Oscars, part 10

[cleolinda]

And now, Hugh Jackman actually tells us who was performing! That was, in fact, John Legend, and Fatima Robinson did the choreography! I am assuming M.I.A. was therefore not there! Would have been nice to know at the time! And here's Liam Neeson and Freida Pinto with Best Foreign Film! "Bon soir, tout le monde!" says Liam Neeson with a wink. Simmer down there, Aslan.

Best Foreign Film

Der Baader Meinhof Komplex (2008) (Germany)
Entre les murs (2008) (France)
Revanche (2008) (Austria)
Okuribito (2008) (Japan)
Vals Im Bashir (2008) (Israel)

I think Japan wins? Neeson announces it as "Departures." The winner is very, very happy! He is here because of films! Man, he is doing so much better than I would be doing in Japan right now.

Commercial break! (Help! I thought I checked off "don't email comments" each time, but apparently my inbox is on fire anyway!)

Please welcome! Queen Latifah in royal blue! Oh dear, it's the Annual Death March of Deathly Death. I do like this innovation--if we have someone sing ("I'll Be Seeing You") through the montage, no one will clap till it's done. Genius: this is a stroke of it. Except that the names are moving past really fast, so I'm not even going to try to transcribe them this--YOU GUYS THEY ARE STILL CLAPPING, WTF. STOP IT! STOP CLAPPING! IF YOU DIDN'T BRING ENOUGH APPLAUSE FOR THE WHOLE CLASS, STOP CLAPPING! (Winners so far on the Death-O-Meter: Isaac Hayes and Paul Scofield; a cheer and whistle for Stan Winston. Wait--wait--Sydney Pollack's louder and--nope, here's Paul Newman with a knockout.)

You stay classy, Oscar audience.

Commercials. Now my hands are starting to seize up.

Here's Jackman again. President of the Academy Sid Ganis is stepping down, and "as a farewell gift, he's promised not to make a speech to us." Okay, I snerked.

Here's Reese Witherspoon with a fantastic sparkly midnight blue gown, although I don't know that she needed to have matching eyeshadow. Best Director! Witherspoon mentions how directors can be hostage negotiators talking actors out of their trailers. "I'm not naming names. You know who you are. Ben Stiller."

Given that she actually had to deal with Joaquin Phoenix on Walk the Line, this just adds an extra layer to that whole running gag.

Best Director

Danny Boyle for Slumdog Millionaire (2008)
Stephen Daldry for The Reader (2008)
David Fincher for The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008)
Ron Howard for Frost/Nixon (2008)
Gus Van Sant for Milk (2008/I)

Whoa, are they serving alcohol at this thing? There's a BIG cheer for Fincher, as well as Boyle and Van Sant. Danny Boyle wins, and apparently he promised his kids to "accept this award in the spirit of Tigger," which is why he jumped up and down three or four times when he got to the podium. Seriously, that tiny man has got some bounce. And he thanks Warner Bros. for "having the grace" to let Fox Searchlight take Slumdog Millionaire. Given the Fox/WB fight over Watchmen, that's kind of hilarious. Also, he thanks the choreographer of the end credit sequence, who he had just found out got his name left off the movie. Aw.

Comments

[skycrashesdown.livejournal.com]

Have I totally lost my mind? Don't they normally do Best Actor/Actress, then Director, then Best Picture? Have I forgotten every Oscar show I've ever watched?

[ppyajunebug.livejournal.com]

SOPHIA LOREN! I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE YOU IN NINE.

[ppyajunebug.livejournal.com]

You haven't forgotten- they've switched it up this year.

[isca.livejournal.com]

Knowing that there were several stars who pulled out, who else is playing "Guess the Replacement"? Shirley MacLaine... looking at you....

[katzies.livejournal.com]

OK, Oscar for Kate now, please?

[emmaorgana.livejournal.com]

SECONDED!

[skycrashesdown.livejournal.com]

Oh thank god. Thank you for answering that.

[kittenkatt.livejournal.com]

Awwww, Anne is so touched and excited! ♥

[himhilien.livejournal.com]

I think we need more Japanese nominations in the future.

I clapped when Stan was shown, but I'm at home. NO EXCUSE FOR YOU, OSCAR AUDIENCE! >:|

I want my very own Danny Boyle. <3 <3 <3

[ironclad1609.livejournal.com]

It'd be about damn bloody time.

[robinmc.livejournal.com]

I love Sophia Loren to bits, but what is she wearing? Seriously.

[maisontv.livejournal.com]

Enough with the eulogies. I am so bored right now.

[isca.livejournal.com]

No way she can't win.... right?

[smu.livejournal.com]

Holy fuck, what is Sofia Loren ON?

[emmaorgana.livejournal.com]

She's kind of scaring me right now. O.O

[isca.livejournal.com]

Also, why is she the colour of a dirty tan crayon?

[smu.livejournal.com]

More importantly, wtf is she on?

[ironclad1609.livejournal.com]

Old age, I fear :(

[kittenkatt.livejournal.com]

Ugh, Halle. NOT ABOUT YOU. Still. I've had love for Melissa Leo for a long time (<--- points to icon).

[maisontv.livejournal.com]

I just saw Sophia Loren. W. T. F?! Damn, that is one hot mess.

[ppyajunebug.livejournal.com]

Whatever Paula is on.

[scornedsaint.livejournal.com]

I love Sophia Loren, but I think she's going to give me nightmares tonight.

[sirinde.livejournal.com]

I'm torn between her and Meryl Streep. Of course I didn't see either movie due to Difficult Year. But from what I know of them both as actresses, they're both stunning.

So, torn!

[isca.livejournal.com]

Oh, Nicole... Good God, you are stunning.

[skycrashesdown.livejournal.com]

Maybe she's just carrying on the Joaquim Phoenix joke...?