Hi Guys

My thread about the snow went very slightly off topic and a few people mentioned some good films.

What do you guys think of the Oscar nominations this year?

I have seen most of the films with the "big" nominees in them. EG Milk, The Wrestler, Frost Nixon, Dark Knight, Tropic Thunder.

They were all very good. However, I think the best film I have seen this year is Doubt. I wont spoil the story line for you, but its a brilliant film with some very fine acting, especially from Phillip Seymour Hoffman (he has been nominated for best supporting actor).

I dont think that he will win because there would be a big hoo ha if Heath Ledger doesnt take the award.

Sean Penn was outstanding in Milk. He has just got better and better as an actor over the past 10 years and was unbelievable in Milk.

I personally think that the weakest contender for the best actor Oscar is Mickey Rourke. Im not saying that the film was bad, it was just a little predictable.

My prediction of the best actor and best supporting actor Oscars are;

Best Actor - Sean Penn
Best Supporting Actor - Heath Ledger (but should be Phillip Seymour Hoffman)

What are your thoughts?

I like . . .

---

I agree, VS. The acting in "Doubt" is stunning, but Heath is probably a safe bet because of his amazing performance and the sad circumstances.

Did you see "Slumdog Millionaire"?

SweetVirginia wrote on Feb 3^rd, 2009 at 6:12am:

I agree, VS. The acting in "Doubt" is stunning, but Heath is probably a safe bet because of his amazing performance and the sad circumstances. Did you see "Slumdog Millionaire"?

Hands down the best film!

Winslet should win-she was excellent in The Reader
Sean is the favored son, but personally I think Mickey in 'The Wrestler" was better.

Haven't seen Frost-Nixon yet, but can't imagine it being better than Slumdog.....
Ledger should also get a nod

I think that Heath will get the nod for best supporting actor, but I think its a real shame.

Although he was very good in Dark Knight, I dont think he was good enough to warrant an Oscar and if he does win, then we all know that he is only getting it because he has since passed away.

I dont think Heath Ledger would have picked up the Oscar had he still been alive today. If you take Ledger out of the equation, Setmour-Hoffman wins, possibly Josh Brolin.

Who gives a Donald Duck ? i just hope i don't accidentally catch any of the acceptance speeches.

Well you wont catch Heath's if he wins!

I used to watch this show growing up but now I am amazed that it's still on. And these narcissistic H-wood idiots who act like an Oscar is the Holy Grail make me depressed. The last year I watched was when Chris Rock(I think) made some funny jokes including one about how Jude Law was in every film & how he wasn't all that great. It was pretty funny & then curmudgeonly Sean Penn came along & said how proud he was to be an actor alongside Jude Law. Blow it out yer ass, Seanie!

Kinda on topic of the Dark Knight, check out Christian Bale going off on a lighting guy on the set of the new Terminator movie. I guess the guy walked on the set during filming.

http://www.tmz.com/2009/02/02/bale-went-ballistic/

LOL I know he's a jerk & all but Bale should have been nominated at the very least. He's much better than the crap that got nominated.

Gimme Shelter wrote on Feb 3^rd, 2009 at 11:57am:

Kinda on topic of the Dark Knight, check out Christian Bale going off on a lighting guy on the set of the new Terminator movie. I guess the guy walked on the set during filming. http://www.tmz.com/2009/02/02/bale-went-ballistic/

LOL....the lighting on Christian will be REALY flattering for the rest of that film.  ;D

glenny?

http://www.toughpigs.com/images/recaststatler.jpg

i saw benjamin button. i can't believe that forest gump rip off was nominated for best picture. slow year?? brad pitt has done some good films, but this was nowhere near his best.

I managed to catch Benjamin Button last night and I have to agree with Starbuck, the similarities between it and Forrest Gump are quite obvious.

I was very impressed with how young they managed to make Brad Pitt look towards the end of the film.

Seeing the film last night made me realise that this year's best actor Oscar is a straight drag race between Sean Penn and Mickey Rourke.

If you like the rags to riches story of Mickey Rourke, which some of the academy panel do, then Rourke will win.

If they are looking for the best performance, then Penn will win.

Christian Bale talks:


“It’s been a miserable week for me."

   "Listen, I know I have a pottymouth, everybody knows that now, but I understand this is live, so please don't worry, I will behave."

   "The thing that I really want to stress is that I have no confusion whatsoever. I was out of order, beyond belief. I was way out of order. I acted like a punk. I regret that and there is nobody that has heard that tape that it's hit harder by it than me. So I make no excuses for it. It is inexcusable and I hope that is absolutely clear.”

   “One thing that has really disturbed me throughout this, because I’m not familiar, I'm comfortable yet with this notion of being a movie star. I’m an actor and I’m don’t quite know how to handle the movie star thing. The thing that disturbs me so much is that I’ve heard a lot of people saying that I seem to think I’m better than anybody else."

   "I'm embarrassed by it. I ask everybody to sit down and ask themselves, have they ever had a bad day and have they ever lost their temper and really regretted it immensely."

   "Feel free to make fun of me at my expense; I deserve it completely."

Voodoo Scrounge wrote on Feb 3^rd, 2009 at 4:08am:

I personally think that the weakest contender for the best actor Oscar is Mickey Rourke. Im not saying that the film was bad, it was just a little predictable.

It certainly was predictable, particularly if you've ever seen "The Champ"; either the 1931 original with Wallace Beery or the 1979 remake with Jon Voight.  Except that "The Wrestler" changes the aging, washed up boxer for an aging, washed up wrestler and the son for a daughter, it's the same story.

Brainbell Jangler wrote on Feb 8^th, 2009 at 12:01am:

Voodoo Scrounge wrote on Feb 3rd, 2009 at 4:08am: I personally think that the weakest contender for the best actor Oscar is Mickey Rourke. Im not saying that the film was bad, it was just a little predictable. It certainly was predictable, particularly if you've ever seen "The Champ"; either the 1931 original with Wallace Beery or the 1979 remake with Jon Voight.  Except that "The Wrestler" changes the aging, washed up boxer for an aging, washed up wrestler and the son for a daughter, it's the same story.

I havent seen "The Champ".

I dont want people to think that I am having a dig at Mikey Rourke, because I am not. I think he plays the role of Randy really well. I cant think of anybody who was better suited to that role in fact.

But when you watch "The Wrestler" and then watch "Milk", there is a huge difference in quality of performance.

What helps "The Wrestler" is that it was shot very well. The close ups of Mikey Rourke emphasise the scale of his (Randy) downfall. He quite clearly shows the scars of life.

"Milk" however is all about two people. Penn and Brolin. Penn just domintes the film from begining to end. His performance is one of the best I ahve ever seen in my life and I am not exagerating. He has evolved a huge amount as an actor. You really couldnt have foreseen Penn playing a character like Harvey Milk 15 years ago.

Sean Penn is one of the most talented men in Hollywood. The first time I realised just how good he was, he was even in a film, he directed it. The film was called "The Pledge". If you havent seen it, do so, its very good.

I really do think that Heath Ledger is only being considered for an Oscar because he passed away and I dont think that is right. Phillip Seymour Hoffman would win best supporting actor if Ledger wasnt in the running. He possibly deserves it a lot more too.

Zack wrote on Feb 3^rd, 2009 at 4:56am:

I like . . .

did i miss a wardrobe malfunction?

Starbuck wrote on Feb 3^rd, 2009 at 5:51pm:

i saw benjamin button. i can't believe that forest gump rip off was nominated for best picture. slow year?? brad pitt has done some good films, but this was nowhere near his best.

Yes -- with such an unusual storyline and so much time, they could have beefed up the story a little bit. It's kind of frustrating to sit through almost 3hours of film only to realize that you've learned close to nothing about that Benjamin guy & don't care much anyway.

Benjamin Button should have been about 40 minutes shorter. I think that director was so pleased with all the beautiful shots he got that he just didn't leave enough on the cutting room floor.

wrote on Feb 3^rd, 2009 at 11:45am:

I used to watch this show growing up but now I am amazed that it's still on. And these narcissistic H-wood idiots who act like an Oscar is the Holy Grail make me depressed. The last year I watched was when Chris Rock(I think) made some funny jokes including one about how Jude Law was in every film & how he wasn't all that great. It was pretty funny & then curmudgeonly Sean Penn came along & said how proud he was to be an actor alongside Jude Law. Blow it out yer ass, Seanie!

that could be my post Car,
sean penn was obnoxious for taking that joke so seriously.
the a-list cannot take a fucking joke if its on them, besides it was true, so fuck both sean and jude and all their a-list buddies.
i used to watch this who growing up too - pre-video, pre-cable, it was the only place you could see stars....it was otherworldy,
now, its all too mundane and the self-congratulation is nauseating.
i only watch if there is a legitimate underdog...i might watch to see what mickey rourke does if he wins.
now that's a real bad boy, a real rebel of the kind hollywood-bred guys like penn can only emote.
and he's got the long list of b-movies, bad press to prove it.

check this out:

http://www.opinionjournal.com/columnists/pnoonan/?id=110008062

I think what you said about the pre-cable days being more interesting in re the Oscars is a good point. Who needs to watch a 4 hour version of Entertainment Tonight? It's just not what it was.

wrote on Feb 12^th, 2009 at 6:30am:

I think what you said about the pre-cable days being more interesting in re the Oscars is a good point. Who needs to watch a 4 hour version of Entertainment Tonight? It's just not what it was.

that's what it is now...
and back then, stars were stars..or seemed bigger, somehow - and that has alot to do with the nonstop entertainment shows....
there was also a split back then - you had your tv stars, and you had jack nicholson, warren beatty etc..
now, everyone is a celebrity...
lisa rinna goes to the oscars now...
there is no mystery or nothing untouchable about these people anymore - and as a kid, that separation was what made them stars...

" Did you see "Slumdog Millionaire"?  "


I have not seen this particular movie but everyone is ' raving ' about the film .

Developing ............................

i've seen all the nominated movies, and i have to say doubt still exceeds them all/
just a great, challenging movie..
clint eastwood continues to amaze me.
scorsese and coppola were the young geniuses of the 70s, while clint was the dirty harry guy, the mainstream hero..the guy who represented a hollywood they disdained....
and yet now, while scorsese and coppola are slowing down, making increasingly lame movies in their old age - it's eastwood who is taking the chances, making provocative films that are relevant to today.
he gets better and edgier as he ages...inspiring.
loved vicky christina barcelona, but i missed woody's distinctive narration - hated the guy who narrated -some of the irony, snarkiness in the monologues were lost because of that ....

What was the Clints latest movie?I only have the "flags of the fathers" and "letters from ivo jima",,,which were fantastic.I think Clint haven´t done a really
bad movie since the latest Dirty Harry(which was awful),another one i don´t care about is,"Heartbreak bridge",others simply fantastic.

I agree about the movie "The pledge",which sean penn directed,its almost perfect.Wasn´t Jack Nicholson on the main role,as an,COP who was
going to pention?
I got the dvd,,,,been about 2 years since my last watch.BTW Nicholson is one of the actors whos done only good acting,his better than
Pacino or Deniro.

Peter Gabriel Pulls Out of Oscars
Friday, February 13, 2009 10:30:00 AM PT, E! Online

Peter Gabriel won't be in your—or anyone else's—eyes come Oscar night.

The singer has pulled out of performing his Best Song nomination on the awards show after producers, in one of their many concerted efforts this year to increase telecast ratings and otherwise shake things up, limited him to just 65 seconds on stage.

His nominated tune, "Down to Earth" from Wall-E, clocks in at just under six minutes.

"I'm an old fart and it's not going to do me any harm to make a little protest," Gabriel said in a video posted to his website. "But the ceremony should be fun and I'm looking forward to it."

In his place, Gabriel said he hopes the Soweto Gospel Choir would step in to perform the highly condensed version of the song, expected to be part of a medley with the other two Best Song nominees, A.R. Rahman's "Jai Ho" and "O Saya," both from Slumdog Millionaire.

"I do think it's a bit unfortunate," Gabriel said of producers' decision to shoehorn the songs into one performance. "The songwriters, even though they're a small part of the filmmaking process, we still work bloody hard and I think deserve a place in the ceremony as well."

Despite his decision not to take the stage, Gabriel will still be in attendance at the 81st Annual Academy Awards Feb. 22. The Academy has yet to comment on Gabriel's withdrawal.

I hope that Mickey Rourke and Marisa Tomei win for "Wrestler".

I just finished watching a documentary from 4 or 5 years ago called "Born Into Brothels" which really touched. More than any of the movies I've seen lately. It was about the whores of Calcutta & what their kids face.

I have seen none of the movies nominated.

Hugh Jackman is awful. I watched 10 minutes & switched to real life. I also saw James Bond disparage America in the 50's. LOL It's the most of this crapfest I've watched since Chris Rock hosted.

glencar hates everything these days.

No, not really. I love Nadal especially when he kicks Federer's ass.

The Oscars bores the daylights out of me

I used to watch them> Maybe because that's all that was on back then? LOL

Benjamin Button has been big thus far.

Batman was tough.

I may check out this slum dog flick

Some Guy wrote on Feb 22^nd, 2009 at 9:07pm:

Benjamin Button has been big thus far.

again, this makes no sense. this movie was mildly entertaining but not oscar worthy.

unless, of course, everything else sucks.

Some Guy wrote on Feb 22^nd, 2009 at 8:41pm:

glencar hates everything these days.

http://www.scopecreep.com/yahoo/wp-content/uploads/2006/07/eeyore.jpg

SAL movie of the year... every year.

Spicolli is not gay.

I caught the end of the show whilst talking on the phone & I gotta say, Oscar sucked! The stage was way to low, Jackman's thick accent was impenetrable at times, 5 men/women to give out the awards was odd & then they showed stills & scenes of previous winners w/o emphasizing this year's nominees. Badly done.

I didnt catch the ceremony and by the sounds of some of the posts, Im glad!

However, I am very pleased that Sean Penn won best actor. He was definately more worthy of it than Mickey Rourke. But I am also glad that a film like the Wrestler should set Rourke up for a few more roles in the future. He talent as an actor is clear to see.

I was dissapointed that the Academy didnt award Heath Ledger an honoury oscar or something similar. His award for best supporting actor was a waste. He wouldnt have won if he had been alive and I think that some of the other nominees have the right to be a little bit pissed off, although none of them will say as much!

Voodoo Scrounge wrote on Feb 23^rd, 2009 at 5:28am:

I was dissapointed that the Academy didnt award Heath Ledger an honoury oscar or something similar. His award for best supporting actor was a waste. He wouldnt have won if he had been alive and I think that some of the other nominees have the right to be a little bit pissed off, although none of them will say as much!

Honorary oscars are lifetime achievement awards for the likes of Orson Welles and Stephen Spielberg. What has Ledger achieved to warrant one - dying prematurely?

If he shouldnt have won best supporting oscar, then he sure as hell didnt deserve an honorary one. By that yardstick, theyd be giving out dozens of honorary ones every year for dead people. If sentiment helped win him the Oscar, then its less a big deal than if he'd won an 'honorary' award. I dont think it's a waste at all. I'm sure his family consider it a worthy tribute.

Glad 'our Kate' won one at last.

How can there be any respect for an acting awards bunch that has never awarded a win to the greatest actor of the last 50 years---Peter O'Toole?

lotsajizz wrote on Feb 23^rd, 2009 at 7:08am:

How can there be any respect for an acting awards bunch that has never awarded a win to the greatest actor of the last 50 years---Peter O'Toole?

ditto. the academy is a political party dominated by the same lame types that are found in the recording industry. a triumph of commerce over art. fortunately this year they got it right with ms winslet with a nice performance in a vehicle designed to get her an award. mr penn a worthy winner. no suprises here movies involving causes that are dear to the academy the holocaust and gay rights and a nod to a feel good film whose market hollywood seeks capital and viewers from. the real hollywood on vivid display with brad pitt and ms jolie as a nominees. certainly my steamy poo is more worthy than any "performance" by him except his hilarious real life character in burn after reading. ms jolie nominated for her role but not mr eastwood for two films. do these people have souls?

These awards are like figure skating judging. Political and highly subjective. Batman movie was crap but Ledger was highly entertaining....then he offs himself and his role becomes bigger and better?

Political, indeed. One would think gay marriage was the #1 issue of the day.

lotsajizz wrote on Feb 23^rd, 2009 at 7:08am:

How can there be any respect for an acting awards bunch that has never awarded a win to the greatest actor of the last 50 years---Peter O'Toole?

What he said...

:booze

You DO have an eye for talent Mr. Gazza!

How can anyone have any respect for an organization that waited for 30 years to give Scorcese his first Oscar . . .

lotsajizz wrote on Feb 23^rd, 2009 at 10:39am:

You DO have an eye for talent Mr. Gazza!

Peter Seamus O'Toole is still the greatest Irishman alive.

monkey_man wrote on Feb 23^rd, 2009 at 10:43am:

How can anyone have any respect for an organization that waited for 30 years to give Scorcese his first Oscar . . .

The biggest mistake was awarding Redford for Ordinary People (ordinary MOVIE!) over Scorcese for Raging Bull. Crime of the century up till OJ...

Dances with Wolves over Goodfellas was an epic crime!

Shine A Light wuz robbed.



We were snubbed by the Oscars.

Humiliation

Gazza wrote on Feb 23^rd, 2009 at 10:52am:

lotsajizz wrote on Feb 23rd, 2009 at 10:39am: You DO have an eye for talent Mr. Gazza! Peter Seamus O'Toole is still the greatest Irishman alive.

Abso-friggin'-lutely!!

Slumdog Millionaire = 13 Nominations

Shine A Light = O Nominations




That shit just dont add up right, Hoss

Saint Sway wrote on Feb 23^rd, 2009 at 1:54pm:

Slumdog Millionaire = 13 Nominations Shine A Light = O Nominations That shit just dont add up right, Hoss

micheal cohl=stonesdog millionaire?

mojoman wrote on Feb 23^rd, 2009 at 3:36pm:

Saint Sway wrote on Feb 23rd, 2009 at 1:54pm: Slumdog Millionaire = 13 Nominations Shine A Light = O Nominations That shit just dont add up right, Hoss micheal cohl=stonesdog millionaire?

thats not bad

wall-e and gran torino was robbed....
dark knight, doubt, walle and torino were far better films than button...

marko wrote on Feb 18^th, 2009 at 10:28am:

What was the Clints latest movie?I only have the "flags of the fathers" and "letters from ivo jima",,,which were fantastic.I think Clint haven´t done a really bad movie since the latest Dirty Harry(which was awful),another one i don´t care about is,"Heartbreak bridge",others simply fantastic. .

you must see gran torino,
i saw it a second time this weekend and must retract my statement that doubt overuled the other films this year....but  this was the best film of year.
gran torino is a as much a statement of redemption than it is about the US collective preoccupaton of cultural wars.....
it is truly a beautiful film that gets you in the gut....
it challenges, it provokes....no other film director is making movies like this: movies about real people, things that matter in the real world.
i cannot praise it enough and the fact that it was completely ignored is astonishing to me....

Mick was there too, wasn't he? I caught a video of him with L'wren going to one of the after parties.

FotiniD wrote on Feb 24^th, 2009 at 1:51am:

Mick was there too, wasn't he? I caught a video of him with L'wren going to one of the after parties.

Oh yes he was:

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a73/LadyJane1/84979306.jpg
--Rachel Weisz looks entranced.

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a73/LadyJane1/84982717.jpg
--Chatting with the lovely Kate Beckinsdale

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a73/LadyJane1/84983021.jpg
--Sean Penn is beaming.

My personal favorite
http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a73/LadyJane1/84979267.jpg
--L'Wren: "Sarah, SARAH, over HERE dear"


Mick looks fantastic!!!

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a73/LadyJane1/84992148.jpg

LJ.

As I said in my posts before the actuall ceremony, it was always a dot on the cards that Heath would win best supporting actor. I just feel that his role isnt as good as a lot of people have made it out to be and that both Josh Brolin (Milk) and Phillip Seymour Hoffman (Doubt) deserved it more.

If we were to sit here and comment on all of the mistakes that the academy have made over the years, we may be looking at a thread the size of the Obama one!

There certainly have been some very dubious Oscars over the years, but on the whole, I think they get it right most of the time.

You have to remember that sometimes an Oscar can be a like a stone around your neck. You have to ask if Scorsese would have made better films if he had won an Oscar for Raging Bull, or would he have been rocketed into the limelight and have everything he made after that too commercial and mainstream.

I personally think that if Scorsese had won an Oscar for Raging Bull, we would never have seen the likes of Cape Fear, Casino, Goodfellas and The Color of Money.

On the whole I think that great performances have warranted the Oscars they have recieved.

I agree tht Gran Torino should have got more of a mention.

Mick has got touring hair!

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a73/LadyJane1/84982717.jpg
--Chatting with the lovely Kate Beckinsdale



Ade?? :whydontcha

Thanks for the great pics LJ!
We got the same favorite  :areyoufuckingserious SJP looks absolutely focused on Mick  :)

FotiniD wrote on Feb 24^th, 2009 at 8:40am:

Thanks for the great pics LJ! We got the same favorite  :areyoufuckingserious SJP looks absolutely focused on Mick  :)

I've got a BETTER caption than earlier Fotini:

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a73/LadyJane1/84979267.jpg
L'Wren: "Sarah, SARAH, I'm OVER HERE DEAR"
SJP: "You are breaking my wrist, you Amazon. I'm standing face to face with Mick Jagger!!!"

LOL....Mick is ONE OF A KIND!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

LJ.

Gazza wrote on Feb 23^rd, 2009 at 10:52am:

lotsajizz wrote on Feb 23rd, 2009 at 10:39am: You DO have an eye for talent Mr. Gazza! Peter Seamus O'Toole is still the greatest Irishman alive.

Hear! Hear!
http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x2/GotToRollMe/6a00d8341c2c4f53ef00e54f6348178833-.jpg

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b237/open-g/Computer/DaFamily.jpg
"it's all in da hands of da family"

texile wrote on Feb 23^rd, 2009 at 10:18pm:

wall-e and gran torino was robbed.... dark knight, doubt, walle and torino were far better films than button...

Wall-E won best animated film so the robbery wasn't completed.

:aimama

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Mick looks ready for the stage.

:howefun

---

Sarah J Parker's tits have grown!

:retarded

---

:thatwassmart

---

:perverted

---

open-g wrote on Feb 24^th, 2009 at 1:36pm:

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b237/open-g/Computer/DaFamily.jpg "it's all in da hands of da family"

lol very good one open-g, this is the original

---

the pictures by several photographers from the vanity fair website http://www.vanityfair.com/

moy wrote on Feb 24^th, 2009 at 3:24pm:

:thatwassmart

is that weenies in a blanket?
say what you want about l'wren, but i've never seen mick looking this content, confident and relaxed.
it's nice.

:wtf3

http://www.rocksoff.org/h9-fightingformickattheoscars.JPG

http://www.rocksoff.org/h9-mickattheoscars-1.jpg

Titties and beer.... wine

http://www.rocksoff.org/h9staringatrachelstits.JPG

love this guy and penelope cruz...

http://www.rollingstone.com/rockdaily/index.php/2009/02/23/prince-breaks-out-beatles-rolling-stones-at-oscar-party/

I thought that was Frau Bluecher?

http://i41.tinypic.com/w846rd.jpg

This was the first time, in about twelve or thirteen years, that I missed the oscars. The only thing that I cared about, besides watching Mickey Rourke gracefully losing the prize (The Wrestler is a masterpiece, BTW), was seeing Jerry Lewis. But I knew that I could catch some moments through YouTube, in about a day or two, so I got drunk instead.

:hilarious

MrPleasant wrote on Mar 1^st, 2009 at 12:19pm:

This was the first time, in about twelve or thirteen years, that I missed the oscars. The only thing that I cared about, besides watching Mickey Rourke gracefully losing the prize (The Wrestler is a masterpiece, BTW), was seeing Jerry Lewis. But I knew that I could catch some moments through YouTube, in about a day or two, so I got drunk instead. :hilarious

MrP where the hell have you been for the last 15 years?

Yes, I too was sad for Mickey.  The Wrestler is so cool, but not as cool as Jackie Brown by Tarantino.  

I think MR should work with Tarantino next.

:booze