So the 81st Annual Academy Award winners turned out to be a fairly predictable lot. My colleague Thom Geier and I scored a decent 20 for 24 in our predictions. The biggest surprise for me had to be Departures‘ win for Best Foreign Language Film (though the very sharp Kris Tapley at In Contention and Tom O’Neil at Gold Derby called it). In the end, Slumdog Millionaire successfully completed its unprecedented awards sweep, Harvey Weinstein boasted both female acting winners, and Frost/Nixon became the first Best Picture nominee to go home empty-handed in three years.
It’s been a blast putting this blog together for the past five months. Thanks to you all for the lively and smart debate on the comment boards. Let’s do this again in the fall!
addCredit(“Michael Yada/A.M.P.A.S.”)
Great, what am I supposed to do for the next 364 days??
Dave…you’re the best of the best Oscar coverage reporters!You write so well that I aspire to write as well.The Academy Awards telecast ’09, in words of movie critic Roger Ebert, deserves “Two Thumbs Up.”The best one in yrs, & I’ve been watching since 10 yrs.-old way back in ’61.My mama gave me & my siblings (2 brothers/3 sisters) the greatest gift ever; the deep love of The Silver Screen.My pop was never a fan of films, so I remember my mama took her 6 children as “her date” to the movies.She’s 81 yrs-old now & has Alzheimer’s.This Academy Awards ceremony would’ve been her favorite, too.And comically, my pop still brags that he hasn’t “seen a film since 1965″ which brings smiles/chuckles from his kids.Thanks,Mama!Thanks,Pop! Ia’s high-
lights of this yr.’s Oscars ceremony: Jackman’s “homemade” tribute to movies of 2008; past Oscar winners heartfelt accolades to the “newbie” nominees;Phillipe balancing Oscar on nose;comic duo of Martin/Fey & Stiller/Portman. This one’s for you, Mama!
Hey Dave, “Departures” was the big surprise of the night for me as well… That and Sean Penn’s win. I know you had predicted it but I somehow wanted Mickey Rourke to win… I love Sean Penn and admire his work – I was rooting for him when he was nominated for “Mystic River” just as I was rooting for Rourke this time around… I was really really moved not just by Rourke’s performance but also his entire “backstory”… all that he’s been through in his life and this being a second innings of sorts for him… made me wanna really wish that his comeback had ended with this career high… But well… hopefully next time…
Thank you so much for your Oscarwatch! I’m gonna miss you dearly! Go on a vacation and refrain from watching any possible Oscar contenders while you’re on it!:)
Hey Dave, “Departures” was the big surprise of the night for me as well… That and Sean Penn’s win. I know you had predicted it but I somehow wanted Mickey Rourke to win… I love Sean Penn and admire his work – I was rooting for him when he was nominated for “Mystic River” just as I was rooting for Rourke this time around… I was really really moved not just by Rourke’s performance but also his entire “backstory”… all that he’s been through in his life and this being a second innings of sorts for him… made me wanna really wish that his comeback had ended with this career high… But well… hopefully next time…
Thank you so much for your Oscarwatch! I’m gonna miss you dearly! Go on a vacation and refrain from watching any possible Oscar contenders while you’re on it!:)
Congratulations Dave. You did a good job. Sadly, the result wasn’t what I hoped. However, I’m very glad for you and your blog to be a successful. Yeah!. Let’s do again!. Why not?. Predictions for next Oscar?.
Dave,
You’re the best!
You’re not covering The Emmy’s?! That sucks…
I was entertained by this year’s Oscars. I didn’t think they all were fair (Slumdog for Sound and Cinematography?), but I still liked it. I’m still disappointed with the Academy not recognizing Button, but at least it’s a winner in my book.
Good coverage Dave. Can’t wait ’till next season!
Dave, you’re pretty sharp yourself for predicting Sean Penn. When I read your prediction, i thought “no way”. But as I watched the Oscars, I had a feeling you would be right, as you’ve been in the past.
Thank you so much, Dave! I saw all of the good movies this year, thanks to you. I’ll tune in next year, as well. But what do you think about the early buzz for Ashecliffe and The Lovely Bones? I think they both have good shots.
Thanks, Dave! Comment again in the fall!
Dave–thanks so much for your accurate predictions! Because of you I won our contest at work because of you!
Great job this year, Dave.
just watched confessions of a shopaholic and have decided isla fisher should be the oscar host next year.
Thoughts?
I recently came across your blog and have been reading along. I thought I would leave my first comment. I don’t know what to say except that I have enjoyed reading. Nice blog. I will keep visiting this blog very often.
Sarah
http://www.lyricsdigs.com