And now, I am proud to present some random Oscar thoughts as I take in the 78th annual awards show. How do I know it's the 78th? They feel compelled to plaster the numbers over every nook and cranny of the stage, for one thing. But I haved started my list without numbering. Alas, here now is the random list.
- So the new version of the “orchestra starts when you’ve talked too long” is a constant underscoring of the award winning speeches. So now the second you start talking, you feel like your time is up. Clever, but certainly not subtle.
- Ben Stiller pretending to be in green-screen land proves that when you start something, you have to finish it – take it all the way baby, all the way to the envelope.
- Will Ferrell and Steve Carell actually use a subtle form of comedy with a makeup joke – I’m pretty sure they barely adlibbed…
- Jon Stuart is very very funny. And the “paid for” ads spoof was hilarious.
- Lauren Bacall is too old to be asked to depend on a teleprompter. That was uncomfortable…
- JLo looked like she borrowed some of Will Ferrell’s comic makeup on her whole face. Seriously. Not good.
- After the racism/oppression montage, Jon Stuart saying “and none of those issues were ever a problem again.” – Comedy.
- Jon Stewart, at the top of the show, quoted the Eddyfications by calling Brokeback the "elephant in the room" - I knew he read it!
- How does a Robert Altman montage happen without clips from Popeye?!?!?!
- The song "It's Hard out here for a Pimp" so much material, so little time... first of all, it gets beeped like three seconds into it - and then there's the pseudo-dance play acting about pimp life on the streets - because you know, watching rappers just rapping would be too boring - like watching a violinist sitting in a chair playing five songs in a row... That choreography makes Paula Adbul look like a genius for "opposites attract" - and then the last note - sending American Idol tremors with her "PIIIIIIIIIIMMMMMMP" note. And then... it WON, and the voiceover guy still has to say "this is the first academy award for..."... Getting beeped in the thank you speech, right next to "Thank you Jesus..."
- Jennifer Garner almost slipping on the proverbial banana peel...
- Chris Penn gets my nomination as "guy you didn't know had died" in the memorial montage.
I’ve been Tivo’ing and started about an hour past start time – when I catch up, I’m going to bed – you have to be able to skip the parts that are too painful to watch live. Like the gripping action of a solo violinist sitting onstage. How many times that they use the same crane shot to try and make it interesting?
addendum: I caught up right before the announcement of best writers, director and picture - so I'll probably stay up. I still have to take out the trash too. I know you were curious.
