Obsession

Crime writer James Ellroy and Zodiac director David Fincher have formed a mutual admiration society while sharing insights about obsession. And make no mistake about it: Obsession, not slaughter, is what Zodiac is all about. In Ellroy's view, "This movie is a whole metaphor for men and how we all go assertively into the world and how we countermand our own personal chaos by trying to impose order on external events."

It's Showtime!

Porn connoisseurs doubtless are delighted that Vivid Entertainment is remaking the classic sex flick Debbie Does Dallas. And their interest likely has been aroused... excuse me, I have to laugh hysterically for a few seconds... OK, I'm back. Their interest has been stroked... er, stoked, by news that there will be a reality TV series devoted to actresses auditioning for the lead role. But it appears that the pay-cable network airing it "got cold feet when it came time to get the publicity machine fired up."

A man after my own heart

Even her husband can't keep his eyes off her...

Helen Mirren: Hottie

Speaking as someone who has long had lust in his heart (and several other vital organs) for Helen Mirren, I must admit that I enjoyed Sunday's Oscarcast musical interlude that had Jack Black, Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly admitting they, too, wanted to pay homage to The Queen. (Can you imagine that sort of gag in an Oscar show even just five years ago? I mean, a gag in which an older lady is genuinely appreciated by younger guys as the hottie she is? Truly, 60 is the new 40.) But had I known beforehand that Dame Helen would go commando for the evening's revels -- well, let's just say that I might have invested in a Hi-Def TV. And maybe a Tivo.

Viewer alert!

West Coasters, take note: Watch Law & Order: Criminal Intent tonight. The episode is an inspired commingling of ripped-from-headlines immediacy -- and knowing allusion to the film noir classic D.O.A.

A super night of Oscar ads

The New York Times notes that advertising spots aired during Sunday's Oscarcast "seemed better than the commercials that appeared during the Super Bowl," perhaps because, unlike the NFL, the Motion Picture Academy "reviews the spots for appropriate content and tone before they run." Which may explain why GoDaddy.com was nowhere to be found.

More Ellen, more viewers?

According to Variety, ratings for Sunday's Oscarcast are up from last year's edition by one million viewers. Money quote: "Host Ellen DeGeneres seemed to especially boost female viewership, with this year's 16.2 rating in women 18-34 a big 15% increase over last year's 14.1." Do not be surprised if she's asked back.

Less hype, more Oscars?

Some observers are wondering if the key to Martin Scorsese's long-overdue Oscar victory was his non-campaigning campaign. Others are questioning whether it was the right award and the right director, but the wrong movie. My opinion? I'm just thankful he finally got the freakin' gold.

Blogging Oscar, 11:16 pm

A satisfying rush to conclusion. Forest Whitaker obviously heeded all the snippy critics who complained about his rambling remarks at other awards events, and brought along a very moving scripted acceptance speech to deliver when he was named Best Actor for The Last King of Scotland. (It was a bit sad, however, to note Peter O'Toole's expression -- as though the poor guy thought, "Oh, bloody Christ! Not again!" -- when he realized he was an eight-time loser.) Funny bandying among Francis Ford Coppola, Steven Spielberg and George Lucas as they prepared to give Martin Scorsese his long-overdue Oscar for Best Director. And just a few minutes later, it was hard not to laugh at Scorsese's unabashedly incredulous expression -- Spielberg looked like he had to snap him out of a shocked daze -- when The Departed was announced as Best Picture.

I can't really complain about any of the Academy's choices. But damn! Why did it take such a long time to dole out the gold?

I suspect some cynics will dis Ellen DeGeneres' turn as Oscarcast host. But, truth to tell, I thought she was swell. And one more An Inconvenient Truth comment: Is this the first time the Best Documentary also copped the prize for Best Song?

Blogging Oscar, 10:58 pm

Helen Mirren is the epitome of class while accepting her "the biggest and the best gold star" as Best Actress for The Queen. And I'm very happy for her. But is this the longest freakin' Oscarcast ever?

Blogging Oscar, 10:48 pm

Sorry, but Michael Mann's montage of clips meant to represent how America is represented in the movies must rank among the most muddle-headed efforts of its kind in Oscar history. The customary "obituary reel" was, as usual, classy and respectful. (Good to see Philippe Noiret featured so prominently.) But where was James Brown, singer of "Living in America" (which figured in Mann's montage)?

Blogging Oscar, 10:30 pm

"I Need to Wake Up" fully deserved to win Best Song, and don't let anybody tell you otherwise. Yes, it's a political statement -- from the Oscar-winning An Inconvenient Truth -- but what's so wrong with that?

Of course, there will be some right-wingers who will use Melissa Etheridge's on-stage thank-you to her "wife" as a cudgel with which to beat the film and its message. Those folks should be beaten with sticks.

Blogging Oscar, 10:17 pm

Not exactly a shocker: Little Miss Sunshine gets the Best Original Screenplay gold. But is this a portent of a Best Picture win? My Magic 8-Ball says "Yes."

Blogging Oscar, 10:02 pm

Well, of course the folks at the first "Green Oscars" would give the Best Documentary award to An Inconvenient Truth. And I love the way the filmmakers blithely ignored the rules about how many people could go on stage to accept the prize, and how many of them could actually speak. Good for them.

As for the lifetime achievement award for composer Ennio Morricone -- well, I would have included "The Ecstasy of Gold" from The Good, The Bad and The Ugly in the retrospective montage, but what the hell. A grand gesture, a deserving honoree.

Blogging Oscar, 9:15 pm

Random thought: Could Pan's Labyrinth wind up winning more Oscars than any other movie tonight? Inspired lunacy: Ellen DeGeneres asking Steven Spielberg to snap a picture of her and Clint Eastwood for her MyPage.

Blogging Oscar, 8:54 pm

Enjoyed the montage of scenes depicting writers in the movies. (Lord knows, I've always been able to relate to the scene in Julia where a frustrated Jane Fonda throws her typewriter out the window.) But after the well-deserved Adapted Screenplay win by William Monahan for The Departed, that lame "horse race" bit with the chintzy wooden-horse icons was pretty shameful. Kudos to Tom Hanks for his not-so-subtle critique with the most sarcastic rely I've ever heard him give a stupid question in public.

Blogging Oscar, 8:37 pm

Al Gore and the producers of the Academy Awards prove they have a sense of humor about themselves. Priceless.

BTW: I suddenly feel much better about the Best Song chances for "I Need to Wake Up."

Blogging Oscar, 8:25 pm

Upset No. 1: Alan Arkin over Eddie Murphy for Supporting Actor. And I predicted it days ago. I'm feeling real good about my Oscar pool bet right now. Also feeling good about Best Picture chances for Little Miss Sunshine.

Blogging Oscar, 8:06 pm

Will Ferrell (who should have been nominated for Stranger Than Fiction), Jack Black and John C. Reilly made the most of a clever comic premise in their musical number bemoaning Oscar's lack of respect for comedy performances. And they're right -- Helen Mirren is a hottie, and Mark Wahlberg could kick their asses.

Nice presentation of Letters from Iwo Jima as a Best Picture nominee. Hope the other four will be presented in this nontraditional manner.

Blogging Oscar, 7:48 p.m.

Great opening sequence -- Errol Morris' artfully arranged snippets of Oscar nominees -- and genuinely amusing (and self-effacingly low-key) opening monologue by host Ellen DeGeneres. (Loved the coupling of "loser" Jennifer Hudson and "winner" Al Gore for a very funny -- and conspicuously well-received -- punchline.) But I'm sorry to see that Nikki Finke may have been right -- looks like the Supporting Actor awards will come later in the program.