Oscar Reflections
Sunday night, I attended an Oscar party over at Clark's place. It was pretty much agreed upon that this year's Oscar telecast was one of the best in a while. We all filled out our own ballot predictions...and by the end of the night, Clark and I were tied for the win. Too bad there wasn't a prize. Then again, I hate sharing with people!!! Therefore, I claim bragging (and blogging) rights. Clark-- you may also brag here all you want in the comments section. (See, I'm not totally selfish.)
Nevertheless, my predictions for best picture, director, actors and actresses were almost spot on, except for Supporting Actor (more on that later). Here are some random observations.
- Ellen did a decent job as host(ess). She was funny, to the point, and didn't allow the show to drag too much.
- Best Sup. Actor: Alan Arkin (Little Miss Sunshine). I saw this movie, and really enjoyed Arkin's performance. However, I feel bad for Eddie Murphy, who really deserved it, and, dare I say, needed it. I just hope that Murphy didn't lose the award simply because of Norbit, as theorized by some of my fellow party attendees.
- Montages are pretty and sentimental and all...but there were just too damn many.
- Best Sup. Actress: Jennifer Hudson (Dreamgirls). There was a discussion over whether or not JHud really deserved it. One attendee claimed that JHud was basically playing herself. Another attendee countered by saying that JHud is hardly a tempermental diva in real life. In a very biased, emotional fashion, I offered this argument: "She made me cry." Film performances rarely make me cry in a good way...and Ms. Hudson did just that singlehandedly with her mid-film showstopper. In the end, JHud's win is an affirmation to anybody discouraged by a setback in life.
- Those shadow-play acrobats/dancers were quite impressive. I hope they were paid well.
- Best Director: Martin Scorcese (The Departed). Even though The Departed is reportedly very good, I can't help but feel that this Oscar win is the Academy's penance for all the years he was snubbed for his other good works. Nevertheless, congrats Marty!
- Ok, so I understand that An Inconvenient Truth is well liked, but did it honestly deserve to win for Best Song? And since when is a song from a Documentary eligible? Any of the three nominated songs from Dreamgirls easily blows that one out of the water. BLECH!
- Best Actress: Helen Mirren (The Queen). No surprise here, naturally. All hail the queen.
- Clark (and Jason) started an impromptu drinking game for every time George Lucas showed up onscreen.
- Best Actor: Forest Whitaker (The Last King of Scotland). Probably one of the best acceptance speeches in a long time.
- Diane Keaton didn't look mannish for once!!
- Bald Jack Nicholson = NOW 100X CREEPIER!!
- Best Picture: The Departed. Ummm...Yeah... I need to see this movie...along with Babel, Notes on a Scandal, Letters from Iwo Jima, Little Children... The list is embarrassingly long.
Warning: political rant ahead...and keep in mind that I hardly consider myself a liberal...
I found it funny that Al Gore (or the writers) decided to poke fun with all the right-wing-media-inspired rumors that he was planning to announce his 2008 candidacy onstage. The best part is that this approach didn't give right-wing radio hosts as much ammunition to insult him the next day...
...but wait! Sean Hannity still found a way to whine, bitch and moan about the Oscars (a program he didn't have to watch, by the way). He claimed that the Hollywood types involved are too humorless to make any jokes other than ones that a.) bash bush, or b.) insult Christianity. In actuality, I heard one joke at Dubya's expense, and I don't recall any jibes against Jesus. What a douche, this Sean Hannity. Shoudln't he be spending his time fantasizing about Hillary Clinton in a dark closet? Making out with (M)ann Coulter? Sticking pins in voodoo dolls of assorted liberals?
--end political rant--
I'm going up to Chicago this week for Cosi fan tutte, and again in two weeks for Dialogues of the Carmelites. More on these operas later...