Oscar deadline story:
Everybody pretty much called it in advance, but nothing was certain until the very end. Joel and Ethan Coen's crowning achievement, "No Country For Old Men," toted some heavy Oscars Sunday night (for Picture, Director, Adapted Screenplay and Supporting Actor), but the Academy spread the wealth.Continue reading at RogerEbert.com"We, uh... thank you very much," said Ethan, accepting the Best Screenplay Adaptation Oscar, and it was a terrific speech. Six words. Maybe five-and-a-half. Funny. Pithy. Whether it was intentional or the shorter Coen brother just went up on his lines, he demonstrated that screenwriting is not just about crafting dialog. If you set the scene properly, the words themselves don't have to be memorable, just the moment.
It was. And, because of the sense of drama created by the structure of the show, that scene felt like the tipping point for "No Country for Old Men." You didn't know where the evening's storyline was headed, but once it got there, as always, it felt as if it had been inevitable. Kind of like the ending of "No Country" itself....
Turns out, the segment's deadline for dying is January 31.
Hehe! But Brad Renfro died before Heath Ledger, and they obviously made a point of adding him to the roster. Either way, it wasn't very nice of the organizers to leave out Renfro and Scheider.
I wrote this on my live-blog thingumajic, but I thought I bring it up here.
Amy Adams was great singing Happy Working Song. That was a brilliant scene with all that vermin cleaning stuff up. I love, love, LOVE Amy Adams. She has a great voice on her, too. She was championed by Roger Ebert in her work for Junebug two years ago, as was Ellen Page this year for Juno. Both films have quirky women, both are, essentially, called Junebug. Spooky, eh?
By the way, backlash my backside. The whole room erupted when they called out Diablo Cody's name.
And it was a short ceremony this year, I thought. Last year's started earlier, and ended late. This one was the total opposite.
John Stewart was genuinely clever. He was a little much when he insulted people a couple of times, but he TOTALLY redeemed himself when he brought out the woman from Once.
When the music cut her off, all of us watching cried out. We were upset all during the commercials (well, during the time we fast forwarded through the commercials) and then he brought her out. That was awesome. I'm so glad they won.
I didn't see many of the top movies because I don't like watching intentional evil.
I found the Oscars very moving this year. I feel warmth, affection and admiration for so many of the past and present actors shown. It was really moving to me to see them all. I think this is weird/ unexpected that I feel this way.
Overall, I enjoyed it and found it inspiring. Good Show, old chaps!
Please tell me I wasn't the only one moved by "My Heart Will Go On." Please.
How does a film which is little more than a remake of Steve McQueen's 'Getaway' win so much praise. A crime in central Texas, a bag of money, a chase thru southwest Texas, looking for a plane in Alpine Texas( it was a train in Alpine in Getaway), a move toward finality in El Paso( which never occured in this movie). Finally an ending which just 'stops'.
This is hardly a great movie, and the directing left much to be desired.
@Ali Arikan:
Eh, no. I'm probably one of five people on earth who've seen Once AND didn't fall in love with it [it was good, not great], but having them win was a genuine joy. (Though I like the "Happy" song from Enchanted.) It was like retribution for the Oscars Aimee Man and Elliott Smith didn't receive. I think Mann lost to Phil Collins doing a song from a Disney movie and Smith lost to, yes, the mediocre pap from La Celine.
Richard Gibbs:
If that is all you got out of NCFOM, then I am truly sorry.
Actually, I thought NO COUNTRY was a remake of RAISING ARIZONA: trailer-dwelling bumpkin from the southwest takes something that doesn't belong to him and gets chased around by The Ultimate Badass. Bardem was great, but he's no Randall 'Tex' Cobb.
Merely summarizing the plot of No Country for Old Men doesn't really say anything about the film. The story might be banal but it hardly matters, the film-making is extraordinary. You can argue all you want about Wether or not No Country for Old Men really has anything new or even interesting to say but you can't argue the craft. I don't know how anyone with the least bit of appreciation for cinema can watch the dog chase scene or the hotel scene and not be affected. No Country for Old Men is easily the best best picture winner in over a decade.
Ledger died on January 22nd, nine days before January 31st, which therefore meets the cutoff. Scheider died on February 10th, therefore he will be included next year.
Renfro wasn't an Academy member, which is likely why he was left off. Whether that's a legitimate line to draw for In Memoriam inclusion is up for debate.
All in all, the awards turned out great and made up for the lack of a show. And the acceptance speeches, collectively, were the best I've ever seen. I did a running-diary of the show, in case anyone wants to check it out. Find it here.
Mr. Gibbs:
Congratulations on entirely missing the point!
As I never grow tired of reminding people, Mr. Gibbs, just because you didn't understand it does not mean that it wasn't good.
Best wishes...
I would like to add that Helen Mirren looked absolutely stunning in that red dress.
I have to confess I didn't see the last Bourne movie (I can never keep the individual titles straight but I still appreciate that they aren't just numbered) but I was really surprised that No Country didn't win the Sound award. I thought they were almost guaranteed that one.
Ali: I'm telling you, it was that damned EW cover that cost Ellen Page the Oscar!
Dane: Skip Lievsay wuz robbed.
Brandon: Thanks for that information. Since there's no roster of Academy members (at least, not one the press or public can see -- only publicists, I guess), I've often wondered who's an Academy member and who isn't. All I know is that you're invited to join if you get a nomination.
Did you notice that they omitted the usual introduction of the films nominated for Best Picture throughout the night? I felt like without that it was missing something. Not only do you not get a briefing of the nominated films or a build-up to them, but you don't get acquainted with the nominees (it was near the end before we got a closeups of Paul Thomas Anderson or Jason Reitman).
Screw the Coens. I'm just glad that "one doodle that can't be undid, homeskillet" was granted the Academy Award it so richly deserved. Honest to blog! :)
Well, obviously almost no one agreed with my take on the movie , and that is ok. Several posters said I missed the point; well what was the point? It is simply disgusting that a well constructed work such as ' La Vie en Rose' gets very little recognition, even tho Ms. Cottillard did get the best actress award. I appreciate all the comments, even if they were not in agreement...RG
What was the point of No Country? You should read this interpretation on Roger's website posted in the reader mail. Very eloquent and summed up nicely, best explanation I've seen so far ...
http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080225/LETTERS/607994909
They should make "NCFOM" required viewing for all film students. I have not seen a screenplay as perfect or direction as telling since "North by Northwest".
Richard G., I am however in agreement with your assessment of "La Vie en Rose". Not only was the performance the best I've seen in several years, the movie would have made my top ten list of last year (if I'd gotten around to making one.)
I was confused by Lewis's speech...something about the Oscar growing out of the ground or PTA's fertile soil, huh(??) I don't remember what he said, that's just how incomprehensible it was for me. And little Dublin girl gives the best speech of the night. Cheers!
The article implies that Heath Ledger was included in the Memorium even though he died after the Jan 31st cutoff. Actually, he died on Jan 22nd.
Jim-
Great observation, I noticed the same blip in the red-carpet interview with Marion Cotillard. The E! host obviously forgot the question halfway through it. "Edith Piaf died!...(looks down quickly) uhh, before you were even born." Unintentionally very funny, and one of my favorite Oscar moments.