Oscar Observations
To my own surprise, I actually stayed up and watched the entire Oscar telecast last night. More surprisingly, it ended before midnight. As awards shows go, it wasn’t the worst, but then I’m hard-pressed to come up with an example of the best. But playing Monday morning quarterback, here are some things that jumped out at me.
I realized before the show started, I had not seen a single movie nominated. Not one.
Was it just me, or did Chris Rock’s opening monologue go on just a bit too long? I sensed he was playing to an audience only half of whom were thrilled to see him. There’s nothing harder than trying to make people laugh who don’t think you’re funny.
His man-on-the-street interviews with the people at the Magic Johnson Theater was hilarious. I wonder how many folks in the audience got it?
I wanna be Morgan Freeman when I get old. He is so cool. Always has been, ever since he was Easy Reader on The Electric Company.
Not that I found anything wrong with her singing (honestly, I didn’t), but why did Beyonce get to do three songs? Her hair, makeup and wardrobe people got a workout.
Why was P. Diddy even there? What connection does he have to acting?
Martin Scorcese got dissed for the fifth time. Does anyone else think that east coast (read: New York-based) creatives get short-shrift in Hollywood?
While it sped up the telecast, I thought the way in which the technical and smaller categories were introduced—everybody on stage or with acceptance speeches given out in the audience—created a very clear class distinction.
I’m happy for Jamie Foxx winning for Best Actor (he even mentioned my hometown in the press conference), but I’m miffed at the lack of attention Don Cheadle has gotten from Black media and Black folks in general. Cheadle has paid his dues, and done good work throughout his career, but everyone jumped on the Jamie bandwagon and stayed there.
Sean Penn is an example of what people dislike most about show business types. Some can be incredibly self-indulgent and egotistical. It was a joke, Sean, just like you. You and Jude Law are just ACTORS. You read lines other people write. You didn’t find a cure for AIDS or bring about world peace. Get the fuck over yourself.
I forget when it was, but there was an audience shot, and I could see Lou Gossett Jr. in the background doing some serious nodding off.
I thought the camera direction for the broadcast was off all night. Some weird shots, called before the cameraman was set, others held too long on people, or just overly repetitive. And what was with the empty seats in the audience? They usually hire seat fillers to sit down when someone gets up, so the place always looks full. There were glaring gaps in the audience.
TrackBack
Totally with you on Cheadle. Jamie was good, but the movie itself was only so-so. Regina King outpaced him.
The NYC creatives may get short shrift, but supposedly Scorsese is not such a friendly guy, that may have something to do w/ it.
Rod
brotha2brotha
I fell asleep after the 2nd Beyonce tribute.. that was enough for me.
I kinda heared in my 1/2 sleep 1/2 wake state when Jammie won, but the sand man had a firm grip on me and I gave in.
I agree the camera directing was horrible. Shorts of an empty stage when the presenter was out in the audience, off angle shots, and other very distracting issues.
Having not seen MOST of the movies nominated (I could have been one of The Blacks at the Magic Johhson Theater), I really had no basis for the nominations or the awards.. so .. I was basically watching it cuz I knew it would be the topic of the virtual water cooler today.. LOL
So glad I read this. Now i feel like I watched it.
Posted by: Elle at February 28, 2005 1:24 PMI agree with everything you stated here, Bernie. Sean Penn clearly made an ass out of himself by coming onto the stage and hour after Chris Rock's joke and trying to be superior.
Even Jude Law admitted that having all of his projects (I Heart Huckabees, Sky Captain, Alfie, Closer, The Aviator) released so close to each other was a bad idea.
I'm very pleased with the Freeman and Blanchett wins. Both are overdue.
Cheadle is supreme in everything he does. Unfortunatley he'll need a role that is both meaty (like Hotel Rwanda) but also has broader appeal to get the recognition he deserves.
Posted by: j. brotherlove at February 28, 2005 1:49 PM
He did the Walter Younger thing for a minute last year in "Raisin in the Sun" on Broadway. He also had that "Monster's Ball" role. He wasn't nominated for an award in that role, but he acquitted himself well and (perhaps because the bar is still low) didn't have to go out and do a "Catwoman" accordingly.
I still haven't gotten over that moment (out of several) in Rock's monologue where he talked about "singing, dancing and shooting" at the Source Awards, and the camera cut directly to Combs.
Posted by: George Kelly at February 28, 2005 3:25 PMAfter a local NYC get together fueled with champagne and chocolates I stumbled home and had the perfect triple X dream; me and Jaime Foxx, then I woke up and realized it was Monday and expect more snow, woo hoo! You shoulda been there.
Posted by: Troy at February 28, 2005 4:19 PMGeorge, I'm well aware of Piddly's "credits". I just don't think they were anything to write home about.
Posted by: Bernie at February 28, 2005 4:37 PMPoint taken. If they were, he wouldn't be in the audience. He'd be up on the stage.
Posted by: George at March 1, 2005 4:48 AMnice point about Sean Penn. he or Jude really haven't done much in the grand scheme of things huh? his comment annoyed me and I'm sure he's being rimmed for it...
Posted by: christopher david at March 1, 2005 6:24 AMi didn't even watch, but...
1. beyonce and queen latifah are the safest black women right now who can sing
2. p. didy has been in movies and plays - he can't act - but hes' been in them
Posted by: lynne at March 1, 2005 7:08 PMNow you know good ol' Matthew Knowles said, "If you want my baby girl, she gom'be the ONLY female singing that night!" And those fools bought it! I'm sure she made about $100,000 per song. She was ok, but I got tired of seeing her.
The whole P. Diddy thing, and Chris Rock thing...and perhaps Jamie Foxx thing was to try and give the Oscars some street cred'. To get the black male audience watching. Well, black straight male audience, anyway.
"Easy Reader, that's m'name...uh, uh, uh!"
Posted by: The LoveHater at March 5, 2005 9:34 AM