Oscar 2006 Recap
Aloha everyone! In a cruel twist of fate this year's Oscars were scheduled the night before our 6 a.m. (yes, that was a.m.) flight to Maui. As this is the entertainment world's super bowl (not mine - that's the Golden Globes with their brilliant cocktail of movies, tv, and well, cocktails), I just had to watch it. Once again I am eternally grateful for my Replayer. I zapped through a large portion of the show, but watched enough of it to distract me from packing important things like my camera. Anyway, I know that everyone has already forgotten the Oscars, but I am too caught up in this stuff to not detail my best and worst.
Overall, I'd say the show was pretty unmemorable. John Stewart did a serviceable job. He didn't suck, but he didn't knock my socks off, either. After his enjoyable opening monologue the only comments I even recall of his were regarding the enthusiasm displayed by surprise winners Three 6 Mafia for Best Song. It probably didn't help that all of the nominated films were in the Indie category. No Lord of the Rings this year, more's the pity. And no film swept the awards, a few here, a few there. Definitely a mixed bag.
And now for The Sundays:
All Time Best Montage: That would be the one at the very beginning of the show - the one that showed all these movie characters promenading down a road. I watched it several times from the swoop in where we saw the Titanic and the spaceship from Close Encounters to the end where the Millenium Falcon from Star Wars zipped off the screen. Some of the actors/characters I spotted included Bogart's Rick, Rhett and Scarlett, Brando, Nicole in Moulin Rouge, Julia as Pretty Woman, Denzel from Glory, and James Dean from Rebel taunting Spidey that he reads too many comic books. There were many others, and I loved them all and the general idea that somewhere all these characters are in some kind of movieland hanging out with each other. After that all the subsequent montages failed. And why we must have 17 different montages at the Oscars is beyond me. It was overkill (and yes, I now remember Stewart commenting on that as well).
Best Presenters: Meryl Streep and Lily Tomlin's introduction of Robert Altman for the Lifetime Achievement Award. Their Altmanesque overlapping dialogue was charming and stood out in stark relief from the stuttering of other presenters (yes, I'm talking to you Jessica Alba).
Most Disappointing Win: That would be a tie - George Clooney for Syriana (Matt Dillon was so robbed!) and Rachel Weisz for Constant Gardner. I would have preferred anyone but her, particularly Amy Adams or Michelle Williams, but anyone but her. Not that I dislike either of the above, but I did heartily dislike both films.
Best Accessory: The penguins! I am embarrassed to say that I have not yet seen March of the Penguins (I have a reluctance to see most documentaries in the theatre for some reason), but I'm really glad the crazy French guys carried their penguins onstage and I'm really glad they won the award. I haven't seen any of the nominees, but I'm a huge fan of penguins in general.
Worst Accessory: The bow on Charlize Theron's left shoulder. It looked like a raccoon or something. Perhaps a little too avant garde for the rest of us.
Most Annoying Addition to the Show: Producer Gil Cates decided to up the drama by playing music the entire time a recipient is giving their speech. This was both rude and extremely annoying. Please, please find a new producer and freshen this show up.
The Newest Hasbeen Award: This goes to Jennifer Lopez. For a few years JLo was one of my favorite celebrities. I'm embarrased to admit that I even bought one of her albums (tho I admit that I never listened to the entire thing). Ever since she married the scarily ugly Marc Anthony, she just looks weirder and worse. Who would have thought her liasons with Puff Daddy and Ben Affleck would be her relationship high points?
Funniest Speech: Three 6 Mafia's speech when they won for Best Song. I agree with Stewart - their excitement and bleeped out speech was a breath of fresh air.
Best Recovery: Jennifer Garner's comment that she does her own stunts after she tripped while walking to present some category or other.
Most Militant Speech: The guy who won best foreign film for the South African Tsotsi. He took the time limit very seriously and even ordered about the cameraman.
Most Improved Pregnant Dresser: I can't imagine the horror an actress must feel when having to figure out what to aware to awards shows when pregnant, so I shouldn't even comment on this. But I will. I noted at the Golden Globes that Rachel Weisz looked fairly hideous. Well, she was much improved this time around and looked quite beautiful in her black dress, normal hair and understated makeup.
Smallest Waist: Hillary Swank - she has to have had a rib removed!
Most Emotional Speech: Phillip Seymour Hoffman. I loved what he said about his mom. I was pulling for Joaquin, but I wouldn't have minded Heath or PSH winning, so I was okay with this.
Best Speech: Reese! Finally, someone I wanted to win actually won. And she gave a great speech and managed to avoid tears and hysterics while actually saying something meaningful. Bravo!
Worst Dressed: Much as I hate to say it, Larry McMurtry. What was up with the crooked bowtie and jeans. Come on, it's the Oscars.
Most Boring Speech: McMurtry's writing partner, Diana Ossana. Yikes.
Biggest Shock to everyone in the Kodak Theatre: Crash beats Brokeback. Since my #1 film (Walk the Line) wasn't even nominated, I didn't really care who won. But Crash was on my top 5 of the year, so I was glad it prevailed. Plus, it gave all the news reporters something to write about for this pretty boring awards show.
And finally, Best Dressed: Michelle Williams. Who'd have thought little Jen from Dawson's Creek would steal the show. But she did in her mustard colored gown, and gorgeous, old Hollywood hair and makeup. The color of her dress somehow worked and she just looked amazingly beautiful - better than she ever has and much better than the poofy purple thing she wore to the Globes. Plus, she and Heath Ledger win the award for most in love Hollywood couple in a long time. They are beyond adorable. Runners up: Uma Thurman (looked like a goddess), Salma Hayek (great dress color and hair) and Naomi Watts.
Let's hope next year is better (but it's almost April and we haven't had anything Oscar-worthy yet).
-sunday
Overall, I'd say the show was pretty unmemorable. John Stewart did a serviceable job. He didn't suck, but he didn't knock my socks off, either. After his enjoyable opening monologue the only comments I even recall of his were regarding the enthusiasm displayed by surprise winners Three 6 Mafia for Best Song. It probably didn't help that all of the nominated films were in the Indie category. No Lord of the Rings this year, more's the pity. And no film swept the awards, a few here, a few there. Definitely a mixed bag.
And now for The Sundays:
All Time Best Montage: That would be the one at the very beginning of the show - the one that showed all these movie characters promenading down a road. I watched it several times from the swoop in where we saw the Titanic and the spaceship from Close Encounters to the end where the Millenium Falcon from Star Wars zipped off the screen. Some of the actors/characters I spotted included Bogart's Rick, Rhett and Scarlett, Brando, Nicole in Moulin Rouge, Julia as Pretty Woman, Denzel from Glory, and James Dean from Rebel taunting Spidey that he reads too many comic books. There were many others, and I loved them all and the general idea that somewhere all these characters are in some kind of movieland hanging out with each other. After that all the subsequent montages failed. And why we must have 17 different montages at the Oscars is beyond me. It was overkill (and yes, I now remember Stewart commenting on that as well).
Best Presenters: Meryl Streep and Lily Tomlin's introduction of Robert Altman for the Lifetime Achievement Award. Their Altmanesque overlapping dialogue was charming and stood out in stark relief from the stuttering of other presenters (yes, I'm talking to you Jessica Alba).
Most Disappointing Win: That would be a tie - George Clooney for Syriana (Matt Dillon was so robbed!) and Rachel Weisz for Constant Gardner. I would have preferred anyone but her, particularly Amy Adams or Michelle Williams, but anyone but her. Not that I dislike either of the above, but I did heartily dislike both films.
Best Accessory: The penguins! I am embarrassed to say that I have not yet seen March of the Penguins (I have a reluctance to see most documentaries in the theatre for some reason), but I'm really glad the crazy French guys carried their penguins onstage and I'm really glad they won the award. I haven't seen any of the nominees, but I'm a huge fan of penguins in general.
Worst Accessory: The bow on Charlize Theron's left shoulder. It looked like a raccoon or something. Perhaps a little too avant garde for the rest of us.
Most Annoying Addition to the Show: Producer Gil Cates decided to up the drama by playing music the entire time a recipient is giving their speech. This was both rude and extremely annoying. Please, please find a new producer and freshen this show up.
The Newest Hasbeen Award: This goes to Jennifer Lopez. For a few years JLo was one of my favorite celebrities. I'm embarrased to admit that I even bought one of her albums (tho I admit that I never listened to the entire thing). Ever since she married the scarily ugly Marc Anthony, she just looks weirder and worse. Who would have thought her liasons with Puff Daddy and Ben Affleck would be her relationship high points?
Funniest Speech: Three 6 Mafia's speech when they won for Best Song. I agree with Stewart - their excitement and bleeped out speech was a breath of fresh air.
Best Recovery: Jennifer Garner's comment that she does her own stunts after she tripped while walking to present some category or other.
Most Militant Speech: The guy who won best foreign film for the South African Tsotsi. He took the time limit very seriously and even ordered about the cameraman.
Most Improved Pregnant Dresser: I can't imagine the horror an actress must feel when having to figure out what to aware to awards shows when pregnant, so I shouldn't even comment on this. But I will. I noted at the Golden Globes that Rachel Weisz looked fairly hideous. Well, she was much improved this time around and looked quite beautiful in her black dress, normal hair and understated makeup.
Smallest Waist: Hillary Swank - she has to have had a rib removed!
Most Emotional Speech: Phillip Seymour Hoffman. I loved what he said about his mom. I was pulling for Joaquin, but I wouldn't have minded Heath or PSH winning, so I was okay with this.
Best Speech: Reese! Finally, someone I wanted to win actually won. And she gave a great speech and managed to avoid tears and hysterics while actually saying something meaningful. Bravo!
Worst Dressed: Much as I hate to say it, Larry McMurtry. What was up with the crooked bowtie and jeans. Come on, it's the Oscars.
Most Boring Speech: McMurtry's writing partner, Diana Ossana. Yikes.
Biggest Shock to everyone in the Kodak Theatre: Crash beats Brokeback. Since my #1 film (Walk the Line) wasn't even nominated, I didn't really care who won. But Crash was on my top 5 of the year, so I was glad it prevailed. Plus, it gave all the news reporters something to write about for this pretty boring awards show.
And finally, Best Dressed: Michelle Williams. Who'd have thought little Jen from Dawson's Creek would steal the show. But she did in her mustard colored gown, and gorgeous, old Hollywood hair and makeup. The color of her dress somehow worked and she just looked amazingly beautiful - better than she ever has and much better than the poofy purple thing she wore to the Globes. Plus, she and Heath Ledger win the award for most in love Hollywood couple in a long time. They are beyond adorable. Runners up: Uma Thurman (looked like a goddess), Salma Hayek (great dress color and hair) and Naomi Watts.
Let's hope next year is better (but it's almost April and we haven't had anything Oscar-worthy yet).
-sunday
posted by Sunday at
3:34 PM
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