Oscars 2011 Live Blog

By Jeralyn, Section Media
Posted on Sun Feb 27, 2011 at 07:33:00 PM EST
Tags: Oscars 2011 (all tags)

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The Oscars are on. Can James Franco and Anne Hathaway pull it off? I don't know if the show is time-delayed, I'm assuming it isn't.

Here's a live thread for your reactions. My red carpet thread is here. Sporadic updates below:

6:45 pm: Anne Hathaway looks terrific. Her personality shines, James Franco not so much.

6:50 pm: I'm glad Inception won best cinematography. Too bad Christopher Nolan wasn't nominated for best director.

Props to Kirk Douglas who just keeps on going. And he's funny. He presents Best supporting actress which goes to Melissa Leo for The Fighter.

7:17 pm: Adam Sorkin wins Best Adapted Screenplay for Social Network. Best original screenplay goes to David Seidler for King's Speech. He's got a good sense of humor. Colin Firth looks very pleased for him.

7:41 pm: The production numbers are really boring. It's certainly not an exciting show so far. Anne Hathaway has a lot of costume changes. Nicole Kidman's dress looks much better on stage than it did on the red carpet.

Inception wins both sound mixing and sound editing awards. You can tell everyone associated with the film feels Director Christopher Nolan was slighted. All the Inception winners thank him first.

Billy Crystal: Still the best Oscar host in recent decades.

This show is dragging. Really dragging.

9:00 pm. I missed the memorial segment because I walked out of the room when I heard Celine Dion singing. Was it good?

The final awards: Best Director, King's Speech. Will it be a sweep?

Natalie Portman wins best Actress. Very nice intros by Jeff Bridges. Colin Firth wins best Actor, his speech seems awkward. Was he saying he was about to pee? I like Colin Firth, but I'm looking forward to seeing Javier Bardem and Biutiful much more than the Kings Speech.

Worst presentation of Best picture ever. It completely failed to do justice to the films. It was a mish-mash of a photo montage with a speech being read over the images. Why not present a brief clip of each film, so people could see why the film was nominated and get inspired to see it?

Winner of Best Picture: The King's Speech. Total: Four Oscars, twelve nominations.

It feels like midnight and it's only 9:45 p.m. here. All in all, an excruciatingly long, unfunny, lackluster show. James Franco was not a good choice for host. He brought no personality or zip to the show. Anne Hathaway was good, but she needed a much stronger partner. And fewer costume changes.

< Oscars Red Carpet Wrap-Up | Late Night Post-Oscar Mood Lift >

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Oscars 2011 Live Blog | 64 comments (64 topical)

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no time delay here (5.00 / 1) (#2)
by nycstray on Sun Feb 27, 2011 at 08:07:27 PM EST

I think this, the Super Bowl and World Series are the only shows I get live :)

To be perfectly honest, (5.00 / 1) (#3)
by andgarden on Sun Feb 27, 2011 at 08:11:48 PM EST

I didn't know Kirk Douglas was still alive. I did just rewatch Spartacus last summer, though.

Hoping Sorkin wins (none / 0) (#4)
by ruffian on Sun Feb 27, 2011 at 08:14:17 PM EST

That was a great script.


Oops, did not mean that as a reply. (none / 0) (#5)
by ruffian on Sun Feb 27, 2011 at 08:15:13 PM EST

But, yay!


I missed basically all the movies (none / 0) (#6)
by andgarden on Sun Feb 27, 2011 at 08:21:19 PM EST

last year.


many are available (none / 0) (#7)
by Jeralyn on Sun Feb 27, 2011 at 08:23:23 PM EST

on dvd, netflix and OnDemand. All the ones I've seen were on one of those. I highly recommend Winter's Bone. Social Network was good too. I haven't seen The Fighter, Black Swan or King's Speech yet, or Biutiful. They are on my list though.


: The one I did see (last week!) (none / 0) (#9)
by andgarden on Sun Feb 27, 2011 at 08:30:07 PM EST

was True Grit. I recommend it.

: Inception too (none / 0) (#16)
by Jeralyn on Sun Feb 27, 2011 at 08:48:26 PM EST

is available.

: Thanks to you (none / 0) (#30)
by nycstray on Sun Feb 27, 2011 at 10:37:47 PM EST

I saw Winter's Bone.
For the first time in awhile I want to see a few of the top movies along with the foreign, shorts and documentaries. Thank goodness for cable/OD/Netflix/etc :)

I caught up in the last month or so (none / 0) (#8)
by ruffian on Sun Feb 27, 2011 at 08:28:28 PM EST

Watched Social Network on DVD last weekend. It was interesting and a good overall movie. I think the best thing about it was the writing, which was why I was glad it won that award.


: I loved the early West Wings (none / 0) (#13)
by byteb on Sun Feb 27, 2011 at 08:39:33 PM EST

when Sorkin was writing.

The two screenwriters gave very good acceptance (none / 0) (#37)
by jawbone on Sun Feb 27, 2011 at 10:45:40 PM EST

speeches. Sorkin's just flowed -- usually it's the Brits to take top honors for the thank-you speeches. So, well done, Mr. Sorkin, holding up the American side.


someone sign Kevin Spacey for next year! (5.00 / 2) (#18)
by byteb on Sun Feb 27, 2011 at 09:07:17 PM EST

: Excellent idea (none / 0) (#19)
by ruffian on Sun Feb 27, 2011 at 09:21:10 PM EST

: Worked across the street from Letterman (none / 0) (#29)
by nycstray on Sun Feb 27, 2011 at 10:34:08 PM EST

for yrs. Only time I went to a show was when a very good friend/co-worker called and said I needed to be there. I went in on my day off (b-day). It was Spacey and Annie Lennox. Spacey was just great, and I went to see Annie :)

(Yawn) Is it over yet? (5.00 / 1) (#57)
by shoephone on Mon Feb 28, 2011 at 12:06:07 AM EST

Sheesh, what a crashing bore. But Hollywood is so filled with low-class dimwits these days, it's hard to get excited by any of it. Gone forever are the days of erudite acceptance speeches. Instead, we are subjected to long, rambling, "Oh my God! Oh my God! I can't believe it! Is this really happening???" crying jags, combined with the required laundry list of thank yous to the actor's "team," agents, managers, publicists, 37 different producers, costumers, makeup people, and, of course, the wife and kids, without whom "none of this would ever have been possible!"

In 1978, Diane Keaton won best actress for her performance in "Annie Hall." She came to the microphone, received her statue and said, "Thank you very much." Then she exited the stage. I'm beginning to think that was the best acceptance speech evah.

Sidenote: Will the academy ever stop torturing us with nominees for best song?

I miss Billy Crystal. I miss Johnny Carson. Hell, I even miss Bob Hope. And that's saying something.

: Judging by the applause he received, (none / 0) (#58)
by Anne on Mon Feb 28, 2011 at 07:04:44 AM EST

I think the audience missed Billy Crystal, too. So much so that they also gave him a standing ovation. And he may have been joking about the producers telling him they were running long, so he was there to present the Oscar for Best Picture, but I think the audience might have been hoping he really was there to put them all out of their misery.
James Franco was so totally lacking in personality that Anne Hathaway ended up overcompensating for him by being more than a little manic, which was both annoying and uncomfortable; there was absolutely no chemistry there. None.
In general, whoever did the writing for the presenters did a terrible job; it was like watching a really bad open mic night at a third-rate comedy club, with joke after joke falling with nearly audible thuds.
Three hours I'll never get back...oh, well!

I liked the opening montage (none / 0) (#1)
by byteb on Sun Feb 27, 2011 at 07:50:17 PM EST

but not so much the mother/grandmother stuff.

I never knew Christian Bale was Aussie (none / 0) (#10)
by ruffian on Sun Feb 27, 2011 at 08:34:04 PM EST

I wish I was interested in boxing movies.

He's Welsh IIRC (none / 0) (#11)
by andgarden on Sun Feb 27, 2011 at 08:35:53 PM EST

His natural accent is remarkably bad considering how well he can put others on.


Did he fail to remember his wife's name? (none / 0) (#12)
by NealB on Sun Feb 27, 2011 at 08:38:10 PM EST

...at the end of his acceptance...he mentioned his wife (and daughter) but couldn't remember his wife's name. Did I miss something? If not, that was odd.


: sure seemed that way (none / 0) (#14)
by Jeralyn on Sun Feb 27, 2011 at 08:44:40 PM EST

It was very odd.

: Look forward to divorce papers (none / 0) (#56)
by denise k on Sun Feb 27, 2011 at 11:44:17 PM EST

in the near future! What a place to block on a name. "I want to thank --- the woman I married, erm, the love of my life..." Probably every actor's worst nightmare.

I couldn't place it- was mostly just surprised (none / 0) (#15)
by ruffian on Sun Feb 27, 2011 at 08:45:21 PM EST

That was funny it seemed like he forgot his wife's name.


I know! (none / 0) (#60)
by CST on Mon Feb 28, 2011 at 09:48:16 AM EST

He always plays Americans. Believably so.

He even does passable regional accents. Certainly better than some (ahem Leo).

I probably won't see the fighter though. I'm not really into boxing movies either.


I love the reaction shots to oprah (none / 0) (#20)
by ruffian on Sun Feb 27, 2011 at 09:24:55 PM EST

She does make everything seem very portentious. The Coens and Firth and G Rush looked a little shell shocked.

And Oprah needs to fire whoever did her eye makeup.

Another dress change for Hathaway? (none / 0) (#21)
by byteb on Sun Feb 27, 2011 at 10:01:48 PM EST

Was that just a really nasty comment (none / 0) (#22)
by andgarden on Sun Feb 27, 2011 at 10:04:44 PM EST

directed at Helena Bonham Carter?

not sure what to make of it. (none / 0) (#23)
by byteb on Sun Feb 27, 2011 at 10:06:49 PM EST

what comment? (none / 0) (#32)
by Jeralyn on Sun Feb 27, 2011 at 10:41:38 PM EST

: I think he said something to Geoffrey Rush, Colin (none / 0) (#49)
by Angel on Sun Feb 27, 2011 at 11:05:50 PM EST

and David - thanking them for him being there - and he said something to the effect that he hoped Helena didn't mind.
I guess because he thanked the "guys" and not her? Hmmm...

From whom? When? (none / 0) (#36)
by jawbone on Sun Feb 27, 2011 at 10:43:51 PM EST

Please, do share!


Tom Hooper (none / 0) (#38)
by andgarden on Sun Feb 27, 2011 at 10:46:35 PM EST

in the process of accepting his award for best director. The comment was a little ambiguous, but HBC didn't seem pleased.


what did he say? (none / 0) (#41)
by Jeralyn on Sun Feb 27, 2011 at 10:51:09 PM EST

I can' remember exactly, (none / 0) (#44)
by andgarden on Sun Feb 27, 2011 at 10:53:42 PM EST

but it was very odd. I'm sure someone will write about it (or the transcript will become available).


: It was something about a man/love/trio/ (none / 0) (#47)
by nycstray on Sun Feb 27, 2011 at 11:03:39 PM EST

and sorry darlin' kinda remark. Came off as sexist to me on the surface . . . he said something about a manlovetrio and that's the reason he was standing there and called out the two men and then said sorry to her in a weird way. IMO, it would have been better if he had said something about the 2 main male actors and didn't even mention her. The whole thing was kinda fast, so, it may have made the wrong impression.

He thanked his "wonderful actors (none / 0) (#48)
by byteb on Sun Feb 27, 2011 at 11:05:06 PM EST

the triangle of men love which is colin firth, geoffrey rush and me. I'm only here because of you guys, and Helena I hope that reference doesn't make you too jealous."
He chuckled as he said it and the camera panned in on Helena B.C. as she nodded with a wry smile and mouthed something like 'yes,it does.' I think it might have been more odd across the pond humor...but I'd be interested in what others thought.
He did go on to thank his mother who brought the play to his attention after she attended a reading.


Yes, but about captures it (none / 0) (#54)
by andgarden on Sun Feb 27, 2011 at 11:13:51 PM EST

I think she looked a little offended. And from what I heard, it was justified. His comment almost sounded like "you had absolutely nothing to do with this."


: I was puzzled by his remarks b/c (none / 0) (#55)
by byteb on Sun Feb 27, 2011 at 11:25:04 PM EST

I've seen interviews that he's given where he lauded Helen BC to the heavens saying that he was so determined to have her that he adjusted his filming schedule around hers(she was filming a Harry Potter at the time)....dunno, maybe he was suffering from Oscar shock. Helen BC does not strike me as suffering fools gladly, so I wouldn't be surprised if she let him have it.

Have they just given up on (none / 0) (#24)
by andgarden on Sun Feb 27, 2011 at 10:06:59 PM EST

the 11PM finish time? Could it really be that hard?

: 11PM? (5.00 / 1) (#26)
by nycstray on Sun Feb 27, 2011 at 10:29:54 PM EST

that's hours away!! We're on laid back time here, lol!~ ;)

Somewhere Ricky Gervais is laughing. (none / 0) (#25)
by byteb on Sun Feb 27, 2011 at 10:13:22 PM EST

Well, I fell asleep during (none / 0) (#27)
by ruffian on Sun Feb 27, 2011 at 10:31:15 PM EST

the in memorial....thrilling show!

Who won actor and actress? (none / 0) (#28)
by ruffian on Sun Feb 27, 2011 at 10:32:40 PM EST

: see my update (none / 0) (#33)
by Jeralyn on Sun Feb 27, 2011 at 10:42:22 PM EST

Natalie Portman and Colin Firth.

Yes! (none / 0) (#31)
by nycstray on Sun Feb 27, 2011 at 10:39:54 PM EST

I was waiting for PS22! :)

me too, I thought (none / 0) (#35)
by Jeralyn on Sun Feb 27, 2011 at 10:43:39 PM EST

I missed them. They should have put them on much earlier. Amazing how much energy Anne Hathaway still has after 3 1/2 hours. I definitely like her better after tonight, but the show was still a dud.


I agree Jeralyn... (5.00 / 1) (#46)
by ruffian on Sun Feb 27, 2011 at 10:59:31 PM EST

I also hated that best picture mishmash. And I've had about enough of the 10 nominee idea. I hope they ditch that.

I feel like an old curmudgeon about it all.They don't make Oscars like they used to.


: I like getting a longer list of best pictures (none / 0) (#66)
by NealB on Mon Feb 28, 2011 at 05:07:32 PM EST

The entire Oscar program is a long commercial for movies. I think getting their "top ten" list is at least useful in providing a longer list of movies to watch over the next few months.

Anne Hathaway was (none / 0) (#40)
by brodie on Sun Feb 27, 2011 at 10:51:06 PM EST

definitely livelier than her co-host, Franco.

But it would have been so much more entertaining with a gifted comedian presiding over the festivities.

This one was all scripted from wall to wall and almost had a taped/edited feel to it though allegedly it was live.


you're right (none / 0) (#43)
by Jeralyn on Sun Feb 27, 2011 at 10:53:02 PM EST

Even the opening wasn't live but a series of movie clips with Ann, James and Alec Baldwin in it. I suspect that's because it became clear during rehearsals early on these two couldn't pull off a live comedic routine.


: Alec Baldwin hosting (5.00 / 1) (#50)
by brodie on Sun Feb 27, 2011 at 11:06:25 PM EST

by himself would have been an improvement over these two tonight. He's actually got a decent comedic touch for a non-comedian, plus smarts enough to improv his way through any obviously awkward moments.
I guess there was some attempt by the Academy® to go for better teevee ratings by reaching for a younger demographic with the under-35 Franco-Hathaway team. But that ended up being quite a groaning stretch with a resulting step down, or two, in quality --reminding me a bit of Poppy Bush in '88 straining hard for the youth vote by picking Dan Quayle.

Kids should have gotten more airtime (none / 0) (#45)
by nycstray on Sun Feb 27, 2011 at 10:57:13 PM EST

imo :)

Not liking AH, prob because I was watching to see if I could find ANY reason they would have cast her as Catwoman! {head desk and glad I'm not having to deal with it}

I do agree with you on the red carpet dresses. Much more tasteful this year. Show may have been a dud, but there were a few chuckles, and my freezers are cleaned and ready for the upcoming season :)


I loved the closing, the kids singing, the winners (none / 0) (#34)
by jawbone on Sun Feb 27, 2011 at 10:42:45 PM EST

walking out en masse! So much nicer than winners back giving interviews. Very nice touch.

And, oh, yes, Colin Firth...with one could go further than wise....

Anytime the highlight (none / 0) (#39)
by brodie on Sun Feb 27, 2011 at 10:47:11 PM EST

of the Oscars® is the In Memoriam segment, you know it's a long night.

Glad that Colin Firth won. Natalie Portman is lovely and she managed to thank everyone involved including the first ass't director, but I had to go out for some fresh air about 3 minutes into her thank-you list.

The co-hosts -- Anne Hathaway is nice to look at and was high spirited but just didn't have the material to entertain beyond a few minutes. And the Franco dude -- is he normally that stiff or was he trying to play the deadpan straight guy?

Easily the dullest Oscar® telecast this reporter can recall in his lifetime.

ruffian. tell me the truth. (none / 0) (#42)
by oculus on Sun Feb 27, 2011 at 10:52:10 PM EST

Did you really go back to your hotel to watch the Academy Awards? What did you do today? Didn't see you @ Metropolitan Museum; but thenI wasn't there very long.

PS. Gergiev/LSO/Mahler part 3 was transportative. A young woman near me had her eyes closed buT her face reflected her feelings. She was sobbing by the end. Ansolutely beautiful performance.

: I walked my feet off all day! Then I came (5.00 / 2) (#52)
by ruffian on Sun Feb 27, 2011 at 11:10:18 PM EST

back and collapsed. Spent much of the day in the park since the weather was so nice. Walked through the Natural History museum for a few minutes but fled the screaming children! Then I walked down to the Guggenheim and enjoyed that a lot more. Finished up at the Metropolitan Museum. I was mostly in the American Wing. I love decorative arts exhibits and those period rooms. Also loved the Cezanne card players. When it closed I walked back through the park again.
It was a great day! I thought about going back out again after I rested a little, but my feet are rebelling!

Dullest Oscar's in recent memory. (none / 0) (#53)
by Angel on Sun Feb 27, 2011 at 11:11:33 PM EST

The best part was the speech by the Inside Job documentary winners, when the winner stated that since the economic collapse that no wrongdoers have been put in jail.

For the first time in a long time (none / 0) (#59)
by CST on Mon Feb 28, 2011 at 09:38:03 AM EST

I've actually seen more than one of these movies. True Grit, Black Swan, and Inception.

True Grit was really good, and I don't usually do Westerns either. I thought the girl in the movie should have been in the best actress category not supporting actress because she absolutely was the star of the film. Everyone forgets Matt Damon, but he also did a stand up job outside of his comfort zone, and of course Jeff Bridges was awesome. Inception was one of the most interesting films I've seen in a really long time. Although I think it's hurt a little bit by coming out too early in the awards "season". Black Swan I thought was entertaining, it was a bit overdone, but it was not predictable or formulaic, and it was a complete show.

All solid movies. I think Nolan should have gotten a Director nomination.

I thought Anne Hathaway was lovely, James Franco whom I normally like in movies was a total trainwreck. He just looked incredibly nervous and bombed.

Yes, Ann Hathaway and James Franco (none / 0) (#61)
by KeysDan on Mon Feb 28, 2011 at 10:41:13 AM EST

did show a lot of chemistry between them, but like a mix of hydrochloric acid and zinc sulfate. Perhaps they picked James because of his recent movie success, since the Academy Awards show seemed like it took 127 hours.


I felt for them (none / 0) (#63)
by Militarytracy on Mon Feb 28, 2011 at 10:43:46 AM EST

It seemed like they were both doubting their abilities due to the veteran heavy hitters all piled into the place.


In the pre-show interview (none / 0) (#64)
by CST on Mon Feb 28, 2011 at 11:10:24 AM EST

with Franco, he looked like he was sweating buckets and about to p*ss himself.

He never fully lost that look of terror although it dissipated slightly during the course of the show.

Anne Hathaway I thought made the best of a bad situation. I also thought the song she did was pretty fun. And actually I kind of liked the scripted/filmed bits, I thought they were at least funny, which is more than I could say for the rest of the show.


: James Franco and Ann Hathaway (none / 0) (#65)
by KeysDan on Mon Feb 28, 2011 at 12:19:08 PM EST

were not a marriage made in heaven, sort of like pairing James Dean with Doris Day. I, too, like James Franco but his Oscar somnolence and the frenetic compensation of Ann Hathaway didn't make it. When the "In Memoriam" is the highlight of the evening, you know you are in trouble. Of course, I will watch next year, anyway.

I think it hurt Inception a little too (none / 0) (#62)
by Militarytracy on Mon Feb 28, 2011 at 10:41:51 AM EST

coming out as early in the year as it did.
