Yes we are in movie awards season. We have the Globes and 300 other movie-related industry awards groups to give out their paperweight trophies that boost fragile bloated egos. This thursday morning, the 10th at 5:30 in the morning (8:30 East Coast) is when the Oscars announce this year's nominations. Who'll get honored? Who'll get snubbed? Which picks will surprise people?
Anyway the Director's Guild of America (DGA, the Hollywood directors' labor union) announced their nominations today. They're important because they usually nail the names that will get also nominated for the Best Director Oscar. The DGAs and Oscars usually share 4 of the 5 names put forward. Keep that fact in mind.
The 2012 DGA nominees:
Ben Affleck (ARGO) Kathryn Bigelow (ZERO DARK THIRTY) Tom Hooper (LES MISERABLES) Ang Lee (LIFE OF PI) Steven Spielberg (LINCOLN)
Interesting note: All those nominees above, save for Affleck, have already won the Best Director Oscar. (Spielberg has won it twice, in fact.)
So who will get snubbed at the Oscars for director? I think Affleck/Bigelow/Spielberg are locks. Hooper and Lee are more vulnerable. I say it's Hooper, and he's replaced with Quentin Tarantino.
I say Jennifer Lawrence, for SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK.
The gurus claim that race is between her and Jennifer Chastain, for ZERO DARK THIRTY.
I've not seen Zero Dark Thirty or Silver Linings playbook yet. Jennifer Lawrence was great in Winter Bone though. Tbh i don't think i've ever seen a movie with Jessica Chastain.
Well the BAFTAs (British Academy of Film and Television Arts) just announced their picks this morning. They're pretty much the British Oscars. I would love for Capo to swoop in and bash them.
The nominees:
BEST FILM Argo Les Miserables Life of Pi Lincoln Zero Dark Thirty
OUTSTANDING BRITISH FILM Anna Karenina The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel Les Miserables Seven Psychopaths Skyfall
LEADING ACTOR Ben Affleck - Argo Bradley Cooper - Silver Linings Playbook Daniel Day-Lewis - Lincoln Hugh Jackman - Les Miserables Joaquin Phoenix - The Master
LEADING ACTRESS Jessica Chastain - Zero Dark Thirty Marion Cotillard - Rust and Bone Jennifer Lawrence - Silver Linings Playbook Dame Helen Mirren - Hitchcock Emmanuelle Riva - Amour
SUPPORTING ACTOR Alan Arkin - Argo Javier Bardem - Skyfall Philip Seymour Hoffman - The Master Tommy Lee Jones - Lincoln Christoph Waltz - Django Unchained
SUPPORTING ACTRESS Amy Adams - The Master Dame Judi Dench - Skyfall Sally Field - Lincoln Anne Hathaway - Les Miserables Helen Hunt - The Sessions
DIRECTOR Ben Affleck - Argo Kathryn Bigelow - Zero Dark Thirty Michael Haneke - Amour Ang Lee - Life of Pi Quentin Tarantino - Django Unchained
RISING STAR (public vote) Elizabeth Olsen Andrea Riseborough Suraj Sharma Juno Temple Alicia Vikander
OUTSTANDING DEBUT BY A BRITISH WRITER, DIRECTOR OR PRODUCER James Bobin (director) - The Muppets Dexter Fletcher (director/writer) and Danny King (writer) - Wild Bill Tina Gharavi (director/writer) - I Am Nasrine Bart Layton (director) and Dmitri Doganis (producer) - The Imposter David Morris (director) and Jaqui Morris (director/producer) - McCullin
FILM NOT IN THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE Amour Headhunters The Hunt Rust and Bone Untouchable
DOCUMENTARY The Imposter Marley McCullin Searching for Sugarman West of Memphis
ANIMATED FILM Brave Frankenweenie Paranorman
ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY Amour - Michael Haneke Django Unchained - Quentin Tarantino The Master - Paul Thomas Anderson Moonrise Kingdom - Wes Anderson, Roman Coppola Zero Dark Thirty - Mark Boal
ADAPTED SCREENPLAY Argo - Chris Terrio Beasts of the Southern Wild - Lucy Alibar, Benh Zeitlin Life of Pi - David Magee Lincoln - Tony Kushner Silver Linings Playbook - David O. Russell
ORIGINAL MUSIC Anna Karenina Argo Life of Pi Lincoln Skyfall
CINEMATOGRAPHY Anna Karenina Les Miserables Life of Pi Lincoln Skyfall
EDITING Argo Django Unchained Life of Pi Skyfall Zero Dark Thirty
PRODUCTION DESIGN Anna Karenina Les Miserables Life of Pi Lincoln Skyfall
COSTUME DESIGN Anna Karenina Great Expectations Les Miserables Lincoln Snow White and the Huntsman
MAKE UP AND HAIR Anna Karenina Hitchcock The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey Les Miserables Lincoln
I won't try to handicap winners until the nominations are announced and I know what I'm dealing with. Best Picture is almost impossible because its 6 to 10 possible nominations, not the old days of you know 5 or 10 movies will get nominated hell to high rise.
I said this before, but if Leonardo DiCaprio gets nominated in Supporting Actor for DJANGO, he will win. But I'm not sure he will get nominated. BAFTAs shafting him doesn't help my argument.
I say the DGA nods happen, except Hooper replaced with...Tarantino. And that's my fanboy pick.
IndieWire did a great series of their predictions. How many of their picks will turn out to be accurate?
I won't try to handicap winners until the nominations are announced and I know what I'm dealing with. Best Picture is almost impossible because its 6 to 10 possible nominations, not the old days of you know 5 or 10 movies will get nominated hell to high rise.
I said this before, but if Leonardo DiCaprio gets nominated in Supporting Actor for DJANGO, he will win. But I'm not sure he will get nominated. BAFTAs shafting him doesn't help my argument.
I say the DGA nods happen, except Hooper replaced with...Tarantino. And that's my fanboy pick.
IndieWire did a great series of their predictions. How many of their picks will turn out to be accurate?
I personally don't think Leo has a chance, i'd love to see him win though because he's a great actor and has already been nominated a few times.I also don't think you have to wait for the nominations since,there's really only a select few who can win.
Well this morning shows why I don't like to pick winners before the nominations are announced. I would've figured Affleck and Bigelow would be the front-runners for Best Director but BOTH DIDN'T EVEN GET NOMINATED. Total shocker there.
Leo of course didn't get in. SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK is the first movie since REDS (1981) to earn a nomination in every acting category. DeNiro's first nod since CAPE FEAR.
Academy Award Nominee Bradley Cooper is just too weird for me to say out loud.
I would suggest Jones will win Supporting Actor won, but DeNiro could be the surprise. In fact I'm afraid of seriously picking against an overperforming son of a bitch like SLP in general (while ZERO DARK THIRTY underperformed.) The voters loved SLP apparently.
For Director, my gut says Spielberg will win his 3rd Directing Oscar for LINCOLN. But could Lee spoil? Could Russell win?
Another shocker: THE DARK KNIGHT RISES. Zero nods.
Well this morning shows why I don't like to pick winners before the nominations are announced. I would've figured Affleck and Bigelow would be the front-runners for Best Director but BOTH DIDN'T EVEN GET NOMINATED. Total shocker there.
Leo of course didn't get in. SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK is the first movie since REDS (1981) to earn a nomination in every acting category. DeNiro's first nod since CAPE FEAR.
Academy Award Nominee Bradley Cooper is just too weird for me to say out loud.
I would suggest Jones will win Supporting Actor won, but DeNiro could be the surprise. In fact I'm afraid of seriously picking against an overperforming son of a bitch like SLP in general (while ZERO DARK THIRTY underperformed.) The voters loved SLP apparently.
For Director, my gut says Spielberg will win his 3rd Directing Oscar for LINCOLN. But could Lee spoil? Could Russell win?
Another shocker: THE DARK KNIGHT RISES. Zero nods.
You were sensible then Ronnie lol i can't believe neither was nominated. I guess i'll need to change my pics then.
Best Picture - Amour Argo Beasts of the Southern Wild Django Unchained Life of Pi Lincoln Les Miserables Silver Linings Playbook Zero Dark Thirty - I'm changing to Slp since Affleck didn't get nominated i heard the critics love Amour though;
Best Director - Michael Haneke – Amour Ang Lee – Life of Pi David O. Russell – Silver Linings Playbook Steven Spielberg – Lincoln Benh Zeitlin – Beasts of the Southern Wild - David O. Russell – Silver Linings Playbook
Best Actor - Bradley Cooper – Silver Linings Playbook Daniel Day-Lewis – Lincoln Hugh Jackman – Les Misérables Joaquin Phoenix – The Master Denzel Washington – Flight - Daniel Day-Lewis – Lincoln
Best Actress - Jessica Chastain – Zero Dark Thirty Jennifer Lawrence – Silver Linings Playbook Emmanuelle Riva – Amour Quvenzhané Wallis – Beasts of the Southern Wild Naomi Watts – The Impossible - Jessica Chastain – Zero Dark Thirty
Best Supporting Actor - Alan Arkin – Argo Robert De Niro – Silver Linings Playbook Philip Seymour Hoffman – The Master Tommy Lee Jones – Lincoln Christoph Waltz – Django Unchained - Tommy Lee Jones – Lincoln
Best Supporting Actress - Amy Adams – The Master Sally Field – Lincoln Anne Hathaway – Les Misérables Helen Hunt – The Sessions Jacki Weaver – Silver Linings Playbook - Anne Hathaway – Les Misérables
I heard that the best actress category has both the youngest and oldest nominess ever nominated for an Academy Award. I would love to see the nine-year old girl win the award.
They announced the OSCAR Nominees this morning and differ some from BAFTA
Once again, I gotta admit I have not seen any of the nominees. To be honest, the only ones that appeal to me are Lincoln and Argo. I am on the fence for Zero Dark Thirty though. For some reason, all the controversy as to whether or not it's accurate (the torture scenes)makes me not want to see it if it's not true. Yet, I probably will. I hear the torture scenes are horrific. Maybe not a good comparison, BUT can they be any worse then the scenes from "The Passion Of The Christ?" I sat in the theater seat and had to take a couple deep breathes before leaving. It left me exhausted. LOL
Oh, and can't recall the title, but I thought Naomi Watts was a Nominee for actress in the movie about the Tsunami. That looks good as well.
As I understand it, it's unlikely that either Argo or Zero Dark Thirty will get best picture because neither director is nominated (Don't remember if Spielberg was). It's only happened once in a good number of years I hear.
These directorial snubs REALLY favor "Lincoln" and Spielberg. As an aside, I saw it over the holidays. Great movie. I'll be absolutely SHOCKED if Tommy Lee Jones loses out to DeNiro.
Oscar Watch: 'Lincoln' leads nods as shocking Best Director snubs knock out 'Les Miz,' 'Argo,' Zero Dark Thirty'
By Lou Lumenick, NY Post
It's hard to imagine a scenario where Steven Spielberg's "Lincoln,'' which led today's Oscar nominations with 12 nods, loses the Best Picture trophy next month after the director's branch decimated what were considered Spielberg's strongest competitors by denying them crucial nominations. (No film has won Best Picture without a Best Director nod since "Driving Miss Daisy'' in 1989.)
"Les Miserables,'' "Argo,'' and "Zero Dark Thirty'' were all nominated for Best Picture, along with with "Django Unchained.'' But their directors -- Tom Hooper, Ben Affleck, Kathryn Bigelow and Quentin Tarantino, respectively -- were all snubbed in the Best Director race. Instead, lots of Oscar pundits were left with egg on their faces when the nods went instead to the other directors of Best Picture nominees that were considered weaker contenders: Michael Haneke ("Amour''), Ben Zeitlin ("Beasts of the Southern Wild''), Ang Lee ("Li of Pi'') and David O. Russell ("Silver Linings Playbook'').
A less shocking snub occured in the Best Actor race, where John Hawkes of "The Sessions'' got edged out in a field that includes Daniel Day-Lewis ("Lincoln''), a prohibitive favorite unless the academy hesitates about making him the first three-time winner in this category; Denzel Washington ("Flight''), Hugh Jackman ("Les Miserables''), Bradley Cooper ("Silver Linings Playbook'') and, perhaps most surprisingly, Joaquin Phoenix ("The Master'') who has expressed his contempt for awards.
Marion Cotillard also failed to get an expected nod for the French film "Rust and Bone'' in the Best Actress category, where the nominees include both the oldest-ever -- Emmanuelle Riva, 85, of "Amour'' -- and the youngest ever, nine-year-old Quvenzhane Wallis of "Beasts of the Southern Wild,'' as well as Naomi Watts ("The Impossible'') and the two leading contenders, Jennifer Lawrence ("Silver Linings Playbook'') and Jessica Chastain ("Zero Dark Thirty'').
"Silver Linings Playbook'' also scored nods for Best Supporting Actor -- where Robert De Niro will square off against four other past winners, Alan Arkin ("Argo''), Philip Seymour Hoffman ("The Master''), Tommy Lee Jones ("Lincoln'') and Christophe Waltz ("Django Unchained'') -- Best Supporting Actress (where Jacki Weaverr will be pitted against Amy Adams ("The Master''), Sally Field ("Lincoln'') and Helen Hunt ("The Sessions'') as well as for Russell's Adapted Screenplay and even Best Editing.
The Best Picture and Best Editing categories have become closely linked in recent years. The only Best Picture nominees that have both Best Director and Best Editing nominations are "Lincoln'' and "Life of Pi.'' So effectively, it's now a three film race for Best Picture, with "Lincoln'' way out in front.
Well it certainly sounded like she was having a hard time just coming out and saying it. Like I said tho, the station lost sound for a minute or so, so maybe I missed it. Glad I'm not the only one who was confused.
Anyway, she is a very good actress and has done a good variety of roles, like she said from a very very young age.
Btw, if I'm not mistaken wasn't she the Coopertone toddler in the ads from way back?
Well it certainly sounded like she was having a hard time just coming out and saying it. Like I said tho, the station lost sound for a minute or so, so maybe I missed it. Glad I'm not the only one who was confused.
Anyway, she is a very good actress and has done a good variety of roles, like she said from a very very young age.
Btw, if I'm not mistaken wasn't she the Coopertone toddler in the ads from way back?
I'm not saying Argo's not a good movie, it's just that I would have bet money on Lincoln. I actually had my post all written up before submitting it, with Lincoln as winning. I was that sure. Clearly, what do I know?
TIS, it seemed like Jodie Foster was kind of making a statement about how it wasn't really the business of the public to know about her sexuality - sort of a non-coming-out speech, I guess. As I watched it, I too was wondering if she'd already come out before, or if this was a set-up for a joke, but it seemed to be a commentary on privacy, with her saying she'd already had the discussion with her loved ones and that it didn't need to be addressed so publicly. The parts addressed to her kids and her mom were really touching.
I really liked the bit that I heard of Lena Dunham's actress speech. I've never seen her show or even known of her, but I love when winners pay tribute to the other nominees and thought it was sweet that she said all the other ladies had gotten her through tough times with their work.. and she seemed very real in everything she said.
Hey Gina, yea, Foster's speech was a bit confusing. I swear about a year or so ago she came out so I was confused as to what she was actually saying.
She didn't come out, but she's mentioned her partner more than once in acceptance speeches in blink and miss moments that didn't register in the MSM.
I think this just highlights the difference of attitudes between different generations of gay/lesbian actors. People like Foster and Kevin Spacey will never "come out" publicly in the media as no big deal like younger actors like Zachary Quinto or Neil Patrick Harris did. Even if everybody and their Mom knows they're gay, they'll shy away from it like the plague because of their backgrounds of breaking into Hollywood and learning/taught that their orientations known publicly would hurt their careers.
Meanwhile, John Hinckley feels like a complete dumbass now.
Wow, Kevin Spacey is gay?! This is the first I'm hearing this. I add that I still care when I see a left handed person as well. Though that's none of my business, it's still interesting.
Wow, Kevin Spacey is gay?! This is the first I'm hearing this. I add that I still care when I see a left handed person as well. Though that's none of my business, it's still interesting.
I too am surprised about Spacey but don't know why people conclude he's gay. Has he "almost" come out or something? Anyway I like him.
I think this just highlights the difference of attitudes between different generations of gay/lesbian actors. People like Foster and Kevin Spacey will never "come out" publicly in the media as no big deal like younger actors like Zachary Quinto or Neil Patrick Harris did.
How will you handle it when your time comes, Ronnie?
And I think that Doogie Howser was a tweener where his coming out was concerned. He was pretty much caught in between the generations. He came out. Big time. But he waited until he was in his 30's to do so.
There was an adult soccer team that played in the CSL in the west village. They made it a point to mention that fact on the leagues web site. I guess they only wanted gays on that team. That was why they were never any good.
My club was the Brooklyn Italians. Most of the coaches were Italian. But the players were from every nationality and religion. Why, because we wanted to win and took anyone as long as they could play.
Has anyone seen Hyde Park on the Hudson with Bill Murray. He plays FDR. It's up for SAG award. In the trailer he looked pretty good. That's quite a switch of sorts for him, but he does have a good dramatic streak in him.
Well the SAG Awards, a good (if not always reliable) indicator who will win the acting Oscars happened tonight.
Actor - Daniel Day-Lewis Actress - Jennifer Lawrence Supporting Actor - Tommy Lee Jones Supporting Actress - Anne Hathaway
ARGO won Best Acting Ensemble (the big SAG prize) and having also won the PGA award, some people really think its still the front-runner for the Best Picture Oscar, despite having no nomination for Best Director.
The last time we had a Best Picture winner without a Director nomination was DRIVING MISS DAISY.
Adele is going to be singing the theme tune to SKYFALL at the Oscars??? That is seriously the worst Bond song i have ever heard so all the stars better have their ear plugs in on the night.
Oh sorry i forgot, i am the only person in the world who doesn't particularly care for old Adele......
I have not seen Argo as yet. But the trailers for it look very good. You can't buy it till mid feb.
The best male supporting actor in a movie in my mind was an actor not even nominated.
In les Miserables Sasha cowan was great. They obviously made his part bigger because he was great and yet no nomination. He was funny and he could sing.
Affleck won the DGA prize for Best Director last night and it does seem ARGO will win the Best Picture Oscar. (Capo, put the gun away from your temple.)
It'll be just the 7th time that the DGA and Best Director Oscar winner don't match. Which also begs another question: Who's winning the Best Director Oscar?!?
John Williams this year was nominated for Best Original Score for LINCOLN, his 43rd Oscar nomination. The most nominations by any living person, 2nd most all-time (only Walt Disney has more.)
Since it's Oscar time, here's a list of Academy Award winning "original" songs. Can you name the movie they are from. I know. A couple are "give-aways."
The only song I did NOT know was from a movie is "Mona Lisa." AND, I can honestly say I have not heard of the movie.
Somewhere Over The Rainbow When You Wish Upon A Star White Christmas Mona Lisa Three Coins In A Fountain Love Is A Many Splendored Thing Moon River Chim Chim Chiree Windmills Of Your Mind Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head For All We Know The Morning After The Way We Were You Light Up My Life Up Where We Belong FlashDance (What a Feeling) I've Had The Time Of My Life Beauty & The Beast Can You Feel The Love Tonight My Heart Will Go On
Believe it or not, if Adele wins Best Original Song for SKYFALL, that'll be the first time a 007 song won that Oscar.
There have been a few good Bond songs. Goldfinger was a very popular tune; Live & Let Die come to mind. And, wasn't it Nancy Sinatra who sang "You Only Live Twice?" (I'm not a big Bond fan and know I am missing other popular Bond themes).
I'm not a music guy whatsoever, I will say the music was times perfectly in Skyfall! Worked every scene to create the moment! Even the song when that creep came in on the helicopter was great!
I'm not sure if I'll be able to do my annual live coverage this year -- I got tickets to an early show before I realized it was Oscar night!
Besides, last year didn't I say that I'd prefer to do the Emmy's instead? TV is more interesting to me since I watch a hella lot of it compared to current theatrical films....
I'm not sure if I'll be able to do my annual live coverage this year -- I got tickets to an early show before I realized it was Oscar night!
Besides, last year didn't I say that I'd prefer to do the Emmy's instead? TV is more interesting to me since I watch a hella lot of it compared to current theatrical films....
Well, not sure what time it's on. If it means missing "The Walking Dead", I won't watch all or most of it. Even tho it's here in CA they sometimes have it on time delay (don't know how). If it's on at 6:00 p.m. here I'll tune in.
I watch more tv lately than I go to see movies so I'm with you Geoff. Btw, how the heck are you?
I never really went a lot to begin with, but if something would look spectacular on a huge screen (Avatar 3D, Lord of the Rings, etc) I'm more inclined to see it than something like Lincoln. I have Netflix for that stuff.
Netflix streaming sucks for movies. However, it is good if you want to catch up on older seasons of TV shows (and they finally started streaming The West Wing!!!).
Given that we have a 55 inch flat screen, that's good enough for DVDs.
Netflix streaming sucks for movies. However, it is good if you want to catch up on older seasons of TV shows (and they finally started streaming The West Wing!!!).
Given that we have a 55 inch flat screen, that's good enough for DVDs.
I have a Roku HD box for streaming, and it displays great if the original is offered in HD. Can barely tell! But sure, older programs from decades ago look like VHS. Love the fact I can rewatch TV shows from the 80s and be all nostalgic.
I hear what you're saying; my 46" LED LCD works just fine, too -- especially with Blu-ray, you get absorbed into it just fine. But there's something about a 40-foot screen for majestic content now and then. And necessary for 3D (I'm not THAT evolved at home yet, and not sure if the tech is yet, either).
Given that we have a 55 inch flat screen, that's good enough for DVDs.
Boy, have times changed. Pops says the they used to be lucky to have some 20 inch TVs in the house years ago, and then he said as kids they only had ONE TV in the whole house and that was black and white at first. 3 maybe 4 channels and public service stations. Today the Average. TV in the house is 50 to 55 inch HD TVS where you can see a pimple on a TV anchors face and there are several of them throughout the house. The computer monitor right in front of me is 26 inches. and has more colors then ever before. How about several hundred channels and several sources of programing to choose from on these new sets. And internet too!
Last time I/we all went shopping in the mall, we were looking at 70 plus size TV. Mom kept saying no! We have enough and they are big enough already!
Phones and TV...people want the newest, largest and fastest there is. We are getting closer to the whole wall screens soon. And I don't mean projection types which to me isn't real TV.
I remember first we had 2 channels and then 3. Not only that, after midnight or so, all you'd get is a test pattern. Of course there was the National Anthem that would start the morning off at what? 6:00 a.m.?
And remotes were not even heard of. You had to get your ass up off the couch if you wanted to change the channel.
Probably getting off-topic here, BUT if there was a movie you were dying to see, you'd wait til it came on tv and if you missed it.....you had to wait for it to come on again.
Here in NJ at least, we had a rotor on the antenna so we can turn it toward either NYC or Philly to pick up different stations.
Our first remote came in the early 80s with cable, but it was attached with a chord (not wireless), and was almost the size of your lap with buttons on it.
My SIL just reposted this to Facebook this morning -- you've probably seen it before, but so true!
Quote:
Hilarious! Growing up without a cell phone
If you are 36, or older, you might think this is hilarious!
When I was a kid, adults used to bore me to tears with their tedious diatribes about how hard things were. When they were growing up; what with walking twenty-five miles to school every morning.... Uphill... Barefoot... BOTH ways...yadda, yadda, yadda
And I remember promising myself that when I grew up, there was no way in hell I was going to lay a bunch of crap like that on my kids about how hard I had it and how easy they've got it!
But now that I'm over the ripe old age of forty, I can't help but look around and notice the youth of today. You've got it so easy! I mean, compared to my childhood, you live in a damn Utopia! And I hate to say it, but you kids today, you don't know how good you've got it!
1) I mean, when I was a kid we didn't have the Internet. If we wanted to know something, we had to go to the damn library and look it up ourselves, in the card catalog!!
2) There was no email!! We had to actually write somebody a letter - with a pen! Then you had to walk all the way across the street and put it in the mailbox, and it would take like a week to get there! Stamps were 10 cents!
3) Child Protective Services didn't care if our parents beat us. As a matter of fact, the parents of all my friends also had permission to kick our ass! Nowhere was safe!
4) There were no MP3's or Napsters or iTunes! If you wanted to steal music, you had to hitchhike to the record store and shoplift it yourself!
5) Or you had to wait around all day to tape it off the radio, and the DJ would usually talk over the beginning and @#*% it all up! There were no CD players! We had tape decks in our car. We'd play our favorite tape and "eject" it when finished, and then the tape would come undone rendering it useless. Cause, hey, that's how we rolled, Baby! Dig?
6) We didn't have fancy crap like Call Waiting! If you were on the phone and somebody else called, they got a busy signal, that's it!
7) There weren't any freakin' cell phones either. If you left the house, you just didn't make a damn call or receive one. You actually had to be out of touch with your "friends". OH MY GOSH !!! Think of the horror... not being in touch with someone 24/7!!! And then there's TEXTING. Yeah, right. Please! You kids have no idea how annoying you are.
8) And we didn't have fancy Caller ID either! When the phone rang, you had no idea who it was! It could be your school, your parents, your boss, your bookie, your drug dealer, the collection agent... you just didn't know!!! You had to pick it up and take your chances, mister!
9) We didn't have any fancy PlayStation or Xbox video games with high-resolution 3-D graphics! We had the Atari 2600! With games like 'Space Invaders' and 'Asteroids'. Your screen guy was a little square! You actually had to use your imagination!!! And there were no multiple levels or screens, it was just one screen.. Forever! And you could never win. The game just kept getting harder and harder and faster and faster until you died! Just like LIFE!
10) You had to use a little book called a TV Guide to find out what was on! You were screwed when it came to channel surfing! You had to get off your ass and walk over to the TV to change the channel!!! NO REMOTES!!! Oh, no, what's the world coming to?!?!
11) There was no Cartoon Network either! You could only get cartoons on Saturday Morning. Do you hear what I'm saying? We had to wait ALL WEEK for cartoons, you spoiled little rat-bastards!
12) And we didn't have microwaves. If we wanted to heat something up, we had to use the stove! Imagine that!
13) And our parents told us to stay outside and play... all day long. Oh, no, no electronics to soothe and comfort. And if you came back inside... you were doing chores!
And car seats - oh, please! Mom threw you in the back seat and you hung on. If you were lucky, you got the "safety arm" across the chest at the last moment if she had to stop suddenly, and if your head hit the dashboard, well that was your fault for calling "shot gun" in the first place!
See! That's exactly what I'm talking about! You kids today have got it too easy. You're spoiled rotten! You guys wouldn't have lasted five minutes back in 1970 or any time before!
That is SO true Geoff. I remember those days well.
One of my favorite stories I'll always remember is from just a couple years ago when I was talking to my granddaughter (about 7 years old) on the phone. I asked her to hand phone to her mom on and she said "I can't. I'm talking on the phone with the "dangly thing." I found out after a few questions that she was using the phone on the fax machine. I mean she's never had to use a phone with a cord.
Here in NJ at least, we had a rotor on the antenna so we can turn it toward either NYC or Philly to pick up different stations.
And that was the beginning of a New York wannabe.
My mother used to tell the story of when my parents first got tv. They had, literally, one of the first tv sets in the neighborhood. My dad actually built the set for one of his customers (a bar owner). The owner couldn't pay for the set so my dad took it back and kept it at home (this was before I was born but my sister and brother benefited from this). One night, my mother was doing her ironing and she had the tv on. It was around 11:00 at night and there was only one station broadcasting then (remember that this was around 1949 or so). My mom actually called up one of the tv stations and complained. She told them that her husband got a tv but there was nothing to watch (my mom lived for confrontations like that ). The station actually aired a movie right then and there for her!! (It was some Claude Rains movie but my mother didn't remember which movie it was in later years).
And remotes were not even heard of. You had to get your ass up off the couch if you wanted to change the channel.
TIS
I remember my dad yelling at us because we would would spin that dial like it was a roulette wheel.
Oh yea, I remember. TV Dials???? Thing of the past.
On another note, if we had tv problems, I remember my dad taking the panel off the back of the tv. He's look at the tubes and if one was burned out he'd take it off and send us to the local appliance store to buy a replacement. Geez, now try figuring out the insides of a tv?? Yes, those were simpler days weren't they?
We didn't get our first color TV until I was a teenager. My aunt and uncle bought it for us a housewarming gift when we left the Bronx and bought a house in the suburbs.
When I was little, my brothers (12 and 14 when I was born) had their own TV in their bedroom. It was a small black and white on a rolling stand. One of them fell asleep with it on. He was too lazy to get out bed to turn it off, so he tried to hit the off button with his foot. Unfortunately, he hit it a bit too hard and knocked the TV off the stand. The SOUND it made, my goodness! All those tubes inside shattered. He was in biiiiig trouble!
It is not just the picture any more...we are talking sound! surround sound with wireless speakers that are so small you don't even notice them, but it sounds like you are right there.
Watch auto racing an you feel like the cars are running thru your room, or a basketball game and your in the crowd cheering.
The colors are so real looking and the clear and sharp pictures get better and better with each new release.
Here in NJ at least, we had a rotor on the antenna so we can turn it toward either NYC or Philly to pick up different stations.
We had that too, on good days we'd pick up signals from different tv markets.
Originally Posted By: The Italian Stallionette
Originally Posted By: olivant
Originally Posted By: The Italian Stallionette
And remotes were not even heard of. You had to get your ass up off the couch if you wanted to change the channel. TIS
I remember my dad yelling at us because we would would spin that dial like it was a roulette wheel.
Oh yea, I remember. TV Dials???? Thing of the past. On another note, if we had tv problems, I remember my dad taking the panel off the back of the tv. He's look at the tubes and if one was burned out he'd take it off and send us to the local appliance store to buy a replacement. Geez, now try figuring out the insides of a tv?? Yes, those were simpler days weren't they?
TIS
The young guys have no idea how it was back then before cable tv. You had ABC, NBC, CBS and PBS on the main dial and then depending where you lived a few more channels on UHF. And that UHF antenna was a real pain in the ass. After midnight there was rarely even anything on worth watching.
We got our first color tv in the late 1960's but before that it was strickly B&W for us. Me and my siblings used to fight over what we'd watch when we first got that RCA color tv, some brutal inter-family fights back then.
I remember those tubes very well too, my father would take them out and a few local stores had those tube testers back then where he'd check to see if they were dead or not.
Don't know how long I'll be around to post, but it's early here and I'm watching Oscars
Supporting Actor
Alan Arkin - Argo Robert DeNiro - Silver Lining Playbook Phillip Seymour Hoffman - The Master Tommy Lee Jones - Lincoln Christoph Waltz - Django Unchained
Ok, I'm tuning in to a couple episodes of "Walking Dead." Oscars not all that good (I assume I'm not alone in that thought) tho I am curious as to best picture actor/actress.
Even for Oscar standards (which is usually pretty low)...this show blows.
I did like how Adele had the orchestra and backing vocal choir and of course youth...and Shirley Bassey who's 76 years old was incredibly better, just by herself singing to a backing track.
Waltz winning Supporting Actor stunned the Internet, reading reactions. I figured Jones or DeNiro would win.
And how about that tie? We got a friggin Tie in one of the Sound categories.
EDIT - and BRAVE winning Best Animated Feature surprised me too.
Mots remarkable about that win was Brenda Chapman, one of the two credited directors, was fired from the movie by Pixar and replaced with Mark Andrews.
Even for Oscar standards (which is usually pretty low)...this show blows.
I did like how Adele had the orchestra and backing vocal choir and of course youth...and Shirley Bassey who's 76 years old was incredibly better, just by herself singing to a backing track.
Waltz winning Supporting Actor stunned the Internet, reading reactions. I figured Jones or DeNiro would win.
And how about that tie? We got a friggin Tie in one of the Sound categories.
EDIT - and BRAVE winning Best Animated Feature surprised me too.
Mots remarkable about that win was Brenda Chapman, one of the two credited directors, was fired from the movie by Pixar and replaced with Mark Andrews.
I liked the beginning song/dance numbers (The Way You Look Tonight for one) but it got worse. Why is the Chicago 10 year anniversary so special? Then again, I'm picky with musicals. It's gotta be music I like.
Loved Jennifer Hudson, and the cast of Les Mis. And Zeta-Jones looked and sounded great. Chicago won for Best Picture that year (although it probably didn't deserve it), so I guess that makes it special this year.
I usually like Seth MacFarlane, but well, not as much tonight.
I hardly cracked a smile during the entire telecast, partly, probably, because I haven't seen any of the films. But I will say, there are some I do want to see now, so I guess that's good....
Don't know the exact figures/odds but very unusual that Best Director award isn't given to the film that won Best Picture. I really thought Lincoln would win.
Of the nominated films however, the only ones that appeal to me are Lincoln & Argo.
Don't know the exact figures/odds but very unusual that Best Director award isn't given to the film that won Best Picture. I really thought Lincoln would win.
Of the nominated films however, the only ones that appeal to me are Lincoln & Argo.
TIS
Am I the only one who thought Argo was just OK, not super great? and if it was so great, why wasn't Ben given a nod at Best Director?
Am I the only one who thought Argo was just OK, not super great? and if it was so great, why wasn't Ben given a nod at Best Director?
Because at the time of voting for the nominations, ARGO wasn't a front-runner. It actually sorta faded away, as happens to movies it seems that don't open in November-December. Academy voters have short memory spans.
But then that Affleck "snub" happened, and incredibly it gave fire back to ARGO's campaign.
Who knows? If Affleck had been nominated himself from the get-go, ARGO might not have won Best Picture. That would be LINCOLN probably.
I give props to George Clooney (won a Best Picture Oscar as a producer of ARGO) for not giving an Oscar speech. Incredibly believe it or not, his 8th Oscar nomination and 6th different category to be nominated for. He previously was nominated for Actor, Supporting Actor*, Original Screenplay, Adapted Screenplay, and Director.
*=Which he won his first Oscar for. Can't remember the movie's title off the top of my head.
[I give props to George Clooney (won a Best Picture Oscar as a producer of ARGO) for not giving an Oscar speech. Incredibly believe it or not, his 8th Oscar nomination and 6th different category to be nominated for. He previously was nominated for Actor, Supporting Actor*, Original Screenplay, Adapted Screenplay, and Director.
*=Which he won his first Oscar for. Can't remember the movie's title off the top of my head.
The only other person to have been nominated in six separate caregories was Walt Disney.
Late to the talk here, just gotta say I'm loving Christoph Waltz more and more. He was terrifying in Inglourious Basterds and charming/eccentric in Django. Seems like a funny guy in "real life," too.
And that was the only Oscar-relevant movie I saw, so I was glad to see him and Tarantino win something for it!
Yet, I probably will. I hear the torture scenes are horrific. Maybe not a good comparison, BUT can they be any worse then the scenes from "The Passion Of The Christ?" 
I sat in the theater seat and had to take a couple deep breathes before leaving. It left me exhausted. LOL
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I've only heard good things about it.
And internet too!
Yes, those were simpler days weren't they?