Cleaning up the Oscar aftermath

Well,we've survived yet another night of Oscar and while this year's wasn't perfect,it was certainly better than what has been done in the past. Here are some highlights,low points and suggestions for tighting up the running time:



DIDN"T SEE THAT COMING!

While it was expected that Martin Scorsese would finally take home the Best Director award that's been long overdue to him,many did not think The Departed would follow suit with a Best Picture win(particularly me!). My pick was Little Miss Sunshine,which sweeped the Independent Spirit Awards on Saturday. It was a pretty open race this time out and I'm happy to see both Scorsese and his movie get the gold.

I was sadly shocked to see Pan's Labyrinth lose the Best Foreign Film to The Lives of Others;yes,PL did get several awards,including Make-up,Score and Cinematography but that was the big one for the movie and it was total HIGHWAY ROBBERY! No,I didn't see The Lives of Others(or any of the other nominated films in that catagory)but Pan's Labyrinth clearly stood out in that crowd. Guess all that extra critical attention TLOO has been recieving lately paid off. This got me so mad that I actually booed in my living room at the TV screen.



WE'RE GOING TO LOVE HER

Thank goodness Jennifer Hudson won because I would've happily joined folks in the street in the riot that could have erupted if she had lost. They made us wait forever and a day to hear her sing but it was worth it.

She and Beyonce played nicely together,which was good. I loved Jennifer's dress but that jacket she wore on the Red Carpet didn't flatter her at all. Glad she took it off before they announced her win. For anyone who still doesn't get what the big fuss is all about,here's a side-by-side comparison of Holliday and Hudson doing "And I Am Telling You" from Dreamgirls. Hudson is not a one trick pony in my opinion. I think we'll be seeing more of her hopefully sooner rather than later:






THE FAST AND THE FASHIONABLE

One of the main reasons that the Oscars are such an annual delight is the parade of fancy dress that celebs adorned themselves with for the their stroll on the Red Carpet. While there wasn't a major mistake such as the infamous Bjork swan dress or a total stylish knockout,there were plenty of hit and misses to choose from. I know many admired Penelope Cruz's gown but the bottom half of that sucker looked like she was dragging a Muppet pelt around her all night.




Cameron Diaz appeared to have found a seamstress willing to take a piece of sailboat canvas to wrap around her. A little trim could've helped,that's all I'm saying. Jessica Biel's outfit was nice but I don't recommend keeping that cropped hair look. Speaking of hair,did Phillip Seymour Hoffman have a serious case of bedhead or what? Dude,a quick comb thru would've fixed you right up there. And what was up with Nicole Kidman? That huge bowtie thing on her collar was pretty much strangling her there.



Cate Blanchett was truly stunning,in a gorgeous metallic number that was very old school refreshed. Jennifer Lopez tried to glam it up with the metal but she sort of looked like she was auditioning for HBO's Rome. Some of the best looking ladies on the RC were Reese Witherspoon,Rachel Wiesz and Emily Blunt. Emily and Anne Hathaway presented the Best Costume award,which was appropiate due to their team efforts in the Devil Wears Prada but all that giggling they did during that bit wasn't. Have the slumber party after the show,girls,really! Marie Antionette won that prize,btw.




GORE BOREDOM

I knew that Big Al would be there to get the Best Documentary prize and cheer on Melissa Etheridge(who won the Best Song catagory,aceing out Dreamgirls) but a little of him goes a long way. That whole routine with him and DiCaprio praising how eco friendly the show was this year and Leo's "Hey,Al-do have you have a announcement to make-nudge,nudge,wink,say no more" bit just dragged the show on even longer.

It wasn't the worst time waster by far but I didn't tune in to see an Al Gore lovefest,folks. I was waiting for Jennifer Hudson to get her Oscar and sing! You want to impress me with your environmental awareness,then get a solar paneled house like Ed Begley,Jr. there,okay? I've seen his show on HGTV and even tho I don't have the patience to bike ride a generator just to make my toast,I respect the guy for practicing what he preaches.

TIME EATERS

Hey,Academy,want to know how to speed things along and keep a better running time for next year's show? Cut down on the needless tributes and fillers. Some things can not be snipped,of course,like the tribute to the dead and the Honorary Oscar but all of those clip montages of "the writer in Hollywood" and "Foreign Films of the past and present" truly butcher time. I know you have to throw in some razzle dazzle and all of that can't be dumped onto the shoulders of the host(Ellen was okay)but if you're going to do so,take a moment to put some real effort into it.

It doesn't have to be pricey or over the top;that musical skit with Jack Black,Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly was excellant. More of this,please:




That was way better than those shadow puppet people anyday. Whose idea was that?"Oh,let's hire some guys to form movie logos behind a screen! That'll be fun!"...NOT!

A BLAST FROM THE PAST

And to end this Oscar talk off right,here is a classic bit of Academy Award cheese. May I present for your viewing displeasure,the Snow White & Rob Lowe opening number that was a quite a show stopper in it's day. All praises to the YouTube!