeing her for those brief moments made me want to see Australia in spite of all I've heard.

Mickey Rourke had one of the best outfits. So many men can't seem to figure out how to do black tie interestingly.

There's a billion other things to say but it's been a long day. Great swanking, LSPE and Tom! :D


ETA - watching the Oscars in HD means wrinkles, bad makeup, and bad surgery show up even more hideously.

I only watched the last 3 awards and liked the format they used. I adore Sophia Loren and I hope I still look that good at 74 (although NM asked if she was Ru Paul).

I saw a total of one winning film - Vicky Christy Barcelona. I only watch any of it for the fashions.

Overall I really liked the new production. In my opinion, the best Oscar production I've ever seen (other than the musical number).

Ben Stiller's bit was hilarious.





I guess there weren't as many Commie, Homo-Loving Sunofaguns as Sean Penn thought.

Oh, and I thought it was the best memorial ever. Beautiful live song, so many touching deaths, the side screens with the alternative images from the dearly departed's body of work. And the camera work only bothered me in that it sometimes moved in too close to see those other screens. Really, the most moving Oscar memorial I have ever seen.

The new format was fantastic. The troupe of past acting winners presenting en masse was inspired, and reached it's zenith with the completely touching Best Actress presentation. This new tack really highlighted the value of the nomination, and downplayed the crapshoot of the win. Loved it.


Similarly innovative was the montage of Best Director noms, intersperced with films that likely provided influence and inspiration.

The medley trio of best nominated song was such an improvement over dragging them out one-by-one throughout the entire show. I liked the clever backstage set for the costumes/make-up/design/cinematography and the cool speaker set for the sound awards.

Speaking of sets - - the crystal curtain prosenium was absotabulary gorgeous, OMG.

Jackman's "thrown-together" opening number was hillarious. Ben Stiller as Joaquin Phoenix, histerical. Steve Martin and Tina Fey, funny as all hell. Who was in that other comedy bit, with the stoner dude and the cinematographer? All the comedy scored big.

The comedic touches in the acceptance speeches were also bizarre and great. The tightrope walker balancing the Oscar on his chin! WTF. The two separate Japanese acceptances were classic comedy gold ... that fantastic audience shot of everyone going "huh?" - and the first guy who finished with "Domo Arrigato, Mr. Roboto" HAHAHAHAHAHA!


Despite that I thought the nominees were bleh, and the Slumdog streak retarded, I found this the best Oscar show literally in decades! Loved it, loved it, loved it.

Oh, Nicole Kidman was the most glorious vision of the evening.


Bleh on Sean Penn for being the only one from Milk not wearing a white knot. But thanks for the gay rights bit in your acceptance speech. Other Milk winner Lance Black also gave a moving speech on The Gay. So not a bad night for "my issue," but it was a drag that few other attendees wore the white knot.


Jerry Lewis looked better than I expected. Sophia Loren, though. OMG, poor woman. Generally not as many fashion faux-pas as in other years, though. Really a high class show.

And a great Oscar party at Le Chez. Thanks everybody. So.Much.Fun.

Oh, I loved his acceptance speech! So glad he won. Except, was it just me, or did he thank everyone breathing -- except Robin Wright? He had a list, for crying out loud.