78th Academy Awards Show discussion thread! (winners, losers, speeches, etc...)

[scott1598]

From the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood, CA. Post your thoughts on the winners, the losers, the speeches, the host (John Stewart), pre-show, post-show, and anything and everything Oscar show related.

[SMB-IL]

inHD2 is running E!'s coverage in high definition all day until the Oscar telecast.

[riley_dude]

There is already a thread like this in the TV section.

[NatrlBornThrllr]

Ben Stiller, Will Ferrell and Steve Carell were hilarious.
Jon Stewart was great. Scorsese nil, Three 6 Mafia one.
King Kong deserved every award it took home.
Crash is exactly like Million Dollar Baby: manipulative.
I love upsets though...so that was exciting.
I'm glad Hustle & Flow got a bit of love.
Reese Witherspoon's speech was good. So was Hoffman's.
Morgan Freeman's reaction to the frenchies with pengins was hilarious.

-JP

[RyoHazuki]

Captain search didn't search to see if this existed already?

http://forum.dvdtalk.com/showthread.php?t=457964

[scott1598]

Captain search didn't search to see if this existed already?

http://forum.dvdtalk.com/showthread.php?t=457964
i really didn't even remotely think to look in tv. i know it is on tv, but it really does belong here. close this and move that. either way, i would like to talk here.

[Daniel-A]

Which preshow is the one to watch? E! or the official ABC?

[scott1598]

Which preshow is the one to watch? E! or the official ABC?
E! uses talent-less people who except for Seacrest know nothing about actual movies and the people they interview, even he of the music world is an odd choice, but i guess he is personable. it's almost embarrassing watching them embarrass the stars, by not knowing who they are and what not.
Billy Bush from Access Hollywood is doing ABC and he is great. he knows a lot and has something almost the other stations won't...respect.

[Daniel-A]

Okay time to make predictions (not all categories just some):
Actor: Ledger (I'd prefer Howard)
Actress: Witherspoon
Director: Lee
Movie: Brokeback
Song: In the Deep
Supporting Actor: Giamatti
Supporting Actress: McDormand
Score: Memoirs OAG
Original Screenplay: Crash

[bsktballDude1]

Okay time to make predictions (not all categories just some):
Actor: Ledger (I'd prefer Howard)
Actress: Witherspoon
Director: Lee
Movie: Brokeback
Song: In the Deep
Supporting Actor: Giamatti
Supporting Actress: McDormand
Score: Memoirs OAG
Original Screenplay: Crash

There is no chance in hell that McDormand is winning. It's Weisz's to lose.

[movieking]

The thread is always in TV, where it should be.

[Perkinsun Dzees]

Keira Knightley.

:drool:

[NatrlBornThrllr]

Okay time to make predictions (not all categories just some):
Actor: Hoffman (I'd prefer Howard)

Fixed. God I've love to see Howard take it home. Ah well.

-JP

[Daniel-A]

The thread is always in TV, where it should be.Just because something is on TV doesn't mean it goes in TV talk. If it weren't on TV it wouldn't even be considered to be over there. The content is what is being discussed not the medium.

[NatrlBornThrllr]

I wholly agree. I watched Passing Glory on DVD last night. Had I caught it's premiere on TNT, I would've posted it in the movie forum, because even though it's a made-for-TV movie, it's a movie. I know that the Oscars are broadcast on TV, but they're all about cinema and the best movies of the last year. I think the movie forum is easily the most appropriate place for the thread.

-JP

[Patrick_N]

Interesting. We're one minute ahead of the US in the broadcast. Must be the Janet factor.

[Daniel-A]

Ugh, having the orchestra play quietly during speeches is going to get annoying.

[scott1598]

George Clooney and I'm 1 for 1...just give me the prize now!

[Eric D.]

2 for 2 right here.

[Daniel-A]

Ben Stiller was pretty awesome. Are the presenters usually entertaining or more like Nicole Kidman?

[conscience]

Nicole Kidman doesn't need to be entertaining...she's set with her hotness.

[Lara Means]

Owen Wilson's nose is disgusting.

[dick_grayson]

Owen Wilson's nose is disgusting.

make sure you post this in as many thread as possible ;)

[Mr. Cinema]

I am now 6 for 6, which leads the DVD Talk Oscar Pool.....so far

[Joe Molotov]

6/8 for me. I was sure Paul Giamatti was going to win. And as far as the Best Live-Action Short Film goes, who the heck knows?

[raven56706]

wow... this old lady was just really not doing well up there....


kudos to George.... now he can use the oscar on all of his 1 night stands.......

[Mr. Cinema]

I'm sure I wasn't the only one who thought Lauren Bacall was getting ready to faint. Yikes

[Perkinsun Dzees]

Man, who was that senile old lady up there? She could barely get through the introduction to those black and white films.

[AnonomusBob15]

the skit on the best actress cat. was side-splitting.

[conscience]

I'm sure I wasn't the only one who thought Lauren Bacall was getting ready to faint. Yikes

Yeah, she looked like me when I gave my very first speech in Public Speaking back in my freshman year of college.

[Johnny Boy]

Man, who was that senile old lady up there? She could barely get through the introduction to those black and white films.

I thought she was going to have a heart attack on stage.

I really like that song from Crash. Nice to see the lady who sings it, good performance. Now maybe I should finally see the movie Crash itself.

[conscience]

Man, who was that senile old lady up there? She could barely get through the introduction to those black and white films.

That was Lauren Bacall. She's 81 (looks great for her age) and was either REALLY, REALLY nervous or has the onset of Parkinson's Disease.

[digitalfreaknyc]

That was Lauren Bacall. She's 81 (looks great for her age) and was either REALLY, REALLY nervous or has the onset of Parkinson's Disease.

Damn. Ya'll are giving her Parkinsons and I just thought she couldn't read the teleprompter.

Yeah...that Crash # really impressed me. I need to hear that whole song now. That's been the best part of the show thus far.

[digitalfreaknyc]

Keanu and Sandra! Come on! Speed 3! Speed 3! Speed 3!!

[conscience]

Damn. Ya'll are giving her Parkinsons and I just thought she couldn't read the teleprompter.

Yeah...that Crash # really impressed me. I need to hear that whole song now. That's been the best part of the show thus far.


Hint on why I said OR.

And I should know what Parkinson's looks like: my father has it.

[Perkinsun Dzees]

What's with all these clips of old movies?

Just get to the footage of all the dead people and hurry up with the major awards!

[conscience]

I do want to give it up to whoever had the idea of the 'smaller' categories having seat rotation. Much better than the debacle last year. Although that damn music during the speeches is not cool at all.

[kitkat]

I think there was a problem with the teleprompter. Morgan Freeman also seemed to have some trouble there. If I were them, I'd be pissed.

[Perkinsun Dzees]

Finally, some major league cleavage.

[Johnny Boy]

Damn Salma Hayek looks good tonight! More than usual. What the hell is going on?

[yourlocalcinema]

For those who thought Bacall was bad, it was because she couldn't read the teleprompter from far away.

[digitalfreaknyc]

Fuck Brokeback. The ONLY category that I had someone to root for and it wins score.

[Mr. Cinema]

Yes! Kong beat Walk the Line for Sound Mixing. It should get Sound Effects as well. That will give it 3 out of 4. Not bad.

[Johnny Boy]

Mr. Cinema, it looks like you're going to win it all. (jinx) ;)

Meryl Streep still looks pretty good. I wish she were 80 years younger.

[raven56706]

wow..... hard to be a pimp won..... holy cow..... awesome to see

[Mr. Cinema]

If the front runners win out, looks like it's going to be a 3-way tie in the Oscar Pool. :(

Why didn't I choose Brokeback Mountain for Score? Why oh why?

I can't believe Pimp won. The first shocker of the night. Also, when I saw Jennifer Garner, I suddenly wanted milk 'n cookies.

[Daniel-A]

I love how excited Three 6 was. Seemed like they were the only ones who were really overcome by the win. Them and the Foreign language guy.

[Johnny Boy]

"Martin Scorcese, 0 oscars, Three Six Mafia, 1." :lol: I gotta say Jon Stewart has done a pretty good job overall tonight.

[Mr. Cinema]

I can't believe Best Actor is up now. That is usually almost last.

[Daniel-A]

I can't believe Best Actor is up now. That is usually almost last.
The show is over in 20ish minutes. Supposedly.

[Mr. Cinema]

Whew. Glad Hoffman is now official.

[Mr. Cinema]

The show is over in 20ish minutes. Supposedly.
Usually Director and Picture follows Actor. They usually do the Screenplays before. They still haven't done Cinematography either.

Right now:

Kong - 3 wins
Geisha - 2 wins
Brokeback - 1 win
Crash - 1 win
Capote - 1 with

Brokeback will get 0 acting awards, but Screenplay, Picture, Director, and Cinematography will likely go its way.

[Al Padrino]

I love how excited Three 6 was. Seemed like they were the only ones who were really overcome by the win. Them and the Foreign language guy.
I think most people who win an Oscar feel that way, but chose to be more reserved about it. Three 6 just did how most Oscar winners feel. And it was hilarious.

[Mr. Cinema]

Uh-oh. Geisha beat BM for Cinematography.

The best BM can do is 4. If somehow it loses Screenplay, then Crash still has a chance. But the percentage is very small.

The show is moving along very quickly. Much better production this year compared to last year.

[conscience]

That Adapted Screenplay win makes me somewhat ill.

[Tarantino]

Can anyone list the catagories and the winners thus far?

= J

[Jeremy517]

Can anyone list the catagories and the winners thus far?

= J

http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2006/academy.awards/print.ballot.html

[Mr. Cinema]

It's not gonna happen, but if Crash wins Picture and Lee Director, there would be a 4-way tie for most wins, with Kong and Geisha also getting 3.

BUT....like I said, not happening. BM will get 4 and Crash 2.

[conscience]

Jack Nicholson!

[conscience]

Crash! OMG.

[Mr. Cinema]

Okay, ignore my last line.

[Rockmjd23]

YESSSSSSS!!!!!!! The only nominated movie I saw won!! hahahhahahahaa

[NatrlBornThrllr]

Wow.

[Perkinsun Dzees]

You're kidding me?! Hollywood actually picked a movie about L.A. as Best Picture? Who'da thunk?!

[raven56706]

i called it...... awesome.....

[conscience]

What a difference a lot of money put into dvd screeners can get you! YAY CRASH!

[raven56706]

ouch...... cutoff...

[Tarantino]

Haha, awesome.

= J

[scott1598]

what a shock. i thought "Crash" was good, but not Best Picture good imo.
anyway, i thought it was a good show and Jon Stewart was admirable. No fancy pancy stuff, but just straight up. not too bad imo.

so i got 15/24, not great, but it was fun keeping track!

[Mr. Cinema]

4 movies tie for the most wins. very odd.

Also, the top 2 films combined for 0 acting wins, which also doesn't happen often.

[Mr. Cinema]

4 movies tie for the most wins. very odd.

Also, the top 2 films combined for 0 acting wins, which also doesn't happen often.

Brokeback Mountain losing Cinematography and not getting an Editing nom was a hint afterall.

[gryffinmaster]

Holy ****! Check out the sig below. Awesome!! Very, VERY happy. :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

[Johnny Boy]

Congrats to Mr. Cinema and the other two people that won the oscar pool. I did awful. Only 8 right! Damn Three Six mafia threw me off.

[Daniel-A]

What a difference a lot of money put into dvd screeners can get you! YAY CRASH!It was on DVD for a while before the awards season. No need for screeners.

And it was pretty messed up playing off the Crash people. Reese was up there for quite a while longer and she didn't get shoved off.

[Zodiac_Speaking]

good show. guessed 17 right.

[beatccr]

phillip seymour hoffman didn't bark dammit!

thought the show was much funnier than last years. the tom hanks skit, and the dame judy ad were hysterical.

i was hoping that john williams or star wars would get some loving but oh well.

i have never cursed so much when crash won.

[pro-bassoonist]

Some of the most poor choices I've seen in a very long time (not only Best Picture but cinematography, musical performance, documentary feature, editing, and foreign production as well).

Add Mr.Ebert to the list with his terrible comments in the pre-show, the fact that he completely lost it when he mixed up the films he wanted to address...AND, once agian the terrible editing of the entire ceremony...cutting people left and right in the middle of their speeches...total farce!!

Pro-B

[Goat3001]

Here are my thoughts on the show as a whole, like any of you care ;)

1- Too many montages
2- They got Tom Hanks on screen, good for them.
3- Three 6 Mafia was the best part of the show
4- I thought Phillip Seymour Hoffman was amazing as Truman Capote. But I want to give my nod to Terrance Howard who was just as good in Hustle and Flow. I'm happy one of those guys won.
5- Ang Lee deserved best director
6- Crash was the best movie of last year. Period. Brokeback was great, but IMO pretty overrated.
7- Did Reese Witherspoon say that she wanted to make movies that people would respect (or something along those lines)? Is that why she made Legally Blonde.... twice?
8-Once again Three 6 Mafia was great. Good for them.
9- Scorcese got shafted ;)

[conscience]

It was on DVD for a while before the awards season. No need for screeners.

You expect celebrities/Hollywood people to pay for anything? No. The studio still whored out screeners.

[NatrlBornThrllr]

I liked Crash quite a bit, but I don't think it's Best Picture good. I thought Million Dollar Baby was mediocre on a good day, and I still think that it's Best Picture win was a travesty. So this is two Paul Haggis screenplays that have taken home Best Picture in the past two years. I wonder what cliched, caricature-filled Haggis screenplay will be turned into next year's Best Picture winner.

-JP

[jessecrx]

Wow! Crash won! I had a gut feeling it would win. Glad it did.

The show was very funny and entertaining.

I really liked the homages they gave to the old black and white films and to those that have passed away. They gave Chris Penn a nod! That made me feel all warm inside! Same with Pat Morita.

I am also happy that Reese won for best actress. I don't like her all that much but she really worked that role in Walk The Line.

Can't believe that Phoenix wasn't even nominated. His acting was simply remarkable.

EDIT: OK OK! I MISSED THE PART WHERE THEY ANNOUNCED THE NOMINEES! MY WIFE TOLD ME HE WASN'T NOMINATED but she was half asleep! I walked in right when P.Seymour was accepting the oscar.

Good show...good show!

[scott1598]

it really sucks that anyone gets cut off. these are moments in time that they should never forget and to have this happen at this moment just sucks a little bit for them. it happened at least 3 times that i saw and it really is disheartening.

i thought Reese gave the best acceptance speech.
i thought George gave the funniest.
i thought the winner for foreign language gave the 2nd best speech.
i thought it was awesome that Three 6 Mafia won, channeling Eminem i guess. that was the nicest non-prediction i had.
i thought Jon Stewart killed in his opening monologue and had some good impromptu moments.

and was it me or did Joaquin Phoenix look bloated or beefy or something??

[Johnny Boy]

Some of the most poor choices I've seen in a very long time (not only Best Picture but cinematography, musical performance, documentary feature, editing, and foreign production as well).

Add Mr.Ebert to the list with his terrible comments in the pre-show, the fact that he completely lost it when he mixed up the films he wanted to address...AND, once agian the terrible editing of the entire ceremony...cutting people left and right in the middle of their speeches...total farce!!

Pro-B

Amen Pro-B! I agree. And this makes me feel a lot better about only picking 8 correctly. :lol:

I still really enjoyed the show though.

[conscience]

:up:

Philip Seymour Hoffman
Reese Witherspoon
Brokeback Mountain, Score
Dolly Parton
Tomlin/Streep/Altman
Better 'smaller' category setup

:down:

Brokeback Mountain, Adapted Screenplay
Crash, Best Picture (any of the others were far better)

[Mr. Cinema]

I'm happy. I loved Crash and am glad it took home the gold. I'm happy for Ang Lee. I'm very happy for Hoffman and for King Kong.

The movie with the most nominations and the biggest box office usually wins, and BM didn't. It's been a long time since the most nominated movie lost Picture.

I also won the DVD Talk Pool!!! 19 wins....but I share with 2 others.

[scott1598]

Can't believe that Phoenix wasn't even nominated. His acting was simply remarkable.
yes, he was!

[Daniel-A]

You expect celebrities/Hollywood people to pay for anything? No. The studio still whored out screeners.Oh I know. I was just saying that the studio just pushed the DVD on them. Didnt have to go make some barebones screeners.

[NatrlBornThrllr]

Can't believe that Phoenix wasn't even nominated. His acting was simply remarkable.

I can't believe that he wasn't nominated, either. Y'know why? Because he was.

-JP

[Giles]

:down:


Crash, Best Picture (any of the others were far better)


I agree...

I am very very glad 'Wallace and Gromit' won though

[Johnny Boy]

I also won the DVD Talk Pool!!! 19 wins....but I share with 2 others.

If you had only picked Three 6 Mafia man, you would've been alone!

[Mr. Cinema]

I'm glad they spread the wins.

Crash - 3 wins
Brokeback Mountain - 3 wins
Memoirs of a Geisha - 3 wins
King Kong - 3 wins
Capote - 1
Walk the Line - 1
The Constant Gardener - 1
Syriana - 1

Munich - 0
Good Night, and Good Luck - 0
A History of Violence - 0

The movie that has won the Golden Globe, DGA, PGA, and WGA has never lost the Oscar for Best Picture....until tonight. wow

[conscience]

I also won the DVD Talk Pool!!! 19 wins....but I share with 2 others.

Well I got 17 correct with my final predictions over at the Oscar Pool - so you guys weren't that far out in front. :D

[Giles]

the 'Norman Corwin' docu was dull, God Sleeps in Rawanda and The Mushroom Club were far superior IMO.

was surprised that the Pixar animated short One Man Band did not win.

[Wick]

The Oscars were excellent again this year. I was successful in some of my predictions, and it was nice to see Phillip Seymour Hoffman win Best Actor (although I would have been just as happy if Joaquin Phoenix would have won it.) Of course, it was also nice to see Reese Witherspoon win Best Actress, which was definitely deserved. I'm still undecided as to whether or not I would have given Crash, Best Picture, but I think it's a great film.

[AnonomusBob15]

I am not happy about Crash winning. I am not happy about MOAG winning so many.

Anything else would have been fine.

[Big Quasimodo]

It didn't surprise me that Crash won. It's kind of a "yay us!" Hollywood thing, to my way of thinking. I couldn't be happier with the big awards this year. Especially PSH!

[scott1598]

ps) congrats to the 3 poll winners...your "Crash" dvd is in the mail!!

[Jericho]

I'm happy. I loved Crash and am glad it took home the gold. I'm happy for Ang Lee. I'm very happy for Hoffman and for King Kong.

The movie with the most nominations and the biggest box office usually wins, and BM didn't. It's been a long time since the most nominated movie lost Picture.

I also won the DVD Talk Pool!!! 19 wins....but I share with 2 others.

Congrats on the picks. I know I bombed. I had nine categories I was uncertain of, and I managed to miss eight of them. Damn you live, animated, and documentary short. I never get you right.

No real surprises until the end, still shocked that Crash actually won. I didn't buy into any of the media stories that Crash might win, seemed to be just drumming up interest especially since Crash had won no major other awards.

Glad to see Hoffman, Weisz, and Ang Lee win. I'd also diagree that they got cinematography wrong. Memoirs of a Geisha was a beautifully shot film. I'm glad it won over Brokeback, which I thought my take the award just because it would win best picture (oops).

[Johnny Boy]

I am not happy about MOAG winning so many.

I can't say I'm "not happy" about MOAG winning, but I'm really surprised. I truly thought the movie would be shut out with zero wins.

[Sondheim]

Though I still haven't seen all the best picture nominations, I preferred the two others I have seen, "Brokeback Mountain" and "Good Night, and Good Luck." to "Crash". Still, "Crash" is a really good film and I'm not unhappy to see it win. Besides, it was my dad's favorite film from 2005.

With that said, I much preferred last year's ceremony and the one the year before since my favorite film from each year was nominated and won ("Million Dollar Baby" and "The Return of the King".)

[Giles]

Crash won because of the growing backlash against a homosexual themed film - plain and simple.

[grem458]

:down:

Brokeback Mountain, Adapted Screenplay
Crash, Best Picture (any of the others were far better)

Crash winning for Best Picture so has split vote written all over it [IMO].

[Mr. Cinema]

From now on, it will be more difficult to predict Best Picture. All of the rules for success have been broken. With what played out tonight, it doesn't matter if you win the Globe, PGA, DGA, WGA, NY and LA critic award, have the most nominations and be the biggest grosser of the 5. You can still lose.

[jpdude]

My thoughts on the show:

I could have done without all that Three 6 Mafia crap, worst part of the show IMO.

Brokeback should have won for Best Picture.

Heath Ledger OR Joaquin Phoenix should have won.

Paul Giamatti should have won.

[Giles]

It didn't surprise me that Crash won. It's kind of a "yay us!" Hollywood thing,

it was a LA film - they like to hand out praise to films that reflect their own community.

[scott1598]

Crash won because of the growing backlash against a homosexual themed film - plain and simple.
i don't think that had anything to do with it.

[Mr. Cinema]

Crash won because of the growing backlash against a homosexual themed film - plain and simple.
Growing backlash?

The film got the most nominations. Has earned $80 million. I hardly call that a backlash.

The Academy thought Crash was better.

Unfortunately, those who were rooting for Brokeback to win will be saying this over and over and over.

[Giles]

This just another film winning Best Picture, that really didn't deserve it, the last good movie that justified as being 'best' was Forrest Gump'

[NatrlBornThrllr]

Heh, I think Nicholson ignored what was inside the envelope and simply announced his favorite film of the bunch.

-JP

[digitalfreaknyc]

Crash won because of the growing backlash against a homosexual themed film - plain and simple.

Wah wah wah.

Now we're going to have to deal with months of the "gay community" stirring up a shitstorm about how they were robbed and it was some big conspiracy.

Big fucking drama queens.

You lost. It wasn't as good as Crash in the Academy's opinion. Simple as that.

[Giles]

Growing backlash?

The film got the most nominations. Has earned $80 million. I hardly call that a backlash.

The Academy thought Crash was better.

Unfortunately, those who were rooting for Brokeback to win will be saying this over and over and over.


you haven't been reading the trade rags have you?

[NatrlBornThrllr]

This just another film winning Best Picture, that really didn't deserve it, the last good movie that justified as being 'best' was Forrest Gump'

Oh. I was under the impression that Pulp Fiction and Shawshank came out that year.

-JP

[Jericho]

I can't say I'm "not happy" about MOAG winning, but I'm really surprised. I truly thought the movie would be shut out with zero wins.

MOAG was a virtual lock for Costumes and Art Direction (which it did win), and stood a very good shot at Cinematography and Score (winning only Cinematography). Now the movie itself may or may not be good, but these technical awards seem hard to argue with. The movie was technically very well done in these areas.

[Giles]

Capote was the best film IMO.

[Giles]

Oh. I was under the impression that Pulp Fiction and Shawshank came out that year.

-JP

oh i forgot my smiley... ;)

[NatrlBornThrllr]

Heath Ledger OR Joaquin Phoenix should have won.

In other words, you didn't see Hustle and Flow or Capote?

-JP

[Zodiac_Speaking]

Hey, I believe all the pics nominated for Best Picture actually deserved to win, all of them, unlikely previous years. It was a tough, good category. Crash might've been the weakest of the bunch, but a damn fine film.

[pro-bassoonist]

The Oscars were excellent again this year...

Perhaps you were watching a different show then...because (what I saw last year and) what I saw this year was as poor of a show one could come up with as I have ever seen (multiple cuts, dry jokes, rap "shoutouts" that were anything but interesting, poor editing....I can keep going on forever). Last but not least shouting "bitch" and acting cool does not make you cool or hip...quite the opposite.
To top it all off, an independent picture won the Best Film award...


Pro-B

[Giles]

You lost. It wasn't as good as Crash in the Academy's opinion. Simple as that.


oh and the Academy's opinion is right... oh I forgot... yeah, they are the end all of all 'great' cinema....

[jpdude]

I ended up with 15/24 ... some big upsets thru me off.

[digitalfreaknyc]

oh and the Academy's opinion is right... oh I forgot... yeah, they are the end all of all 'great' cinema....

Right. And if it won, you'd be singing their praises.

Bitch, please.

[Jericho]

To top it all off, an independent picture won the Best Film award...

Pro-B

You mean like last year with Million Dollar Baby?

[Zodiac_Speaking]

I thought Star Wars should've been nominated for FX; EIII was better than Kong.

[Mr. Cinema]

I thought the show had some life to it. Usually it's a stuffy room, but they did some different things this year to mix it up. A nice change.

[jessecrx]

yes, he was!

Guess I missed that part...I went out to get ice coffee when they announced the nominees.

Still I think he should have won. When I think of his role in Gladiator and then compare it to Walk the Line....its a complete 180 degree turn of acting. He was so dispicably evil in Gladiator and so cool country tough in Walk the Line. Great range if you ask me. Damn you Dunkin Donuts for making me miss the nominee announcement!!!!

[Zodiac_Speaking]

I thought Steward's jokes were great, but the audience didn't seem so (drunk or not intune with jons comedy?).

[Giles]

Right. And if it won, you'd be singing their praises.

Bitch, please.

oh I leave that to you - you bitched more about Brokeback than I did.

[Giles]

You mean like last year with Million Dollar Baby?

another film I didn't care for either.

[RockStrongo]

Well, I predicted Best Picture and Director...for all those who doubted it could happen....f you. ;)

Just kidding...Jon Stewart was actually funny. I think he did a good job.

Congrats to all the winners!

Crash.....woohoo!

[AnonomusBob15]

I thought Star Wars should've been nominated for FX; EIII was better than Kong.



Ewwww. No sir!

[Mr. Cinema]

Well, I predicted Best Picture and Director...for all those who doubted it could happen....f you. ;)

Just kidding...Jon Stewart was actually funny. I think he did a good job.

Congrats to all the winners!

Crash.....woohoo!
We've been 2 of the few that have defended Crash on here. Glad to see it win!

Crash - Best Picture with 3 awards. The last Best Picture winners I can think of with that low amount were the Godfather and Rocky both getting 3 wins. Million Dollar Baby only got 4 last year. They're being very generous with other films lately.

The top 4 Picture nominees

1. Crash
2. Brokeback
3. Capote
4. Good Night, and Good Luck

combine for 0 Acting wins. I can't imaging that has happened before. What a strange year. The rules have been rewritten.

[Giles]

We've been 2 of the few that have defended Crash on here. Glad to see it win!

yeah you're in the minority.. cant wait to see what wendersfan reaction will be tomorrow.

[blkdragon6]

MOAG was a virtual lock for Costumes and Art Direction (which it did win), and stood a very good shot at Cinematography and Score (winning only Cinematography). Now the movie itself may or may not be good, but these technical awards seem hard to argue with. The movie was technically very well done in these areas.

The New World was shafted for not getting Cinematography. In fact, The New World was shafted completely.

[Detective Thorn]

The top 4 Picture nominees

1. Crash
2. Brokeback
3. Capote
4. Good Night, and Good Luck

combine for 0 Acting wins.

You are forgetting Hoffman winning Best Actor for Capote.

[NatrlBornThrllr]

We've been 2 of the few that have defended Crash on here. Glad to see it win!

Crash - Best Picture with 3 awards. The last Best Picture winners I can think of with that low amount were the Godfather and Rocky both getting 3 wins. Million Dollar Baby only got 4 last year. They're being very generous with other films lately.

The top 4 Picture nominees

1. Crash
2. Brokeback
3. Capote
4. Good Night, and Good Luck

combine for 0 Acting wins. I can't imaging that has happened before. What a strange year. The rules have been rewritten.

Oh, I could've sworn that Capote took home some little acting award..

Edit: Son of a bitch my smartass corrections of peoples' comments keep being beaten to the punch.

-JP

[Mr. Cinema]

Whoops. It's still strange. :)

[conscience]

You are forgetting Hoffman winning Best Actor for Capote.

I know! How dare he. Best performance of the year.

[Mr. Cinema]

Hoffman was who I picked and rooted for.

I'm still jittery about Crash's upset.

Paul Haggis can now do anything he wants. Back-to-Back Screenplay Oscars and his small indie wins Best Picture.

[pro-bassoonist]

You mean like last year with Million Dollar Baby?

What I mean is in my post...no need trying to pull out statements I did not make. What I have no problem stating is that Crash was not the best film this year! Plain and simple!

Pro-B

[slop101]

Why are people surprised that a low-brow after-school-scpecial with good actors won?

Aren't best-picture Oscar winners usually the most simple, paper-thin "issues" movies?

In that regard, Crash is totally deserving.

[Jericho]

combine for 0 Acting wins. I can't imaging that has happened before. What a strange year. The rules have been rewritten.

I don't know if the year is that strange. I mean other than the Crash upset, which is a pretty huge upset in my book no matter what the "buzz" was, there were no other real upsets. There were a bunch of categories that could go either way, but no real favorites losing. Even original song was wide open, so it's not like pimp winning was shocking. Although I am personally surprised the academy went for a rap song. I guess with 8 mile and this I should expect more rap wins.

[Giles]

Why are people surprised that a low-brow after-school-scpecial with good actors won?

Aren't best-picture Oscar winners usually the most simple, paper-thin "issues" movies?

In that regard, Crash is totally deserving.


you forgot, "over simplistic trite dialogue"

when it won best screenplay - I just shook my head sheer disgust. Horrible Horrible writing.

[BassDude]

YES !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

CRASHCRASHCRASHCRASHCRASHCRASHCRASHCRASHCRASHCRASHCRASHCRASHCRASHCRASHCRASHCRASHCRASHCRASHCRASHCRASH CRASHCRASHCRASHCRASHCRASHCRASHCRASHCRASHCRASHCRASHCRASHCRASHCRASHCRASHCRASHCRASHCRASHCRASHCRASHCRASH CRASHCRASHCRASHCRASHCRASHCRASHCRASHCRASHCRASHCRASHCRASHCRASHCRASHCRASHCRASHCRASHCRASHCRASHCRASHCRASH CRASHCRASHCRASHCRASHCRASHCRASHCRASHCRASHCRASHCRASHCRASHCRASHCRASHCRASHCRASHCRASHCRASHCRASHCRASHCRASH CRASHCRASHCRASHCRASHCRASHCRASHCRASHCRASHCRASHCRASHCRASHCRASHCRASHCRASH


http://i2.tinypic.com/qsjb08.jpg


Best Picture ofthe past FEW years. (Now ta go read the thread.)

[pro-bassoonist]

Why are people surprised that a low-brow after-school-scpecial with good actors won?

Aren't best-picture Oscar winners usually the most simple, paper-thin "issues" movies?

In that regard, Crash is totally deserving.

:up::up:

Pro-B

[Doctor Gonzo]

YES! CRASH!!! Glad Buttcrack Mountain lost!

[BassDude]

Why are people surprised that a low-brow after-school-scpecial with good actors won?

Aren't best-picture Oscar winners usually the most simple, paper-thin "issues" movies?

In that regard, Crash is totally deserving.


rotfl

[slop101]

Tony Danza has now been in a best picture winner....

[Joe Molotov]

Tony Danza has now been in a best picture winner....

He was in Canonball Run 2, did that not win?

[garmonbozia]

results I was most excited about:

#1 Wallace and Gromit!!!! yay!
#2 Brokeback Mountain winning best original score. all the other awards picked some boring score that totally didn't interest me.
#3 REESE!!!!!!!!!!!!

Big "Booooooooooooooooooooourns" for the following:

#1 Memoirs of a Geisha winning best cinematography and not The New World. academy voters suck.
#2 even though Philip Seymour Hoffman was a lock for best actor, I was still rooting for Joaquin.
#3 Crash winning best picture. Crash was a somewhat interesting and decent film, but it was probably the most mediocre film nominated. It was a pretty superficial film for the subject matter, and it didn't "wow" me on any level. Once again, for the most part, The Golden Globes pick better winners than The Academy Awards do.

This trend of spreading the awards around (especially splitting best picture and best director) is really sort of stupid and doesn't really mean anything. How can the best directed film not win any acting awards nor win best picture? It doesn't make logical sense. The director's main job is to guide the actors to get the best performances out of them. It would thus make sense that the person dubbed "best director" would have directed at least one "best performance" in presumably "the best film". All this divvying up the awards is just Hollywood trying to kiss as many of its own asses as collectively possibly. Vive The Golden Globes!!!! They gave best film awards to both Brokeback Mountain (Best Drama) and Walk the Line (Best Musical or Comedy).....both of which are well deserved.

[Mr. Cinema]

Matt Dillon, Don Cheadle, Terrence Howard, and Thandie Newton have now been in a best picture winner.

[Giles]

yet sadly the number of people I have mentioned Wallace and Gromit - had not a single clue as to who they were - maybe this win will get bigger exposure to them as well as a resurgence of clay animation animated films - less CGI more clay - hooray!

[Mr. Cinema]

Hey, Traffic, according to the Academy, was the best directed, best edited, best written, and had a supporting win for Del Toro and it still lost Picture.

[Giles]

Hey, Traffic, according to the Academy, was the best directed, best edited, best written, and had a supporting win for Del Toro and it still lost Picture.

yeah aren't the Academy members clueless...

[Napolean Dynamite] Idiots! [/Napolean Dynamite]

[BassDude]

yeah aren't the Academy members clueless...




Apparently not.. did ya see CRASH won? :banana:

[Giles]

Apparently not.. did ya see CRASH won? :banana:

have you not been READING my posts about CRASH - duuuuuh.

[Jericho]

This trend of spreading the awards around (especially splitting best picture and best director) is really sort of stupid and doesn't really mean anything. How can the best directed film not win any acting awards nor win best picture? It doesn't make logical sense. The director's main job is to guide the actors to get the best performances out of them. It would thus make sense that the person dubbed "best director" would have directed at least one "best performance" in presumably "the best film". All this divvying up the awards is just Hollywood trying to kiss as many of its own asses as collectively possibly. Vive The Golden Globes!!!! They gave best film awards to both Brokeback Mountain (Best Drama) and Walk the Line (Best Musical or Comedy).....both of which are well deserved.

Well you're looking too much at just winners. Brokeback almost certainly finished 2nd in best picture race and had THREE acting nominations, all by first time nominees. All three probably faired well in the voting too, just none of them won. That seems like a pretty good directing job, doesn't it? I would say Lee got the best performances out of his actors. Simply because Ledger, Gyllenhaal, or Williams didn;t win doesn't mean he didn't do a better job than any other director. Besides, its not like the Academy plans to split these winners. It just happened that the votes fell that way this one time.

[BassDude]

have you not been READING my posts about CRASH - duuuuuh.

Guess ya missed mine.... duuuhhh

[bballing]

Crash won. Hahaha. I can't remember the last time a movie won best picture that had no business being nominated.

[Giles]

Crash won. Hahaha. I can't remember the last time a movie won best picture that had no business being nominated.


'Forrest Gump' .... ;)

[NatrlBornThrllr]

Guess ya missed mine.... duuuhhh

Lisa: Let's post it on the internet!
Bart: No...we need to reach people whose opinions REALLY matter.

[pro-bassoonist]

Guess ya missed mine.... duuuhhh

What's to miss there? Other than large "yeahh"s I do not think that Giles or any other member might have missed much.

Pro-B

[NatrlBornThrllr]

Fuck yes, one of my smartass responses finally came first!

[lamphorn]

Crash won. Hahaha. I can't remember the last time a movie won best picture that had no business being nominated.

Chicago.


I agree, though. Future generations will laugh at us as we laugh at those who picked Oliver over 2001: A Space Odyssey.

[NatrlBornThrllr]

Chicago.


I agree, though. Future generations will laugh at us as we laugh at those who picked Oliver over 2001: A Space Odyssey.

Which movie nominated for best picture this year compares to 2001?

[lamphorn]

Which movie nominated for best picture this year compares to 2001?

Well, 2001 was not nominated. But I'm pretty sure Brokeback Mountain will be remembered as the far superior film to Crash.

[NatrlBornThrllr]

I haven't seen Brokeback yet and I don't think Crash was very good at all, so I won't attempt to refute that. My question was a sincere one. Thanks for the response.

-JP

[Artman]

Didn't watch at all, but I'm pleasantly surprised that Crash won!

:thumbsup:

[Daniel-A]

I think a lot of cinephiles are just getting into the Brokeback hype. I'm glad it lost. I'm not anti-gay, I just root against most every fave. So many people were talking about how good the film is, I figured the movie tick was coming with a free tug. Overall I'm glad of every nominee for best film as they were all of substance, no matter what a lot of people are saying about how shallow they think Crash was.

[Decker]

I was shocked and disappointed that Crash won. It wasn't a bad film, but it felt much less important and more standard than Brokeback. In fact, I was a little suprised it was even nominated, to be honest. Yes, I had heard the rumblings for some time that it might score the upset, but I thought in the final analysis, people would take this vote seriously and not just vote for the flick they were most comfortable with. I was wrong. I should have suspected something when my LA-based mother, who sees everything playing told me she didn't want to see Brokeback. If true cinefiles are disdane to even watch the film, what chance does it have?

Here's Ken Turan's post-mortem from the LA Times. He says it all much better than I ever could:
------------------------------------

Breaking no ground : Why 'Crash' won, why 'Brokeback' lost and how the academy chose to play it safe.
By Kenneth Turan, Times Staff Writer
March 5, 2006

Sometimes you win by losing, and nothing has proved what a powerful, taboo-breaking, necessary film "Brokeback Mountain" was more than its loss Sunday night to "Crash" in the Oscar best picture category.

Despite all the magazine covers it graced, despite all the red-state theaters it made good money in, despite (or maybe because of) all the jokes late-night talk show hosts made about it, you could not take the pulse of the industry without realizing that this film made a number of people distinctly uncomfortable.

More than any other of the nominated films, "Brokeback Mountain" was the one people told me they really didn't feel like seeing, didn't really get, didn't understand the fuss over. Did I really like it, they wanted to know. Yes, I really did.

In the privacy of the voting booth, as many political candidates who've led in polls only to lose elections have found out, people are free to act out the unspoken fears and unconscious prejudices that they would never breathe to another soul, or, likely, acknowledge to themselves. And at least this year, that acting out doomed "Brokeback Mountain."

For Hollywood, as a whole laundry list of people announced from the podium Sunday night and a lengthy montage of clips tried to emphasize, is a liberal place, a place that prides itself on its progressive agenda. If this were a year when voters had no other palatable options, they might have taken a deep breath and voted for "Brokeback." This year, however, "Crash" was poised to be the spoiler.

I do not for one minute question the sincerity and integrity of the people who made "Crash," and I do not question their commitment to wanting a more equal society. But I do question the film they've made. It may be true, as producer Cathy Schulman said in accepting the Oscar for best picture, that this was "one of the most breathtaking and stunning maverick years in American history," but "Crash" is not an example of that.

I don't care how much trouble "Crash" had getting financing or getting people on board, the reality of this film, the reason it won the best picture Oscar, is that it is, at its core, a standard Hollywood movie, as manipulative and unrealistic as the day is long. And something more.

For "Crash's" biggest asset is its ability to give people a carload of those standard Hollywood satisfactions but make them think they are seeing something groundbreaking and daring. It is, in some ways, a feel-good film about racism, a film you could see and feel like a better person, a film that could make you believe that you had done your moral duty and examined your soul when in fact you were just getting your buttons pushed and your preconceptions reconfirmed.

So for people who were discomfited by "Brokeback Mountain" but wanted to be able to look themselves in the mirror and feel like they were good, productive liberals, "Crash" provided the perfect safe harbor. They could vote for it in good conscience, vote for it and feel they had made a progressive move, vote for it and not feel that there was any stain on their liberal credentials for shunning what "Brokeback" had to offer. And that's exactly what they did.

"Brokeback," it is worth noting, was in some ways the tamest of the discomforting films available to Oscar voters in various categories. Steven Spielberg's "Munich"; the Palestinian Territories' "Paradise Now," one of the best foreign language nominees; and the documentary nominee "Darwin's Nightmare" offered scenarios that truly shook up people's normal ways of seeing the world. None of them won a thing.

Hollywood, of course, is under no obligation to be a progressive force in the world. It is in the business of entertainment, in the business of making the most dollars it can. Yes, on Oscar night, it likes to pat itself on the back for the good it does in the world, but as Sunday night's ceremony proved, it is easier to congratulate yourself for a job well done in the past than actually do that job in the present.

[wm lopez]

I stand with egg on my face.
I thought John Stewert was going to do Bush jokes, bash FoxNews.
But instead he was wonderful as m.c.,his performance was up there with Bob Hope & Billy Crystal. Hope to see him there next year even if this year's show gets bad ratings he won't be the cause.

[Decker]

Oh and I have to disagree with that. SO many jokes fell flat, so few memorable live bits (some of the pre-recorded stuff was funny, though). He wasn't a monumental bomb like Letterman, wasn't as crude as Whoppie or as ill-suited as Rock, but give me Crystal or Martin any day over Stewart. He's a funny anchorman, but was out of his league here

[wm lopez]

The key is he didn't say any jokes that made anyone feel uneasy like Chris Rock did last year. Stewart had some class, his whole performance was something the whole family can sit down and watch.

[brizz]

Here are my thoughts on the show as a whole, like any of you care ;)


7- Did Reese Witherspoon say that she wanted to make movies that people would respect (or something along those lines)? Is that why she made Legally Blonde.... twice?


Same Reason Tom Hanks made Bachelor Party and Volunteers, Halle Berry made the Flintsones, Charlize Theron made Reindeer Games, and Sean Penn made Fast times at Ridgemont High - They were jobs. -ohbfrank-

[cfloyd3]

I just tune in for the camera to wander around the room and then the camera stops when they spot some random person beside a celebrity or behind them with big boobies.

[NatrlBornThrllr]

A) Brokeback Mountain didn't lose because people are scared of it's statements or it's premise. It didn't lose because people are homophobic. It lost because the Academy members preferred Crash. Is that so hard to accept? Where was this outcry last year? The Best Picture winner was virtually identical to Crash (same writer, same tactics, same caricatures). Yet there was no outcry then about Hollywood's eagerness to vote for a "standard Hollywood movie, as manipulative and unrealistic as the day is long." Why not? Christ people, the favorite didn't win, but that doesn't mean there's any need to patronize it with excuses.

B) I thought Jon Stewart was perfect. His jokes on the fly were hilarious (see: for those of you keeping score at home, Martin Scorsese - 0, Three 6 Mafia - 1). The mock campaign commercials were a nice touch. He had a lot of great one-liners. Maybe his sense of humor doesn't appeal to everybody, but that doesn't mean that he didn't deliver his jokes (in his style, the style that has made him a star and that they knew he'd bring prior to inviting him) as brilliantly as he does elsewhere. Stewart did a wonderful job of doing what he does. If what he does isn't what the Academy was looking for or needed, then that's another issue altogether...but none of the blame lies on Stewart's shoulders (and personally, I don't think there's any blame to place anyway...I thought he was perfect).

-JP

[Jackskeleton]

So CRASH was ground breaking enough to warrent it winning best picture. I'm not sure if I should be ashame or surprised that folks need to see a film to realize calling someone a ****** may not be the best thing.

CRASH, while a decent movie, forced all that racial hate down your throat in a terrible manner while BrokeBack offered a ton more. Then again, it's just the awards, so meh.

Very surprised upset though.. very surprised

[FRwL]

I love the opening montage of all the classic characters, as well as the noir and epic montages. Though they were relying too much on them to remind people of how they think the industry is still great.

[raven56706]

Awesome to see 3 6 mafia win...... their song was just as good as the rest..... and obviously someone thought so too


i think you guys need to be open to any type of music

[Patman]

I knew I had read about the carpet-bombing efforts of Lionsgate distributing over 130,000 Crash DVDs to the Academy as well as SAG and WG, that number being 10 times the usual amount of screeners sent out.

Variety article (http://www.variety.com/ac2006_article/VR1117935936?nav=news&categoryid=1985&cs=1)

I guess the promotion worked for Crash this year. But, just earlier in the broadcast, the academy wasn't showing DVDs, in general, much love, now were they?

[LiquidSky]

Unfortunately, those who were rooting for Brokeback to win will be saying this over and over and over.

Really? I was rooting for "Brokeback" and have not and will not say this.

I loved Hoffman and Witherspoon's speeches. Very heartfelt. :up:

Ben Stiller :up:
Dolly Parton's performance :up:

[raven56706]

salma :drool:

garner :drool:

i thought Jon did a great job... the audience just wasnt into it.... plus the ads for the academys was hilarious

[LiquidSky]

'Forrest Gump' .... ;)

:up: I loathed that film!

[raven56706]

nice to see King Kong almost match all the top winners

[SMB-IL]

Congrats to all the winners AND the nominees!

If Crash had the same script and the same cast, but was set in New York or Chicago, would it have won Best Picture?

Discuss.

[RockStrongo]

We've been 2 of the few that have defended Crash on here. Glad to see it win!

Yep....im right there with ya.

Those who claim that BBM got robbed due to some sort of homophobia are dillusional.

[RockStrongo]

But, just earlier in the broadcast, the academy wasn't showing DVDs, in general, much love, now were they?

Yeah, that was ridiculous. DVDs have made them ALL richer and richer and richer. Yet, they dont give it the respect that it deserves. I rolled my eyes a couple times with those comments.

"Theres NOTHING like watching it on the big screen." Well, when you put out crap like Big Momma's House 2 in 4000 theaters, dont expect me to jump just because you say so. :rolleyes:

[matome]

Congrats to Crash :up::up:

[RockStrongo]

Congrats to all the winners AND the nominees!

If Crash had the same script and the same cast, but was set in New York or Chicago, would it have won Best Picture?

Discuss.
Yes, I think so.

If Brokeback Mountain had been set in LA would it have won??

;)

[DealMan]

Crash officially goes down as the worst movie I have ever seen that has won an academy award (and best picture at that, wtf were they thinking?!)

Glad to see Hustle & Flow win best song. I thought the sanitized version performance was good, although I would have loved to see Terrence Howards get up in his wife beater and and sing it.

Overall a very entertaining awards, with a good mixture of winners.

[RockStrongo]

Crash officially goes down as the worst movie I have ever seen that has won an academy award (and best picture at that, wtf were they thinking?!)

It just wasnt your taste then....Crash was a very popular, well-liked film. Im not surprised it won at all.

For me, I hated "A Beautiful Mind", but the Academy felt differently. Different strokes for different folks.

[RockStrongo]

i thought Jon did a great job... the audience just wasnt into it.... plus the ads for the academys was hilarious

I have to say, im not a big Jon Stewart fan and thought he would suck. BUT, I have to admit that he was enjoyable.

He was like a good waiter. There when you needed him, but not too intrusive.

I thought the opening was hilarious. Billy Crystal and Chris Rock in the tent! I was rolling.

And, Steve Martin..."I need to spend more time with my kids...so they dont turn out weird".

[Coral]

ahhh... it's the Oscars. They rarely recognize great films, performances, etc.

It usually has nothing to do with quality. It's really a Hollywood game where everyone pats themselves on the back, sharing the awards based on the buddy system and political decisions defining what gets honored.

That's why the outcome is very predictable most of the time.

That said, I caught half the show to ensure I didn't miss Robert Altman get honored. A truly deserving Oscar for him. It's a shame that he didn't receive any Oscars for his specific films in the past. What an amazing body of work from a legendary director.

[FunkDaddy J]

The CRASH win is disheartening, and it only highlights the inbred nature of the awards: Hollywood (LA) celebrating itself.

For months, I was alarmed by the emergence of CRASH as a critic's darling, a serious Oscar contender, and, most amazingly, a recipient of numerous writing awards. And now it's come to this: film's highest honor bestowed on a pretentious load of moralistic preaching, full of undeveloped, unconvincing characters and ridiculous "teach-a-lesson" coincidences. So, the Best Picture of the Year is a "racism sucks" sermon filled with flat-out lazy writing. CRASH is like some braying, retarded street-corner preacher. Since when do we celebrate bad logic, improbability, embarrassingly contrived scenarios, cheap melodrama, connect-the-dots storytelling, self-righteousness, and an extreme lack of subtlety and substance?

I'm literally bewildered by the success of CRASH's sloppy sledgehammer approach.

[digitalfreaknyc]

Glad to see Hustle & Flow win best song. I thought the sanitized version performance was good, although I would have loved to see Terrence Howards get up in his wife beater and and sing it.


:drool: :drool: :drool: :drool:

[RockStrongo]

I'm literally bewildered by the success of CRASH's sloppy sledgehammer approach.

Maybe because it was a popular move that alot of critics and the public actually liked?? :rolleyes:

[scott1598]

salma :drool:

alba :drool:


fixed!
http://a.oscar.abc.com/images/galleries/redcarpet/78th_alba_01.jpg

[FunkDaddy J]

Maybe because it was a popular move that alot of critics and the public actually liked?? :rolleyes:

Yeah, see, that's what's bewildering, in my opinion. :confused:

[RockStrongo]

Yeah, see, that's what's bewildering, in my opinion. :confused:

Well, I thought the same thing about "A Beautiful Mind". But, everyone has different tastes.

Its not like Crash came out of nowhere to be nominated and win Best Picture...It was nominated for most awards this season and won some.

It is an amazing accomplishment for a film to have come out in the summer and go on to win Best Picture. It definately connected with a lot of people out there. Myself included.

[baracine]

I'm glad Rachel Weisz (of "The Mummy Returns" fame) got an Oscar...

Am I the only one who was a little peed off by the two mentions of "Pride and Prejudice" as being set in the XVIIIth Century? (It was set in the Georgian-Regency period and the novel was published in 1813 and touched on contemporary events like Napoleon's victories against the English, well into the XIXth Century.)

I won't even comment on the incredible step backward for Black people in America at having a Black actor nominated for his role as a pimp and the Best Song Oscar going to a rap number titled "It's Hard Out Here For a Pimp". Real classy... Or the fact the Canadian film "C.R.A.Z.Y." was not nominated as Best Foreign Language Film. The "Crash" Best Film Oscar was a little bit of compensation as it was directed, written and co-produced by a Canadian (Haggis).

[RockStrongo]

Am I the only one who was a little peed off by the two mentions of "Pride and Prejudice" as being set in the XVIIIth Century? (It was set in the Georgian-Regency period and the novel was published in 1813 and touched on contemporary events like Napoleon's victories against the English, well into the XIXth Century.)

I was sad that Pride and Prejudice didnt get anything. In other years, I think it would have. It was an excellent movie.

[raven56706]

I won't even comment on the incredible step backward for Black people in America at having a Black actor nominated for his role as a pimp and the Best Song Oscar going to a rap number titled "It's Hard Out Here For a Pimp". Real classy... Or the fact the Canadian film "C.R.A.Z.Y." was not nominated as Best Foreign Language Film. The "Crash" Best Film Oscar was a little bit of compensation as it was directed and produced by a Canadian.



yeah its a shame... winning an academy award for something you love to do all your life.... its a damn shame :wtf:

[RockStrongo]

...and the Best Song Oscar going to a rap number titled "It's Hard Out Here For a Pimp". Real classy...

Ha....I liked Jon Stewart's joke...

"Martin Scorsese, 0 oscars...3 6 Mafia, 1 oscar"

[BassDude]

What's to miss there? Other than large "yeahh"s I do not think that Giles or any other member might have missed much.

Pro-B

It was a direct copy of another's post. Nothing more...

Man...been reading my posts from last night after celebrating a bit too much at my Oscar party. Note ta self, dont post when drinking. :rolleyes:

I think the CRASH wins means a lot for Hollywood. Besides being a good film, it was one that was released WAY before the typical Oscar season. Sure...Seabiscuit and a few others have cracked the Fall/Winter release pattern, but the trend is to wait and release a film the studio feels is worthy at that time. I hope this changes.

I collect the Best Picture winners from the year I was born to present. Of course, I have some less than exceptional films in there. But I am looking forward to moving my worn out, loaned out copy of CRASH from the "C" shelf to the Oscar winners shelf!

[NatrlBornThrllr]

I won't even comment on the incredible step backward for Black people in America at having a Black actor nominated for his role as a pimp and the Best Song Oscar going to a rap number titled "It's Hard Out Here For a Pimp". Real classy...

Did you even bother to see Hustle & Flow, or are you just making shit up as you go?

-JP

[Dean Kousoulas]

Big thumbs down for Crash. Just another one of those films where people finish and think "Wow, that is so true" and think they have a new & better view of the world afterwards. ;)

VERY VERY happy for Phillip Seymour Hoffman. He is an amazing talent.

[RockStrongo]

I collect the Best Picture winners from the year I was born to present. Of course, I have some less than exceptional films in there. But I am looking forward to moving my worn out, loaned out copy of CRASH from the "C" shelf to the Oscar winners shelf!

Yeah, all in all, 2005 was a GREAT year for movies. Lets hope 2006 is as good or better.

[RockStrongo]

Big thumbs down for Crash. Just another one of those films where people finish and think "Wow, that is so true" and think they have a new & better view of the world afterwards. ;)

Movies that win Best Picture do not have to change the world, BUT they can at least give someone pause.

Did Crash change my life? Absolutely not.
Was it a good social commentary on what type of racism still exists in America? Absolutely.

Moreso than Brokeback mountain, I think it appealed to a broader range of people and connected them.

[baracine]

yeah its a shame... winning an academy award for something you love to do all your life.... its a damn shame :wtf:

You mean: like pimpin' for a livin'?

[Jericho]

Its not like Crash came out of nowhere to be nominated and win Best Picture...It was nominated for most awards this season and won some.


That's the thing though, it didn't really win anything. Brokeback won all the major awards. When you have heated race, you usually have a split of major awards, much like the supporting actor race this year. But Brokeback won everything and Crash won zilch until last night. That's the big surprise of the whole outcome.

[Jericho]

I think the CRASH wins means a lot for Hollywood. Besides being a good film, it was one that was released WAY before the typical Oscar season. Sure...Seabiscuit and a few others have cracked the Fall/Winter release pattern, but the trend is to wait and release a film the studio feels is worthy at that time. I hope this changes.


I doubt it. Gladiator won from a summer slot too. But people release the more serious movies at the end of the year for a reason. People remember them better. It's a fact of human nature, and it won't chnage.

[RockStrongo]

But Brokeback won everything and Crash won zilch until last night.

You forget...Crash won the ensemble award at the SAGs over Brokeback. It also won some others too (Chicago Film Critics, but BBM won alot of the major ones.

Thank God Brokeback didnt win....if it had, last night would have been totally predictable.

[FunkDaddy J]

Thank God Brokeback didnt win....if it had, last night would have been totally predictable.

My favorite of the nominees was CAPOTE, by far, but I would rather have seen BROKEBACK win than suffer through the total embarrassment of a CRASH win. :)

[Jericho]

You forget...Crash won the ensemble award at the SAGs over Brokeback. It also won some others too (Chicago Film Critics, but BBM won alot of the major ones.

Thank God Brokeback didnt win....if it had, last night would have been totally predictable.

Yes, but the SAG award is an ACTING award, not an award for best picture. Crash didn't win any major best picture nods, though if you look hard enough, you will find someone that chose it. Brokeback won the Golden Globe, the BAFTA, the DGA, Ney York Critics, L.A. Critics, SEFCA, Critic's Choice, and the list goes on. Those are the major awards.

[raven56706]

Yes, but the SAG award is an ACTING award, not an award for best picture. Crash didn't win any major best picture nods, though if you look hard enough, you will find someone that chose it. Brokeback won the Golden Globe, the BAFTA, the DGA, Ney York Critics, L.A. Critics, SEFCA, Critic's Choice, and the list goes on. Those are the major awards.


yes but the SAG award is usually given to the best cast in acting for a movie... but it usually reflects what the oscars is going to be because...the majority who votes for the sags is the same people who vote for the oscars

[RockStrongo]

Yes, but the SAG award is an ACTING award, not an award for best picture.

Whatever...it basically is a best picture award.

Crash didn't win any major best picture nods, though if you look hard enough, you will find someone that chose it. Brokeback won the Golden Globe, the BAFTA, the DGA, Ney York Critics, L.A. Critics, SEFCA, Critic's Choice, and the list goes on. Those are the major awards.

I agree that Brokeback was the favorite, but sometimes thats just not enough.

[slop101]

Why is everyone turning this into a Crash vs. Brokeback debate?

Out of what was nominated, I thought Munich was the best film...

[RockStrongo]

Why is everyone turning this into a Crash vs. Brokeback debate?

Just because BBM was the favorite to win Best Picture.

Out of what was nominated, I thought Munich was the best film...

I loved Munich...It was my second favorite out of the 5.

[RockStrongo]

yes but the SAG award is usually given to the best cast in acting for a movie... but it usually reflects what the oscars is going to be because...the majority who votes for the sags is the same people who vote for the oscars

Exactly.

It wasn't really hard to guess they would like Crash better than BBM (only me and Mr. Cinema seemed to believe that).

Like ive said before, the academy is generally older, white and male.

Also, they are from the LA area (where crash is based). And, like raven said, they also are alot of the same people who voted for the SAG Best Ensemble award (which went to Crash).

[baracine]

Did you even bother to see Hustle & Flow, or are you just making shit up as you go?

-JP

"Hustle & Flow" - a musical about pimps and rappers and the bitches and hoes who lov'em - offended a lot of people, including Black people. Here is a typical comment from IMDb (by a guy called uptownbill - http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0410097/usercomments?filter=hate):

Black on Black Hate, 25 July 2005

Author: uptownbill (...) from New York

Hustle and Flow must be the favorite movie of The Klan, David Duke, and Clarence Thomas. Not since Birth of a Nation has there been a worst depiction of African American people. Every character in the movie is completely self loathing and full of misogynistic thoughts and actions. Terrance Howard plays a failure of a pimp who mistreats his prostitutes and throws one of them on the porch in the middle of the night along with her crying baby in his walker.

This movie depicts that there is no craft to making rap music and that it is the theme music of the slime of society. Every song is about drugs, violence, bitches and hoes.

He later beats up a drugged rapper and shots his way out of the situation. He goes off to jail but not before he convinces his white prostitute that she is in charge. What a movie hero.

John Singleton is the new D.W. Griffith perpetuating destructive black stereotypes. What did we do to you John? Who hurt you? Hustle and Flow should be called Black on Black hate. The hustle is the marketing to hip hop audiences; the flow is the cash flow the studio will make.

[RockStrongo]

"Hustle & Flow" - a musical about pimps and rappers and the bitches and hoes who lov'em - offended a lot of people, including Black people.

Hustle & Flow was an excellent movie. I normally hate those type of movies too, but it was good.

Black people should have been offended at "Big Momma's House 2" not this one. It had great performances by some fine young black actors.

I think it properly represented the plight that some poor people go through (black, white, latino or whatever). Everyone has dreams...even pimps. ;)

[jdpatri]

The CRASH win is disheartening, and it only highlights the inbred nature of the awards: Hollywood (LA) celebrating itself.

For months, I was alarmed by the emergence of CRASH as a critic's darling, a serious Oscar contender, and, most amazingly, a recipient of numerous writing awards. And now it's come to this: film's highest honor bestowed on a pretentious load of moralistic preaching, full of undeveloped, unconvincing characters and ridiculous "teach-a-lesson" coincidences. So, the Best Picture of the Year is a "racism sucks" sermon filled with flat-out lazy writing. CRASH is like some braying, retarded street-corner preacher. Since when do we celebrate bad logic, improbability, embarrassingly contrived scenarios, cheap melodrama, connect-the-dots storytelling, self-righteousness, and an extreme lack of subtlety and substance?

I'm literally bewildered by the success of CRASH's sloppy sledgehammer approach.

Thanks for articulating my thoughts on this movie and sparing me the frustration of going down that road again. I've used many of those same adjectives and analogies myself trying to describe why I disliked this movie so much. And for me the one word that keeps coming out of my mouth is lazy. Crash is lazy screenwriting at its most offensive. It doesn't take that much creativity to assemble a team of stereotypes and twist each of them a degree so that by the end of the movie the apparently "good" are corrupted and the "bad" are redeemed. Apparently this is now insightful.

Two things struck me as odd about this Academy Awards ceremony and how odd Crash's victory seemed.

I couldn't help but remember Clooney's speech about how great it is that because Hollywood's out of touch they're the champions of "unpopular" social causes. Yet the Academy rewards good old traditional overblown melodrama. Crash examined the roots of the racial unrest. In this light, I can see how one could say that it was an important film. I wholeheartedly disagree... but obviously it struck a nerve with so many people that there's something there to regard. But from the filmmaking perspective this movie, these themes have been done before. Nothing stood out about the artistry of the direction or cinematography. The screenwriting was like a paint-by-numbers production or a sledgehammer pummelling its audience into submission. While the Academy was busy patting itself on the back for its championing of social causes, it also proved how distant the voters are from actually rewarding cinematic artistry. And no I don't think that they were afraid of a gay cowboy movie. Eliminating potential social criticisms from this debate, best picture went to the most generic nominee of the five. And I don't think it would be too hard to name twenty better from 2005. The progressive choice for Hollywood would have been to reward a film for just being an exceptional work of art and not just a message. At least they saw fit to decorate Ang Lee. It was the only major award that didn't reek of agenda.

Secondly, I'd love to hear what Robert Altman thinks of Crash. The auteur of the ensemble film must have an opinion. How odd that Altman finally gets rewarded for his decades of genius on the same night that the Academy rewards an ensemble film that pales in direct comparison to Altman classics like M*A*S*H, Gosford Park, Nashville, The Player, and Short Cuts just to name a few.

I've already decided that I'll rewatch Crash to give it a second chance after some distance. I don't often do this with movies that I wanted to walk out on but like I said, this film seemed important to so many people and I'd like to see the same thing. But right now, I'd have been less offended had Transporter 2 won. At least it never pretended to be important.

[baracine]

Hustle & Flow was an excellent movie. I normally hate those type of movies too, but it was good.

Black people should have been offended at "Big Momma's House 2" not this one. It had great performances by some fine young black actors.

I think it properly represented the plight that some poor people go through (black, white, latino or whatever). Everyone has dreams...even pimps. ;)

Then you'll just looooove "Get Rich or Die Tryin'". It's right up your (hum) alley. :)

[NatrlBornThrllr]

"Hustle & Flow" - a musical about pimps and rappers and the bitches and hoes who lov'em - offended a lot of people, including Black people. Here is a typical comment from IMDb (by a guy called uptownbill - http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0410097/usercomments?filter=hate):

Feel free to answer my question at anytime.

-JP

[RockStrongo]

Then you'll just looooove "Get Rich or Die Tryin'". It's right up your (hum) alley. :)

No thanks....have you even seen Hustle and Flow??

[baracine]

Secondly, I'd love to hear what Robert Altman thinks of Crash. The auteur of the ensemble film must have an opinion. How odd that Altman finally gets rewarded for his decades of genius on the same night that the Academy rewards an ensemble film that pales in direct comparison to Altman classics like M*A*S*H, Gosford Park, Nashville, The Player, and Short Cuts just to name a few.

Well, you have your answer right there. Altman films are ensemble films all right but they're condescending to their actors, unstructured and full of loose ends. The cult of the loose end has infected American film criticism ever since Pauline Kael went gaga over Altman and started making fun of films like David Lean's "Ryan's Daughter" for being too "structured" and therefore "obsolete". To take the weakest link in your examples, "Gosford Park", what we have is a rambling hodge-podge of a pointlesss, meandering and costly period soap-opera where the camera lingers on sure-fire-Oscar-winner Maggie Smith (among others) and the director allows her to do and say absolutely everything that goes through her undirected and undisciplined scatter-brain mind in the hope of striking gold, which never happens unfortunately. Whereas a film like "Crash" has a point of view that uses (sometimes transparent and unplausible) narrative devices and coincidences in order to convey the message that the world is a structured environment after all, despite the apparent chaos, and that - guess what? -there might still be hope for humanity. It's called good writing as opposed to improvising on a loose canvas. I'm glad it won and I'm still iffy about Altman's Oscar.

[baracine]

No thanks....have you even seen Hustle and Flow??
I have not seen it and will not see it. I'm the type that reads the warnings on drug labels.

[RockStrongo]

Whereas a film like "Crash" has a point of view that uses (sometimes transparent and unplausible) narrative devices and coincidences in order to convey the message that the world is a structured environment after all, despite the apparent chaos, and that - guess what? -there might still be hope for humanity. It's called good writing as opposed to improvising on a loose canvas.

Good observations.

[RockStrongo]

I have not seen it and will not see it. I'm the type that reads the warnings on drug labels.

Well, normally I would agree...and at first, I stayed away from this movie since I loathe the subject matter.

But, after hearing how good Terrence was in the film, I decided to watch it. I thoroughly enjoyed it and his performance (along with Anderson). If you can get past the subject matter, you will see a wonderful film.

[Giles]

Or the fact the Canadian film "C.R.A.Z.Y." was not nominated as Best Foreign Language Film.

scandulous! - IMO. Great movie BTW.

[Jericho]

yes but the SAG award is usually given to the best cast in acting for a movie... but it usually reflects what the oscars is going to be because...the majority who votes for the sags is the same people who vote for the oscars

Yes and No. The SAG award isn't a best picture substitute, it's meant to be an award for best overall acting as a cast. Now it's true that most best picture winners and nominees also have several acting nominations (and sometimes wins) and are contenders for the SAG award. But it's coincidence if one wins both. Only about 33% of the time does the SAG emsemble award win best picture. For example Million Dollar Baby lost the SAG ensemble to Sideways last year. Particularly because Crash is the true definition of an ensemble cast, it's no surprise that it won that award. Gosford Park, another ensemble drama, also won the award its year over A Beautiful Mind, Moulin Rouge, LOTR, and In the Bedroom. Traffic, another ensemble drama, won the SAG award. Yet neither Traffic or Gosford Park or Sideways won Best Picture (Sideways and Gosford Park weren't even close)

[FunkDaddy J]

Whereas a film like "Crash" has a point of view that uses (sometimes transparent and unplausible) narrative devices and coincidences in order to convey the message that the world is a structured environment after all, despite the apparent chaos, and that - guess what? -there might still be hope for humanity. It's called good writing as opposed to improvising on a loose canvas. I'm glad it won and I'm still iffy about Altman's Oscar.

I've never been an Altman fan, but you're really reaching if you're trying to justify CRASH's embarrassing and crippling narrative devices by maintaining they represent "good writing" and provide effective thematic parallels. rotfl

[atlantamoi]

After reading a few articles this morning about how Hollywood just isn't ready to recognize a gay film I have to call bullshit. So Brokeback didn't win best picture at the Academy Awards and now all of a sudden it's some "closeted" film that nobody likes or has heard about? Ridiculous.

[Mondo Kane]

Watching highlights this morning.
What's the first thing that Ang Lee says in his acceptance speech? "I wish I knew how to create you"?

[baracine]

Well, normally I would agree...and at first, I stayed away from this movie since I loathe the subject matter.

But, after hearing how good Terrence was in the film, I decided to watch it. I thoroughly enjoyed it and his performance (along with Anderson). If you can get past the subject matter, you will see a wonderful film.

I'm glad an actor like Terrence got his big break with "Hustle & Flow" if only because of the incredible acting job he did in "Crash" - much more difficult, much more unobvious, much less stereotypical. But I'm afraid his performance in "Hustle & Flow" will eventually come back to haunt him as in "What was I thinking?".

By the way, what I said about "Crash" also goes for "Brokeback Mountain": superlative writing!

[NatrlBornThrllr]

Well, normally I would agree...and at first, I stayed away from this movie since I loathe the subject matter.

But, after hearing how good Terrence was in the film, I decided to watch it. I thoroughly enjoyed it and his performance (along with Anderson). If you can get past the subject matter, you will see a wonderful film.

The guy's running his mouth about a movie he's never seen. No need to keep responding to him. I've dealt with his type, he's like a dinosaur. If you don't move and completely ignore him, eventually he'll go away.

-JP

[Patman]

Watching highlights this morning.
What's the first thing that Ang Lee says in his acceptance speech? "I wish I knew how to create you"?

I thought Ang Lee just slipped in the "I wish I knew how to quit you" line from BBM.

Also, wasn't Gladiator released in late March, 2000?

[BassDude]

After reading a few articles this morning about how Hollywood just isn't ready to recognize a gay film I have to call bullshit. So Brokeback didn't win best picture at the Academy Awards and now all of a sudden it's some "closeted" film that nobody likes or has heard about? Ridiculous.

Agreed. Disliking BBM doesn't make you anti-gay any more then not liking Good Night and Good luck makes you pro McCarthy-ism.

[Jericho]

After reading a few articles this morning about how Hollywood just isn't ready to recognize a gay film I have to call bullshit. So Brokeback didn't win best picture at the Academy Awards and now all of a sudden it's some "closeted" film that nobody likes or has heard about? Ridiculous.

Well the point I've been getting at with my posts is trying to show where these ideas are coming from. I've never seen Brokeback Mountain (at least not yet). I did see Crash. I enjoyed Crash. I'm not trying to hate on the film and say it shouldn't have won like some are. All I'm saying is that it won no major awards for Best Picture from other circles. Brokeback Mountain won everything. It's basically never been done were a film that won every other major award loses to a film that won none. There must be a reason for that. I don't know what that reason is, but a lot of people believe that the reason is the unwillingness to recognize a gay film. It's a logical answer, though again I don't know what the true answer is. Without a better explanation, it's the only answer out there to cling to.

[baracine]

I've never been an Altman fan, but you're really reaching if you're trying to justify CRASH's embarrassing and crippling narrative devices by maintaining they represent "good writing" and provide effective thematic parallels. rotfl
What you call "embarrassing and crippling narrative devices" have been around since the dawn of humanity and they have enjoyed particular success since Arthur Schnitzler (1862-1931) wrote a little play called "Reigen", which became the film "La Ronde" (1950, 1964), which was remade at least 15 times and has inspired the "anthology" and "circular" structure of film classics too numerous to mention from "Tales of Manhattan" to "It's A Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World". Even Altman has attempted to reproduce this structure in his films. Unfortunately, he mostly failed for lack of discipline. (I won't even mention "Prêt-à-porter", which must be his absolute low point.)

[FunkDaddy J]

What you call "embarrassing and crippling narrative devices" have been around since the dawn of humanity and they have enjoyed particular success since Arthur Schnitzler (1862-1931) wrote a little play called "Reigen", which became the film "La Ronde" (1950, 1964), which was remade at least 15 times and has inspired the "anthology" and "circular" structure of film classics too numerous to mention from "Tales of Manhattan" to "It's A Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World".

:) I guess there's a fine line between doing these things successfully and utterly failing at them.

But ah well. I've already devoted too much energy to this subject. Off to more deserving topics!

[tommyp007]

My quick 2 cents..

Crash was the only film nominated for best picture that I saw, and I really enjoyed it. Hope to see the other 4 as they come out on dvd.

as to all the Crash-bashing, I certainly enjoyed it more that these best picture winners..

Shakespeare in Love
Beautiful Mind
English Patient
Driving Miss Daisy
Out of Africa

[RockStrongo]

I don't know what that reason is, but a lot of people believe that the reason is the unwillingness to recognize a gay film. It's a logical answer, though again I don't know what the true answer is. Without a better explanation, it's the only answer out there to cling to.

I think this is incorrect.

That said....ive seen all 5 best picture nominees.

If anything, it was the academy not connecting with Brokeback Mountain like it did with Crash. Same for me. I do not think it has anything to do with "unwillingness to recognize a gay film".

Im not homophobic at all, but BBM does requires you to somehow connect with the story to really appreciate it. More simply, Crash is appealing to just about everyone.

Face it....alot of us believe that Crash was better. Obviously, the academy did too.

[RockStrongo]

Face it....alot of us believe that Crash was better. Obviously, the academy did too.

Funny, but as I was typing this, I overheard a couple ladies in the break room talking about the awards last night....only one had seen BBM and all of them said they liked Crash.

Haha...I guess its "water cooler" talk of the day.

[Jericho]

I think this is incorrect.

That said....ive seen all 5 best picture nominees.

If anything, it was the academy not connecting with Brokeback Mountain like it did with Crash. Same for me. I do not think it has anything to do with "unwillingness to recognize a gay film".

Im not homophobic at all, but BBM does requires you to somehow connect with the story to really appreciate it. More simply, Crash is appealing to just about everyone.

Face it....alot of us believe that Crash was better. Obviously, the academy did too.

But sections of the Academy obviously did connect with the movie. The DGA and the WGA sure seemed to. And it seemed like most other organizations connected with the movie, evidenced by Brokeback's numerous wins in other awards (and Crash's lack of best picture wins shows those other orginaztions didn't connect as well with it). Which brings back to the question, why didn't the Academy connect with it? I guess you can say either:

1) The Academy is different than all these other organizations and had unique expereiences in viewing these films as opposed to a huge number of other organizations

OR

2) The Academy did connect with it, but failed to vote for it for some reason

All of this isn't to say an individual can't like Brokeback. Art is subjective. And I like many things, some 'good'/popular and some 'bad'/unpopular. But an individual is only one vote. And anyone's like of a particular movie is often ouweighed by the group consensus. And the consensus was either one of the two possibilities above.

[baracine]

Funny, but as I was typing this, I overheard a couple ladies in the break room talking about the awards last night....only one had seen BBM and all of them said they liked Crash.

Haha...I guess its "water cooler" talk of the day.

Could it simply be that "Crash" is out on DVD and "Brokeback Montain" isn't? (Although the porno rip-off "Bareback Mountain" already is :).)

But seriously, did anyone notice the numerous allusions during Oscar night to the absolute importance of seeing films in a proper theatre? I think this point would have been taken more seriously if there had been more jokes about what makes the theatre experience unbearable these days: cell phones and the bad manners of movie-goers in general.

[mikeporter]

Hopefully this hasn't already been pointed out:
Crash is the lowest grossing movie to win the best picture award in almost two decades...since Last Emperor in 1987.
Best Picture Box Office Grosses (http://www.boxofficemojo.com/oscar/)

[RockStrongo]

But sections of the Academy obviously did connect with the movie. The DGA and the WGA sure seemed to. And it seemed like most other organizations connected with the movie, evidenced by Brokeback's numerous wins in other awards (and Crash's lack of best picture wins shows those other orginaztions didn't connect as well with it). Which brings back to the question, why didn't the Academy connect with it? I guess you can say either:

1) The Academy is different than all these other organizations and had unique expereiences in viewing these films as opposed to a huge number of other organizations


Number 1....again, the academy is mainly older, male and white....I dont think they are homophobic...they just didnt connect with it like they did Crash.

Watch it and see if you connect with the story. I really went into it wanting to like it, but left the theater very disappointed.

BBM is very much a 'love it' or 'hate it' film. Its fans are VERY passionate about it. Its very well-made with great performances. The Academy DID recognize it. Just because they did not give it the highest award does not mean they didn't like the film.

Again, they just connected with Crash better (imo).

[raven56706]

Yes and No. The SAG award isn't a best picture substitute, it's meant to be an award for best overall acting as a cast. Now it's true that most best picture winners and nominees also have several acting nominations (and sometimes wins) and are contenders for the SAG award. But it's coincidence if one wins both. Only about 33% of the time does the SAG emsemble award win best picture. For example Million Dollar Baby lost the SAG ensemble to Sideways last year. Particularly because Crash is the true definition of an ensemble cast, it's no surprise that it won that award. Gosford Park, another ensemble drama, also won the award its year over A Beautiful Mind, Moulin Rouge, LOTR, and In the Bedroom. Traffic, another ensemble drama, won the SAG award. Yet neither Traffic or Gosford Park or Sideways won Best Picture (Sideways and Gosford Park weren't even close)


thats why the word usually comes to mind ;)

[NatrlBornThrllr]

But seriously, did anyone notice the numerous allusions during Oscar night to the absolute importance of seeing films in a proper theatre? I think this point would have been taken more seriously if there had been more jokes about what makes the theatre experience unbearable these days: cell phones and the bad manners of movie-goers in general.

Nope, nobody noticed. (http://www.dvdtalk.com/forum/showthread.php?p=6828301)

[RockStrongo]

Could it simply be that "Crash" is out on DVD and "Brokeback Montain" isn't? (Although the porno rip-off "Bareback Mountain" already is :).)

Absolutely, people arent going to the theater as much anymore. They wait for the DVD.

Why spend $8-10 going to the theater (without food) when home theaters are better than ever now and DVDs are between $15-20??

We may be seeing a turn of the tide. In that, movies can come out months and months ahead of the Oscars, but yet, still do well.

Oh yeah and I think its "Bareback Mounting". ;)