Misses: Morgan Freeman chewing something on the red carpet (whattup with that?); Miley Cyrus slouching in a silvery, too-much-cleavage-for-her-age dress and looking very unhappy for some unknown reason; Kathy Ireland - too lean, too tanned, too chirpy as one of the interviewers on the red carpet; Sarah Jessica Parker, again too lean, too tanned in a toga-like Chanel gown ala 1969 with her slightly frazzled blonde up do; Carey Mulligan in what looked like a classic black ball gown which up close was decorated with ... small utensils?? Charlize Theron always looks beautiful and elegant but tonight ... the large rosettes positioned along the bust line? Not so much ... although I loved the beautful lavender purple of the dress. Maggie Gyllenhaal in a ... tropical sarong? Zoe Saldana ... beautiful girl, I just don't know how to start about this Givenchy dress which one wagging tongue on slate.com described as an "intergalactic cancan skirt".
Neal Patrick Harris and the bejeweled, be-feathered showgirls in the opening number including the line (referring to himself) "What is he doing here?" - what a beginning. Lots of fun, very old Hollywood. And I loved the Steve Martin/Alec Baldwin combo as hosts. They were bitchy, impolitic and self-deprecating, taking shots (mostly funny) at the big names: George Clooney, Sandra Bullock, Meryl Streep, Woody Harrelson, Matt Damon, Helen Mirren ...
The best line was introducing Christoph Walz in the audience: "In Inglorious Basterds, Christoph Walz was a Nazi looking for Jews ... well, Christoph, look around you, you have hit the motherlode!" and teasing George Clooney (obviously in on the joke) by bringing up his name a few times, saying nothing nice about him and cutting to his sour face as they did so. Or the joke that Matt Damon was going to take Jennifer Garner to Tahiti if he wins.
Some highlights:
Nice dynamic between Tina Fey and Robert Downey introducing "Best Original Screenplay" about what actors want in writers versus what writers want in actors which eventually devolves into sniping at each other and her snapping at Downey, "Just read your lines!"
Alec Baldwin spoke of the film Precious, "In Precious, Gabourey Sidibe is told she's worthless, nobody likes her, that she has no future. Hey, I'm with CAA too!"
Loved the homage/montage to now deceased director John Hughes with a reunion of the Breakfast Club actors (and others) on stage inclduing Jon Cryer, Anthony Michael Hall, Molly Ringwald, Judd Nelson, Ally Sheedy, Macaulay Culkin, and Matthew Broderick. Seeing those snippets of all those great films that R and I grew up with was fun.
The always funny Ben Stiller in blue Avatar makeup and an out of control blue tail announcing the "Best Makeup" winner.
Writer Geoffrey S. Fletcher for "Best Adapted Screenplay" for a heartfelt, emotional acceptance speech ... and Steve Martin saying afterward, "I wrote that speech for him!"
Mo'Nique thanking Hattie McDaniel (the first black actress to win an Oscar for a role as Mammy in Gone with the Wind) after winning "Best Supporting Actress" and her husband for pushing her to do "what is right rather than what is popular".
I liked Twilight's Kristen Stewart's nervousness and sweetness (introducing an homage to horror films with fellow Twilight star Taylor Lautner); she has a genuine quality that is very appealing in a young person. I find Lautner sweet but sometimes he is so polished he seems robotic.
Alec Baldwin and Steve Martin in slankets supposedly backstage ... or in bed together the night before the awards ...
This relatively new way of introducing the "Best Actor" and "Best Actress" is very appealing - actors praising their fellow actors: Tim Robbins (Morgan Freeman), Colin Farrell (Jeremy Renner), Julianne Moore (Colin Firth), Michelle Pfeiffer (Jeff Bridges) and Vera Farmiga (George Clooney). And then in the Best Actress section: Forest Whitaker (Sandra Bullock), Michael Sheen (Helen Mirren), Oprah Winfrey (Gabourey Sidibe), Stanley Tucci (Meryl Streep) and Peter Saarsgard (Carey Mulligan).
Jeff Bridges' heartfelt tribute to his parents after winning "Best Actor" in Crazy Heart as well as Sandra Bullock acknowledging her mom after winning "Best Actress" in The Blind Side.
Looking gorgeous, sounding completely overwhelmed, can I get a whoop whoop for Kathyrn Bigelow for being the first woman to win "Best Director"? I think I scared my family when I yelled for joy after this and after The Hurt Locker won "Best Film". Loved the three male leads hanging on to each other and hugging in the back row behind the director and the producers after the big win.
And the concluding line spoken by Steve Martin: "The show went so long that Avatar now takes place in the past ..."
Some embarrassing misses:
Steve Martin introducing director/former fashion designer Tom Ford and fashion icon Sarah Jessica Parker as "clothes whores" fell flat.
James Taylor's off key rendition of the Beatles' "In My Life" for the In Memoriam section.
The cheesy dance number and gymnastics highlighting the "Best Score" nominees ... it's like my better half said to me, "How can you respectfully portray a film like The Hurt Locker with these sorts of dance numbers?"
Playing "I am Woman" after Bigelow won ... good lord, is it the 70s again?
I don't care what the haters say, I always enjoy the show and I think the two hosts were great this year!
2 comments:
What I say is, the Oscar goes to Michelle for knocking out her excellent Film Series!!!
Can't wait until next year!!!
Aww Cheryl, you are great for my ego. :) So nice to get your encouragement.
Will try and do a few post-Oscar reviews as well.
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