yeah, but Marty's due. And they gave it to Kevin Costner instead of him. I think there might be some buyer's remorse going on.

B) Several comments as to Scorsese's heart just wasn't in The Aviator.

Well, from what I understand, this film was DiCaprio's baby, not Scorsese's.

My problem is that of all the Oscar nominees I've seen, I find them all admirable, but I don't love any of them. I think my pick would be for the Aviator, except for the fact that it utterly failed to move me. I liked everything else about it.

it utterly failed to move me

That, combined with its length, is my beef with the flick. I felt very "Uhhuh. Uhhuh. Interesting! Hmm." throughout. Finding Neverland, Million Dollar Baby, and Ray got me at least misted up, if not pouring tears. And this flows over into the best actors. I never thought Leo was anything other than interesting. I'm prepared to give him spot on, to a degree (I'm Hughes-illiterate), but he didn't move me.

Premiere's Picks: [link]

Normally I dislike Leo. I thought he was laughable in Titanic. But I've been warming to him, and I didn't mind him at all in Aviator. But I had no empathy for his Hughes. Maybe Leo's all dead inside.

The only movies on Oscar races I loved unreservedly are "Eternal Sunshine of Spotless Mind" and "Sideways". Both MDB and "The Aviator" left me feeling like I should respect the craft that went into the movie-making process, without really engaging me emotionally. I should really see "Vera Drake", but my days have been so exhausting and kind of shitty of late that I couldn't work myself up for "yay! Depressing British abortion drama!"

I'd give more credence to that "it was just a bad career choice" spiel from the Razzies guy if Berry hadn't been the worst thing in two X-Men movies in addition. I mean, Stewart and McKellan can be counted on for great performances no matter what, but when stuntmen, professional wrestlers, and fashion models in body paint are out-acting you, you can't blame it on the script or the director.

Still, props to her for having the guts and sense of humor to show up for the award in person.

I'd give more credence to that "it was just a bad career choice" spiel from the Razzies guy if Berry hadn't been the worst thing in two X-Men movies in addition

Yeah, that's why, although I laughed, I can't like her much more than before. She has stunk joints up before.

Also, "When I was a kid, my mother told me that if you could not be a good loser, then there's no way you could be a good winner," would ring a bit truer if she was actually taking the blame on herself.

David Poland's pick's: [link]

B) Several comments as to Scorsese's heart just wasn't in The Aviator.

Really? I mean, compared to Gangs of New York, sure, but I thought it had his hands and heart all over it, in the best ways. I hope he wins tonight. I don't think he will, but I think he deserves to.

I watched the first half of Troy last night. On the theory that if you can't say anything good, don't say anything at all: Sean Bean was pretty good, and looked great (if skinny).

Sean Bean was pretty good, and looked great (if skinny).

His lean physique is exactly why I thought he was all wrong for Boromir when I first heard he had been cast. Of course, my mental image of Boromir had been damaged by the animated LotR, which had Boromir as a Viking Warrior type, so I always pictured him as both taller and broader than Bean. His clothes helped to disguise the skinniness in FotR, but that Grecian tunic couldn't hide anything.