Despite the awkward randomness of Hugh Jackman's two big production numbers (and otherwise nonexistent hosting), this was a good Oscar ceremony. There were interesting changes, moving speeches, and at least one legitimately funny bit (thanks as always, Tina Fey!)
So here they are... my top five Oscar moments in 2009.
5. Winning My Oscar Pool --- For the first time ever in my life, I actually won my Oscar pool. Finally! There was no cash prize this year (because of the recession), but I did win an autographed copy of Foreigner's classic album 4, which features "Waiting for a Girl Like You."
Granted, the album is only autographed by Foreigner's drummer and is dedicated to someone named Jennifer, but I still feel honored to have received it. (Here's a picture of me with my prize.)
4. Queen Latifah's Performance --- It was easy to miss, since she was singing underneath the montage of this year's dead celebrities, but Queen Latifah sounded amazing on "I'll Be Seeing You." I mean, I knew she could sing, but I didn't know she could sing like that. I was impressed that she showed the breadth of her range without being showy. In keeping with the solemnity of the segment, she kept her voice warm and understated, even as she demonstrated her skill.
3. The Unexpected Styx Reference --- When Kunio Kato was thanking people for his Animated Short Film Oscar (for La Maison en petits cubes) he said, "Domo arigato, Mr. Roboto."
This was fantastic for several reasons.
I almost always respect political Oscar speeches. I didn't love the way Michael Moore roped in the other nominees when he slammed Bush during his acceptance, and even though I wasn't alive when it happened, I understand the resentment Vanessa Redgrave engendered when she made her pro-Palestinian remarks at the 1978 ceremony. But it's applause-worthy to stand up for something in the face of so much scrutiny.
If nothing else, taking a stand prompts discussion and it makes for good TV. Anything that brings both relevance and entertainment to the Oscars deserves some love.
1. The "Historical Parade" Before Each Acting Award --- Each acting nominee received a personal tribute from a previous winner in his or her category. This created nineteen personal moments (and one lovely tribute to Heath Ledger), and it gave the ceremony a sense of grandeur it has lacked for years. For the first time that I can remember, the Oscars slowed down long enough to become about the awards themselves, not the funny bits and flashy numbers in between. That patience allowed each nominee to get some highly deserved recognition, and it actually proved the old saw about the honor of being nominated. I mean, Anne Hathaway and Michael Shannon didn't take home statues, but they got amazing kudos from Shirley MacLaine and Christopher Walken. How could they feel like losers? They were being personally ushered into the remarkable legacy of the Academy Awards.
Meanwhile, those of us at home were shown glamour and prestige... exactly what the Oscars should provide. I hope this format becomes an annual tradition.
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I also agree with the others who were critical of the way in which the pictures of those who died were shown.
if they aren't a celebrity, but an industry worker, we simply don't know who they are. and the cutlines with name/what they did HELPS if we can SEE it. it went by at a too fast pace and i simply couldn't believe the hard headedness of the director/producers to do this segment in this particular "from afar" away. i still have a square TV - it's not huge, but it's not small either. i think the shows director and producers should feel especially ashamed as to how they did this segment, and NOT do it again next year. it was far from respectful.
queen latifah was fine, but this wasn't her segment.
Honoring the dead does not mean treating them like a TV ad for coffee, with TV screens in the background, at odd angles, in the distance, the camera continually panning and scanning. Was this a perspective from the dead's point of view?
It was insulting, not honoring.
She sang great but was supposed to be accompanying the final send off, not the star of it. People couldn't applaud as she was singing, they couldn't see some of the names at all, couldn't really see the examples of their work. It was insulting, the worst tribute. They should have shown the film on the screen, with Latofah singing, she needn't be on camera duing the singing, this isn't Natalie and NAt King Cole.
I also didn't like the mash up of movie scenes on those same TVs. It was very confusing, especially for those of us who have not seen all the movies represented. I like to see individual scenes from each movie (they can each fade into the next movie if you want) --full screen on MY TV. I really couldn't tell which actors worked together in what movies.
BTW, anyone else notice how little applause Charlton Heston's name got, as opposed to say, Sydney Pollack or Paul Newman? It's really sad that his gun-loving politics took over the deep end later in life; that overtook his acting legacy!
In fact, I would rate that segment as the best of the whole night. By the time she finished I was in tears, quite possibly because I was also thinking of my love ones that are no longer with us.
All in all I thought Oscar night was very well done.
But compared to last years gloomy films, There Will Be Blood, No Country and the others, it feels good to be in the Obama era, even if we are broke. Slumdog and Milk reflect a new sense of optimism around the world. So hey!
He thanked them in his halting English just before he quoted Styx - weren't you listening?
It was indeed a highlight.
Please, please, lose the "Jedi Council" giving the acting awards. I realize it's nice to "honour" every nominee, but that was just pathetic.
Too cute.
Oh - and Kate Winslet asking her dad to whistle so she knew where he was.
That said, I agree completely with item #1 and felt that the "Mutual Admiration Club" setup was more formal and modern - and nostalgic - than the "gentleman gives lady award/lady gives gentleman award" setup from years before. I think this was a great new way to celebrate talented performers and the art of acting. (Because good acting is an art!)
And as a non-atheist, I appreciate Bill Maher's balls. :-)