Videogum » Oscars

Perfect George Clooney Look-Alike Heading To The Oscars

Gabe — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 19:45:10 +0000

The man on the left of this photograph won a George Clooney look-alike contest (obviously he did) in Ireland, and the prize is getting to go to the Oscars! From Kilkenny People (via PopCultureBrain):

Renaming The Academy Awards Venue, Oh No!

Kelly — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 16:00:32 +0000

As we all know by now because we think we saw someone Instagram about it, which is honestly the truth in my case because the world is a very funny vampire, the IRL film company Kodak is filing for bankruptcy. Very sad! I bet. I’m sure people are sad about it. I’m not sad about it because I have too many other things to be sad about, like how I need a new book of checks and I feel like that’s going to be kind of annoying to get, and TAXES?, and most importantly how NOW the Oscars venue isn’t going to be called the “Kodak Theatre” anymore. BUT MY CHILDHOOD! From Deadline:

Bankrupt Kodak said in court filing this week that it wants its name taken off the Kodak Theatre at Hollywood & Highland, the home of the Academy Awards since 2001. The company said the move to relinquish naming rights will save it serious cash as it begins bankruptcy proceedings after filing for Chapter 11 protection earlier this month.

“So it goes.” Yes? This is just like in that book when that guy says, “So it goes.” O, FORTUNA. Although this is a difficult time, as it’s always hard when something we thought would be one way forever suddenly changes, like when Videogum’s logo wasn’t this* anymore, we have to pick up our hearts and insides from the floor, stuff them back into our limp bodies, and carry on. Something that I think will help us move on is imagining the theatre with different, appropriate, and likely names.

The 2012 Academy Awards Nominees

Gabe — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 14:15:38 +0000

They are here! The 2012 Academy Award nominations are here! Have you ever watched the actual nominees announcement broadcast? It’s kind of like watching the actual Academy Awards if it was presented at an abandoned hotel buffet and it only lasted 30 minutes. Every once in awhile you’ll hear two people “whoo!” in the background, but that’s about it. It’s actually kind of great. Without all of the pomp and the medleys and the overlong speeches and the commercial breaks, it plugs along at a really nice clip and ends at a reasonable hour. And the best part is that everyone is still theoretically a winner! I’m not sure who the dude was standing next to Jennifer Lawrence this morning, though. Who was that dude? I’m also not sure who the dude was who gave Jennifer Lawrence her No Affect Pills. Guys, please be careful when you’re administering the No Affect PIlls to Jennifer Lawrence right before she goes on TV. She should have no affect, not NEGATIVE affect. Anyway, lots of predictable things in here: The Descendents is doing great. Everybody loves The Artist. Brad Pitt was in Moneyball. And of course, Andy Serkis for Best Director. (Just kidding, apparently the time is later. Sorry Serkis!) Tumblr will probably be very excited to hear that Kristen Wiig, Amy Mumolo were nominated for the Bridesmaids screenplay. (Melissa McCarthy nominated for Best Supporting Actress, if you’re a Reddit user. The point is, congratulations Internet.) And that brings us to the Best Picture nominees. A few years ago, they expanded the number of nominees from five to 10. The reasoning behind this was that it would draw a bigger audience to the broadcast somehow, but the defense was that it would allow more films to get the recognition they deserve. Uh, EPIC FAIL TIME. Hahah. Seriously, The Help AND Extremely Nine and Incredibly Eleven are both nominated for BEST PICTURE? Of the whole year?! Good grief. I will literally TOLERATE War Horse and Midnight in Paris on there. (War Horse, no duh it’s on there. Midnight in Paris was cute and certainly more interesting than a lot of other junk, so fine.) But those boldly straight-forward celebrations of American Racism and The Reverse Voldemort Of National Tragedies (she who must ALWAYS be named) need to get out of here with that noise. Oh well. It’s just weird that the Academy Awards would celebrate something less than artistically perfect, since they never have in the past. They’re usually nothing but completely dedicated to integrity and the advancement of the medium’s loftiest ideals. (Oh, on that note, congratulations to PUSS IN BOOTS for being an Oscar-nominated movie.)

The full list of nominees after the jump:

Here Are Some Afternoon Links!

Kelly — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 21:15:47 +0000

Upon hearing of Brett Ratnor’s resignation, Eddie Murphy dropped out of hosing the Oscars. Oh, GREAT. Now they’ll just have to be cancelled. Right? Once a host and producer drop out they have to cancel the whole show and wait for next year? Very sad news! R.I.P. Oscars. -NYT
Michael Moore debated a puppy on last night’s Late Night. Did the puppy finally get him to admit that he is indeed part of the 1%? Watch to find out! (No.) (Still watch!) (It is cute.) -GotchaMedia
Also included in the George Clooney Rolling Stone fart story is that George Clooney had his first orgasm when he climbed a rope? Who is in charge of this cover story?! Wageorge Waclooney? (Evil George Clooney.) -TheSuperficial
Seth Meyers was on the Colbert Report last night and was as charming as ever. -Splitsider
In an interview with DigitalSpy, Dan Harmon said that he sometimes purposely puts Alison Brie into GIFable situations on Community. Ugh, MEN! Right ladies? They are just the worst. Also WarmingGlow put together a collection of Alison Brie GIFs and maybe let’s all just look at them for like one sec each. -WarmingGlow
Ugh, I love Emma Stone! Watch her SNL promos. -Celebuzz
LAUREN CONRAD WAS CAUGHT MAKING OUT WITH CHANCE CRAWFORD! -ONTD
Tyler Perry fans are threatening to boycott his new movie The Marriage Councilor if he keeps Kim Kardashian in it. Do they not know that this is how he makes his living and he needs their money to survive, what are they doing?! -FilmDrunk
This is your haircut. -TheDailyWhat
Robert Pattinson was on Letterman last night. Wanna watch it? Nobody is going to judge you. They probably won’t even see. -JustJared

Here Are Some Afternoon Links!

Kelly — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 20:15:14 +0000

Mindy Kaling was interviewed for the New Yorker‘s Book Bench about her new book, etc.! “Read it.” -New Yorker
Who should play Steven Tyler in the Steven Tyler biopic, which is something that is going to exist? A scary witch? A pretty but very old lady? #BIRDIE? -Stereogum
I’m sure some of you must want to see all seven timelines from the “Remedial Chaos Theory” Community episode, sooo, here you go! -GotchaMedia
You’re going to be able to buy an electric Back the the Future Delorean soon? Will everyone not be happy until we just live inside the movie Back to the Future? That’s how much everybody loves it? -SlashFilm
The Dark Knight Rises may film a few shots of Occupy Wall Street soon. “We’re gonna need a bigger something to make this seem less legitimate.” -Batman voice. -THR
Speaking of, Vulture interviewed Penn Badgley and a lot of it is about Occupy Wall Street. He actually seems pretty well informed just kidding! -Vulture
How many of these characters can YOU recognize? I got all of them already so you can’t beat me. -BuzzFeed
Can you not even wait AT ALL for the Oscars and you already want to figure out how you’re going to vote in your Oscar pool? Why not check out FilmDrunk’s Oscar guide! All of my votes are going to Breaking Bad. That makes sense, right? Do I already win? -FilmDrunk
This kid is so GD excited about Angry Birds. -TheDailyWhat
“The Situation got kicked out of the Apple store for causing a situation.” That’s what this headline should be, what a missed opportunity. -TheSuperficial
This is your lip balm. -Dlisted
After yesterday’s announcement from Zachary Quinto, Salon has a piece about why it still matters when a celebrity comes out. -Salon
It’s weird how my opinion of Bradley Cooper has changed so much from since I only knew him as a person involved with Stella. Now I really don’t like him? I even get a little mad just seeing A PICTURE of him. Like this one, ladies. -Celebuzz
Katie Holmes is looking pretty cool on the cover of Marie Clair except for the face she’s making, but what I want to say about this is LOOK AT THE TIPS INCLUDED IN THE MAGAZINE! “End the hair drama!” “Get standout skin tonight!” “Be party-ready in five!” Those are honestly the top three things that would solve all my problems. $4 for a new life. -JustJared

How To Easily Get Around The New Rules About Oscar Campaigning

Kelly — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 15:45:36 +0000

The academy issued some new rules about Oscar campaigning! Have you already been reading everything about this because it is a story that directly affects you and isn’t boring at all? Me too, so have I! I guess in the world of old Hollywood if you wanted your movie to win an Academy Award, you had to sandwich the screening of your movie in between cocaine parties and gifting rooms and secret rooms in the back where who knows what happens. And whichever movie threw the best cocaine parties and had the best secret back rooms got the vote. But now some of that isn’t allowed anymore? From The Hollywood Reporter:

After the nominations are revealed and until final ballots are due on Feb. 21, the restrictions kick in. Receptions will not be permitted after screenings. Individual filmmakers may take part in no more than two panel discussions on behalf of a given film to which Academy members are invited. Additionally, between the nomination announcements and the final vote, Academy members may not be invited to or attend any non-screening event that promotes or honors a nominated movie or individual.

You also can’t say bad things about other movies on Twitter or something like that. UGGGHH. Doesn’t the world have enough boring rules without keeping Hollywood hopefuls from their drug and sex fueled, I assume, post screening receptions? It does! But unfortunately rules are rules and you have to get academy members to vote for your movie SOMEHOW. So.

Ricky Gervais Will Live-Blog The Golden Globes, Make A Fun Idea Sound Unbearable

Kelly — Thu, 08 Sep 2011 18:00:23 +0000

I feel like there was a time, not too long ago, when Ricky Gervais was generally regarded as a great comedic talent who helped to usher in a New Era of better and smarter and more uncomfortable comedy, and everybody liked him and he was very good and nobody really questioned it that much. But then I guess he read God Is Not Great, and now everything he says is unbearable? What happened? Give me back my Ricky Gervais! “And give me back my Atheist Comedian title!” – David Cross. What’s even more unfortunate is that it looks like his new unbearable persona has leaked, from things that would be unbearable by themselves into things that would otherwise be fun and exciting. From Ricky Gervais’ blog:

I’ve had one of my big ideas. A live 3 hour podcast during The Golden Globes. Me and a few chums (like Louis CK, Chris Rock, Karl Pilkington, John Stewart, Larry David popping in and out) doing our own alternative commentary.

People at home can have the telly on with the sound down listening to us online say things that no broadcaster could get away with.

No one could do a fucking thing.

The biggest live webcast ever? Who knows? Who cares? What’s fun is the shit we might come out with. No money. No sponsor. No guide lines. Fuck me I can’t wait.

OH MY GOODNESS. First of all, does Ricky Gervais believe he’s the first comedian to have ever decided to do a “tell it like it is” Golden Globes live-blog? Every single person, let alone COMEDIAN, all over the world live-blogs basically every single TV “event,” and it’s never for money and it’s never censored and there are never any guide lines and no one ever can do a fucking thing about it, unfortunately.

The 2011 Academy Awards

Gabe — Mon, 28 Feb 2011 15:30:17 +0000

Well, that was TERRIBLE. Look: I know that I complain a lot, OK? Don’t you think I know that? Of course I know that. But despite what you may think, I actually AM capable of enjoying things, and I was fully prepared to enjoy last night’s Academy Awards, I just didn’t. Because of how awful it was. Why was everyone talking so slowly? Were their heads broken? You would think with all that Hollywood money, they could afford to get their heads fixed. And stop shining the lights in James Franco’s eyes, how is he supposed to read his inane cue cards? And tell Anne Hathaway to take it easy on the Insufferable Pills, the bottle says not to exceed four Insufferable Pills in a 24-hour period and I think she took, like, 100. Do not even get me started on The King’s Speech. Colin Firth is a good actor and England is a noble empire or whatever, but that movie just seemed from the very beginning to be a calculated Oscar grab, so it is definitely disappointing to see it grab ALL of the Oscars. Natalie Portman. Good grief. Did anything even remotely surprising or interesting happen last night? And don’t say Randy Newman performing a song because don’t be a liar. More like the SNORESCARS, am I right, you guys? Oh well. There is always next year and the year after that and the year after that until either the world collapses into the ocean or we are all dead of old age, like Kirk Douglas (R.I.P.). Here’s a slideshow from the after-party!

“If This Year’s Oscars Were Awarded Nine Years Ago…”

Gabe — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 18:00:51 +0000

Joe Mande takes a look at how last night’s Snorescars would have been distributed if they had been awarded in 2001. THIS SHOULD WIN AN AWARD.

The 2010 Academy Awards

Gabe — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 14:49:34 +0000

Admittedly, I’m not the target audience for the Academy Awards. I mean, I love to participate in national traditions as much as anyone, and I watch the Oscars every year if for no other reason than that I like to know what everyone’s talking about. But I don’t really care about the adult equivalent of Prom Fashion, and I have little enthusiasm for an awards system that is outwardly and admittedly about politics and seniority and commerce as much as it is about talent or art or accomplishment. But, was it just me, or was this year’s Academy Awards especially dull? Like, there were zero surprises or upsets. Everyone who was supposed to win, won, with a Taylor Swiftian surprise on their face. And then there was the ceremony itself, which literally had flat screen TVs playing images of diamonds? Because that is how you know something is fancy and glamorous? And Alec Baldwin and Steve Martin are great performers and comedians, two legendary entertainers, but what was that, guys? Did they refuse to let you talk about the show beforehand? Because if they refused to let you talk about the show beforehand, then that makes sense. They should have let you talk about the show beforehand! Even the Oscar’s tribute to horror movies included footage from such classic horror movies as Edward Scissorhands and the Sixth Sense. Huh? I guess I am happy for Christopher Waltz and Kathryn Bigelow, who was the first woman to win for Best Director. But it’s weird that what will forever be remembered as an historic Oscars felt so entirely forgettable from beginning to end.

Boo, 2010 Academy Awards. A rare miss. (Not that rare of a miss.)