tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18439960.post3286797632820529304..comments2024-03-23T21:46:50.843-04:00Comments on the passionate moviegoer: oscar kvetching. stop already!joe baltakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11467420961490314339noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18439960.post-46776685409200462962014-03-09T04:09:23.036-04:002014-03-09T04:09:23.036-04:00Ditto to all this, except "The Wind Beneath M...Ditto to all this, except "The Wind Beneath My Wings." In a show already running long, it was quite anti-climactic in coming AFTER the In Memoriam. Maybe if I were a bigger fan of the song it wouldn't have bothered me.<br /><br />You're right, it's beyond boring when people trot out the same lame criticisms and "fixes" year after year. The show is what it is, and always has been. You either like this sort of thing or you don't. If you don't, ignore it. Even worse are condescending comments that pop up in online forums to the effect of "I feel sorry for anyone who has nothing better to do with their time than watch the Oscars." Of course, I'm sure those who write such comments never do ANYTHING that's fun but inconsequential. Plus it's a straw man "argument" -- in our age of multiple cable channels, streaming video services, the internet and, you know, books, there's no such thing as someone watching the Oscars because they can't find anything better to do. People who watch, WANT to watch. I couldn't care less about, say, the Super Bowl, but it's no skin off my nose if others live for it. Why can't Oscar-haters take the same tack?jbryantnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18439960.post-78258007883151939542014-03-07T10:23:17.795-05:002014-03-07T10:23:17.795-05:00Spot on, Joe! Perfect. Spot on, Joe! Perfect. Katienoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18439960.post-76375221446783644702014-03-06T22:10:02.062-05:002014-03-06T22:10:02.062-05:00Way to go, Joe!Way to go, Joe!Stevennoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18439960.post-22585243628742722502014-03-06T20:58:59.278-05:002014-03-06T20:58:59.278-05:00I love it. Agree totally!!!!!!!I love it. Agree totally!!!!!!!k.l.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18439960.post-65410226115822818862014-03-06T11:11:26.794-05:002014-03-06T11:11:26.794-05:00Wade- Both Maximilian Schell and Philip Seymour H...Wade- Both Maximilian Schell and Philip Seymour Hoffman passed during Turner's annual, all-inclusive Oscar marathon. It's "All Oscar All the Time." There's room for little else, although Turner <i>did</i> honor Shirley Temple. She couldn't be ignored. Plus she's closer to Turner's "brand." As for Diane Clare being included, that remains a jaw-dropper, particularly when one considers who was left out. I've worked on enough newspapers and magazines to know that these lists are highly arbitrary - popularity contests really. Someone at Turner obviously liked her and made sure she was on the list, despite her obscurity. She had an advocate. I've been there and done the same thing.joe baltakehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11467420961490314339noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18439960.post-11833568136745513762014-03-06T11:04:35.384-05:002014-03-06T11:04:35.384-05:00Thanks for the link to the Academy's memorial ...Thanks for the link to the Academy's memorial - really impressive. I find it interesting that, of the 160 names listed, not included is Diane Clare, who I believe you questioned when she made Turner's list. I still can't believe that Turner never paid tribute to Maximilian Schell when he died. I mean, he won an Oscar, for heaven's sake! <br /><br />Wadenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18439960.post-60022942541679617662014-03-05T17:11:02.713-05:002014-03-05T17:11:02.713-05:00I think Ellen did a good job. And the pizza order ...I think Ellen did a good job. And the pizza order made it fun. I hear that the deliveryman walked away with more than $1,000 as a tip.<br />Dicknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18439960.post-41719482799955194522014-03-05T14:52:26.900-05:002014-03-05T14:52:26.900-05:00I loved everything about the Oscar show this year....I loved everything about the Oscar show this year. For me, it worked. Yes, Ellen was the host, but she was a subdued one. I liked that. I agree with you that putting on an Oscar show is a losing proposition. Malcontents and people who fancy themselves film aficionados will complain. I say, they deserve their misery!Ellie Branchnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18439960.post-60035493408829568292014-03-05T12:28:08.598-05:002014-03-05T12:28:08.598-05:00Bill! You bring up two excellent points. The majo...Bill! You bring up two excellent points. The major winners were not cut off when responding to their wins and - yes! - there was no applause during the memorial. -Jjoe baltakehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11467420961490314339noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18439960.post-18380588009340565882014-03-05T12:05:31.062-05:002014-03-05T12:05:31.062-05:00I enjoyed Ellen. She balanced a fundamental warmt...I enjoyed Ellen. She balanced a fundamental warmth and generosity with enough tartness to make her a good companion for the evening. If nothing else, this edition of the show got points from me for two simple, but very gratifying choices: 1.) at least for the major awards, the winners were allowed to talk without getting cut off by the orchestra; and 2.) the director finally (!) turned off the microphones in the theater during the "In Memoriam" section, so it didn't become a tasteless contest about who got the most applause.wwolfenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18439960.post-4153913332499393692014-03-05T10:30:14.219-05:002014-03-05T10:30:14.219-05:00You nailed it, Joe. People like to complain, not j...You nailed it, Joe. People like to complain, not just about movies and the Oscars, but about <i>everything.</i> They probably thinks it makes them seem discriminating and selective. Not true. They only come across as miserable.joe baltakehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11467420961490314339noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18439960.post-21882777985508818822014-03-05T10:23:20.625-05:002014-03-05T10:23:20.625-05:00I have no guilt liking the Oscars. There, I said ...I have no guilt liking the Oscars. There, I said it! It's big and hulking and takes itself way to seriously. And the hosts that have tried to humble it and bring it down to earth - I'm thinking of McFarland and Chris Rock in particular - are demonized for their efforts. This year, Ellen went in the opposite, more humane direction and is being accused of being a bore. Wow! People just like to complain, that's all. I think she did great, just great.Joe Richardsonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18439960.post-68055988113665791762014-03-05T09:20:20.175-05:002014-03-05T09:20:20.175-05:00I admire the sense of caring that Degeneres brough...I admire the sense of caring that Degeneres brought to the show this year. She really centered it and, although it ran its usual length, it seemed much leaner than it has in recent years.Gil Faheynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18439960.post-5865967606580918912014-03-05T07:57:35.221-05:002014-03-05T07:57:35.221-05:00Yeah, like reading Proust maybe.Yeah, like reading Proust maybe.joe baltakehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11467420961490314339noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18439960.post-54162546273620629812014-03-05T07:52:24.244-05:002014-03-05T07:52:24.244-05:00Yes! I love how people who fancy themselves soph...Yes! I love how people who fancy themselves sophisticated and smart watch the Oscars and then complain about the show. If they are so above it all, as you ask, why do they watch. They could be doing something more cultural.Kevin D.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18439960.post-29513734718669971482014-03-04T19:38:11.552-05:002014-03-04T19:38:11.552-05:00Well put! I've been waiting for someone to sa...Well put! I've been waiting for someone to say exactly this! Bravo!Sheilanoreply@blogger.com