“It’s not his turn.”

March 7, 2010 6:13 PM

The Red Carpet Campaign: Inside the singular hysteria of the Academy Awards race.
posted by rollbiz (21 comments total)

Well, it worked. Just about every winner was clear before the night even began. And I'm not pissed at Kathryn Bigalow or anything - The Hurt Locker was very good - though not my favorite of the year - but this piece is dead on. The movie went into the Oscars season with a narrative of being small, uncompromised, directed by a strong woman with a long, yeoman's career in Hollywood and as the perfect alternative to Avatar.

Still, I feel like Tarantino's going to have to remake Battle Royale with Harrison Ford in the Takeshi Kitano role before he manages to win one.

Anyway, another increasingly irrelevant Oscars is over with. Congrats to Bigalow, Bullock, Bridges, Mo'Nique and Waltz. Oh, and to Michael Giacchino, who totally deserved his win.
posted by Navelgazer at 9:11 PM on March 7, 2010 [1 favorite]

I'm very happy for Jeff Bridges, but Sandra Bullock? Really?
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 9:21 PM on March 7, 2010

I'M GONNA LET YA FINISH BUT
posted by fuq at 9:39 PM on March 7, 2010 [1 favorite]

The story behind Oscar's "Kanye moment". Weird.
posted by Combustible Edison Lighthouse at 9:52 PM on March 7, 2010 [6 favorites]

Why so gloomy, George Clooney?
posted by palliser at 9:52 PM on March 7, 2010

It is so refreshing that Christoph Waltz won. I mean, dude played a truly ruthless but still somehow comical Nazi in four languages while singlehandedly keeping the film from falling apart. No easy feat!

Now, as for Sandra Bullock ... huh.
posted by Sys Rq at 10:01 PM on March 7, 2010

So, Sandra Bullock has officially won both the Best Actress and Worst Actress awards this year. Is this a first?
posted by greenland at 10:28 PM on March 7, 2010 [1 favorite]

Is this a first?

Yes, although it's arguable that Charlton Heston should have won both for the same film (Ben Hur).
posted by philip-random at 11:15 PM on March 7, 2010

I thought it was... interesting how they sat Cameron right behind Bigelow. Big blue alien catfight!

Also, before anyone gives Bullock a hard time for winning the Razzie, check out the classy and good-humored acceptance speech she gave for the award. (Longer but poorer-quality video here.)
posted by Rhaomi at 11:19 PM on March 7, 2010

Okay, that Razzie acceptance speech almost makes up for anything else Bullock has done. That was perfect.
posted by Navelgazer at 11:31 PM on March 7, 2010

Classy? She suggested everyone watch All About Steve again. That's practically an act of war.
posted by kittyprecious at 5:10 AM on March 8, 2010

Still, I feel like Tarantino's going to have to remake Battle Royale with Harrison Ford in the Takeshi Kitano role before he manages to win one.

Tarantino won best screenplay for Pulp Fiction. Which, while not a Best Director oscar, is still an oscar.
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 5:39 AM on March 8, 2010 [1 favorite]

So I was in a very racous restraunt down here in New Orleans where everyone was watching the oscars and running a commentary. I was shoving fried chicken and red wine down my face but I cought some voice comments.


Ben Stiller in Blue Face "That's Racist!"

John Hughes retrospective "SO Molly Ringwald became a linebacker for the Lions and nobody noticed?"

"I'm very disappointed, Mo'nique is supposed to be crazier when she wins things." "I know, she's barely shaking or screaming at all!"

Sarah Jessica Parker " WHat is she wearing?" "A dinner napkin?" "No dear, it's a serviette."
posted by The Whelk at 6:52 AM on March 8, 2010

The story behind Oscar's "Kanye moment". Weird.

Wow! Wow. That is incredible.
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 7:18 AM on March 8, 2010

Aside, what was up with the ladies outfits this year? Everyone looks like they were goin' to Prom. I missed the "big poofy shoulder straps are IN" memo. Even Ms. Weaver, who can do no wrong, was dressed like she just walked into a red cotton candy machine and got spun round. Yeesh.
posted by The Whelk at 7:47 AM on March 8, 2010

I'm very happy Christoph Waltz won since he was so fantastic in his role that he made me forget the annoying parts of Inglorious Basterds. I still wish he'd been nominated for Best Actor. That would have freed up a slot for Michael Fassbender (who also hit it out of the park) for Best Supporting Actor.
posted by longdaysjourney at 10:26 AM on March 8, 2010

increasingly irrelevant is right. critical authority has faded.
posted by mrgrimm at 12:30 PM on March 8, 2010 [1 favorite]

They had to give Sandra Bullock an Oscar so she'd stop making movies.
posted by The Whelk at 12:57 PM on March 8, 2010 [1 favorite]

In defense of Sandra Bullock, she is usually very good in everything she appears in. Unfortunately, more often than not (by my estimate, something around 99.97%), what she appears in is shit.
posted by Sys Rq at 1:35 PM on March 8, 2010 [1 favorite]

(She needs a new agent, is what I'm saying.)
posted by Sys Rq at 1:35 PM on March 8, 2010

I too sorta like Sandra Bullock, yet I can't think of a good movie she's in either. I mean, her "best" movie still has to be While You Were Sleeping, no?
posted by mrgrimm at 1:42 PM on March 9, 2010