This year's Oscar ceremony boasts several interesting aspects,
including the battle royale between the blockbuster "Avatar" and
the indie war film "The Hurt Locker" (a war of words that has
resulted in the "Hurt Locker" producer being barred from the
ceremony — oops!); the one-two punch of comic masters Alec Baldwin
and Steve Martin as co-hosts; and the presence of no fewer than 10
Best Picture nominees, which were voted on using a 1-10
preferential ranking system that could result in a good
old-fashioned Oscar night shocker (more on that in a minute).
It's a good thing we've got these features to distract us,
because the races themselves offer little to no suspense.
An online service is needed to view this article in its entirety.
You need an online service to view this article in its entirety.
Login
Or, use your
linked account:
Current print subscribers
Need an account? Create one now.
Or, use your
linked account:
kAm%9:D :D E96 62D:6DE\E@\42== 2H2C5D 7:6=5 xVG6 D66? D:?46 x
DE2CE65 7@==@H:?8 E96 ~D42CD ?62C=J a_ J62CD 28@ 2?5[ H:E9 E96
6I46AE:@? @7 E96 27@C6>6?E:@?65 A@E6?E:2= DA@:=6C :? E96 q6DE
!:4EFC6 42E68@CJ[ :E D66>D G6CJ 92C5 E@ 36=:6G6 E92E 2?J @7 >J
AC65:4E:@?D :? E96 >2;@C 7:6=5D 4@F=5 36 Q@77]Qk^Am
kAmx? E9:D 42D6[ E9@F89[ xV5 =@G6 E@ 36 AC@G6? HC@?8[ 6G6? @?46[ :7
@?=J E@ 255 D@>6 >@5:4F> @7 DFCAC:D6 E@ E96 6G6?:?8]k^Am
kAmp?JH2J[ 96C6 H6 8@ …k^Am
k9bm|:DF?56CDE@@5 7=:4< FA 7@C q6DE !:4EFC6k^9bm
kAmkDEC@?8m%96 ?@>:?66Dik^DEC@?8mk^Am
kAmQpG2E2CQk^Am
kAmQ%96 q=:?5 $:56Qk^Am
kAmQs:DEC:4E hQk^Am
kAmQp? t5F42E:@?Qk^Am
kAmQ%96 wFCE {@4<6CQk^Am
kAmQx?8=@FC:@FD q2DE6C5DQk^Am
kAmQ!C64:@FDi q2D65 @? E96 }@G6= V!FD9V 3J $2AA9:C6Qk^Am
kAmQp $6C:@FD |2?Qk^Am
kAmQ&AQk^Am
kAmQ&A :? E96 p:CQk^Am
kAmkDEC@?8m(:== H:?ik^DEC@?8m Q%96 wFCE {@4<6CQk^Am
kAmkDEC@?8m$9@F=5 H:?ik^DEC@?8m Qx?8=@FC:@FD q2DE6C5DQk^Am
kAmtG6? E9@F89 AC@5F46C }:4@=2D r92CE:6C 92D 366? 32??65 7C@> ~D42C
?:89E 5F6 E@ 9:D 6IA=:4:E 2EE24<D @? QpG2E2CQ :? E96 4@?E6IE @7
p4256>J 42>A2:8?:?8[ E96C6 2C6 ?@ 92C5 766=:?8D[ 2?5 9:D 7:=> :D
>@C6 @C =6DD 2 =@4< E@ H:? E9:D 2H2C5]k^Am
kAmxEVD 2 BF2=:EJ H@C<[ G6CJ H6==\=:<65[ 2?5 F?=6DD J@FVC6 `_ J62CD
@=5 2?5^@C 2 uFCCJ[ E96C6VD D:>A=J ?@ 56?J:?8 E92E :E :D DFA6C:@C
E@ E@A 4@>A6E:E@C QpG2E2CQ :? 6G6CJ >62?:?87F= H2J]k^Am
kAmqFE 96C6VD E96 42G62Ei sF6 E@ E96 AC676C6?E:2= E23F=2E:@? @7
G@E6D[ E96C6VD 6G6CJ A@DD:3:=:EJ E92E "F6?E:? %2C2?E:?@VD (@C=5 (2C
xx C:77 Qx?8=@FC:@FD q2DE6C5DQ 4@F=5 D?62< :? H:E9 6?@F89 }@] a 2?5
}@] b G@E6D E@ AFE :ED 2G6C286 @G6C E96 E@A @7 Q%96 wFCE {@4<6CQ
2?5 QpG2E2C[Q H9:49 4@F=5 3@E9 36 92C>65 3J A@=2C:K65 G@E:?8 W:]6]
2 QwFCE {@4<6CQ 72? AFEE:?8 9:D 7:=> 2D }@] ` 2?5 QpG2E2CQ 2D }@]
`_[ 2?5 G:46 G6CD2[ E@ :?7=:4E >2I:>F> 52>286 E@ E96 @AA@D:?8
7:=>X]k^Am
kAm~7 4@FCD6[ >J DFAA@CE :D DBF2C6=J 369:?5 Qx?8=@FC:@FD q2DE6C5D[Q
2 H:=5=J 6?E6CE2:?:?8 2?5 D@A9:DE:42E65 86?C6 >65=6J E92E 24EF2==J
H2D E96 J62CVD 36DE 7:=>]k^Am
kAmxE :D >J 7:C> 36=:67 E92E E96 7:=>VD 4C:E:4D D:>A=J 5@?VE
F?56CDE2?5 :E[ 2?5 92G6 ?@ 7C2>6 @7 C676C6?46 7@C 9@H %2C2?E:?@
FE:=:K65 86?C6 9:DE@CJ E@ 7@C> 2 4@>A=6E6=J ?6H 2?5 F?:BF6 @56 E@
4:?6>2 :ED6=7]k^Am
k5:G DEJ=6lQH:5E9icddAIj 7=@2Ei=67Ej >2C8:?\C:89Ei`_AIjQm
k5:G :5lQ7=2D94@?E6?EQmkDEC@?8m*@F ?665 E@ FA8C256 J@FC u=2D9
!=2J6Ck^DEC@?8m %9:D >@G:6 C6BF:C6D u=2D9 !=2J6C g @C
8C62E6C]k^5:Gm
kD4C:AE EJA6lQE6IE^;2G2D4C:AEQm
^^kP,rsp%p,
G2C D@ l ?6H $(u~3;64EWQ9EEAi^^HHH]=@5:?6HD]4@>^D=:56D9@H^=@5:=:G:?8^@D42CD0a_`__b_e^D@F?5D=:56C]DH7Q[ QD@F?5D=:56CQ[ QcddQ[ Qcd_Q[ QgQ[ QR______QXjD@]255!2C2>WQ2==@HuF==$4C66?Q[ QECF6QXjD@]HC:E6WQ7=2D94@?E6?EQXj
^^..m
k^D4C:AEmk^5:Gm
kAm%9:D :D :?E6==64EF2==J DE:>F=2E:?8 >6E2\7:=>>2<:?8 — A=FD[ :EVD
;FDE D@ 3=@@5J 6?E6CE2:?:?8[ :D?VE :Enk^Am
kAmuC2?<=J[ x 42?VE 72E9@> 9@H D@>6@?6 4@F=5 H2E49 E96
72?E2DE:42==J DFDA6?D67F=[ {6@?6\:?7FD65 AC@=@8F6 W@C E96
76G6C:D9=J :?E6?D6 {2 {@F:D:2?6 32CC@@> D6BF6?46[ @C E96
|2CI\qC@E96CD\>66E\s6!2=>2 4=:>2I 2E E96 >@G:6 E962E6C[ @C …X 2?5
?@E 4@>A=6E6=J 866< @FE H:E9 @C8:2DE:4 8=66] qFE E@ 6249 9:D @H?] x
8F6DD]k^Am
k9bmq6DE p4E@C ?@>:?66 567:?6D 6?E:C6 7:=>k^9bm
kAmkDEC@?8m%96 ?@>:?66Dik^DEC@?8mk^Am
kAmy677 qC:586D :? QrC2KJ w62CEQk^Am
kAmv6@C86 r=@@?6J :? Q&A :? E96 p:CQk^Am
kAmr@=:? u:CE9 :? Qp $:?8=6 |2?Qk^Am
kAm|@C82? uC66>2? :? Qx?G:4EFDQk^Am
kAmy6C6>J #6??6C :? Q%96 wFCE {@4<6CQk^Am
kAmkDEC@?8m(:== H:?ik^DEC@?8m y677 qC:586D :? QrC2KJ w62CEQk^Am
kAmkDEC@?8m$9@F=5 H:?ik^DEC@?8m y677 qC:586D :? QrC2KJ w62CEQk^Am
kAmx DFAA@D6 y6C6>J #6??6C 92D 2 D=:> 492?46 @7 H:??:?8 E9:D[ 2?5
A2CE @7 >6 H2?ED E@ D2J 96 56D6CG6D :E 7@C 9:D DF3E=6[ F?56CDE2E65
A6C7@C>2?46 2D 2 H2CE:>6 3@>3 5:DA@D2= 6IA6CE :? Q%96 wFCE
{@4<6C]Qk^Am
kAmqFE E96 724E C6>2:?D E92E H:E9@FE #6??6C[ Q%96 wFCE {@4<6CQ
DE:== H@F=5 92G6 366? 2? 6I46==6?E 7:=>]k^Am
kAm%96 D2>6 42??@E 36 D2:5 @7 y677 qC:586D 2?5 QrC2KJ w62CE[Q 2
>@G:6 E92E :D :?5665 567:?65 3J :ED 46?EC2= A6C7@C>2?46] pD 2
H2D965\FA[ 2=4@9@=:4 4@F?ECJ H6DE6C? D:?86C D66<:?8 C656>AE:@? 7@C
2 H2DE65 =:76[ qC:586D ?2:=65 6G6CJ 56E2:= @7 9:D 492C24E6C[ H9:49
>2J 92G6 366? 2 4=:49é :? E96 92?5D @7 2 =6DD 42A23=6 24E@C]k^Am
kAm%96C6VD ?@E @?6 >@>6?E @7 E96 7:=> E92E 766=D :?2FE96?E:4[ 2?5
E92E :D 2== E92?<D E@ :ED DE2C[ H9@ :D 7C@?E\2?5\46?E6C :? 2=>@DE
6G6CJ D46?6]k^Am
k9bmq6DE p4EC6DD ?@>:?66 D9@HD ?2EFC2= 23:=:EJk^9bm
kAmkDEC@?8m%96 ?@>:?66Dik^DEC@?8mk^Am
kAm$2?5C2 qF==@4< :? Q%96 q=:?5 $:56Qk^Am
kAmw6=6? |:CC6?[ :? Q%96 {2DE $E2E:@?Qk^Am
kAmr2C6J |F==:82? :? Qp? t5F42E:@?Qk^Am
kAmv23@FC6J $:5:36 :? Q!C64:@FDi q2D65 @? E96 }@G6= V!FD9V 3J
$2AA9:C6Qk^Am
kAm|6CJ= $EC66A :? QyF=:6 U2>Aj yF=:2Qk^Am
kAmkDEC@?8m(:== H:?ik^DEC@?8m $2?5C2 qF==@4< :? Q%96 q=:?5
$:56Qk^Am
kAmkDEC@?8m$9@F=5 H:?ik^DEC@?8m v23@FC6J $:5:36 :? Q!C64:@FDi q2D65
@? E96 }@G6= V!FD9V 3J $2AA9:C6Qk^Am
kAmx DE:== C67FD6 E@ H2E49 Q%96 q=:?5 $:56Q @? E96 8C@F?5D E92E :E
:D DEFA:5[ 3FE x 42? D66 E96 HC:E:?8 @? E96 H2==]k^Am
kAmu@C D@>6 C62D@? E92E x 42??@E 4@>AC696?5[ E96 p4256>J @7 |@E:@?
!:4EFC6 pCED 2?5 $4:6?46D 766= E92E E96J @H6 D@>6E9:?8 E@ $2?5C2
qF==@4<[ 2?5 D@ E96J 7:8FC6 E96JV== 8:G6 96C 2? ~D42C 3642FD6[ 96J[
H9J ?@E[ C:89Enk^Am
kAm%9:D 42?VE 36 2 42C66C\249:6G6>6?E E9:?8 W:7 :E H2D[ E96JV5 36
8:G:?8 :E E@ |6CJ= $EC66AX[ D@ xV> 8F6DD:?8 E92E G@E6CD 2C6 D:>A=J
:>AC6DD65 E92E 2? @G6C\c_ 76>2=6 9625=:?6C 42? DE:== 36 2
4@?D:DE6?E 3@I @77:46 5C2H[ 2?5 E96J D66 7:E E@ E9C@H qF==@4< 2
3@?6]k^Am
kAmv23@FC6J $:5:36 >2J ?@E 36 4FE6 2?5 25@C23=6[ 3FE :? 96C D4C66?
563FE :? Q!C64:@FD[Q D96 5:DA=2J65 2 ?2EFC2= 23:=:EJ E92E 2?
24EC6DD =:<6 qF==@4< 42? ?6G6C 9@A6 E@ 6BF2=]k^Am
kAmpD 2 >@C3:5=J @36D6 3=24< E66? DECF88=:?8 282:?DE 6G6CJE9:?8
7C@> D6IF2==J 23FD:G6[ 5CF8\255:4E65 A2C6?ED 2?5 :?46DEF@FD
AC68?2?4J E@ :==:E6C24J 2?5 wx'[ $:5:36 — =:<6 qC:586D — E@@< 2
H2=<:?8 4=:49é 2?5 3C@F89E :E E@ =:76 :? H2JD x H@F=5?VE 92G6
E9@F89E A@DD:3=6] %96 7:=> :ED6=7 :D 4C2A — 2 5:D;@:?E65[ H6:C5=J
DEJ=:K65 >:D9>2D9 @7 D@4:@\64@?@>:4 E@CEFC6 A@C? 2?5 {:76E:>6
>@G:6\@7\E96\H66< D6?E:>6?E2=:EJ — 3FE $:5:36 D9:?6D =:<6 2 5:2>@?5
2>:5DE E96 CF33:D9]k^Am
k9bmq6DE $FAA@CE:?8 p4E@Ci %96 @3G:@FD 49@:46k^9bm
kAmkDEC@?8m%96 ?@>:?66Dik^DEC@?8mk^Am
kAm|2EE s2>@? :? Qx?G:4EFDQk^Am
kAm(@@5J w2CC6=D@? :? Q%96 |6DD6?86CQk^Am
kAmr9C:DE@A96C !=F>>6C :? Q%96 {2DE $E2E:@?Qk^Am
kAm$E2?=6J %F44: :? Q%96 {@G6=J q@?6DQk^Am
kAmr9C:DE@A9 (2=EK :? Qx?8=@FC:@FD q2DE6C5DQk^Am
kAmkDEC@?8m(:== H:?ik^DEC@?8m r9C:DE@A9 (2=EK :? Qx?8=@FC:@FD
q2DE6C5DQk^Am
kAmkDEC@?8m$9@F=5 H:?ik^DEC@?8m r9C:DE@A9 (2=EK :? Qx?8=@FC:@FD
q2DE6C5DQk^Am
kAm{2DE J62C[ w62E9 {6586C H@? E9:D 2H2C5 ?@E 3642FD6 :E H2D 2
A@DE9F>@FD 9@?@C[ 3FE C2E96C 3642FD6[ 2D %96 y@<6C :? Q%96 s2C<
z?:89E[Q 96 82G6 FD 2 9:89=J 4C62E:G6[ 56=:4:@FD=J G:==2:?@FD
A6C7@C>2?46 E92E 56>2?565 6G6CJ 3:E @7 @FC 2EE6?E:@? H96? 96 H2D @?
D4C66?] p?5 H96? 96 H2D?VE @? D4C66?[ H6 H6C6 H:D9:?8 96 H2D]k^Am
kAmpD 2 }2K: :?G6DE:82E@C :? Qx?8=@FC:@FD q2DE6C5D[Q r9C:DE@A9
(2=EK @A6C2E6D @? E96 6I24E D2>6 =6G6=] xEVD DF49 2 4C66AJ[ 7F?[
:?DE2?E=J :?G@=G:?8[ @?6\@7\2\<:?5 A6C7@C>2?46 E92E[ 2D >F49 2D
E96J >2J H2?E E@ 9@?@C r9C:DE@A96C !=F>>6CVD 3@5J @7 H@C<[ p4256>J
G@E6CD 4@F=5?VE A@DD:3=J ;FDE:7J >2C<:?8 E96 32==@E 7@C 2?J@?6
6=D6]k^Am
k9bmq6DE $FAA@CE:?8 p4EC6DD 56D6CG6D 6G6CJ 3:E @7 AC2:D6k^9bm
kAmkDEC@?8m%96 ?@>:?66Dik^DEC@?8mk^Am
kAm!6?6=@A6 rCFK :? Q}:?6Qk^Am
kAm'6C2 u2C>:82 :? Q&A :? E96 p:CQk^Am
kAm|288:6 vJ==6?922= :? QrC2KJ w62CEQk^Am
kAmp??2 z6?5C:4< :? Q&A :? E96 p:CQk^Am
kAm|@V}:BF6 :? Q!C64:@FDi q2D65 @? E96 }@G6= V!FD9V 3J $2AA9:C6Qk^Am
kAmkDEC@?8m(:== H:?ik^DEC@?8m |@V}:BF6 :? Q!C64:@FDi q2D65 @? E96
}@G6= V!FD9V 3J $2AA9:C6Qk^Am
kAmkDEC@?8m$9@F=5 H:?ik^DEC@?8m |@V}:BF6 :? Q!C64:@FDi q2D65 @? E96
}@G6= V!FD9V 3J $2AA9:C6Qk^Am
kAmp =:EE=6 >@C6 E92? 2 J62C 28@[ FA@? D66:?8 Qq66C76DE[Q x
C6>2C<65 E@ 2 7C:6?5 E92E |@V}:BF6 H2D A6C92AD E96 =62DE\=:<6=J
A6C7@C>6C E@ 6G6C 92G6 2 D9@E 2E 2? ~D42C] {@ 2?5 369@=5[ 2 76H
D9@CE >@?E9D =2E6C[ H6 ?@H =:G6 :? 2 H@C=5 H96C6 |@V}:BF6 :D E96
7C@?E\CF??6C 7@C 2 >2;@C p4256>J pH2C5] uF??J 9@H =:76 H@C<D
D@>6E:>6D]k^Am
kAmx? 2?J 42D6[ E96C6VD ?@ H2J D96V== 36 H2=<:?8 2H2J 7C@> E96
46C6>@?J 6>AEJ\92?565 W=:<6 (2=EK[ D96 92D 2=C625J H@? 6G6CJ >2;@C
EC@A9J FA E@ E9:D A@:?EX[ 2?5 E96C6VD ?@ 2C8F:?8 282:?DE E96 724E
E92E D96 56D6CG6D 6G6CJ 3:E @7 AC2:D6 D96VD 8@EE6?]k^Am
kAmpD E96 4CF6= 2?5 23FD:G6 >@E96C @7 E:E=6 492C24E6C Q!C64:@FD[Q
D96 3C:?8D 9F>2?:EJ W?@E E@ 36 4@?7FD65 H:E9 DJ>A2E9J[ @C 6G6?
6>A2E9JX E@ 2 ECF=J >@?DEC@FD 492C24E6C[ 2?5 E96C6 2C6 76H 92C56C
762ED 7@C 2 5C2>2E:4 A6C7@C>6C — 6DA64:2==J @?6 H:E9 ?@ C62=
324<8C@F?5 :? 5C2>2]k^Am
k9bmq6DE s:C64E@C 8@6D E@ 2 ?2E:@?2= EC62DFC6k^9bm
kAmkDEC@?8m%96 ?@>:?66Dik^DEC@?8mk^Am
kAmz2E9CJ? q:86=@H 7@C Q%96 wFCE {@4<6CQk^Am
kAmy2>6D r2>6C@? 7@C QpG2E2CQk^Am
kAm{66 s2?:6=D 7@C Q!C64:@FDi q2D65 @? E96 }@G6= V!FD9V 3J
$2AA9:C6Qk^Am
kAm"F6?E:? %2C2?E:?@ 7@C Qx?8=@FC:@FD q2DE6C5DQk^Am
kAmy2D@? #6:E>2? 7@C Q&A :? E96 p:CQk^Am
kAmkDEC@?8m(:== H:?ik^DEC@?8m z2E9CJ? q:86=@H 7@C Q%96 wFCE
{@4<6CQk^Am
kAmkDEC@?8m$9@F=5 H:?ik^DEC@?8m "F6?E:? %2C2?E:?@ 7@C Qx?8=@FC:@FD
q2DE6C5DQk^Am
kAms:C64E@CVD vF:=5 pH2C5 H:??6C z2E9CJ? q:86=@H 86ED E@ 7246\@77
282:?DE 7@C>6C 9F33J 2?5 86?6C2= 3FEE9@=6 y2>6D r2>6C@?[ 2?5 H96?
D96 :?6G:E23=J 4@>6D @FE @? E@A[ E96 92C5\7@F89E G:4E@CJ H:== 36
DH66E :?5665]k^Am
kAmp>@?8 :?5FDECJ :?D:56CD[ D96 92D 366? @?6 @7 E96 >@DE C6DA64E65
76>2=6 5:C64E@CD 7@C 564256D W2=E9@F89 D96 925 E@ E2<6 2 D6G6?\J62C
9:2EFD 27E6C E96 5:D2DEC@FD Qz`hi %96 (:5@H>2<6CQX[ 2?5 E96 A@AF=2C
DF446DD @7 Q%96 wFCE {@4<6CQ :D DF:E23=6 C6H2C5 7@C 2 7:=>>2<6C H9@
92D AC6G:@FD=J C646:G65 G6CJ =:EE=6 >2:?DEC62> 2EE6?E:@?]k^Am
kAmp?5 xV> E6>AE65 — D@[ D@ E6>AE65 — E@ D2J E92E D96 56D6CG6D E96
2H2C5 7@C 96C :>A64423=J 2DD6>3=65[ 9:89\E6?D:@?[ 6A:D@5:4 xC2B (2C
5C2>2[ 3FE xV> 27C2:5 E92E :? E96 6?5[ D96 :D 4@>A6E:?8 282:?DE
%2C2?E:?@]k^Am
kAmp?5 9@H 42? J@F D2J Q?@Q E@ %2C2?E:?@nk^Am
kAmw6VD =:<6 E96 p>6C:42? 2?DH6C E@ y62?\{F4 v@52C5 W@?=J[ J@F
<?@H[ 8@@5X[ 2?5 27E6C 96VD 8@EE6? 2 76H >@C6 >2DE6CA:646D F?56C
9:D 36=E[ xV> 4@?7:56?E E92E >J F?3C:5=65 6?E9FD:2D> 7@C 9:D H@C<
H:== 36 G:?5:42E65]k^Am
kAmx? E96 >62?E:>6[ x E9:?< 96V== E@ D6EE=6 7@C 2?@E96C ~D42C 7@C
q6DE ~C:8:?2= $4C66?A=2J WF?=6DD Q%96 wFCE {@4<6C H:?D E92E @?6[
E@@X[ 3FE E96 p4256>JVD 3=:?5?6DD 5@6D ?@E 2=E6C E96 724E E92E E96
>2? :D 2 ?2E:@?2= EC62DFC6[ 2?5 96 56D6CG6D 2 =@E >@C6 C6DA64E E92?
96VD 8@EE6?]k^Am
posted at 1:19 pm on Sun, Mar 7, 2010.
this guy wants to sex up q
posted at 6:13 am on Sat, Mar 6, 2010.
How can you seriously say the following comment? "I still refuse to watch The Blind Side on the grounds that it is stupid"I don't mean to disrespect, but this kind of comment/mentality loses a lot of credibility as a critic. While I'm also a fan of Tarantino, I can see why many others would rather not watch the gore/violence/language often associated with his films. I think obsessing on him & his movies and calling the record-breaking hit Avatar a fraud further disconnects the readers.