The 79th Annual Academy Awards
First impressions of this year's Academy Awards? Not good.
I'll start with the pre-show. Arguably this isn't part of the official awards, but it is a warm-up and the place where the top nominees are introduced. I discounted the fluff questions, as those were used only to fill space. The real thing was to see what the stars are wearing. And I didn't see anyone in a hideous dress or suit. Maybe they were just off-screen. It all seemed so... efficient. Not spontaneous. And that was a big problem with the award show, which I'll get into later.
First, the host. This time it was Ellen DeGeneres. I like Ellen. I think she did a pretty good job, although obviously her humor lacked bite. I guess that's what they were going for. (Only Jerry Seinfeld's jokes had venom, really rather blunt. I kind of liked that.) Ellen soldiered on through the evening, not bad, but not out-of-the-park great. She was... okay.
A recurring theme throughout the show was of rather chilly efficiency. I think that spontaneity and deep emotion was lacking. Most of the blame could be attributed to all those people yanking out lists to read from. Come on! I'm sure the producers/director groans whenever these bits of paper emerge from pockets.
Things I liked? I enjoyed the "Comedian at the Oscar's" song by Will Ferrell, Jack Black, and John C. Reilly. Al Gore isn't as... robotic as he used to be. Overall, though, it was just too efficient and too long for any cheers here.
Here is an abbreviated list of the winners:
Best Picture: The Departed
Best Director: Martin Scorsese
Best Actor: Forest Whitaker
Best Actress: Helen Mirren
Best Supporting Actor: Alan Arkin
Best Supporting Actress: Jennifer Hudson
Request: I have here an e-mail from the director, Tyler Ford, of a movie named Piccadilly Cowboy — due out in March. He asked for me to mention it.
News Snippets: The young Lindsay Lohan has checked herself into the Wonderland Center, a rehab establishment. I hope it works out for her, although the number of Hollywood stars checking into and out of rehab multiple times through their careers is legion... Anna Nicole Smith, who died in early February, left behind a mansion in the Bahamas, along with quite a lot else. Already claims have been made against her wealth by various interested parties. And, as always, the richest winners here will be lawyers... and, lastly, the lovely Beyonce will be appearing in this year's Sports Illustrated swimsuit edition (she will also grace the cover).
