Well the Oscars were last night. The annual night where the rich and famous gather together to hand each other trophies and millions of people watch. They were hosted by Ellen DeGeneres. I don't watch her TV show, but I have seen 'Finding Nemo' and have seen bits of her stand-up and she can be really funny. So how did she do as host in my opinion? I thought overall she did good. Sure the ceremony itself is way too long but that's not her fault. Her zingers didn't really have me laughing out loud but I was amused and chuckled at most of them. And at first I thought it was just a funny joke when she was walking around the audience and said something along the lines of "Who's hungry? I'm ordering pizza!"....and sure enough, later on......Ellen walks onstage carrying plastic plates and napkins, with a pizza delivery person walking in behind her carrying three pizzas. That. Was. Awesome.
I went 17 of 24 for my picks. Not too shabby. Could've been 19 if I just stuck to my original instincts instead of thinking them through. But oh well. Didn't have a bet going with anybody over these so I didn't lose or gain anything from it. All right, enough rambling, time to break things down from last night.
All of these Best Picture nominees went home empty handed. 'American Hustle' was actually tied with 'Gravity' for the most nominations with 10 going into the ceremony. And I'm happy that 'American Hustle' didn't win anything. It's vastly overrated, too long, and honestly the acting wasn't all that special. 'Philomena' (4 nominations) and 'Captain Phillips' (6 nominations) were both all right and I was surprised they were even nominated in the first place. 'Nebraska' (6 nominations) and 'The Wolf of Wall Street (5 nominations) were both great and should have won at least something but oh well. That Oscar win still eludes Leonardo DiCaprio after 5 nominations. Maybe next time, Leo. Maybe next time. Now about the winners:
OSCARS WON: Best Picture, Best Supporting Actress - Lupita Nyong'o, Best Adapted Screenplay - John Ridley
'12 Years A Slave' had been quietly picking up Best Picture awards from various groups, while most of the talk had been centered on 'Gravity' and 'American Hustle'. While I personally liked 'Gravity', 'Her', and 'Nebraska' all much better than '12 Years A Slave', I still feel that it deserved Best Picture. Newcomer Lupita Nyong'o's award was also very much deserved. Adapted Screenplay honestly could've went to any of the nominees.
ALSO NOMINATED FOR: Best Director - Steve McQueen, Best Actor - Chiwetel Ejiofor, Best Supporting Actor - Michael Fassbender, Best Production Design, Best Costume Design, Best Film Editing
OSCARS WON: Best Actor - Matthew McConaughey, Best Supporting Actor - Jared Leto, Best Makeup and Hairstyling
Okay. Did Jared Leto deserved Best Supporting Actor? I thought Michael Fassbender was better in '12 Years A Slave' but it's whatever. Leto dropped weight and if you watch the movie he really does look and act like someone who is transgendered. Makeup and Hairstyling could've went to any of the other nominees as well.
Now we get to Matthew McConaughey, who also dropped a significant amount of weight (and then some) to play Ron Woodroof. So the moral of the story is, drop significant amounts of weight and you'll win an Oscar. Chiwetel Ejiofar should've won for '12 Years A Slave'. Heck, Bruce Dern should've won for 'Nebraska'. I believed those characters throughout the movie. 'Dallas Buyers Club' had many times where I really just couldn't buy into Matthew McConaughey's character and it took me out of the movie. He still has it's moments, but it sure wasn't Oscar worthy in my opinion.
ALSO NOMINATED FOR: Best Picture, Best Original Screenplay - Chris Barten and Melissa Wallack, Best Film Editing
OSCARS WON: Best Director - Alfonso Cuaron, Best Original Score, Best Sound Editing, Best Sound Mixing, Best Cinematography, Best Film Editing, Best Visual Effects
The night's big winner. As expected, it cleaned up in many technical categories and topped it off with a win for Best Director. It's a great movie and I highly recommend seeing it. If you can somehow watch it in 3D, do it. It's worth it.
ALSO NOMINATED FOR: Best Picture, Best Actress - Sandra Bullock, Best Production Design
OSCAR WON: Best Original Screenplay - Spike Jonze
I'm glad 'Her' got at least one award from last night. And indeed it is a very original movie. Extremely strange, sure, but original.
ALSO NOMINATED FOR: Best Picture, Best Original Score, Best Original Song - "The Moon Song", Best Production Design
WON: Best Actress - Cate Blanchett
I rented this movie from Redbox a few nights ago. It's.....okay. Did Blanchett deserve Best Actress? Well...it's not exactly a stretch for someone who is in the 1% to play someone who is a delusional, exaggerated woman who used to be in the 1% but has fallen on "hard times" and moves in with her sister (Sally Hawkins). It's a detestable character, but you just can't look away with the extremely altered version of reality that this character has created for herself and prefers to live in. It has it's moments but that's about it. Bullock for 'Gravity' should've won.
ALSO NOMINATED FOR: Best Supporting Actress - Sally Hawkins, Best Original Screenplay - Woody Allen
WON: Best Animated Feature, Best Original Song - "Let It Go"
'Frozen' won both of the Oscars it was nominated for. I personally preferred 'Despicable Me 2' over 'Frozen' and "In Summer" from Frozen instead of "Let It Go" but I'm perfectly fine with 'Frozen' and "Let It Go" winning.
WON: Best Production Design, Best Costume Design
Old sport, 'Great Gatsby' also won both of the Oscars it was nominated for. And indeed, the production design and costume design truly are the best parts of that movie. DiCaprio was very underrated as Gatsby.
WON: Best Foreign Language Film (Italy)
I had never heard of this movie until awards season, and it started picking up awards left and right. Apparently it's about a man who has seduced his way through the lavish nightlife of Rome for decades, but after his 65th birthday and a shock from the past, he looks past the nightclubs and parties to find a timeless landscape of absurd, exquisite beauty.
WON: Best Documentary Feature
Another one I never heard of until awards season. Apparently it's about the world of being a backup singer. That could be interesting but I'm probably not gonna watch it.
Other winners
BEST DOCUMENTARY (Short Subject): The Lady In Number 6: Music Saved My Life
BEST LIVE ACTION SHORT FILM: Helium
BEST ANIMATED SHORT FILM: Mr. Hublot
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