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Speaking of color, I loved Amy Adams

I wasn't wild about her dress -- I thought it made her look too Debbie Reynolds-ish.

Also liked . . . Blanchett's Givenchy.

This was a bridge too far for me.

I decided against Witherspoon's hair.

Me too. When I saw it up close when she was presenting, it didn't flatter her at all.

I have no strong feelings either way about Portman's win. It's her best performance as an adult, not a large statement.

Agreed

The appearance by Kirk Douglas was a ghastly mistake.

Also agreed

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Also liked . . . Blanchett's Givenchy.

This was a bridge too far for me.

I do see what you mean but I like to give the actresses brownie points when they take a few chances on the red carpet. I thought it looked great - on her.

I never understand Michelle Williams's choices. I get that she wants to move away from Dawson's Creek and be taken seriously as an actress but she always shows up in these overly subtle dresses that make her disappear on the red carpet. That Chanel dress she is wearing would be perfect for the Costume Institute Ball but not so much for the Oscars.

Great dress, though.

Thanks for those links, cubanmiamiboy. Did anyone else see all/part of the show?

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Dirac, the only time I spotted Ben Millepied was when he escorted Natalie to the stage to accept the Oscar, which I thought was thoughtful and chivalrous. The camera did not cut to him when Natalie mentioned him in her speech.

PS - Jacquie Reyes looked glamorous in the audience with Aaron Sorkin. Also, must agree with all about the Kirk Douglas appearance.

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I think Bullock, Hathaway and Portman each looked wonderful. Mr. Bale . . . :blink: he looked like dragon slayer Quinn from "Reign of Fire."

Natalie looked great in purple Rodarte. I wish her hair were up in some style (MO), other than that, well done and congratulations to her!

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Dirac, the only time I spotted Ben Millepied was when he escorted Natalie to the stage to accept the Oscar, which I thought was thoughtful and chivalrous. The camera did not cut to him when Natalie mentioned him in her speech.

PS - Jacquie Reyes looked glamorous in the audience with Aaron Sorkin. Also, must agree with all about the Kirk Douglas appearance.

Thanks, Barbara. I was wondering if that was Reyes next to Sorkin. She looks like his daughter, but it's a free country, let her mother worry.

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Did anyone else find Anne Hathaway grating on the nerves? She was trying too hard to be fun, happy and perky. Why did she have to scream "Whoo Hooo" every time a celebrity walked on stage to present an award? I'm sure it wasn't her idea, but there were far too many dress changes for her. Franco was more tolerable. Hauling out Kirk Douglas was a bad idea. He was barely comprehensible. I had no idea that was Jackie Reyes. I guess Sorkin is having a mid life crisis.

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I liked Hathaway's approach to hosting, actually -- I thought it was direct to the television audience, and less pompous than several past hosts, but not silly. She did seem to have perhaps one dress too many, but I thought she looked lovely in them all and so wouldn't want to pick.

My partner said, early on, that James Franco reminded him of a young Billy Crystal, and then when Crystal himself appeared it just seemed even more obvious.

Cate Blanchett's dress wouldn't work at all in a different context, one where she had to twist her torso, or sit, but as a costume used to focus attention I thought it was very successful.

And I really dislike this new gimmick, where the presenters for best actor and actress address the nominees directly. It makes my skin crawl.

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Did anyone else find Anne Hathaway grating on the nerves? She was trying too hard to be fun, happy and perky. Why did she have to scream "Whoo Hooo" every time a celebrity walked on stage to present an award?

Yes, I thought early on that she was channeling her inner Sally Field, but I agree with sandik that she didn't go over the line to silly. I will note that she at least kept her end up - Franco seemed to stop trying well before the show was over, but perhaps his great mind had already moved on to deeper matters, maybe the Ph.D. he made a point of mentioning at the Independent Spirit Awards. They made a bad mistake playing some of Bob Hope's jokes from the first televised Oscars, which were better than any others heard onstage last night.

It was nice to see Billy Crystal, but he seems to have done something awful to his face - there was an unnerving pasty smoothness to it.

Kevin Brownlow got an honorary award - nice gesture.

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Abatt, I always find Hathaway grating on the nerves. I don't care for her acting, and that's what she did last night - acted- so I guess that's why I couldn't stand her.

Loved Hailee Steinfeld's look and dress. I snuck a movie visit in yesterday afternoon just to see "True Grit" before the Oscars. I'm looking forward to seeing more of her.

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Just saw this. Bravo to Natalie Portman and Black Swan for the Best Leading Actress Award...the most prestigious Oscar so far to a ballet-themed film, although Red Shoes ("RS") won one Oscar more than "BS". Love it or not, we can thank BS for the current ballet interest in pop culture which, hopefully, will develop new ballet lovers. [The 'young ones' know that the psycho stuff is there for the story-telling effect...creepiness surrounded by intense beauty of ballet.]

Red Shoes won two Oscars in 1948 - score and art direction. Turning Point (1977) was nominated for 11 Oscars but won none.

p.s. 'Bravo,' too, to Portman's "love" (as per her acceptance speech), NYCB Principal Benjamin Millepied. A win-win situation for ballet!

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I liked Hathaway's approach to hosting, actually -- I thought it was direct to the television audience, and less pompous than several past hosts, but not silly. She did seem to have perhaps one dress too many, but I thought she looked lovely in them all and so wouldn't want to pick.

I couldn't agree more. I thought Hathaway was superb. So unpretentious I thought. She's someone I'd love to have at a dinner party.

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Hello, atm711. Thanks for posting. I don’t think anyone meant to be hard on Douglas personally, although one of the people with whom I watched the show, an elderly gentleman himself, was merciless: (“He’s making a show of himself. Get off the stage"). All I can say is I was uncomfortable watching him. The late Blake Edwards had to be wheeled onstage for his final appearance, but although I felt sad I wasn't wincing while I watched.

I wouldn’t say “Douglas broke the blacklist,” without a couple of qualifications, but it’s certainly fair enough.

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Also liked . . . Blanchett's Givenchy.

This was a bridge too far for me.

I do see what you mean but I like to give the actresses brownie points when they take a few chances on the red carpet. I thought it looked great - on her.

Cate Blanchett's dress wouldn't work at all in a different context, one where she had to twist her torso, or sit, but as a costume used to focus attention I thought it was very successful.

Sigh. I want to like Blanchett's dress -- really I do. Tell me why I'm wrong -- I'm open to changing my opinion on this one.

Loved Hailee Steinfeld's look and dress.

So nice to see a young girl dressed like, well, a young girl. Don't grow up too fast darling!!!

I don’t think anyone meant to be hard on Douglas personally, although one of the people with whom I watched the show, an elderly gentleman himself, was merciless: (“He’s making a show of himself. Get off the stage").

Exactly. He made it all about himself instead of about the nominees. But I guess at 94 he must think, "I'm going to do what I darn well please!"

I normally can't abide Anne Hathaway at all but I thought she was a real show biz trouper last night. She was leagues better than Franco who I thought -- how should I put this -- was on a different wavelength than Hathaway.

No one's mentioned it so I will -- Helena Bonham Carter actually looked halfway sane (for her) last night!

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I found Mr. Douglas charming. The man suffered a major CVA, and so he has the usual post-stroke dysarthria/apraxia or probably some expressive aphasia , but besides that he really made me laugh in a way that the insipid hosting couple failed to. I LOVED how he was getting on the nominees' nerves by stopping every time he was about to announce the winner. Good for you, Kirk. Show the world how brave you are to get onstage and that there's no reason to hide or to be ashamed of the sequels of such ordeal!. :clapping:

In fact I found Miss Hatthaway's behavior way more embarrassing all along...

He made it all about himself instead of about the nominees. But I guess at 94 he must think, "I'm going to do what I darn well please!"

Amen.

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Sigh. I want to like Blanchett's dress -- really I do. Tell me why I'm wrong -- I'm open to changing my opinion on this one.

I loved the color on her and the dress showed off her height and figure beautifully. (Message: “I’m Tall Enough to Carry Off This Dress and You’re Not.”) Yes, the crop circle or whatever it was on her front took some getting used to but it worked for me. A risky piece of haute couture and she pulled it off. IMO, natch.

I normally can't abide Anne Hathaway at all but I thought she was a real show biz trouper last night.

I thought the same. In fact, I began to wonder if she wasn’t consciously or unconsciously overcompensating for Franco’s slow fadeout from the proceedings. Maybe they started out with the intention of creating a comic contrast – Hathaway effusive, Franco laid back – but it didn’t turn out so well.

Show the world how brave you are to get onstage and that there's no reason to hide or to be ashamed of the sequels of such ordeal!.

I’m sure no one here means to suggest that Douglas should hide in a corner with a bag over his head or that he should be ashamed of his condition.:) It’s more a question of what’s appropriate, given his condition.

Another thing: With Elizabeth Taylor ailing and hospitalized, a shout–out to her from someone was very much in order. Didn’t happen.

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I don’t think anyone meant to be hard on Douglas personally, although one of the people with whom I watched the show, an elderly gentleman himself, was merciless: (“He’s making a show of himself. Get off the stage"). All I can say is I was uncomfortable watching him.

I was too at first, and then when it was clear he was enjoying himself, I enjoyed him as well. I wonder if the producers expected and encouraged him to showboat a little, in a way that would have been inarguably obnoxious in a younger man, as a way for everyone to pay tribute to him in a lighthearted way. Just a thought.

I loved the color on Blanchett's and the dress showed off her height and figure beautifully. (Message: “I’m Tall Enough to Carry Off This Dress and You’re Not.”).

As a sort of wink-wink joke on herself, you mean? :) It's the hauteur - the unearned, as if it is ever is arrogance - of so much fashion that turns me off, in contrast to so much ballet, where aristocracy and nobility go hand in hand.

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Apart from a bit of solo singing and the weirdly animated kids at the end doing "Over the Rainbow," we were spared a big musical production number. Remember those awful dance interpretations of excerpts from the nominated soundtracks?

Natalie Portman got all weepy, of course, but at least she didn't start scratching or pulling off strips of skin; and Melissa Leo, an actress I'd never heard of, indulged herself in an overlong display of putrid self-congratulation (lady, it's just a trophy). Otherwise, though, the speeches seemed pretty level-headed, and the show itself a little less ridiculous than usual, which may not be the quality to draw in a larger audience but I regard it as a positive change.

Anthony

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Ok, I watched too--and only segued to Masterpiece Theater when they did the songs--a part I usually HATE (but was glad Randy Newman finally won after so many noms--his last win was "Ragtime"'s score?!) I did watch 30sec of Gwyneth to see how she did, but country music is not a favorite so didn't stick around.

Other than the Documentary (of course),Writing,Directing, or more tech awards (Cinematography, Editing, Sound, Art Direction) most of the rest I just watch to see what everyone wears...

I liked Gwyneth's dress, Hailey's was perfect, and Natalie's Rodarte (also thought Cate Blanchette wore a great dress to the Oscars when she was pregnant some years ago), I'm not sure about Ms.Blanchette's choice this year: Color was fine, but I didn't understand the cut-out circle on her chest, the rest of the cut and embellishment(s) didn't bother me. It was couture, and when I saw a pic of it on the runway, it made more sense. Many others' dresses also looked better on the runway than red carpet.

I thought Helena Bonham Carter was channeling her early costume epics, it was a very 16-17th c. cut, but agree it was a more 'sane' outfit than her usual.

I watch Anne Hathaway to see what she wears, and she usually pulls off most things fine. I had no problems watching her costume changes, it kept me from falling asleep. But I thought James Franco was falling asleep on the red carpet, nevermind during the show itself. He wasn't laid back, he was sort of comatose. Ok, so he has more important things to do/think about; he was still getting paid big $$$$ not to "phone it in" to use an old saying. AH is always perky, but she is also a Vassar graduate, and I've seen her elsewhere keep up intellectually with several academics. Did she sing her song too, if so, she has a great voice--and better than Gwyneth who was getting the attention IMO. I, too, wondered if AH and JF were supposed to contrast/complement each other's "performance/presenting style". But overall I didn't think they were any more insipid and boring than every other Oscar show I've ever seen. I wish ALL award presenters would just get up, with NO chit chat, NO meet/greet, NO comments, NOTHING before/after/during, just name the noms & get on with it.(BTW did anyone notice they can say "Oscar" now when announcing the winner?)

But getting back to the topic of ballet...

I didn't see a single dance production (not counting those odd 5th graders' moves) this time. Like Anthony_NYC unfortunately, I do remember the ghastly dance sequences done to nominated songs/scores (I think Twyla even choreographed once), and the endless production numbers slowing everything down, but since a 'ballet' film was finally in contention, doesn't anyone think they might have done at least the coda to the real black swan pdd to show the audiences what it was really about? No, once again, we got a parody and silly put-down in the Oscar pre-show roll-in with Ms. Hathaway doing the "brown duck" and Mr. Franco doing some very odd moves behind her I thought rather inappropriate. This wasn't "Sat.Nite Live", but a major international audience which only proved once again that Americans have no appreciation of culture or the arts. (Present BT company, and of course all our colleagues, friends, and families excepted.) After watching "Turning Point" get 11 noms and not win, this was my big disappointment. Deja vu all over again.

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Apart from a bit of solo singing and the weirdly animated kids at the end doing "Over the Rainbow," we were spared a big musical production number. Remember those awful dance interpretations of excerpts from the nominated soundtracks?

Natalie Portman got all weepy, of course, but at least she didn't start scratching or pulling off strips of skin; and Melissa Leo, an actress I'd never heard of, indulged herself in an overlong display of putrid self-congratulation (lady, it's just a trophy). Otherwise, though, the speeches seemed pretty level-headed, and the show itself a little less ridiculous than usual, which may not be the quality to draw in a larger audience but I regard it as a positive change.

Anthony

I kinda miss those terrible dance numbers in the same way I miss the Nolan Miller/Bob Mackie looks the women sported back when, not to mention the frocks of Cher and Geena Davis. Those were the days, by gum. The Academy has eliminated most of the kitsch, but there's not always much to replace it with. Last night wasn't the Worst Ever but it was a snore.

Melissa Leo made me even more uncomfortable than Douglas, but under other circumstances I wouldn't begrudge a jobbing actor making a little too much of her place in the sun. I like it when the Best Supporting award goes to such performers. All too often in recent years it's been used to reward stars who couldn't be shoehorned into the Best Actor or Actress categories.

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......but since a 'ballet' film was finally in contention, doesn't anyone think they might have done at least the coda to the real black swan pdd to show the audiences what it was really about?

If they had shown the coda it would have been more real ballet than "Black Swan" favored us with. I think Portman's award was the most recognition apart from the other nominations the movie could reasonably expect this year. Her win was a way of acknowledging its success (in the way Sandra Bullock's victory last year was recognition for "The Blind Side"). I don't think you can really say it was snubbed. Also, it was much more a horror movie than a ballet movie, -- although if real dancers had been cast in the leading roles it might have been both.

Did she sing her song too, if so, she has a great voice--and better than Gwyneth who was getting the attention IMO.

Hathaway sang a parody number - if she had another song I missed it. She does indeed have a very nice voice.

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Dirac, you changed my mind about Hathaway's hosting:

I thought the same. In fact, I began to wonder if she wasn’t consciously or unconsciously overcompensating for Franco’s slow fadeout from the proceedings. Maybe they started out with the intention of creating a comic contrast – Hathaway effusive, Franco laid back – but it didn’t turn out so well.

I'm still not a fan of her acting at all, but I think you nailed it re her over-the-top perkiness at the Oscar's.

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