haines his way

03/23/2003:
"THE OSCAR BASH"

Well, dear readers, it’s Oscar night and we are having a party here at haineshisway.com, so put on your pointy party hats and your colored tights and pantaloons, get out the heaping platters of cheese slices and ham chunks, and dance the Hora or even the Frug until the cows come home. Here’s how it will work: I want play by play, moment by moment posts about everything and anything, for you see I will not be watching the Oscars because I’ve yet to get my new digital cable service. So, we will need all the dish, all the dirt, from who’s winning what to who’s wearing what. Oh, what fun we shall have at our Oscar bash. It will be the place to be, where it’s at, where it’s happening, where the in crowd will be, where the grooviest and the ginchiest hang out, man. Be there or be round, that’s what I say. Isn’t that exciting? Isn’t that just too too?
Last night I watched a brand spanking new DVD, one of those Broadway Theater Archive things that they are putting out with some regularity. I must say, I never thought the one I watched last night would ever make it to DVD but it has. It’s called Forget-Me-Not Lane and it’s by Peter Nichols (Joe Egg). It stars Joseph Mahar, Tom Hulce (in his first starring role – he was understudying Peter Firth in Equus at the time), Geraldine Fitzgerald, Donald Moffat, Joyce Ebert and my very own self. I’d done the play here at the Taper (with John McMartin, Bud Cort, Beulah Garrick and Charlotte Moore), and when it came time to tape it, they only brought three of us from LA – Donald, me and Betsy Slade. We did the play in 1973 and, as I recall, this was taped (in Connecticut) in the first part of 1974. How weird it was to see it – I rarely like watching myself in anything, especially something this old. I must say, I look impossibly young in it, and I thought my English accent was very good, and I really liked my costumes (by Joseph Aulisi). The play, which, at the time, I thought brilliant, really isn’t, but it’s a lovely memory play. I remember the hardest thing for me was not adapting the performance for the camera (I’d done quite a bit of television by then), but the lack of laughter. My part got lots of laughs in the theater, and it was unnerving not to hear them. The funniest thing is that I’m on the cover of the DVD. Who would have thought?
Well, dear readers, why don’t we all click on the Unseemly Button below, because we must start our Oscar bash preparations, mustn’t we? We must and we shall, not necessarily in that order.

I actually went out jogging yesterday. It is so hard to start jogging when you’ve had a six-month hiatus. I didn’t get very far, frankly, but today I shall endeavor to get farther – or is it further – or is it both? Perhaps today I shall endeavor to get farther further or ever further farther. What am I, the Marx Brothers all of a sudden?
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must go to the market and shop for our Oscar bash, I must attempt to jog, I must write, I must relax and then we must party. Today’s topic of conversation: It’s Sunday, free-for-all day, but we’ll make it about all things Oscar. What are your favorite Oscar moments, the worst Oscar moments, etc. Hold nothing back, and I will see you here promptly at six for the Hainsies/Kimlets Oscar bash and dear reader reportage. Our handy-dandy Live Chat will take place tomorrow at six.

Replies: 356 Unseemly Comments

First post!
I will post more about the oscars in a bit.. would also love to throw this topic out for discussion..
What are your predictions for tonight's awards. It will be fun to see predictions and results all on the same posting day!
more later! Must get busy!
Posted by Craig @ 03/23/2003 08:35 AM PST

We won't be joining the Oscar batch as we are seeing Carolee Carmello, Betty Buckley, et. al. in ELEGIES tonight. We'll record it and get through the whole thing in less than an hour. The only people I am interested in seeing are Olivia DeHaviland and Luise Rainer. Does this mean the chat for tomorrow is off or will there be chats two nights in a row?
My all time favorite Oscar moments:
1) Jerry Lewis trying to fill in the time when the show ran short.
2) Rob Loewe and Snow White
Posted by William E. Lurie @ 03/23/2003 08:56 AM PST

Missed out on the skeevement yesterday as I was in London watching Ragtime (wonderful, marvellous, a very pared down production but fantastic performances and everything you could wish for in a musical), but I'm going to skeeve now, oh yes I am.
And what is the target of my skeevement, I hear you ask. Well, I was busy all last week so only had a chance to catch up on all the posts from the last week yesterday. Some of you will remember that I didn't know what hamantaschen were, so I asked on this site last week. Some of you may also remember many, many moons ago I posted that I thought the musical 'Charlotte Sweet' was dire.
Well a certain 'ludlow29' who was apparently connected with said musical took exception, which is fair enough. We're all entitled to our opinions. But imagine my surprise when I read this post from 'ludlow29':
"Now we know why Allan couldn't
understand the merits of
CHARLOTTE SWEET. The librettist,
composer, director, leading lady,
and leading man (on the CD)
are/were all hamantoschen
noshers."
Now, forgive me if I've got this wrong, but is 'ludlow29' implying that the reason I didn't like Charlotte Sweet is because I'm not Jewish????!!!
By that token, it would follow that I therefore don't understand the merits of any of the works of Sondheim, Bernstein, Gershwin, Arlen, Berlin and many, many more.
Sorry 'ludlow29' I don't like Charlotte Sweet because I don't think it's very good. I'm sure there are many others, Jewish and non-Jewish, who do appreciate Charlotte Sweet, but I ain't one of them. And my comment was such a long time ago, I have just one thing to say - get over it!
For the record, my partner is Jewish and I am well versed in many Jewish traditions - I had just never heard of hamantaschen (or hamantoschen ... whatever).
OK - skeeve over.
Sorry everyone else - I had to get that off my chest!
Posted by Allan @ 03/23/2003 09:09 AM PST

Oscar predictions:
Best Actor: Jack Nicholson
Best Actress: Salma Hayek
Best Sup. Actor: Paul Newman
Best Sup. Actress: Julianne Moore
Best Picture: Chicago
Best Animated Feature: Spirited Away
Best Director: Martin Scorsese for Gangs of New York
Best Visual Effects: Star Wars Ep. II
Best Writing (Adapted): The Hours
Best Writing (Original): My Big Fat Greek Wedding
I'm not even touching the score and song categories, as I'm sure that'll be a subject of much debate here. :) Bear in mind, these are what I predict will win, not what I think should win (I haven't even seen a number of these films and performances).
I think Chicago will win Best Picture, but none of the Acting awards. Just a hunch. And I think Scorsese will finally cop a Best Director award for Gangs of New York, as a kind of Thank You for his body of work throughout the years.
Posted by Lulu @ 03/23/2003 09:21 AM PST

I don't get the big deal about Jack's performance this year. Did any of these people see the movie? It was mediocre all the way through, including his performance. I mean, I could understand all the hype for him to win the Oscar if it was framed as "We love Jack and we like to give him awards," but the press keeps talking about his performance as if it actually derverse to be lauded. What's, as they say, up with that?
(I won't be able to join you all in the chat room for the Oscar party tonight, so just keep this particular skeeve in mind in my honor when they get to that award. :) )
Posted by dlevy @ 03/23/2003 10:14 AM PST

Just to be clear - the party is not in the chat room, it's here in the Post Room.
Now, where in tarnation IS everyone? We must have some good Oscar stories, no?
Posted by bk @ 03/23/2003 10:30 AM PST

I'm glad that I'm not the only one who feels *that* way about mr. nicholson's performance!
but, i am ready to party with the best of them, and since it is free for all day as well, i just wanted to say that my cd player is now the proud home of THE BUENA VISTA SOCIAL CLUB.
No, this is not a Disney compilation cd, but, rather the album which led to MAMBO SINUENDO. Ry Cooder it seems went to Cuba, got all these mature (well over 60) musicians together and recorded essentially what is the best of Cuban music. BVSC is every bit as enthralling as MAMBO SINUENDO, but most of the tracks have divine vocals as well. I somehow suspect that there must be Latino genes in my gene pool. :-)
My favorite Oscar moments:
Julie Andrews' "hospitality" speech.
Babs' see-through pants suit and "hello, gorgeous."
Jane Fonda's "there are things that I could say, but now is not the time or place" speech.
Charlie Chaplin's standing ovation.
Angela Lansbury's "Thoroughly Modern Millie"
Springsteen's "Streets of Philadelphia"
Woody Allen's "New York City" speech.
Least favorite:
Peggy Lee's "The Way we Were"
Any and All of Debbie Allen's choreographed sequences, which surely reached the nadir with the tap dance for SAVING PRIVATE RYAN.
Posted by td @ 03/23/2003 10:30 AM PST

I just had a chuckle! Here are the signs of an internet geek. A reporter for E! entertainment just asked a guest what her URL was. The guest replied, "pardon me." (URL is internet lingo for web address) But then again, the reporter could have used the term "dubya, dubya, dubya." Hence the chuckle! I know, doesn't take much to make me laugh!
Posted by Angela @ 03/23/2003 10:46 AM PST

My predictions line up with
Lulu's, except...
Supp. Actor - C. Walken
Supp. Actress - C. Zeta-Jones
Animated Feature - Ice Age
Visual Effects - LOTR:TTT
Posted by Jed @ 03/23/2003 11:34 AM PST

I won't be watching the Oscars because I don't know from movies. I'm only interested to know what wins best picture, because I'll probably buy a dvd of it to put into a time capsule for a building being built this year.
Posted by Laura @ 03/23/2003 11:41 AM PST

Did anyone else read reviews on Gangs Of NY, in reference to the fact that the film was a mish-mosh, disjointed mess? I read a few..so Best Director? Nah.
Film: Chicago
Director: Rob Marshall
Actress: Renee Zellweger or Salma Hayek
Supporting Actress: Catherine Zeta-Jones
Costumes, Makeup: Frida
Actor: Adrian Brodie
Supporting Actor: Christopher Walken (Chris Cooper may win, but his character, though being odd, incongruous and imaginative, was very unlikeable)
Original Song: I Move On
Adapted Screenplay: Chicago or My Big Fat Greek Wedding
Original Screenplay: Far from Heaven
Posted by KT @ 03/23/2003 11:45 AM PST

To me, the WORST Oscar
moment I've ever witnessed
has to be Rob Lowe trying to
sing with a "trashy" Snow
White....Some of you must
remember that????
Posted by François @ 03/23/2003 11:47 AM PST

I don't have the list anywhere, but is My Big Fat in the original or adapted screenplay category? I though it was adapted from her stage show.
Posted by KT @ 03/23/2003 11:48 AM PST

Sorry again, William,
I had not read your post yet
and can tell you too remember
Rob and Snow.....................
Posted by François @ 03/23/2003 11:50 AM PST

Allan???? You're not
jewish????
Oh, well! Nobody's perfect!;- )
Posted by François @ 03/23/2003 11:54 AM PST

KT - Greek Wedding is
nominated for Original
Screenplay
Posted by Jed @ 03/23/2003 12:01 PM PST

KT: My Big Fat Greek Wedding is weird. Vardalos actually wrote the SCREENPLAY first, then when nobody wanted it, she adapted it into the stage play. Doubtless, she tinkered with the screenplay since then, but it is indeed nominated as Best Original Screenplay.
Francois: William E. Lurie lists the Rob Lowe/Snow White fiasco as one of his favorite Oscar moments. :) I have a soft spot in my heart for it, too -- I have a very vivid memory of watching that Oscarcast with friends, and as that trainwreck of a production number unfolded, we all looked at each other slack-jawed, eyes bugging out until finally we all dissolved into disbelieving laughter. Definitely a memorable moment. :)
Posted by Lulu @ 03/23/2003 12:02 PM PST

td,
I wish i could have seen the
"Thoroughly Modern Millie"
number with Angela....
That had to beat Rob Lowe!!!!!!
Oh, and i'm rooting for Zeta
Jones! IMHO, she's just terrif
and "chic" in Chicago! What a
chick!!!
Posted by François @ 03/23/2003 12:03 PM PST

KT: I do know that Gangs of NY has received mixed reviews and lukewarm box office, but I just have this gut feeling that Scorsese will get the Oscar as a "past due" sort of tribute. Lord knows, I could be wrong.
Posted by Lulu @ 03/23/2003 12:04 PM PST

Best or worst moment can be
for the SAME reasons, I guess,
Lulu......
You see, I've always been in
love -- and NOT in Lowe! --
with.......Snow White and this
one was a fraud..... with
Disney approval too!!!
Posted by François @ 03/23/2003 12:06 PM PST

Hey, dear reader friends, let's
all send good vibes to Tom
from Oz who has not been
feeling too good lately, ok?
In my book, he gets the Best
Friendship Award, aka the
HHW Award, tonight.... and
here, to present the award, is
BK............-- round of applause,
please! -
-- get well, Tom! --
Posted by François @ 03/23/2003 12:10 PM PST

Me, AGAIN!!!
IMHO, Ice Age and Spirited
Away should both get the
"Animation" Award.....
and Julianne Moore should
definitely get something, apart
from getting ALL my
attention....
Posted by François @ 03/23/2003 12:15 PM PST

-- oh no, him again...
Olivia... does not look the way
she used too but the
sweetness in her eyes is still
there...............
Posted by François @ 03/23/2003 12:17 PM PST

Francois: A friend of mine has a video recording of Ms. Lansbury doing "Thoroughly Modern Millie." It was quite good (of course--what else would you expect from her?)
My favorite Oscar moment: When Faith Hill stepped in at the last minute to sing "Over the Rainbow" (I believe she was replacing an "ailing" Ms. Whitney Houston). That performance took her from being a country singer to a bonafide star. Of course, I love Ms. Hill with all of my being, so I might be a touch biased.
Posted by Jason @ 03/23/2003 12:17 PM PST

Oh!! And before I forget again, congratulations to all of the Hainesie/Kimlets who had such good news to share this past weekend!! I'm very happy for all of you. :-)
Tom from Oz: Feel better, buddy. My thoughts are with you.
And before I forget this, too: I heard the final recording of MOBY DICK! and I must say it sounds really good. It's not NEARLY as polished as I was expecting it to be, but that's ok 'cause they wanted a raw, "live" feel to it. And normally I hate listening to myself sing, but I will admit, there are moments that I didn't even realize it was me! We should be getting our own copies of the disc within a week or so, and then I'll be able to make copies for anyone here who would like one. Just let me know...
Posted by Jason @ 03/23/2003 12:22 PM PST

Thanks François and Jason. A copy of "Moby Dick" will aid my recovery without a doubt. I am not really that bad - just miserable but getting there (in time for my "flu shot" later in the week!)
td. I have been so impressed with he video of Bueno Visa Social Club. A fascinating documentary. How can anyone not be moved by the "Feeling" in those performers and performances. Wonderful indeed.
Oscars: I've only seen "Chicago" so I know not. I am still hoping for a Paul Simon win but guess "Chicago" will take home an undeserved (IMHO) song award.
Posted by Tom from Oz @ 03/23/2003 12:45 PM PST

Less than five hours to showtime. Remember, I want a blow by blow account of the entire ceremony.
Posted by bk @ 03/23/2003 01:07 PM PST

Alas, I will not be able to join the merriment tonight, as my TV and my computer are in separate rooms....
However, should Mr. Adrien Brody win Best Actor, that loud "YAHOO!!!" you hear will be me. A truly remarkable performance.
Posted by Pam @ 03/23/2003 01:25 PM PST

tom: please feel better soon!
So, the documentary for Buena Vista Social Club should go onto my "must-see" list? Is it a must-buy?
Oh, don't worry, BK, you'll have a description of each and every occurance on the Oscar cast tonight - this will be the jiggiest Oscar bash I've attended since I was paid to *be* Boy George the year of THE CRYING GAME. . .
Posted by td @ 03/23/2003 01:29 PM PST

Hmmm... I smell a possibly long, possibly rambling post coming...
Well, the day started off nice and sunny and breezy... Now it's kind of overcast - still bright - but hardly any blue is visible outside my window. But what a day it has been already! -My apologies to Mssrs. Lerner and Loewe.
Between the hours of 7:00a.m.-10:00a.m. this morning:
-I went to CVS to pick up some things I meant to pick up yesterday when I was at the grocery store.
-I cleaned the kitchen.
-Made another batch of biscotti (thus slightly dirtying the kitchen again, but only slightly).
-Got my newspapers - The New York Times, The Washington Post, and the local (Richmond Times-Dispatch)
-Read some of those newspapers.
-Got all showered and clean.
-Went to brunch at my favorite place up the street - even left my favorite waitress some chocolate with her tip!
And I did all of this with no sleep! I had another one of my occasional all-nighters which just seem to happen for no particular reason. I was just surfing the net, watching some TV, finally going through the pile of magazines that's been building up on the coffee table... The next thing I knew it was 6:30, and I decided to just stay up. So...
What was yesterday? Ah, that's right, Saturday.
Well, after my great rehearsal in the morning - and we still have two weeks to play with the show before going into tech! - I then proceeded to take a nice walk through Carytown and go to the Byrd Theatre to catch the foreign film I've been wanting to see for a while. Well, the walking and window shopping were great. Lots of people were out. All the stores were open. And I didn't buy anything! Then came the movie... Or as I care to not so fondly call it - "The longest 100 minutes of my life!"
The movie: Les Fils (The Son). It's a Belgian movie. It's won some awards, has been on the festival circuit for a while, had some good reviews (more on those later), yadda-yadda... Nothing could prepare me for what I had to endure.
Now I knew going in that the it was going to be one of those "arty" movies. Grainy footage. Interesting camera angles. Subtle plot points. And some pacing issues. Little did I know...
I knew I was in for quite the experience when I was getting motion sickness about five minutes into the movie. The whole film seemed to be filmed with a hand-held camera which was positioned behind the leading actor's head for most of the movie. Even the smallest of motions started getting me queasy. Very claustrophobic.
Well... All the reviews I had read - and I guess I only seemed to find the good ones - mentioned that the pacing of the film was slow - even very slow at times, but that it would be worth it in the end. Now slow pacing I can deal with, but practically non-existent pacing is a different story. The whole film seemed to be made of 10-15 minute segments of nothing happening. Well, not exactly nothing. A car ride. A piece of lumber being planed. A man doing stomach crunches. The same man breathing hard after doing the stomach crunches or running down some stairs. A view of the back of the man's head as he's breathing hard.
Sounds exciting, huh?
So after finally hearing some almost-dialogue about ten minutes in, the plot began to get rolling... and rolling... and crawling... and crawling...
Now, the whole "point" of the film revolves around one "horrific admission/truth". And - at least according to the reviews I read - this shocking secret would be revealed at the climax of the movie, which also was at the end of the movie. There have been many films that have revealed some great secret in the final reel, the final seconds, but when it turns out that even the most unobservant theatre-goer can figure out what this great secret is about 30 minutes in - maybe more like 40 - then what's the point?
And this big secret - and it is big - SPOILER ALERT!!!!!
*The new apprentice that the carpenter has taken on is the same boy who killed his son a few years ago.*
Now that is a pretty big secret. BUT...
Well, after some exchanges between the carpenter and his ex-wife, the carpenter and his apprentice, the carpenter and the counter clerk at the "frites" place... Oh, and most of these exchanges are interspersed with more footage of the carpenter doing some more crunches and breathing heavy.
-In fact, I've never heard so much heavy breathing in a movie before. And it wasn't even heavy sex breathing!?!?!?
So... The carpenter takes the apprentice on a trip out to the his brother's lumber yard to get some more wood for the class. It's a "40 kilometre" trip, and we get to experience almost all 40 of those kilometers in real time. One kilometer. Watching the boy sleeping. Two kilometers. Watching the carpenter drive his car. Three kilometers. Watching the carpenter watching the apprentice sleeping. Etc., etc., etc. Oh, but they did stop for an apple pastry and a game of table soccer (foosball).
So they get to the lumber yard. They select four pieces of lumber.
-Yes, the pace is starting to pick up...
They cut a few of the pieces in half. They load them into the trailer. Then the carpenter starts questioning the apprentice about his past - oh, wait, he did this in the car on the ride over and in the coffee shop. Well, as they are loading another piece of wood, the carpenter tells the apprentice that the boy he killed was his son. A chase ensues...
Oooh... more pacing...
The boy runs into the woods. The carpenter tackles him. The carpenter holds the boy down. Then lets him go. The carpenter starts loading the wood again. The boy comes back. The credits start rolling.
WHAT?!?!?!
-And I wasn't the only one in the theatre who said WHAT?!?!?! out loud when we noticed the credits starting. For a spllit second I thought a reel was missing... there was just that extra second of blackness after the final set of glances that made it seem like the movie may have malfunctioned... But in retrospect, if the credits hadn't started rolling, I probably would have had to sit through the hour long car ride back to the shop.
I have never wanted to walk out of a movie more in my whole life. But I kept recalling the reviews saying how it would all be worth it come the final reel. One couple did walk about 20 minutes in. Boy, did I wish I had followed them, but I didn't want to leave the remaining eight(!) people in the theatre without some commiserators. -There were a lot more people at the earlier showing. AND the Byrd Theatre is infamous for it's uncomfortable seats! All the fidgeting I had to do to remain comfortable at least helped keep me awake.
So, what's the point of this rambling? Don't see this movie unless you really are into watching the back of a man's head for almost 100 minutes - and you like heavy, non-sexual breathing. And if you do happen to catch it on DVD or video, you can just fast forward about 30 minutes in for the scene between the apprentice and his ex-wife, then fast forward to the last three minutes of the movie. C'est tout!
François - or anyone else - Have you seen this movie? Did you regret seeing it as much as I did?
Boy! That was quite a rant. Mea culpa, mea culpa. (ooh, a Sweeney Todd reference.)
Well, I must get going and start cleaning up the rest of the apartment as I have some guests coming over tonight for dinner. I'm not sure if I'll be watching the Oscars - I usually just tune in for the final four - not the basketball tourney - just the final four awards. It's another Six Feet Under, Queer As Folk Sunday night for me.
OH! OH! OH! And if my memory serves me right, the movie had no soundtrack. Not one single piece of underscoring! Unless you count heavy breathing and the sound of carpentry tools as underscore. Oh, and one mustn't forget the sound of the car motor.
Posted by Jose C. Simbulan @ 03/23/2003 01:39 PM PST

Wow, Jose! I think I'll have to buy that movie on VHS when it becomes available!! It ought to cure me of insomnia!
Posted by Laura @ 03/23/2003 01:50 PM PST

Jose, QAF is a rerun of the season premiere tonight but SFU is a new episode. Just so you know.
I know I'll be too immersed in the Oscars to come post (it's been a yearly ritual with me since the early 60s), but I'll read others' thoughts tomorrow morning. I hope everyone enjoys the show.
I think this year's acting awards are the most competitive races in many years. Every single category is a toss-up from my perspective, and I have no clue who'll win. The fact that critics' awards and awards from various prize groups have been all over the map this year testify that it's been a year crammed with worthy achievements with no one really outshining anyone else. That said, I'll be surprised if the awards don't go to CHICAGO, Day-Lewis, Kidman, Zeta-Jones, and Cooper with Rob Marshall winning the Best Director award for CHICAGO.
Favorite Oscar moments: Ingrid Bergman gasping as she opened the envelope and stuttered, "It's a tie. Katharine Hepburn for THE LION IN WINTER and Barbra Streisand in FUNNY GIRL." I was in shock. Couldn't believe that had happened.
Jack Lemmon's emotional speech when he won for SAVE THE TIGER. After years of people boycotting the awards and using their acceptances to make political speeches, he said in a most heartfelt way that "it's a hell of an honor, and I'm damn proud to receive it."
More recent ones:
Howard Ashman's lover accepting his late lover's Best Song prize for "Beauty and the Beast."
Jack Palance doing one armed push ups after he won.
Stanley Donen tap dancing as he accepted his special honorary award.
Posted by Matt H. @ 03/23/2003 02:01 PM PST

Jose - It's a rerun QUEER AS FOLK tonight.
Tom - Feel better soon.
Jason - I'll take a MOBY DICK. E-mail me for my address or use your e-mail address when you post so I can e-mail you.
Re: Faith Hill on the Oscars. They never even said who was singing and I had to ask several people who it was (nobody knew) before I saw her identified in the paper the next day. I do remember that I thought she was good, but I've never heard her since. I assume she is C&W, the one kind of music I generally do not care for.
Posted by William E. Lurie @ 03/23/2003 02:06 PM PST

the new Broadway Radio Show is now up and running for your pleasure....this week we put together Cole Porter's "Kiss Me Kate"....Enjoy!!!
Posted by Donald Feltham @ 03/23/2003 02:18 PM PST

Re. Faith Hill: She is, indeed, a country/western/pop-crossover singer--in fact, she's the reigning Queen of Country/Western--and I think she is FABULOUS. Her voice is very good, but her stage presence is generally her strongest point. Not to mention that she is one of the most beautiful women I've ever seen in my life--and to think that she's had three kids!! She's won MANY awards for her work, including the Grammy for best female country performer this year, not to mention the three Grammys she won in 2000. She is married to Mr. Tim McGraw, whom many have dubbed the King of Country/Western now that Garth Brooks has retired. Much to my chagrin, they make a lovely couple and seem to be very happy together. I'm kidding, of course...I would never wish an unhappy marriage on anyone.
So, there's the poop on Faith Hill.
Posted by Jason @ 03/23/2003 02:26 PM PST

I don't know if I'll be able to post tonight during the show. I'm just about to leave for my sister's house to help steam clean a couple of easy chairs, then we have to bring them to our parents' house. I may stay at my parents' and watch the Oscars there or I might not. Ether way, I'm taping them and will read posts probably late tonight. Enjoy the show all and happy posting!
I have friends (who no longer live in town) who have an Oscar night party every year. They also have a Miss America party and dress up (yes, both men and women) in their best evening wear, use Barbie doll stand-ins for the contestants and rate (and sometimes bitch about) the talent competitions. It's not been as fun in the last few years since now only the top five perform their talent on the broadcast. It used to be that the top 10 performed their talent.
Posted by George @ 03/23/2003 02:28 PM PST

Note to Jason: I'd love to have a copy of Moby Dick.
Posted by Laura @ 03/23/2003 02:28 PM PST

I will be attending an Oscar party, but will try to check in. Who knows what will happen in Hollywood tonight?
Jason put my name on the CD list. 8-D
Posted by Jrand52 @ 03/23/2003 02:29 PM PST

I can't wait for tonight - it's all about ME ME ME!!!
Posted by Oscar @ 03/23/2003 02:31 PM PST

I just read Allan's posting and
am not quite sure how to respond.
First of all, I admittedly wrote
a rude reply when I read his
previous comment on CHARLOTTE
SWEET (I did apologize in this
column afterwards). Not wanting
to compound my first mistake,
let me say this: my remark--that
Allan couldn't appreciate
CHARLOTTE SWEET because many of
its creators were "hamentaschen
noshers"--was intended as a silly
joke (Perhaps I was giddy from
eating too many apricot and prune
hamentaschen). CHARLOTTE SWEET
is hardly, say, KUNI-LEML or I
CAN GET IT FOR YOU WHOLESALE,
with an intentional Jewish
identity (Its collaborators don't
even have Jewish-sounding names).
There's absolutely no connection
between hamentaschen and
CHARLOTTE SWEET (except that
they're both sweets).
That said, I again apologize if I
offended Allan with my crummy
hamentaschen association and will
be happy to send him a poppyseed
hamenstaschen as a peace
offering.
One thing more. Allan is surely
entitled to loathe CHARLOTTE
SWEET, and another show on whose
production I assisted, THE ROBBER
BRIDEGROOM. But I hope he's just
referring to a dislike of their
recordings. People can't fully
and fairly judge a musical unless
they've seen the show in
production. And I'm not saying
everyone liked CHARLOTTE SWEET
who saw it either. Just that it
was designed foremost to be
performed.
Sincerely,
Michael Col
Posted by Ludlow29 (Michael Colby) @ 03/23/2003 02:33 PM PST

Sorry, my name got cut short.
That should read:
Sincerely,
Michael Colby
(librettist, CHARLOTTE SWEET)
Posted by Ludlow29 @ 03/23/2003 02:35 PM PST

Good Grief. Faith will be so upset. Her song "Breathe" was the #1 of the year on Billboard a few years back.
Posted by Tom from OZ @ 03/23/2003 02:36 PM PST

200 strokes will an egg noodle.
That should be spelled
"hamAntaschen."
Posted by Ludlow29 @ 03/23/2003 02:38 PM PST

My most horrifying Oscar moment: Nell Carter singing "Friend Like Me" and chasing a most unfortunate child around the stage like he was a potroast with her name on it.
And I don't want to see another hamentashen for at least a year. (We go through a lot in my biz.)
Posted by dlevy @ 03/23/2003 02:53 PM PST

Joan and Melissa at Hollywood's own Roosevelt Hotel...home of the first Oscars and later the site of all the parties for THIS IS YOUR LIFE!
J/M just interviewed Shirley Jones and Marty Ingels...all the OLD TIME Oscar winners are on hand for a ceremony of some kind.
Posted by Jrand52 @ 03/23/2003 03:13 PM PST

Oh, the Roosevelt Hotel is
where i stayed the very first
time I went to LA back
in..................1971......I was
treated to it -- had won a
Disney contest in France --
and i did not know about the
Cinegrill then.......
JOSE, -- you get the award for
Longest Post on HHW !! ;- ) --
no, I haven't seen "Le Fils" nor
the father, by the same token!!;
you won't believe it but the
main actor got the Palm d'Or
as Best Actor at the 2002
Cannes film festival......
This film is French but from
Belgium.... where they make
the REAL French fries......
I'm sure glad i didn't got and
see it.....
Posted by François @ 03/23/2003 03:28 PM PST

Please, excusez le "typo"
above.....
Posted by François @ 03/23/2003 03:29 PM PST

Let the games begin!
Posted by td @ 03/23/2003 05:07 PM PST

Remember, I'm not watching, so a blow by blow description of everything - every winner, every faux pas, every bad speech, every good speech and a clothing report as well. Thirty-five minutes to go.
Posted by bk @ 03/23/2003 05:16 PM PST

Sorry for the late postings but my ISP service was down in the state of Florida since yesterday.
JRAND52:
Marty Ingels is an oscar winner? (I know he isn't) But I thought he and Shirley Jones divorced some years back.
I have not watched the Oscars live in the longest time. I tape it and them watch it on fast forward and get through it in about 1/2 hour. The only way to watch them.
I usually go to a film, but there are no 9 o'clock films around here. they were all in the seven o'clock range or after 10.
So I will catch up on the internet tonight
My choices:
Picture: Chicago
Director: Rob Marshall (Earlier I thought that they might give it to Martin Sorcesse)
Actress: Nicole Kidman
Supporting Actress: Katherine Zeta-Jones
Actor: Daniel Day-Lewis
Supporting Actor: Chris Cooper
Original Screenplay: Talk To Her
Adapted screenplay: The Hours
Song: Toss Up to Gangs of New York or Chicago. Love to see Chicago win, but Gangs might have the edge. I wonder if they will have the 7 second delay on if Bono wins.
Posted by Michael Shayne @ 03/23/2003 05:20 PM PST

NIce short films from Penelope Spheeris and that Workman guy.
Glamour is back, and Julianne Moore exemplifies it.
Posted by td @ 03/23/2003 05:25 PM PST

Wow...
Steve Martin's monologue is really atrocious.
Sample: "I hate when the Oscar stage is used for promotion. Like one year, Billy Crystal rode out here on a horse, just to promote his film 'City Slickers.' That made me so mad, it made me feel like Bringing Down the House."
Ho, ho.
Posted by Lulu @ 03/23/2003 05:31 PM PST

And can anybody clue me in as to why Steve's bowtie is so tiny? I practically need an electron microscope to see it.
Posted by Lulu @ 03/23/2003 05:33 PM PST

It's on already? I thought it started at six.
Posted by bk @ 03/23/2003 05:34 PM PST

Eeeeeeeeewwwwwwwwwww!!!
I just saw Nicole Kidman!
Did she do that facelift herself, right before the show? Or is her hair on too tight?
Posted by Lulu @ 03/23/2003 05:36 PM PST

Nope...8:30 eastern time, 5:30 your time.
Posted by Lulu @ 03/23/2003 05:36 PM PST

So did I! I turned it on to set up the taping and Martin was just about to start his monologue. Well there it is!
Posted by Michael @ 03/23/2003 05:37 PM PST

François: I was very aware of the Palm d'Or awarded to the lead actor, Olivier Gourmet. Which is one reason I truly wanted to see it, since I had missed it when it was in DC earlier this year. The Palm d'Ors have never seemed to be awarded "lightly". I will say that his performance could be seen as award-worthy. He truly was the character he was playing. I give him credit for being able to create a basically uninteresting, non-sympathetic persona - very ordinary. And when the flashes of emotion did come out, they were surprising. Unfortunately, this also lent a somewhat melodramatic tinge to those episodes; so much so, that there were some giggles in the theatre - well, at least among the other 9 people left in the theatre.
My biggest complaint was with the motion sickness inducing camera technique, which leads to the brothers Dardenne who wrote and directed the piece. There was not a single long shot or static shot in the whole movie that I can recall. I guess, in the larger scheme of things, I just didn't get it. They are also responsible for the movie Rosetta which struck me as purposely made to seem like an amateur had put the whole project together. At least most of the close ups in Rosetta were of the face of the young woman, and not of the back of her head.
Posted by Jose C. Simbulan @ 03/23/2003 05:37 PM PST

But, Lulu, didn't you love the list of Actresses whom have slept with Steve Martin? and Jack's gay gesture?
Posted by td @ 03/23/2003 05:37 PM PST

Cameron, honey...when you know you're gonna be on television, with a projected audience of nearly a billion, you could at least have the decency to COMB YOUR HAIR.
Or at least wash it.
Posted by Lulu @ 03/23/2003 05:38 PM PST

SPIRITED AWAY WON!
I knew it. Toldja toldja toldja. :)
Posted by Lulu @ 03/23/2003 05:39 PM PST

Can we have a thumbs up for Japanese animation, please! frist winner: SPIRITED AWAY!(BEST ANIMATED FEATURE).
Posted by td @ 03/23/2003 05:39 PM PST

Category please - I loved Spirited Away - what did it win for? And don't they usually do a supporting award right away?
Posted by bk @ 03/23/2003 05:40 PM PST

Lord of the Rings took best visual effects. I'm 1 for 2.
Posted by Lulu @ 03/23/2003 05:41 PM PST

TWO TOWERS takes it for Visual Effects!
Posted by td @ 03/23/2003 05:41 PM PST

Hey! I actually just read two press releases on-line that said the Oscars were to start at 9:00 EST (6:00 PST). I wonder if they changed the start time due to the current world situation - maybe so they wouldn't run so far into the 11:00 newscasts.
Posted by Jose C. Simbulan @ 03/23/2003 05:41 PM PST

Spirited Away = Best ANIMATED Feature.
Posted by Lulu @ 03/23/2003 05:41 PM PST

Lulu, you are so fast! 8-)
Posted by td @ 03/23/2003 05:41 PM PST

BK: Yes, I was all set for them to present Best Supporting Actor, obviously they're shaking things up a bit.
Posted by Lulu @ 03/23/2003 05:42 PM PST

td: You don't know the half of it -- the TV and computer are in two different rooms! ;)
Posted by Lulu @ 03/23/2003 05:42 PM PST

Is Miss Knowles really singing from CARMEN JONES? She could give Miss Williams a run for her money! (commercial, guys).
Posted by td @ 03/23/2003 05:43 PM PST

I don't remember Bizet writing about the Joy of Pepsi...admittedly, I don't speak Italian.
Posted by Lulu @ 03/23/2003 05:44 PM PST

Here comes Supporting Actor...
-And what was that joke about Julie Andrews getting pistol-whipped?!?!?
Posted by Jose C. Simbulan @ 03/23/2003 05:45 PM PST

That's alright, Lulu, Merimee & Bizet composed CARMEN in FRENCH!
Posted by td @ 03/23/2003 05:45 PM PST

You're doing a great job so far. More clothing reports and more DIRT. So far I'm jiggy with the winnners.
Posted by bk @ 03/23/2003 05:46 PM PST

Of course, Dennis Quaid should have been in this category...
Posted by Jose C. Simbulan @ 03/23/2003 05:47 PM PST

CHris Cooper - Best sup. Actor
Posted by Lulu @ 03/23/2003 05:47 PM PST

Chris Cooper...good choice if it couldn't be Dennis Quaid for BSA...
Posted by Jrand52 @ 03/23/2003 05:47 PM PST

Chris Cooper! WOW! I guess that means were in for quite an interesting evening.
Posted by Jose C. Simbulan @ 03/23/2003 05:47 PM PST

Ok, Jennifer Connelly looks faboo in basic black, giving the award to Chris Cooper in ADAPTATION. He shoulda won years ago for LONE STAR, imho.
Posted by td @ 03/23/2003 05:47 PM PST

Chris Cooper looks sublime, and he ain't afraid to show his emotions!
Posted by td @ 03/23/2003 05:48 PM PST

Halle looks great in black and white....everyone does really. Chris is very emotional...
Posted by Jrand52 @ 03/23/2003 05:48 PM PST

OK, Jennifer Connelly looks MUCH better than she did last year -- she appears to have gained a little bit of weight. I am HATING this somber, all-black thing, though. BK: JC is wearing a black pantsuit type-deal. Not even a tuxedo, ala Marlene -- just a suit, like she would wear if she were a realtor going to a business luncheon. Bleah.
Posted by Lulu @ 03/23/2003 05:48 PM PST

Poo - I was hoping Christopher Walken would get it.
Posted by bk @ 03/23/2003 05:49 PM PST

Is J-Lo preparing for the sequel to GANDHI? She looks like Indira!
Posted by td @ 03/23/2003 05:49 PM PST

Jlo got that spray on tan. Off the shoulder sea green number and Allison Hayes drop earrings LOL
Posted by Jrand52 @ 03/23/2003 05:49 PM PST

Art Direction/Set Direction goes to:
CHICAGO!
Posted by td @ 03/23/2003 05:50 PM PST

Chicago won Art Decoration.
Posted by Lulu @ 03/23/2003 05:50 PM PST

I am going to post without reading later posts as I don't want to know who wins.
If you are bored surf over to www.brucekimmel.com There are changes and additions. come take a look
Posted by Michael @ 03/23/2003 05:51 PM PST

OK, td, I'll stop competing with you! LOL!
Posted by Lulu @ 03/23/2003 05:51 PM PST

I am going to post without reading later posts as I don't want to know who wins.
If you are bored surf over to www.brucekimmel.com There are changes and additions. come take a look
Posted by Michael @ 03/23/2003 05:51 PM PST

UGH! There's vocals for the Chicago winner's music...
Posted by Jose C. Simbulan @ 03/23/2003 05:51 PM PST

jrand: Are those earrings JLo is wearing? I thought they were matching chandeliers...
Posted by Lulu @ 03/23/2003 05:51 PM PST

Lulu! I am not in competition, I was just getting a piece of pizza. . .
Posted by td @ 03/23/2003 05:53 PM PST

OK, I just wanna know...is it true about John Travolta and his personal trainer?
Posted by Lulu @ 03/23/2003 05:53 PM PST

Okay CHICAGO for art direction and set decoration...that's okay....but where was FAR FROM HEAVEN? Who did the doors and who did the drapes?
John Travolta???? Looks good. Here comes a number!
Posted by Jrand52 @ 03/23/2003 05:53 PM PST

it's true! it's true!
Posted by td @ 03/23/2003 05:53 PM PST

CZJ has JLo's spray-on tan!
And she's enormous! A tick about to pop! I think she's going to drop her baby right...about...
NOW! :)
Posted by Lulu @ 03/23/2003 05:54 PM PST

Now we know...spray on tans are QUITE the thing in "Hollyweird" (as it's called in all those classy gossip columns). BK, why didn't you tell us about this? We count on you to be our cultural touchstone...
Posted by Lulu @ 03/23/2003 05:55 PM PST

This is as good as being there. Soon we will be the most popular site on all the Internet. What a bash. Chicago was not deserving of Art Direction in my opinion.
Posted by bk @ 03/23/2003 05:55 PM PST

I LOVE QUEEN LATIFAH! she can and does sing well LIVE! And, obviously, she loves what she's doing!
Posted by td @ 03/23/2003 05:55 PM PST

BK: Chicago had tremendous competition in that regard, too. Gangs of NY, Lord of the Rings, etc. Maybe this is the beginning of a big evening for them.
Posted by Lulu @ 03/23/2003 05:56 PM PST

you call that dancing?
Posted by Debbie Allen @ 03/23/2003 05:57 PM PST

WOW! It's so nice to see singers who really seem to be enjoying singing! Catherine Zeta-Jones, GO GIRL! -And boy is she pregnant now... when the silhouettes turned forward, I expected to see Queen Latifah, but nope...
Posted by Jose C. Simbulan @ 03/23/2003 05:57 PM PST

Why did they recap Chris Cooper's name being called right before they went into commercial? He was remarkably restrained, wasn't he? (Didn't see it before, I was running in here to type his name ;) ).
Posted by Lulu @ 03/23/2003 05:57 PM PST

I can't believe I'm not watching this for the first time in forty years. I shut the damn cable off because I was going to get digital cable - then I got busy and haven't done it yet. Unbelievable. I suspect we will break some kind of posting record this fine evening.
Posted by bk @ 03/23/2003 05:58 PM PST

Not one of these production numbers can hold a candle to MY big number of a few years ago!
Posted by Rob Lowe @ 03/23/2003 05:58 PM PST

Omigod! Jim Stanek on the commercial!
Posted by td @ 03/23/2003 05:59 PM PST

BK: Why didn't you beg your friends to watch it at their house? ;) It's okay; we will provide you with all the news that fits.
Posted by Lulu @ 03/23/2003 05:59 PM PST

Do you think Olivia and Luise are on their way to stage now to be there in time for the end of the show?
Posted by Jrand52 @ 03/23/2003 06:00 PM PST

td: So it IS true about Johnny and his trainer? Oooooohhh...delish! Thanks, sweets!
Posted by Lulu @ 03/23/2003 06:00 PM PST

jrand: LOL (and I really mean it...The Hubby asked me just now, "Are you okay?")
Posted by Lulu @ 03/23/2003 06:00 PM PST

Lulu: Normally I have a bash at my house, although I haven't in two years. You'd THINK one of my "friends" would have called to see what I was doing but I'm afraid that wasn't the case. Damn them, damn them all to hell.
Posted by bk @ 03/23/2003 06:01 PM PST

OH! Thanks, td. That was Jim Stanek - still fondly remember his legs from the Forum revival.
Posted by Jose C. Simbulan @ 03/23/2003 06:01 PM PST

BK, sweetie, I'd invite you over but by the time you go here, it'd be too late. I'm inviting you for next year now though, just in case. :)
Posted by Lulu @ 03/23/2003 06:02 PM PST

LOL Lulu....John Travolta chased Sylvester Stallone all over the set of STAYIN' ALIVE until Sly finally had to lock himself in his office....
Posted by Jrand52 @ 03/23/2003 06:02 PM PST

Nice Ebay joke. well, since I was at Ebay until 3am, I thought it was funny.
Posted by td @ 03/23/2003 06:03 PM PST

OK...I now know that Martin Scorsese is REALLY getting old. That chick in the blue dress (missed her name) is bustin' out all over (suppose her name is June?) and they cut to the audience and he's supremely uninterested, brushing lint off his jacket or something.
Posted by Lulu @ 03/23/2003 06:04 PM PST

jrand: Oh, I knew about JT being gay, just not that he actually has to pay for it.
Posted by Lulu @ 03/23/2003 06:05 PM PST

Mickey Mouse presenting...I hate crap like that!
Chubb Chubbs? Didn't they just sing the song from Chicago?
Posted by Jrand52 @ 03/23/2003 06:05 PM PST

Didn't anyone else see all of Jim Stanek - not just his legs - in INDESCRETIONS?
Posted by td @ 03/23/2003 06:06 PM PST

Short Films are the next category, and I can't get interested. Not a comment on the art form itself; I've just not seen one single bloody one of them.
Posted by Lulu @ 03/23/2003 06:07 PM PST

I don't nothing about the short or the long things they're giving out now.. . .animated or live action shorts. . .
Posted by td @ 03/23/2003 06:07 PM PST

Someone tell Martin Scorsese where he is....he thinks he is at the Tony Awards.
First thing he asked when he got to the theatre to direct THE ACT for Liza Minelli..."Where is my dressing room?"
Posted by Jrand52 @ 03/23/2003 06:08 PM PST

"Oscar-winner Mira Sorvino." I'm glad they reminded us -- what on earth has she done since winning? Not a hell of a lot.
Posted by Lulu @ 03/23/2003 06:09 PM PST

Mira looks anemic! anemic, i tell you! But, she glitters and stumbles over her words. . .
Posted by td @ 03/23/2003 06:09 PM PST

CHICAGO is two for three!
Posted by td @ 03/23/2003 06:11 PM PST

Oh, Lord...Mira looks like she's had face work done. What is she, 33?
Posted by Lulu @ 03/23/2003 06:11 PM PST

Mira...go home. She is as bad as Brittany Murphy yesterday at the IFC Spirit Awards.
Costume design...hmmmmmmm
The Hours...was good....winner is
CHICAGO...kewl....I loved Gere's jackets with sequin pinstripes! She's kissing the whole audience....two vamps to get the broad onstage.
"I was born in a log cabin......"
Posted by Jrand52 @ 03/23/2003 06:11 PM PST

Why wasn't Far From Heaven nominated for Art Direction / Set Decoration or Best Costume??
Posted by Lulu @ 03/23/2003 06:12 PM PST

Brendan Fraser without his beard...or is his wife there with him?
Posted by Jrand52 @ 03/23/2003 06:12 PM PST

My night can end now, I've seen Brendan Fraser. Could someone please give him my phone number?
Posted by td @ 03/23/2003 06:12 PM PST

Brendan Fraser is super-lovely, but as wooden as a chippendale dining table.
Posted by Lulu @ 03/23/2003 06:14 PM PST

Lulu, we'll just let that comment about *wooden* men go unsaid. . .
Posted by td @ 03/23/2003 06:14 PM PST

Brendan should have won the Oscar for DUDLEY DO-RIGHT
Posted by Jrand52 @ 03/23/2003 06:14 PM PST

jrand: Or George of the Jungle.
td: Don't go there, talk to the hand, and other passe comebacks, circa '96. :)
Posted by Lulu @ 03/23/2003 06:15 PM PST

Lulu so true about FFH and art direction....and costumes, too.
Brendan is not an actor...he is the anti-actor.
Posted by Jrand52 @ 03/23/2003 06:16 PM PST

Lulu: JT and his PT? Really? ;-)
-Too bad we don't have sound clip capability.. I sense of lot of "ba-doom chicks" and rim shots with tonight's comments.
Posted by Jose C. Simbulan @ 03/23/2003 06:16 PM PST

Is Jlo there with Ben or who? Looked like she was sitting next to some guy with long hair.
Posted by Jrand52 @ 03/23/2003 06:17 PM PST

hey, I can want Brendan. . .he's already got a beard. . .
Posted by td @ 03/23/2003 06:17 PM PST

Paul Simon singing "Father and Daughter" from The Wild Thornberrys. Admittedly, I don't listen to popular music (from THIS century, anyway), but has anyone else ever heard of this?
Posted by Lulu @ 03/23/2003 06:17 PM PST

Is this the crappy song nominee? Who will get the mercy Oscar tonight? Paul Simon?
Posted by Jrand52 @ 03/23/2003 06:18 PM PST

jrand: Good question. Ben and Matt are probably together, leaving JLo to scout around for husband #173.
Posted by Lulu @ 03/23/2003 06:18 PM PST

How does the show rate compared to last year's borefest.
Posted by bk @ 03/23/2003 06:19 PM PST

Hey, Jrand... you really seem "too too" tonight... and I like it!
Posted by Jose C. Simbulan @ 03/23/2003 06:19 PM PST

Well, I can understand every word that Paul Simon is singing, unlike that year with Bob Dylan. . .let's bring out the old rockers, and see if they've still got it!
Posted by td @ 03/23/2003 06:19 PM PST

I am NOT impressed with the Simon song. Very bland and unremarkable, to say the least.
Posted by Lulu @ 03/23/2003 06:20 PM PST

Ben and Matty 8-D
Paul Simon looks like Carlo Imperato
Posted by Jrand52 @ 03/23/2003 06:20 PM PST

LOL Jose I am always too too LOL
Posted by Jrand52 @ 03/23/2003 06:20 PM PST

BK: Didn't watch last year, but imo (in my opinion, in real world lingo), Steve is really flat and unfunny. He seems to get little more than polite laughter and applause for each "zinger."
Posted by Lulu @ 03/23/2003 06:21 PM PST

Is that Nia Vardalos? I thought Kathy Najimy had lost quite a bit of weight! ;)
Posted by Lulu @ 03/23/2003 06:22 PM PST

Makeup? Hmmmmm.....uglify? Maybe FRIDA...
hopefully that dud's only win....Selma Hayak is sooo bad....girl...get a clue. She is the Andrea Leeds of our time
Posted by Jrand52 @ 03/23/2003 06:22 PM PST

They give awards for female facial hair now?
Posted by td @ 03/23/2003 06:22 PM PST

Frida just won for something, don't know what...td?
Posted by Lulu @ 03/23/2003 06:22 PM PST

Now this is a crock! They disqualified CHICAGO since the make-up was not period! -Who cares? And THE HOURS got disqualified since they found out the nose was digitally enhanced every now and then. -That one I can understand.
Posted by Jose C. Simbulan @ 03/23/2003 06:22 PM PST

Oh! Makeup...got it.
Somebody won an Oscar for equipping Salma Hayek with a unibrow; makes sense.
Posted by Lulu @ 03/23/2003 06:23 PM PST

Julie Taynor is busting out all over!
Posted by td @ 03/23/2003 06:23 PM PST

I like the arrivals on the red carpet much better. No more inane questions because the reporters weren't allowed on the carpet. Plus there was room on the carpet to see the gowns.
Like the set.
Catherine Zeta Jones & Queen Latifah were terrific. Their voices blended beautifully.
Nice to see Mickey (Mouse & Rooney).
Posted by Donna @ 03/23/2003 06:23 PM PST

I'm sorry, but as far as The Hours...Virginia Woolf was NOT the hideously ugly woman Nicole Kidman portrayed. The whole huge digitally-enhanced nose thing was a dumb gimmick. They're actors...let them ACT. All those prosthetics is a bunch of crapola.
Posted by Lulu @ 03/23/2003 06:24 PM PST

Bond! James Bond! the one and only! and he looks better and better with each passing year!
Posted by td @ 03/23/2003 06:24 PM PST

Is anybody else ready for an Absolut Martini?
Posted by td @ 03/23/2003 06:25 PM PST

You know...if they didn't keep showing these film clip thingies, the show wouldn't clock in at over 16 1/2 hours every single year...
Posted by Lulu @ 03/23/2003 06:26 PM PST

Where is Benicio del Toro?
Posted by td @ 03/23/2003 06:26 PM PST

Supporting Actress...
Catherine Zeta-Jones
Posted by Jed @ 03/23/2003 06:27 PM PST

YIPPEE!
Posted by td @ 03/23/2003 06:27 PM PST

Benicio del Toro? Taking his "creepy loner" lessons, unless I miss my guess.
Posted by Lulu @ 03/23/2003 06:27 PM PST

Hayek is still wearing her ugly makeup.
I think it's less boring BK. Moving a bit faster, but still too padded. Sean Connery....god love him.
BSA who who who???? Maybe Julianne Moore...
Dorothy Malone...great clips...BSA
finger biting time.....
CZJ....good choice....so beautiful and a good performance.... she was so good in TRAFFIC!!!
Posted by Jrand52 @ 03/23/2003 06:28 PM PST

Hayek is still wearing her ugly makeup.
I think it's less boring BK. Moving a bit faster, but still too padded. Sean Connery....god love him.
BSA who who who???? Maybe Julianne Moore...
Dorothy Malone...great clips...BSA
finger biting time.....
CZJ....good choice....so beautiful and a good performance.... she was so good in TRAFFIC!!!
Posted by Jrand52 @ 03/23/2003 06:28 PM PST

Oh, good; I liked CZJ's performance in Chicago. I thought her recent bad publicity would jeopardize her chances.
Posted by Lulu @ 03/23/2003 06:28 PM PST

Well, it seems the Chicago/Miramax machine will not be stopped, no matter what the opposition and that includes Mr. Scorsese probably.
Posted by bk @ 03/23/2003 06:29 PM PST

Lulu - Remember there is no such thing as bad publicity...
-And I do appreciate the award recaps, but...
-And what bad publicity?
Posted by Jose C. Simbulan @ 03/23/2003 06:29 PM PST

Computer glitch computer glitch
Posted by Jrand52 @ 03/23/2003 06:29 PM PST

My GOD! Michael Douglas has been botox'd to within an inch of his life! And to think I had SUCH a crush on him when I went to see Romancing the Stone as a wee lass...
Posted by Lulu @ 03/23/2003 06:29 PM PST

Sex Tape Scandal for CJZ in this week's STAR newspaper JOSE...get to the grocery store
TD Absolut gimlet please
Was it this year we lost Troy Donahue?
Posted by Jrand52 @ 03/23/2003 06:31 PM PST

Can I say that is the most fun I've ever had watching the Oscars! Truly it is. And I'm actually in my apartment by myself tonight, and I'm having a wonderful time! Thank you, bk, for not getting your digital cable not hooked up by now!
Posted by Jose C. Simbulan @ 03/23/2003 06:31 PM PST

Yes, BK, and you'll love this. One of Steve Martin's hilarious "jokes" in the opening monologue was "How about those publicity gimmicks that studios use to ensure their movies get lots of nominations? Like Chicago. I mean, making a really wonderful film that everybody likes! If they're going to do that..." (shaking head in mock consternation as audience titters.)
Yes. He. Actually. Said. That.
Posted by Lulu @ 03/23/2003 06:31 PM PST

jrand and td: Actually, I was thinking even more about the lawsuit in England against Hello! magazine. CZJ came off like a rich bitch when she dismissed a measly few million dollars they got paid for their wedding pics to run in another magazine as "maybe a lot of money for OTHER people. Not for us." Stuff like that usually plays much worse than sex scandals.
Posted by Lulu @ 03/23/2003 06:33 PM PST

Hey Matt where are your bongo drums?
Posted by Jrand52 @ 03/23/2003 06:33 PM PST

UNBELIEVABLE! Martin Scorsese is AGAIN not paying the slightest attention...looking down (cleaning his glasses?), blinking, looking for all the world like an old Italian grandpa about to nod off.
Posted by Lulu @ 03/23/2003 06:34 PM PST

Jose! I agree: this is the best time I've had at an Oscar show in years and years!
I'm pouring the Absolut, so the drinks are on the house! (oh, a Lionel Bart reference, not to mention an Oscar winner reference)!
Posted by td @ 03/23/2003 06:34 PM PST

I have to wonder if the spray on tan look has more to do with the lighting this year than anything out of a can.
Matthew McM - Hello? Earth to Matthew!
And why are the film clips sooooo short?
Posted by Jose C. Simbulan @ 03/23/2003 06:34 PM PST

...maybe even MARTIN knows he won't get the Oscar? (actually, I still think he has a shot...the "thanks for all the other films" thing).
Posted by Lulu @ 03/23/2003 06:35 PM PST

If it were the lighting, EVERYONE would seem to have the spray-on tan, but it's just a special anointed few.
Posted by Lulu @ 03/23/2003 06:36 PM PST

Oooh! Oooh! Oooh!
I have an airline bottle of regular Absolut, and one of Absolut Mandarin!... Hmmm...
Posted by Jose C. Simbulan @ 03/23/2003 06:36 PM PST

If Matt had brought his bongo drums, they wouldn't have given us a full length shot of his magnificent, bodacious body!
Posted by td @ 03/23/2003 06:36 PM PST

Tech awards.... Panavision...what about Naturama?
Posted by Jrand52 @ 03/23/2003 06:37 PM PST

You know...I bet the scientific-technical awards (which they're showing now) would be a much more fun event than the "real" Oscars. I just have this feeling...real people, real fun. But I'm a proletariat snob. :)
Posted by Lulu @ 03/23/2003 06:37 PM PST

The more I see Renee, the more I love her. The invented the phrase "cute as a button" just for her! and a lovely red, sequined, rosy gown with spaghetti straps. . .
Posted by td @ 03/23/2003 06:38 PM PST

Ok, BK... here comes the Best Score...
Posted by Jose C. Simbulan @ 03/23/2003 06:38 PM PST

BK!!! Frida won Best Score. :(
Posted by Lulu @ 03/23/2003 06:38 PM PST

Absolut Maderin sounds terriff, Jose.
Uh...oh...best original score....
FINGERS CROSSED FOR ELMER!!!!!
OMG not again...that cucaracha music won again over Elmer...Frida... damn them all to hell
Posted by Jrand52 @ 03/23/2003 06:38 PM PST

Julie Taymor's hubby takes the award away from Elmer Bernstein!
Posted by td @ 03/23/2003 06:38 PM PST

My jaw is on the floor! Eliot Goldenthal!?!?!?!?!
Posted by Jose C. Simbulan @ 03/23/2003 06:38 PM PST

I'm sorry...I don't get the Renee phenomenon at all. Why is her face always scrunched up? To me, she is Renee "I smell poo" Zellweger.
Posted by Lulu @ 03/23/2003 06:39 PM PST

Just had to add that i just
poured myself a lovely vodka
collins in honor of our little
party. And can I just say that
adding vocals to the Chicago
music was a horrible idea?
Posted by Ann @ 03/23/2003 06:39 PM PST

Peter O'Toole looks like he's back to his old drinking days. . .
Posted by td @ 03/23/2003 06:39 PM PST

JULIE ANDREWS RECEIVING A STANDING O! YES!!
Posted by Lulu @ 03/23/2003 06:40 PM PST

AAAGGHHHHH!!!! A montage of the Oscar musical numbers!
Posted by Jose C. Simbulan @ 03/23/2003 06:41 PM PST

Musical production numbers introduced by Dame Julie (Give that gal a standing ovation) Andrews!
Nothing like a recap!
Posted by td @ 03/23/2003 06:41 PM PST

Ethel Merman! It just don't get any better than this...if only they had her singing Everything's Coming Up Roses instead of the too-obvious No Business Like Show Business...
Posted by Lulu @ 03/23/2003 06:41 PM PST

I am aghast - I am agog - I am hornswoggled. How DARE them not give it to Elmer, and if not to Elmer to John W. for Catch Me if you Can.
Posted by bk @ 03/23/2003 06:41 PM PST

The Debbie Allen montage!!!
Oh dear lord!!!
Posted by Jed @ 03/23/2003 06:42 PM PST

Where's Ann-Margret singing "Bachelor in Paradise?"
Posted by td @ 03/23/2003 06:42 PM PST

Well I am glad I am taping it. I love Julie Andrews. Maybe this year wasn't as bad as I thought it was. Got a glimpse of win numbers but not what has won. So the fun will still be there.
Posted by Michael @ 03/23/2003 06:42 PM PST

Renee is a cutie. Julie Andrews...looks good.
Standing ovation...wooohooooooo!
OH no....NOT dance clips...
Okay clips...was that Angela Lansbury LOL...I loved with they did SHAFT....that was soooooo kewl...I remember that. Mitzi Gaynor..LOL...remember the night she fell down on the Tonight Show during her tap dance? LOL
Posted by Jrand52 @ 03/23/2003 06:43 PM PST

How is it that the Oscar producers STILL have not figured out all of the pain and suffering caused by Debbie Allen over the years???
Posted by Lulu @ 03/23/2003 06:44 PM PST

Well, folks...that's it for me. A shower and to bed -- it's nearly 10 here, and I get up around 5. :) Have fun, and keep dishin' the dirt!
Posted by Lulu @ 03/23/2003 06:45 PM PST

Good night LULU
Posted by Jrand52 @ 03/23/2003 06:46 PM PST

What an ugly girl and a bad actress...I don't get Salma at ALL...so bad.
Posted by Jrand52 @ 03/23/2003 06:47 PM PST

Man, if this isn't the most happening, hippest, ginchiest place on all the Internet I'll eat my sofa. I checked one of those "boards" and they've had twelve posts. We, dear readers, have broken all previous posting records. Hurrah and hooray. Now that Lulu has left us, keep the dirt and dish coming.
Posted by bk @ 03/23/2003 06:48 PM PST

Night, night Lulu!
Posted by td @ 03/23/2003 06:48 PM PST

Julianne is the best dressed woman there tonight. Absolut-ly!
Posted by td @ 03/23/2003 06:49 PM PST

A lull. What is going on?
Posted by bk @ 03/23/2003 06:50 PM PST

Julianne...now we're talking
Achievement in sound?
prolly Lord of the Rings TT
CHICAGO....kewl...good sound....heard all the dialog and lyrics.
Posted by Jrand52 @ 03/23/2003 06:50 PM PST

What is going on? If memory serves, CHICAGO is now four-for-five!
Posted by td @ 03/23/2003 06:51 PM PST

Chalk up another one to
Chicago
Posted by Ann @ 03/23/2003 06:51 PM PST

put the coffee on I'll be home soon say all the sound guys
Posted by Jrand52 @ 03/23/2003 06:52 PM PST

I dunno, Jrand... I'll agree that
Salma Hayek isn't as
jaw-droppingly, eye-poppingly,
outrageously gorgeous as I
once found her to be, but I still
think she's a rather attractive
woman. And I agree, can't go
wrong with Julianne Moore.
Posted by Jed @ 03/23/2003 06:52 PM PST

Julianne's right breast is dipping
Posted by Jrand52 @ 03/23/2003 06:53 PM PST

Sound editing? as opposed to what?
Posted by td @ 03/23/2003 06:53 PM PST

awwwwwwww.....Sean Astin closeup.... LORD OF THE RINGS....sound award
Posted by Jrand52 @ 03/23/2003 06:54 PM PST

Hey Folks! I just got a call from my neighbor, and I'm heading next door to their party at the next commercial break... can't wait to read the record number of posts when I get back. Maybe I'll post from there too!
Posted by Jose C. Simbulan @ 03/23/2003 06:55 PM PST

Well! That one guy can edit MY sound anytime! LORD OF THE RINGS!
Posted by td @ 03/23/2003 06:55 PM PST

What has Chicago LOST? Miramax paid a LOT of money and I don't think it's lost in any categories yet, has it?
Posted by bk @ 03/23/2003 06:55 PM PST

poor guy is so nervous...LOL.
Guyal.... comb your hair....
shut up peacenik
Posted by Jrand52 @ 03/23/2003 06:56 PM PST

CHICAGO lost Best Supporting Actor.
Posted by td @ 03/23/2003 06:56 PM PST

This is music Charo should be playing, at least she would be interesting to watch.
Posted by Jrand52 @ 03/23/2003 06:57 PM PST

When did Julie Taymor become a "lyricist?"
Posted by td @ 03/23/2003 06:57 PM PST

Okay, Spanish guy (I'm bad
with names) gets my vote for
most eloquent presentor of the
night
Posted by Ann @ 03/23/2003 06:58 PM PST

OMG...BK both these singers are incredibly FLAT!!!
Posted by Jrand52 @ 03/23/2003 06:58 PM PST

The little Mexican without his tie wore much less in Y MAMA TAMBIEN - a movie I still don't *get.*
Posted by td @ 03/23/2003 06:59 PM PST

And my vote for most pretentious presenter, Ann.
Posted by Jrand52 @ 03/23/2003 06:59 PM PST

Did Debbie Allen choregraph this Master Card doggie commercial?
Posted by Jrand52 @ 03/23/2003 07:00 PM PST

BK-
Chicago lost best supporting actor (John C. Reilly)
and...this isn't a knock against Chicago - but clearly it's an academy favorite because of at least 2 awards it's already won that I don't think it should have...... great for them though
Posted by Craig @ 03/23/2003 07:02 PM PST

Ah, Debbie Allen. One name that we won't be hearing during the Oscar presentations.
Posted by td @ 03/23/2003 07:02 PM PST

hate to do it....but have to go to bed....5 am comes so quickly.
Keep up the good work everyone!
Posted by Jrand52 @ 03/23/2003 07:03 PM PST

Yea! Julie Andrews
Yea! Chicago
Whoa! Elmer Bernstein lost?!?!?
Posted by Donna @ 03/23/2003 07:04 PM PST

Well, good night - but all you others must keep the party going - I need to know winners and categories and DIRT.
Posted by bk @ 03/23/2003 07:04 PM PST

Isn't Hillary Swank in rehearsals for THE MIRACLE WORKER? She does, however, look pretty in pink.
Posted by td @ 03/23/2003 07:05 PM PST

the roof is crashing!!!!!
Guys, you're doing a GREAT
job!!
Thank you, thank you, thank
you!
Like BK, i'm jiggy..........It's
almost like WATCHING the
whole darn thing........
Posted by François @ 03/23/2003 07:06 PM PST

Documentary Feature...
Bowling for Columbine
No surprise there
Posted by Jed @ 03/23/2003 07:07 PM PST

FRANCOIS! Welcome to the Academy Awards! Just as Michael Moore wins with BOWLING FOR COLUMBINE!
Posted by td @ 03/23/2003 07:08 PM PST

This is an entertainment program, Mr. M.! NOT A SOAPBOX!
Posted by td @ 03/23/2003 07:09 PM PST

Ugh.
As much as I enjoy Michael
Moore's works...ugh. I'm just
not a fan of taking a stage
such as the Oscars to make
your political rant.
Posted by Jed @ 03/23/2003 07:10 PM PST

What is he saying - and are they cheering or booing?
Posted by bk @ 03/23/2003 07:12 PM PST

As *Hanoi* Jane Fonda once said, "There are many things that I could say, but, now is not the time nor place. Thank you."
IF Mr. M. makes a movie about the conflict in Iran, THEN, he can speechify!
Posted by td @ 03/23/2003 07:12 PM PST

Cinematography goes to:
Conrad Hall for THE ROAD TO PERDITION. Posthumously.
Which makes CHICAGO four-for-six.
Posted by td @ 03/23/2003 07:14 PM PST

BK - he was speaking "as a
documentary filmmaker who
prefers reality over fiction,
though we live in fictitious
times. We have fictitious
elections that elect a fictitious
president, who then leads us
into war for fictitious reasons,"
etc etc etc (oh... a The King
and I reference!). Mostly boo's
from the crowd, with a few
simple looks of bemusement.
Posted by Jed @ 03/23/2003 07:16 PM PST

"Everytime an Oscar is given out, an agent earns his wings."
Miss Bates.
Posted by td @ 03/23/2003 07:16 PM PST

Oooh! Stephen Sondheim clutching his Oscar in Chuck Workman's clip.
Posted by td @ 03/23/2003 07:19 PM PST

Good for Conrad Hall - he was a wonderful cameraman.
Posted by bk @ 03/23/2003 07:19 PM PST

Lovely speech by Conrad L. Hall's son.
Michael Moore: Such chutzpah!
Posted by Donna @ 03/23/2003 07:22 PM PST

Don't know why, but I just
LOVE the awards again!!!
Oh, i've been lurking all the
time, but it's hard to keep up
with all of you.........
Oh, what a jubilation.........
Posted by François @ 03/23/2003 07:22 PM PST

I'll take this Oscar commercial break to ask Jason to add me to his Moby Dick recording list.
Posted by Walter @ 03/23/2003 07:22 PM PST

how are people doing with their predictions?
Posted by Mike @ 03/23/2003 07:24 PM PST

I wish U2 would learn how to enunciate the lyrics of a song from his "idol" Frank Sinatra.
Posted by Donna @ 03/23/2003 07:26 PM PST

Are they not giving out any awards? What is going on - we need blow by blow.
Posted by bk @ 03/23/2003 07:27 PM PST

Geena Davis in glasses and a
very ugly dress...oy
Posted by Ann @ 03/23/2003 07:28 PM PST

Michael Moore -- what cajones!
Eliot Goldenthal is a decent composer whose "Frida" is not the best choice this year. Too bad.
Posted by Ron Pulliam @ 03/23/2003 07:28 PM PST

Editing... surprise surprise...
Chicago
Posted by Jed @ 03/23/2003 07:29 PM PST

CHICAGO is now what, five-for-seven?
Martin Walsh wins for film editing.
Posted by td @ 03/23/2003 07:29 PM PST

Well, if they're adding up the AMOUNT of edits - it defintely deserved to win.
Posted by bk @ 03/23/2003 07:30 PM PST

Ron, isn't it cOjones?
Posted by td @ 03/23/2003 07:31 PM PST

Whatever!
La Sarandon was perfection!
Posted by Ron Pulliam @ 03/23/2003 07:35 PM PST

I've said before and will say
again, Susan Sarandon will
die sexy.
Posted by Jed @ 03/23/2003 07:36 PM PST

Oh...yep...cOjones....couldn't quite understand the capital O there...d'UH!
And D'OH!
Posted by Ron Pulliam @ 03/23/2003 07:37 PM PST

That's alright, Ron; unlike Salma, I'm not really up on my Spanish.
Posted by td @ 03/23/2003 07:41 PM PST

And the Oscar for Best Actor
goes to...
Adrien Brody!!!
Posted by Jed @ 03/23/2003 07:41 PM PST

Certainly SOMETHING must be going on - tell me, tell me - oh, an Alan Jay Lerner reference.
Posted by bk @ 03/23/2003 07:41 PM PST

Hey, NO speaking Spanish on
this site, oké!
Posted by François @ 03/23/2003 07:42 PM PST

Well HOORAY for Adrien. Just check back in the notes - you will see that I said there was no finer performance last year. YAY. What is his speech like?
Posted by bk @ 03/23/2003 07:42 PM PST

And, that is the way to speechify. Do it with dignity.
Posted by td @ 03/23/2003 07:46 PM PST

Wow... standing ovation for an
acceptance speech.
Posted by Jed @ 03/23/2003 07:46 PM PST

Adrien mainly thanked Richard
Gere for his tap number ;- )
Posted by François @ 03/23/2003 07:47 PM PST

People's opinion of Michael Moore. I heardhe was booed off the stage.
Posted by Michael @ 03/23/2003 07:47 PM PST

Refined, composed, and
eloquant... kept away from
ranting. Well done.
Posted by Jed @ 03/23/2003 07:47 PM PST

"do it with dignity".... but i can't
do it alone.
Velma
Posted by François @ 03/23/2003 07:48 PM PST

Adrien Brody... the anti-Moore
Posted by Jed @ 03/23/2003 07:48 PM PST

I was SO hoping it wouldn't be Jack or Daniel...and as much as I love Michael Caine, I was glad to hear Adrien Brody's name called.
That said, what is with Day-Lewis' mook suit?
And that shaved head? Is he prepping for "My Left Foot: The Musical"?
Posted by Ron Pulliam @ 03/23/2003 07:49 PM PST

Hello, gorgeous! Babs has arrived. Let's keep her on key.
Posted by td @ 03/23/2003 07:49 PM PST

Adrien's documentary is
LOUSY though.- )
Posted by François @ 03/23/2003 07:50 PM PST

Best song... Eminem?!?!?!?
Posted by Jed @ 03/23/2003 07:51 PM PST

Will someone PLEASE get my jaw off of the floor!
Eminem = Oscar winner?!?!?!?!
Posted by td @ 03/23/2003 07:51 PM PST

M&M!!!! Best song! Oh My Gawd!
Posted by Donna @ 03/23/2003 07:52 PM PST

This could signal a horrifying
new turn in our own Nick
Redman's film music work! :-)
Posted by Jed @ 03/23/2003 07:54 PM PST

I didn't care for any of the songs this year, but ANY of them would have been better than that crap. Is he being a good boy, or is he speechifyin' jones.
Posted by bk @ 03/23/2003 07:55 PM PST

The MONEY POWERS have
stricken again.......
Are they booing M&M off the
stage too........that would not be
PC bien sûr!!!
Posted by François @ 03/23/2003 07:55 PM PST

Eminem was not present to
accept the award... Whoever
did receive it on his behalf,
however, was a good boy.
Posted by Jed @ 03/23/2003 07:57 PM PST

Can I say that I love the song
they used for that? The Land
Before Time song...I'm
probably dating myself by
admitting I know this, but it
was one of my favorite
childhood movies
Posted by Ann @ 03/23/2003 07:58 PM PST

Sure, mr Hershey bar had
other commitments.......
Posted by François @ 03/23/2003 07:58 PM PST

So BK doesn't wonder what in
TARNATION is going on
Oscar-wise... They're doing
the lifetime achievement one
for Peter O'Toole.
Posted by Jed @ 03/23/2003 08:00 PM PST

Yes, Eminem's producer was a good boy, even calling Em by his rightful name: Marshall Mathers. Did Barbra misread the envelope's contents? Kander and Ebb/Eminem? Easy mistake. I demand a recount! . . .and I'm one of the ones who thought that (except for Kim Basinger) 8 MILE was a decent little show biz movie. Better by far than PURPLE RAIN. But this brain of mine cannot equate Oscar winner with Eminem!
Posted by td @ 03/23/2003 08:01 PM PST

hey we are closing in on 300. I see that Babs was at the oscars. I guess i will watch that at normal tape speed.
Posted by Mike @ 03/23/2003 08:02 PM PST

Kandy and Ebb??
Posted by François @ 03/23/2003 08:04 PM PST

Lovely, lovely speeches by Meryl Streep and Peter O'Toole.
Has anybody read Peter O'Toole's book?
Posted by Donna @ 03/23/2003 08:05 PM PST

I'm certain now that the bulk of the Oscar votes are from the children of Academy voters...Eminem? Crap!
Bah! I say, "Bah!" to the UNprofessional intro by Meryl Street for the Lifetime Achievement Award for Peter O'Toole.
Whatever her problem, it was badly done.
Posted by Ron Pulliam @ 03/23/2003 08:06 PM PST

What is happening NOW?
Posted by bk @ 03/23/2003 08:09 PM PST

Meryl Street where you live,
Ron?
Posted by François @ 03/23/2003 08:09 PM PST

Is Peter kissing Meryl????
Posted by François @ 03/23/2003 08:10 PM PST

300~~~
Posted by michael @ 03/23/2003 08:11 PM PST

Nicole wins best actress!
Posted by Ann @ 03/23/2003 08:11 PM PST

We're OVER 300 posts NOW!
Posted by François @ 03/23/2003 08:11 PM PST

Nicole who?
Just kidding!
Does she have her fake nose
on?
No, I'm NOT talking about
Babs!!
Posted by François @ 03/23/2003 08:13 PM PST

Tom, are you watching?
Nicole won!..
Well, I guess everyone's gone
to the bathroom......I'll go too.
Posted by François @ 03/23/2003 08:15 PM PST

Paris calling the States!
Paris calling the States!
It seems with be
disconnected.....do you hear
me??
Is Nicole ranting????
Are they booing her?!?!?
i'm so nosy....
Posted by François @ 03/23/2003 08:19 PM PST

Now wait just a darned minute - we have a huge upset in the Best Actress category and no one has anything to say about it?
Posted by bk @ 03/23/2003 08:19 PM PST

-- darn French people who
can't spell english correctly!!
I should take my cue from Mr
Mars Bar....
Posted by François @ 03/23/2003 08:21 PM PST

What IS going on???
Chirac DEMANDS to know....
Posted by François @ 03/23/2003 08:22 PM PST

SUSPENS???????
SUSPENS?????
i LOVE suspenssssss.........
Posted by Hitchcock @ 03/23/2003 08:26 PM PST

I dunno, BK, I didn't see
Kidman as much of an upset.
Posted by Jed @ 03/23/2003 08:27 PM PST

Bruce - you just missed a lovely "tribute" to living award winners and Haley Mills was one of them!
Posted by Craig @ 03/23/2003 08:29 PM PST

It seemed like "Frida" had a roll going and Salma's name brought the loudest cheers/applause.
Everyone I read was predicting Renee Zellweger, but I had read that Nicole had been the early favorite but that talk peaked too soon for her to have a chance.
Looks like that was NOT the case -- major upsets in both major acting categories.
The parade of Oscar-winners was nice in a cheesy way...I didn't know Jennifer Jones was still alive! Ditto some of the others!
Lordy lord!
Posted by Ron Pulliam @ 03/23/2003 08:32 PM PST

Hayley. How did she look?
Posted by bk @ 03/23/2003 08:34 PM PST

Old.
Posted by . @ 03/23/2003 08:38 PM PST

Did you all go to sleep??? Hooray for The Pianist and good for Almodovar.
Posted by bk @ 03/23/2003 08:38 PM PST

Screenplay...
Adapted: The Pianist
Original: Talk to Her
Posted by Jed @ 03/23/2003 08:39 PM PST

Old my foot! Haley looked fabulous!
Posted by Craig @ 03/23/2003 08:42 PM PST

I'm with Craig, Hayley looked
just swell, IMO.
Posted by Jed @ 03/23/2003 08:43 PM PST

Wow! Polanski wins!
Posted by Jed @ 03/23/2003 08:44 PM PST

Fabulous and OLD.
Posted by . @ 03/23/2003 08:44 PM PST

Hailey...to me... your a Star and
a comet!!
Posted by François @ 03/23/2003 08:45 PM PST

No, . .
FABULOUS and old!
Posted by François @ 03/23/2003 08:46 PM PST

And the Best Picture of 2002
is...
Chicago
Posted by Jed @ 03/23/2003 08:47 PM PST

Sorry.... You're and NOT
your.....but at this time.... who
cares?!?
Posted by François @ 03/23/2003 08:47 PM PST

And the awards clock in at 3
hours 31 minutes.
Posted by Jed @ 03/23/2003 08:51 PM PST

You will all remember what I said in these here notes two months ago - that if there were any justice, Mr. Polanski would win. Well, tonight justice triumphed and the best director actually won the award.
Posted by bk @ 03/23/2003 08:51 PM PST

So, did anyone else find it ironic that when Ronald Harwood said that Roman Polanski deserved the Award, that the camera should quickly cut to Angelica Huston (who was present at the house where Polanski's crime allegedly took place)?
Posted by td @ 03/23/2003 08:51 PM PST

Well, BK, you certainly know
how to host an Oscar party!
The ginchiest place of all for
the night, I say... and I've got
328 posts (and counting) to
back up that claim!!!
Posted by Jed @ 03/23/2003 08:54 PM PST

Well, i'm quite satisfied with
the Oscars:
Julianne Moore has won for
Best Documentary!!!
Hooray for Hollywood!
-- those French are NUTS! --
oh, a Barbra S. reference!
Posted by François @ 03/23/2003 08:56 PM PST

I can tell you I have never enjoyed the Oscars more. It was THE place to be, and soon we will be the most popular site on all the Internet.
Posted by bk @ 03/23/2003 08:56 PM PST

BK, we ARE, we ARE.... and
let's get an OSCAR for that!!!!
Posted by François @ 03/23/2003 08:57 PM PST

Loved seeing all those Oscar winners on the stage at one time. There were some missing, like Elizabeth Taylor. Sorry to see Karl Malden not looking well, though.
I haven't seen The Pianist but congratulations to Adrien Brody and Roman Polanski. The awards seem well-deserved. Doug McIntyre, who has a through-the-early-morning radio show here in L.A., says he went to see The Pianist but had to leave an hour into the movie. It was just too emotionally shattering for him.
Way to go CHICAGO!
Posted by Donna @ 03/23/2003 08:57 PM PST

I say congrats to all of the winners tonight...what a ride, huh? And congrats to US for reaching post number 328!!! WOW!
Major congrats to Mr. Adrien Brody and Mr. Roman Polanski. Regardless of your feelings for his personal history, you must admit that he's a damn fine director.
What was that whole thing with Mr. Michael Moore? Gee, whiz...get off the stage! It's an awards ceremony, not a political rally. Everyone was having such a fine time and then he got up and started his schtick. I'm all for speaking your mind, but there's a time and place for it, and tonight's ceremony was neither the time nor the place.
And what's up with Eminem winning for best song!?!?!?! Catherine and Queen were GREAT tonight onstage, and HE didn't even show up!! Oh, well...what can you do? At least it won best picture (and a bunch of other stuff).
Posted by Jason @ 03/23/2003 09:01 PM PST

Congrats to ALL THE NOMINEES, and to the WINNERS who acted like true winners.
BK, thanks for the great party!
Posted by td @ 03/23/2003 09:02 PM PST

Yeah!~ Liz was missing! I saw here on a show just this afternoon and she was talking about the appearance being her "swan song" on the Oscar stage. Hope she didn't swallow a chicken bone.
My favorite Oscar moment -- Adrien Brody's winning Best Actor, followed by Nicole Kidman, followed by Roman Polanski.
The crowd went wild over Brody and Polanski and seemed somewhat cool about Kidman (very strange, that).
Posted by Ron Pulliam @ 03/23/2003 09:09 PM PST

OK, I am absolutely thrilled that Adrien Brody won--and yelled loud enough to let the entire south side of Chicago (city, not movie) know it!
Biggest surprise: Roman Polanski's win--topped only by the ovation the announcement received.
Biggest "What were they THINKING??" moment: Eminem. Did I miss something, or was the song not even performed?
Biggest disappointment: That musical montage. How do you do a musical montage....without the music? I mean, Ethel singing TNBLSB is wonderful to the point of cliche, but it would have been nice to HEAR what those people were singing and dancing to! Less ADHD editing, please.
Posted by Pam @ 03/23/2003 09:12 PM PST

Holy Moly -- over 300 posts! The hippest place on the net!
Posted by Angela @ 03/23/2003 09:16 PM PST

It was fun to share this evening with y'all. Thanks BK for hosting the party. I think I will celebrate by eating some more ham and cheese chunks and tossing my red pointed hat on the floor and dancing around it in my orange and blue pantaloons!
Posted by Donna @ 03/23/2003 09:18 PM PST

Did anyone find it odd that we saw Nell Carter in the "past musical numbers" montage but not in the "people who've died" montage? Is it because she wasn't an Academy member?
Posted by dlevy @ 03/23/2003 09:19 PM PST

The best damn site on the Internet---The envelope please...and the winner-Haineshisway!! Hurray.Way to go,BK,
Acceptance speech to follow.
Posted by Arnold M. Brockman @ 03/23/2003 09:30 PM PST

just watched the oscars in less the 30 minutes! the only way to see them. Some big shocks! Wow!
Jennifer Jones looked like an animated wax work!
Posted by Mike @ 03/23/2003 09:40 PM PST

The Oscars not a SoapBox??
Let me laugh!!!!
"True" winners are actors
hence "fakes", while some
winners were/are REAL
people.... oh well, cut me off,
boo me off, i'm spoiling the
fun....
I'm still jiggy that "Julianne"
won for Best Documentary.....
and we're talking movies here
too....
Before I get off my SoapBox; 3
nights ago, there was the
première of a new musical in
Baghdad called "CALL ME,
SADDAM!"
BUT the critics HATED it and
it... bombed!
Posted by François @ 03/23/2003 09:47 PM PST

"Give them the old razzle
dazzle!!"
Posted by Billy F. @ 03/23/2003 09:57 PM PST

Ok, somebody make today's posts into a short story, please!
Posted by Matthew @ 03/23/2003 10:37 PM PST

Most of the women looked beautiful, lovely gowns: Salma, Renee, Halle, Kate Hudson, Hilary Swank,...except for Geena, Kathy Bates, Meryl looking dowdy.
Glad to see Michael Moore booed off the stage, really tacky of him. Happy to see Chicago win so many, for Adrien Brody, for Frida winning a few and getting what seemed to be alot of appreciative applause; surprised that Roman Polanski won, even though he deserved it.
Note to Dear Reader Lulu: I think you did not see Frida or ever see any pictures or paintings of Frida Kahlo's. Please take a look sometime when you are at the library or bookstore. Salma Hayek's makeup (and brows) are uncannily the image of Kahlo's. In the film, they fade in and out from the actress to the actual self-portraits and vice versa; it is eerie how much they match.
Posted by KT @ 03/23/2003 10:40 PM PST

I'm sorry I ducked out earlier, but I did have a great time while I was here - and great time with my friends too.
Not a bad ceremony. My only general complaint was that the jokes were too safe - consequently, not funny or didn't make sense.
I was in transit during the whole Michael Moore debacle. But it was nice to see and hear some of those very eloquent acceptance speeches that mentioned the soldiers overseas. A very non-partisan statement, and a good one. Chris Cooper and Adrien Brody moved me tremendously.
And I thought everything got evenly divided. OH, did Streets of New York get shut out?
And I have to wonder if a bunch of people gave the Eminem song a "joke vote" thinking it wouldn't have any sort of chance... A few hundred joke votes later...
Posted by Jose C. Simbulan @ 03/23/2003 11:31 PM PST

I'm sorry I ducked out earlier, but I did have a great time while I was here - and great time with my friends too.
Not a bad ceremony. My only general complaint was that the jokes were too safe - consequently, not funny or didn't make sense.
I was in transit during the whole Michael Moore debacle. But it was nice to see and hear some of those very eloquent acceptance speeches that mentioned the soldiers overseas. A very non-partisan statement, and a good one. Chris Cooper and Adrien Brody moved me tremendously.
And I thought everything got evenly divided. OH, did Streets of New York get shut out?
And I have to wonder if a bunch of people gave the Eminem song a "joke vote" thinking it wouldn't have any sort of chance... A few hundred joke votes later...
Posted by Jose C. Simbulan @ 03/23/2003 11:31 PM PST

Just returned from an evening of Oscar-ing to read all these fine posts. Yes Jed, I'll definitely be adding "dirty beats" to all my film music albums from now on, but to tell you the truth I'm really glad Eminem won. In my opinion his song was the best of the five, and it was the only one that did what a good movie song should do, which is to delineate a narrative relevant to the film for which it was composed! It also tickled me that he opted not to perform his song at the ceremony owing to a "prior engagement." Other highlights of the evening were the surprise wins for The Pianist and the self-serving clown Michael Moore being booed off the stage. Felt sorry for Elmer Bernstein and Martin Scorsese, but both were done in by shameless "pleading" campaigns that doomed them early on. Elmer has one Oscar on his shelf already, but Scorsese's wait continues. I suspect he'll be up there when he's 80 clutching an Oscar of the honorary variety. Gangs of New York was garbage, but he does deserve something for all he's accomplished. Ah the Oscars...such folderol. I'm still chuckling at the thought of the teamsters stuffing Michael Moore into the trunk of his limo, and wish they really had done it.
Posted by Nick R @ 03/23/2003 11:43 PM PST

Michael Moore gave the EXACT SAME SPEECH the day before when he accepted his IFC Spirit Award for BOWLING FOR COLUMBINE.
Posted by Jrand52 @ 03/24/2003 02:25 AM PST

Damn, that was fun.
Thanks, guys. :)
Posted by Lulu @ 03/24/2003 03:00 AM PST

jrand: OMG! I just now got the "Salma Hayek = Andrea Leeds" thing...from Goldwyn Follies, right? :)
Posted by Lulu @ 03/24/2003 03:17 AM PST

Exactly Lulu, and an Academy Award nomination for a horrible performance in STAGE DOOR, and a good supporting role in COME AND GET IT completely botched up.
Posted by Jrand52 @ 03/24/2003 03:47 AM PST

Well, if Andrea hadn't been bad in Come and Get It, you might have had to tear your attention away from FF for a moment. :)
I didn't even realize that was AL in Stage Door. The doomed young actress who kills herself? I don't know if I thought she was horrible in that; the role was written so melodramatically, anyway. I enjoy parts of Stage Door, but it's very dated.
I didn't even know AL made any other movies after her Big Discovery in Goldwyn Follies. As usual, you're a font of information. :)
Posted by Lulu @ 03/24/2003 04:10 AM PST

You are right, Lulu, I don't know if anyone could have done much with the part in STAGE DOOR the way it was written. But in COME AND GET IT, Andrea was briefly considered for the leading dual role (along with a couple of others) and had two really good directors Howard Hawks and William Wyler. If there was anything there, I think at least one of these guys could have found it. Frances thought Hawks was terrific. Hawks himself later said that talent-wise only Rosalind Russell and Carol Lombard deserved to be mentioned in the same breath as Frances. She hated Wyler and on one occasion chased him around the set with a fly swatter - he returned the compliment by pronouncing her "unbearable." LOL...I love Hollywood.
Posted by Jrand52 @ 03/24/2003 04:27 AM PST

Here's the DVD that BK is talking about. Click on my name.
Posted by Jrand52 @ 03/24/2003 06:04 AM PST

Bleah...I'm so tired. I didn't get to sleep til 11, so got around 6 hours of sleep; which sometimes I can handle and other times (like, apparently, today), I can't. I'm feeling all fuzzy-headed. Luckily, a co-worker's going for coffee, and that should help me muddle through.
It is all about ME, right? ;)
Posted by Lulu @ 03/24/2003 06:59 AM PST

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