I’m not sure we will even watch THE OSCARS tonight. The whole event lasts too long. There’s not much drama (or comedy). It all seems tedious and unexciting. But, here are my choices for the major categories. I wouldn’t consider 2019 a strong year for movies. My favorite movie, Ford Vs. Ferrari, probably won’t win anything. I have no special knowledge, so here goes nothing. Who do you think will win tonight?
BEST ACTRESS: Scarlett Johansson
BEST ACTOR: Joaquin Phoenix
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS: Laura Dern
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR: Brad Pitt
BEST PICTURE: 1917
BEST DIRECTOR: Sam Mendes
Actually I thought it a pretty good year for movies. Once Upon A Time in Hollywood, Irishman., Parasite, Ford vs Ferrari, Lighthouse, 1917, Marriage Story, John Wick 3, Joker, Little Women are all good movies. Out of the nominees the only one I thought overrated was JoJo Rabbit. Your predictions are the favorites. I would prefer Once Upon a Time in Hollywood to win. I’ll watch it. We have an Oscar party in my apt building. It will be about 15 women and me which are nice odds(my building is about 80% women).
Steve, I like your odds! Speaking of odds, casinos in New Jersey and Indiana allow you to bet on OSCARS winners.
I’d mostly agree with Steve. My favorite movie of the year was “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood”, followed by “Parasite”, “The Irishman”, and “Marriage Story”. I like Dern and Pitt in the supporting categories. In the two acting categories I’d go with Zellweger and Phoenix even though I didn’t much like either of their movies. It’s looking like “1917” is going to pick up the two big awards, but I haven’t seen it and it’s really not the kind of thing I like. Don’t be surprised if Boon Joon-Ho pulls an upset and gets Best Director.
Michael, I would love to see some OSCAR upsets. As you pointed out, Zellweger and Phoenix performed great, but I wouldn’t want to see their movies again.
The Oscars used to be a huge deal to me. I’d try to see every major nominated movie and acting role. As the kids came along, we’d do Oscar ballots, order pizza or get Popeyes, and stay up late to watch the show. The family winner got to choose the restaurant the next time we went out to dinner. But those days have, alas, passed. Lillian now oversees the family’s voting but because I saw exactly one movie in the theater from last year (Knives Out), my ballot was all guesswork.
Deb, we used to attend OSCAR parties, too. But then the OSCARS grew much longer, the speeches grew more tedious, and the fun dissipated. Diane likes to watch The Red Carpet part with all the glamorous (or hideous) dresses. I usually watch to see who wins the two SUPPORTING ACTOR/ACTRESS awards and then I head for bed.
You go to bed early! The 3 hour show begins at 5:00 so you’ll be in bed by what, 7:30?
Rick, Jeff Meyerson did the correct Time calculation. I’m about to head for bed now, but I’m glad I got to see Laura Dern win.
5 in California, Rick, 8:00 here. That puts George in bed at 9:30.
What Deb said. The Oscars were a Big Night for me, starting around 1960 or so, when I used to beg my mother to let me stay up and watch, and when she made me go to bed I would listen through the wall or outside her bedroom door. I used to carefully list every nominee in every category (yes, even sound editing!) on an 8 x 14 inch yellow pad and underline the winners as the night went on. Jackie won the pool in her school more than once, usually on her uncanny ability to guess the winners in categories no one (including us) had seen – documentary short subject, for one. I still have a folder with my annual lists going back to 1974’s winners (GODFATHER PART II), I believe.
But the world, and Hollywood, moves on. Remember the year they brought back every living former acting Oscar winner (Luise Rainer!) and had them on stage? Well, now you’re going to get a young singer who is “about to star in her first movie” next year. No Sophia Loren, or Estelle Parsons, or even Jack Nicholson, unless they somehow score a nomination (a la Christopher Plummer) or are brought out to
botchgive out a major award (hello, Faye Dunaway!). I Just.Don’t.Care.And keep off my lawn!
When did it go bad? For me, you can look at the awful AMERICAN BEAUTY (which turned me off Sam Mendes forever) or the even worse CRASH wins. And GREEN BOOK over ROMA was a travesty. So yeah, we’ll probably watch, but I am not expecting to celebrate, especially if the consensus is right and the winners are Joaquin Phoenix and Renee Zellweger, neither of whose movies we’ve seen yet (and his I won’t watch on a bet), let alone 1917 and Mendes. That said, I did like most of the ones we’ve seen. Given my personal preference, for originality alone I don’t see how you could go against PARASITE and Boon Joon-Ho. I liked Brad Pitt, but for sentimental reasons I am pulling for Joe Pesci. Laura Dern is a no-brainer, but the women’s categories are weak as they so often are.
Jeff, you’re right about the OSCARS being a Big Deal decades ago. But now there are just too many Award Shows, too many Awards, and not enough true quality in movies, TV, music, or books. The only ones walking on my snowy lawn right now are the deer, squirrels, and foxes!
I shall be watching the Oscar Ceremony in the company of a very pleasant lady and not caring much who wins.
“OscarCeremony”
Oscar Ceremony?
Oscar CEREMONY?!
OSCAR CEREMONY?!?!?!
Dan, sounds like you and Steve have it made during the OSCARS!
I only saw 1 movie in the theater, Knives Out. I saw about 1/2 of Irishman when getting my nails done, and couldn’t find it last week when I went there. I think your picks pretty much matched the Bafta winners and will probably also win tonight.
I remember having great fun at Oscar parties (at dead dog parties at LCC)
I’ll watch but I really miss Fashion Police the next night
Maggie, the time is coming when all the OSCAR nominees will be available on streaming services like Netflix, HULU, and AMAZON Prime Video. The attendance at our local Regal and AMC theaters is spotty at best.
Barbara will watch, I’ll be in another room, reading and then going to bed quite early, as I have been doing for just about 2 weeks now. Hoping the meds help perk me up soon!
If they would just not thank people (all of which can be done in private) and instead talked about something interesting to the audience, it would be much better. Thanking people is not entertainment. I agree with Steve that is was a good year for movies. But there are so many award shows now we know who is going to win in almost every category. My choice for best picture is either Marriage Story, Little Women or Parasite. 1917 would be in the middle of the pack.
If it gets too boring, Dare Me is on at 10:00.
Patti, although I appreciate the performances and artistry in MARRIAGE STORY, LITTLE WOMEN, 1917, and PARASITE the movie that I liked the best was FORD VS. FERRARI which isn’t a contender. You are quite right that Thank Yous are not entertainment. Your suggestion that the winners talk about something interesting is spot on!
I lost interest when Bob Hope stopped emceeing!
Bob, those were the Good Old Days of OSCAR presentations!
Bring back Bob Hope!
Hated Bob Hope. The man stopped being funny about 1950.
Steve, Hope continued to appear in movies into the 1970s and 1980s.
Jeff, I think we’d need a Ouija board.
I did a George. I had a bad headache (and yes, the show was boring) and finally gave up after 10:00 and went to bed. Jackie turned it off for an hour, then watched the rest. I was really pleased the PARASITE was the big winner.
The rest confirmed what I was saying. Too many television “stars” rather than movie stars on stage (and yes, I know they have been in movies, but they are known for television): Mindy Kaling (and why did they introduce Beanie Feldstein to introduce Kaling?), Maya Rudolph & Kristen Wiig (started funny, went on too long, much like the show itself). Will Ferrell (ugh) and Julia Louis-Dreyfus (started funny…). The Best Song category should have been dropped years ago. The ones I heard were mediocre to horrible (FROZEN 2). Attempts to pander to a younger, “hip” audience – a DJ? a “hip hop artiste” “rapping” a recap of the previous boring two hours? – were just sad.
Jackie said we should have just watched DVDs and read the results the next morning. Next year.
Jeff, I bailed out of THE OSCAR PRESENTATION right after Laura Dern won. Like you, I’m pleased that PARASITE won when everyone thought 1917 was a lock for BEST PICTURE.
George, I thought Joaquin Phoenix was fantastic as the Joker and he deserved both the Golden Globe and the Academy. I hope there is a sequel. Wishful thinking!
Prashant, you’re right about Joaquin Phoenix. THE JOKER made a lot of money (unexpectedly!) so there’s always a chance a sequel might be in the works.