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Can this woman get you to watch the Oscar telecast?

Jan 24, 2007, 05:01 PM | by Joshua Rich

Categories: Advertising, Oscars 2007

Oscar_l "I'm Spartacus!" No, "I'm Spartacus!" No, "I'm Spartacus!"

People, people, relax. Kirk Douglas was Spartacus (and, apparently, a very naughty young man, if you believe today's reports). But you? You're just a random stranger who the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has starring in its minute-long commercial spot, featuring some memorable lines from film history, which is part of its amped-up campaign to convince us to watch the big show on Feb. 25.

Now, hmmm. Over the past day or so, I've had to make repeated visits to the official Oscars homepage, where the clip is currently inescapable, and my feelings for the ad have fluctuated between irritation and obsession. That Aussie girl at the beginning? Kinda cute, kinda gives me the willies. The "Mrs. Robinson" dude? Oy. The silver fox (pictured) who channels Al Pacino in The Godfather Part III? Adorable. Then again, does The Godfather Part III really deserve this recognition? I suppose that "pull me back in" blurt has become famous, but the movie is hardly a classic. And while it's nice to see Blazing Saddles get placed in the company of Gone With the Wind and Taxi Driver, where, I wonder, is the love for ever-quotable classics like The Wizard of Oz or -- hello?! -- Casablanca? Yo, Adrian, is the Academy putting a strain on our beautiful friendship?

vic tucker Wed, Feb 7, 2007 at 11:45 AM EST

I am going to sit in the bleacher seats..we have to be their at 9:30 in the am..YIKES

chris Sun, Feb 4, 2007 at 01:08 PM EST

I think the clip it awesome..have to watch it over an over again...even the "random" poeple..they are just perfect they way they say the quote..and the mrs. robinson guy is really funny...love his accent

You-Know-Who Thu, Jan 25, 2007 at 10:33 AM EST

That Mrs.Robinson kid was funny.

m Thu, Jan 25, 2007 at 08:42 AM EST

umm..it was OK..will it make me watch the oscars..ummm No.

Jakeem Thu, Jan 25, 2007 at 01:45 AM EST

Like it or not, "The Godfather Part III" was nominated for Best Picture of 1990, and the Michael Corleone line has become more and more popular over time!

Lackschmi Wed, Jan 24, 2007 at 08:56 PM EST

This is very exciting - this year three black actors are going to win Oscars (Murphy, Hudson, and Whittacker) and then soon we will have a black president (Barack Hussein Obama). I am as excited about the Oscars as I am about Hussein Obama getting the Dem nomination - the election is definitely his already!

e4ia Wed, Jan 24, 2007 at 08:18 PM EST

When did Geoffrey Rush start doing drag?

Wendy Wed, Jan 24, 2007 at 05:19 PM EST

Adding that I think my favorite is the chick who says "we're gonna need a bigger boat." Ah, Jaws.

Wendy Wed, Jan 24, 2007 at 05:14 PM EST

I'm a complete Oscars junkie, but I don't know if its because I'm getting to sit in the bleacher seats this year that I'm extra jazzed, but I'm completely enamored of that clip. I keep watching it and I already imdb'd the handful of quotes I wasn't sure of. I can't really say that would get me to watch the show or not, since I don't live in a world where its an option to choose, I always watch the Oscars. I find it clever. It goes along with their Oscar poster for this year. I expect there will be more clips or they'll have people submit their own... all very web 2.0 and all.

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