Academy Awards – News Stories About Academy Awards - Page 18

Feb 23, 2009 3:02 PM CST

Jackman Wins Viewers, Splits Critics

(Newser) - Hugh Jackman’s turn hosting the Oscars reversed a dip in the award show’s sagging ratings, E! Online reports—even if some critics didn’t find much substance. Early Nielsen numbers had 33.6 million viewers for last night’s telecast, up 6% from last year’s Jon Stewart-hosted...

Stars, Photogs
Rip Red-Carpet
Restrictions

Feb 23, 2009 10:02 AM CST

Stars, Photogs Rip Red-Carpet Restrictions

Academy uses back entrance to boost ratings

(Newser) - Not everyone walked the red carpet at last night’s Oscars, and photographers were none too pleased, Variety reports. The Academy asked some stars to enter out of cameras’ reach, to keep fashion choices a secret until the telecast—in an attempt to boost ratings. Some celebs, including Jennifer Aniston...

Oscar Fashion
Hits, Flops

SLIDESHOW

Feb 23, 2009 9:00 AM CST

Oscar Fashion Hits, Flops

(Newser) - The red carpet was rolled out once again—who sashayed down it and who clunked her way along? Elizabeth Snead of the Los Angeles Times snarks and sings about this year's Oscar fashion, while Christopher Muther moans about the "battle of the bland" in the Boston Globe.

Frozen River's

...

Mumbai Slums Cheer Millionaire

Feb 23, 2009 8:07 AM CST

Mumbai Slums Cheer Millionaire

(Newser) - Children broke into Bollywood dance numbers in the narrow lanes of a teeming Mumbai slum today, as they gathered to watch Slumdog Millionaire's domination of the Oscars. Two of Slumdog's child actors, Rubina Ali and Azharuddin Mohammed Ismail, hail from this desperately poor neighborhood, and their every appearance elicited squeals...

Best and Worst of Oscar Night

Feb 23, 2009 7:12 AM CST

Best and Worst of Oscar Night

Funny and un-funny moments abound at ceremony

(Newser) - Oscar night was filled with highs and lows, from the predictably inspirational moments when Kate Winslet finally won and Heath Ledger’s family received his posthumous award, to the cheap shot of producers cutting to Angelina Jolie’s face during Jennifer Aniston’s presenter speech. More from the Los Angeles ...

Ledger Award
Triggers the Tears

Feb 23, 2009 4:40 AM CST

Ledger Award Triggers the Tears

Kline: He left 'original and enduring legacy'

(Newser) - The most emotional moments at last night's Oscars occurred when Heath Ledger's parents and sister accepted his posthumous award for best supporting actor. Ledger's family said the honor for the actor's portrayal of the Joker—which Kevin Kline hailed as "menacing, mercurial, droll and diabolical"—will be held...

Slumdog Wins Best Picture

oscar roundup

Feb 22, 2009 11:03 PM CST

Slumdog Wins Best Picture

Penn, Winslet win for lead roles; Boyle wins Director

(Newser) - In a fast-moving Oscar ceremony tonight, Slumdog Millionaire led the pack with eight awards including best picture and best directing, the Los Angeles Times reports. Sean Penn beat out Mickey Rourke for best actor in the evening's major upset, and Kate Winslet scored gold for her controversial turn in The ...

Oscar Rolls Out Red Carpet

slideshow

Feb 22, 2009 6:47 PM CST

Oscar Rolls Out Red Carpet

(Newser) - Miley Cyrus was one of the first to arrive with her mom, in a flower-petaled Zuhair Murad gown. Mickey Rourke showed in a Jean Paul Gautier tux, accessorized with a photo of Loki, the love-of-his-life dog who died last week. For other highlights from the Oscar red carpet click "...

Can Jackman
Save Oscar?

Feb 22, 2009 1:33 PM CST

Can Jackman Save Oscar?

He can sing, he can dance, he can act: will that be enough?

(Newser) - Hugh Jackman has a big weight on his shoulders tonight: carrying an Academy Awards show that cynics are sure is doomed to be ignored by the public and the acting community alike. But producers remain excited that the singing, dancing, not-just-an-action star will lure viewers, and Jackman tells the...

The Most Undeserved Oscars

Feb 22, 2009 6:07 AM CST

The Most Undeserved Oscars

SF Chronicle serves up its 'Titanic Awards'

(Newser) - Oscars go to undeserving flicks so often that the San Francisco Chronicle has a prize for them: the Titanic Award. Pop culture critic Peter Hartlaub targets some of the most egregious offenders:

Best Picture: Titanic. The award’s namesake, which somehow beat LA Confidential, needs no explanation.
Best Actor: Al

...

Bashir Is Deceitful Propaganda

OPINION

Feb 21, 2009 5:09 PM CST

Bashir Is Deceitful Propaganda

(Newser) - Waltz With Bashir is a beautifully made movie, and Gideon Levy will be rooting for writer/director Ari Folman to win the first Israeli Oscar tomorrow night, along with the rest of the country. “However, it must also be noted that the film is infuriating, disturbing outrageous, and deceptive,”...

New Oscar Tech
Stalks Stars

Feb 21, 2009 7:32 AM CST

New Oscar Tech Stalks Stars

Audiences get closer to the red carpet than ever

(Newser) - Thanks to the wonders of technology, you’ll be able to get closer than ever to the stars on the red carpet come Oscar night tomorrow, Variety reports. Several websites will allow users to zoom in, à la Google Earth, and magnify high-res photos up to four times.

Slumdog Kids
Are Oscar-Bound

Feb 20, 2009 7:37 PM CST

Slumdog Kids Are Oscar-Bound

(Newser) - A world away from the slums where they live, the young stars of Slumdog Millionaire cruised Mumbai in an air-conditioned Toyota today, doing last-minute shopping and getting advice on the unimaginable: air travel. The Slumdog kids had just got the good news—they were going to the Oscars. "I...

Angie, Be a Bad Girl Again

OPINION

Feb 20, 2009 1:02 PM CST

Angie, Be a Bad Girl Again

Writer misses the good old days

(Newser) - Angelina Jolie may have an Oscar nomination for Best Actress, but Kim Morgan misses “the crazy-movie-star deliciousness” of her bad-girl days, when she was a “gorgeous Vampira weirdo” playing insane roles and “quite nearly mashing on” her brother in a move that finally made the Oscars interesting...

Madonna,
Boy Toy
Get Ready
for Oscars

Feb 20, 2009 12:05 PM CST

Madonna, Boy Toy Get Ready for Oscars

Romance with model Jesus Luz is real, friend says

(Newser) - Madonna's Oscar night outfit will include one top-of-the-line accessory: 22-year-old model Jesus Luz. “Madonna and Jesus have spent all week planning their outfits," a friend told OK! Despite their 28-year age difference, "Madonna and Jesus’ romance is real," the pal added. "Madonna is planning on...

Recession Hits
the Oscars—
Sort Of

Feb 20, 2009 10:57 AM CST

Recession Hits the Oscars— Sort Of

Revenue is down, parties are scaling back

(Newser) - Even the Oscars are feeling the economic strain, People reports. Sure, there are still dozens of parties planned on the big day, but organizers are pumping up the “greenness” of the soirées and downplaying the extravagance—Vanity Fair is using decorations from past events. Even those not scaling...

Oscar Win Is
No Career Boost

Feb 19, 2009 5:34 PM CST

Oscar Win Is No Career Boost

Past winners haven't had big hits in years

(Newser) - That gold-plated statuette actors take home Oscar night may as well be a parting gift from Hollywood. Past winners—like Nicole Kidman, Halle Berry, and Adrien Brody—have had little luck at the box office in subsequent years, Reuters reports. The problem, says one film critic, is that the winners...

And the Oscar Goes to …
Matilda, If Ledger Wins

Feb 18, 2009 12:08 PM CST

And the Oscar Goes to … Matilda, If Ledger Wins

(Newser) - If Heath Ledger is named best supporting actor at Sunday's Academy Awards ceremony, his 3-year-old daughter will become the owner of the statuette. But it won't really belong to Matilda Rose Ledger until her 18th birthday, in 2023—and even then, only if she signs a contract. Ledger's nomination, and...

What Baby?
Oscar Producers
Beg MIA to Perform

Feb 18, 2009 10:13 AM CST

What Baby? Oscar Producers Beg MIA to Perform

Will bring 'large bed' on stage if necessary

(Newser) - The ratings-challenged Academy Award broadcast needs a boost, and producers are desperate for rapper MIA to perform her Oscar-nominated song, even though she just gave birth, MSNBC reports. “We are happy to bring some sort of fabulous bed on stage if that means MIA can be there,” they...

Oscar-Nom Films Still Slumping; Here's Why

OPINION

Feb 16, 2009 8:12 PM CST

Oscar-Nom Films Still Slumping; Here's Why

(Newser) - Is the so-called "Oscar bump" fading? Academy favorites like Slumdog Millionaire and Frost/Nixon are stalled at the box office this year; only The Reader has filled more seats since being nominated. Yes, a stream of bona fide Hollywood hits has held them back, but it's more than that,...