I am confused by the syntax in the subject header, which perhaps was intentional. I think the point is that the changes they made for the ceremonies worked, boosting ratings about 10%. The NPR guy thought it might in part be because some faction of the Batman audience stayed tuned to see the somewhat delayed Supporting Actor award. It may be because Jackman has some cross over arts/action film appeal. As I mentioned last night, I hope this does not reward them for going back to absurd production numbers and irrelevant montages/medlies. I liked the show, but I also like Jon Stewart - hell, I also liked Dave. Indeed, anything in a non-Whoopie suits me just fine (I barely tolerated her in the Ring of Honor). Oh, and can I say: "Damn! Hallie Berry!!!
I did see "The Reader" and I am not an Academy voter. It was okay but far, far from great. Our Kate was much better than the film, and she was naked a lot (never a bad thing), and she is a great actress, so not too much harm done in giving it to her. Of the 5 nominated actresses Leo in Frozen River gives the most impressive performance - in a film at least as good as The Wrestler, and better than The Reader and (obviously) Button. She was never going to win though. Streep probably gave a better performance, in a better film, than Kate. I read that Streep actually feels a little embarrassed that she has been nominated so often and not one since the early 90s, which is a shame but something voters may want to take into consideration next time they pass her by with a "Oh, she has won so often lets give it to someone else" justification. I am going to disagree with Thomas big time on Penn's Milk. First, I just have not understood the "We love you Mickey" bandwagon that got rolling with The Wrestler. I am glad Rourke burned through some of his more self-destructive ass-hole tendencies before it killed him, I'm sorry his dog died, and it is nice to see him acting in good films again. But by those criteria every actor who lives to 50 and makes a film will have to win an Oscar from now on. Penn on the other hand, in my judgment, did much more than a cartoon impression - he captured a whole time and spirit. Of course I grew up in California and lived in the Bay Area when Moscone and Milk were murdered, and I am very much in the middle of the current political tragedy with Prop 8, so I can't pretend to be making a completely neutral and objective aesthetic judgment. I thought the film had its limitations, and because of those I had Slumdog as more deserving of Best Picture, but I don't think any of its limitations had anything to do with Penn's performance. On Mon, Feb 23, 2009 at 4:23 PM, Thomas Heald, Esquire <[email protected]> wrote: > >> http://tvbythenumbers.com/2009/02/23/sunday-ratings-academy-awards-up-from-last-years-record-low/13282 >> >> Personally, I had less issues with the ceremony than most. >> >> But I feel it's the Oscar nominated movies that are causing the ratings >> dip and not the show itself. >> >> Not enough people have seen most of these movies or performances. So why >> should they invest the time in a show that's honoring them? > > Mickey Rourke deserved it more than Penn. Its more an actual character > than Penn's Milk was. Most of the film (which has huge flaws in pace, > characters and structure) has Penn playing a narcissistic obsessed > unlikeable asshole for most of its screen time. Like me, only thinner. > > Penn's milk is more cartoonish than textured. > > I don't think anyone not an academy voter has seen The Reader (as noted > by Jackman in his opening number) Its a vote for liking Kate Winslet. > And considering most of the academy lived through WWII thats why there > are so many god damned WWII Nazi movies. I would support a 10 year > moratorium on holocaust dramas. > > A "We Like Meryl Streep" vote was possible. > > That they honored Milk with two awards (and the gawdawful Benjamin > Button with way too many) and let Slumdog (a worthy film) just win > everything is the Academy being lazy. > > The Milk win for Penn seems more about California politics. and really I > would like to see an anonymous vote total of which movie won by how much > like you know, the election. > > > > --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ TV or Not TV .... Smart (TV) People on Ice! You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "TV or Not TV" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/tvornottv?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
