2014 Oscars

[Acey]

Originally Posted by nik-

I have't seen Gravity yet, but why do people hate on it so much?

Visually and aurally incredible and revolutionary. Acting and screenplay mediocre. Avatar, if you will.

[Joborule]

Good pick in 12 Years A Slave.

[DownInFlames]

Highlight of the night: Bill Murray

Lowlight of the night: Everything else

[MrMastodonFarm]

Originally Posted by Acey

Visually and aurally incredible and revolutionary. Acting and screenplay mediocre. Avatar, if you will.

Not even close. I was worried about that when I first watched it at home and while it obviously loses something going from imax 3D to home it's not nearly the same drop off. I was amazed at avatar in theaters, I turned it off at home.

Loved Gravity when I saw it in the fall, loved it now after watching it at home.

[Dion]

Originally Posted by nik-

I have't seen Gravity yet, but why do people hate on it so much?

Didn't like Bullock for the role she played in the movie. I have always viewed Bullock as being an actress in comedy roles and could never get used to seeing her in a serious role. She wasn't convincing for me in her role and that took away from what was otherwise a great movie script.

[strombad]

Originally Posted by strombad

Best Picture: 12 Years a Slave
Best Director: Alfonso Cuaron
Best Lead Actor: Matthew McConaughey
Best Lead Actress: Cate Blanchett
Best Supporting Actor: Jared Leto
Best Supporting Actress: Lupita Nyong'o
Best Original Screenplay: Her
Best Adapted Screenplay: 12 Years a Slave

Like Gravity or not (I thought it was average), Cuaron put on a clinic. That movie was visually flawless, and the only thing that hampered it was a dead plot.

Otherwise, it's a pretty good slate this year. I (personally) thought Nebraska was a total joke to even be nominated (I found it pretty boring and mostly hollow, my least favourite film of his thus far). I thought Wolf of Wall Street was fantastic, but I don't see it really deserving of any awards.

I expect Gravity to clean up most of the technical awards, Gatsby to rock the design awards, 12 Years and Dallas to rock the big dramatic awards, and I'm really hoping Her picks up what it can (Spike Jonze should be a lock for writing).

Oh, and it should be hilarious watching Jackass win an Oscar. Yikes.

I think that was the most prophetic post I've ever made. I'll start telling your future, $20 a pop.

[Cali Panthers Fan]

Originally Posted by Cali Flames Fan

My Predictions (for what they're worth):

Best Supporting Actress: Lupita Nyong'o-12 Years A Slave
*Amazing breakout performance that was heads and tails above everyone else.
Check
Best Supporting Actor: Jared Leto-Dallas Buyers Club.
*A category filled with what I thought were actually the best performances of the year. Leto is just that good that he can't be denied, although Fassbender is a dark horse for me.
Check
Best Actress: Cate Blanchett-Blue Jasmine.
*Not the strongest field but Blanchett was amazing in a Woody Allen movie that almost nobody saw. Amy Adams deserves consideration as well as Judi Dench, but Blanchett is just too strong.
Check
Best Actor: Matthew McConaughey-Dallas Buyers Club.
*Very tough to choose here. Bruce Dern was excellent and might get the sympathy vote, and everyone was worthy of an award, but McConaughey just had that little extra that will probably get him the award.
Check
Best Director: Steve McQueen-12 Years A Slave.
*Another very tough field here but McQueen deserves it. I honestly felt that Spike Jonze deserved the nomination for Her over Alexander Payne, but so be it.
Nope, missed that one.
Writing-Adapted Screenplay: I have no clue who will win, but my personal favorite would be Steve Coogan and Jeff Pope for Philomena, considering they wrote an entire film that came from an article.
Nope, but in my defense it was a shot in the dark
Writing-Original Screenplay: Spike Jonze-Her.
*I don't think it's even close in this category. By far the most original ideas and managed to create a fully formed character through writing and voice-over alone. Pretty brilliant.
Check
Best Picture: 12 Years A Slave.
*I think this is the best overall film but the whole group is pretty good. I kind of feel like it will come down to 12 Years, Dallas Buyers Club, and American Hustle, but if I had a vote it would probably be for Her.
Check

Not bad, only missed 2 of the major categories. I should bet on this next time.

[Northendzone]

Personally, I find it a joke that Jason Statham does not yet have an oscar, much less a nomination.....one day these guys will see the error of their ways.

[Acey]

Paris Jackson (MJ's daughter) and Leto. Jesus Christ

[Zach]

No real surprises tonight.

[T@T]

Originally Posted by Northendzone

Personally, I find it a joke that Jason Statham does not yet have an oscar, much less a nomination.....one day these guys will see the error of their ways.

He's a modern day Clint Eastwood, for some reason the Academy doesn't reward for popularity or box office success.

[T@T]

Originally Posted by strombad

Best Picture: 12 Years a Slave
Best Director: Alfonso Cuaron
Best Lead Actor: Matthew McConaughey
Best Lead Actress: Cate Blanchett
Best Supporting Actor: Jared Leto
Best Supporting Actress: Lupita Nyong'o
Best Original Screenplay: Her
Best Adapted Screenplay: 12 Years a Slave

Like Gravity or not (I thought it was average), Cuaron put on a clinic. That movie was visually flawless, and the only thing that hampered it was a dead plot.

Otherwise, it's a pretty good slate this year. I (personally) thought Nebraska was a total joke to even be nominated (I found it pretty boring and mostly hollow, my least favourite film of his thus far). I thought Wolf of Wall Street was fantastic, but I don't see it really deserving of any awards.

I expect Gravity to clean up most of the technical awards, Gatsby to rock the design awards, 12 Years and Dallas to rock the big dramatic awards, and I'm really hoping Her picks up what it can (Spike Jonze should be a lock for writing).

Oh, and it should be hilarious watching Jackass win an Oscar. Yikes.

Didn't see the movie but it probably helped that he lost an incredable 50lbs on an already lead body for that role.

[Flabbibulin]

I'm thinking Ellen will get very good reviews as host.

[trackercowe]

Originally Posted by Flabbibulin

I'm thinking Ellen will get very good reviews as host.

I gotta agree with MMF that she wasn't very good and did nothing for me. The show went on for too long, and I would have been fine had they cut her out entirely. She kinda looked nervous to me, and really only had the one running pizza joke the entire time. Oh and is it just me or was she doing product placement the entire time (Samsung and Coca-Cola in particular). At least the pizza wasn't from Dominos I guess.

Oh and for the people comparing Gravity to Avatar, you clearly need to watch both again. Just because both were standouts in the technical awards does not mean they are in the same realm of what makes a great movie. Gravity was an amazing movie for what it tried to be, it didn't need to have a layered story to work in the way I wanted.

Predictable awards show though, not one single surprise. All the movies were very good, and I wouldn't have been disappointed if any of them had won. I actually liked a few of the movies more than 12 Years a Slave, but it deserved to win for everything it had going for it. Honestly the only thing I didn't like about the movie was Brat Pitt's character, but the rest was great and every other performance was stellar.

[Acey]

Ellen appeals to a large number of 18-49 year olds who will watch the Oscars, and advertisers pay for 18-49 year olds.

[Zach]

I think there was a documentary that won that was +700 but other than that yeah all the big favs won

[CaptainYooh]

Even though I cheered for Nebraska, I am really p...d that American Hustle didn't win anything at all. Great movie all around. The only consolation - Gravity did not win for Best Picture. But Best Director??? Are you kidding me??!... Disappointed and grumpy...

[Acey]

Originally Posted by CaptainYooh

Even though I cheered for Nebraska, I am really p...d that American Hustle didn't win anything at all. Great movie all around. The only consolation - Gravity did not win for Best Picture. But Best Director??? Are you kidding me??!... Disappointed and grumpy...

Of all its nominations though, there's no point where I think "Hustle should have won that instead." Maybe Amy Adams for Best Actress? I thought she was the only one that had a shot. Hustle wasn't a bad film in absolute terms, but it was up against a very strong bunch of movies.

[Wormius]

Originally Posted by Acey

Ellen appeals to a large number of 18-49 year olds who will watch the Oscars, and advertisers pay for 18-49 year olds.

She was vanilla and safe. Less people would be satisfied if she, or another host, was edgier. I thought she performed well and was a fine host. Nobody is going to try anything risky and potentially alienate themselves from Hollywood. Bob Hope, Billy Crystal were the same. They lightly rib, but you won't see anything like Ricky Gervais again or a Celebrity Roast situation happen.

[Sidney Crosby's Hat]

My favourite part about the Oscars was the one guy who completed the EGOT.