Random Academy Award Questions by AURaptor

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Random Academy Award Questions

POSTED BY: AURAPTOR
UPDATED: Wednesday, February 25, 2009 17:00
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Monday, February 23, 2009 11:39 AM

America loves a winner!

Just a couple of thoughts, no intent on my part to criticize any one, thing or film.

- Slumdog Millionaire: Should it have won best picture ? I've not seen it, nor any of the top films, so I can't say either way, but a thought occurred to me .... could giving the award of best movie to Slumdog be an attempt by Hollywood to draw in more fans from Bollywood, as well as legitimizing the Hindi language counterpart ? I know on the surface, it may seem counter to the US movie making industry, but Hollywood seems to have gone more international.( Hugh Jackman being the first non-American to MC the awards )

- Sean Penn / Harvey Milk : Correct me if I'm wrong, but I did see the acceptance speech, and I don't think Mr Penn even uttered Harvey Milk's name. Is there some sort of unspoken rule, that if you play the part of a real live human, you can't thank them when you're on stage? I ask this because I recall the same thing when Julia Roberts won for her role in Erin Brockovich.

I know they can't thank EVERYONE they'd like, but not a word to the real live person who the actor portrayed ? Just seems a bit odd to me, is all.

It is not those who use the term "Islamo-Fascism" who are sullying the name of Islam; it is the Islamo-Fascists. - Dennis Prager

A concern of the GOP is that the people aren't informed enough to understand their policies, while a fear of the Dems is that the people ARE.

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Monday, February 23, 2009 11:49 AM

WAKEUPSOON

I think Slumdog deserved to win. It was truly amazing. I loved every minute. Both times I saw it. xD

^.^

This is not my signature, I have to write this every time I post.

Smile && Nod, it makes it seem like you know what's going on.

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Monday, February 23, 2009 12:05 PM

KWICKO

"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." -- William Casey, Reagan's presidential campaign manager & CIA Director (from first staff meeting in 1981)

Two things. One - Slumdog. Yes. I think you're probably on to something; it occurred to me as well. Bollywood *IS* the next big thing for movies, and has been for quite some time. India is an enormous country, just coming into its own, so in a sense, pandering to an Indian audience is a sure-fire moneymaking proposition.

Two - Milk. Probably a bit hard for Sean Penn to thank Harvey Milk, a "real live person", since he's been dead for over 30 years.

Just sayin'.

Another note about Slumdog: I haven't seen it yet, but it's high on my list. I've heard from several reliable sources that it's simply astonishing movie-making, even if not an astonishing movie. I sat through Titanic simply because of the technical achievement and the moviemaking audacity of it (it actually cost more to make the movie, in inflation-adjusted dollars, than it cost to build the real ship!), so I'm kind of a geek that way. Hey, I sat through all of the Star Wars movies, and we all know that at least three of them were utter crap, but utter crap with amazing technical wizardry!

Mike

"It is complete now; the hands of time are neatly tied."

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Monday, February 23, 2009 12:06 PM

WHOZIT

#1 I'm glad they picked a TRUE talent like Jackman and not another 2nd rate comic

#2 I bet Mr Penn thinks Mr Milk sould be thanking him, but Mr Milk is not avalible for comment.

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Monday, February 23, 2009 12:25 PM

WHOZIT

http://www.zap2it.com/tv/ratings/zap-tv-ratings-022209,0,3530830.story

Title of the story should be, "Jackman Saves Oscars!"

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Monday, February 23, 2009 2:00 PM

AURAPTOR

America loves a winner!

Wait, Harvey Milk is dead? How come no one even mentioned that during the show ?

Then that must mean Erin Brockovich is dead too, right ?

Seriously, for all the talk of what a martyr Mr Milk was for an entire group, and for Mr Penn to talk about those " signs of hate ", no off hand remark about how he got to know the man, even a little, if only posthumously? And what exactly were those signs saying ? I'm gonna take a blind guess and say it was the Rev Phelps cult of inbreds from Kansas. If thats' the case, then Mr Penn did a GREAT disservice in even acknowledging them in the first place.

It just seems odd, to me, that in cases where 2 leading actors won awards for portraying real life people, and not one mention of those real life people in the acceptance speech.

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Monday, February 23, 2009 2:07 PM

AURAPTOR

America loves a winner!

Ha....i KNEW it was the Phelps gang! Did a bit o'research,and found this...

wushu18t 6 points 4 hours ago* [-]
it was westboro baptist church. when i heard sean penn say "signs of hate" i immediately went to the godhatesfags website to look at their picketing schedule. sure enough, the academy awards was on their schedule.
http://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/7zm5q/what_signs_of_hate_wa
s_sean_penn_talking_about_at/

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Monday, February 23, 2009 2:25 PM

YINYANG

You were busy trying to get yourself lit on fire. It happens.

IIRC, Sean Penn didn't mention his wife, either.

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"Pray that there's intelligent life somewhere up in space, 'cause there's bugger all down here on Earth."

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Monday, February 23, 2009 2:57 PM

AURAPTOR

America loves a winner!

Quote:
Originally posted by yinyang:
IIRC, Sean Penn didn't mention his wife, either.

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"Pray that there's intelligent life somewhere up in space, 'cause there's bugger all down here on Earth."

Even took time to write down who he wanted to thank.... she didn't make the list.

Who wants give their marriage 6 more months?

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Monday, February 23, 2009 4:40 PM

MANWITHPEZ

Important people don't do field work.

I'm pretty certain Sean Penn (and don't get me wrong...I didn't want him to win) started his acceptance speech with "my best friend", which he's done before, and it is a reference to his wife.

Secondly, you could call Slumdog Millionaire a lot of things...but a Bollywood movie? So far as I could see it was a straightforward English speaking movie developed in the UK and financed by the US. The only real Bollywood trapping I saw was the very ending (Which, I have to tell you, I had a grin a mile wide while I was watching that part). Here's the difference, I think: This is a movie about India...not an Indian movie.

I have a question, though, as ThatWeirdGirl pointed out: Was Heath Ledger in the memorial video? I don't remember seeing him.

Kaylee: "What's so damn important about being proper? It don't mean nothing out here in the black."
Simon: "It means more out here. It's all I have..."

http://manwithpez.livejournal.com

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Monday, February 23, 2009 5:01 PM

YINYANG

You were busy trying to get yourself lit on fire. It happens.

I'm almost certain they didn't have Heath Ledger in the memorial video this year, but he was probably in last year's, considering that he died in January, and the ceremony wasn't until Feb 24.

Penn did say "my best friend," but I thought he meant it as "my best friend, [whatever name he said after that]." I could have interpreted that wrong. Here's the video:

Edit: According to Wikipedia and other sources, Heath Ledger was the last person mentioned in last year's "In Memoriam."

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"Pray that there's intelligent life somewhere up in space, 'cause there's bugger all down here on Earth."

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Monday, February 23, 2009 5:12 PM

KWICKO

Nope, no Heath Ledger in the memorial vid. I noticed it, too, and found it odd.

As for Sean Penn and Harvey Milk, would you have preferred he thanked Milk for dying? 'Cause THAT wouldn't be creepy...

Mike

"It is complete now; the hands of time are neatly tied."

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Monday, February 23, 2009 6:41 PM

AURAPTOR

America loves a winner!

Oh, I don't know.... hold up the Oscar and say something like " to the memory of you, Harvey ", or SOMETHING.

Anything is better than nothing.

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Monday, February 23, 2009 6:44 PM

PHYRELIGHT

Quote:
Originally posted by manwithpez:
I have a question, though, as ThatWeirdGirl pointed out: Was Heath Ledger in the memorial video? I don't remember seeing him.

He was part of the tribute video last year.

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Monday, February 23, 2009 7:39 PM

NCBROWNCOAT

I can't wait to see Slumdog Millionaire. I have a coworker who is of Indian heritage, she's an immigrant from of all places, New Zealand, but has relatives from Fiji to London and of course India. She saw it in Atlanta several weeks ago and loved it.

Another good movie in the hybrid British/Indian genre is "Bride and Prejudice" by the director of "Bend it Like Beckham", Gurinder Chadha. It's "Pride and Prejudice" set in modern India and stars Aishwarya Rai, Martin Henderson and for all you "Lost" fans Naveen Andrews.

http://fireflyfaninnc.livejournal.com/

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Monday, February 23, 2009 9:12 PM

JEWELSTAITEFAN

Slumdog was a wonderful film. Comparing to, say, Dark Knight, the budget was less, the stars were fewer, but it's less glossy than DK, and many gritty films are less glossy. The story was more unique for SM than DK, but DK was more polished, and intended to look it. Slumdog was far better than most of the films this year. Deserved to win.
Not a Bollywood influenced decision.
For some reason I'd compare it to English Patient.

I think somebody hit it on the head with "Sean is waiting for Harvey to thank him." Harvey was not available to provide input, background, etc. Erin Brocovich may have been available for Julia, but maybe Julia isn't all there. Robin Williams might have been able to draw from Adrian Kronhower (?sp), and still tries to claim cred for knowing what a Veitnam Vet is about, but the real Kronhower hates and despises Williams. Hollywood liberal actors don't care about the real people, just how much they were able to distort the truth in the name of performance.
Penn has only been merely a hair actor, and likely always will be. Too bad the award could not have gone to a deversing performance.

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Monday, February 23, 2009 9:38 PM

SHINYGOODGUY

You make a good point about the Slumdog win. What crossed my mind in regard to that is that the Academy is very much aware of their impact on the overseas market and, with the economy in such dire straits, you do whatever you can to keep the wheels properly greased.

Now you may think that's a bit harsh, but your comment put me to thinking how things were set up this year to insure a proper sweep.

For instance, just to name a few peculiarities; no nomination to Chris Nolan for the highest grossing movie of 2008 - The Dark Knight; no nomination for The Boss - Bruce Springsteen for a truly solid song "The Wrestler" from the movie of the same name (normally there are 5 nominees); Cate Balnchette didn't get a Best Supporting Actress nod for Ben Button (she was THAT good); No Best Director Nom for Jonathan Demme's Rachel Getting Married (or Best Picture for that matter); What about Clint Eastwood for director in Changeling or Best Actor for Gran Torino; No nom for Aronofsky for The Wrestler.

Shall I go on: What about Philip Seymour Hoffman in Doubt? They nominate three of his co-stars but not him? What up with that? And no nom for Doubt as Best Picture (Huh?). And what about James Franco for his role in Milk? There are much more but you get the picture. This looks more and more like a set up to me, not just snubs and politics within the Academy. This goes to show that the bottom line is still king in Hollywood.

Just some observations, and definitely not taking anything away from Slumdog (which I have on my agenda for this week). Still though if it was THAT good then why not put it up against the best competition? I'm just saying.

SGG

Tawabawho?

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Monday, February 23, 2009 10:51 PM

JEWELSTAITEFAN

Ummm. wake up. The Oscars are not about the best films or performances - they are about status quo for Hollywood.
Look at Dark Knight. Where is the gay/lesbian? Where is the megabucks megalomaniac star playing a retard? (or handicapped in some way?) Where is the really bad music performed by some whiny liberal neurotic singer? The hair actor? The sex pervert character? Where is the "controversial" or "persecuted" director, filming in between pedophilic pomps? or for that matter, between drug busts? Where is the actor filming in between rehab or other drug bu....oops, you got me there - Heath.
How can any film get nominated when it's so mainstream, not controversial, or pitiful?

I actually did assume Christain Bale wouod get nominated for something - purely based upon who his stepmom is.

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Tuesday, February 24, 2009 12:26 AM

AURAPTOR

America loves a winner!

Quote:
Originally posted by jewelstaitefan:

Penn has only been merely a hair actor, and likely always will be. Too bad the award could not have gone to a deversing performance.

I'm not familiar w/ the term 'hair actor',but as for the award, I'll have to go on what others have said. Micky Rourke might have deserved the Oscar, but Hollywood wanted to send a message. Said one critic , of the award's show, " it was the gayest " Oscars ever. Politics, it seems to some, was the driving force behind Penn's getting the award and Hollywood's backlash at EVERYONE for not voting for Prop 8.

Again, not making a judgment on my own, as I've not seen any of the films myself.

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Tuesday, February 24, 2009 12:42 AM

JEWELSTAITEFAN

Quote:
Originally posted by AURaptor:
Said one critic , of the award's show, " it was the gayest " Oscars ever. Politics, it seems to some, was the driving force behind Penn's getting the award and Hollywood's backlash at EVERYONE for not voting for Prop 8.

Even more gay than Ledger's Brokebutt Mounting gayfest?

Quote:

A concern of the GOP is that the people aren't informed enough to understand their policies, while a fear of the Dems is that the people ARE.

Isn't your sig a RWR quote?

I must say Jackman was a much better choice than another whiny comic - hope he did well.

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Tuesday, February 24, 2009 2:50 AM

JONGSSTRAW

If Marlon Brando, Charlton Heston, Dustin Hoffman, Clark Gable, & Al Pacino had been nominated with Penn, the GAY character still would have won, under any circumstance. I saw Langella in Frost/Nixon, and his acting was amazing. But Hollywood is political, and they have a message for all us lowly average people. The message is that if you don't believe in what they believe in, then you shoud be ashamed. What absurd arrogance. These so-called tolerant liberals don't actually tolerate anything outside their little bubble of self-proclaimed rightousness. I think they're all smarmy little fascists.

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Tuesday, February 24, 2009 12:10 PM

AURAPTOR

America loves a winner!

Quote:
Originally posted by jewelstaitefan:
Quote:
Originally posted by AURaptor:
Said one critic , of the award's show, " it was the gayest " Oscars ever. Politics, it seems to some, was the driving force behind Penn's getting the award and Hollywood's backlash at EVERYONE for not voting for Prop 8.

Even more gay than Ledger's Brokebutt Mounting gayfest?
Quote:

A concern of the GOP is that the people aren't informed enough to understand their policies, while a fear of the Dems is that the people ARE.

Isn't your sig a RWR quote?

I must say Jackman was a much better choice than another whiny comic - hope he did well.

Yes, gayer than the Brokeback Mountain awards. I know another award MILK won, forget which catagory, and the recipient made an extended commentary on what Harvey Milk would have said per the Gay marriage issue. ( He was for it, of course. Even from beyond the grave )

And then there was the Seth Rogan, James Franco skit, with their own homage to the gay theme.

Not sure where the other quote came from. I heard it on some radio show, and it went uncredited. I fear I butchered it a bit, but got the basic meaning down as best I could.

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Tuesday, February 24, 2009 2:35 PM

SIMONWHO

This year's awards gives me yet another reason to be pissed at Titanic - The Dark Knight should have had a fistful of nominations and awards and yet the Academy seems to play it very tough on big budget movies, no matter how well written and performed. Return of the King did get plenty but only after two consecutive years of people going "Where's Lord of the Rings?"

*grumble grumble*

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Wednesday, February 25, 2009 5:00 PM

SHINYGOODGUY

I am wide awake. That was my whole point, questioning the choices of an outdated, outmoded and archaic institution - Hollywood. They don't see the handwriting on the wall. Actually, let me take that back, they do, hence the machinations to manipulate the market.

Some may point to the box office and how they're setting records over last year, but that is misleading because the price of a ticket is more than last year. But overall the movie industry, as the entertainment industry in general, is changing to the point where Hollywood is no longer viable or in control. With the advent of portable video cameras and the internet, coupled with the expense of going out, and the independent filmmakers, the power center is shifting and H-wood is incapable of stopping the bleeding.

So the status quo in H-wood is being shaken to it's very core. The reason why the Oscars is losing it's appeal is that there is so much more going on out there that is not only more interesting, but is appealing to more of who we are as an audience. I think about Dr. Horrible and some of the other stuff I've seen on the net.
Even Slumdog was initially rejected and ignored until someone saw the potential it had. Usually, because it's about making money, H-wood goes the safe and predictable route to appeal to the widest audience out there.

As far as the gay thing, that's the latest trend, a new audience to cater to. For a short while it was the family audience, back in the 90s, H-wood addressed it because they had to, and now it's the gay audience. Of course we are still going to get mostly bland, inoffensive, mediocre fair to appeal to the widest audience possible.

Ladies and gentlemen, the bottom line rules in Hollywood, and look where that got the mortgage industry.

SGG

Tawabawho?

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