The Rory Gilmore Book Club discussion
Music, Movies, & Miscellany
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The Oscars
I so hope that they have the Oscars. I was disappointed about the Golden Globes, but I will be so sad if they cancel Oscar this year! The dresses are my favorite part becuase I love seeing the beautiful (and yes, the hideous) dressed that people choose. For me, Oscar night is so much fun! It's the woman's 'superbowl!'
I just recently went to an MSU hockey game and they played Notre Dame. ND had new hockey helmets that were shiny gold. I said, if the guys were wearing gold tuxedos they would look like Oscar statues. I don't think the hockey players would appreciate that remark, but I thought it was funny. I really liked them though...but I like shiny things.From what I read, it'll be interesting to see what happens. I think Oscar is big enough to force them to bargain something out. However, I guess that all depends on how pissed off the WGA is. It would do a lot of damage financially to get them called off (like the GG).
Let's throw a RGBC Oscar party! heh I'll bring the pop tarts.
I think I heard somewhere that they'd made a deal and they're going to still have the Oscars. Of course, anything can happen between now and then...
Entertainment Weekly had an excellent article on the various options on holding the Oscars, the least likely being that it would be cancelled. One possible option is for the writer's guild to grant a waiver for the event. The waiver would allow Oscar writers to cross the picket line to work on the event without penalty. The writer's are not making any progress; thus, some believe that granting the waiver will allow them to generate some goodwill with Hollywood, which, in turn, may move the strike along.Let's hope that the show goes on!
I LOVE the Oscars!!! I've been watching it for as long as I can remember. I seriously hope it goes on. But I read that it can always be rescheduled for a later time..
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"The woman's Super Bowl" - I love that!I think it would be fun to have a RGBC Oscar Party, great idea Alison!
The only problem is, it doesn't show at the same time in the different time zones. :( I hate that it's in CA but I actually have to watch it 3 hours LATER because they broadcast it on the East Coast first. But I guess they don't think it would be watched much at 5 PM.
Meghan, I'm jealous about the MSU hockey game--haven't been to one in 16 years or so, I think.Once upon a time, I would have watched all of the nominated movies (for major awards) before the Oscars. Now, I just get a kick out of looking at the dresses and imagining what kind I would choose.
I used to do that, too, Robbie! My husband and I usually host an Oscar party, but recently we've had a matinee on that day so turnout has been rather small.One of the best Oscar parties we ever threw was a few years ago. I did all the food to go with the nominated films. Lord of the Rings, In The Bedroom, Monster's Ball, Moulin Rouge, Gosford Park, Bridget Jones' Diary, I Am Sam, and A Beautiful Mind were all nominated for major awards. So we had Lord of the Onion Rings, Pigs "In the Bedroom" blankets, Monsters Meatballs, Moulin Roots (root veggies with dip), Gosford Pork (pork sausage dip with french bread), Bridget Jones' Dairy (cheese plate), I Am Ham (prosciutto-wrapped asparagus), A Brie-tiful Mind (baked brie).
I really want to host a formal Oscar party though, where everyone gets dressed up like they're a nominee. I want fancy food like champagne and caviar and I'd hire a photographer. It's too late to plan that for this year, but maybe next?
Sarah that's a fantastic idea - sounds like so much fun! You should definitely do it if you can.
FYI - Target is selling a special line of Oscar winning movie dvds. I think they're all $9.99. It was on an end cap in the book section (at my Target), but you may want to check it out if you want to stock up on some winners.
We threw a party once where we blew up the faces of the people and put them in the chairs in the room where we were going to watch it. Kind of like what they do for the seat fillers during practice. It was fun. Everyone got to take their photo home as a prize.And any excuse to dress up fancy is a good one to me! Go for it Sarah!
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My friend had an Oscar party once. She ordered chocolate Oscars wrapped in gold foil for prizes (We did a ballot, and got points for choosing correctly. I guess that's what all Oscar parties do.) Anyway, she ordered them from the internet and they were like 6-7 dollars a piece. We thought they were decent-sized, but when the came in, they were like the size of your thumb. Like, not much bigger than a big hershey's kiss. haha. Oscar parties rule.
Nominations Tuesday!!
Alison, do you remember watching the Oscars at my house with Holley and Brett? I seem to remember Holley stripping down to her sports bra and twirling her shirt around in the air when Matt Damon and Ben Affleck won the Oscar for best screenplay. I bet Brandi Chastain never knew she wasn't the first one to do that. I have to confess, when Adrian Brody won for "The Pianist", I totally humiliated myself at the home of a couple I barely knew by doing a sofa leap a la Tom Cruise.
I read this article and I must say I am a bit nervous! These writers mean business. This is the 80th Academy Awards! I will be devastated if the show does not go on!
I was just up in Park City, UT (the Sundance Film Festival is underway) and heard a few people murmuring about this as well.
I wish we could compile some sort of petition. I mean we are the consumers that allow them to make this money ther are all upset about. Grrr.
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You know, I didn't remember that until you said it! My memory is crap. I remember another night watching them at my house. Were you there? I think she took her pants off that night (no joke).
Wow, you ladies throw some interesting parties! LOL. Seriously though, they sound like a blast. I've never been to an Oscar party.
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I loved the time when Roberto Benigni one and he walked on the backs of the chairs to get to the stage. Oh, and every time his name was mentioned in the lead up he would perk up like 'what? did I win?' or, 'is it time?' It was so funny!
Robbie, it's totally the same way for me now.
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I actually really wanted to see it, but it only showed up in San Francisco for like one night.
I loved Roberto Benigni. "I want to jump in your ocean! I want to make love with all of you!"
So what are your nominations, gals, or should I start another thread for this question? I love the Oscars. Zee dresses, zee looks on zee faces of zee actors waiting in poker faced anticipation...and I'm going to throw an Oscars party one of these times.
If Dan in Real Life were up for a nomination one day, I'd serve, um, burnt pancakes with loads of syrup. And even if it weren't up for nomination, maybe I'd have a list of movies they should have nominated.
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Amy Adams should have been nominated for a Golden Globe, at least (since there is a musical category) for Enchanted.
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As far as the Oscar picks, I haven't gotten to see a lot of the big movies this year. Entertainment Weekly is predicting for Best Picture...
Atonement
Juno
Michael Clayton
No Country for Old Men
There Will Be Blood
Personally (and not to offend anyone who loved this movie), I'd rather see Sweeney Todd nominated than Juno. And I don't know...something else might take that Michael Clayton spot.
Has anyone seen Away from Her? It stars Julie Christie (Lara of Doctor Zhivago). It's a very realistic look at Alzheimer's--and very well done, if not upbeat, and made by a young actress & filmmaker (Sarah Polley). I think she'll win, which will be cool considering she won 42 years ago (for Darling). And she is absolutely gorgeous. Serious Hollywood royalty.
I haven't seen There Will Be Blood, but most people seem to think Daniel Day Lewis will win Best Actor, if not George Clooney for Michael Clayton.
BS Actor--Javier Bardem. I have no doubt. Anybody that's seen this movie. Well, they just know.
BS Actress seems pretty wide open. I do hope Cate Blanchett is nominated. She will most likely be the best dressed (if there's a show :<). She always looks fabulous. My favorite is when she won for "The Aviator" (yellow dress, purplish colored sash) and when she was nominated for "Elizabeth" (the dress with the mockingbirds). Too bad we can't copy and paste pictures here.
I do hope there are a couple of surprises (there usually are). It makes it even more fun.
I haven't seen Dan in Real Life, but Karey, you are certainly tempting me.
I love watching the Oscars.Always have I would love to have an Oscar party someday as well.I think it would be so fun.
Amy Adams was nominated for this category at the GG's but Marion Cotillard for La Vie En Rose won. It is really hard to do picks this year as there are so many good options. I am hoping for a surprise, but really just think it would be nice to see The Great Debaters win for best movie even though it isn't "heavy" enough for that, imo.
My picks for the Oscars would be:
Best Picture
Atonement
No Country for Old Men
The Great Debaters
Sweeny Todd
Michael Clayton
Best Actor
George Clooney
Johnny Depp
Ryan Gosling
James McAvoy
Denzel Washington
Best Actress
Ellen Page
Cate Blanchett
Keira Knightly
Julie Christie
I can't think of a 5th for actress, duh. Anyway, that is my picks.
I loved Cate's yellow dress, too. Some other favorites are:1 Michelle Williams in her yellow dress - great hair, too.
2 Nicole Kidman's mustard colored dress, forget what year, was shortly after she dumped Tom.
3 Penelope Cruz in that blush colored dress with the feathers from last year.
I HATED the pink dress Gwyneth wore the year she won for Shakespeare in Love. I kind of liked the look she had the next year, in the black dress with the see through bodice.I think almost everyone hated it, but I thought it was a nice modern, edgy look for her with the dark eye makeup. I hated Nicole's red dress with the big bow on the shoulder, think that was last year.
speaking of Sarah Polley, I heard her interviewed on NPR about "Away from Her". She sounds amazing, especially for such a young person. I look forward to more from her. That movie is based on a story by Alice Munro. I am reading one of her books now. I have loved several of Sarah's movies that she has acted in, particularly "Go". If anyone hasn't seen this, it is one of the hidden gems of the nineties. She was also great in the Dawn of the Dead remake.
Is she the same one that was in the Avonlea series?
I think so. I know she was a big time child star in Canada. She was also supposed to play the Kate Hudson role in Almost Famous, but she dropped out shortly after filming started.
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Nicole has had so many great dresses--remember the purple empire waisted one? She looked 2 feet taller than Tom. A lot of people thought Gwyneth's pink dress was ill-fitting. That's the year Cate smoked her with the purple dress with the mockingbirds (no offense to Gwyneth--she did get the Oscar). And Michelle William's yellow dress was quite possibly the best Oscar dress ever.
Beth--there's a possibility you and I saw "Go" together. I'm telling you my memory is crap. (Thank you, diet coke). Back when Katie Holmes was just a normal little actress.
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1. Best Picture: "Atonement," "Juno," "Michael Clayton," "No Country for Old Men," "There Will Be Blood."
2. Actor: George Clooney, "Michael Clayton"; Daniel Day-Lewis, "There Will Be Blood"; Johnny Depp (!!), "Sweeney Todd the Demon Barber of Fleet Street"; Tommy Lee Jones, "In the Valley of Elah"; Viggo Mortensen, "Eastern Promises."
3. Actress: Cate Blanchett, "Elizabeth: The Golden Age"; Julie Christie, "Away From Her"; Marion Cotillard, "La Vie en Rose"; Laura Linney, "The Savages"; Ellen Page, "Juno."
4. Supporting Actor: Casey Affleck, "The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford"; Javier Bardem, "No Country for Old Men"; Hal Holbrook, "Into the Wild"; Philip Seymour Hoffman, "Charlie Wilson's War"; Tom Wilkinson, "Michael Clayton."
5. Supporting Actress: Cate Blanchett, "I'm Not There"; Ruby Dee, "American Gangster"; Saoirse Ronan, "Atonement"; Amy Ryan, "Gone Baby Gone"; Tilda Swinton, "Michael Clayton."
6. Director: Julian Schnabel, "The Diving Bell and the Butterfly"; Jason Reitman, "Juno"; Tony Gilroy, "Michael Clayton"; Joel Coen and Ethan Coen, "No Country for Old Men"; Paul Thomas Anderson, "There Will Be Blood."
Will anyone who's seen No Country For Old Men and There Will Be Blood tell me exactly how bloody these films are?
Of course i'd find my best friend commenting in the oscars forum... :) so we going to sundance this weekend again :P I need you to help me pick out who these people are...its the curse from having no TV stations, but I sure love reading about all this stuff. Unfortunantly I haven't seen any of these movies, would you recommend Atonement as the one I should see, is it based on the book? I'm sure that's the stupidest question ever, so please forgive me.
I cannot beleive that Hairspray wassen't nominated for ANYTHING!! Not even Best Costume! And Travolta definatly deserved a nomination, AT LEAST!!! oh well, I'm glad that Juno got alot of nominations! And I am possitive that Ratatouille will win Best Animated film. I hope that Johnny Depp get Best Actor for Sweeny Todd, or Daniel Day Lewis for Their will be Blood. But George Cloony might win it, even though he doesent deserve it. It is a tough choise between Marion Cotillard (La Vie en rose) and Ellen Page (Juno) for best actress. I am sortof rearing towards Cotillard because she is a french actress going for an american nomination! how cool is that?! Since Hairspray DIDENT get costume, it will have to be either La vie en Rose, or Elizabeth: The golden age. Best directing? Props for Juno. Sicko has to get best documentary. Enchanted should win one for best Origional Song. Visual effects must go to Transformers. Best writting for Juno. And best Picture? Probly Juno, again. <3
Sarah - from what I read, they are pretty gruesome. Not so much in the gratutious way, but there are some "gotta-turn-my-head" scenes.I'm pleasantly surprised to see Juno get so much love.
I'm totally torn. I LOVED Ratatouille but Persepolis is so phenomenal. And the woman who wrote and drew the graphic novel, did the movie as well. So you know the integrity of the story is the same. I think if we ever read "Reading Lolita in Tehran" I would nominate Persepolis as a companion. It's just that good.
Sarah, I agree with Meghan. Both NCFOM and TWBB are supposed to be extremely violent. Have you ever seen The Departed? I've heard that NCFOM has worse violence than that movie, which I find hard to believe, and I just heard from someone at work the other day that TWBB was "brutal". I detest violence, and if I know that it is coming, I won't look, and I don't peek either. However, in The Departed, it happened so fast a couple of times that I didn't have time to look away. Those images tend to stay with me, which is I try to avoid them.I really want to see both movies, but the violence makes me uncomfortable. Also, I want to read NCFOM before I see it.
Pretty much "me too!" to everything you said, Sera.
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Yeah, I watched half of Sweeney through my fingers. Heh. Because I know the story so well, I was able to avert my eyes when I knew a bloody part was coming up. But I really want to see No Country. Is it bloodier than, say, The Godfather? That's a very violent movie but it's not all that bloody. I can handle that kind of violence.
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I don't know if you saw "The History of Violence" with Viggo Mortenson. It was along those lines...there was a violent story...but it spoke to the nature of violence and death, rather than relishing in it for fun.
Did anyone catch the SAG awards? I just saw the ending. Daniel Day Lewis's clip alone (when they show each nominated actor's clip) was enough to win him an Oscar. He smoked the other nominees and gave a very sweet tribute to Heath. He's scary good.
Alison - I love History of Violence (I mean, who can't love a movie with the beautiful Mr. Mortenson?!).But as for violence, could you compare No Country more to say Tombstone? That's kind of the image I keep thinking of.
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Some blurbs:
"this magnificent film represents the best work the Coen Brothers have done since Fargo. Like that movie classic, this is a cold-blooded thriller with a darkly humorous edge" and "Hitchcock wouldn’t have done the suspense better."
"the film proved that the Coens' technical abilities, and their feel for a landscape-based western classicism reminiscent of Anthony Mann and Sam Peckinpah, are matched by few living directors".
I would say as a gauge, if you could handle THOV, you could handle No Country.
Hi Alison:Couldn't agree with you more. This was a great movie to watch. For me twofold pleasure 1) The coen bros and 2) Javier Bardem..watch these guyz working together is simply a treat. I hav always been afan of coen bros. movie and this time also, like most other times, they didn't dissapoint me. Well I am no film critic, at least as far technicalities and the jargons go, but I like good movies and the movies I usually like are ""good movies" by the critics too.
Looking forward to another of these masterpieces...However, I'll rate 'the lives of others' a german movie based on east german times higher than NCFOM.
Ank
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Feel free to add any updates or unsolicited opinions here! Let's hope there's a show!