Academy Awards 2022

[Helene]

i didn't even know most on the list of movies existed, and I don't recognize half of the performers or people in the glam shots, but looking at what Teen Vogue is showing for dresses, I am filled with happiness by Sofia Carson's -- no designer listed -- and Kirsten Dunst's Christian Lacroix.  I want to know how Dunst's dress was made.  I also like Reba McEntyre's green dress, which looks like it can be worn easily to another do.

[cubanmiamiboy]

The most entertaining moment of the night...."you might sleep with my wife, but you can't talk about her bald head..!"...-[ pow pow!! 👋] 🤣🤣🤣

Delete if inappropriate. 😎

[Quiggin]

I liked Maggie Gyllenhaal's dress by Schiaparelli, which looked as if it had been designed by Giorgio de Chirico for a Diaghilev ballet. And the dresses with their gathered and ruffled up trains remind me a little of Bo Peep and her sheep or childless Mother Ginger.

But what with the here and now of global warming and the tragedy of Ukraine, this Oscar presentation did seem as if it were coming from another planet.

[abatt]

I liked CODA, but it was a very predictable feel good movie.  The Power of the Dog was full of complex, nuanced characters, and a more viable candidate for Best Picture than CODA.

So what will be done to Will Smith for assaulting Chris Rock on live television?  I don't think his award should be taken away, but I think he should be suspended  from the Academy for at least a year, maybe two years.

Edited March 29, 2022 by abatt

[pherank]

32 minutes ago, abatt said:

I liked CODA, but it was a very predictable feel good movie.

Ultra predictable for the Academy to choose the feel-good, popular film over anything more cinematically interesting (and likely to be more influential in cinema land).

I don't think Chris Rock is pressing charges against Smith (and it would be silly to do so).

Edited March 29, 2022 by pherank

[Barbara]

44 minutes ago, abatt said:

I liked CODA, but it was a very predictable feel good movie.  The Power of the Dog was full of complex, nuanced characters, and a more viable candidate for Best Picture than CODA.

I completely agree, abatt. 

[abatt]

I agree that Chris Rock was correct in refusing to press criminal charges, but Will Smith still needs to be punished for this in some way.  I saw that Smith just issued an formal apology to Chris Rock but this is too little too late.  The time for apology was up on that stage, but he decided to apologize only to the Academy and the nominees, not to Rock. Instead of apologizing, he tried to justify the assault. 

I sure don't want to see Will Smith up on that stage again next year presenting the Best Actress trophy, which is the tradition. 

SAG also just came out with a statement condemning Smith's conduct.  I don't know if it's legal to suspend his SAG membership for a period of time, but making it impossible for him to work in film for a year by stripping him of his SAG membership might be in order.

 

Edited March 29, 2022 by abatt

[pherank]

2 minutes ago, abatt said:

I agree that Chris Rock was correct in refusing to press criminal charges, but Will Smith still needs to be punished for this in some way.  I saw that Smith just issued an formal apology to Chris Rock but this is too little too late.  The time for apology was up on that stage, but he decided to apologize only to the Academy and the nominees, not to Rock.

I sure don't want to see Will Smith up on that stage again next year presenting the Best Actress trophy, which is the tradition. 

SAG also just came out with a statement condemning Smith's conduct.  I don't know if it's legal to suspend his SAG membership for a period of time, but making it impossible for him to work in film for a year by stripping him of his SAG membership might be in order.

SAG may well suspend him for a period. Keeping Smith from presenting a trophy next year is OK by me. But it wouldn't be Hollywood without embarrassing behavior and gaffs. It's a small group of mostly overpaid egotists, that have dedicated themselves to entertainment, and the good life. Sure, a few of these people think that they are producing 'art', but that is certainly debatable. Public apologies all round would make sense to me. Then there could be some 'healing' for these fragile, self-important souls. It just sucks to be a star.

[pherank]

A.O. SCOTT:
“The greatest night in the history of television,” said Chris Rock, a few seconds after Will Smith slapped him. Not a bad off-the-cuff punchline (so to speak). But until that moment — and Smith’s tearful, unrehearsed acceptance speech when he won best actor a short time later — it had been a dull and frustrating evening of television. Few surprises in any category (except maybe when “Belfast” won for original screenplay). Sentimentality triumphing over craft (except when Jane Campion won best director). A gnawing sense that the academy doesn’t understand movies, and maybe even hates them.

...The more things change, the more they stay the same. One thing that has gotten worse is the unfortunate journalistic habit of equating the state of the Oscars with the state of movies. Even when television is great, the Emmys are terrible. Nobody seriously thinks that bad Grammy Awards spell the death of pop music, or that a given year’s National Book Awards reveal much about the health of literature. But movie journalism has elevated the Oscars to a position of absurd importance.

Does the Academy Hold Movies in Contempt? Our Critics Wonder.
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/03/28/movies/academy-awards-oscars-critics.html

Edited March 29, 2022 by pherank

[abatt]

I thought the most insightful comment in the above article was the description of CODA as a  "nice, little, pedestrian heart-tugger."

[dirac]

Quote

But it wouldn't be Hollywood without embarrassing behavior and gaffes.

This was assault in front of an international television audience. Smith should have been escorted from the building. Not only did that not happen, he was allowed to ramble self-pityingly for what seemed like hours without even having the orchestra start playing over him, which is the Academy's usual way of extending the hook.

abatt, I must disagree respectfully. I had no dog in this year's Best Picture competition, but I was disappointed by The Power of the Dog, but then I am generally disappointed by Jane Campion pictures, especially the most successful ones (e.g., "The Piano." Felt so sorry for Sam Neill),

Very pleased for Jessica Chastain and she looked gorgeous.

[dirac]

On 3/28/2022 at 1:35 PM, Helene said:

i didn't even know most on the list of movies existed, and I don't recognize half of the performers or people in the glam shots, but looking at what Teen Vogue is showing for dresses, I am filled with happiness by Sofia Carson's -- no designer listed -- and Kirsten Dunst's Christian Lacroix.  I want to know how Dunst's dress was made.  I also like Reba McEntyre's green dress, which looks like it can be worn easily to another do.

Those tiered and layered ruffles on Dunst's gown were just stunning classic haute couture (vintage, natch). Also liked her hubby's classic Armani look. 

 

[cubanmiamiboy]

19 hours ago, dirac said:

This was assault in front of an international television audience. Smith should have been escorted from the building. Not only did that not happen, he was allowed to ramble self-pityingly for what seemed like hours without even having the orchestra start playing over him, which is the Academy's usual way of extending the hook.

Smith is a darling in that rotten habitat. Can you imagine if the assaulting fist would had been Kid Rock's, for instance..? Oh dear....we would had seen Rachel Meaddow and Don Lemon ask for a guillotine to be brought from Paris to have a public decapitation in front of the Hollywood sign.🤣🤣🤣

[dirac]

He's not a darling right now. I think his career will recover, but this isn't blowing over, quite.

Quote

But Smith’s extraordinary attack on presenter Chris Rock during the awards ceremony ended all that. And if Smith believes his resignation from Hollywood’s film academy this weekend might draw a line under the affair, he will be disappointed.

 

[On Pointe]

On 3/28/2022 at 8:14 PM, pherank said:

SAG may well suspend him for a period. Keeping Smith from presenting a trophy next year is OK by me. But it wouldn't be Hollywood without embarrassing behavior and gaffs. It's a small group of mostly overpaid egotists, that have dedicated themselves to entertainment, and the good life. Sure, a few of these people think that they are producing 'art', but that is certainly debatable. Public apologies all round would make sense to me. Then there could be some 'healing' for these fragile, self-important souls. It just sucks to be a star.

But if you prick them,  do they not bleed?  It's been (mostly) my pleasure to meet and work with a number of high profile stars in my career,  and in my experience,  they were no more egotistical or "dedicated to the good life" than any other humans.  Some very famous  performers are so low key when offstage and offscreen,  they can ride the subway and go about their business largely unrecognized and umbothered in NYC. 

There is a Hollywood film and music producer who has funded schools and hospitals lavishly,  and has a concert venue bearing his name,  but in his everyday dealings with people is a monster from the flaming pits of hell,  known to try to destroy the careers of those who displease him.  Harvey Weinstein is in prison and Roman Polanski is a convicted felon who would be in prison if he ever sets foot in California again.  They haven't had their Oscars taken away from them.

Will Smith is known as a very hard worker and good guy in Hollywood.  In a moment of high tension and stress,  he made a colossal mistake that impacted others.  I'm not making excuses for his actions.  He was in the wrong.  But Chris Rock instigated the incident.  Even if Smith had kept his seat,  it was cruel (and in my opinion calculated) for CR to try to demean Smith and his wife at what should have been one of the greatest nights of their lives.  (I am skeptical of those who apparently know all the juicy details of the Smiths' marital woes,  but claim to not know that Jada Pinkett Smith suffers from alopecia.  She has been very open about it.)

Smith has apologized and resigned,  and the Academy will do what they need to do,  but as a longtime member of SAG,  I am very much against suspending his membership.  Smith is a producer on his films,  and if he can't work,  he won't suffer financially as he is immensely wealthy,  but dozens of others will lose their livelihoods.  I don't think that SAG or the Academy has taken any action against Alec Baldwin,  who,  through his carelessness,  shot and killed his cinematographer while on the job.  Just as I felt it was overreach for AGMA to be involved in disciplining the dancers in the Finlay-Waterbury affair,  I don't believe that SAG should be involved in Slapgate.  Unions are not nannies.

[abatt]

You cannot seriously compare Alec Baldwin's ACCIDENTAL shooting on a movie set with Will Smith's INTENTIONAL CONDUCT of belting Chris Rock in the face.

[canbelto]

On 3/28/2022 at 9:14 PM, pherank said:

SAG may well suspend him for a period. Keeping Smith from presenting a trophy next year is OK by me. But it wouldn't be Hollywood without embarrassing behavior and gaffs. It's a small group of mostly overpaid egotists, that have dedicated themselves to entertainment, and the good life. Sure, a few of these people think that they are producing 'art', but that is certainly debatable. Public apologies all round would make sense to me. Then there could be some 'healing' for these fragile, self-important souls. It just sucks to be a star.

Genuine question. Have you ever been around actors? Granted my experience is more with theater actors, but my experience is that most are just normal people. 

[Helene]

Accidental or negligent?  I can compare Baldwin's psychological assualt on his daughter, unfavorably, to Smith's assault on Rock.

[pherank]

1 hour ago, canbelto said:

Genuine question. Have you ever been around actors? Granted my experience is more with theater actors, but my experience is that most are just normal people. 

And my genuine answer: yes. Including people "behind the scenes" in the film industry. If you're suggesting that ego doesn't play much of a role in these actor's careers, I completely disagree. And "normal people", as you put it, are not without ego, either.

On Pointe mentioned that Will Smith is a "hard worker", but that doesn't preclude egotism or selfishness. I was of course generalizing - not all successful actors are irresponsible or arrogant or narcissists, etc. But those kinds of psychological attributes come up a lot in the film industry.

[On Pointe]

5 hours ago, abatt said:

You cannot seriously compare Alec Baldwin's ACCIDENTAL shooting on a movie set with Will Smith's INTENTIONAL CONDUCT of belting Chris Rock in the face.

Of course not - Baldwin's action was infinitely worse.  Chris Rock got his feelings hurt.  Halyna Hutchins is dead.  Perhaps compounded by the Baldwins' gleeful announcement that they are expecting their SEVENTH child,  or "Baldwinito" according to his wife.  (Even after her unmasking,  Señora Baldwin can't give up the phony Spanish act.)

[dirac]

Quote

 In a moment of high tension and stress,  he made a colossal mistake that impacted others.  I'm not making excuses for his actions.  He was in the wrong.  But Chris Rock instigated the incident.  Even if Smith had kept his seat,  it was cruel (and in my opinion calculated) for CR to try to demean Smith and his wife at what should have been one of the greatest nights of their lives.  (I am skeptical of those who apparently know all the juicy details of the Smiths' marital woes,  but claim to not know that Jada Pinkett Smith suffers from alopecia.  She has been very open about it.)

Stress? Well.....Smith was up for a big professional award.  Rock made a joke, the taste and intent of which can be debated, but even assuming for the sake of argument that his intentions were the worst (and the tape indicates that Smith was laughing at the joke before he looked at his wife and realized Pinkett Smith was Not Amused), what followed was pretty egregious. Jeez, he strode up, sucker-smacked the guy, and then scooted back to his seat to launch F-bombs. He was not escorted from the building. He was allowed to accept his award, talk about his special problems as a big star, got a bizarre standing O, and then went on to boogie all night as if nothing had happened. 

Hardly the crime of the century, but not small potatoes, and the Academy is acting accordingly, if belatedly. As for SAG, I imagine this comes under the category of a workplace incident and certain processes follow from that. I doubt Smith will be expelled, there are other lesser actions they can take.

[abatt]

The reason Alec Baldwin has never been arrested is because the shooting was accidental, and he had no intent of firing a loaded gun, and he had no knowledge that there were real bullets in the gun.  Nor was he responsible for knowing what types of bullets were in the gun.  That was the job of others.

The reason police were ready to arrest Will Smith was because he committed intentional battery.  The only thing that stopped him from being arrested was that Rock did not want to press charges.

So you see the intent behind the action makes a tremendous difference under the law. 

 

 

Edited April 4, 2022 by abatt

[canbelto]

Think a more apt comparison is the fact that Roman Polanski, Woody Allen, and Harvey Weinstein still have their Oscars. 

[On Pointe]

1 hour ago, abatt said:

So you see the intent behind the action makes a tremendous difference under the law. 

 

So does the outcome.  Chris Rock wasn't punched,  didn't bleed,  wasn't even knocked down.  The LA police have said that if the incident had occurred between ordinary citizens,  they would not have made an arrest.  They legally couldn't arrest Smith because an open hand slap is a misdemeanor and Rock would not press charges.  Halyna Hutchins is dead.  Alec Baldwin probably didn't intend to hurt her,  but he pointed the gun,  he pulled the trigger.  As executive producer,  he signed off on an incompetent nepotism hire as armorer,  no doubt because she was cheap.  The producers had been warned repeatedly that conditions on the set were unsafe and a number of crew members had staged a walkout in protest,  but nothing was done.  Smith committed an impulsive act.  Baldwin allowed an unsafe environment likely to lead to serious injury or death,  and did.

[dirac]

3 hours ago, canbelto said:

Think a more apt comparison is the fact that Roman Polanski, Woody Allen, and Harvey Weinstein still have their Oscars. 

Smith isn't going to lose his award. I wouldn't mind if he did, mainly for aesthetic reasons, since for all his charm and appeal as a star he has little depth as an actor, but he will keep his Oscar.