by gaRis
Argo Crash Yourself
It was exactly a week ago when we spent Family Day at TIFF, where I had my first encounter ever with an Oscar Nominated Shorts special screening. But even that wasn’t the highlight of our day. It was right there, a few steps away from the entrance where I saw the infamous Original Screenplay Oscar(s) won by Crash writers, our very own Paul Haggis and his partner Bobby Moresco. I couldn’t but tweet: “You can’t stop what’s coming”. If my prediction had any worth, Crash snatched three Oscars in 2006, namely: Best Picture, Best Screenplay and Best Editing. Exactly how Argo did it last night. Against Best Director Ang Lee (Life of Pi) who then (against Crash) had won three golden guys (Directing, Adapted Screenplay and Original Score), and now, despite having outperformed Argo at 4 wins (Directing, Visual Effects, Cinematography and Original Score – another Canadian victory by Mychael Danna) was again deprived from the sweet taste of winning Best Picture.
Was that fair? Was it a Driving Miss Daisy (1989) year as many pundits rushed to early proclaim? Is spreading the wealth the new AMPAAS’s doctrine, or was it merely a “coincidence”, just like Sir Benjamin Affleck’s best director’s snub? Have the Membership voted with their feet out of guilt or a spy heist-Hollywood style flick hits the G-spot unmistakably any given year regardless the competition? I mean, if Lincoln wasn’t enough of a challenge – thematically, helmed by Spielberg’s A-Team and portrayed by the now (record) three-time best actor winner D.D. Lewis, then WHAT would it take to defeat that unstoppable Clooney-ish juggernaut of a competing Oscar movie? Can you dig it, fellas? Affleck is a two-time Oscar winner already (first time was for co-writing the Good Will Hunting Screenplay with longtime buddy Matt Damon). George Clooney won Best Picture, has also won in the recent past for Syriana (supporting actor), has been nomed as writer, director, actor and the list will go on if he decides to take up makeup and hairstyling next year).
I’ll save you from the effort and cut directly to the chase: Kevin Costner, Robert Redford, Mel Gibson, Clint Eastwood (uber alles) and Warren Beaty. ACTORS-DIRECTORS. You can’t beat that. Lincoln has grossed little less than $180M domestically and still couldn’t get a break. Spielberg and Kennedy buried in the hall of shame at 1/8 Best Picture Wins. It took Benny two movies (Gone, Baby, Gone and The Town) to get there. Because when it comes to the Academy Membership bottom line, one thing only can be taken for granted: If they like you, they really REALLY like you. So Lincoln quickly forgot its mouth- stuffing 12 nominations, ending up at two wins for D.D. (who cracked the house with his ingenious joke while he was accepting his 3rd trophy by La Streep about that he meant to play Thatcher and she was the first choice for Honest Abe!) and for production design.
Silver Linings Playbook, the great oscarfail campaign by Harvey Weinstein and Co, got what really deserved, a singular victory for JLaw, who at 23, has the whole cinema world in her hands and here’s wishing that she won’t quickly emulate Renee Zellweger, who was drank as a bat during awards-presenting along with the principal Chicago cast. It was a night at the musicals (Hatha finally realized her “I Dreamed a Dream” Oscar win for Supporting Actress, while Les Miserables equalized Argo s tally with another two wins for makeup and sound mixing). Although the two Seth MacFarlane numbers (the opener “We Saw Your Boobs” and the conclusive “Here’s to the Losers”) were equally tasteless, fueled by an overall misogynistic and “gay-meanie” agenda who worked only partially, they did bring the laughs yet felt awkward and forced, in the Ricky Gervais snarky fashion. Today’s ratings give the ABC telecast an 3% up from last year’s show but most importantly secured Seth’s job next year, for he avoided to appear abysmally horrific as James Franco or palpably outdated as the returning host Billy Crystal last year.
So, how did I do overall with my Final Oscar Predictions? 18/24, that’s exactly 75%. Could have done way better, but bear in mind that they were my No Guts-No Glory predix. I rode the Amour train, feeling it could upset with a double Directing/Screenplay accolade but the love was preserved for the Django Unchained scripter, l’ enfant terrible Quentin Tarantino and his protégé Christoph Waltz who continued his Hillary Swank shtick/streak in supporting actor. Mediocre Brave upstaged poor but genuine Wreck-it Ralph and speaking of upstages, someone tell that huge (pun intended) star Adele to think twice before singing live at the same Oscars show with (in that particular order) Jennifer Hudson, Babs and Shirley Bassey. No matter, Skyfall (a first for a Bond Song, would you believe?), along with ½ of Sound Editing were both deserving award recipients for Bond50 Team Skyfall.
Did I just write ½ Sound Editing win? Boy, was THAT a surprise! Check this out: Sixth Oscar Tie Ever The 2013 Oscars produced only the sixth tie in the show's 85-year history, this time for sound editing. Even presenter Mark Wahlberg showed his surprise with his follow-up comment: "No B.S." Zero Dark Thirty's Paul N.J. Ottosson and Skyfall's Per Hallberg and Karen Baker Landers were the recipients of the award. Previous ties: 1932's best actor (Wallace Beery and Frederic March), 1949's documentary short subject, 1986's documentary feature, 1968's best actress (Katharine Hepburn and Barbra Streisand) and 1994's live-action short. Hence the spreading the wealth Oscar tactics resulted in rewarding 8/9 Best Picture nominees. Regardless, that’s a title of honor for the amazing Beasts of the Southern Wild crew. They joined Team The Master. Argo is the new Crash. ‘Nuff said.
Who stole everyone’s thunder last night at Oscars 85th? Michelle Obama, yep the LOTUS ladies and gents! And the funniest part is that the man that made that happen (M.O. presenting Best Picture from the White House along with The Jack on Dolby Theater’s stage) was… Harvey Weinstein, who will take the broom for a total sweep at TWC any time soon. You have P.T.A. and Q.T. and choose to push Silver Linings (a Comedy, hello?), well… you certainly asked for it, right? And this is it for Oscars2013 my friends. Thank you all for your support and comments, here and on Twitter especially while live tweeting our 85th Oscars coverage. And now…Time for spring break, anybody?
P.S. ZerVo, when you will finally collect your winnings for your “Chile-wins-Foreign Language Feature -with NO” bet, buy me a Ferrari. Yep, ya know, red is my fave color my main man!
Silver Linings Playbook, the great oscarfail campaign by Harvey Weinstein and Co, got what really deserved, a singular victory for JLaw, who at 23, has the whole cinema world in her hands and here’s wishing that she won’t quickly emulate Renee Zellweger, who was drank as a bat during awards-presenting along with the principal Chicago cast. It was a night at the musicals (Hatha finally realized her “I Dreamed a Dream” Oscar win for Supporting Actress, while Les Miserables equalized Argo s tally with another two wins for makeup and sound mixing). Although the two Seth MacFarlane numbers (the opener “We Saw Your Boobs” and the conclusive “Here’s to the Losers”) were equally tasteless, fueled by an overall misogynistic and “gay-meanie” agenda who worked only partially, they did bring the laughs yet felt awkward and forced, in the Ricky Gervais snarky fashion. Today’s ratings give the ABC telecast an 3% up from last year’s show but most importantly secured Seth’s job next year, for he avoided to appear abysmally horrific as James Franco or palpably outdated as the returning host Billy Crystal last year.
So, how did I do overall with my Final Oscar Predictions? 18/24, that’s exactly 75%. Could have done way better, but bear in mind that they were my No Guts-No Glory predix. I rode the Amour train, feeling it could upset with a double Directing/Screenplay accolade but the love was preserved for the Django Unchained scripter, l’ enfant terrible Quentin Tarantino and his protégé Christoph Waltz who continued his Hillary Swank shtick/streak in supporting actor. Mediocre Brave upstaged poor but genuine Wreck-it Ralph and speaking of upstages, someone tell that huge (pun intended) star Adele to think twice before singing live at the same Oscars show with (in that particular order) Jennifer Hudson, Babs and Shirley Bassey. No matter, Skyfall (a first for a Bond Song, would you believe?), along with ½ of Sound Editing were both deserving award recipients for Bond50 Team Skyfall.
Did I just write ½ Sound Editing win? Boy, was THAT a surprise! Check this out: Sixth Oscar Tie Ever The 2013 Oscars produced only the sixth tie in the show's 85-year history, this time for sound editing. Even presenter Mark Wahlberg showed his surprise with his follow-up comment: "No B.S." Zero Dark Thirty's Paul N.J. Ottosson and Skyfall's Per Hallberg and Karen Baker Landers were the recipients of the award. Previous ties: 1932's best actor (Wallace Beery and Frederic March), 1949's documentary short subject, 1986's documentary feature, 1968's best actress (Katharine Hepburn and Barbra Streisand) and 1994's live-action short. Hence the spreading the wealth Oscar tactics resulted in rewarding 8/9 Best Picture nominees. Regardless, that’s a title of honor for the amazing Beasts of the Southern Wild crew. They joined Team The Master. Argo is the new Crash. ‘Nuff said.
Who stole everyone’s thunder last night at Oscars 85th? Michelle Obama, yep the LOTUS ladies and gents! And the funniest part is that the man that made that happen (M.O. presenting Best Picture from the White House along with The Jack on Dolby Theater’s stage) was… Harvey Weinstein, who will take the broom for a total sweep at TWC any time soon. You have P.T.A. and Q.T. and choose to push Silver Linings (a Comedy, hello?), well… you certainly asked for it, right? And this is it for Oscars2013 my friends. Thank you all for your support and comments, here and on Twitter especially while live tweeting our 85th Oscars coverage. And now…Time for spring break, anybody?
P.S. ZerVo, when you will finally collect your winnings for your “Chile-wins-Foreign Language Feature -with NO” bet, buy me a Ferrari. Yep, ya know, red is my fave color my main man!
gaRis
