Oscars 2014

http://variety.com/2013/film/awards/oscars-extend-voting-privileges-1200453506/

Voting in all 24 Oscar categories will be open for the first time in 2013-14 to the entire membership of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, Academy prexy Hawk Koch announced at Saturday's tri-city membership summit.

Specifically, the Academy's Board of Governors approved a plan that will allow members to see the nominated documentary shorts and foreign language films either at a theatrical screening or on DVD. Prior to the final round of voting, the Academy will provide members with DVDs of the nominated films in five categories: foreign-language film, feature documentary, documentary short subject, animated short and live-action short.

In previous years, members had been required to see the nominated films in certain categories in a theater in order to vote.

"This change continues our efforts to expand our members' participation in all aspects of the Academy's activities including, of course, voting for the Oscars," said Koch. "Building on this past season's 90% record voter turnout, we want to give our members as many opportunities as possible to see these great films and vote in these categories next year."

Next year's Oscars will take place March 2. The nomination processes for all categories remain unchanged.

Foreign Lang Film could be even more of an abomination?

No more than the nominations typically allow, at least.

(Still shocked that something as good and not about the Holocaust as A Separation managed a win.)

Yeah, I don't think it can get much worse. It's mainly the nomination process that is broken, right?

Meh, some truly dece films have managed nominations in the last half-decade, even if the winners have remained spotty.

I don't think that is true... At least not compared to what could have been nominated. Uncle Boonmee not even beeing nominated is a blemish on everything, ever.

nonlinear WTF films not often nominated

(Last year at Marienbad only for script)

Yeah, I find it hard to get worked up about something as abstruse as Uncle Boonmee going unrecognized by the Academy.

No, you're right... And I was making a list of other films that should be nominated, but it is stuff like Mysteries of Lisbon, Police Adjective and Closed Curtain (which I'm going out on a limb and predicting won't be put forth by Iran...). None of it would ever have a chance of being nominated. I guess it's just that the academy has terrible taste, but since most English language cinema is crap anyway, it's hardly as noticeable as it is in this category.

Certified Copy not getting nominated is a blemish. Uncle Boonmee not getting nominated is a function of nature.

I guess it's just that the academy has terrible taste, but since most English language cinema is crap anyway, it's hardly as noticeable as it is in this category.

And so you clicked on this thread because ... ?

Oh come on. Does anyone here care about the Oscars because of the movies? It's all about the politicking and the headsmacking and the snarking. Whether Argo is a better movie than Life of Pi, who cares?

So then you agree that, within the narrow scope of Oscar eligibility, it's cool that as of late stuff like Revanche and Dogtooth and The Milk of Sorrow got nominations in place of, say, more crap like Tsotsi or Želary?

Are the foreign noms still limited to whatever is submitted by the country of origin?

Yeah, that's one rule that I think has to change, but then I'm sort of torn because it at least gives a lot of films that aren't otherwise expected to ever get distributed in the U.S. a shot at the promotional boost needed to make that happen.

So then you agree that, within the narrow scope of Oscar eligibility, it's cool that as of late stuff like Revanche and Dogtooth and The Milk of Sorrow got nominations in place of, say, more crap like Tsotsi or Želary?

― cacao nibs (Eric H.), 6. maj 2013 18:03 (51 minutes ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

Well, I'm ashamed to say that I haven't seen anyone of those, but Tsotsi... But we were discussing whether nominations or winners are the worst, and are they that much better than winners like Amour or A Separation? I mean yeah, In a Better World is a blemish, and I say that as a Dane who has refused to watch anything by Susanne Bier since Den Eneste Ene. But that's just one year. Is it worse than The King's Speech?

So, not to be glib, but Fruitvale Station is gonna win it all now, right?

Indie Spirit maybe.

Probably right. And fittingly, the oldest, whitest guy around is on deck to win best actor.

Bruce Dern?

Redford.

2nd oldest whitest Sam Shepard for Best Supporting Actor, maybe.

Of course, it could also go to I. Elba for playing Mandela.

Ellen DeGeneres to host.

Better than at least one recent alternative.

The mix of camp and prestige-tedium these two reviews convey in juxtaposition means we have this year's Hitchcock.

Kate Muir - The Times:
"There are a number of lines you never, ever want to hear Diana, Princess of Wales say, and they include: 'I love feeling your hand there', and 'Yes, I've been a mad bitch'. Even when these lines are delivered by the fragrant Naomi Watts ["the fragrant Naomi Watts? What the fuck?], doing her level best with a squirmingly embarrassing script, this film is still atrocious and intrusive."

Christopher Tookey - Daily Mail
"The trouble is that in being so careful and eager not to offend, the film is a more than a little tedious, with a lightweight, romantic storyline that fails to surprise, let alone sustain a movie that lasts nearly two hours. It has the slightness of a Barbara Cartland novella, but the love affair is treated with ponderous solemnity, as though it were another Gone With The Wind. It's slow and terribly, terribly dull."

had no memory of Ellen hosting before btw.

as for Di, at least she's got a movie as unimportant as she was.

Governors Awards to actress Angela Lansbury, actor-writer-director Steve Martin, costume designer Piero Tosi, and actress-director-humanitarian Angelina Jolie.

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/race/academys-governors-awards-selections-generate-622346

HR characteristically omits All of Me as one of Martin's "big" films.

Someone made the claim that Martin has more critics' awards than any other actor who has yet to receive even so much as a single Oscar nomination (with the obv caveat that we're talking about the pre-utter madness era when there were only really four major crix groups -- New York, LA, Nat'l Society and Nat'l Board of Review). Too lazy to see if the math checks out, but he did win two awards each for Roxanne and for All of Me.

yeah bashing Martin for getting a special Oscar is anti-comedy bias at its finest. Bill Murray shd be next.

(obv they are never giving Elaine May one for her 1.000 average of fighting with studios)

Cross-posted from 12 Years thread...

http://www.grantland.com/story/_/id/9662243/is-12-years-slave-really-best-picture-lock
http://www.indiewire.com/article/toronto-film-festival-announcing-2013-award-winners

http://www.grantland.com/story/_/id/9972335/the-best-screenplay-problem

Waiting for the newest Harris Oscar column has replaced waiting for the next round of Criterion announcements.

I don't get it, I had to wait til the 7th graf to read yet again how "gorgeous" hetero fight scenes based on the Hawke-Thurman marriage are.

http://www-deadline-com.vimg.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/450173107__131117100312.jpg

http://www.deadline.com/2013/11/oscars-governors-awards-honor-best-of-the-best-and-provides-lots-of-opportunity-for-schmoozing/

[requisite link to Grantland columnist redacted]

Also, since we're on the subject, I'm not sure I've seen such unwavering unanimity this early over what the five nominees are expected to be in the 2 lead categories. Virtually every outlet is pretty set in stone on these 10:

Dern
Ejiofor
Hanks
McConaughey
Redford

Blanchett
Bullock
Dench
Streep
Thompson

I mean, Amy Adams aside, there isn't one single potential spoiler in the distaff category that doesn't come from a film that was only seen by roughly (short term) 12 people.

you know what i'm most excited about this year? The show is March 2, and spring training games will already have begun.

I heard Judi Dench is a frontrunner there too.

she might be able to break inro the Twins' rotation.

Blanchett
Bullock
Dench
Streep
Thompson

It shows just how much my attention to current film has dropped off that I don't even know what films Blanchett, Dench and (Emma?) Thompson are in the running for.

like it matters! Blanchett's is the only one that's been out (for months)

Oh right, that Woody-does-Streetcar thing.

It is "interesting" that a feat that until last year had never been managed -- five previous winners in a single acting category -- will be repeated this year.

The next five in that category, so far as I can see it:

Amy Adams, American Hustle
Bérénice Bejo, The Past
Julie Delpy, Before Midnight
Adèle Exarchopoulos, Blue is the Warmest Color
Brie Larson, Short Term 12

she might be able to break inro the Twins' rotation

They're going to need a catcher.

(That said, this stuff about McQueen fighting with Ridley's wife makes him seem like the bigger asshole, that and the fact that everyone seems to think he's an asshole, anyway. But who knows.)

It's kinda sad they couldn't bury the hatchet in time for what is ostensibly one of the biggest nights for their film. Also, since Lupita snubbed Ridley, how was she dragged into it?

Would you rather be in McQueen's next film or John "Undercover Brother" Ridley's?

Are you asking me, Michael Fassbender? Because if you are ...

I'd rather be in Fassbender's next under-covers.

Yeah, Ridley's a scab, so I don't think you want to be on his side for future career choices.

so the annual Beat the Crowd prediction contest had no winners... cuz, um, the consensus choices went 23/24.

http://srmedia.com/beatthecrowd/

so the AAs have LITERALLY never been more predictable.

I can attest.

(Well, except for back when they used to publish the results in the trades the weekend before the ceremony.)

Highest TV ratings for an "entertainment telecast" in 10 years! Stupid Travolta Tricks, Big Mac performance monologues and being a c**t to Liza Minnelli is what works.

http://insidetv.ew.com/2014/03/03/oscar-ratings-2014/

Yeah, but the tedium of this year's telecast will reverse that growing trend.

are we up for an art house film winning Best Picture?

are you thinking Hard to Be a God?

Can't wait for Tom at the Farm to compete against Stranger by the Lake or for Tilda Swinton to Cate Blanchett her way through the competition all season.

what is Cate Blanchetting as a verb

Cate and Isabelle Huppert are doing Genet's The Maids in NYC this summer, for you actressexuals.

I will probably only go if CB does her character as Bob Dylan tho.

what is Cate Blanchetting as a verb

taking computer science classes and drinking vodka martinis w/affectations, i.e. as a gay

..o...k.

yOU GUYS ARE WEIRD

well, we're gay and affected.

btw I barely know who Jessica Biel is even tho I've seen her before, but who was the Winona Jr presenting with JoGo?

hermione from harry potter

wow she looked littler than in da movies

Not sure how one's supposed to drink martinis unless it's as "a gay."

You drink it straight without ice cubes

With a sugar rim.

as don draper

TNC: http://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2014/03/kim-novaks-bid-to-be-twice-as-good/284194/

so the AAs have LITERALLY never been more predictable.
― images of war violence and historical smoking (Dr Morbius)

Joe Posnanski called 22 out of 24, missing only the two Short Film categories.

http://joeposnanski.com/joeblogs/oscar-predictions-2014/

(Which, if you don't follow baseball, is like Mark Harris--or whichever film writer is really good at calling the Academy Awards--getting all of this year's pennant races and five out of the six big individual awards correct. Or maybe getting all of them, and missing one of the Comeback Players of the Year.)

so the annual Beat the Crowd prediction contest had no winners... cuz, um, the consensus choices went 23/24.

http://srmedia.com/beatthecrowd/

so the AAs have LITERALLY never been more predictable.

― images of war violence and historical smoking (Dr Morbius), Tuesday, March 4, 2014 8:52 AM (12 hours ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

a facebook friend shared his oscar pool google doc and he was bragging about getting 23/24 right (picked gravity for pic) but i looked at it and thought "wow these are just the safest and most obvious choices"

yeah I feel like you have to go against the grain with a few of your choices just to keep it interesting for yourself. I only got 18 right but I did guess both shorts just based on the names (which is how I imagine most of the voters chose)

https://fbcdn-sphotos-h-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/t1/1979493_10151916175365759_941177690_n.jpg

Well, yeah.

The betting line favorites went 22/24 (everything but live action and animated shorts) and all of the favorites except for Her in Original Screenplay were 1/4 or better

Oh man, that face looks like the back of those back-baby-trypophobia-frogs...

xp Such was this year that I took great pride in S1ant's being among the only ones who didn't predict that dumbass Mickey Mouse short to win.

has the mechanism for the oscars always been this well known? i definitely had no idea how precisely the winner was determined (ie similar to how olympics hosts are determined) when i genuinely cared about this stuff. is the current methodology the same or similar to what it was before they expanded best pic eligibility? and why don't they employ a similar method for the other categories? anyhow seems like a greater awareness of methodology, foreknowledge of some actual votes, plus the greater sophistication so to speak of oscar campaigns now makes it far more predictable. mark harris was on the bs report and talking about how there's this greater empiricism in oscar forecasting now (part of me wonders if silver would try to steal harris though sports analysis of entertainment is so simmons thing that harris might be off limits), and vegas has gotten better at this stuff also (i have a friend who gambles a good bit who says awards voting used to be the easiest money out there, vegas was generally so clueless ie that ray charles album that cleaned up at the grammys was a huge long shot). it might be one of those things like elections or the weather where we've gotten very very good at predicting it, though one thing that helps the oscars is they never actually release the vote totals so the data is limited.

All valid questions, though many just assume that the echo chamber created by the still-growing number of precursor awards is as much to blame.

One blogger noted that the last time there was a genuine shocker in an above-the-line category was probably Adrien Brody ... 11 years ago now.

they live selfie is a meme i'd like to see take off

yeah simmons wondered if the oscar forecasting was actually having a significant effect on the outcomes now, ppl like to vote for winners and if somehow the media narrative had turned this into a race between american hustle and dallas buyers club does it suddenly actually become a race between american hustle and dallas buyers club? how much prognosticators turned this into gravity vs 12 years is hard to say since we don't see the final vote totals and we don't see polling throughout the oscar season (nor do we see analysis by oscar voters through out the year the way you have voters for the nba mvp saying 'paul george is the mvp' a few months ago and 'kevin durant is the mvp' a few weeks ago and 'wait maybe still lebron' now). how much precursor awards matter is hard to measure also since american hustle did well there (including the all important sag win) and was shutout at the oscars but for all we know finished close runner up in all of its categories.

I did guess both shorts just based on the names (which is how I imagine most of the voters chose)

1) Dying child; 2) 110-year-old musician and Holocaust survivor. In bingo, these are called "free spaces."

I remember having a flash of certainty that Adrien Brody was gonna win that Oscar about 10 seconds before he did.

In sports terms, American Bullshit "peaked too soon." (Much as the movie did with that Duke Ellington meet-cute discussion.)

In retrospect, the animated short category result was "Don't be a pig, Disney." Just like one of those anonymous voters interviewed said "We can't give Jennifer Lawrence everything at age 23, because she will be institutionalized."

"We don't need another Meryl Streep."

or Frances Farmer

Jennifer Lawrence Will Have Her Revenge On Seattle

simmons wondered if the oscar forecasting was actually having a significant effect on the outcomes now, ppl like to vote for winners

I don't really get the psychology of wanting to vote for winners. I mean, it's a secret ballot, so it's not like you get any reflected glory. I think it's more likely to be: if you're led to believe that your own choice is an outside bet, then you tactically focus on which of the leading two or three candidates you'd rather see win.

how much prognosticators turned this into gravity vs 12 years is hard to say since we don't see the final vote totals

I sometimes wonder if within the Academy's archives this data is saved, and if so, whether it will ever see the light of day.

https://movies.yahoo.com/news/kim-novak-speaks-against-oscar-night-bullies-000542620.html