It's strange how dull the Academy Awards were.
There weren't any major surprises, just disappointments and embarrasments.
Melissa Leo, winning the Best Supporting Actress, did surprise everyone by saying the F word (as in "When I watched Kate two years ago it looked so fucking easy") but beyond that the show was a yawn.
Embarrassments:
1) the head of the Academy coming on-stage with the head of ABC/Disney to inform a billion people that the contract has been renewed and ABC will continue to broadcast the ceremony. Why would they waste precious airtime for this non-news that no one at home cares about?
2) Halle Berry being allowed to praise the late Lena Horne as if her career and death was more important and noteworthy than anyone else's last year. Which is not to say that Horne's role in Hollywood history is unimportant, but to focus on her passing and not give other actors the same tribute was questionable to say the least.
3) Jeff Bridges and Sandra Bullock having to give their mini and pseudo-sincere introductions to this year's nominated actresses and actors was painful to watch. Last year the Academy had people who had worked with the nominees give the introductions; this year, perhaps to save time, they just had last year's winners do the speeches. It felt forced and very phony.
4) the final montage of the best picture nominees being shown as the King's speech from the film of the same title was disrespectful to all of the nominees. While the montage was well edited, the decision to use the King's narration allowed one film to overshadowing all of the other nominees.
I said everything I wanted to say about "The King's Speech" back on February 10th
http://wordsflowlikechocolate.blogspot.com/2011/02/speechless.html
But even setting aside my disappointment that "The Social Network" didn't win best picture and David Fincher didn't win director, this year's program was the dullest event in years. It lacked energy and enthusiasm. The show, as star studded as it was, lacked any sort of spark.
But even setting aside my disappointment that "The Social Network" didn't win best picture and David Fincher didn't win director, this year's program was the dullest event in years. It lacked energy and enthusiasm. The show, as star studded as it was, lacked spark.
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Couldn't describe it as dull. Awful? Embarrassing? Painful? Yes, yes, yes. Franco and Hathaway were a cruel reminder that as cliched as Billy Crystal was - he was actually funny. I've never quite figured out why the organisers don't cut the programme down to 2 hours with only the main awards being handed out. It would be a mammoth improvement over what is being offered right now. And give that British guy Gervais the mike - viewing figures would go through the roof....
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