The (Yawn) Oscars
Lovely Diane Ellis emailed Rob, Richard Rushfield and myself a little while ago and asked us to post on the Oscars. I think the fact that we hadn't already posted on it speaks volumes as to our general esteem for the event. At least it does in my case. Of course I enjoy the dresses every year, like to gather with friends, over eat and make witty quips to the TV. But that's about it. This year however, I was in the air returning from a visit with family in Newnan, Georgia, where the real people live (as opposed to Los Angeles) many of whom didn't seem to give a whit about the Oscars either. So I can't comment on the telecast.
Of course when I was younger it was an EVENT. But the movies were better then, and the stars less accessible to us. We didn't know they even had stylists (if they even did) and their stylists didn't have tv shows! They were wittier (or their writers were.) We weren't deluged with meaningless award shows, nor actors opining on political and social issues they know little about. This has all been said before. Also, I hadn't experienced going to an award show, as I have now, and it just all seemed so glamorous, which it isn't. Not really. In fact, I'm not sure I even now what glamor is.
As for the winners? I think Meryl Streep summed it up herself when she mimicked the audience's boredom with seeing her nominated (again!). Not that she isn't a brilliant actress, but it was an obvious choice. I was thrilled for Christopher Plummer winning Best Supporting Actor. He's been long underestimated. I admired "The Artist" for doing something audacious, even though I found my interest flagging throughout the film. (And yes, I saw it in the theater.) I suppose I'm happy that the over-hyped "The Descendants" didn't sweep. I love most of Alexander Payne's work. (The cynical, filthy and delightful "Election." The twisted character studies "Sideways" and "About Schmidt.") But I found "The Descendants" weak on laughs and straining for tears. And I agreed with the Academy's ignoring the crowing over George Clooney's performance. It was okay, but mechanical. He tackled a much more complex character in "Up in the Air." It was a much better performance.
Okay, so that's my post on the Oscars. Go chew on it...
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Re: The (Yawn) Oscars
I caught the last ten minutes of the telecast and was glad to see Jean Dujardin get best actor and "The Artist" get best film. I went to see it in theaters a few weeks ago after hearing Rob's glowing recommendation of the film on the Ricochet podcast. I thought it was a real gem of a film –surely the best I'd seen all year– and am so glad it beat "The Descendants," which as you say, was pretty blah. Ok, I suppose, but truly not worth the hype.
Sep '10
Re: The (Yawn) Oscars
Did either you see Virginia Postrel's recent column on how to make the Oscars more entertaining by having a two-tiered award system and by including live voting? Interesting ideas, I think. I had not seen any of the films and haven't looked at the Oscars for almost a decade. Sometimes I think I'm just a grump, but I'm just heavy bored with Hollywood—film Hollywood, that is. Television still has some terrific shows and interesting characters, though I'm not much on the Emmys either.
Aug '10
Re: The (Yawn) Oscars
The only thing that is more reliably tedious than the Oscars is the Best Movie winner, the occasional watchables only proving the rule.
May '10
Re: The (Yawn) Oscars
As Jack Benny once said to a heckler, "You wouldn't say that if my writers were here!"
And when you consider the people who used to write for Bob Hope it's a venerable Who's Who.
Re: The (Yawn) Oscars
It was not the most exciting Oscars, but it was certainly better than last year's. I actually enjoyed myself. I wish that we could have had a life performance of the Muppet song rather than a Cirque de Soleil performance but I thought everyone looked gorgeous and that, considering the poor quality of films this year, it was actually a pretty good and entertaining show.
May '10
Re: The (Yawn) Oscars
No wonder we didn't see you at the meet up. Hopefully, next time?
I didn't even flip the TV on to watch the Oscars. It's interesting how my fascination with the Oscars has completely waned over the years. I remember in the 90's writing out my winners predictions and being thrilled when my favorites won. At one point in my Oscar mania, I insisted all talkers leave the room because I could not miss one voice inflection. Now, meh. I think the turning point was when only the flickers with heavy duty leftist ideology started winning. The Oscars lost the patina of being an award for excellence.
Jun '10
Re: The (Yawn) Oscars
Like anything else, when you crystallize the Oscar show, the flexibility goes away. It was like three previous Oscars shows, with some cutting and overdubbing to just change the names.
Aug '10
Re: The (Yawn) Oscars
Jimmy Kimmel summed up the tiredness of Hollywood with one 9 minute movie:
The ultimate motion picture, Movie - The Movie
Feb '12
Re: The (Yawn) Oscars
Line of the night by Billy Crystal: Millionaires giving awards to millionaires.
Feb '11
Re: The (Yawn) Oscars
I watched the Walking Dead. Much more entertaining. And better makeup.
Re: The (Yawn) Oscars
I just caught my favorite moment of the pre-show...Sasha Baron Cohen spilling Kim Jong Il's "ashes" on Ryan Seacrest. Shameless promotion? Of course. But so are the Oscars. And I love how pissed the left gets at Cohen for making fun of ruthless Islamic dictators. Need I say more.
Edited on Feb 27 at 3:23pmFeb '12
Re: The (Yawn) Oscars
Denise, I agree with everything you said. I was so glad to read your comment because I am sure there are many of us who really don't care about the Oscars.
Jan '11
Re: The (Yawn) Oscars
It's hard to pine for the glamour of Hollywood when there are several cable networks devoted to celebrity news, not to mention Big Three celebrity news shows, not to mention endless celebrity news websites, celebrity reality shows, celebrity talk shows, celebrity cooking shows, etc. Back when the Oscars were fun, it was because you didn't see them off-screen very much. Now we see them all constantly.
Reminds me of the Mel Brooks story about Cary Grant ...
Jun '10
Re: The (Yawn) Oscars
I'm still boycotting the Oscars until they posthumously award John Wayne a couple more of them. Yes, he only played John Wayne, but he really had it down. And if Jimmy Stewart didn't win any, I'm boycotting for him too.
John Wayne was larger than life. Jimmy Stewart was Everyman. But both were real men. Either one could take George Clooney or Sean Penn down and make them cry "uncle."
May '10
Re: The (Yawn) Oscars
BEST ACTOR
JAMES STWART
THE PHILADELPHIA STORY
(1940)
Jan '11
Re: The (Yawn) Oscars
I also went to see the Artist based on a podcast recommendation. Although I think it was James' mention when he had trouble with the sound on the silent movie. I too, found my interest flagging throughout the film. (And yes, I saw it in the theater and the dog was awesome.)