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Tuesday, March 1, 2005

Oscar Night Observations

My viewing of this year's movie bash was limited because I had to work -- but I offer a few snapshot thoughts:

Everybody Wins. I didn't have an argument with any of the winners this year -- although I still think it's a travesty that Sky Captain And The World Of Tomorrow didn't get a mention in the visual effects or art direction categories. Jamie Foxx was simply unforgettable in Ray, and Million Dollar Baby is simply a wonderful film, despite what you may hear from the right wing.

Rock Meets Scissors. People are complaining about Chris Rock's performance sucking. This is network TV. This is the Oscars. You were rooting for a verbal wardrobe malfunction? Besides, "Sit your asses down?" And memo to Sean Penn: take a friggin' joke, please. Sit your ass down.

Williams Meets Scissors. ABC's squashing of a Robin Williams parody song is simply uncomprehendable. Anybody with half a brain could see he was clearly making jokes. But remember, we're living in the age of the outraged letter-writing machines. And with half-million dollar fines on the horizon, who can really blame a network suit?

Shake It Up. Producer Gil Cates took a gamble and actually had some trophies passed out in the audience, or with the nominees already on stage to speed things up. Nice touch.

Best Acceptance Speech. Jamie Foxx's remarks were honest and genuinely emotional. And Morgan Freeman's were refreshingly short.

Red State Blues. Early ratings crunches show the Oscarcast did better in big cities than rural markets. That's not really anything new or surprising, but just you wait to see various fringes twist this into more evidence of a nation divided.

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