Do you care? Do you watch them? And who/what do you think will win this year? Who got slighted?

-- Anonymous, March 23, 2000

Answers

I used to watch the Oscars religiously, back when I had roommates who were film students. Now I watch bits and pieces of them, but I really don't care in the slightest who wins. I never have time or money to go to movies, so I haven't seen many of the nominees, and that makes it hard to get too worked up over it. Plus the speeches bore the socks off me.

-- Anonymous, March 23, 2000

I like to see the clothes, or better yet, the really bad clothes. And I'm sure we'll all miss the Debbie Allen Dance Number this year.

-- Anonymous, March 23, 2000

It has been a long time since I have watched a Video and an even longer time since I have gone to a movie. My interest, if and when I get that way, is in some of the movies that the independents make. The foreign films, subtitled for English or in English.

I quit watching the Oscars when the entertainment of the Oscar evening got as bad as the movies chosen for an Oscar.

I am not bitter, just bored to death, I equate them to the fund drives that the Public Television stations put on. The content is destroyed by the display of the phone bank and the constant soap boxing done at that time.

With a book - there is no baloney, no hype and the only breaks in the continuity are at your time and choice. With a book, if you think you have missed something you can page back and reread.

The opinions given voice here are mine, only mine with no slamming intended. Just a personal opinion.

Very seldom have I seen a movie that was anywhere close to the book. I also feel that a movie cannot adequately explain by visible action all of the thoughts going on in the heads of the main people in the story. There is not enough time to do what a book does, to my way of looking at it.

This is only my personal opinion with no intent to hurt or antagonize any person, organization or industry.

-- Anonymous, March 23, 2000

The Oscars? Are they having those again this year? Huh. I stopped watching once I realized I hadn't seen any of the movies nominated for the top 5. I gotta get out more.

-- Anonymous, March 23, 2000

Actually, I am a sick celebrity stalker and I do care.

Every Oscar night you will find me glued to the TV, catching every glimpse of every person I can gobble up.

(sometimes I like to pretend I have just won and I recite my acceptance speech)

American Beauty will be a big winner this year. Other than that, I don't really care. I think Wes Bentley got screwed. He was really good in that movie......it doesn't matter that he's so freaking hot it hurts. I swear.

-- Anonymous, March 23, 2000

I'll watch parts of it, mostly to see the opening monologue, and to check out the clothes. It never ceases to amaze me that these rich, beautiful women leave the house and go on national television in the most god-awful dresses I have ever seen. Don't these people own mirrors?!? What are they thinking?

Sometimes something funny or touching happens, but mostly, the whole show's an exercise in self-indulgence by people who need no additional practice at that particular skill.

-- Anonymous, March 23, 2000

I'm crazy about the Oscars--it's the most exciting day of the year as far as I'm concerned, after Xmas and my birthday. I don't know if that makes me pathetic or engaging. Don't tell me if it's the former. Anyway, I love the Oscars so much that last year when I had a show that night, I came home and waited for it to be over before rewinding the tape and watching the whole four hour extravaganza that very night. This year I've got a show that night as well. What a pain in my ass.

-- Anonymous, March 23, 2000

If I'm at the video rental place and a video has won an Oscar for best film, or a nomination, that speaks favorably on its behalf, as I try to pick a movie. Beyond that I generally do not care. I never watch them.

-- Anonymous, March 23, 2000

I care, I care desperately. I care what people are wearing, and who they're with, and what they say, and whether they punch Joan Rivers in the nose for going too far, and frankly, I'll miss the dance numbers, just because they're so much fun to heckle. I like to see who gets the most applause on the "People who Died Last Year" retrospective, I like to try to read the celebrities' lips when there's a lull in the show. When it all boils down, I'm just a sucker for pomp and pageantry.

I suck at predictions, but I'll tell you who I'd like to see win: Best Picture, American Beauty, Best Actor, Kevin Spacey (listen, if I had my way, I'd have nominated him for something in every single category, just to get the chance to see that delicious man talking and wryly lifting his brows as he smooths his Armani. . . oh, I'm drooling, aren't I?) Best Actress, Hilary Swank, Best Supporting Actor, Haley Joel Osment (That kid gave me the fucking willies, I thought he was amazing. Besides, I think it's cute when kids get Oscars.) Best Supporting Actress. . . I just don't care, and Best Song, "Blame Canada."

Prediction wise, I'm usually only good at the "because they really didn't deserve it categories." This year, for example, I expect Annette Bening to win for Best Actress, just because "she's paid her dues," whereas giving it to Hilary Swank would represent "too much, too soon." I'd also expect Michael Caine or Tom Cruise to take home best supporting actor, Caine because "He's due," or Cruise, because this is the only Oscar anybody can give him and still not feel like a total sell out. It's a gift nod to a beautiful man who makes this industry a LOT of money. I would have predicted Denzel Washington to take Best Actor this year- actors in "real life" movies tend to be lauded highly, especially when the person they play praises them- however, Denzel made too big a deal out of wanting an Oscar, deserving an Oscar, and expecting an Oscar, thus I think it'll revert to Kevin Spacey.

Of course, I'll probably be wrong. But I'll still enjoy the show!

-- Anonymous, March 23, 2000

Yes. Let's give awards to people who make more cash while taking a crap than most of us will in a year.

Gimme a break. When there's an oscar for ER surgeons or cancer researchers then I'll watch.

-- Anonymous, March 23, 2000

I have a love-hate relationship with the Oscars: Yeah they're fun, they're entertaining to watch, especially with Billy Crystal hosting.

But at the end of the night I always feel slightly let down, without being able to put my finger on it. And of course, they're always _too long_.

Last year, it was worth watching the Oscars if only to see Roberto Begnini jumping up and down on the seats and effusing about wanting to make love to all of Hollywood when "Life is Beautiful" won two Oscars.

For this year, if "American Beauty" doesn't win for Best Picture, I'll eat my hat.

As for whom I'd _like_ to win:

Best Picture: American Beauty (the film still haunts me) Best Actor: Russell Crowe or Kevin Spacey Supporting Actor: Haley Joel Osment Best Actress: Hilary Swank Supporting Actress: Toni Collette

Art Direction & Cinematography: Sleepy Hollow Costumes: Anna and the King Directing: The Sixth Sense

Film Editing and Visual FX: The Matrix Sound and Sound FX: The Phantom Menace

Screenplay Adaptiation: Election

Original Song: Tarzan Original Screenplay: Being John Malkovich

As you can see, I like to spread the awards out to recognize all the films/folks I thought were deserving instead of heaping them all on one film.

That's the thing I _hate_ about the the Oscars: the Academy seems to enjoy checking just one box to vote all of the awards to one film.

I hate the fact that routinely, one film sweeps almost every category and that seems wrong to me -- just because a film wins best picture, doesn't mean that it should win every category of award.

-- Anonymous, March 23, 2000

Hey, DinoNeil, take a slack on the bitters, and point your nose toward the Nobel Prizes. You know, for innovative and groundbreaking scientists, medical professionals, and on. . . and on. . . and on. . .?

-- Anonymous, March 23, 2000

What channel is that on? Now that I'd like to see.

-- Anonymous, March 23, 2000

I work on a film program at a community radio station, so we did an Oscars prediction thing a couple of weeks ago. (We will in fact be on air shortly before the Oscars are televised herealthough we get a delayed telecast so the results will already be knownso we may say some more about it.) My choices were American Beauty for best film, Russell Crowe for best actor, Hilary Swank for best actress, Haley Joel Osment for best sup. actor, Catherine Keener for best sup. actress, Being John Malkovich for best screenplay, "Blame Canada" for best song (pity it wasn't "Uncle Fucka" that got nominated) and All About My Mother for best foreign film.

Now, having said all that, those are purely the ones I'd like to see win (insofar as I take an even minimal interest in the Oscars). Knowing the inherent conservatism of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences and their preference for more obvious sentiment, I reckon more likely choices will be The Green Mile for best film, Denzel Washington for best actor, and the song from Tarzan for best song. Malkovich will still get best screenplay, but that'll be not so much because the Academy really believes in it but because they have to give out token awards to indie films to make it look like they support independent film initiatives. I'll riot if Malkovich doesn't get the awardunless American Beauty gets it instead, as that was a worthy contender as well.

Tonight We Sleep In Separate Ditchesblame Canada; they're not even a real country anyway :)

-- Anonymous, March 23, 2000

I don't care. I don't care.

Did I mention I don't care?

I don't care who wins, I don't care who thanked their mom, I don't care who wore a coat made out of puppies, I don't care who goes home in tears.

Now, if all the celebrities who were nominated for an award were thrown into a ring and had to duke it out to determine the winner, I might care. It would be interesting to see who uses spike heels to their advantage. Those things can do some serious damage.

I read someplace that there are over 400 award shows for movies and TV every year. That's more than one a day. Sure, the Oscars are the "big" one, but it's so like kindergarten. Everyone gets an award. "Well, I didn't win an Oscar, but I did get a Tully." Heh. ;)

she's actual size

-- Anonymous, March 23, 2000

Incredibly, I have only one thing to say...

plebthbthbthbthbthbthbthbth!!!!

-- Anonymous, March 24, 2000

My interest depends on the nominees. This year, the nominees are just too lame for words. Given the fact that Kevin Spacey will probably win Best Actor, I think they should have left the statuettes in that dumpster. Have I ever mentioned how much I loathe that guy's guts?

-- Anonymous, March 24, 2000

Finally, somebody else who can't stand Kevin Spacey! Stijn, you are my soul mate.

I don't care who wins, mostly. There are a few actors I just hate unreasonably and never want to win anything even if I have to admit they were good in some role. I almost never go to the movies but I read reviews and talk to people about them so I always know about all the pictures.

I love watching, mostly for the clothes and the sense that something interesting or spontaneous might happen. I like the speeches and wish they'd drop the Best Song category and all musical numbers except Billy Crystal.

I think American Beauty will win in most categories, although I don't htink it should. I thought Sixth Sense was better written and acted but it isn't an "important" movie, "just" a horror movie, so it will lose. I think Michael Caine will get the sentimental vote.

-- Anonymous, March 24, 2000

I care this year because I desperately want to see Hilary Swank win. She was amazing as Brandon and Brandon and the movie are very close to my heart. I will probably only watch up until that point. If she wins -- I am sure she will give a speech that will make me cry. If she doesn't win, I'll probably cry anyway.

If you haven't seen Boys Don't Cry. Watch it, it's good.

-- Anonymous, March 24, 2000

As long as it's Billy Crystal hosting, it's slightly okay. Whoppy Goldberg just didn't cut it. I'm glad he's back. I have to watch though. I always want to see if anyone's going to run up on stage and make some randomly vague political statements. Or streak, that's good too. :)

-- Anonymous, March 25, 2000

Billy Crystal made me laugh a lot. I'm so glad they didn't get Whoopi again.

-- Anonymous, March 27, 2000

I've never seen an episode of South Park and didn't see the movie, either. Now, thanks to the Oscar show, I can't get the tune of "Blame Canada" out of my head. No wonder a lot of people think American are stupid. Otherwise, I usually enjoy the Oscars, even if I haven't seen most of the movies. It's the spectacle. This time around, the only winning movie I saw was The Matrix. My favorite Oscar winner's outfit is still the one worn by the woman who did the costumes for Priscilla, Queen of the Desert. She wore a dress made out of American Express cards.

-- Anonymous, March 27, 2000