Thoughts on the Oscars

Below I present my lists of things I enjoyed about the Oscars (Oscar Likes) and things I did not enjoy about the Oscars (Oscar Dislikes).  Comment with your own!

Oscar Likes

Bill Murray’s off the cuff tribute to Harold Ramis – Harold Ramis never won an Oscar, yet was one of the most influential (and greatest) people to ever create comedic films.  Another example of how worthless the Oscars and award shows in general can be.

Bill Murray leading the standing ovation charge for Darlene Love – who else but Bill Murray to steal the Oscars twice.

Cate Blanchett’s acceptance speech – A great shout out to having more leading women in film and a nice little shout out to Woody Allen for writing a great film.

Lupita Nyong’O’s poetically beautiful acceptance speech – First time winners usually give the best speeches.

The fact that Gravity didn’t win Best Picture – My perfect form of Gravity eliminates the back story and makes it a story about Sandra Bullock trying survive and return to Earth or for her to float away into space and have her come to terms with her own mortality and rather imminent death paralleling the Ray Bradbury story "Kaleidoscope".  Surviving the hostile terrain of space is hard enough so I did not see why it was necessary to tack on a ham-handed back story.  It is compelling enough to watch an astronaut struggle to survive in the most hostile of environments. 

The Celebrity Twitter pic - for some reason it warmed my heart.

Karen O’s “Moon Song” performance – a simply sublime song.

Oscar Dislikes

Ellen’s “talks” with the audience - She wasn’t even talking to anybody specific as she simply gilded by celebrities while casually offering their first names to the viewing public.  Witty banter I think not!

The pizza bit - Way to draw out a one note sketch.  I did enjoy seeing the stars struggle with how to appear “not cheap” on national television with the tipping gag.  

Matthew McConaughey’s acceptance speech – If you are going to thank God for all the goodness in your life you also must curse him for all the not goodness in your life.  The big man taketh and he giveth away.  Sure he blessed you with an Oscar for Dallas Buyers Club, but let’s also remember that it was God’s will and divine plan that put you in Sahara and Failure to Launch/How to Lose a Guy in Ten Days (Yes I made fun of Failure to Launch and How to Lose a Guy in Ten Days.  I look forward to the hate mail).  Plus, what was up with that whole chasing himself ten years down the road speech, but never quite getting there?  When did human life become linear progress rather than a series of ups and downs?  Hell ten years down the road you could be living in another country, under another name (lines courtesy of “Gotta Serve Somebody” by Bob Dylan).  In short, a lot can go wrong in ten years.  Haven’t you ever seen It’s a Wonderful Life?  If young wide eyed George Bailey had the chance to see what his life would have become in ten years he would have offed himself before Clarence got up reviewing the Buffalo Bill scene.  So, let’s not count our chickens before they hatch.

Missing the first half an hour of the show – I should note this is not the Oscars fault but rather the blame belongs on my attempts to get a live stream of the show.  My bad on that one, but I’d also like to think the Oscars played a role in that particular failure.

Not giving Bad Grampa the Best Makeup Oscar – That movie is nothing without the makeup.  If anybody recognizes Johnny Knoxville, the movie is kaput.  Makeup is central to this film fulfilling its premise of having a bawdy old grampa offend average joes.  Plus, I think it’s about time the Jackass crew got some Oscar recognition. 

Leonardo DiCaprio not winning the Best Actor Oscar – Guy is an unhinged maniac in that film.  The academy is going to have to buckle down and give it to Leo someday lest they fail him like they did Peter O’Toole.

Steve McQueen not winning Best Director – Somebody named Steve McQueen should win an Oscar.