Feb 29, 2008
These are the things we love about the Oscars
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by Mark Schumann
Father of Three
For a movie fan, Academy Awards Sunday is the Super Bowl of cinema events. From parties to paparazzi, the day is devoted to celebrating the movie experience. And, for a movie year as strong as 2007, this year’s Oscars offered a chance to honor some outstanding films.
But the Oscars aren’t just about the nominees. We also, perhaps secretly, hope for a big surprise or an embarrassing boo-boo during the show. Even though we still wince at the memory of the painful-to-watch
Crash defeating the brilliant
Brokeback Mountain for Best Picture a few years ago, the audience gasp gave the evening some real oomph. This year, while the Oscar-winners followed most of our predictions, the broadcast itself offered a few gems for the Academy history books. Here is what we love about the Oscars.
A great host
With his second appearance as the host of the ceremony, Jon Stewart proved himself a worthy successor to the late Johnny Carson: A wise and witty observer of the hysteria and heart of the awards. From his sharp opening monologue — with its political references — to his series of precise one-liners as he managed the transitions from award to award — punctuated by playing, of all things, a game of Wii, Stewart kept the proceedings moving and maintained the focus on the achievements. Sign him up for next year.
The film clips
Oscar celebrated its 80th year with a rich collection of clips that recapped the memorable winners in the major categories. How fun it was to see those faces again. The series of remembrances from several past winners — including Barbra Streisand, Steven Spielberg and Martin Scorcese — brought a meaningful perspective to the event. And the humorous collections — such as the tribute to binoculars and the history of bees in the movies — were great fun.
The heartfelt thanks
We love these moments. Javier Bardem thanked his mother, in his native Spanish, and spoke for sons everywhere. Surprise winner Marion Cotillard touched us with her heartfelt expression of total joy. Diablo Cody, the writer of
Juno, articulated the hope that dreams come true in the movies. Daniel Day-Lewis expressed a welcome humility in his acceptance as did the brothers Joel and Ethan Coen. Tilda Swinton gave the evening’s best speech in a moving tribute to her director and co-star (including a very funny reference to George Clooney’s once-upon-a-time Batman costume). And, in one of Oscar’s classiest moments, Stewart brought Best Song winner Marketa Irglova back on stage — after her initial attempt to speak was cut off for a commercial — for a chance to express her thanks. It was a great moment.
The proud faces
How wonderful to see Frances McDormand, an Oscar-winner herself, squeal and applaud for husband Joel Coen for his multiple Oscar wins for
No Country for Old Men. How moving for the Academy to ask soldiers serving in Iraq to announce the winner of the documentary short film award. How marvelous to see the still-spry Robert Boyle win an honorary Oscar at age 98. And how fun when Hugh Welchman, winning for the short film,
Peter and the Wolf, brought a puppet to the stage. That must be an Oscar first.
Overdone production numbers
At times, the ceremony seemed like a parody of the overblown ceremonies of the 1960s with a series disastrous musical sequences. An uncomfortable Amy Adams, usually a collected actress, seemed to be searching for the dancers as she performed the “Happy Working Song” from
Enchanted alone on a large stage. The brave Kristin Chenoweth kept smiling as she suffered through the poorly staged rendition of “That’s How You Know” from
Enchanted. And, in one more less-than-enchanted moment, a collection of overly costumed dancers overwhelmed the performance of “So Close” from the same film. Fortunately, the winners, for “Falling Slowly” from Once, simply sang the song. And they were great.
Stars as presenters
Unfortunately, this year, the prerequisite for presenting an award seemed to be a career in television, not film. Or a new project on ABC or from Disney, the owner of ABC. Perhaps the Academy arranged for this “B” list when the show was in doubt due to the writer’s strike. Whatever the reason, it is disappointing when Hollywood fills its special night with lesser names. Thank goodness for the spontaneity of Carmen Diaz as she flubbed her introduction to an award and the pure class of Helen Mirren who created a true sense of occasion when announcing the Best Actor winner.
Now begins the long wait for the 81st Oscars. Over the next several months, we’ll experience many disappointments, and hopefully a few gems, as we go to the movies each week. That’s what we love about the movies. And what we love about the Oscars, too.
© Copyright 2008 by Hersam Acorn Newspapers
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