By Chris Kavan - 03/02/14 at 06:22 PM CT
With the Red Carpet special less than an hour way here, I'm gearing up for the first live FilmCrave blog. You can comment here or the forum, but I will be updating all the night's award right here as they are announced. I admit I still didn't get to watch half the films I wanted to before tonight's show, which looks to have one of the tightest Best Picture races in recent history, but considering how many of the nominees are scheduled to come out this month (after the awards, of course), I'll at least have my opinion out soon enough.
Sit tight - the main event will begin in less than two hours. I'll be right here throughout the night.
Alright, alright, alright - we're finally done with the Red Carpet. And you know what? I'm no expert, but props to Jared Leto for rocking the white suit and red tie. I have a feeling we're going to be seeing him again. As for the women? You can never go wrong with Jennifer Lawrence but Olivia Wilde looks great with the baby bump and can anyone ever top Lupita Nyong'o? She is the awards show fashion icon of the year and tonight is no exception.
On to the opening - we'll see how Ellen compares to the somewhat abrasive response Seth MacFarlane got last year.
A solid opening - and for the first award of the night we have Best Supporting Actor - and the winner (was there any doubt?) is Jared Leto for Dallas Buyers Club. And that was a great speech - Leto, you have been out of the spotlight too long, great to have you back, hope you stick around.
For the second award of the night Best Costume Design - the award goes to The Great Gatsby - a film that is on my list but I have yet to see. One thing is for certain - the look of the film is perfect so congrats.
And right on to Best Makeup and Hairstyling - Dallas Buyers Club. Surprise - it was up against Bad Grandpa and The Lone Ranger - I still kind of wanted Bad Grandpa to win just because.
Is Harrison Ford Drunk? Or just really bored? Eh - every presenter can't be Jim Carrey.
The Best Animated Short - as announced by the incomparable Kim Novak (and Matthew McConaughy as well) - goes to Mr Hublot.
And the Best Animated Feature - Frozen - another that was all but guaranteed.
The next award is for Visual Effects - and it goes to Gravity. Considering it made me actually want to watch a film in 3D again - I would say it's a deserving win.
The next award goes to Best Live Action Short - and it goes to Helium.
Not skipping a beat - Best Documentary Short Subject - The Lady in Number 6: Music Saved My Life.
Now we have the Best Documentary Feature - and they go with the so-called "popular" choice, 20 Feet from Stardom. Eh, Act of Killing looked like it had a much better premise - but documentaries aren't my forte.
Oh, Kevin Spacey, you are who you are and I thank you. He is here to announce the Governor's Ball honorary Oscar awards - Angela Lansbury, Steve Martin, Angelina Jolie (Humanitarian Award) and Piero Tosi.
The Best Foreign Language Film goes to The Great Beauty - Italy. I have only seen one of the nominees in the category - and I have to say, if this film is better than The Hunt, I would be very impressed.
Tyler Perry presents best picture nominees and they don't let him announce 12 Years a Slave? Hey - he was better than Harrison Ford at least.
Now we take time out to check out the smart people behind all the science, technology and software that makes the movies look as good as they do. Bravo, film nerds, for making those innovations and continuing to push the boundaries in film.
The next award is for Sound Mixing and it goes to Gravity.
For Sound Editing the award goes to... Gravity! It is looking like the film is sweeping the technical awards... we'll see if that translates to bigger wins down the road tonight.
Now we get to another big award - Best Supporting Actress - and it goes to Lupita Nyong'o for 12 Years a Slave. She had the momentum going in to the show and the film is one of the top movies of 2013 that I need to watch. I have no doubt we're going to be seeing a lot more out of this actress in the future.
Mmmm nothing like a mid-Oscar broadcast pizza party! That guy better get a big tip.
The next award is for Cinematography - and Gravity picks up yet another award (but big up to Bill Murray for paying tribute to the late Harold Ramis).
The next award is for Best Editing - and it likewise goes to Gravity (the first Oscar for Alfonso Cuaron and the way the night is going, it may not be his last of the evening).
Makes one wonder if a film from our generation will resonate as well as The Wizard of Oz - guess I'll have to check back in 75 years to find out.
Production Design is the next award and it goes to The Great Gatsby - with along with it's award for Costumes, actually makes it one of the more successful award winners of the night (so far).
The In Memoriam segment - nice to see they honored some of those who recently passed away (Ramis, Phillip Seymour Hoffman and Shirley Temple Black amongst them).
Now we arrive at Best Original Score - Steven Price for Gravity. I always have to support my man John Williams (who hasn't won nearly the awards he should have in his career) but it is apparently the night for Gravity to win (nearly) everything.
And we move right into Best Original Song - Let It Go - Frozen - another award that was pretty much in the bag. And probably the most entertaining awards speech of the night (and congrats on the EGOT).
Not sure if I should be impressed or depressed that Ellen's Oscar-filled selfie really did break Twitter - and took the record for re-tweets away from Barack Obama. The power of social media people (and btw, Kevin Spacey owns that picture).
We now arrive at Best Adapted Screenplay - and it goes to 12 Years a Slave - which would have been the safe bet.
Moving right along to Best Original Screenplay - and Spike Jonze receives the award for Her. And the film really does define the term "original" - just like Jonze's other films. Need to see this one too.
Now we come to the big awards of the night, starting with Best Director - and the winner is Alfonso Cuaron for Gravity. It has won the majority of awards for the night and I said we'd be seeing Cuaron again, and I was right.
Another big award - Best Actress - and Cate Blanchett wins for Blue Jasmine. This was all but in the bag and I have actually seen Blue Jasmine and she gives a standout performance. If there is one thing Woody Allen does well, it is bring out the best in the actresses he casts.
And we flow smoothly into Best Actor - and the award goes to Matthew McConaughey - and he was riding a wave of popularity and I would have been surprised if it went to anyone else. Granted, everyone was deserving, but I'm glad it went to McConaughey.
And this leads us to the final, and biggest, award of the night: Best Picture - and the award goes to 12 Years a Slave. Though Gravity picked up just about every other award, the more serious film gets the picture nod (and, let's face it, science fiction has never fared well at the Academy Awards - even one as popular as Gravity). 12 Years is the more important film, I feel, so I have no problem with it winning the big award.
Final thoughts - Ellen kept things a lot more fun and free than the rather acerbic and biting show last year. The only thing that really bothered me about the show was how the best picture nominees were announced - it was just a bit awkward but aside from that (and the rather longish running time) things went pretty smooth. A few botched lines here and there - but no one had to be bleeped out. I had a good time - maybe a little too "safe" but, overall, a good show and many deserved awards (and far too many films I have yet to see). Here's hoping I do better next year - but I hope I did well enough tonight.
Comments
Chris Kavan - wrote on 03/03/14 at 12:09 AM CT
I still have to see 12 Years a Slave, but do think it was the more deserving film. Gravity was, in terms of the technical aspects, a great film, but I don't know if it will be remembered 10 years from now - whereas I can see 12 Years having the longevity because of the subject matter. I am glad Cuaron won, however, but I think Children of Men is still his best film.
Ad1836 - wrote on 03/02/14 at 11:40 PM CT
Im gonna be upset if Gravity wins best picture or best actress. It does not deserve those two awards.
Ad1836 - wrote on 03/02/14 at 10:32 PM CT
I feel like the Academy is totally biased toward Gravity this year
Ad1836 - wrote on 03/02/14 at 10:17 PM CT
I don't Gravity should win Best Picture just because there better films nominated this year. What do you think ?
Chris Kavan - wrote on 03/02/14 at 10:11 PM CT
One of my top films of the year - was really impressed with not just the story, but the performances. All-around an excellent film.
