A Look Back at the 53rd Annual Academy Awards

This gem was just posted by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences yesterday. It shows the opening of the 53rd Annual Academy Awards and the red carpet looks downright quaint. The ceremony was delayed by a day due to the assassination attempt the day before on President Ronald Reagan, so the stars showed up the next day on March 31, 1981. (I wish the show was still in late March, that red carpet would be a lot warmer for ladies in evening gowns.)

Robert De Niro, Best Actor, Raging Bull

Watch the eight-minute video because it really showcases an era of entertainment and red carpet that we will never see again. With an announcer describing celebrities like Mary Tyler Moore as "popular" and a healthy and vibrant-looking Michael Jackson escorting Diana Ross to the show, you might get a bit wistful.

Take a look back at 1981 Academy Awards.

Robert Redford, Best Director, Ordinary People

Bet you didn't know Steve Martin and Bernadette Peters were an item back in the day.

Johnny Carson hosted the show in his tux and tails, elegant, reverent and classy. I doubt we will ever see the ceremony helmed the way Carson and Bob Hope did the show, but then again, I actually was entertained by Seth MacFarlane's "We Saw Your Boobs" this year. 

If you've missed my other posts on the Oscars, take a look back at 1989, 2011, 2012 and 2013.

Timothy Hutton, Best Supporting Actor, Ordinary People

Will The Academy Recognize Stunt Performers At The Oscars?

Note:  This article originally ran on Fanboy Comics on April 16, 2012.  Check out my articles on their site every Tuesday.  

Now that the 84th Annual Academy Awards are in the history books, this is the time of year that the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) revises some of the categories, reviews the show, and makes changes to the overall voting rules.  This year, there is big buzz surrounding stunt performers petitioning the Academy to get their work recognized at the Oscars.  Last year, there was a changing of the guard with Bruce Davis stepping down as Executive Director of the Academy and Dawn Hudson moving from Film Independent to replace him. The performers felt now was the opportune time to bring up the topic again. In a recent Hollywood Reporter article, Jack Gill, a veteran stunt performer, says that Hudson “seems to be a lot more receptive than the others.”  He has already started discussions with Hudson to make this a reality.

Stunt performers have long fought to be recognized in the entertainment industry, as they make box office action heroes like Sylvester Stallone, Arnold Schwarzenegger, and Bruce Willis look downright heroic in their epic films.  They do have their own awards ceremony called the Taurus World Stunt Awards, but remember, so do actors, directors, and producers, and they are already recognized by the Academy each year.  Perhaps, the most shocking revelation in the article is the fact that the stunt performers considered protesting this year’s show but chose not to distract from other artists’ big Oscar day.  

While the stunt performers are not asking for a televised category, it begs for clarification. If the Academy created a new category, where would they put it?  There are already 24 categories on the televised show that usually runs too long.  The Sci-Tech Awards are held two weeks before the Oscars broadcast, but they honor breakthroughs in the technology of film.  Finally, the Governors Awards honor legends in film with Honorary Awards and the Hersholt Humanitarian Award, so it doesn’t seem appropriate to lump the stunt category in with that program.  Could the Academy create a fourth night to honor those in the entertainment industry?  There has long been an outcry to also honor casting directors for their work in film, and with the changing landscape in technology and animation, it is entirely possible we will see this evolution happen for more categories to be created.  This is definitely a battle to watch, because if the stuntmen succeed, more areas of the industry that are ignored on Oscar night are going to look for recognition.  

What are your thoughts on adding a stunt category to the Academy Awards?  I would love to hear your ideas.   

An Academy Tribute to Sophia Loren

Last night was one of those evenings where you pinch yourself and think "How the heck did I get here?" I ran into actresses Debi Mazar and Eva Mendes on the way to the restroom to kick off the night, but didn't sink in until Tom Hanks said to the audience in a taped message, "How lucky are you to be in the same room as Sophia Loren?".  The word lucky doesn't even begin to describe it.  Sophia was being honored last night by The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for her 50-year contribution to the film industry.  At 76 years of age, the woman looks spectacular.  Her body is still to die for and that stunning face is unparalleled.  In fact, a gentleman behind me on the way out of the theatre, and close to Sophia's age, said to his wife, "The breasts are good."  Yes, sir, they are, enviably good.
 

The evening was hosted by the man everyone wishes would come back to the Academy Award telecast, Billy Crystal.  Before director/choreographer, Rob Marshall, gave his tribute to Sophia, he yelled over to Billy how fantastic he was and then asked him, "Where were you this year?  You know what I mean."  Wow, that was ballsy to say in the House of Oscar.  Remember, these are the people who vote for the Academy Awards and put on the show, but honestly, Marshall was exactly right.  Crystal came out of the gate with an Osama bin Laden joke about his last words being, "I can't believe I am going to miss Wednesday night."  That is how coveted the tickets were to last night's sold out event. On my way in, a woman asked me if I had an extra ticket.  When I mentioned I was a guest of someone at the Academy, she replied, "You are going to have quite an evening."

With wonderful appreciations coming from Roberto Benigni via video message and in person from John Travolta and her son, Edoardo Ponti, Loren was visibly moved and downright soft-spoken during her acknowledgements.  The fun really began when she sat down to chat with Crystal because the banter back and forth was quick and hilarious.  Loren had personally chosen "Beee-lly" to be the host of the evening, and boy, did she pick well.  There is great affection between the two and only Crystal would lead off a series of questions with, "Where do you get a slice in LA?"  Classic.  Yep, the pizza in LA sure does not compare to that of Italy.

The evening was punctuated with incredible film clips from her career from her Oscar-winning performance in Two Women to her famous striptease scene in Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow to her lovely role in 2009's Nine.  I will list the movies selected for the tribute below because I think her films are a must for your summer Netflix queue.  Also, be sure to watch one of my favorite Oscar moments from 1999 when Loren presented Roberto Benigni with his Academy Award.  Her yell and wave with the announcement makes me smile every time.  

Many thanks to Tarrah Curtis for the ticket to last night's event.  It was such an incredible program, so I appreciate you letting me share in the experience.

Sophia Loren Films Selected for the Tribute:

Marriage Italian Style
The Gold of Naples
Too Bad She's Bad
Desire Under the Elms
Housebout
Two Women
El Cid
Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow
Arabesque
Sunflower
Man of La Mancha
A Special Day
Between Strangers
Nine
Ready to Wear (Prêt-a-Porter)




Photos 1, 2:  Matt Petit / ©A.M.P.A.S.
Photos 3, 5:  Richard Harbaugh / ©A.M.P.A.S.
  

2012 Oscar Season: Are You Ready?

If you thought awards season was over, think again.  In the next few months, we have the MTV Movie Awards, the ESPYs, the Tonys, and the Daytime Emmys.  I seriously feel like I was just doing this and this, but now, The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences wants to make sure I am ready for the 2012 Academy Awards.  Have I recovered from 2011 yet?  I'm not sure.

Here are all of the important dates for you Oscar aficionados out there.  Mark your calendars now:

Tuesday, January 24, 2012:  Nominations 5:30 AM PT
Monday, February 6, 2012:  Nominees Luncheon
Saturday, February 11, 2012:  Scientific and Technical Awards
Sunday, February 26, 2012:  84th Annual Academy Awards

In case you missed it, click on the links above for 2011 Academy Awards coverage.

Photos courtesy of Mingle Media TV.