The Oscars

[Alex]

I can see that argument being made, but I don't agree with it. Since it is fundamentally a subjective view that's ok.

I'm more impressed by what O'Toole did than by what Whitaker did (even if the end results were of approximately equal entertainment value). I won't say anybody who feels the opposite is wrong.

[Strangler Lewis]

Originally Posted by Alex Stroup

I can see that argument being made, but I don't agree with it. Since it is fundamentally a subjective view that's ok.

I'm more impressed by what O'Toole did than by what Whitaker did (even if the end results were of approximately equal entertainment value). I won't say anybody who feels the opposite is wrong.

I haven't seen the movie, but from what I've seen of the clips, Peter O'Toole did play a real person: Peter O'Toole. And Forest Whitaker looks like he did his typical Forest Whitaker, weird-eyed, intensity thing. Meryl Streep did her Meryl Streep tics in Prada. Cary Grant always played Cary Grant. Katharine Hepburn always played Katharine Hepburn. Etc.

It's a rare pleasure to find a famous actor who disappears into a variety of roles and whose tics and tricks you don't recognize. Kate Winslet comes to mind among women. Sean Penn and Jim Broadbent among men.

[Alex]

I'd disagree with you on Sean Penn, he almost always plays "godawful annoying." It's his trademark.

[Snowflake]

Originally Posted by Strangler Lewis

It's a rare pleasure to find a famous actor who disappears into a variety of roles and whose tics and tricks you don't recognize. Kate Winslet comes to mind among women. Sean Penn and Jim Broadbent among men.

I agree on Winslet and, especially, Jim Broadbent. May I derail this to refer to Emmy Awards for 2007 and I feel that if he does not win for Longford, it will be a crime. Grim story, but he was marvelous. In this case playing an IRL person, but someone I don't know jack about. A remarkable actor, who raises up the quality of the worst crap (okay, not the horrible Bridget Jones sequel, at least he was only required to do a drive by on that piece of crap).

Sean Penn, Mystic River was agonizing for me.

[wendybeth]

Sean Penn's best role was Jeff Spicoli. I can't watch him without seeing Jeff, no matter what the character he's supposedly playing.

[LSPoorEeyorick]

Originally Posted by Alex Stroup

I can see that argument being made, but I don't agree with it.

That's how I feel about the information presented to support the idea that it's harder to create from scratch. I see what you're saying, and I disagree. If you have an original character (and an imagination) you can create whatever you want. You have no restrictions other than the text. You can make them sound or look or be however you want.

If you have the restrictions of a real person's voice, movement, etc, you don't have the freedom to make an easier choice, or ANY choice, in those terms. But you do have to give a layered performance with emotional responses and so on on top of all of those constrictions. In my mind (and in my acting/directing experience) this is harder.

[Babette]

Originally Posted by Ghoulish Delight

Yeah, somehow I don't think that went quite the way she thought it did in her head.

Babette, don't know who the presenter is, but they gave the accountants/secret-until-envelope-opening-on-stage spiel over the closing credits.

Oh, I missed that since I didn't even stay for the whole Departed speech (didn't see the film, no Matt Damon=I didn't care). Thanks for the info.

Originally Posted by innerSpaceman

But it rankles that Best Picture went to a remake, just as I bemoan that the best actor and actress nods went to real-person immitators. There was less CREATION in these awarded films and roles, and I think that detracts from their overall greatness.

Not to repeat anything already said about this, but most stories are "remakes" to some extent. It is the new interpretation for a new generation that makes or breaks them. Maybe they should have two best picture categories like they do for screenplays - original and adapted. I agree with those who said it is the lost-in-the-moment, entertainment value that makes a film good.

Originally Posted by CoasterMatt

So, just how many people associated with Fast Times at Ridgemont High have gone on to win Oscars?

Haha, Ubergeek said "he's from Fast Times" when Forrest won! Alex beat me to the list. Thanks, A!

Originally Posted by Strangler Lewis

It's a rare pleasure to find a famous actor who disappears into a variety of roles and whose tics and tricks you don't recognize. Kate Winslet comes to mind among women. Sean Penn and Jim Broadbent among men.

or Sean Patrick Flannery and Ralph Fiennes (hubba hubba)

Originally Posted by Cadaverous Pallor

I can't possibly take it seriously enough to think it was "propaganda", however.

Ummmm, yea. That was I who was yelling "propaganda" at dinner. But, I was referring to Binto's Big Idea and not West Bank Story. West Bank was funny, Hot Shots, SNL style. Binto was pure propaganda trying to hide behind a heartmeltingly adorable little girl. The father's proposal was funny and clever. Even the children at school was sweet. But the play ruined it all. Could they beat us over the head any more with the idea the girls need to go to school? Geez! PROPAGANDA!!

[Cadaverous Pallor]

Originally Posted by Babette

Ummmm, yea. That was I who was yelling "propaganda" at dinner. But, I was referring to Binto's Big Idea and not West Bank Story. West Bank was funny, Hot Shots, SNL style. Binto was pure propaganda trying to hide behind a heartmeltingly adorable little girl. The father's proposal was funny and clever. Even the children at school was sweet. But the play ruined it all. Could they beat us over the head any more with the idea the girls need to go to school? Geez! PROPAGANDA!!

Seriously. It could have been a much better film if they just hadn't yelled at us so much.