Ian / March 1, 2004 10:25 AM

The Oscars turned out exactly like I expected and I consequentally won $400 in my pool. I'm soooo happy right now!

Andrew / March 1, 2004 10:36 AM

That's awesome, Ian! I didn't have any money on it, but I got almost everything right -- except I think I voted for a Cold Mountain song for Best Song and I was rooting for Bill Murray for Best Actor. Alas.

Kris / March 1, 2004 10:41 AM

Screw Sean Penn.

Naz / March 1, 2004 10:59 AM

My only disappointment was Best Actor. Sure Sean Penn supposedly "deserves" his Oscar but goddamn it would have been great to have seen either Bill Murray or Johnny Depp who also deserve recognition, up on that stage. Bill Murray's speech would have been worth it alone.

But I was pleased as punch to see The Return of the King make a clean sweep.

steve / March 1, 2004 11:31 AM

my office doesn't even have an oscars pool. or if they do, no one let me in on it.

big ups to lost in translation, though.

jennifer / March 1, 2004 11:49 AM

there was not one surprise in the evening. what a snoozer. i was very happy that sofia won best original screenplay.

Cinnamon / March 1, 2004 11:53 AM

I don't know Jennifer, I was surprised to see the supposedly infirm Blake Edwards sporting a turbo-charged wheelchair and crash through a wall. Glad he got a tribute before he was too frail to enjoy it.

miss ellen / March 1, 2004 11:54 AM

while i was also pulling for either bill murray or johnny depp, you cannot deny sean penn. he's brilliant, very deserving, and doesn't shy away from being true to himself (ie, the WMD dig he got in there - yippee!). go see sweet & lowdown if you haven't already, that's a great flick!

i didn't see mystic river, but between his performance in that movie & in his supporting role in 21 grams, i think he was the best choice. drama still rules the oscars.....

Benjy / March 1, 2004 12:04 PM

No Oscars pool at work. We did have one at the Oscar Party I attended last night. The guy who'd only seen "Lord of the Rings" among all the nominated films won. 11 for 11 in nominated categories?

Pete / March 1, 2004 1:10 PM

LOTR had such an ensemble-type of cast that the film had nobody nominated in the actor categories. If it had gotten any actor nominations, it would have racked up several non-wins. But the film was truly phenomenal in technical terms, which is where it really cleaned up in Oscars.

New Line Cinema deserves a special "Corporate Courage" award for having the guts to bankroll the whole venture in the first place. It was a huge risk, but it paid off handsomely.

Phineas / March 1, 2004 1:22 PM

I certainly wasn't expecting to see Billy Crystal naked. Repeatedly. So in that sense, no.

I certainly didn't need to see such a thing, either.

A lex, x, x / March 1, 2004 2:32 PM

I missed on Best Actor. My choice was Bill Murray, who might I add looked SUPER PISSED when he lost -- he didn't even do the fakey, congratulatory clapping for the winner.

All in all, the evening was a major bore. I usually love the Oscars, but this one bit heinie. And speaking of heinie, here is our segue into "SEX" for the Fuel question.....

Kenan / March 1, 2004 3:03 PM

SEX: Angelina Jolie's dress. 'Nuff said.

I won an Oscar last night... a friend of ours had a house party, printed up ballots, and handed out Oscar the Grouch-shaped prizes. I guessed the most categories correctly. 18. Like Jennifer said, not a lot of surprizes.

Classic moments: Blake Edwards. Hilarious. Billy Crystal's intro, especially the extended bit where he, Diane Keaton, and Jack Nicholson scream. I was rolling. And Oprah was looking *damn* good last night.

Dan / March 1, 2004 5:10 PM

Y'know what? Lost in Translation was a great movie, but I think its screenplay was its weakest element. I know a lot of people here love that movie (I do too), but its true selling points are Bill Murray's performance and its cinematography. I like Sofia Coppolla, but I honestly think "In America" should've won Best Original Screenplay. It's a much more powerful story, and a lot more involving and heartfelt.

missm / March 1, 2004 10:34 PM

dan, you are so right

miss ellen / March 1, 2004 10:58 PM

i really need to see In America!

Kenan / March 2, 2004 7:29 AM

Sofia's a talented girl, but it's true, she's no intellectual.

And on that note, everyone please please PLEASE stop asking her to talk. I've never heard anyone more dull in my life. It's funny, you know... if I met her in a hotel bar, I wouldn't give her the time of day.