Worst Oscars Ever? Reviewers Spare No Slam In Merciless Post-Mortems

by Mark Joyella | 9:19 am, February 28th, 2011

» 37 comments

If you’re friends with either Anne Hathaway or James Franco, you might want to do what you can to keep them off the internet and away from newspapers today. It’s not pretty out there. The hosts of Sunday night’s Academy Awards show on ABC have given critics a form of Christmas in February, and they’re holding nothing back. The UK’s Daily Mail headlines “Clumsy and Downright Painful,” and the New York Post went with “Hip Was Never So Dull.” And those were the nice reviews.

Alan Sepinwall at HitFix called the Oscars “disastrous.” Caryn James at IndieWire, noting that Franco shared backstage tweets with viewers, headlined “Franco Tweets While Oscars Burn:”

Sluggish, badly-written, a near-disaster from start to finish, the Oscar show was the best evidence yet that even if the Academy thinks it want to be younger and hipper, it has no idea how to do that.

In The Hollywood Reporter, Tim Goodman put it this way:

Was it a bad idea to have actors host? No, it was spectacularly bad. In what could go down as one of the worst Oscar telecasts in history, a bad and risky idea — letting two actors host — proved out in spectacularly unwatchable fashion on the biggest of all nights for the film world.

In the New York Daily News, David Hinckley concludes the effort at appealing to a “younger demographic” with Hathaway and Franco was a failure: “Young are a snoozefest: Franco dazed, Hathaway totally 2-D:”:

A song about Hugh Jackman pulling out of a proposed duet performance, for instance, had all the broad, relatable appeal of a song about her caterer delivering the wrong sushi wrap.

She also didn’t get a lot of help from her cohost, James Franco, who sometimes looked as if reading the cue cards was the only thing keeping him awake.

THR‘s Goodman notes Franco may have boosted the morale of one previously panned Oscars host, David Letterman:

It was not a great night to be on the Internet if you were one of Franco’s trusted advisers, as the likable, quirky actor was torched on Twitter and pimp-slapped across the web for his lifeless performance. He had no business agreeing to host the Oscars, and his resulting pratfall in front of — what, a billion people? — must have made David Letterman gleeful, as his stint will no longer be pointed out as some kind of nadir. Anne Hathaway at least tried to sing and dance and preen along to the goings on, but Franco seemed distant, uninterested and content to keep his Cheshire-cat-meets-smug smile on display throughout.

As Goodman concludes, “Somewhere Ricky Gervais is laughing like a school girl.” Well said, sir. Well said.

Academy Awards, Anne Hathaway, Daily Mail, Hollywood Reporter, James Franco, New York Post, Oscars, Reviews

http://www.sarainitalyblog.blogspot.com/ sarainitaly

I think the reviews were a little harsh… Agreed Franco was not that great, and looked either stoned, or half asleep, but I thought Anne was cute, and a good host. It should have been Anne and Hugh Jackman. They would have made a great pair.

how adorable was Kirk Douglas? And Billy Crystal was great, as usual.
Was glad to see King’s Speech and Firth win. Such a great movie!
The ladies were lovely, some gorgeous dresses last night. And yea! for Natalie Portman.

I don’t think the show was as bad as the reviews claim, and they were NOT the worst hosts ever. I think Letterman was pretty bad, filled with uncomfortable moments.

Overall the show seemed to be lacking, on stage and in the audience/red carpet HUGE hollywood stars…? Where were they all? I do agree the Green Room interviews sucked. I love Reese Witherspoon, but it was such a sleeper of an interview.
notsofast

It was pretty damn bad. Franco looked like he had never rehearsed anything.
reddogs

Most annoying? Anne Hathaway screaming WOOO into the microphone every time somebody was introduced. Did she think she was at a high school pep rally? As for James Franco, his lack of interest in the proceedings was so obvious that it made me uncomfortable. “Young and hip” is breathtakingly boring.
The Real Royal King

I seldom miss the awards, and I do think this was probably the worst ever. Enough has already be said about Franco.

As for Hathaway, I was truly surprised at how clumsy and inept she was in reading lines and how sophomoric, in the cheerleader sense, she truly was.

I was pleased with the winners for the most part. The “King’s Speech” and Mr. Firth were clearly best in category. I never even made it through the “Social Network” despite two valiant attempts.

Portman worked very hard in her performance. It did very little for me. I thought her film was flat.

Other than “Swan” and “Social Network” there were some truly great films this past year, one of the best years in a decade. It’s always interesting to me how arts are often so vibrant in hard times, in politically repressive times, that they often seem to lead us out of those times.
The Lantern of Truth

RRKING , cattily . I have a little beet coloured number like Franco is wearing . I can’t find it though . I think Armando ‘s creepy , overly flamboyant new chum BFD took it ! When I wear that gown , I usually dress it up with a simple string of Crackerjacks while carrying my lime green couch bag . Or a pillowcase , if I’m trick or treating .
notsofast

And contrary to what some critics are saying, it was awkward watching Kirk Douglas try to present the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress. He like Dick Clark should call it a day.
The Real Royal King

notsofast said:
It was pretty damn bad. Franco looked like he had never rehearsed anything.

For once, I agree with you. Actually, we have agreed before. Soap Opera acting is difficult. No final script until moments before you perform. I’ve never seen Franco in “General Hospital”, but I have to wonder how he can perform adequately there, apparently, and so ooorly at the awards.

reddogs said:
Most annoying? Anne Hathaway screaming WOOO into the microphone every time somebody was introduced. Did she think she was at a high school pep rally?

Great minds …. As detached as Franco was, Hathaway was as superficial and silly.
The Real Royal King

notsofast said:
And contrary to what some critics are saying, it was awkward watching Kirk Douglas try to present the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress. He like Dick Clark should call it a day.

That’s difficult to watch, isn’t it? Really pulls at your heart. When some people have passed their zeniths, they withdraw. Dietrich. Grant. Garbo. Others push onward. I have to respect both. The former creates a perpetual aura of mystery, the latter a stiff dose of reality.
http://twitter.com/SailRabbits Magister

Wost Oscars Ever?

You’d think they could’ve squeezed in a couple of surprises or some kind of spectacular stunt.
Without either of those, we’re really just left with the ceremony writing and the hosts.
notsofast

The Real Royal King said:
That’s difficult to watch, isn’t it? Really pulls at your heart. When some people have passed their zeniths, they withdraw. Dietrich. Grant. Garbo. Others push onward. I have to respect both. The former creates a perpetual aura of mystery, the latter a stiff dose of reality.

Agree.

They should let old actors do what MacArthur said old soldiers do.
The Real Royal King

notsofast said:
Agree.

They should let old actors do what MacArthur said old soldiers do.

Any idea when McCain does that, and, if he does, what will David Gregory do?
notsofast

The Real Royal King said:
Any idea when McCain does that,

He did that years ago and just doesn’t realize it.
http://www.facebook.com/people/Dronetek-Bulk-Vanderhuge/100000918732763 Dronetek

Who the hell watches this shit anyway?
The Real Royal King

Dronetek said:
Who the hell watches this shit anyway?

Over 41 Million people. About thirteen times the number of people who watch FOX “New’s” highest rated shows.
notsofast

The Real Royal King said:
Over 41 Million people. About thirteen times the number of people who watch FOX “New’s” highest rated shows.

So less than 15% of America watched “Lib TV Live?”
The Real Royal King

notsofast said:
So less than 15% of America watched “Lib TV Live?”

Yes, but it’s 15% from the most prestigious zip codes in America. And, I do have to admit that I ducked out to watch “Big Love” then returned. I have to admit I’m not much interested in “Best Font Selection for Subtitles in a Bi-Lingual Film” or “Best Donut Catering in a Documentary Short”.
justanotherconservative

The Real Royal King said:
Over 41 Million people. About thirteen times the number of people who watch FOX “New’s” highest rated shows.

lol gotta get in your fox news digs no matter what. give it a rest. go back to your mother’s basement and blog about hollywood.
notsofast

The Real Royal King said:
Yes, but it’s 15% from the most prestigious zip codes in America

With the largest per capital of drug abusers no doubt.
The Real Royal King

notsofast said:
The Real Royal King said:
Yes, but it’s 15% from the most prestigious zip codes in America

With the largest per capital of drug abusers no doubt.

Pot, pharmaceuticals and wine and spirits, perhaps.
im_lovin_it

The Oscars seem to have fallen into some kind of vortex where it’s always 1947. Sorry everybody, but the Golden Age of Hollywood is over. We don’t want to see fancy ceremonies for fancy people wearing fancy clothes. We want Ricky Gervais there to humiliate everybody. We want horrible drug-induced collapses and violent, psychotic episodes. By God, WE WANT DRUNKEN CELEBRITY UPSKIRTS!!!!!!!

You want viewers? Get TMZ, Gawker, and Michael K. on the phone. Then you’ll have yourselves an event.
Leckan

That Goodman guy is one smart fella!

Spot on!
milynily

Charlie Sheen was available, how much worse could it have been?
stoogedudes

When Franco and Hathaway were announced as hosts, I wondered why the producers would do that. Comedians generally do better as hosts. I thought Ellen did a fine job in 2007 and Jon Stewart in 2008. Musicals turn me off, so I didn’t care much for Jackman. Steve Martin and Alec Baldwin were good last year, but yeah, this year, Franco and Hathaway didn’t quite live up to my expectations, and I didn’t necessarily have very high expectations.

The only way to have a good show anymore is if someone were to bring Bob Hope or Johnny Carson back to life. They’d seemingly have more life than James Franco did, although as busy as that guy always is, he was probably studying for his classes backstage.

Would have loved to see Hailee Steinfeld win for True Grit. She did a fantastic job and held her own with Jeff Bridges and Matt Damon. Christian Bale is one of the best actors out there and very much deserved to win last night.

We had thunderstorms and tornado warnings (in FEBRUARY!) last night and the local weather kept cutting in during the important parts and never during commercials, although as bad as things seemed last night, maybe it was for the best.
http://www.facebook.com/people/Dronetek-Bulk-Vanderhuge/100000918732763 Dronetek

The Real Royal King said:
Over 41 Million people. About thirteen times the number of people who watch FOX “New’s” highest rated shows.

That explains a lot about this country and the nimrods that make up most of it.
http://www.snowspot.net Snowspot

notsofast said:
And contrary to what some critics are saying, it was awkward watching Kirk Douglas try to present the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress. He like Dick Clark should call it a day.

It was uncomfortable but I’d rather politely suffer through the uncomfortable, than have Kirk Douglas die without ever speaking at the oscars again.
notsofast

Snowspot said:
’d rather politely suffer through the uncomfortable, than have Kirk Douglas die without ever speaking at the oscars again.

He died on stage last night! LOL
libra blue

I had high hopes for this fresh new approach to hosting the Oscars last night, but I have to agree that it was a failure. I think both James Franco and Anne Hathaway are good actors, but that doesn’t necessarily translate into being good hosts on a live program. It just goes to show you that when most actors are left to their own devices they fail miserably as is proven year after year during the acceptance speeches and on appearances on various talk shows.

Screen actors have little ability to relate to a live audience.

Franco looked like he hated being there and Hathaway was a bit over the top. For the most part their attempts at humor fell flat.

On the bright side, deserving winners like Natalie Portman, Colin Firth, Christian Bale, and Melissa Leo gave heartfelt acceptance speeches. However, I could have done without the F-bomb, although it is part of Leo’s character in the fighter.

Glad to see “Inception”, one of my favorites, win a few awards, but Christopher Nolan deserved to be nominated as best director.

In my opinion, no one showed more poise and class than Natalie Portman and Colin Firth. They were the most gracious and the best dressed last night. It was a multiple tie for worst.
TeaPartyPatriot

Best bet for an Oscar AND a Razzie:

…and the awards go to “You Lie!” hussein for his outstanding efforts in fooling Americans into thinking 1. He is a Christian, 2. He is president of all Americans, not just blacks and latinos, 3. He is NOT a puppet of the unions, 4. He has stopped using tobacco and massive amounts of drugs, especially his favorite, cocaine, 5. He is a American citizen (WITHOUT an original birth certificate)-really!, 6. He is NOT a socialist extremist, 7. He is NOT a radical muslin, and 8. In spite of the obvious facts, he really, really isn’t trying to destroy America.

It truly has been a performance without equal.
The Real Royal King

stoogedudes said:
The only way to have a good show anymore is if someone were to bring Bob Hope or Johnny Carson back to life

Maybe one of them is the 12th Imam and will be back soon. Of course, that would create some other problems.
WHarropson

In a post interview with billy christal he said how much time he took rehersing for his couple of minutes. Maybe it takes that kind of work to pull off a memorable performance and some just don’t take the time. I didn’t watch much of it, but I could see that the MC’s were not doing well.
moriarty70

Look at the up side, after next years hosts we’ll look back at this pair and reflect on how good they were.

Isn’t this an Oscar tradition? Each year the hosts were the worst ever. I don’t even follow the critical takes on the show, although it helps that I can form my own view on things. As for Franco, maybe he should have passed on it or taken time off school during the rehersals, he just looked exhausted.
Biscuit

In my opinion, no one showed more poise and class than Natalie Portman and Colin Firth. They were the most gracious and the best dressed last night. It was a multiple tie for worst.

Colin Firth is classy, not Natalie Portman. Apparently she’s a major ungrateful, ungracious bitch in real life. I’m tired of her thanking her gold-digging baby daddy. Plus, she’s still not a good actress.
http://www.facebook.com/people/Gail-Marie-Day/1739250382 Gail Marie Day

what oscars?
tupelo

I vote for Russel Brand for next year’s host…he was funnier on the red carpet that most hosts are on stage…I’m just sayin…
X-3

Here’s lookin’ at you kid

http://www.atlasshruggedpart1.com/atlas-shrugged-movie-trailer
kit9

Franco is, believe it or not, very funny and charming. And, he’s notoriously well prepared. What happened? He was pissed some of his bits got the ax before the show, apparently. So, maybe, he had some sort of falling out with the producers. His pre show interview was very telling and telegraphed what was about happen. He literally looked miserable. I watched it thinking that maybe his gf just broke up with him, a family member had died..something. He looked like he’d rather be any where other than where he was.

‘how adorable was Kirk Douglas?’

I’m at a loss for those who enjoyed Douglas’ appearance. It was excruciatingly. The looks on the faces of the audience said it all..’.please, for the love of god, let this be over’.

As for wost ever…no way. At least Franco/Hathaway’s opening was ok-Letterman’s was awful. Awful.
chicgoods7

===== http://www.chic-goods.com/ =====

===== http://www.chic-goods.com/ =====