(A PS at the beginning: My take on the Oscars validated here and here and elsewhere, I’m sure.)
At one point, during tonight’s yawn-o-rama/Oscar broadcast, Meryl Streep got up to introduce the awards given out at the Governor’s Dinner or the Emperor’s Potluck or the Despot’s Brunch or whatever. I was in the kitchen getting an alcoholic beverage to revive myself.
“……… so let’s review some highlights of this unforgettable night …” she intoned.
But I had my head in the fridge or the water running or something. It sounded like something else to me.
“Did she just say, ‘this unforgivable night’??”
“No! Unforgettable.”
“Oh. Really? Given the current evening, mine seems more appropriate.”
This is why I didn’t live blog it, pippa. I was too bored and uninspired.
Btw, I was rooting for Brad. I’ve never been a huge Brad Pitt fan but I thought he was fantastic in Moneyball. Just fantastic. I have never liked him as much as I liked him in that movie.
And Meryl Streep, well, the moment of the night. The speech of the night. So beautiful, inclusive, and heartfelt. It changed my tears of boredom to tears of joy.
By my count, though, the broadcast was only 7 minutes over time. It just felt a lot longer.
I didn’t even bother to watch last night. I guess I didn’t miss out on much.
I actually liveblogged it at my forum. Even though I saw zero of the contenders.
What did you think of the evocation of each best picture candidate through gymnastics and interpretive dance?
roo — I must have missed that part whilst in the kitchen drinking. Was that the Cirque du Soleil bit?
I DID enjoy Christopher Guest and Co. doing the focus group sendup — a highlight for me. Oh, and also Angelina Jolie’s broken chopstick leg. Shiver.
Honestly, it’s nothing to flaunt. I thought it was alarming, the lack of meat on all her bones.
The way some people were talking this morning, I think there was at least one unforgivable outfit!
We had some fun with it on Twitter. I did NOT get the Cirque du Soleil routine at all. I think it looked funny to me. Kinda like how some effects in Phantom were lost on me because I was up in the mezzanine.
Okay let me admit that I am a huge Brad Pitt fan. Huge. And sadly this next statement will not credit that statement in the slightest. I have not seen Moneyball. Want to but haven’t. My love for Brad Pitt comes from movies like Burn After Reading, Snatch and Inglourious Basterds where he plays the weird quirky guy. That said, even though I haven’t seen Moneyball I was rooting for him because of his past performances I love so much.
Yes, it was Cirque de Soleil, and I guess it was actually an homage to the history of film or something, but at the time I really thought it was interpretive dance.
I heartily enjoyed the Christopher Guest and friends bit– Fred Willard made me laugh hard (the only time that worked on purpose all night, I think.)
Angelina Jolie looks like she’s been unwell. I’m not saying that in a bitchy way– I mean it sincerely.
I thought Tina Fey looked fantastic.
I’m so glad Christopher Plummer won.
Brian — I did like him in Inglorious Basterds. Honestly, though, this is his best work, in my opinion. He IS Billy Bean. He seems comfortable in this particular skin, more so than anything else I’ve seen him in. I don’t “catch” him acting. Very smooth organic performance from him.
roo — I know. It was disturbing. I honestly felt concerned, which sounds totally condescending, I know, but the whole “thing” she was doing was just weird to me, beyond just the gauntness of her appearance. I couldn’t tell if she was really trying to be sexy or if it was all some inside joke or dare from someone. It was all so awkward and self-conscious that it felt like a “bit,” something someone dared her to do. I mean, normally, does Angelina Jolie really have to work at being sexy?
The whole schtick seemed like a high school nerd girl (and I was one) “trying” to be sexy.
I think Angelina Jolie actually might have been a nerd girl once. Hard to believe, I guess, but I get that sense. Well, nerd crossed with goth.
It was easier to see back in the BillyBob days.
I know what you mean about not wanting to sound condescending. I;m feeling the same way, wanting to say, “I hope she’s getting help.”
I read the books “The Help” and “Moneyball” and enjoyed both of them. That’s my sole point of connection with this year’s Oscars. Which in part is why I didn’t bother to watch the ceremony. That, and paint peeling seems more fast paced.
Thanks to YouTube I did see Meryl Streep’s acceptance speech, so I guess I caught the high point of the evening.
I love how Meryl basically dressed AS an Oscar statue. Like: “Guys. Come on. This is getting ridiculous. My head to toe gold dress is a subliminal message. Just give me the damn thing and I won’t bother you again.”
So psyched she won, although I normally don’t get worked up about winners. And yes: great great speech.
roo — I totally see that. Yes. Nerd goth girl runs in her veins.
sheila — I know. That killed me. It wasn’t the most flattering dress but it sent the message.
And I am also in love with her for donating $10,000 to two Rhode Island charities, in honor of Viola Davis, her fellow nominee. Classy. She knew, you could tell, she knew how much Viola wanted it.
I love her. I love that she’s classy but also seems like a cool broad, you know? I love that she seems to have no ego, that when she’s teased from the stage, she laughs heartily and doesn’t get all pinchy, like some. She seems not to take herself too seriously and just like she’d be FUN to hang around with, if you could ever get past the whole “OMG, it’s Meryl Streep” thing.