Page 1 of The Oscars - what a joke!!!

call me cynical, but sunday night just proved to me how fixed the oscars are. the best actors/films dont get the award, its the morality vote that does it! the most scandalous award went to denzel washington for best acactor. this was just ludicrous. dont get me wrong training day was a good film, but oscar material? i dont think so! how he got it over the likes of will smith who did a fine job with ali and russell crowe ill never know. was it just coincidence that his mentor sydney poitier won a recognition award and halle berry was the first black woman to win best actress. then theres best film. this was blatantly awarded because ron howard had never won any oscars before that night and also beacause of the fact that gladiator won best film last year and the academy couldnt contemplate having another action film like LOTR or something off the cuff like moulin rouge. its ok though, we can just keep them happy with a few technical awards!!! no they thought it would be `correct` to have something more serious or that represents real life!
however, on a lighter note , i thought best comedic moment went to halle berries attempt to out-cry gwyneth paltrow and most desering award was jim boradbent for best supporting actor.
just had to get that off my chest.....

This item was edited on Tuesday, 26th March 2002, 10:20

Changing the films / actors - then I think the points you make can, and have been made about many of the previous Oscars. The whole thing (to me anyway) smacks of style over substance - with precious little style. All this `corporate` arse-licking can be seen in many types of award ceremonies, most notably over here in the `Brit` awards (pop and classical alike) which are chosen by the record companies on marketability rather than talent (although if you have both, you`re onto a winner). We all know that Judi Dench can act most people off stage and screen, and the fact that she didn`t win an Oscar doesn`t lessen people`s opinion of her. I`m still waiting for a Coen Bros film to be chosen as best film, but perhaps they`re just a little too clever.

I thought `Training Day` was one of the worst & most predictable films I have seen & was amazed it got anything, however I am very happy Denzil Washington got an Oscar as he has put in a lot of very good performances without recognition. To me Ian McKellen`s performance in Lord Of The Rings deserved more than it got.

Here are a few things I spotted whilst I was being an arse and watching them all live!
1) Whoopi Goldberg CONSTANTLY making black references: "No one is black"- "No Hobbits are black" etc etc yawn....
2) Will Smith presented one of the categories earlier in the night yet, when the best actor category came about, he had vanished to be replaced by a photograph...
3) Halle Berry is NOT black! You only have to look at her to see this. Her Mum is white and from Liverpool (if my info is correct) I DID find her speech funny though, standing out there, feebly waving her hand at something.
Never again shall I watch them live.

I stopped watching the hoohar over the Oscar`s years ago but I still practise my speech.

Halle Berry doing a Gwyneth made me a little nausious.

Denzel, he the man! Should have won an Oscar for Hurricane.
Halle Berry, hmmmmm. Haven`t seen the film in question, but Judi Dench was probably hard done by again.

Well, Halle Berry looks pretty black to me! Surely one of the best looking girls in Hollywood at the moment. Personally, l don`t good think any female performance is worth getting excited about. Give me a pretty face any time! Male actors are much better to watch, just like male sports Vs females sports.

And l think ANY black comedian who keeps using black references, (and most do) need to get better material. It`s like people who over-use swearing in films for cheap laughs. Lazy writing!

Halle Berry, yummy!

2) Will Smith presented one of the categories earlier in the night yet, when the best actor category came about, he had vanished to be replaced by a photograph...

posted by washu on Tuesday, 26th March 2002, 12:12



Will Smith had to leave as his 18 month old daughter was ill.

I cringe whenever I see those "tearful" acceptence speeches - although one of the best one I`ve seen is Robbie Williams at the MTV awards one year - his speech consisted of "About time too".

I don`t think he won the next year :-)

I agree that any ceremony where the best rarely win can`t be taken seriously. It amazes me actors and actresses blub over it, or even give a crap beyond the fact it increases their paycheques and profile.

However if you bear in mind that the best never do win, then its nice that a black actor and actress took awards for the first time ever.

On the subject of whether Ms Berry is black or brown or coloured or whatever, I reckon this is entirely her personal choice rather than anyone elses, much like its Greg Rusedskis choice if he`s Canadian or British, or the entire Irish football side. :)

In my experience, those who are half-cast are more often alienated by white people than black, hence why they will mainly class themselves as black.