2018 Oscars - Plodding and Predictable, But Still Enjoyable to Watch
Since I'm easily entertained I don't bitch and moan about the Oscars telecast since I always find it engaging (and since I record it I fast forward the lame parts of the show and get through it in about three hours rather than four). I enjoy the spectacle as well as the anticipation of controversial remarks during acceptance speeches. Furthermore, I enjoy the camera shots of audience reactions, the demeanor of presenters and their fashion choices. I've categorized my observations of this year's broadcast into the following categories: Thumbs Up; Thumbs Down; Touching Moments; Gay Moments; Eye Candy; Reaction Shots; and This & That.
THUMBS UP
The over-the-top, but stunning, set design (which changed colors throughout the evening)
Reflecting on last year's Best Picture fiasco, Jimmy Kimmel cautioned this year's winners, "When you hear your name called don't get up right away, perhaps give it a minute just to make sure."
Helen Mirren gamely played "Price is Right" model for the jet ski that would be awarded to the person who gave the shortest acceptance speech.
Perhaps the night's most provocative look was Taraji P. Henson's, who was in full 'Cookie' mode as she introduced Mary J. Blige.
THUMBS DOWN
I don't recall what award Christopher Walken presented because I was just hoping he didn't fall because he seemed so frail. Also, with his pants hiked up above his waist he looked like one of the characters from "The Sunshine Boys."
The intro to the song "Remember Me" was sung by Gael Garcia Bernal and it was pretty painful (I found it more trying than Fergie's jazz rendition of The National Anthem).
Emily Blunt's dress was somewhat of a matronly affair, what Mary Poppins might wear (perhaps it was intentional since she's playing Mary Poppins in an upcoming movie). The embroidered space on her bodice looked like it was missing a posting of "Today's Dinner Specials".
TOUCHING MOMENTS
Eva Marie Saint's comments before giving out the Oscar for Costume Design were touching and, at the age of 93, she was remarkably lucid. I got a kick out of her calling Alfred Hitchcock, "Fred". (Earlier in the evening Sam Rockwell called Philip Seymour Hoffman, "Phil Hoffman").
Timothee Chalamet and Armie Hammer look on happily as James Ivory accepted his Best Adapted Screenplay Oscar for "Call Me by Your Name."
Frances McDormand's joyous expression when co-star Sam Rockwell of "Three Billboards" won for Best Supporting Actor.
Jordan Peele's stunned, but happy, reaction after winning Best Original Screenplay for "Get Out".
I was smitten by Rachel Shenton, the writer of the documentary short "The Silent Child", which tells the story of a deaf four-year-old.
The performance of the song "Remember Me" (from "Coco") for some reason made me teary-eyed, perhaps because I was thinking of a dear friend who died much too young at the beginning of the year.
Allison Williams watches proudly as her director, Jordan Peele, gives his acceptance speech after winning Best Original Screenplay for "Get Out".
GAY MOMENTS
Adrian Molina and Darla K. Anderson, the openly gay director and producer of "Coco" (Best Animated Feature), thanked their husband and wife, respectively.
James Ivory's win for Best Adapted Screenplay for "Call Me By Your Name." And at the
One of the clips for "Call Me By Your Name" showed Elio and Oliver passionately kissing. This followed a comment earlier in the evening during Jimmy Kimmel's opening monologue directed at our homophobic vice president: "Hollywood doesn't make movies like "Call Me By Your Name" to make money, we make them to upset Mike Pence".
"A Fascinating Woman" won for Best Foreign Film and the movie's star, transgendered Daniela Vega, had a regal bearing as she stood on the stage. Later she introduced the Best Song nominee from "Call Me By Your Name."
From the movie "The Showman", nominated song "This Is Me" could be adopted as a gay anthem, like "I Am What I Am" or "Born This Way."
EYE CANDY
(Your tastes may differ)
Oscar at the Oscars (Oscar Isaac)
"Black Panther's" Chadwick Boseman
Ansel Elgort ("Baby Driver")
Jordan Peele
Armie Hammer
REACTION SHOTS
Margot Robie ("I, Tonya")
Sam Rockwell
Sam Rockwell and Common
Lupita Nyongo during the show's black & white newsreel opening
"Get Out's" Daniel Kaluuya
Leslie Manville's look brought to mind the glamour of old Hollywood.
Best Actor nominee Timothee Chalemet
Jennifer Lawrence
Viola Davis claps along enthusiastically to the rousing performance of "This is Me."
Gleeful director Guillermo del Toro after verifying that his movie had indeed won Best Picture.
THIS AND THAT
At first glance I mistook Annabella Sciora for Tina Fey when she came onto the stage.
The way she hobbled out to present the night's first award, it appeared Viola Davis was walking off a charley horse!
I had no idea who two presenters were, so I had to Google their names. Wes Studi, a Cherokee actor, introduced clips from war-themed movies while Eugenio Derbez (pictured), a well-known actor in Mexico, introduced the song "Remember Me" from "Coco."
And the Oscar for the night's most big-ass earrings goes to ... Mary J. Blige.
Benjamin Bratt kept his cool despite there being a huge piece of confetti, part of the "Remember Me" number, on his coiff.
Previous Oscar recaps: