The 87th Academy Awards. Live Blog
Sunday, February 22, 2015 at 8:31PM 
08:29 3...2...1...
08:36 We began with a big musical number "Moving Pictures" with Neil Patrick Harris, Anna Kendrick, and Jack Black. Some of the audience likes it more than others.Keira Knightley and her date look at each other and laugh. Some of the opening monologue is funny... but why do jokes about Oprah always come across so awkward. David Letterman 'you got your Oprah in our Uma Thurman!' and now NPH equates Oprah with American Sniper. "cuz you're rich"
08:46 BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR GOES TO J.K. SIMMONS
He never mentions the movie or anything. Puzzling. Just talks about his wife and "above average kids" - people still laugh at that line despite the sweeping of the precursors and that he's used it each time. Tells us to call our parents. My mom would not believe it if I called during the Oscars. She'd think someone died.
Neil Patrick Harris tries to make us believe he's an Oscar nerd with an elaborate bit which IS NOT A BIT about his predictions locked up on stage. He puts Octavia Spencer in charge of watching them.
08:48 Clips from Grand Budapest Hotel and American Sniper the double feature you never knew you wanted introduced by the star you never knew would introduce them Liam Neeson
08:50 Dakota Johnson introduces Adam Levine singing "Lost Stars"
08:55 BEST COSTUME DESIGN - Milena Canonero for Grand Budapest Hotel
Appropriately she's in the box seats because she's a very honored guest. Four wins in four different decades. She's the Cher of the Oscars! Only Italian. And probably wouldn't wear see-through gowns or backless pants.
09:01 BEST MAKEUP AND HAIRSTYLING -Frances Hannon & Mark, The Grand Budapest Hotel
text
09:03 NPH introduces Channing Tatum like a boss, by drooling on him. "As likeable as a male stripper as he is in a wresting singlet".
09:06 Commercial Break. Jennifer Hudson will perform soon. Do you think she told Meryl Streep what she was going to perform? What else would they talk about. #seatingarrangements
09:10 BEST FOREIGN FILM - Poland's Ida directed by Pawel Pawlikowski
Nicole Kidman and Chiwetel Ejiofor present. It's like the animatronic version of Nicole we get sometimes but she looks just smashing. Pawel Pawlikowski
09:13 I think Shirley Maclaine just read one of the directions from the teleprompter "Next Nominee" She's introducing clips from Boyhood and Theory of Everything and Birdman. Triple features. Birdman makes me laugh so much. I dont care that everyone suddenly hates it.
Why don't I have any self respect.
You're an actress, honey?
09:17 Awkward bit about seat-fillers. NPH is stumbling tonight. Which iis strange because he's usually so good at this
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09:19 EVERYTHING IS AWESOME ! Fun performance. Best bit might be the Batman "Darkness" song interjection. Why are streamers at the end of numbers always so festive? Traditions. I would like to formally request footage of all unused reaction shots from that Everything Is Awesome performance. Especially Clint, Marion, Dakota Johnson
09: 25 LIVE ACTION SHORT FILM The Phone Call
Somehow I am 100% on my predictions so far. LOL. That won't last.
09:29 DOCUMENTARY SHORT Crisis Hotline
two films about suicide hotlines won! And there goes my 100% prediction rate. It's all downhill from here.
09:30 Viola Davis shows clips from the Honorary Oscars!
09:40 At some point in here Gwyneth Paltrow introduced Tim McGraw singing a lame version of "Not Going to Miss You." I previously liked the song.
09:44 I am so sick that I don't know how long I can keep this up so forgive me if there are huge gaps. We'll have time to discuss all of this in detail all week long BWAAA HAHHHHAAAAAHA THE OSCARS YOU CAN NEVER BE RID OF THEM.
Acting is a noble profession."
09:47 Yes, Neil Patrick Harris went there in a Birdman / Whiplash spoof running around backstage in undies with drum score. Cut to Miles Teller playing drums. Didn't the Indie Spirits do this last night?
09:48 SOUND MIXING - Whiplash / SOUND EDITING - American Sniper
I can't believe I called those two awards correctly.
09:51 SUPPORTING ACTRESS - Patricia Arquette, Boyhood
Jared Leto presents. Funny joke about state law requiring Meryl Streep to get a nomination. They picked a different clip for Arquette than the usual. Well done. Mic drop! Patty Arquette chucks the usual speech at the end for a feminist rant. Equal pay for women! Jennifer Lopez and Meryl Streep are practically speaking in tongues from their seats. Feeling the spirit.
❤️ “@kateyrich: It makes no sense to seat these two next two each other but god love whoever did it.” pic.twitter.com/ceznRdqaDy
— Nathaniel Rogers (@nathanielr) February 23, 2015Emma Stone winning by losing. // RT @josekicksass: ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ pic.twitter.com/mN4SQcTgDm
— Nathaniel Rogers (@nathanielr) February 23, 201510:01 Rita Ora performs "Grateful" Her dress is what would happen if Diane Keaton were a young hip hop artist
10:05 VISUAL EFFECTS - Interstellar
I keep waiting to do horribly on my predictions but not yet. That'll come later I suppose. Interstellar was beautifully crafted but I'm sorry. What do the Planet of the Apes team have to do to win that fucking fx Oscar. For real y'all it's ridiculous that they've lost twice now.
10:10 ANIMATED FEATURE - Big Hero 6
Okay I messed up that prediction but I'm glad because I prefer this one to How to Train Your Dragon 2. Though neither of them made my animated feature ballot (which is smaller than Oscars because 5 nominees is crazy when there are only 20 movies!) There's a lot of sappy parental love tonight. I'm sure there always is but I'm sick so I'm noticing it more. Mommy, make me some chicken soup. Mommy, can I have some juice.
10:18 Due to Big Hero 6's win it is time to confess that I am madly in love with Tadashi and I wish the whole movie was about him.
Only that movie would not be appropriate for children.
10:20 PRODUCTION DESIGN - GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL
YAS.
10:30 CINEMATOGRAPHY - Emmanuel Lubezki, Birdman
Jessica Chastain introduces the category. I need an mp3 of Jes saying "Chiiiiiivo" when she opens the envelope. She's so happy for her Tree of Life DP.
10:31 Meryl Streep. Great choice to introduce the In Memoriam "we'll miss them with the same sadness we miss an old friend. But their work will stand..."
[cry break]
Jennifer Hudson sings "can't let go". But did they really leave Joan Rivers out of that compilation?
10:45 EDITING - Tom Cross, Whiplash
Well deserved Oscar. The movie is filled with similar scenes and he keeps the energy up constantly. No easy task.
10:50 DOCUMENTARY - Citizen Four
Jennifer Aniston and David Oyelowo, two of the most high profile "snubs" of the year present.
11:15 SOUND OF MUSIC TRIBUTE starring Lady Gaga but the best part was Julie Andrews coming out at the end to present the next award
11:26 ORIGINAL SCORE - Alexandre Desplat, The Grand Budapest Hotel
I would be typing more but I am about to collapse. I am in so much pain. Robert Yeoman stopped by on his way to the Oscars to snap this photo of my throat.
[incoherent groans from pain]
Normally I am not one of those people who complains about the Oscars being too long. But because I am sick I really would like to sleep. And also the ceremony kind of peaked with the Selma performance.
11:34 ADAPTED SCREENPLAY, Graham Moore for The Imitation Game
Oprah Winfrey presents to Graham Moore. He talks about passing a message of hope on and relates a story about attempted suicide.
11:40 BEST DIRECTOR, Alejandro G Inarritu for Birdman
Ben Affleck is sleep-presenting. Seriously wake up dude. Inarritu's speech is kind of great, moving from saucy humor (he's wearing Michael Keaton's tighty whitties) to a moving speech about art and ego and the fuitlity of competition in art and acknowledgement that all of these films will be judged by time.
12:00 BEST ACTOR Eddie Redmayne, Theory of Everything
BEST ACTRESS Julianne Moore, Still Alice
BEST PICTURE Birdman
I am overcome with joy. And I will have to try and deal with all of the feelings tomorrow but most sleep as the Theraflu kicks in. I apologize for not making it all the way through sufficiently or in the proper headspace. I must end by thanking Julianne Moore for 20 years of work that has meant so much to so many people, including of course myself.
Good night.
p.s. final thought. funny that wes anderson and damien chazelle were thanked most often tonight but neither won.
Reader Comments (106)
Lady Gaga did better than I expected with Sound of Music, but Julie Andrews comes out and gives us a much more heartfelt moment with a few spoken words. Now that's a real star.
I love Graham Moore's speech, and the ovation he got from Keira, Benedict and rest of audience.
They really have spread the wealth around tonight in terms of the awards and it feels fair.
So I guess Del Toro wins next year.
Inarritu is so boring!
By the bright side... That makes 3 people of color (as you North americana say) in a row to win best director
No, no, no, Micael.
Ok I'm officially in love with Eddie, soooo cute
Boyhood boyhood boyhood boyhood please please please
Basking in this. One of the greatest actresses of all time has an Oscar. Finally.
Can we reset these oscars?
....
Except the Julianne Moore part, of course
Just kidding... The fatigue is way past the tipping point
Happy for Julie, sad about Michael but Eddie's a worthy choice. BIRDMAN yay!
Nick Davis remove Julianne from your banner of Best Actress Bridesmaids. She is officially a champ and one nomination shy of perennial status. Yay!
Well.Julie Andrews, Juliane Moore and 40 minutes over the broadcast scheduled time. What could I ask more?
The night of the great speeches.
Quite pleased with the winners. So glad Birdman took it over Boyhood. The only surprise for me was Imitation Game winning script, but I liked it so I didn't mind. And Juli is finally an Oscar winner. The Savage Grace reunion happened after all.
Also, Lady Gaga was amazing. She and Pink need to do a musical together.
I'm not even sad that Birdman won, just sad that Linklater went home empty handed.
So unbelievably happy for Julianne though, geez. She is an Oscar winner folks. What a time to be alive.
I'll never understand the love for Birdman. It's beyond me. The real great movies of the line-up, at least, didn't go home empty handed.
my favourite moment: my own confusion over john legend and common accepting john stephens and lonnie lynn's oscars
Three for Inarritu, zero for Anderson, zero for Linklater. It's like they're trying to create a backlash.
Looooved hearing "Far From Heaven"'s musical score during the ceremony tonight!
Just watched the whole thing - and there were awkward bits and lame bits - and sensational bits - so overall the telecast was fine. Massively long - but fine.
Best moments - surely Lady Gaga and Dame Julie Andrews, Glory by Common and John Legend, the wonderful reaction from Eddie Redmayne and the speeches from Patricia Arquette, John Legend and Graham Moore. Sure they were all political statements and would have pissed off rightwing conservatives like Clint Eastwood and Robert Duvall - but they were passionate, sincere and RIGHT ON THE MONEY.
I guess the producers read the comments about the treatment Liza Minelli got last year. A lot of people thought Liza should have followed Pink's performance on stage and not that awkward 'stand up and wave' thing that happened. Dame Julie's entrance was a fine tribute to the film and her - and Lady Gaga was magnificent. Can't imagine Britney Spears singing like that live.
And the zinger about that woman's dress by NPH. Absolutely hilarious and totally unscripted. NPH was on fire then.
Worst moments - Not so many this year. NPH going into the audience and speaking to seat fillers and that locked ballot bit were a bit lame.
The Best Picture and song presenters - these aren't necessary. They can save a few $160K showbags by eliminating these and hence shortening the length of the telecast. Seriously Gwyneth Paltrow received $160k of goodies just to tell us Tim McGraw is about to sing???
Adam Levine singing Lost Stars. Just painful to watch and listen to. Reminded me of U2s dreadful performance from last year.
The zillion ad breaks. I started timing them during the 2nd hour and they were between 3 and 4 minutes long! If there were ten ad breaks that's 40 minutes of the telecast. Do the maths - less ad breaks means a tighter 3 hour show rather than the 3 hour 42 minute show we got.
Absolute worst bit - I was so wishing Selma would shock us all and win Best Picture. I've seen all the 8 nominees and Selma is the much better film. Birdman was good but not the best picture IMO.
Absolute best bit - I got 20 out of 24 categories correct. This is the best prediction tally I have ever got.
This show should win an award for being the longest and most boring ever. Congrats for everybody involved.
Ps: Sad for Richard and Wes, I thought they would spread the wealth.
BIRDMAN!!!!!!
Best of the evening: Birdman, Budapest - 4, Whiplash - 3!
(More later.)
Just sad for Linklater and Anderson walking home empty-handed, but at least both of their films were plenty loved and awarded this year. Can't take that away ever.
SO happy for Redmayne's win (and of course Moore's as well)!
Julianne MooreSigourney Weaver
Annette Bening
Glenn Close
Michelle Pfeiffer
Oscarless living legends {partial list}
The big speeches were all good but for me the most moving and important was by Best Adapted Screenplay winner Graham Moore when he shared the story of his attempted suicide. That could literally have saved someone's life. It doesn't get more powerful than that.
Amy Adams also has 5 nominations and no Oscar. She was considered the frontrunner earlier in 2014 for Big Eyes but fell off the radar by the time Still Alice was released. Julianne Moore won almost every precursor award and she also had the 'it's due' factor to push her over the line.
She deserved to win for other films but she was exceptional in Still Alice.
Heck this is the first year ALL acting winners were the most worthy.
Would have thrown a brick through my TV set if Bradley Cooper or Clint Eastwood had won for that woefully awful Sniper crap.
Jennifer Hudson singing a song from Smash with re-worked lyrics. Yes.
Lady Gaga's "APPLAUD ME, BITCHES" pose at the end of her song. YES.
I agree that the speeches saved the show. Patty Arquette firing up the crowd, including odd but likable couple Meryl Streep and Jennifer Lopez. Glory winners Common and John Legend on the enduring civil rights journey and the incarceration of African American men. Graham Moore on preventing teen suicide. Birdman director Alejandro González Iñárritu highlighting that this country was built by immigrants. That is a lot of social justice issues for a wide audience and a nice counter to mainstream messaging, which is increasingly neutered.
But the show was too long and NPH was off and on. He seems not connected to movies, or the audience? The great Julianne Moore winning was sweet. And Cate Blanchett rocked her look.
I'm going to blame your apathy toward Lady Gaga's performance on your illness, Nathaniel. As they introduced her, I was horrified for what I thought was going to happen. But as soon as she opened her mouth to sing, I thought it was sublime.
It and Meryl Streep's "Hell yeah" moment made the ceremony for me.
Why are Keith Urban and Nicole Kidman seating front and center (and Jennifer Lopez for that matter as well) while Wes Anderson is seating rows and rows behind the left side? And Marion Cotillard rows back?
Jennifer Lopez has had enough visits to the Oscars. She is not a significant actress.
Patryk - I SAID THE SAME THING. I love Nicole to bits but I had NO CLUE why she and Keith had front row seats while Marion, an actual nominee, was like in the fourth row. The fuck?
because the producers of the show are always aiming for johnny paycheck and sally housecoat - who will recognise nicole over marion and wes
Nicole and Keith didn't have front row seats. They were in the second or third rows. I was curious as to why Jennifer Lopez was in the front row.
I noticed a LOT of seat fillers in the front 3 or 4 rows during the telecast.
JK Simmons and Patricia Arquette should also have been in the first row. They knew they were going to win. JK in particular was stuck way out in the hinterlands.
Can't believe you glossed over Gaga giving one of the best vocal performances in Oscar history. And I'm not even a fan of hers.
I had a great time. I cried a lot. Guess I'm getting old. More please!
I now want Meryl and JLo to star in a comedy where they play bad ass feminists.
Loved Gaga and Julie. Travolta and Idina. The opening number. Crying Chris Pine. The speeches. Overall a good but not great telecast. Which in the last few years is the best anyone can hope for. NPH wasn't at his best but he did just fine. I can imagine he was very nervous.
Laura (Dern) and Laura (Linney) facts
- Laura & Laura are:
Aquarius -> daughters of famous dads working in the industry -> born in the 60s -> Multiple Oscar nominees -> no wins -> Golden Globe winners -> with a divorce each
I'm starting to think that it's the Academy Award's production and writing staff that suck not the hosts. Maybe we owe an apology to Seth Macfarlane and James Franco (well ok not Franco he was terrible)
I was thinking the same thing. Somewhere Anne Hathaway and James Franco are laughing their asses off. The writing this year was terrible. NPH seemed uncomfortable delivering some of the lines, probably realizing they were incredibly lame.
I got actively PO'd at NPH for that stupid "treason" remark, and his insensitive joke about the woman's dress, right after she talked about her son who had committed suicide. Was Harris even listening to what was happening? He came across as shallow and narcissistic, and not in a funny Steve Martin sort of way. The bit with the box of his predictions was painful, endless. I felt sorry for Octavia Spencer, who clearly trying to be a good sport but didn't want to be bothered (who could blame her).
Crying Chris Pine and crying David O = so lovely. Meryl, Patricia Arquette, Lady Gaga, the "Glory" song and the Common & Seven's speeches after it won, and the screenwriter for Imitation Game - all super great. Plus Julie Andrews!
A mixed bag of an evening, as it ever was and ever will be.
Cate's presentation of Best Actor carried no suspense and it was one the most suspenseful an unsure of the night and she went and spoiled it by screaming Eddie's name which made me want to hold JAKE G close..
mark --
Gyllenhaal is in a better position for future performances because he was snubbed. Redmayne's win "may" hurt him when The Danish Girl becomes a reality. He'll receive the nomination. But the Academy has never been in a rush to make young actors multiple Oscar winners the same as young actresses.
Happy for most winn ers, especially Julianne of course!
Oscarless? NoMOORE!!! <3
I liked the show a lot. Not as good as last year, but NPH already said I couldn't top it and he was right. Though quite a good host. Loved the opening number and the song performances.
After "Glory" there was just no way it would loose. Wow!
And those Lego-Oscars are awesome. Of course Meryl got one too. So cute! (classy outfit too!)
And cheering for collagues is the main reasons she's nominated so often.
I thought Cate's enthusiasm for Eddie was pretty adorable, but then again, I was just happy to see one person who wasn't in the tank for Keaton. (On a side note, did In Contention forget that a Best Actor prize was handed out last night?)
--NPH should stick to hosting the Tonys, or at least demanding his own writing team.
--Sean Penn is a dick. His joke/comment after opening the envelope for BP was classless. I wish Frank Underwood would push him off a subway platform.
--Thank the gods for Julie Andrews, who is always elegant and charming in public.
--Let actual winners use the time to make their speeches; they earned it and deserve the recognition and their moment in the spotlight. Hasn't the years taught the producers of this show ANYTHING?
--And, why can't they get the In Memoriam right? Don't they have a team of interns to look through showbiz obits in a single calendar year so they don't forget anyone?
I can't believe no one has mentioned how egregious it was that Michael Keaton lost to a soulless, classicly Oscar-bait performance; give me a fucking break, I'm still pissed.
Count me among those disappointed that Linklater went home empty-handed. It was Inarritu, ironically, who mentioned that time will be the best judge of these films, and I have a feeling time will be a lot friendlier to Boyhood than to Birdman.
And I think this year's ceremony has finally made me realize that opening musical numbers at the Oscars pale in comparison to the host singling out films and people in the audience and riffing on them; that's just a lot more entertaining (in my opinion of course).
Oh NPH... Show has not been on point for years. Promote Amy & Tina!
Sad for Linklater's achievement to have gone largely ignored for another showy piece about actors, but Birdman was not a bad win. I love a good social justice speech and there were good ones tonight.
Also can we talk about how fucked up Terrence Howard was? I guess the drug rumors are true.
I'm thrilled Birdman won all of its well-deserved Oscars. I feel bad for Michael Keaton.
NPH was just off. I was very surprised.
Lots of great music--all the song nominees sounded great. Jennifer Hudson's performance blew the roof off.
Lots of great speeches. Favorite presenter was Jessica Chastain, whose cry of "Chivo" made me smile so hard.
But Julie Andrews and Lady Gaga--that was THE MOMENT. One of the all-time best at the Oscars.
I enjoyed the show, even liked NPH; the jokes were not very good, but he tried his best, except for that Predictions gig. My only pet peeve is the trend to give just about everybody a standing ovation at awards shows. Standing ovations should be reserved to truly exceptionally good performances or when a legendary performer walks onto the stage.