The ceremony took place two days ago and was dignified and entertaining, just like the previous one hosted by Jon Stewart. He was funny, engaging, and witty, which is what you'd expect from an Oscar's host.That said, Whoopi is still my all-time favorite...
Just like two years ago, I haven't watched the vast majority of the nominated movies from this past year, so my comments will be mostly limited to the ceremony itself.
A wave of sadness actually filled me every time they showed a clip from a nominated movie or performance. Sadness for not going to the movies anymore as much as I used to. Sadness for having missed so many good movies for a few years now. But the requirements of my life now don't leave much time for going out anymore. I guess I'm just getting old...
Anyway, I liked the montages, as usual, although this year, for the first time, I felt like they were abusing the medium a bit. I'll blame the recently resolved writers' strike and the possibility that the telecast might have been stripped of all celebrities, which would have meant even more montages (like Stewart himself joked about) and I'll assume they had readied more than usual and wanted to keep most of them in. We'll see next year.
The introductory clip was cool and Stewart's opening monologue appropriate. The presenters were all more or less spared overly lame dialogues, although the "I'm Halle, you're Judy" one did flare out pretty quickly. Steve Carell and Anne Hathaway sold theirs the best I thought. I really thought they were introducing the documentary category, and they didn't look like the best choice for that award. This proves again the comedic talent of Carell.
Since fashion is always very important at the Oscars, I liked most of all Katherine Heigl's fabulous red gown, while the worst dressed had to be Diablo Cody, who brought to mind the adage, "If you don't have the guts to wear it, don't." What's with the hand and the envelope in front of her crotch??! If you put on a dress like that, wear it with you head held high or don't wear it at all. I can only imagine her struggle on the red carpet...
A special mention must be made for Jennifer Hudson though, who looked like a marshmallow in that white dress. Doesn't the poor thing know that black slims you down, while white inflates you? This is the second ceremony she attends and the second poor dress choice she makes. The girl needs a personal shopper, pronto!!
And now we come to the awards themselves. I'm glad to say that nothing upset me and that I was surprised quite a few times by the choices of the Academy, choices that show how the old guard is slowly dying off, leaving room to a new generation of voters that aren't afraid to make unconventional choices.
More or less in the order in which they were awarded, here are my personal thoughts:
- The Golden Compass wins Best Visual Effects; I thought for sure that the last Pirates movie would take this one, or Transformers. The Golden Compass's effects must be pretty amazing...
- Sweeney Todd wins Best Art Direction; I was obviously pleased that a team of Italians took the award, but mostly this made me think of the "sometimes less is more" saying, since from the clips shown, Sweeney Todd had the most understated art direction of the five nominees.
- Javier Bardem wins Best Supporting Actor; although apparently he was the odds on favorite here, I was afraid that the Academy would have gone for the sentimental choice and awarded Hal Holbrook. I'm glad it didn't happen. Bardem also gave a very nice and touching speech.
- Tilda Swinton wins Best Supporting Actress; this one really surprised me and although she seemed to have garnered much support toward the end of the awards season, I thought that again the Academy would have gone for the old-timer and awarded Ruby Dee. My beloved Cate Blanchett didn't win, which is too bad, since she's always fantastic, but I happen to have seen Michael Clayton and Tilda Swinton was superb, so a well deserved award. She looked very surprised as well, by the way.
- The Bourne Ultimatum wins Best Editing, Sound Editing, and Sound Mixing; yeah! I was really glad to see this movie getting recognized since I, again, happen to have seen it and it was very good, certainly deserving to be rewarded, and the Best Editing Oscar is a big reward indeed.
- Marion Cotillard wins Best Lead Actress; WOW!! This one really made me sit up! I haven't seen the movie, but in the clips they showed she was phenomenal, so she totally deserved to win, but again, I thought the Academy was gonna go with Julie Christie, as the sentimental favorite. Awarding Cotillard, a French actress starring in a movie that virtually nobody saw this side of the Atlantic and that was (GASP!) subtitled showed that sometimes the most deserving really does win. And that the Academy's demographics are, again, changing.
- Nicole Kidman presents the Honorary Award to a production designer who's 98 years old!! Holy crap!! Could Nicole be any more gorgeous and understated in her divine presence? I have to shamefully admit I caught very little of what that guy was saying (God bless him though, still sharp as a whistle), since I was way too busy admiring her beauty. And that dress... and the necklace!
- The song from Once wins Best Song; I later found out this was indeed the odds on favorite in this category, but I had read that Alan Menken was getting ready for yet another Oscar (from another Disney movie) and I'm glad it didn't happen. Granted, usually multiple nominees in the same category end up hurting themselves by splitting their votes, thereby reducing their chances of winning the big prize, allowing a dark horse to come in and snatch it, but I still feared Menken would have taken it. As for the songs themselves, I found the first from Enchanted quite boring, the second one, slightly less boring, and the third quite interesting mostly because it was sung by the hottest man in the Kodak Theater (John McLaughlin, OH MY GODS!!). I liked the winning song but I was moved the most by the one from August Rush, which gave me goose bumps throughout (that little girl's voice was amazing!!)
- I rejoiced when Stewart called Markéta Irglová back on stage to give her acceptance speech, which had been cut off by that annoying orchestra after her winning partner had given his thanks, especially because what she had to say was very powerful and touching. Go Markéta! Gods I hate it when they cut acceptance speeches. Damn, I just won an Oscar, let me talk. If I speak over 3 minutes, then cut me off, but 30 seconds?! Fuck you!
- The In Memoriam segment was touching as usual, whether we know the artist or not, but the decision to now include executives and (wait for it) agents gave me pause. What's next? Publicists and spouses? When are we gonna see the pets paraded on screen?
- Dario Marianelli wins Best Score for Atonement; I rejoiced because he's Italian, actually one of two nominated this year!! I haven't heard the score yet though :(
- Sicko doesn't win for Best Documentary (and all Michael Moore's haters everywhere rejoice); I was surprised but I didn't know who the odds on favorite was, so maybe it was just me. I actually haven't even seen Sicko, but I did see No End in Sight, and it was a powerful indictment of this administration if there ever was one.
- Diablo Cody wins Best Original Screenplay; I later found out she was a shoo-in, but I was surprised and glad since Juno's script was great and I like to see this woman, former exotic dancer, have success after many years of trying in this business. It's the classic Cinderella story, and who doesn't like one?
- No big surprises for the Best Actor, Director and Picture, so I'll move on.
- I rewound three times when Scott Rudin thanked his partner (he must mean business partner...)... from the stage... while accepting the Best Picture Oscar... and called him honey!! I just about squealed with glee since something like that would have been absolutely unthinkable just 10 years ago. Too bad there wasn't a camera ready to show his "honey," that would have been sweet. Go Scott!!!
By the way, did anyone else notice how that slippery area of stage right in front of the microphone stand just wasn't getting cleaned? Was anyone else
And finally, I had never seen Dwayne Johnson (aka The Rock) live, and I was floored by how handsome he is. Good Heavens!
All right Oscars, good job this year. Now on to the next round of candidates for '09!
