And the (Oscar) award didn't go to Hollywood (Dinosaur Media DeathWatch™)

Los Angeles Times ^ | February 25, 2008 | John Horn

[Zakeet]

Hollywood took on a new role in Sunday's 80th annual Academy Awards: bit player.

In a series of startling upsets and a few expected triumphs, almost all of the top Oscars were handed to foreigners and iconoclastic show business outsiders. Every one of the evening's winning actors came from beyond American borders, and the ceremony's dominant film -- best picture winner "No Country for Old Men" -- was created by a pair of filmmaking brothers from Minnesota who have never made a mainstream movie in their three-decade career.

In an era when overseas revenue accounts for more than half of a movie's income, the percentages were tilted far more heavily toward foreigners throughout the awards show, with an especially strong showing from Europe.

Best actor Daniel Day-Lewis of "There Will Be Blood" lives in Ireland, while "La Vie en Rose" surprise best actress winner Marion Cotillard makes her home in Paris. Spain's Javier Bardem was named best supporting actor for "No Country for Old Men," and Scotland's Tilda Swinton won best supporting actress for "Michael Clayton." Many of the evening's lower-profile awards -- for art direction, makeup, costume design and animated short among them -- went to non-American filmmakers and designers.

[Larebil]

Anti Christian Golden Compass beat out Pro Military Transformers for best visuals.
michael moore got one for his lies and propaganda.
Just like Passion of the Christ not getting anything, then the following Oscars a bunch of homo movies win.

I haven’y watched the ocsars since the early 90’s.
Their bias is so blatent and disgusting.
Funny thing, the movies that get the oscars usually tank at the box office.

[Ditter]

Good! I hope Hollywood is smarting from the put down.

[Dr. Scarpetta]

In what perhaps captured the tenor of the night most fittingly, "Falling Slowly" was honored as best original song. The tiny love ballad comes from the equally small Irish film "Once," and defeated three flashy songs from Disney musical blockbuster "Enchanted."

I saw "Enchanted," and I liked the entertaining fun of it.

[Grampa Dave]

“In an era when overseas revenue accounts for more than half of a movie’s income, the percentages were tilted far more heavily toward foreigners throughout the awards show, with an especially strong showing from Europe.”

In the early 1990’s to the mid 1990’s, one of our best friends traveled extensively in England, France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Hong Kong and Singapore on business.

He kept telling us the Hate America entertainers/semi actors were stoking up their sales across the oceans, when they came out with Anti America movies, songs and did hate America tv enterviews.

He said, when one of these Hatriots’s income reached about 50% from overseas, they became strident hate America Americans. Often when their stardom took a big and permanent dip in America, they would do the hate America gigs to sell their old DVDs, CDs and songs in the overseas market.

[dfwgator]

All I know is that the best movie of last year was the one that won for Best Foreign Language Film, “The Lives of Others.”

I definately want to check out this year’s winner, “The Counterfeiters.” I suspect that will blow away any Hollywood film as well.

[roses of sharon]

why should anyone care what these people do

Because "these people" have enormous influence, and hold a monopoly on communication and culture in America.
Because WE have FAILED to compete, by ignoring them.

As evidenced by the horrible poll numbers on Iraq, President Bush, the enormous growth in government over the last 40 years, the continuing addiction to gov literally and emotionally, the rise of Obama, and the belief by Americans that the gov can control the weather and the earth's temp, FGS!

Hollywood owns TV, Americans do nothing but watch TV.

[The Ghost of Rudy McRomney]

“When you have to shoot, you don’t talk, you just shoot.” I don’t know about all-time best movie, (although one of my favorites) but certainly best movie score ever. Ennio Morricone was a musical genius.

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The soundtrack was only one reason I loved it. Costumes, sets, design, acting, direction, photography, all came together in a masterpiece of what a movie is supposed to be. I saw it at the theatres in initial release thirteen times-to this day a record for me.

[Milhous]

FYI New Media meme update.

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Oscar Ratings At 20 Year Low

As much as I enjoyed the Oscars last night, it appears that many people decided to skip out on the program and watch something else. We get wind of some disappointing numbers from the hallowed halls of the Hollywood Reporter:

According to ABC’s very preliminary household metered market overnights, the awards averaged a 21.9 rating/33 share. That’s down a sharp 21% from last year and the lowest on record in at least 20 years. The more accurate fast national ratings have been delayed by Nielsen and should be available midday.

Last night’s Oscar telecast, where “No Country for Old Men” took the top prize, was expected to underperform given the lack of movies with broad boxoffice appeal vying for best picture. ABC and producers also were unsure if the Oscars were going forward with a full production until the writers strike was resolved Feb. 12, resulting in last-minute scramble to prepare and market the show.

Well, this sucks. I thought this was an outstanding year for the Oscars, with a great selection of films up for awards I am a little disappointed that interest wasn’t there for the broadcast. The program is notoriously long and I am wondering if people are losing their patience for awards shows, or just have no real desire to see them anymore. I am scratching my head for reasons and if you guys have your own ideas, please share your thoughts.

I wonder if the sheer number of films that are being released are having an impact on the oscars. 20 years ago, everyone was able to see the same films because the choice was slimmer every weekend. Now with a glut of films always coming down the pipe, people are getting more variety, but we are not sharing stories like we used to. People are getting segmented into smaller viewing groups and many people have not had a chance to see all of the nominated films. It’s hard to get excited about nominated films when you haven’t seen them, and you certainly will not sit through an oscar broadcast.

This is disheartening news. Jon Stewart did an outstanding job, the show had a good pace, the nominees were solid and the show gets piss-poor ratings. International friends, do you think anything can be done to save the Oscars as a television event or is it dammed without blockbuster nominees?

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Oscar Awards Bomb

Nielsen said Monday that overnight ratings are also 21 percent lower than last year, 14 percent lower than the least-watched ceremony ever. No one wants to watch a bunch of snobs act like they are better than everyone else. They want to see talented actors who humbly accept awards that show appreciation for their talent. It’s supposed to inspired the average person, but instead it has made most feel like they aren’t good enough, and all the Oscar snubs prove this point. The Oscars failed due to their own snobbery.

[Borges]

I remember when Titanic was going full steam in early 1998 there were various articles about how it was a class warfare, anti-Christian propanganda piece.

[TightyRighty]

I was surprised they didn’t have the troops announcing that award instead of the one before.

[Petronski]

I guess that’s the “silver lining” in Oscar’s noxious cloud.

[Grampa Dave]

If the America Hating Maggots in charge of Follywood are depending on adults like those in our family to watch this bs and their stuff posing as movies, they are in real trouble.

None of the adults in our immediate family watched the Oscars nor saw any movies listed for a possible Oscar.

The movie extent were Disney Movies for the grandkids.

One of my wive’s old type liberal friends asked my wife how we could go years without seeing great movies and the Oscars.

My wife said, “We haven’t missed any great movies, and we go green during Oscar night by turning off our tv.”

The friend and her husband have cancelled their annual Oscar Night party for lack of interest.

[flaglady47]

WOW! What a hunk! Loved him in Last of the Mohicans! Didn’t want that movie to end!

He was great in Mohicans. Love him in any movie he’s in. Great actor. Actually does character acting, an almost dead art, in many of his movies, like Gangs of New York. Will see this new movie when it comes out on DVD. A fantastic actor is Daniel Day Lewis.