2013 Academy Awards

[paul jh]

Just finished watching the Oscars. The only thing I enjoyed was Dame Shirley Bassey's Goldfinger. Fabulous! So classy and Hollywood. I didn't like anything else. I muted Jennifer Hudson and since I didn't like the Les Miserables movie, I thought One Day More fell flat. Only the true Broadway and West End actors are worth watching in that film.

[Marian]

I got up early hopefully to catch the end of the Oscars but it was all over. Just the luvvies on the red carpet again on their way to the Variety Fair shindig. The awards seemed to mirror the Bafters mostly. Nice to see Adele win with her Skyfall Bond Theme and Daniel Day Lewis best actor. I've not seen the Les Miserables film yet but nice to see it got three awards.

[paul jh]

I forgot about Barbra Streisand. Her tribute to Marvin Hamlisch was moving. Her voice is heavier now, but still so dramatic. A legend.

Adele has won too many awards. I feel in five years no one will pay attention to her. Her performance got a lukewarm reaction. One of the other songs (and not Suddenly from Les Miserables) should have won. But I rarely agree with best song.

[Gray]

Jeff, what was it about Les Mis you didn't like?
I would be interested to hear your thoughts.
To see if some align with mine.

[karl]

Was Shirley Bassey actually there peforming or did they just play the record?

Les Mis was a good film but not great, everyone who has seen the stage version agrees with me that's it the best and the singing is excellent.

[Lena & Harry Smith]

A memorable night for Jennifer Lawrence, looking for her contact lens.

[ROBERT M.]

Hard to believe that Skyfall was the first Bond song to win best original song Oscar .............especially after classic Bond songs like Goldfinger and From Russia With Love in the past.

[paul jh]

Dame Shirley Bassey was there singing live, the full song. Whoopi Goldberg said it was the highlight. She's getting raves from everyone.


Regarding Les Miserables the movie:

A friend who loved it told me not to compare to the stage show. I did my best not to compare. And then they cut the opening verse to On My Own. I was furious and lost all interest in the film. Russell Crowe's voice was terrible. Hugh Jackman had to change the melody of Bring Him Home because he had no control over his top range. I didn't like the gasps from Anne Hathaway on I Dreamed a Dream; that is far from the top performance of the year. I thought the street scenes looked very fake. The new songs were forgettable. On My Own,which is spectacular in the show, just didn't work in the film and should have been cut or shot with a full group, and not show the individuals as they sang.

[paul jh]

Hard to believe that Skyfall was the first Bond song to win best original song Oscar .............especially after classic Bond songs like Goldfinger and From Russia With Love in the past.

That is hard to believe. Skyfall is one of the worst. The best are from the 60s, and Live and Let Die, and Nobody Does It Better

[Gray]

Wow, Jeff, that is quite a list!
And I agree with it all, apart from Hathaway, who I thought was wonderful.
Her breathing didn't bother me, it was more important she conveyed the emotion.

Regarding the 'look' of the film, the streets scenes didn't work for me either, plus the camera work was very distracting.
The film reminded me of Ken Russell's 'Tommy', with hand held cameras quickly moving into close up.
I tweeted that Russell had Ann-Margret in 'Tommy', Tom Hooper had Hathaway, another parallel I found between the two films.

But I don't think I disliked LesMis as much as you, and found the penultimate scene moving.

Also, Skyfall: I like the song, but it's like Diamonds are Forever part two!
Nowhere near the 60's and 70's classics, but it's OK.
However, I think I was the only person on the planet who liked 'Another Way To Die' so I expect to get a bit of stick for liking Skyfall.

Maybe this was the only way the American Academy felt they could/should acknowledge the very British Bond franchise after 50 years?????

[karl]

I also like the older Bond songs the best, I like Tina Turner but hated her song Goldeneye.

Here's something you may not know but Nobody Does It Better was first offered to Dusty and she turned it down as she thought the lyrics were rather risque.

[Gray]

Gosh, I didn't know that, Karl.
Thanks for posting.

[Eman]

I liked most of the Bond songs, but like you Karl I didn't like Goldeneye by Tina Turner. UGHHH.. Loved A View To A Kill by Duran Duran!!!

[ROBERT M.]

I think Dame Shirley is beginning to look her age a little bit now ? .........and putting on a few pounds (the hips don't lie)

Here is Goldfinger from the Oscars

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CsCui5lSWcU

[Rob H]

I dont think Adele deserved a Oscar for Skyfall. The late great John Barry should of deserved a Oscar years ago for his contribution to the James Bond legacy, as well as a Knighthood. RIP JB. The whole thing was very predictable this year,but some wonderful films. Skyfall as the best JB film...I don't think so!! Poor script and lame stunts as well as a stupid baddy.