Did you know Oscar wears a thong? Via grebo_guru @ Flickr.
sarah.of.a.lesser.god: I’m relieved that Marisa Tomei did not win, if only because the stripper-with-a-heart-of-gold is one cinematic cliché that needs to die. Also relieved that Angelina Jolie’s one-note role of obsessive grieving mother was not a winner. But I was pulling for Viola Davis and Meryl Streep in their respective categories, so I’m a bit disappointed.
I was thrilled by the shout-outs to marriage equality by Dustin Lance Black and Sean Penn (although Seanie-poo, um, you know that your pal Raul Castro isn’t quite a tolerant guy when it comes to LGBT issues, right?). And yes, I cried when Heath won. It’s been a rough week, so that’s my excuse.
Honorary Harpy Kate Winslet said backstage that she won’t be doing more nude scenes anymore, and was asked who would carry the topless torch. (Because that’s what’s important in an actress’ career, damnit!) She said Susan Sarandon.
PhDork: I’m bummed about Viola Davis, too, but very pleased with the Milk wins and their affiliated political comments. I long for the day when the female winner for Best Screenplay or Director or whatever gets up and says something explicitly feminist–actually uses the F-word! That that seems too “out-there,” even in 2009, tells me we’ve got a long way to go…
Loved Hugh Jackman, but that “The musical is BACK!” medley was baffling and unnecessary. Were there any musicals this year? Oh, right, Mamma Mia! It was the 5th-top grossing film of the year (but one measure of the musical’s “back”-ness), and now the top-grossing movie musical ever (see other stats here). A few noms through award season–none from the Academy–but no trophies. Was it the goofy premise, or the fact that is was about middle-aged women who were neither “hookers, victims, or doormats”?
But I digress. Mostly good speeches this year, lovely stage design, and, with a few notable exceptions, *cough*Sophia Loren*cough* decent clothes (c’mon, that’s what we watch for, right?). I especially enjoyed all the Prosecco I drank, and the massively amusing antics of a giggly Pilgrim Soul.
Becky Sharper: I was so moved by Dustin Lance Black–it was like he was channeling both Harvey Milk and Mr. Rogers with his “God loves you and you are beautiful and special.” The whole state of Utah may have spontaneously combusted, but it was the best moment of the evening.
Also, I am somewhat sorry he’s gay because he’s delicious and I would love to lick him all over in the same way sarah.of.a.lesser.god threatens to lick the TV screen every time William Hurt appears.
Can we talk about Sophia Loren, y’all? Because I’m all for being fabulous after 50 or 80 or whatever, but there was just SO MUCH WRONG there.
sarah.of.a.lesser.god: In defense of my nonexistent dignity, I will remind Ms. Sharper that William Hurt was, in fact, featured for a nanosecond on screen. I did not lick said screen. I was busy licking guacamole.
I will repeat what I said last night about the divine Sophia. Remember in Beetlejuice how it always looked like Michael Keaton’s head would fall off? That’s kind of what I feared would happen if we removed Sophia Loren’s choker.
My totally unimportant vote for most stylish of the evening? Frieda Pinto. And Meryl and Kate get a pass for their somewhat uninspired gowns because they are fucking Meryl and Kate. That is all.
PilgrimSoul: I have no idea what you’re referring to, Ms. Dork. I did indulge a little bit, I admit, in some spirits, mostly because the Oscars always make me depressed. When I was a kid I thought I’d be up there, I really did. And now, instead, I am locked in an office tower for the foreseeable future.
But I digress. This year was especially tough because it was not my favourite year in movies (Slumdog was fine to me, but Best Picture? Eh), and I rarely if ever have much to say about people’s outfits. (I usually look like a vagabond myself, and would undoubtedly show up to such an occasion with hair askew and smeared makeup.)
I was sad for both Michael Shannon and Viola Davis, both of whom gave the performances of the year but as usual were overlooked in favour of people who Hollywood wanted to pay tribute to. Sigh.
@P.Soul: You apparently have a kindred spirit in Salman Rushdie: http://www.mediabistro.com/galleycat/authors/salman_rushdie_pans_oscar_winners_109340.asp
That “Salute to Musicals” number was absurd, but I loved loved LOVED when Hugh Jackman gave kudos to Baz Luhrmann at its conclusion, and the camera cut to Baz, who looked thoroughly embarrassed.
Seth Rogen’s burst of laughter at James Franco’s mangling of the Best Live-Action Short winner’s name was the highlight of the evening for me.
I’m not really surprised by any of the winners, but at least Benjamin Button didn’t sweep or anything, because that shit was weak.
And I wish Kate Winslet had won for Eternal Sunshine, or that Heath Ledger had won for Brokeback Mountain, and that all was as it should be, but these things never happen the way they should.
This was the first time I watched the show instead of just catching up online the next day. I lost all my bets (what, Melissa Leo didn’t have a chance?) and was shocked and appalled at how boring and self serving the whole spectacle was! Medleys of medleys of musicals. Medleys of movies that were not even being honored at the Oscars. Fucking, a clip of “What Happened In Vegas” was shown. Some producer must have slipped someone some money for that one. Thank god for bourbon.
@Khruschev: James Franco doing anything was the highlight for me. And I think Winslet’s best nominated performance was in “Little Children”. I was just so fucking relieved Philip Seymour Hoffman did not win over Ledger yet again.
@JD: That clip of “What Happens in Vegas” was HILARIOUS. Hilarious.
I love how self-serving the Oscars are. If they ever made any attempt to be actually relevant or tasteful, the whole place would combust.
Is it normal to have those weird forced, scripted tributes by past winners to current nominees? I found that section really painful.
@JD: Okay, we are just in this for different reasons, I think. I liked those tributes, at least some of them. I thought Shirley Maclaine’s to Anne Hathaway was particularly nice. And Whoopi making any reference to “Sister Act” at any time is ok by me.
Please to never compare me to Salman Rushdie ever again, Becky.
And JD, most of my “giggling” happened during that musical thing, in which Becky castigated me for my general disgust at Beyonce for stealing Etta James’ song. (And vanilla-izing it, IMHO.)
I saw someone somewhere on the web this morning refer to that sequence as “setting musical theatre back about 10 years.”
@JD: Yes, it was typical Oscars. That whole “Final Five Cylon” thing was just…WTF? There’s always something stupid like that every year in a futile attempt to “make it more interesting.”
They looked like they were about to play Jeopardy or something every time the five would come out. Horrid.
Khruschev — No way! McClaine’s was my least favorite! Probs because I am a huge Shirley McClaine fan and can’t stand Hathaway and had to convince myself Shirley didn’t even know who she was. I thought it was funny that she mentioned all Hathaway’s princess roles but not Brokeback Mountain! I admit it was painful in a “I can’t look away” kind of way though. I also thought it was funny to have Marion Cotillard the ingenue complimenting Kate Winslet, of a much more storied career.
I really felt they should have had Queen Latifah do the musical medley (Beyonce doing Sandy in Grease was embarrassing for all involved) and then had Beyonce do the torch song later.
@JD: MacLaine had to work with Cameron Diaz. I think Hathaway is a step up from that.
oh wow. i missed that one. what film was that?
@JD: Hahahahaha. I dislike Hathaway, too, but her hyperventilation during that seemed genuine, and I appreciated how game she was for that musical number at the beginning.
I don’t know, I think I’m just a sucker for this show.
@JD: “In Her Shoes” — which I may or may not have cried at on Saturday morning.
no, it’s good Khrushchev, I was also keeping poor company last night which didn’t help. Prosecco and you all would have made it all go down sweeter for sure.
renting it!
@JD: Hathaway had an Oscar nod not playing a “victim, doormat or whore.” In fact, her entire career has been made without those roles, so I’m pretty sure Shirley McClaine likes her very much.
Shirley played Cameron D’s grandmother in In Her Shoes.
Uh, how on earth, Mac, does Rachel in Rachel Getting Married not qualify as a victim?
macloserboy, I understand why a person would like her, I just don’t care for the way she acts and was not impressed by Rachel Getting Married. If they wanted to honor a Brokeback alum for an indie film they should have gone with Michelle Williams in Wendy and Lucy!
I am pretty much the only person who liked the musical numbers, which were stupid and camp but still so much better than the horrible un-funny monologue space fillers the hosts usually do. I may have just been blinded by sequins.
JD – I hated the live singing during the dead people montage, but The Queen sounded fantastic.
P.Soul — also thought she was somewhat victimy in Brokeback, though I personally don’t think the hooker victim doormat categories really hold as much as they’re supposed to.
Blondegrlz — I have to say, it looked like an enormous amount of work and rehearsal went into it and I thought it was performed well, it was just the medley itself, the randomness of the musicals they selected to honor (Grease, really??? Grease? Evita?), etc.
P.Soul: She doesn’t play Rachel though, does she? I thought she played the addict sister. Of course, I say this having not seen the movie, as I’m lazy and usually forget to see the movies I want to see until they’re out on video.
The only category I was really interested in this year was Best Actress – this is partially because I have basically seen no movies this year – and I was pulling for Kate Winslet, so I was glad she won.
I also just want to say how shocked I was at the poor line reading skills of the best actors money can buy. Do they not get a look at their lines before they get out there?
I am stunned by how godawful the show was this year.
It has gotten SO gimmicky and last night was an assault on the senses.
I hated the format for the delivery of the acting awards. It was so self-indulgent.
The graphics for the In Memorium segment were atrocious; could they not have made it a bit more somber and understated? It’s like a bunch of hyper 8th graders created it.
I remember when the Oscars were mature and glam and I didn’t have to see the High School Musical kids singing and dancing on stage, or the likes of Miley Cyrus bellowing all over the red carpet.
Why the put-down for Sophia Loren? She didn’t look any more over-the-top than many of the younger women.
@pilgrim: Other than herself, just whom is she a victim to in Rachel Getting Married? Self-destruction does not qualify as victim status, otherwise Mickey Rourke is a victim in The Wrestler.
@jd: And how was she a victim in Brokeback? Michelle Williams was the suffering wife in Brokeback, not Anne Hathaway. Hathaway was daddy’s princess who fucked on the first date in the back of her car and then ran the family business while Jake was the pretty thing out front doing sales.
Mac — that’s why I said “somewhat” and “victim-y”. It’s debatable. I do see your point.
Alix, the dress was so atrocious. The color was unflattering, it was profusely, confusingly ornamented with ruffles and furbelows and weird straps that that made it look like her underthings were showing, and it wore her. Sophia is notoriously sexy and elegant, right? Why not do something simple and chic, rather than going koo-koo bananas and looking all what-ever-happened-to-baby-jane?
Other dresses I hated included those worn by Reese Witherspoon (the Bill-Cosby-sweater-of-Oscar-gowns), Whoopi Goldberg (go w/ a wild print OR a flowy construction, not both), and Miley Cyrus, SJP, and Penelope Cruz, all of whom were playing Bridal Barbie Dress-Up, Now! With More Frippery!
@JD: I don’t even see the “somewhat” in Brokeback. Maybe I’m not remembering all of it but when was she even vaguely a victim? Even at the end when she told Heath of her husband’s death, she seemed more pissed than anything.
Ratinski you are right. My brain has been scrambled lately.
@Alix: Her makeup artist did Sophia no favors. Her skin looked livid and grayish from the makeup, which is unforgivable considering how much she’s obviously spent to keep her legendary features tight and tan. Also her hair looked snarled and ratty. I wondered if it was a wig. She looks amazing when done up right, but last night was a stylist FAIL.
Sarah MC, oh thank you for saying that about the actors/actresses introducing the awards. I squirmed, almost constantly. It was worse than the self-congratulatory smugfest that is the SAG awards. I utterly loathed it, it reminded me of everything I find irritating about the acting community. I could rant about it for hours but out of respect for the rest of you I won’t.
ps I am probably the only person sad that Sean Penn won. I just felt it was probably the only time Rourke would be up there and I preferred his performance. I find Penn a good actor but a very mannered one, in that you are always aware that he is ‘acting’.
@emilyanne I felt sad for the same reason. Penn will surely win again, and this was almost surely the only chance for Rourke. That’s not a valid reason for giving him the award, of course, but it’s what made me sad. Also, I loved his performance, and while Penn was great too, if I compare them I preferred Rourke.
I agree with the general hatred of the presentation of the acting awards.
@Blondegrlz I liked the first musical number but the second one was such a hodge podge, plus WTF are those High School Musical kids doing at the Oscars? NO. I thought Jackman’s dancing was impressive, though.
Emilyanne, you are not the only one. I am confident Penn was amazing, but I was pulling for Rourke. That he is so in love with his late dog only made me sadder for him.
SarahMC, me too, I’m a sucker for people who really love their animals even though I don’t actually like them much myself.
Macloserboy- “Final Five Cylon thing” YES! That’s what it reminded me of…as if all those groupings shared a hive mind.