My brief two cents before I finish getting ready for work:
1.) While some (okay, a lot) of the jokes were bad, Anne Hathaway wasn’t a terrible host. She put the effort in, anyway, which is more than can be said for her partner in crime, James Franco. What, did he lose a bet or something? How does he put more energy into soap operas than he does into the biggest award ceremony of the year?
2.) I wish there was an Academy Award for Best Soundtrack. Is that solely the director’s job, or is there, like, a music editor or something? Because movies sometimes have these amazing soundtracks, but if they aren’t original songs or scores written solely for the film, then no one gives a shit. (I imagine there are problems with who gets credited with the award, since there are so many artists involved and all. I don’t care. I still think it would be neat.)
As far as Best Original Song goes, the only one that even remotely interested me was the one from 127 Hours. The song that won? I think someone just felt bad for all of those Randy Newman nominations because that song was just boring.
3. Cate Blanchett had the ugliest dress of the night. What the hell was that shit? I’ll have to meditate on the best dress, but Jennifer Hudson looked pretty hot.
4. I think the only surprise of the night was that David Fincher didn’t win for Best Director. And even that wasn’t a huge surprise. It’s not like the Coen brothers snuck in for the title or anything. Still, maybe all those people who won for their roles deserved them. I don’t know; I didn’t see half of these films. At some point, I’m going to have to make myself watch The Fighter. All I really know is, Christian Bale should shave that frightening creature off of his face.
5. Finally, for all of you outraged, long-suffering bloggers who are whining about the predictable yet oh-so-tragic loss of The Social Network . . . look, if you’ve seen both films, and you thought that The Social Network was superior, fine, bitch away. But if you haven’t seen The King’s Speech, and you’re just ranting about how the Oscars always pick the “British one” or “the one about kings” or “the inspirational biopic” . . . just do me a favor and shut up, okay? Please? The King’s Speech is an incredible film with a very good script and amazing performances. I can’t say that it deserved top honors—I’ve only seen three of the nominated films—but it’s more than just the stupid, popular girl that wins over the smart, ugly girl for Class President, so maybe you could do me a favor and stop treating it like a whore?
Thanks 🙂
My Geek Blasphemy 
I saw 8 of the 10 Best Picture nominees. I meant to see them all, but it got tough because I was pretty busy this month and the last 3 on the list for me were all still in theaters (I saw one of them this afternoon though). The ones I didn’t see yet were The Fighter and True Grit by the way. I still intend to see those when I get the chance.
I’m kind of sad 127 Hours didn’t win anything even though it was nominated in a lot of categories. D= That’s the one I saw today, and it was really good! I especially loved it from a visual standpoint; there were so many gorgeous shots, and I thought the split-screen montages were pretty cool. =3 However I did also love The King’s Speech, so at least it’s not like it was completely robbed or anything. It just would have been nice to see 127 Hours get some kind of recognition.
Luckily all of my other favorites (King’s Speech, Black Swan, Social Network and Toy Story 3) got at least one award each. =D
Also the NIN fan in me is really happy that Trent Reznor (and Atticus Ross)’s music for The Social Network won Best Score! But yes, I do know what you mean about the idea for a Best Soundtrack category, that would be pretty awesome. =)
I definitely want to see True Grit. I just haven’t quite gotten around to it yet. I plan to see most of the other movies, but my actual interest in watching them is kind of limited. I’m sort of interested in Black Swan but I tend to like surrealism better in paintings than I do in movies, and I just have this feeling I’m going to see it and be the one schmuck who didn’t like it at all. (Of course that will give me a new blasphemy to write about.)
Movies like 127 Hours, The Social Network, etc, etc . . . I’m sure they’re great movies, but they’re the kind of films I have to make myself see, although nothing will be as hard as The Fighter. As a rule, boxing movies are ALWAYS a tough sell with me. I know it’s about more than that, but my instinctual reaction is still, “Bo-ring.”
I did just buy Inception though. Can’t wait to watch that again.
Don’t worry, you wouldn’t be the only one to not like Black Swan. I thought for sure that angry crazy pseudo-lesbian ballerinas would be right up my alley, but alas.
Trent Reznor winning Best Score is the biggest fucking travesty in the history of the Academy Awards. ESPECIALLY considering John Powell was up for it for his score to How To Train Your Dragon.
There is NO comparison here. Powell’s score was intricate, complex, expertly crafted. Containing myriad examples of striking contrapuntal writing and melodic and harmonic expression, including masterful orchestration. A true *composer* wrote that score, and it is a credit to the profession.
Reznor’s “score” was wallpaper. There was absolutely nothing interesting about it at all. It was melodically bland, harmonically bankrupt and suffered the same musical faults that a lot of pop music does.
Fuck you, Academy. Just because The Social Network was a good movie with a lot of buzz, that does NOT mean that every aspect of the film was worthy of praise. The score was forgettable schlock. Stop giving out that award if you aren’t going to take it seriously, because it’s an insult, quite frankly.