Oscars...I don't get it(?)

[Jenny_Jackson]

Okay. This is my take on this. A bunch of lazy actors and actresses get all dressed up and gather to give each other a cheap mantle decorations for having worked in a film that 10% of America actually paid to see. The other 90% are waiting for the fucker to come out on DVD so they can rent it for $0.99 at Safeway.

I tried watching the Oscars last night. I couldn't. I tried reading the articles this morning. I couldn't. Maybe I should tell Hollywood that I just don't care. It's almost like Hollywood is still living in the 40's. WAKE UP, HOLLYWOOD! It's the 21st Century. I don't fucking care!

Personally, I believe this whole thing is a scam started back in the 30's by the Tuxedo manufacturers to bollster a useless suit of clothes because it was the only way they could sell their rediculous product.

 

[R. Richard]

Personally, I believe this whole thing is a scam started back in the 30's by the Tuxedo manufacturers to bollster a useless suit of clothes because it was the only way they could sell their rediculous product.

The first Autumn Ball, held at the Tuxedo Club in October 1886, is marked as the official first appearance of the Dinner Jacket. Then, it is said Griswold Lorillard and his friends startled the people attending the Ball by wearing a scarlet satin lapelled Dinner Jacket - tail-less, while all others were attired in the traditional white-tie and tails. And thus was born the elegant garment forevermore to be know as the "Tuxedo" - adapted by people rich and poor as the symbol of celebration. Good Times and Special Occasions; designated by the motion picture industry as its symbol for high society, class and elegance, and even a symbol of hope for better days during the Depression Days of the Thirties; defined by the tastemakers and standardbearers as the appropriate garb for those events in an individual’s life when only a tradition of elegance will do.

Tuxedo Park was a walled community, some 40 mile North West of NYC. It was started by the Lorillard family [tobacco.] What went on in Tuxedo Park became the standard for elegance in NYC.

 

[Ootpic]

. . . Maybe I should tell Hollywood that I just don't care. . .

U .S. moviegoers spent $9.23 billion at the box office in 2007, topping the $9 billion mark for the second consecutive year. So, I do believe that they just won't care.

. . . I believe this whole thing is a scam started back in the 30's . . .

It was in 1927 to be precise.

 

[ltnsfr007]

Okay. This is my take on this. A bunch of lazy actors and actresses get all dressed up and gather to give each other a cheap mantle decorations for having worked in a film that 10% of America actually paid to see. The other 90% are waiting for the fucker to come out on DVD so they can rent it for $0.99 at Safeway.

I tried watching the Oscars last night. I couldn't. I tried reading the articles this morning. I couldn't. Maybe I should tell Hollywood that I just don't care. It's almost like Hollywood is still living in the 40's. WAKE UP, HOLLYWOOD! It's the 21st Century. I don't fucking care!

Personally, I believe this whole thing is a scam started back in the 30's by the Tuxedo manufacturers to bollster a useless suit of clothes because it was the only way they could sell their rediculous product.

LOL it's all about the $ $ $ they are going to make JJ

Now where your fancy pic in that Marschall's gown ? (LOL)

 

[TheeGoatPig]

Tuxedo Park was a walled community, some 40 mile North West of NYC. It was started by the Lorillard family [tobacco.] What went on in Tuxedo Park became the standard for elegance in NYC.

I wouldn't say it's a "walled" community. It's more of a hedge

I used to be in a band that practiced around the corner from Tuxedo Park, in the greater town of Tuxedo

 

[voluptuary_manque]

The Oscar's were on last night? Odd. It didn't slow anything down in the Naked Party Thread. I guess most of us agree with you. Personally, I haven't gone to a movie in a theater since George of the Jungle and haven't seen one at home since Ratatouille. Why yes, now that you ask, I am crude, tasteless and un-hip. On purpose!

 

[Belegon]

...and haven't seen one at home since Ratatouille. Why yes, now that you ask, I am crude, tasteless and un-hip.

Hate to bust your un-hip bubble, dude, but Ratatouille won an Oscar last night...

 

[Trinique_Fire]

Okay. This is my take on this. A bunch of lazy actors and actresses get all dressed up and gather to give each other a cheap mantle decorations for having worked in a film that 10% of America actually paid to see. The other 90% are waiting for the fucker to come out on DVD so they can rent it for $0.99 at Safeway.

I tried watching the Oscars last night. I couldn't. I tried reading the articles this morning. I couldn't. Maybe I should tell Hollywood that I just don't care. It's almost like Hollywood is still living in the 40's. WAKE UP, HOLLYWOOD! It's the 21st Century. I don't fucking care!

Personally, I believe this whole thing is a scam started back in the 30's by the Tuxedo manufacturers to bollster a useless suit of clothes because it was the only way they could sell their rediculous product.

I like the clothes. Some awards are well deserved. But the ceremonies bore me to death. I figure why bitch about it? It's not like Hollywood is going to take bitching seriously anyway. *shrug* I didn't even know the Oscars were on last night until people felt they had to make threads about it.

*avery*

 

[bluebell]

I understand why some people just can't dig it. Loathe it, even, especially if that whole ritzy-glitz stuff is just an oogy mess for you. It's a little stuffy, slow-moving, and long, to be sure.
But speaking for myself, I care about them because I care about film. Now, I don't go to every movie expecting Oscar-gold. That's ridiculous. I like a ton of stuff. But, each year, there are films that are truly films (and some years have better offerings than others. I happen to think that this year was particularly rich).
They are art. It still exists in moving pictures. There is love and sweat and back-breaking work put into a canister. They have histories.

The re-make of Chicago (one of my very favorites), done by Rob Marshall, was literally years in the making. And I don't just mean three or four. I mean, like, twenty. The script got passed from person to person, director to director. No one could figure out what to do with it, but they knew it should be made. When Rob Marshall took it on, it became this huge labor of love and creativity- to everyone involved, not just him. Renee Zellweger actually traipsed to a recording studio in Transylvania (where she was already filming Cold Mountain) to record her part for the original song written for she and Catherine Zeta Jones (Move On). The song was nominated.

I've watched movies with people who just didn't give a care. And they were really excellent movies. The people just weren't watching them the same way. Which is fine. I would never expect anyone to geek out about things the same way I do. While I was watching, I paid attention to acting performances, directing, plotting, wardrobe, sound, etc. God, not to sound snobby. It just was the sort of viewing that came naturally for me.
I try to care enough to see past things I don't like, either. For example (and I realize this could get me in trouble), I didn't really enjoy La Vie En Rose. As a movie. I thought it was too long and I sorta wanted to shoot myself afterwards (and not in that good way, like when you're done with The Aviator), but Marion Cotillard was AMAZING. God, it was just...<insert proper glowing adjective here>. So I was super-happy when she won last night.

It can also be irritating to have to track these movies down in order to see them. Like Jenny said, it's so much easier to wait for them to come out on dvd. But if you haven't seen them the Oscars matter even less to you. So in the end I guess it comes down to priorities and just how much you care about knowing.

Not every film has to be high art, and who could enjoy that all the time? But there are projects that definitely deserve recognition, and the Oscars ceremony just happens to be the way they do it.
As my friend said aptly last night, "The Oscars are our Superbowl."

 

[voluptuary_manque]

Hate to bust your un-hip bubble, dude, but Ratatouille won an Oscar last night...

Damn! Really? Must have been the one for animated. Disney has a lock on those.

 

[bluebell]

Oh, and I'm also unabashedly geeky about hearing acceptance speeches.
Tilda Swinton has got to be embarrassed right now...

 

[sweetness6280]

Hate to bust your un-hip bubble, dude, but Ratatouille won an Oscar last night...

I have seen that movie at least 25 times.

Yes, I have a 4 yr old.

 

[Belegon]

Why do we have to put down things people like just because we don't like them????

How FUCKING BORING would the world be if everyone got excited about all the same things all the time?


I love movies... really love them. Many of the movies I love don't last long in the regular theatres.

I enjoy the Oscars. But even if I didn't, I would appreciate them for getting more viewers for films like Good Night and Good Luck or Before Sunset.

 

[Trinique_Fire]

Why do we have to put down things people like just because we don't like them????

How FUCKING BORING would the world be if everyone got excited about all the same things all the time?

Word, homeslice.

 

[Belegon]

I have seen that movie at least 25 times.

Yes, I have a 4 yr old.

Pixar fucking rocks. They just make good movies, period.

 

[DesertPirate]

I think Jenny is right but for a different reason. Most of the movies done every year just flat out suck! The last 3 movies to get my attention enough to watch the Oscars were Patton, The Godfather, and The Sting.
Just realized they were all more than 30 years ago

 

[Belegon]

I think Jenny is right but for a different reason. Most of the movies done every year just flat out suck! The last 3 movies to get my attention enough to watch the Oscars were Patton, The Godfather, and The Sting.
Just realized they were all more than 30 years ago

If you really wanted me to, I would be happy to give a list, based on your appreciation of those three, of movies I believe you could rent and enjoy.

just offerin'. not gonna be pissed if you ain't interested.

 

[voluptuary_manque]

I'm not emotionally well-equipped for movies. Unless they're comedies, I either get frightened (not a good thing for someone equipped and ready to shoot back!), reduced to tears or bored. This is a very narrow range. A lot of fiction does the same thing. It's a personal deficit, I know, but there you are. For those who love movies, blessings. For those of us who go out of our way so avoid them, equal time. My wife thought she was going to watch the show, but fell asleep during all the vacuus dress commentary . . . and she loves movies.

 

[Jenny_Jackson]

I'm not emotionally well-equipped for movies.

I think that's right. The last movie I really liked was "Forrest Gump." I've seen it several times since it came out. I still cry at the thought of how terrible his life was, how he loved so deeply and how the story ends with loss.

 

[Roxanne Appleby]

A bunch of lazy actors and actresses get all dressed up and gather to give each other a cheap mantle decorations for having worked in a film that 10% of America actually paid to see.

I think you got it, alright.

 

[Trinique_Fire]

I think that's right. The last movie I really liked was "Forrest Gump." I've seen it several times since it came out. I still cry at the thought of how terrible his life was, how he loved so deeply and how the story ends with loss.

He had a terrible life?

We must view movies differently.

 

[jomar]

Oh, and I'm also unabashedly geeky about hearing acceptance speeches.
Tilda Swinton has got to be embarrassed right now...

"butt"

 

[DeeZire]

I'm pretty sure it was an Academy Awards show where Ashley Judd flashed her bush several times walking across the stage in her slit-up-the-front gown. Isn't this a good enough reason to put the show on live TV?

I see a correlation between awards shows and the ratings system here at LIT, but I see a lot of things that appear invisible to others. (I have X-ray vision.)

 

[bluebell]

"butt"

"suit with the rubber nipples..."

 

[tickledkitty]

I think that's right. The last movie I really liked was "Forrest Gump." I've seen it several times since it came out. I still cry at the thought of how terrible his life was, how he loved so deeply and how the story ends with loss.

It doesn't end with loss. It ends with hope and love. Growth. Moving forward. All that.