Monday, February 27, 2012

Go Jean, Go

So, like every year, I totally missed the Oscars since the show doesn’t start until around 2am my time.  I did wake up to facebook posts, though, about Jean Dujardin winning best actor? Wow.

I didn’t see ‘The Artist’ but my husband did.  I wish I could say he came home with lots of trendy existential artistic insights to relay. 

But, alas, high-society film critic my husband is not.  

In fact, the hub’s analysis consisted more of terms like ‘bored out of my mind’ and he admitted to falling asleep about a third of the way through. I guess the lack of sound, speech, or other stimulus was hard for my high-action film fan to take.

I think the French are proud of Jean, of course, but they’re also a little surprised.  I don’t know if I’ve said this before, but the French aren’t big on comedy.  Or rather, they enjoy dark comedies made fun by witty quips or completely off-the-wall situations all while the main character suffers from something like loss, depression, destitution, illness, blackmail, or all of the above. 

And somebody usually has to die, of course…it ain’t funny ‘till somebody dies.

Here, Jean Dujardin is, for all intents and purposes, a comedian- mostly known for a comic mini series and movies like ‘Brice de Nice’ where he interprets an intellectually-challenged beach bum or a ‘Naked Gun’ type character in OSS 007. Not exactly rolls the French hold in high regard. But all in all, I think the entire country is happy for him and proud to be represented in such a high profile award show.

Did you watch the Oscars?  Any moments I should look up on youtube? What was YOUR favorite movie pick of 2012?

34 comments:

S.A. Larsenッ said...

I didn't watch, even though I could get it prime-time. lol I was busy finishing a great book!!

Miranda Hardy said...

I didn't watch either, so I have no idea who won or lost, yet. I'm sure to hear about the winners today.

Creepy Query Girl said...

sometimes I wish I could facebook 'like' these comments. lol. You'll have to tell me what the great book was!

Natalie Aguirre said...

I only watched the beginning with Billy Crystal which was funny. Then like Sheri, I went back to reading a good book. Thanks for letting us know who won best actor.

Starting Over, Accepting Changes - Maybe said...

I love the movies and saw most of the those nominated - except The Artist. My favorite was Midnight in Paris. It was quirky and fun to watch.

Anne Gallagher said...

I was disappointed Viola Davis didn't win. We went to high school together, but she won a SAG and a Golden Globe so I guess that's enough.

Connie Keller said...

I'm not big on the Oscars. But I did see the movie Moneyball and loved it.

Suzie F. said...

Octavia Spencer's best supporting actress acceptance speech for The Help is definitely worth checking out. I'm thrilled for her.

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

I watched about half of the show. Pleased that Rango took Best Animation but bummed Apes lost Special Effects.

April Plummer said...

Nope, I didn't watch. And I hardly ever really watch movies. The problem is that my husband and I have very different ideas of what makes a great movie. He prefers action and thrillers and loves superhero movies. I don't mind these, but I'd rather watch a drama or a romantic comedy.

So...I let him watch what he wants, and if I like it, I watch too. If not, I read or fold laundry or...whatever. I really don't watch many movies.

LTM said...

I did watch the show, and it was kind of boring to be honest... :p Maybe because I'd only seen half the films nominated? dunno.

But the winners were surprising. I very much expected The Help to sweep the top awards, and it didn't. I was as surprised as Meryl Streep appeared that she won. Her speech was one of the two LOL moments in the show--the second being Will Ferrell and Zach G. giving the awards for musical score.

Yay for Jean! I want to see that film~ :o) <3

Hart Johnson said...

I never watch these. I think the problem is i've never seen any of the movies. I pretty much only see tween stuff in the theater--stuff my kids want to see with me. The last round was Harry Potter. We will go to Hunger Games. The other stuff I see is by video and well after the fact, so the Oscar stuff is all gibberish to me. Very funny observation about French humor.

Meredith said...

Wow, I thought he was hot until i saw that Brice de Nice photo! :) I haven't seen The Artist, but I'll have to at some point.

Laura S. said...

I watched and it was a good show. There was a part when Billy Crystal said what actors in the audience were thinking that was really funny. Chris Rock as a presenter was funny, too. I liked Christopher Plummer's and Meryl Streep's speeches the best. Plummer said the sweetest thing to his wife, so definitely look up his speech!

Creepy Query Girl said...

thanks for the tip laura! *off to youtube*

Old Kitty said...

I don't watch the Oscars (unless there's some controversy! LOL!) but I'm so happy for The Artist! I loved it!! I'd go see it again!

But that contemporary pic of Jean Dujardin is too disturbing...! LOL!

Take care
x

Marta Szemik said...

I did watch them. Favorite part was the cirque du soleil performance. I think the best speech of the night goes to Christopher Plummer. Also see Emma Stone as the presenter. She's so funny.

Heather Day Gilbert said...

I didn't watch, but it looked like everyone on twitter did! I lol-ed at your description of French movies...I confess I've watched quite a few on Netflix. You're right--I find them generally depressing and slightly chaotic. And yet I keep going back to watch more!

prerna pickett said...

I didn't watch the Oscars, and I doubt that my husband will ever be up to watching a silent film. But good for Jean!

Carrie-Anne said...

I don't remember the last time I've watched the Oscars, or any other awards show. When you don't keep up with modern movies or music and have no idea who these actors, movies, singers, and albums are, what's the point of even watching?

Mark Murata said...

They are so inward-looking and self-referential, they make it hard for non-movie buffs to understand. For instance, they showed a collage of scenes from all ten nominated movies, in random order. This was in contrast to the sane method of announcing the title of a movie, and then showing a clip. They must have figured that just everybody is familiar with all ten movies, so they didn't need to announce them in the traditional way.
My favorite was "Invasion: Los Angeles." Aliens come for our water, and it's up to the Marines to stop them. Although, if they had tasted the water in LA, I don't think the aliens would have bothered.

Cynthia Lee said...

I think Jean is adorable, charming and has the best smile in the world. I remember thinking to myself after watching The Artist that he's the happiest French actor I've ever seen. I tried to think of any other French actors who are so effortlessly filled with joy and I came up with zilch.

I thought maybe it was just me but apparently it's not. :)

Mary Mary said...

I watched and congrats to the French! Movies aren't just an American tradition.

Michael G-G said...

Best bits of the Oscars:

Christopher Plummer's speech--sweet and dignified.

Cirque de Soleil performance. Those guys REALLY are talented.

The writer who poked fun at Angelina Jolie's ridiculous vamp stance when she arrived on stage. I think it was great it was a WRITER who had the guts to do that!

AmieSalmon said...

He has done so well, it's quite heart warming to see. I am just off to Google all the winners now! Very excited.

Dianne K. Salerni said...

It ain't funny 'til somebody dies, huh? I have to admit, I enjoy a black comedy, too -- The Trouble with Harry, Arsenic and Old Lace, Shaun of the Dead ...

No, I didn't watch the Oscars. Didn't even know it was on. Really.

mshatch said...

I'm afraid I was watching The Walking Dead, happily I might add - I did peek at pictures though today :)

Alleged Author said...

Absolutely love watching the Oscars. Plummer gave a wonderfully humorous (and well-deserved) speech.

Lynda R Young as Elle Cardy said...

I only got to see the Red Carpet. I think the actual awards were on a channel I didn't have. lol.

Neurotic Workaholic said...

I didn't watch the Oscars, since I only watch about two or three movies each year. And similar to your husband, I often don't like the movies that the Academy people apparently love. For example, I went to see Brokeback Mountain when it was getting all those awards and attention, and even though there were parts of it that I thought were good, like the characters' sense of loneliness, for the most part I thought the movie was kind of boring.

Mark K said...

I never watch th Oscars. Up until I read your post I didn't even know who this actor was! So you see, I've learned something new today, and all because of your blog :)

Many thanks for join me at the hearth. I hope you enjoy your stay, and find something to your liking. If you enjoy fantasy fiction that's a bit on the dark side, might I suggest having a read of my on going story, 'A Matter of the Heart'?

Kind regards,

Mark

Helena said...

I really enjoyed Dujardin's performance and loved The Artist. I was so tired by Sunday night that all I was up for was vegging out in front of The Oscars. Kinda fun to watch, a few moving moments, and during the commercials I cleaned my kitchen.

Nancy Thompson said...

You didn't miss much though Angelina's leg spasm was pretty funny.

Karen M. Peterson said...

I was crazy happy for Jean Dujardin. Partly because it was nice to see George Clooney not win for being George Clooney. But mostly because I saw The Artist. I LOVED The Artist. And I think Jean Dujardin knocked it out of the park with his performance.

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