GNN (Entertainment Division) The 79th Academy Awards

Ellen DeGeneres rocked it as host!  I would bet money she will be back in the future.  The opening monologue sets the tone for the long ceremony and her debut couldn’t have been better.  This being the most international Oscars ever with several multi-national nominees, she managed to get some laughs about the high number of British nominees and the anxiety of nominees waiting to hear their name announced…or not.  Along with the short film featuring the nominees talking about the awards and what they do, the start of the show promised to be respectful to the whole film community.  It was especially cool to see those nominated in the technical categories get some face time.  The montage was amusing, simple, and fun.

           

Most of the speeches seemed thought out and quick, while at the same time there wasn’t a feeling of winners being played off the stage unduly (except for the unfortunate winner of Best Adapted Screenplay who admitted to taking valium and then mumbled through his minute and a half of fame) before thanking their Mamas.  Forgetting to thank your Mama is like forgetting to thank your spouse…it could lead to a painful divorce.

           

I think this is the first Oscar presentation (I believe) that has been not produced by Gil Cates in many years.  I liked how the show seemed to embrace the idea of film through film montages that depicted such things as screenwriters and clever ways of presentation.  These movie montages have been worked more and more into the show each year and it gives satisfaction to we film fans who are naturally cynical about dance numbers featuring jazz hands singing, “Oscar! Oscar!”   The dance troop that was employed for the evening was interesting and inventive, the sound effect choir was clever, and the nominated songs were bunched together during the show without much a do.  They even were minus a pair of presenters announcing the obvious (three songs from ‘Dream Girls’ and the other two).  The best pictures were also presented without actors taking the stage to introduce them.  Further, I loved how the costumes were presented, something about seeing them in the context of in the auditorium gives the viewer another take on both the artistry and the era of which they represent.

           

A tip of my hat to Jack Black, Will Ferrell, and John C. Reilly.  Their song and dance about comedians at the Oscars was poignant and entertaining.  The part about going home with Oscar and Helen Mirren almost was worthy of a standing O.  Hopefully, Will Ferrell’s hair is for a role. 

           

Thankfully, the Irving G. Thalberg Humanitarian Award was mercifully short.  There have been some shows where it went on for just too damn long and the production loses some of its momentum.  Yes, it is nice to honor someone who gives back, but the award usually honors someone who usually sits on boards for charities and gives money that most of us won’t see in our lifetimes…whoopee do!  Thankfully, Tom Cruise who presented it managed to make an appearance without referencing to Kattie, Suri, or Scientology.  Plus, for an added bonus…he didn’t even jump on a stuffed Oscar!  Oh, I'm just being glib.

           

Speaking of special presentations, Al Gore did himself proud with a comical bit performed with Leonardo DiCaprio.  Meryl Streep showed why she is Meryl Streep when she helped her fellow co-stars after they mucked up their presentation.  It took her one look as her character in ‘The Devil Wears Prada’ to set their jokes aright – that’s why she is Meryl Streep and they will never be.

           

One major upset was when ‘Pan's Labyrinth’ lost out to best foreign film, but won most of the other categories it was nominated in.  (It was robbed I tell you!  Robbed!  Okay, I didn’t see the other foreign films, but I’m telling you there is a theft to be reported.)  Jennifer Hudson stuck it to ‘American Idol’s’ Simon Cowell by winning an Oscar thus proving he really isn’t the end all and be all of judging future success.  ‘An Inconvenient Truth’ won and Al Gore, although not winning the Oscar himself, was quite gracious about putting forth his message without slamming people on top of their pointy little heads with a hammer.  Thankfully, it seems people have leaned from Michael Moore’s mistake.  His speech played like flock of geese flying south without wings.  Also winning for ‘An Inconvenient Truth,’ thus upsetting the three nominations for ‘Dream Girls,’ was Melissa Etheridge for Best Song.  I am happy, although older than me, she and I grew up practically in the same zip code.  So bully for her. 

           

A few WTF moments, Celine Dion performing a debut song for the guy who was being honored for his movie scores (he was the one who did ‘The Mission,’ which is the most beautiful emotional music ever).  Was this her new song or something he wrote, I have no idea – it wasn’t very good.  Jerry Seinfeld (stand up comedian and TV star) giving out the Oscar for Best Documentary.  Jack Nicholson channeling Britney with baldhead, Philip Seymour Hoffman’s ‘I just crawled out from underneath my bed’ hair and Meryl Streep’s outfit (huh?) great actress, poor dresser.  Animated cartoon characters acting like they are actually in the audience cheering on their nominations for Best Animated Feature.  Yes, it has been done before, but it was remotely clever at first and now is just downright annoying. 

           

My favorites won for Best Actor and Actress so I am more than delighted.  Forest Whitaker should of won something just for his speech.  He was emotional and it brought tears to my eyes.  Poor Helen Mirren got up to the stage minus an earring and carrying her clutch, which I think threw her off a little.  She ended by declaring her obviously male statuette “The Queen!”  Of course, we have always suspected as much, but only a nervous Brit could say it in such an unabashed manner.  Side note, she forgot to thank her husband – oh-oh.  George Lucas, Steven Spielberg, and Francis Ford Copula did a funny bit before presenting Best Director almost as if they could sense that this was finally Martin Scorsese’s year.  He got his richly deserved standing ovation.  It was such his year that ‘The Departed’ even won Best Picture.

           

Fashion wise, only Meryl Streep seemed as if she dressed for a dinner out with friends at Applebee’s.  Few other dresses or tuxes seemed to stand out as shitiously bad.  Miracle of miracles, Diane Keaton was in an outfit that didn’t look as if it was inspired by ‘Annie Hall’ or purchased at her local Salvation Army or both.  I was amused that Ellen DeGeneres actually had wardrobe changes, which included velvet pantsuits of different colors.  All and all there were few awkward moments, but that’s understandable considering it is a live program.

 

In conclusion this year’s Oscar’s were fun and moving.  I almost wish I could see the show again.  Here is a complete list of the nominees and winners, http://www.imdb.com/features/rto/2007/oscars .

 

copyright 2007 Westerfield