CineMAVEN’s OSCAR MUSINGS

This past Sunday night ( 2/22/15 ) I watched the Academy Awards ceremonies ( yes I still want to call it that ) as I’ve done every year since I saw Sidney Poitier and Julie Christie win. I just want to say a couple of words about it while it’s still fresh in my mind…

…and before the event starts to smell like day old fish. I broke a fif … a long-standing tra-dition, and got OFF of the COUCH and INTO a BAR to watch the Academy Awards with some like-minded folks, and had a great time. Here are my Oscar musings:

       

TOO LONG –

Those who come up with that tired old horse have to please give it up. The show IS a long long show. Face it, deal with it, or just don’t even watch. Its length is baked into the pro-ceedings.  Let the show just be whatever length it’s going to be and quit beefing about it. If the producers really want to do something about it, tell the hosts NOT to go into the audience with stupid bits, and then have the music rudely cut off recipients in the middle of their heartfelt gushing thanks. Don’t try to make it an interactive event with all these gimmicks. It’s a long show. And?

* * * * * * * * * *

THE SET –

Oooh boy. Much too much too much going on there. Someone bedazzled the entire stage. The floor with those Oscar patterns look like Martians landed in Hollywood and etched circles into the crops. Too much glitz and sparkles and industrial props flying around on stage. Keep it simple, stupid. You might hurt someone. Give those trades a rest. The ushers opening the doors for the guests to come out was a nice nostalgic touch. The flying iron works, was not.

* * * * * * * * * *

THE HOST –

Neil Patrick Harris did a very good job. I really think he channeled Bob Hope. He kind of had the Bob Hope sarcas-tic swag going on there.  He made fun of himself and ribbed the stars a bit. Good. He told purposely groaning jokes and stinging barbs. His ‘predic-tions-locked in-a-box-routine’ went on a little too long. But…coming out in his tighty whiteys riffing on Michael Keaton in “Birdman” was funny. And brave. Harris has a nice lean swimmer’s body. Even though I thought some of his tux jackets looked too small and too tight, I guess that’s how they make ‘em these days?

His Oscar opening number was great, with the throwback to old movies in however you explain that technological way they brought the past to life. Jack Black coming on as the naysayer to all that was current Hollywood was funny. I didn’t even mind Anna Kendrick… this time.

Don’t try to appeal to the youth. Appeal to people who like movies whether they are young or old. Neil Patrick Harris ( or the very annoying acronym NPH, ugh!  ) did a very good job. Later for the Monday morning quarterbacks. I’d love to see them host this show.

* * * * * * * * * *

MUSIC –

How ironic the music played to bring on the star presenters harkened back to old Holly-wood with short strains of: “The Shadow of Your Smile” or “To Kill A Mockingbird” yet the music nominated for awards were lackluster to me. I really think they should do away with the Best Song category since music these days is undistinguised. Yeah, that includes “SELMA” too, though I was touched to see that the music touched people. I, myself, was NOT touched. Rita Ora did a nice job singing the song “Grateful.” ( Click on middle photo to check out her singing ). And I could certainly could do without that Lego extravaganza.

I was totally impressed and blown away by Lady Gaga singing the music from “The Sound of Music.”

         

She totally treated the song with respect and was paid the highest compliment by having Julie Andrews truly moved by her performance. You were fantastic, Gaga. And seeing you and Julie Andrews hugging was one of my favorite moments of the Academy Awards.

* * * * * * * * * *

FASHION –

I’m no Fashionista. For something real professioal and knowledgeable read GlamAmor’s blog on the Oscar controversy that Edith Head was involved in ( or at least look at the beautiful pictures of the exquisite Audrey Hepburn ). So these are just my opinions.

I do long for men to wear good old-fashioned, well-fitted black tuxedoes with white shirts and black bow ties. And black patent leather shoes.  These prom, pale blue suits, or black shirt and tie, ( or whatever the hell that was that Kevin Hart was wearing don’t do a thing except make men look like clowns. ( Yes, I am willing to forgive Liam Neeson because…he’s Liam Neeson ). 

The women looked beautiful. Some were not very well coiffed ( run a comb through it ladies ) and some had full figures like normal women ( Yay! Patricia Arquette ). But many of the ladies looked utterly fantastic. Their gowns were gorgeous and I’m no fashionista. Zoe Saldana in that beige number and Jessica Chastain in the midnight blue dress was beautiful.

      

             

 At first when I saw Jennifer Lopez I said, “Oh, she’s finally all covered up.” Uhmmm, I was wrong. But I have to say her dress was simple and beautiful. Yes it was revealing but no one can play that off like J-Lo.  I didn’t like that big flower Gwyneth Paltrow had on her dress and some of the ladies wearing really big neck pieces looked like they were being choked ( Cate Blanchett, Scarlett Johannson ). But Meryl Streep looked tailored and regal and Rosamund Pike in that deep red gown was simply stunning.

But of course we know, hands down, bar none…the goddess…the most beautiful woman on the red carpet and in the room, was LUPITA NYONG’O:

She hit it out of the park in her beaded gown. My…jaw…dropped. She is drop dead gor-geous. I kept saying “that’s impossible, she’s not even real. Is she real?” I couldn’t believe what I saw. A gown made of 6000 pearls and she wore them, they didn’t wear her. She’s a beautiful girl. I know…I know. It’s all subjective. It’s just that I’m right, in this instance. She needs her own personal Givenchy like Audrey Hepburn had. In fact, if they remake “Roman Holiday” ( and generally, I’m against re-makes ). Lupita Nyong’o needs to be that film’s  star. She’s already a princess.

* * * * * * * * * *

IN MEMORIAM…

I REALLY WISH TCM would take over that segment of the show. They could pick a really cool song, and be entrusted with showing respectful images of the stars … and behind-the-scenes people and put it together well. Words and pix sells it. But also they could include everyone that’s appropriate to add. You wouldn’t include a baseball star or race car driver in this. I know why they excluded Joan Rivers; this was the their revenge for all the smack she spoke about the Hollywood community on the red carpet. Plain and simple…revenge, but they covered it up with…she didn’t make movies, blah blah blah.

Yes it was a mistake not to include our classic film favorites ( Ann Rutherford, Lizabeth Scott etc. etc. a whole bunch of etceteras ). They probably thought people would scratch their heads and go “who’s that”? Let TCM handle the memoriam. In fact, let TCM handle the whole show. 

* * * * * * * * * *

PRESENTERS –

If I’m telling you to forget about talking about “how long is this ceremony?!” I guess I should give up the ghost and not expect to see the likes of a Berg-man, Brynner, Kerr, Peck, Grant, Gable and really big stars and class to come out to present. No panache from these young whipper snappers. I won’t call out names, but you know. Who are these kids? Huh? Wha’? And I demand someone call the cops. Right now… call the cops: someone has robbed Eddie Murphy of his sense of humor. He seems like a dour old man up there. I do not expect him to do jokes and tap dance, but at least look like you’re happy to be there dammit. Ugh! What a Debbie Downer. And Ben Affleck too. Come on Ben smile. Travolta, you look embalmed or like Dracula. Wassup dude? At least you have a sense of humor about yourself and that name mispronounciation thing. ( Whew! Practice…practice…practice! ) Guess after the Kim Novak debacle last year, legends are scared to come out. A shame. I miss them. The ceremonies need them and I don’t care if young people say: “Who dat?” Happy to see Shirley MacLaine.

* * * * * * * * * *

AND THE OSCAR GOES TO –

Here are my Oscar predictions:

Best Picture is “Birdman” and the Best Actor is Eddie Redmayne ( who I wanted to win, but didn’t predict ). There were some wild goings on at the Academy Awards. Folks went up there with causes in mind in the midst of their thank yous. Rosanna Arquette touted equal pay for women, getting wild applause and Meryl Streep and Jennifer Lopez giving their rousing approval. Alzheimer’s was spoken about by Best Actress winner Julianne  

Moore, Eddie Redmayne brought up ALS,  rapper Common with singer John Legend spoke of racial equality when winning their award for Best Song, winner for Best Adapted Screenplay (Graham Moore) sent a message to gay teens out there that suicide is not the answer and that things will be better for them and Best Director Alejandro Gonzalez Iñárritu mentioned immigration. Other winners did not let the orchestra play them off. They took their time and a little more to get their points across. All in all, I had a grand time watching this ceremony. I can’t wait until next year.

( H O M E )