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Oscars 2008

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1234567
from: Kim Masters
to: Troy Patterson and Dana Stevens

All Hail the DVR

Posted Monday, Feb. 25, 2008, at 1:43 PM ET

Dana and Troy,

As we watched the display of talent shimmering on the television screen, we realized that we were grateful.

For the DVR.

And Pacific time.

We started 30 minutes behind the live broadcast and whipped right through.

We admit that we were hoping for an upset. It may be the height of movie wimpdom to say so, but we're guessing the Coen brothers' earlier work Henry Kissinger: Man on the Go makes for a more fun Saturday night than No Country for Old Men. But producer Scott Rudin has been laboring for a long time without a lot of Oscar love, so mazel tov to him. We wondered how come they always show the teary wives but no quick reaction shot when Rudin thanked his honey. What's up with that, liberal Hollywood?

Most disingenuous moment: Rudin claiming to be surprised. Much better was his acknowledgement of Sydney Pollack, who is not well (and who was a producer on Michael Clayton).

Julian Schnabel may be creepy, but it was a shame to see Diving Bell go winless. Notice that all the acting Oscars went to non-Americans? Even biggest upset went to a foreigner (Julie Christie).

A few more surprises would have been nice. Marion Cotillard's win proves that channeling dead celebrities is the way to win an Oscar.

We were surprised to find ourselves rooting for Hal Holbrook because really, our heart belonged to Tom Wilkinson in Michael Clayton. But we figured Holbrook had a shot at the old-guy win. Apparently the Academy doesn't do that any more.

A few choices were pleasing. The song from Once deserved to beat the competition from Enchanted, which seemed phoned in. And wasn't it kind of nice to see Michael Moore stay in his seat?

Until next year,
Kim

dialogues
entries
1234567
from: Kim Masters
to: Troy Patterson and Dana Stevens

All Hail the DVR

Posted Monday, Feb. 25, 2008, at 1:43 PM ET
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Kim Masters is an NPR correspondent and the author of The Keys to the Kingdom: The Rise of Michael Eisner and the Fall of Everyone Else. Troy Patterson is Slate's television critic. Dana Stevens is Slate's movie critic.
Illustration by Alex Eben Meyer. Entry 5: Photograph of Diablo Cody by Kevin Winter/Getty Images. Photograph of Jon Stewart on Slate's home page by Kevin Winter/Getty Images. Photograph of Rebecca Miller and Daniel Day-Lewis by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images.
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