The Oscars, you could say, are like pizza, and sex- even when it's bad, it's still pretty good. But this year's telecast tested the patience of just about everyone, even an extreme film buff such as myself.
Unfortunately, due to the East Coast snow storm, the power went off in my house at about quarter to midnight, causing me to miss the presentation of Actor, Actress, Director and Picture. Yes, the greatest filmmaker of his generation finally wins an Oscar after 30 years – as does his movie- and I miss it. Dammit! Still, the right film won Best Picture, and that hadn’t happened in quite awhile.
First of all: way too long, and way too much filler. They have to cut off every winner after less than 30 seconds, but they still find the time for pointless filler like those shadow-interpretive dance displays (can we please ban interpretive dance from the Oscars, forever?) I know the show usually goes long, but 50 minutes past the scheduled end time, finishing up at 12:20 on the East Coast? It was like a World Series game.
My thoughts on Ellen DeGeneres as Oscar host are similar to my thoughts on her in general: She's very likable, and very admirable, but not very funny. That monologue was just one dud after another, and the rest of her material throughout the show wasn't much better. Yeesh. I vote for going back to Billy Crystal or Jon Stewart next year. Seinfeld or Conan would work too.
A few more thoughts:
- I liked that "choir" doing the sound effects, although it would've been cheaper and easier to just bring in Winslow from "Police Academy."
- Al Gore is now the only man on Earth who has delievered acceptance speeches at both a Democratic convention and the Oscars. It was inevitable he would win, though I could've done without the "energy facts" in the background during Melissa Etheridge's song. Is it ever anything other than condescending when a political argument involves a plea to "wake up"?
- That Celine Dion song had some familiar opening lyrics. But when will Savage Garden win an honorary Oscar?
- Shocking that Eddie Murphy lost Best Supporting Actor to Alan Arkin. Even more shocking? They found a cursing-free clip to show of Mark Wahlberg in "The Departed."
- Next biggest shock: "Pan's Labyrinth" winning Best Cinematography over "Children of Men." If there was one movie that deserved one award this year, it was that.
- What, no Anna Nicole in the death montage? She was in "Naked Gun 33 1/3," co-starring with Leslie Nielson and O.J.
Alan Arkin? Alan Friggin' Arkin? WTF was so special about his performance in that movie anyway? I'm not just saying that because I didn't like "Little Miss Sunshine," either. There was nothing unforgettable or take notice about his acting in that film.
Posted by: Emily at February 26, 2007 03:36 PMI don't quite find that to be the travesty of justice you seem to.
He was good, and probably the best part of the film.
Too bad they couldn't have just given that award to Meryl Streep instead for having the misfortune of being up against Hellen Mirren.
Yeah, poor unfortunate Meryl Streep. 2 Oscars isn't nearly enough.
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