Nominations are almost here!

OK, so Oscars nominations will be announced in TWO Days: Tuesday, February 2 at approximately 8:45 am EST. Shortly thereafter, I will update the website with the full list of nominees at: http://www.angelfire.com/film/oscarnazi/noms.htm

Yes, this is the same site we've used in years past. If you are havinng trouble logging picks this year, call or email me and I can send you a simplified form over email.

Remember, picks must be recieved by me by 11:59 pm on the evening of February 3. You must pick one winner for EVERY category. At the end you will be allowed to pick a second winner for one category. A $5 entry fee will be required per entrant, even if they are toddlers (John).

Also remember, if you don't play, you suck.

Questions? Let me know before Tuesday. Know someone who might like to play? Feel free to spread the word!



Looking forward to receiveing your picks,

Oscarnazi J

My thoughts on this year's Oscars

There have certainly been a lot of changes to his year's Oscars and I think it's time Ye Olde Oscarnazi weighs in on them.

10 best picture nominees: I can't believe this hasn't gone over better. Most Oscar pundits and Entertainment reporters are chastising this as a move to simply include more "crowd pleasing fare as well as diluting the honor of being one of the nominees. I may change my mind when I see what gets nominated, but I think it's a great move! If this is what it takes for the Academy to recognize wonderfully made films which simply don't have the "pedigree" an Oscar nominee needs to have these days, so be it. Let's not forsake "Up" simply because it is Animated, or "Star Trek" simply because it is a Blockbuster. Don't forget that the likes of "Jaws," "Raiders of the Lost Ark," "The Right Stuff," and "Star Wars" were all Best Picture Oscar nominees. You really shouldn't begrudge a well-made movie just because it doesn't have the "I never learned to read" moment. It's easy to say "Does 'Star Trek' really deserve a Best Picture nomination?" But really, why doesn't it?

New rankings system for voting on the 10 nominees: This year, instead of selecting the Best Picture from the nominees, the Academy Members will rank them from 1 -10 and the most popular choice will win. I really don't see how this will change anything. If only enough people voted for "Up" to make it the 7th choice amongst the 10 nominees, do we really think that it - now being one of 10 choice -will suddenly rank higher? Not likely.

Steve Martin & Alec Baldwin to host: This one I'm still on the fence about. Steve Martin always does a fine job, but I've never been blown away. Alec Baldwin is a hysterical actor, and a fine SNL host, so he should do fine. Still, it's going to be a hard job following Hugh Jackman's stellar performance from last year. Of course, what do I know? I liked David Letterman.

Mark Your Calendars...

Oscars will be March 7 next year. Clear your schedules, book a room at the Oscarnazi inn today, and start sewing your Clint Eastwood voodoo doll!

Sean's Oscar Summary

Well, you may know, that last night was the Oscars. We snacked. We watched. We laughed. We shoveled snow. I may not be the Oscar Nazi, but for the first time, I’m contributing to the annual round-up.

The telecast was as awesome as it was boring. The party was just plain awesome.

Hugh Jackman was tremendous as host and his opening number was one of the best in Oscar history (“I am Wolverine!”). Doing the low-budget sets and including the “Craig’s List Dancers” was inspired. Pulling Anne Hathaway up on stage to play Richard Nixon was genius.

Unfortunately, his second musical number sucked the life out of every musical ever made (except “An American in Paris.” That movie has no life, it just sucks). Seriously, we can’t see the paltry three best song nominees performed in full but we have twenty minutes for this piece of crap? In the end, we found out that it was a Baz Luhrmann production, which makes sense. When that was announced, the whole room when “Ahhhhh… O-kaaay….” But I longed for his signature ferret-on-speed editing that usually accompanies his dance numbers.

The life was also sucked out of the telecast when the Best-Supporting-Actress-Winner-Ya-Ya-Sisterhood came out to give wedding toasts to this year’s nominees. They went on to do it for all the acting categories and wow, was that awful . Who came up with this idea?

“Let’s see… the two biggest complaints about the Oscars is that a.) it’s too long of a long show and b.) has too many long boring speeches. I know: let’s add 20 more boring speeches! That’ll keep the adrenalin up!” Am I the only one who felt that they should have been holding a flute of champagne up as they spoke? At least we didn't hear from the President of the Academy, or worse yet, the accountants.

Other presenters were more entertaining. It seemed to me when they tossed their Vilanchesque scripts into the trash and went their own way, it was gold. Especially Tina Fey & Steve Martin. Also notable was Ben Stiller’s Joaquin Phoenix impression in his hillbilly beard, staring off and wandering around the stage.

Everyone will be talking about the short where Seth Rogan & James Franco revived their “Pineapple Express” characters. A Cheech & Chong for a new millennium. Except for the fact that Rogan & Franco are funny.

They ruined the death montage – I didn’t even mind Queen Latifah singing over it. What I minded was that instead of showing the montage, they showed a collection of TVs showing the montage with weird angles and moving cameras. It was annoying and distracting. Plus: we want the applause-o-meter!

The memorable moments:
Domo Arigato, Mr. Roboto – Did this guy make a bet or something? “Dude, if I win, I’ll say it for, like, $500.”

Philippe Petit balancing an Oscar on his chin - Yes, I believe that will be shown at least as often as the one-armed push-up.

Another no-show – Despite his winning streak, Heath ledger still refuses to show up for these award cera-… I’m sorry?... He what?... When?... –never mind.

And how much am I loving that Jack Nicholson was not in the front row. He was never on camera. Was he even there? Did he boycott when he found out that he wouldn’t be treated like royalty? The least likely explanation: he got over himself.

By now you know who won and how everyone pretended to cry when Heath won just in case they were on camera, so I won’t go into all that.

The Party:

Despite a killer snow storm (really, it’s killin’ my back) we had our best Oscar Party turnout yet. And we had a crowd that was really into it. For the first time, over ½ the guests stayed for the entire show! When things got slow, we made fun of things getting slow… or refilled our punch.

It’s always a good sign when the punch runs out before ten.

Jami & Gianna out-did themselves this year. Yummy treats from Tricky Dicks to Heath’s Posthu-Mousse Award. And I’m rolling in leftovers! Woo-Hoo! The Best Snack winner was The Curious Taste of Benjamin’s Buttons. (Click here for the entire menu w/ recipes).

Anne, Cedric Diggory, Jay & Erica put their lives at risk by enduring the long trek through a killer (did I mention my back?) snowstorm to attend. We also had Stephanie & Jami (not my wife, another Jami w/ the same spelling) driving… but they’re local, so they get props, just not as many. Dianne and Saffron drove, but the get no props because they could have walked. (Jami's note: and TRACY! Wonderful, sweet Tracy who traversed the longest road to our party, though avoided the storm, is ALWAYS a wonderful Oscar party attendee!)

We really had a funny, sarcastic crowd and it made the Oscars so much more fun. That’s how you watch the Oscars. Otherwise, the boring parts become painfully boring.

Thanks to all for coming. For those who couldn’t make it, maybe next year. And thanks to Jami & Gianna for all their hard work. Now let’s hope 2009 gives us better Oscar movies!

The Big Night

Well, we're all a little fuzzy headed after last night's "Hoo aaah" fest. Seriously, if you cut the "Hoo aaahs" out of "Scent of a Woman," the movie's like 3 minutes long. Still, the big day has finally arrived. The fridge is over stuffed, there are coolers and crock pots full of food chilling on the porches. Dishes aplenty are stacked here and there. Sean's awesome signs have been printed out. (It's worth attending the party just to see these things.) We're very excited. Even a pending snowstorm hasn't dampened our attendees' spirits. Every single out-of-towner is still coming and we are duly impressed. If you're not lucky enough to be among the party-goers, don't forget to print out your picks and play along at home. Results, as well as the snacks, recipes, and various highlights will be posted here tomorrow morning.

Have a great Oscar night, and don't forget to "Hoo aaah" at least once today!

-Oscarnazi J