Oscars open thread, plus shoes.

Hey there, I’m back. I wrote something for today, reconsidered it, and decided I’d rather talk Oscars instead — that is to say, listen to you people talk Oscars. So talk it up.

Meanwhile, here’s a photo from the Forever XXI store on North Michigan Avenue in Chicago. I hate that store; I always get the sense the blood from the child laborers who make the clothing is thisclose to dripping onto the floor. And so much of it is hideous. When Kate and I shop, I will sometimes tell her a dress is “a little too Russian prostitute” for me to approve. When it’s really bad, it’s “Siberian prostitute.” Behold, some Siberian prostitute shoes:

shoes

See you tomorrow.

Posted at 8:58 am in Uncategorized |
 

74 responses to “Oscars open thread, plus shoes.”

  1. brian stouder said on February 25, 2013 at 9:11 am

    Gotta love the shoe-classification; clearly, we’re looking at the other end of the shoe-spectrum, compared to the intriguing nn.c classification: “sensible shoes” – which may not convey outright disapproval, but does bespeak a certain utilitarian stodginess. (that’s my guess, in any case!)

    Pam and I were noticing how many dresses simply looked odd. Anne Hathaway, who I love, seemed to be wearing a Jane Jetson thing; and others seemed to have the 1950’s vibe going. And I’ll just say – if there’s ever a question whether dress designers are actually hostile to the women who have to wear the damned dresses – look no further than the Oscar winner who tripped and fell in the steps leading to the stage (memo: the people have to be able to walk in these things!) or at Maryl Streep grabbing handfuls of her gown from her backside, so as to be able to walk across the flat stage!

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  2. adrianne said on February 25, 2013 at 9:19 am

    Best comment on the Oscars, from my friend Jim: “For the first time ever, this year’s In Memoriam segment will feature the first two hours of the Oscar-cast itself.”

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  3. jcburns said on February 25, 2013 at 9:34 am

    And when the shoes are really really bad, they’re Siberian prostitute crushed by meteor fragments?

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  4. coozledad said on February 25, 2013 at 9:35 am

    Since they test snack-foods with people who eat cat food, is there a similar test for fuck-me pumps?
    There’s probably a guy lying on a gurney somewhere in Thailand with some kind of hydraulic press slapping his ass with a pair of those shoes.

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  5. alice said on February 25, 2013 at 9:42 am

    Oscars: remember when hit songs came from movies?

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  6. Joe K said on February 25, 2013 at 9:58 am

    The cool thing about Argos was even though you new what happened it was still suspenseful, Apollo 13 was that way, even though you knew they made it back, it kept you on the edge of your seat sign of a good movie.
    Pilot Joe

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  7. Julie Robinson said on February 25, 2013 at 9:59 am

    Still haven’t seen Argo as it was never here at a time we could catch it, so I’ll keep my comments to dress snark. Jennifer Lawrence’s bridal dress was pretty, but did she try stairs before she chose it? And why didn’t the Academy have some handsome young men to help the ladies up those stairs? They’re used at other award shows, and surely the male equivalents of starlets need jobs.

    Anne Hathaway’s poorly sewn darts were all that drew my eye to her. Clearly the current crop of couturiers never had junior high home ec or 4H. Those unfortunate darts are a sign of a junior and sloppy seamstress. I like Annie so much as an actress but she is making some bizarre wardrobe choices lately.

    Oh, one last thing–I loved all the musical numbers. Y’all can carp about them and I will admit they were corny without lessening my love one little bit.

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  8. Deborah said on February 25, 2013 at 10:04 am

    Did Barbara Streisand really sing or was that something I dreamed after too much wine?

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  9. Danny said on February 25, 2013 at 10:07 am

    I thought Argo was pedestrian. Solid, but pedestrian. And it was mainly solid because of the compelling story behind the script. I can’t for the life of me understand how the writer won an Oscar when one of the best lines in the movie was a ripoff of a line from the Godfather.

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  10. Danny said on February 25, 2013 at 10:07 am

    Streisand was great.

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  11. nancy said on February 25, 2013 at 10:08 am

    She did sing, but to me, the singing story was Shirley Bassey, still able to sell “Gold-FINGAH” at 76. And hit songs still come from movies — didn’t anyone else hear “Skyfall” on heavy rotation this fall.

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  12. adrianne said on February 25, 2013 at 10:13 am

    Best musical number: The cast of “Les Miserables” belting it. Even Russell Crowe sounded OK.

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  13. brian stouder said on February 25, 2013 at 10:19 am

    Adrianne – agreed!

    And as Nance pointed out, the Goldfinger singer was magnificent. I was wondering how old she must be, as the movie dates back about 50 years.

    She was great.

    (and I think the other Bond singer – Adelle – was lip synching, but who knows?)

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  14. jcburns said on February 25, 2013 at 10:21 am

    I think we all need less…excuse me, fewer Misérables.

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  15. Judybusy said on February 25, 2013 at 10:28 am

    I wondered if Adele thought, “In 50 years I’m gonna be on this stage singing “Skyfall.”

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  16. deb said on February 25, 2013 at 10:29 am

    As Shirley Bassey neared the big finish, I was yelling at the TV, “Don’t go for that high note at the end!” But she did, and she killed it. Awesome.

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  17. Dorothy said on February 25, 2013 at 10:36 am

    brian – Adele was NOT lip synching. Of that I’m positive. And I’ve read an awful lot of snark about the Les Miz cast’s performances this morning. I think I was out of the room when they performed so I have no opinion. I’ve watched the clip of JLaw’s trip a few times and each time, I’m amazed she didn’t think to hold up the skirt of the dress as she began to ascend the stairs! I’d blame the shoes but I don’t know what they looked like. The whole show was a huge bore for the most part. Jennifer Hudson, Shirley Bassey, Adele and Babs were the redeeming moments. But why didn’t we get to see the audience’s reaction to Ms. Streisand’s song?! The camera work on the show was simply awful. But I am very glad Argo won. I only saw four of the nine nominated films but I really felt Argo was the most compelling to watch.

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  18. DellaDash said on February 25, 2013 at 10:42 am

    It looked like Adele was lipping, but she went a little pitchy towards the end…so…no.

    Well-preserved Shirley Bassey killed it!

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  19. Michael said on February 25, 2013 at 10:47 am

    The opening sequence had to be the lamest in Oscar history. William Shatner? Really? I only saw 30% of the Best Pic contenders so didn’t really have a dog in that fight. Believe it or not my only edge of my seat moment was Best Documentary. After singer song-writer Rodriguez was told he should give up recording he went to college and was a class mate of mine at Wayne State University’s Montieth College. Now that’s a great story.

    Here he is on Letterman backed up with horns and strings.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m3XLiGw4MKo

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  20. Julie Robinson said on February 25, 2013 at 10:50 am

    Adele was undermixed, and she looked uncomfortable, which probably led to a flat performance, both emotionally and in terms of pitch. Catherine Zeta Jones was definitely lip syncing and phoned in the performance (and why no Renee Zellweger?).
    Like deb, Bassey had me concerned at the outset as to whether she could still hit those notes at the end, but she brought it big time.

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  21. Bitter Scribe said on February 25, 2013 at 10:51 am

    I have to ask something about Anne Hathaway…has she somehow become hateful?

    I ask because this Chicago Tribune critic, who heretofore has seemed reasonably sane, ran this bizarre column in Sunday’s paper that started out about how Hathaway has become someone you love to hate, and that led into how the Oscars have become this hatefest, or something. I’m not linking to it because I can’t be bothered. But it was so strange…I’ve never heard Hathaway described with anything other than admiration. Is Hathaway hate now a thing?

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  22. brian stouder said on February 25, 2013 at 11:00 am

    Agreed about the weak opening of the show.

    The host made a racial joke, and then a second and a third and a fourth; and Captain Kirk was over-done; and then we careened toward anti-Semitism…

    I was ready to bail on the whole thing, and then Pam got a call and hit pause – and remained on the phone for a half-hour. So then, when she resumed the show, we were able to FF through a lot of crap – which helped a lot…until we ran out of recorded stuff, which was all too soon.

    (Bitter – if loving Anne is “out” – I don’t wanna be “in”!)

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  23. Minnie said on February 25, 2013 at 11:05 am

    Bitter, I think it’s the let’s build ’em up so we can tear ’em down machinery. Anne Hathaway has been seen frequently during promotions for Les Miserables, looking beautiful in my opinion, which is part of her job. Success breeds contempt apparently.

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  24. Heather said on February 25, 2013 at 11:07 am

    Bitter Scribe–yes, Hatha-hate is a thing. I vacillate between liking her and being annoyed by her. She’s often funny and likable, as on SNL, but she has an air of being a little too pleased with herself and artificial sometimes. During the Golden Globes she cut in on someone else’s speech to note that she forgot a couple people during her own Best Actress acceptance. I do hate myself when I get all Mean Girl about celebrities like this, but I get sucked in.

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  25. Catherine said on February 25, 2013 at 11:08 am

    deb @16, that scene played out at our house too: “She can’t hit that final note… no, don’t do it… she’s doing it… oh my god she did it!”

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  26. Catherine said on February 25, 2013 at 11:10 am

    And as much as I hate the snark (directed mainly at women), can I just say Kristen Stewart WTF? Daniel Radcliffe looked so uncomfortable. Everyone in my living room, including my 12 YO, agreed that Kristen Stewart was totally baked.

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  27. Jolene said on February 25, 2013 at 11:12 am

    I thought it was odd for Michelle Obama to pop in to give out the Oscar for Best Picture. I’m generally a fan; for instance, I thought her “mom dancing” on Jimmy Fallon’s show was great. She’s a good dancer, but, more important, it fit with and followed from her campaign for better nutrition and more exercise.

    There didn’t seem to be a reason for her to appear. I mean, she may be a movie lover, but so are lots of people. I wonder what sort of precedent was set. Would the academy invite a Republican First Lady to present the award? Do we want the awards show to take on a patriotic tone? Does appearing on the show imply approval of the host’s tasteless jokes?

    What think you?

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  28. Dorothy said on February 25, 2013 at 11:27 am

    I don’t know why Kristen Stewart was using crutches (backstage, I read), but I believe she had a boot of some sort on an injured foot. Wouldn’t it have been better for her to come out on crutches so people didn’t think she was acting oddly? I am not defending her (have never seen a nano second of one of her movies) but explaining. I too thought it was very odd to have Michelle Obama announce the Best Picture. Just more of the same really odd production ideas in a weird show.

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  29. Deborah said on February 25, 2013 at 11:45 am

    Maybe Michelle Obama was on because everyone thought Lincoln would win best picture?

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  30. brian stouder said on February 25, 2013 at 11:54 am

    Jolene – interesting questions. I view Ms Obama’s participation as akin to one of those inside-the-beltway dinners, where it’s a sort of “time-out” and the president can make jokes (and take jokes) and so on*, and not be tarred. By way of saying, I’ll take any excuse to see Michelle. (and Deborah, I like your Lincoln theory!)

    *and by the way, on this point I will always take President Bush-43’s side. Remember the dinner where he joked about the missing weapons program in Iraq? I think they ran a video,and he looked under the table (“Nope. Not there”), in the closet, etc etc. It was funny, I thought; and not grounds for attacking him

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  31. DellaDash said on February 25, 2013 at 12:03 pm

    Michael @19 – looks like a good bet to go ‘Searching for Sugarman’

    Anne Hathaway is a case in point of being able to appreciate a piece of artwork better if you don’t know anything about the piece-of-work artist. She most def deserves her best performance award…but, good lord, she so epitomizes a certain silly, shallow, self-congratulatory, navel-gazing faction of talent that prances around the film industry with their coiffed heads stuck up their waxed whatevs…ripe for a Christopher Guest mockumentary. Good luck with your inspirational hope for a better world where stories like Fontine’s no longer exist, Anne.

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  32. Deborah said on February 25, 2013 at 12:14 pm

    Regarding Forever 21, I walked past that store 4 times every single day on my way back and forth to the loop, only went in once with Little Bird. Something caught her eye in the window and she wanted to try it on. Once we got a close look at the dress and held it we realized what a piece of crap it was. She tried it on anyway and holy cow was it ill fitting.

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  33. paddyo' said on February 25, 2013 at 12:18 pm

    Dorothy, Kristen Stewart looked like she was drugged out the whole evening — that, or else she had a case of whatever it was that made Tommy Lee Jones so grumpy at the Golden Globes. (The joke on the now-smiling Mr. Jones to start things last night was good, even if much of the rest was not.)

    I haven’t tuned in to the sub-hyper-ultrasonic dog-whistle frequency channels over on the far right to hear what must have been wailing and gnashing of teeth to biblical proportions over the First Lady’s appearance last night, but my first and enduring thought was: Oh . . . Ohhh, no. Why give the wingnutariat another very public excuse to go batshit over the Obamas? The goofballs may bark and wear tin hats, but Hollywood’s got the tin ear . . .

    More to the point, as Jolene and Dorothy said, it was just very, very odd. Why now? Does every cultural touchstone event on the tube have to have a prez or first spouse aboard to legitimize or bless it? (I’m talking to you, Super Bowl.) Worse, her remarks before getting to the envelope sounded preachy, frankly — yet another awkward pause in a night full of them.

    I remain a big, big fan — but I wish she and the Oscar producers hadn’t done this.

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  34. alex said on February 25, 2013 at 12:23 pm

    Didn’t even bother to tune in, and from the sound of things glad I didn’t.

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  35. Jolene said on February 25, 2013 at 12:30 pm

    paddyo’, here’s the right-wing ranting you anticipated. Somebody retweeted one of this guy’s tweets, which is how I came across it. I had never heard of him before. Hard to believe that anyone would take the trouble to be this hateful, but there it is.

    https://mobile.twitter.com/toddstarnes/tweets

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  36. Dorothy said on February 25, 2013 at 12:43 pm

    On a related note, my daughter-in-law shared this with me – kids acting out scenes from nominated films, but had never seen the movie:

    http://www.happyplace.com/21517/kids-act-out-the-academy-award-nominees-for-best-movie

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  37. Brandon said on February 25, 2013 at 12:57 pm

    I wonder if Kristen Stewart brought along her Razzie to show Daniel Day-Lewis what one looks like.

    Lincoln wasn’t Spielberg’s best movie, but Daniel Day-Lewis’s performance was mimetic.

    Christoph Waltz’s winning Best Supporting Actor was a nice curveball. Emmanuelle Riva should have won Best Actress. But I’m glad Anne Hathaway won. Her role was brief but powerful. And “Skyfall” rightly won Best Song. (When Taylor Swift records a Bond theme that wins an Oscar, then we’ll talk.) Better Argo than Zero Dark Thirty.

    Seth MacFarlane as host was clumsy in parts, but he has an announcer-quality voice.

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  38. coozledad said on February 25, 2013 at 1:07 pm

    The Republicans worship a B movie actor who had to shop his ass like a piece of bleached week-old meat to be able to appear in films with a chimpanzee. God only knows how many directors he had to blow, and some even wonder if he had to blow the monkey.
    He figures larger in their Isis-Osiris mythopeoia than Jesus, Elvis and Dale Earnhardt put together.

    Let them keep bitching about the Obamas. It’s all the sad fucks have to keep them clinging to their execrable lives.

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  39. Brandon said on February 25, 2013 at 1:08 pm

    @Jolene: I think Starnes is a Fox News radio host. An example of his twittage:

    Mrs. Obama probably felt like she was entitled to upstage the #Oscars— toddstarnes (@toddstarnes) February 25, 2013

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  40. beb said on February 25, 2013 at 1:19 pm

    If you hadn’t mentioned the picture was of shoes I would have had no idea what that picture was. It would not resolve into anything sensible. I’ve seen more hideous women’s shoes at the MaComb mall.

    During my reading of turn of the century pulp fiction I find that women’s shoes were often called slippers. I’m sure that were nothing like slippers today but it does convey the idea that women’s shoes were not made for walking outside. Thus “sensible shoes” were made more along the line of men’s shoes – sturdy, offering support, and tough soles.

    My early morning scan of what people were saying about the oscars included a mention of “Anne Hathaway’s nipples,” which on reflection look to be the darts in her dress. If her dress had featured nipples I’m sure Macfarlane would have found a way to work it into his song about boobs.

    The surprise – for me – was that Shirley Bassey was from Wales. I’ve always thought she was one of the Motown team.

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  41. Peter said on February 25, 2013 at 1:40 pm

    Oh my gosh was Shirley Bassey something. The bad part is that now I can’t get Goldfinger references out of my mind – “No Mr. Bond, I expect you to DIE…”

    I know the Daniel Craig’s are very good, and heck, I even liked a few Roger Moore’s, but I don’t think, for good or bad, you can do better than Goldfinger.

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  42. Brandon said on February 25, 2013 at 1:45 pm

    [W]omen’s shoes were often called slippers.

    Cinderella’s glass slippers. Dorothy’s ruby slippers, which made an appearance on the red carpet.

    http://articles.baltimoresun.com/2013-02-24/entertainment/bal-some-musings-from-oscars-red-carpet-20130224_1_red-carpet-oscars-85th-academy-awards

    In Hawaii, slippers are the sandals you would call flip-flops.

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  43. Dexter said on February 25, 2013 at 1:53 pm

    I enjoyed the show, a real treat, because I am a big fan of Seth MacFarlane.
    Shirley Bassey was great, and I saw “Goldfinger” first-run, Clyde Theater, Quimby Village, Fort Wayne, back in 1964. I still can’t shut that movie off when it pops up on TV.
    I knew Seth was going to catch heat, but so what? I thought Ted was funny last night, and the Shatner bit was hilarious.
    I wasn’t expecting Ang Lee to win so much, but I didn’t see the movie, either. I understand that Spielberg is just a hate-magnet these days. I don’t get that, but I guess it’s true.

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  44. Icarus said on February 25, 2013 at 1:59 pm

    i feel clueless. What is the difference between a Russian Prostitute and a Siberian Prostitute?

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  45. Connie said on February 25, 2013 at 2:11 pm

    Didn’t watch, haven’t seen any of the movies, don’t really care. Discussion of the Bond songs has me singing “Live and Let Die” to myself though.

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  46. Jolene said on February 25, 2013 at 2:13 pm

    What is the difference between a Russian Prostitute and a Siberian Prostitute?

    A Siberian prostitute is one step up in level of desperation. Hence, even trashier clothes.

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  47. brian stouder said on February 25, 2013 at 2:21 pm

    What is the difference between a Russian Prostitute and a Siberian Prostitute?

    I’m guessing about 10 degrees C

    (and 275 rubles)

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  48. coozledad said on February 25, 2013 at 2:27 pm

    icarus: About seven time zones.

    I wrote this song Friday night because it’s been about three years since they’ve caught a Republican furry soliciting minors to help generate some static electricity. It’s about that time again, and you want to get ahead of the curve with that topical stuff. Take her away, Neil:

    Girl, you’ll be a wookie soon.

    Love you so much I stopped by the mall
    bought this for you babe, clerk said they run tall
    I hope it’s your size

    Can’t lie to you girl
    I been walking the floors
    spraying the carpet, down on all fours
    ate a live chicken too

    Girl. You’ll be a wookie, soon.
    Please, open the trunk.
    Girl, you’ll be a wookie soon.
    Me? I’ll be the skunk.

    Been misunderstood for all of my life
    from my very first date till my second wife asked
    “Is it halloween?”
    well I’ve finally found what I’m looking for
    It was at Spencer gifts, and they’ll take it back, sure.
    As long as it’s clean.

    It’s up to you.
    You’ll be a wookie soon.
    C’mon, open the trunk.
    Girl, you’ll be a wookie soon
    I’ll pretend this cigar is my junk.

    Well this is close enough I guess. Furries in Texas.
    I think my song would work better as their convention theme.
    http://gawker.com/5986711/furry-convention-of-unacceptable-adults-scars-one-hotel-guests-cheerleading-children-for-life

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  49. nancy said on February 25, 2013 at 2:28 pm

    A Siberian prostitute can’t shop at GUM.

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  50. Bitter Scribe said on February 25, 2013 at 3:24 pm

    As long as we’re talking about the Oscars, I was surprised but not displeased to see how “Zero Dark Thirty” got shut out. I found that movie very disappointing. I hadn’t expected its ambiguous attitude toward torture to bother me, but it REALLY bothered me.

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  51. MaryRC said on February 25, 2013 at 4:02 pm

    Jolene, I’m with you: loved the First Lady’s appearance on Jimmy Fallon, but wish she hadn’t accepted the invitation to present an award at the Oscars. With Seth MacFarlane as the host this year, the ceremony seemed so tacky and tasteless, it crossed a line for me. Maybe I’m a snob, but — Lincoln Center awards presented by FLOTUS, OK, but not award shows where the opening number is about boobs.

    In terms of setting a precedent, though, I’m reading today that President Reagan and Laura Bush also appeared in pre-taped segments at past Oscars.

    I thought the dresses on the red carpet were disappointing this year. Did anyone else look at Jennifer Garner and think “Barney!”?

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  52. Melissa said on February 25, 2013 at 4:04 pm

    I’ve been shy of seeing Life of Pi because I so loved the book. Has anyone else seen it? What did you think?

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  53. Jeff Borden said on February 25, 2013 at 4:06 pm

    I was delighted to see Christoph Waltz win the supporting actor statuette. I’ve liked his performance in every film I’ve seen save “Green Hornet,” where he was slumming as the villain. He’s terrific “Django.”

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  54. DellaDash said on February 25, 2013 at 4:17 pm

    My friend and I saw ‘Life of Pi’ Saturday, Melissa. Loved it! Figured it had a sure shot for best Cinematography. That it also garnered best Special Effects, Sound (Editing?), and Director (Ang Lee) was satisfying. Besides offering a visual feast, it provides food for thought…provokes worthwhile conversation. Haven’t read the book YET, but have heard favorable feedback from fans of both.

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  55. Tom M said on February 25, 2013 at 5:21 pm

    I found Zero Dark Thirty the most aptly named movie to come along in years. It was very dark (US Imperialism.,,,yay!) a complete zero for level of interest and at least thirty minutes too long.
    I knew what was coming, especially in the sequence about the Jordanian doctor and had the urge to feel some satisfaction in his blowing up the CIA agents. Tragic but somehow deserved.

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  56. Dexter said on February 25, 2013 at 6:02 pm

    A Russian prostitute made it into the cast of last night’s “Shameless” on Showtime.
    The dad of one of the two gay teenage boys caught the boys having a good time. Enraged, the tough, street fighting dad began beating the boys to a pulp and then he called on his phone and said “…bring the Russian.”
    I thought he was bringing a killer to shoot the boys, but the Russian was a whore, brought in to “f*** the f*g*o*t out of him”. (the dad’s son). This show explores angles I never could imagine. Damn.

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  57. Julie Robinson said on February 25, 2013 at 6:14 pm

    MaryRC, I looked at Jennifer Garner and thought “preggers!”

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  58. Deborah said on February 25, 2013 at 7:08 pm

    Me too Julie, I thought Jennifer Garner had a bit of a baby bump.

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  59. Kaye said on February 25, 2013 at 7:15 pm

    Watched the Oscar show reluctantly as I had seen just one Best Picture nominee (Argo). Wasn’t impressed with the first 20 minutes but I did enjoy most of broadcast. Loved the singing and dancing, didn’t care for most of Seth’s jokes, FLOTUS out of place.

    Left Argo thinking it was a good movie but “just a movie” not living up to the hype it was getting in the Fall. The one detail that bugs me still: how was it mid-afternoon (post lunch) in LA at the same time it was early morning in Tehran?

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  60. RickB said on February 25, 2013 at 7:29 pm

    I skipped the Oscars but found this very funny summary article:
    http://kenlevine.blogspot.com/2013/02/my-2013-oscar-review.html

    And, FWIW, Netflix Instant has an excellent documentary on all the James Bond movies:
    https://movies.netflix.com/WiMovie/Everything%20or%20Nothing:%20The%20Untold%20Story%20of%20007/70256292?trkid=438403

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  61. Deborah said on February 25, 2013 at 7:31 pm

    I still have no idea how to pronounce Quvenzhané, can someone help me here?

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  62. Dorothy said on February 25, 2013 at 7:38 pm

    Qwa-VEN-zhuh-nay. You really have to practice that one over and over again to get it right. From Wikipedia:

    Wallis was born in Houma, Louisiana, the daughter of Qulyndreia, a teacher, and Venjie Wallis, Sr., a truck driver.[1][6][7] “Quven”, the first part of her name, combines her parents’ first names, while her mother has stated that zhané means “fairy” in Swahili.[8]

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  63. Deborah said on February 25, 2013 at 7:45 pm

    The funniest line from the Ken Levine link:

    “Thrilled that Jennifer Lawrence won. If a Best Actress nominee had to trip on the stairs I’m sure glad it was her and not Emmanuelle Riva. Seth and Kristin Chenoweth would have been doing their snide closing number while avoiding the paramedics.”

    Loved Emmanuelle Rive in Amour, wish she had won but not tripped.

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  64. DellaDash said on February 25, 2013 at 8:32 pm

    Still into Hatha-hate (and Adele love), I like this from Ken Levine:

    “Note to Anne Hathaway: your phony humility and surprise is ridiculously transparent. To see what real surprise and genuine emotion is like study Adele acceptance speeches. And you’re not fooling anybody either with the short hair. You’re not Audrey Hepburn. Grow your hair and eat something.”

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  65. Sherri said on February 25, 2013 at 8:35 pm

    I don’t bother to watch the Oscars anymore. I just wait until the next day and read Ken Levine’s review and Tom and Lorenzo’s coverage of the dresses. It takes less time, and it’s much more entertaining.

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  66. Suzanne said on February 25, 2013 at 8:54 pm

    I made it through the Oscars until about 10pm and gave up.

    I thought Seth McFarlane would be really funny but he wasn’t (I love Family Guy). I don’t know who wrote the material, but he or she should be fired. Even the crowd shots showed a bored bunch of people. I swear half the presenters were high or something.

    The red carpet pre-game show with Kristen Chenoweth was a lesson in strangeness. She could hardly have been more annoying (Who are you wearing? Cackle, giggle, cackle)and her size made everyone she interviewed look Amazonian. I can’t even imagine how many actresses were on their phone with their agents before the evening was over asking to never, ever be put in that position again. I love Queen Latifah, but next to Chenoweth, she looked like some huge hulk of a woman, as did Adele, and I can’t imagine either one of them was pleased.

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  67. Danny said on February 25, 2013 at 9:01 pm

    Did Cintra Wilson do an Oscar article this year? I still recall the one she did on the post-9/11 Oscars… something about Tom Cruise trying to bend our all of our wills to his with all of his Scientological unction, glaring at us like the flaming Eye of Sauron.

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  68. Joe K said on February 25, 2013 at 9:44 pm

    Ken Levine=funny
    Read him everyday
    Pilot Joe

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  69. Deborah said on February 25, 2013 at 9:51 pm

    I encountered Queen Latifah one morning on my way to work I did not find her a giantess. I am 5′ 8″, used to be 1/2″ taller than that but Queen Latifah seemed tallish/ordinary height to me. Love her.

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  70. Dexter said on February 25, 2013 at 10:28 pm

    I love The Queen, too, Deborah. I have for years.

    Today is the day George would have been 70. Here is The White Album to listen to.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hT24olNYM-U

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  71. Jeff (the mild-mannered one) said on February 25, 2013 at 10:37 pm

    http://kenlevine.blogspot.com/2013/02/my-2013-oscar-review.html

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  72. Brandon said on February 25, 2013 at 11:31 pm

    http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/race/oscar-voters-brutally-honest-ballot-422546

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  73. Brandon said on February 26, 2013 at 12:42 am

    @Coozledad: This must be the scandal you’re referring to:

    http://firedoglake.com/2009/06/02/pennsylvanias-furry-foley/

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  74. Dexter said on February 26, 2013 at 12:44 am

    Only one more day for HBO subscribers to watch the Harry Belafonte biography OnDemand.

    http://www.baltimoresun.com/entertainment/tv/bs-zurawikaudio-20111013,0,1352284.mp3file

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