Michele, when I commented on Uma's breast size last night I was told by my friends that she just had a baby and is breastfeeding. Hence the lush prominence of her bosom.

But, I'm always glad to see people who have been in the biz for a long time finally get some recognition. Jim Broadbent in Enchanted April, which is still one of my favorite movies or in Topsy-Turvy, Moulin Rouge… and on and on.

Ack anyway, yeah who was Jodie’s date?

tehe

T.

BTW, Adrienne, LOVE your sig. It is ever so true
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"Sometimes, we just can't make it on our own. We all need someone to love us, to help remind us that there's good in the world, to keep us from going crazy."

Willow from Dacia's The Dreamer Awakes

I still say Peter Jackson was robbed of Best Director. He deserved it so much for his brillaint vision and the obvious passion he had for the film.

I reckon awards just don't like fantasy whether LOTR or Buffy...

Grrr... Arg!

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Trust In Joss

"Liberate tutemet ex inferis"

"Me and Willow always know how to find each other"

"Black mircles, dark wonders, another life of unknown pleasures"

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Originally posted by tyche:
And Helen Mirren was robbed. Her final scene in that film is one of the most moving I’ve ever seen on screen.

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And you know, she's constantly overlooked. She's one of the most versatile actors we have and damn, she's still sexy. I have the utmost respect for her, her appearance in French and Saunders notwithstanding. Heh.

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Nowadays, Judi Dench and Kate Winslet are the equivalent of Meryl Streep from the late 80s/early 90s – i.e. they get nominated simply for turning up. Judi Dench is wonderful, but I don’t have such a high opinion of Kate Winslet. Winslet is an excellent actress and I liked her earlier films, but nowadays she seems to be falling back on formulaic Academy-friendly costume dramas.

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Well, the truth about Kate Winslet is that she made it big with Titanic. She's done better stuff though, namely Heavenly Creatures, which I thought was an amazing performance for one so young. I'm afraid that Hollywood has turned her head quite a bit, by all accounts. It's just an impression I get. And uh...let's not forget her stunning recording debut. Ahem. Yes yes, I'm bitchy...

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Judi Dench should have won for ‘Mrs Brown’, and the Academy probably felt so guilty that she didn’t that they’ve been nominating her for everything ever since.[b][quote]

Agreed. That was a stellar performance. However, you know, I can't think of anything I've seen Judi Dench in that I [b]didn't like. She's just so good in everything. Similarly Maggie Smith. And that's the sign of true talent I guess. There's no pigeon hole for them because they fill all of them so well. And yes, they were gracious in defeat and it was nice to see them so deeply affected by what Halle Berry was saying. Props to them.

[quote]I’m sure they’ll get round to giving Emily Watson the Oscar she deserved for ‘Breaking the Waves’ one day, though. Probably when she’s a grande dame of British film.

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God tyche, I wholeheartedly agree with you. I noticed her sitting there in the second row and I was like, Emily Watson! She's such a great actress!

I too noticed Ian McKellen's boyfriend. Honestly, I thought it was Lawrence Llewellyn-Bowen at first *snigger*. And I know I've spelt that incorrectly somewhere. But you know what? I love Ian McKellen. He's out there, doing what he loves and he's never been ashamed of who he is or his sexuality. And I can't think of a woman in that position, although I really would like to. I remember a program on tv once that had quotes from lesbian actresses who, for their own career, had chosen not to come out. Shame, I say.

Edited to add: YES DRI! Enchanted April is a marvelous film. Teeny tiny and yet astounding. I think I cried. Let me see, Miranda Richardson, right? And Josie Lawrence (again, heavily underrated as a serious actress).

Heh, I love that we share tastes in British movies. By the way, I noticed Janet McTeer has made a movie in the US lately. Yum.

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You know I've been through hell...Joss can't you see, there'll be nothing left of me. You made me believe...

I'm also with Tommo on the fact that I didn't expect Moulin Rouge or LOTR to win much even though I totally loved both those movies. The acadamy just never really favors fantasy type movies like these. And I wasn't surprised in the least when A Beautiful Mind won because it is the type of movie that would win with the acadamy. There was no doubt in my mind that it would win.

And I KNOW that Will Smith was there because remember Whoopie's 'Smith' joke in the beginning? About all the Smith's sitting together? Will, Jada and Maggie. And I totally didn't hear about a family emergency. I wonder what happened. I just thought he was at the bathroom or something.

And I DIDN'T notice a cute blonde that appeared to be Jodie's date. When did they show that? On another note I'm really anxious to see the Panic Room that opens on Friday. I haven't seen a good Jodie Foster movie in a while.

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"But with Tara, I just know she likes Willow, and she already has one of those" – "Family"

"Honey, in case you didn’t hear me the first six-thousand times, no more teleportation spells." – "Crush"

When Halle Berry made her acceptance speech, I didn't interpret it as her saying, "I only won this because I'm black."

She did thank everyone involved in the project (the director, producers, studio, etc.) for believing in her. She also thanked the Academy for their support. BUT, like she said in the beginning of her speech, the moment was "so much bigger than me."

Why? Because as much as we'd like to believe the awards always go to the most deserving actors or films, they don't (Because of politics, overdue kudos, or the deep pockets of the studio cough cough Miramax cough cough. Who knows?). During the past 74 years, many black actors and actresses have been denied the award (and nomination!) just because of their skin color. This isn't limited to people of color, either. How many women have won an Academy Award for directing? Hell, how many have even been nominated? (The Director category is still very much a boy's club.) I hate to sound cynical, but people who believe that this still doesn't happen today are truly looking at the world through rose colored glasses.

It's upsetting to think that people are belittling Berry's achievement because of her speech. I don't believe Berry was saying that she won because she was black. She was expressing her gratitude at the fact that the Academy has come a long way in 74 years to be able to overlook skin color and award an actor for their performance. (And although I loved Nicole Kidman in Moulin Rouge, Berry deserved her win because she tackled such a dark and disturbing role and did it exceptionally well!)

Have we gotten to the point where everyone is viewed equally? Hell no, but last night was a step in the right direction.

What's so wrong with that? Did Berry deserve the Academy Award because of her performance? Yes. (How many people have the "balls" to play a woman who falls in love with a racist? In her speech, she thanked the film's director for helping her go through dark places.) But like she said, it's bigger than that. There were many women who came before her that didn't recieve an Oscar because they were black. And it's a big deal to be the first one.

For example, it's kind of like Hilary Swank's speech a few years ago when she won Best Actress for playing Brandon Teena in "Boys Don't Cry." Fifty years ago (heck, even ten years ago), who would have ever thought an actor portraying a gay character would win an Academy Award? Granted Hilary Swank is straight, but the fact that she WON showed that the Academy can actually make the right choices now and again (It was rumored that Annette Bening was going to win that year just because "it was her time" or whatever...) That was a landmark win, but I didn't see anyone saying, Oh Hilary Swank shouldn't have mentioned the "gay issues" in her acceptance speech.

Anyway, sorry for the long ramble. This isn't an attack on other posters (everyone is entitled to their opinions), but reading some of the posts here today have been rather upsetting and I just had to say something...

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And you know, she's constantly overlooked. She's one of the most versatile actors we have and damn, she's still sexy. I have the utmost respect for her, her appearance in French and Saunders notwithstanding. Heh.

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Ah, come on now Ruth. That bit where they had Helen, Janet, ack, the other woman who’s like in EVERYTHING British that I see, with F/S, all bidding for parts in the new Lynda La Plante script was fabulous!

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Edited to add: YES DRI! Enchanted April is a marvelous film. Teeny tiny and yet astounding. I think I cried. Let me see, Miranda Richardson, right? And Josie Lawrence (again, heavily underrated as a serious actress).

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Yup, Miranda, Josie, who I agree, underrated as a serious actress, Alfred Molina, Jim (of course), Joan Plowright, and yummy Polly Walker!

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Heh, I love that we share tastes in British movies. By the way, I noticed Janet McTeer has made a movie in the US lately. Yum.

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She got a lot of recognition, finally, for Tumbelweeds. I hope that lasts. I love being able to see her here in the States!

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Couple of things: 'Central Station' is fabulous, as is Fernanda Montenegro, who definitely deserved an Oscar for her performance. See it if you get a chance.

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Thanks Mary-Jane. I will! I’ll add it to my Netflix queue which is about 30 DVDs long at the moment… hehe

Hehe… I’m quote happy today. And yes, Toni, no truer statement was ever made my Amber. I’m sure she was thinking of the Kitten board when she said it!

The laugh out loud part of that scene was when they were all coming in, standing at the top of the stairway, smoking, heh heh. Then that joke about the hob-nobs at the end. French and Saunders like the hob-nobs joke. That was in their Bergman spoof as well.

Anyhoo...totally unrelated to the Oscars. Apologies.

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Originally posted by tommo:
Dri, it was Jane Williams, I believe. She played Dolly Rawlins in Widows and She's Out. Hard-faced, edgy. Bloody funny.

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Ah ha! Yes, that was her. And didn't she even play in one of the Prime Suspects?

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Anyhoo...totally unrelated to the Oscars. Apologies.

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Yeah, right, what Ruth said!

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"Isn't it funny how slaying always makes you hungry and horny?"

quote:

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Originally posted by Hugin:
Hm. I'd suggest that it was LotR's genre that hurt its and Ian's chances more than anything else.

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Precisely. Though there is also the fact that it's the first of a trilogy, all three of which will be presumably as good as they were shot all together.

BY ROGER EBERT

HOLLYWOOD--Halle Berry and Denzel Washington were the radiant winners of the best acting awards Sunday night at the 74th Academy Awards, while the controversial "A Beautiful Mind" was named the year's best picture.

In Oscar's opening night at the Kodak Theatre, the Berry-Washington wins served as the perfect Kodak Moment.

Berry became the first black actress to earn an Oscar in a lead role, for her portrayal of a Death Row widow in ''Monster's Ball.'' Denzel Washington, as a corrupt cop in ''Training Day,'' became the only second African American to win best actor.

Berry and Washington joined Sidney Poitier, who received the best actor Oscar for ''Lilies of the Field'' (1963) and also received a career-achievement award Sunday

In accepting her milestone award, Berry brought the house down. That's the only way to describe it. As her name was read, waves of pure emotion and shouts of joy swept the hall, and Berry onstage dissolved in tears and cried out "Oh, my God!" before an outpouring of one of the most emotional speeches in Oscar history. ''This moment is so much bigger than me. This moment is for Dorothy Dandridge, Lena Horne, Diahann Carroll," she said, citing black stars of years past. "It's for every nameless, faceless woman of color who now has a chance because this door tonight has been opened. Thank you, academy for choosing me to be the vessel.''

Her acceptance speech ran almost three minutes: ''It's been 74 years, I've got to take this time,'' she said.

''Two birds in one night,'' said Washington, a past supporting actor winner for ''Glory'' (1989). "Forty years I've been chasing Sidney. They finally give it to me, and they give it to him the same night,'' he added, referring to Poitier's honorary Oscar. Then, serious: "I'll always be following in your footsteps, Sidney."

Some hailed the Washington-Berry victories as the beginning of a new era, but it was more clearly the end of an old one: Hollywood's long history of indifference to black talent is clearly over. But it is important to acknowledge that Washington and Berry won their Oscars because they deserved them, not because of symbolism or scorekeeping. And that for most black actors, the struggle for good roles continues relentlessly.

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Originally posted by rocketdyke:
and uma thurman... my mother thinks shes pregnant, because we had this conversation about how big her boobs looked in that dress. i feel like if her boobs were always that big, i would have noticed before. i dont think her dress was very flattering, and ethan hawke is way too short for her.

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It was reported a while ago on I think Entertainment Weekly or something that Uma is indeed pregnant. I totally agree with you that her dress wasn't flattering at all!!

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A dream is a wish the heart makes.

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Originally posted by supermus:
...But I do think that ABM deserved it. Because A) Viewing it objectively, A.K.A. knowing absolutely nothing about the real life of John Nash, it was well done and highly entertaining...

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That's how I see it.

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Originally posted by JBC:
it's kind of like Hilary Swank's speech a few years ago when she won Best Actress for playing Brandon Teena in "Boys Don't Cry." Fifty years ago (heck, even ten years ago), who would have ever thought an actor portraying a gay character would win an Academy Award?

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Brandon Teena was a transsexual. His sexual preference was for women. Hence he was straight, not gay. Tom Hanks won for a gay character in Philadelphia.

Halle Berry completely rocked.

What was up with the Best Song category? A more banal and unmemorable collection of tunes could not be found on your average "Love Songs--Nothing But Love Songs" radio station. Sigh. Speaking of Philadelphia, where's Bruce when you need him?

As far as Hallie Barry is concerned, I was really upset I couldn't see Monster's Ball before the Oscars because any interesting movies are gone in a flash in this town. I couldn't even see "In the Bedroom" which was up for freakin Best Picture. I've been hearing raves about Sissy Spasek and Barry for awhile and I wanted to see if they could hold a candle to Kidman's performance in Moulin Rouge. Even though I haven't seen the movie yet, I'm glad Barry won. It *is* an important barrier that she broke last night.

I was hoping that Moulin Rouge or LOTR would somehow pull a surprise and win best picture, but alas, it wasn't to be. I enjoyed A Beautiful Mind, despite the contraversy, but I was just hoping for something a little less traditional.

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Originally posted by Dazey:
Brandon Teena was a transsexual. His sexual preference was for women. Hence he was straight, not gay. Tom Hanks won for a gay character in Philadelphia.

[This message has been edited by Dazey (edited March 25, 2002).]

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Thanks Dazey for saying something. I know not everyone gets it but I still meet a nice few people who think MTF who dates men are gay, and FTM who dates women are lesbians, and so on...It's frustrating especially when I hear it from the queer community.

Anyways on a side note, for some reason I overlooked Tom Hanks. There have been a couple gay character wins, transsexual win, of course it could be better but it's not a lose cause.

Was it me or did Enya remind anyone else of a female Maryoln Manson? I love her music, but I cannot go along with her on the make-up she wore last night.

Camron Diez looked like she was impersonating a wet rat as well. That hair style she was sporting reminded me of a drowned Amyrat.

As for the Crowe-ster. I'm not a big fan of the guy (and I'm thrilled Denzel won), but I did find him endearing when he held Halle after she won, and just whispered words of encouragement. She needed someone to lean on because she was really really gonna lose it. And Russell was there.

On a lighter note, what in the world did Jennifer Lopez do to her hair? Had she just woken up? Is she doing a remake of "Hairspay?" What in the world??? Was that a bird's nest? Poor J-Lo. Big ol' fashion faux pas this time around.

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Originally posted by Dazey:
What was up with the Best Song category? A more banal and unmemorable collection of tunes could not be found on your average "Love Songs--Nothing But Love Songs" radio station. Sigh.

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Totally agree Especially that wretched Paul McCartney "Vanilla Sky" tune, how incredibly painful. The Enya song was sweet, if a bit formless. And the rest were just plain boring. My local ice cream truck plays better songs.

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Originally posted by invisigoth:
My favorite Oscar moment? Uma Thurman's breasts. Ok, that was really crass, but she's really quite lovely.

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uh-huh And then there was that whole semi see-thru effect with both Cameron and Gwyneth...
I thought Laura Harring looked gorgeous too. But that's just coz she is. And so is Naomi Watts, who looked sooo cute. *sigh*
Mulholland Drive
*sigh*

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Originally posted by Sela:
On a lighter note, what in the world did Jennifer Lopez do to her hair? Had she just woken up?

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I know! It didn't suit her, although I thought her dress was lovely.

Edited to add:

Check out this new Oscar's article at salon.com.
Gosh. No comment.

Sarah-B.

Is it me or do all her songs sound the same? I mean, not just similar, but the same?

There's only so much floaty-Celtic-breathy-softfocus-pale-darkeyed singing I can take...

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Sugarloaf
"Due to the recent presidential elections, the light at the end of the tunnel has been turned off."

I'm still holding a grudge against the Academy for shutting out The Color Purple. What's it been, like, 15 years or something? I'm still not over it and therefore attach no significance to their decisions. Right then and there I said, "The Academy? Piffle." I've never looked back.