This year's Oscars

[Analogman]

i'll never understand the lack of love for tom hanks. to me, he is the quintessential actor of his time. and i actually think his best work was saving private ryan.

 

i also don't understand the love for the thin red line. i tried to watch it three times and failed each time. just way to boring for my taste.

 

The only Tom Hanks movie I like to watch is Cast Away. If nothing else, Nick Notle kicks butt in The Red Line - particularity during the scene on the hillside.

[Winston Legthigh]

Actually, there's a much better argument to be made for his best work being Big.

Bachelor Party, hands down. (which is also Adrian Zmed's best work)

[mfwahl]

Bachelor Party, hands down. (which is also Adrian Zmed's best work)

It was also the donkey's best work.

[John Smith]

i'll never understand the lack of love for tom hanks. to me, he is the quintessential actor of his time. and i actually think his best work was saving private ryan.

 

i also don't understand the love for the thin red line. i tried to watch it three times and failed each time. just way to boring for my taste.

 

I was unimpressed by the Thin Red Line both the book and the movie. Both were OK to me neither was outstanding.

 

Tom hanks is this generations Jimmy Stewart. A decent, not great actor who gets rolls that are well suited to his abilities. He rarely overreaches with rolls, as a result he rarely fails with his movies.

 

Donkey was better in Schrek than in Bachelor Party.

[bleedorange]

I was unimpressed by the Thin Red Line botht he book and the movie. Both were OK to me neither was outstanding. Tom hanks is this generations Jimmy Stewart. A decent, not great actor who gets rolls that are well suited to his abilities. He rearely overreaches with rolls, as a result he rarely fails with his movies.

 

Donkey was better in Schrek than in Bachelor Party.

 

 

I think you managed to dis both Jimmy Stewart and Tom Hanks in the same post. You should rewatch Vertigo, Rear Window, and It's a Wonderful Life.

[Winston Legthigh]

Thin Red Line is a visual feast (there - I've never used that phrase before), but it suffers from too many characters providing voice-overs, and it's often difficult to tell who is speaking. Still, I think it's held up better than Saving Private Ryan.

 

Nolte is great (his best work is Scorsese's short in New York Stories).

 

Voice-overs are a trickly thing. I think there is a general prejudice against them because a movie is supposed to be Showing (rather than telling) the story. But, the technique worked well in Goodfellas and Casino - where the narrator serves as the tourguide.

[John Smith]

I think you managed to dis both Jimmy Stewart and Tom Hanks in the same post. You should rewatch Vertigo, Rear Window, and It's a Wonderful Life.

 

I don't think I did. Jimmy Stewart was pretty goood in his day, but he rarely stretched. I've seen all those movies as well as harvey and Mr Smith. Can't recall seeign Phialdelphia story or not. I've always liked him. I see ntohign wrong with the comparison.

[Sir Stewart]

Thin Red Line is a visual feast (there - I've never used that phrase before), but it suffers from too many characters providing voice-overs, and it's often difficult to tell who is speaking. Still, I think it's held up better than Saving Private Ryan.

 

Nolte is great (his best work is Scorsese's short in New York Stories).

 

Voice-overs are a trickly thing. I think there is a general prejudice against them because a movie is supposed to be Showing (rather than telling) the story. But, the technique worked well in Goodfellas and Casino - where the narrator serves as the tourguide.

The Age of Innocence, too. I guess you could say Scorsese uses the voiceover well. And fully agreed on Nolte re: New York Stories.

[Moe_Syzlak]

I really liked Saving Private Ryan (well right up to the manipulative fade from the 40s to the present at the end). I know a lot of people (my brother RANTS about this) thinks there is not discernible story and the idea of going to look for Ryan is a weak arc. But I think it is just perfect as a way to mirror the larger war. That some men must risk their lives for others and that sometimes the idea of sacrifice a few for the good of the many is not so black and white. Soldiers like my grandfather fought for us (the people watching the film) in the same way that Hanks' troops fought for Ryan and we must remember to "earn it" too. Again other than the manipulative fade and the hit you over the head with the message ending (which apparently a lot of people STILL didn't get), I liked it a lot.

[jakobnicholas]

I think Tom Hanks is pretty great. But I agree that he hasn't stretched himself a great amount.....maybe Philadelphia excluded.

 

 

I thought he was really good in League of Their Own and Apollo 13. And it's just voice work, but he gives tremendous nuance to Woody in the Toy Story films.

 

 

Anyone remember Tom Hanks in a Taxi episode? Hanks is pretty funny in the bit.....an all-time classic scene from an all-time classic TV show:

 

[Beltmann]

I remember Hanks appearing on Family Ties. (Somehow this thread about the Oscar noms is going to wind up at Bosom Buddies.)

[Analogman]

I think he was also in an episode of The Love Boat.

[Sir Stewart]

He was also great as Elise's drunk brother in a couple of very special episodes of Family Ties.

Thanks for that link jakobnicholas - I remember seeing that, but i hadn't remembered Hanks in it. He was funny.

I generally do not enjoy Tom Hanks' films.

[mpolak21]

I remember Hanks appearing on Family Ties. (Somehow this thread about the Oscar noms is going to wind up at Bosom Buddies.)

 

Tom Hanks as Uncle Ned. Arguably his best role, this scared me out of drinking for several years.

 

--Mike

[bjorn_skurj]

The most important thing about Saving Private Ryan, for me, is that it probably comes closest to depicting the actual brutality and insane violence of war, or sugarcoats it the least. IMO, the best war movie I've ever seen is Downfall, as it depicts where the foolishness of war ends up.

[John Smith]

In the invasion scene Saving Private Ryan they take a bunch of stories out of Steven Ambbrose D-Day book and compresses them into a small portion of the battle. So a lot of the stuff being shown on screen for the most part did occur, but not in such a small space, but rather over the whole of the invasion beach and over the whole day.

[Winston Legthigh]

He was also great as Elise's drunk brother in a couple of very special episodes of Family Ties.

Thanks for that link jakobnicholas - I remember seeing that, but i hadn't remembered Hanks in it. He was funny.

I generally do not enjoy Tom Hanks' films.

Speaking as someone who will be marrying Gary Gygax's grandniece in May, I feel qualified to say that Hanks' best role was in Mazes and Monsters.

 

Regarding earlier comments that he doesn't stretch that much - I don't think that's fair. He's not that type of actor. I think there's two type of actors - method actors, and personality actors. DeNiro is an example of the former, and Jack Nicholson, Humphry Bogart are types of the latter. The latter generally play themselves. They never go full retard.

[jmacomber68w]

I've seen most of these flicks, my favs in the big 5 categories....

 

Supporting- Amy Adams/Heath Ledger

Lead- Meryl Streep/Sean Penn (Though I'll be rooting for Kate Winslet and Micky Rouke

Picture-Slumdog

 

After discussions with my friends, I'd have to say I can settle on my top movies of the year, in no particular order

 

Slumdog

Vicky Cristina Barcelona

Milk

Dark Knight

Doubt

[froggie]

100 reasons to watch the Oscars:

 

Toronto Star:

100 reasons to watch the Oscars

 

Feb 21, 2009 04:30 AM

 

Malene Arpe

 

1. You can't wait to hear Jerry Lewis offend six to eight different races, religions and sexual orientations when accepting the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award.

 

2. Your doctor told you to keep the bandage on for six-and-a-half hours, which just happens to be the exact duration of the telecast.

 

3. Philip. Seymour. Hoffman. You know you want some.

 

4. If you don't watch, Mickey Rourke will come to your house and never leave.

 

5. You can't wait to see if John Travolta will show up, try to overcome his recent personal tragedy but, sadly, end up having a complete breakdown on national television. Oh, no, sorry. That's not you. That's me.

 

6. The Best Picture clips will be projected onto Nicole Kidman's forehead.

 

7. It's the perfect excuse to eat caviar muffins.

 

8. It's marginally more cheerful than the documentary on the inevitable extinction of every cute species in the entire world that's airing on Animal Planet.

 

9. You've already seen The Pink Panther 2 and Paul Blart: Mall Cop. Twice.

 

10. You have no intention of ever seeing He's Just Not That Into You.

 

11. Leather and Lace Night at The Golden Goat doesn't start until 2 a.m. anyway.

 

12. It's the closest you'll ever come to glamour, glitz and perfect hair. Sorry. That's me, too.

 

13. Anagrams for Academy Awards include Mad Saw Daycare; A Scared, Mad Way; and A Sad, Warm Decay. All good things. Especially the last. Mmm ... sad, warm decay.

 

14. There's only so much time a man can spend shaving his legs.

 

15. Those guys vying for Film Editing are smoking hot.

 

16. At least 5 per cent of the nominees have all their original body parts. I can almost guarantee you that.

 

17. If you get really drunk and squint, you can almost imagine that it's Ricky Gervais hosting.

 

18. If Sean Penn wins, maybe he'll smoke and say something unpleasant and inflammatory while looking sour and unshaven.

 

19. You have $50 on how many times host Hugh Jackman will use the word "claws."

 

20. You have $75 on how many times host Hugh Jackman will use the word "claws" in conjunction with a joke about Jack Nicholson.

 

21. You have $100 on how many times Hugh Jackman will actually be wearing "claws."

 

22. The Oscar statuette weighs 3.85 kilograms, and at some point an emaciated actress will win and promptly drop it from her hunger-weakened hands. This could be the year.

 

23. Ryan Seacrest will be snubbed by at least 10 celebrities.

 

24. The hairdos of Robert Pattinson and Zac Efron will duel for world domination.

 

25. It's better than mashed beets with warm milk.

 

26. You know what's funny? When the Best Foreign Language Film winner has to run all the way from the back of the theatre.

 

27. You know what else is funny? Angelina's face when she doesn't win.

 

28. It's the last year you'll be able to use your antenna.

 

29. You know how your friend set you up with a blind date for Sunday night? Yeah, you don't want to go there.

 

30. The tiny, tiny, yet real chance that Jennifer Aniston and Angelina Jolie will meet on the red carpet.

 

31. The even tinier, yet still real possibility they'll be wearing the same kind of dress.

 

32. Your new cellmate has some sort of history with Anne Hathaway.

 

33. You want to know the exact moment Heath Ledger does not win so you can log on to your favourite website and start writing indignant, outraged comments.

 

34. Your toaster told you to.

 

35. It's a pretty great excuse not to go see your friend's cousin's emo band play their first gig.

 

36. You know those movies you decided not to see last year because they were arty and boring? This is your chance to get a glimpse of all of them.

 

37. This year the Academy decided not to reveal the celebrity presenters, so who we might see is an exciting secret. Could be Ron Howard. Could be Ron Jeremy.

 

38. That $10.95 bottle of sparkling wine you bought for a special occasion isn't going to drink itself.

 

39. You swore you wouldn't spend another Sunday night on MyNaughtyLego.com.

 

40. Mr. Whisker-Poo insists.

 

41. Since they failed to break down a wall and hoist you out with a crane, you've given up on the idea of leaving the couch.

 

42. Your mom promised to do your laundry if you'd come over and watch.

 

43. Michael Moore isn't nominated for anything.

 

44. What with the restraining order and all, this is the closest you're likely to get to Richard Jenkins for a long time.

 

45. Avarice is your favourite thing.

 

46. You have $50 on whether the Academy will have come up with some sort of excuse to put the Jonas Brothers onstage.

 

47. Ditto Miley Cyrus.

 

48. Maybe Marisa Tomei will wear her costume from The Wrestler.

 

49. It's always exciting to see who just made it in under the wire for the "In Memoriam" segment.

 

50. There's nothing better than when the Canadian simulcast somehow manages to miss a significant moment to make room for a Corner Gas promo.

 

51. Awkward pairings of celebrity presenters who have clearly never met each other before.

 

52. Hearing said celebrities read lines like "Lights! Camera! Action! There are no words like them!" "And no words like `The nominees for Best Makeup are ...'"

 

53. Awkward pairings of celebrity presenters who have clearly seen each other naked before.

 

54. Awkward pairings of Mickey Rourke and anyone.

 

55. The big production number will be 12 creepy Benjamin Button babies dancing to "Jai Ho" from Slumdog Millionaire.

 

56. Maybe Jack Black will be there and do his Kung Fu Panda kick. No one I know can get enough of that.

 

57. Banjo class is cancelled.

 

58. "Cooking With Leftover Soap and Garden Snails, and Other Survival Tips for the Coming Inevitable Societal Breakdown" is also cancelled.

 

59. The hottie you hooked up with in Second Life expects you to.

 

60. Frost/Nixon could be a surprise/winner, in which case you'll win your Oscar/pool.

 

61. The Ambien has long since stopped working.

 

62. OxyContin makes everything pretty.

 

63. Ever since "the episode," you're not allowed to watch Ultimate Fighting anymore.

 

64. It's book club night, but you still haven't made it through The All-Girl Knitting and Heartbreak Club.

 

65. Since you got that facial tattoo of Goebbels, your social life has slowed down a bit.

 

66. The E! stiletto cam is the best thing to happen to you since you discovered your, erm, predilection.

 

67. Maybe Josh Brolin will call Russell Crowe an asshole again.

 

68. Promoting Angels & Demons, Tom Hanks will make a joke about his Da Vinci Code hair. It will be hilarious.

 

69. You forgot the safe word.

 

70. You need a break from bitching about how the Watchmen movie will so totally suck and how they've ruined the ending and how you want Alan Moore to show up to the premiere naked and drunk and ...

 

71. Every time someone thanks a lawyer, a hairdresser or parents who are "looking down from up there," you may take a swig of cooking brandy.

 

72. The $50 million spent by studios on Oscar campaigns could have bought five million malaria-preventing mosquito nets. Don't let it be a complete loss.

 

73. Christian Bale has promised to yell.

 

74. Even an evil scientist has to have the occasional day off from planning world domination.

 

75. Your wife left you, your dog ran away and your truck got repossessed.

 

76. Academy president Sid Ganis recently told the nominees: "Your categories are being presented in a completely different way. Heads up. Cinematographers, editors, composers. All of you guys. You're in for a big surprise." You know what that means: interpretive dance.

 

77. You're curious as to whether documentary short The Final Inch is as porny as it sounds.

 

78. An irony-free night will do you good.

 

79. If you keep watching until the very end, they'll reveal what Lost is all about. Promise.

 

80. The demon that controls you shall not be denied; so sayeth your Lord Satan.

 

81. You place inordinate value on blown-up, overrated displays of opulence and fake sentiment. (I love you.)

 

82. Your diet doesn't start until tomorrow.

 

83. You can't wait to see who will be the first to embrace red carpet Depression Chic.

 

84. It's the only thing you got in the settlement.

 

85. Your Wii broke.

 

86. You think it's the first half of a documentary on The Odd Couple.

 

87. It's either that or riding around aimlessly on the TTC all night.

 

88. Is feathered hair finally making a comeback?

 

89. You're Paris Hilton and, once again, you failed to sneak into the Kodak Theatre.

 

90. Pen

[Wilco Worshipper]

I'm not sure how I feel about this musical number w/ Hugh and Beyonce

[Wilco Worshipper]

Heath...wow

[OOO]

Not many surprises tonight, although I dug the Peter Gabriel tune more than the Slumdog ones. I do enjoy seeing Slumdog clean up though.

[isadorah]

i am so so so so upset Mickey Rourke did not get his due and the oscar went to Sean Penn. and for a fleeting moment i thought this oscar run was going to do right this year. well i guess at least it held true for slumdog i should stop watching the oscars. *sigh*

[Beltmann]

Had a pretty good year... went 20/24, missing only Foreign Language, Sound Mixing, Short Subject Documentary, and Animated Short. Man, I thought Presto was a lock.

 

I'm more or less indifferent about the winners, but I'm glad Sean Penn and Heath Ledger won, and I wish that Viola Davis and Auf der Strecke had won, too.

[chanman1128]

I wanted Rourke to win so bad...

 

Penn's speech pissed me off...he was great in Milk though

 

Rourke was better in The Wrestler