Here's a link to the "official" site http://www.oscar.com/

go heath oh and 1st
[Edited 2/21/09 0:10am]

Is there a place I can watch it online, live?

No one in Holland seems to broadcasting it live, except an obscure pay per view channel...

HamsterHuey said:

Did you check the site link? If not maybe check your tv listings.

There's a whole section of Heath's fan base that believe's he's alive and will be appearing at the Oscars to accept his award. I'd love if he were still with us, but it really takes denial to a whole new level.

http://heathledgerisnotde...gspot.com/

purplesweat said:

And elvis has just left the building

Kate Winslet!!

thekidsgirl said:

yeah she's been long overdue for her statue

Hollywood
And the loser is…

Feb 21st 2009 | LOS ANGELES
From Economist.com
Why the Oscars don’t matter


THE gowns have been delivered and the bets laid. The back-patting advertisements have appeared in Variety and the Hollywood Reporter. The host, Hugh Jackman, is as handsome as the role demands. On the night of Sunday February 22nd the Academy Awards ceremony will be broadcast around the globe. But the event may well prove to be of less consequence, either to television viewers or to studio accountants, than any in the past.

According to a persistent Hollywood myth (regrettably repeated at least once by The Economist) the Oscars ceremony is watched by a billion people across the world. The real number is impossible to calculate, but it is either in the tens of millions or the low hundreds of millions. And it is falling in the Oscars’ home territory. Last year 32m Americans tuned in, the smallest audience ever. Three times as many watched American football’s Super Bowl. Indeed, more people saw the premiere of American Idol, an amateur singing competition.

Nor does this year’s competition seem to be helping the film business much. On the eve of Oscar weekend the five nominees for best film—“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”, “Frost / Nixon”, “Milk”, “The Reader” and “Slumdog Millionaire”—had together earned $276m at the box-office. To put that in perspective, “The Dark Knight”, the latest of the Batman films, has pulled in $533m. Last weekend all of the nominees for best film put together only just managed to earn more than a critically loathed popcorn accompaniment entitled “Paul Blart: Mall Cop”. All but one were beaten by “Underworld: Rise of the Lycans” which does not even have Kate Beckinsale in it.

The Oscars are not supposed to reward popularity, the Academy’s defenders retort. They recognise eternal greatness. But do they? A given year’s “best picture” often endures less well than that year’s box-office champion. In one spell, from 1981 to 1985, the Academy decreed that the best films were “Chariots of Fire”, “Gandhi”, “Terms of Endearment”, “Amadeus” and “Out of Africa”. All are the sort of well-meaning and thoughtful films that the Academy likes best.

In the world beyond Hollywood among the most popular films in those years were “The Empire Strikes Back”, “Raiders of the Lost Ark”, “E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial”, “Return of the Jedi” and “Ghostbusters”. A quick test, for those who have seen all of these films: can you recall more scenes from the first group or the second?

The very act of awarding prizes seems to throw Tinseltown into a state of cognitive dissonance. As Tom Shone observes in his insightful book, “Blockbuster”, Hollywood spends nearly all its money and energy working out what teenagers want and cravenly giving it to them. Then, once a year, it pauses to ask: “But is it art?”. It is hardly surprising that its conclusions are often so dismal.

Most people have not seen the films nominated this year. It is likely that many have not even heard of them. Had the Academy nominated a popular film and then given the award to something else, television viewers could have found out that, at least in Hollywood’s opinion, there is a film even better than “The Dark Knight”. Instead, they will perhaps learn that a film about some Indian guy, which they did not see, is better than a film that has Kate Winslet in it. They did not see that one, either. But wasn’t Ms Winslet in “Titanic”?

Within Hollywood, of course, the Academy Awards still matter a great deal. Prestige and acclaim are hard currency in the film business, in many ways more valuable than money. The danger is that Hollywood’s taste in its own products is becoming as removed from public opinion as its political views are outside the American mainstream. What viewers will see on Sunday night is an industry talking to itself.

http://www.economist.com/...s_box_main

What is the org's prediction on what Milk will win? I think Sean Penn's almost a shoe-in for best actor, and perhaps the film will win Best Cinematography. But best picture I'm not so sure about. What do ya'll think?

How "bloggy" - of course, more people would watch the Super Bowl or the premiere of American Idol than the Oscars - the Las Vegas principle (stupid people like bright lights) applies well here.

SUPRMAN said:

I know O'Rourke will probably get it, but I'm kind of hoping dude from The Visitor (Jenkins) walks off with best actor.

I missed the Grammys and I think I'll skip this one too. I think my tolerance for stupid bullshit is at an all-time low.

My frienda and I have a party every year. We even have an "Oscar" for the person who predicts the most wins. I think it's my year to take the statue home.

JuliePurplehead said:

I've always wanted to have an Oscar Party, but my wack friends are never interested.

MY PREDICTIONS - I WONT EDIT THIS
so u can see in the morning if i'm right or wrong



Actor in a Leading Role - Sean Penn
Actor in a Supporting Role - Heath Ledger
Actress in a Leading Role - Kate Winslet
Actress in a Supporting Role - Penelope Cruz
Animated Feature Film - Wall E
Art Direction - Benjamin Button
Cinematography - Benjamin Button
Costume Design - Revolutionary ROad
Directing - Benjamin Button
Documentary Feature - Man On Wire
Documentary Short -
Film Editing - Slumdog Millionare
Foreign Language Film - The Witness
Makeup - Benjamin Button
Music (Score) - Slumdog Millionaire
Music (Song) - Down To Earth Wall E
Best Picture - Benjamin Button
Short Film (Animated) - This Way Up
Short Film (Live Action) - Spegeiland
Sound Editing - Slumdog Millionaire
Sound Mixing - The Dark Knight
Visual Effects - Benjamin Button
Writing (Adapted Screenplay) - Slumdog Millionaire
Writing (Original Screenplay) - In Bruges

unique said:

oops

I think Slumdog takes Best Picture but I agree with your other choices generally.
[Edited 2/22/09 11:50am]

Mickey Rourke will get it

Does the red carpet stuff really start at 4pm? The broadcast starts at midnight here and last time I checked LA is 9 hrs behind us, there's an hour of bullshit before... I won't be watching it regardless, I don't stay up all night anymore and it's not all that interesting.

I do love all the glamour etc and I think we need a bit of exctiment with all the doom and gloom going on around the world!

come on slumdog! I am over Kate! Go Meryl and Mickey Rourke!!

HamsterHuey said:

Do you have digital tv? Then you can watch it for free on Film1.

Btw How big are the Oscars in the US? Is the whole country watching?

dothejump said:

I'm in Canada Marika but I would guess the oscars is the biggest award show of them all. Not all the country would be watching but a heck of a lot of people will be! Since it's on in prime time here most of North America will be tuning in for the glitz and the gossip.

I had forgotten till I saw the thread

It's streaming live here in Oz on cable. It's 35 mins till the awards begin, it's the red carpet tripe at the moment.

I can't wait till the real fun begins, go Mickey Rourke!

mickey's face creeps me out

PanthaGirl said:

WHAT FUN!!!!!

emm said:

ME TOO!!!

emm said:

LOL yah I'm sure he is aware of how different he looks these days because of his bad plastic surgery but in saying that I was referring to his acting ability which is outstanding

YEAH!!!! Beyonce is not singing the opening number!

Hugh Jackman is cracking me up.

I can't believe Hugh Jackman can dance so well! I am totally in love with this man, now!

Lammastide said:

I swear! I'm speechless! WOW...GO Wolverine!