OSCAR NOTES -- by Steve Nadis
Have the Oscars ever seemed less relevant than they did last night? I didn't watch more than a couple of minutes but did see some clips on the late news, and here are a few random comments: I'm a fan of many Coen bros. pictures but I don't get their latest one at all; it didn't even get a "thumbs up" in my book. (Calling it "overrated" pretty much goes without saying for something named "Best Picture" of the year.) Nor would I have nominated Javier B. for best supporting actor because so far as I could tell, he wasn't playing a character that was remotely human. Although Clooney did not win the statue, he got the best consolation prize of the night: a kiss from Daniel Day Lewis (who appeared to be overacting from the vein-popping clips) sporting a silly hairstyle and ridiculous pirate earrings. Helen Mirren looked good for her age. Julie Christie looked too good for her age. I liked when Tilda Swinton admitted she thought it would be "anyone but her." Scott Rudin thanked his "honey," without whom none of this would have been possible. So maybe I'd better wise up and thank honey too.
I'm in complete disagreement; this was a great year in movies were I felt like all the nominees were worthwhile. A great year in movies. (Comment this)
If it'd been a rowdy, slightly drunk crowd at a club, he'd have done better.
His attitude became let's-get-this-over-with, while the winners rarely had anything substantial to say.
No substantial thankyous, no uplifting speeches, not even a good, humorous, self-serving rant.
What REALLY got me was the obvious disenchantment (to put it MILDLY) of one older actress when she saw the clip they played of her, out of a nominated film!
(Did the Cosmic Muffin give the night a '3' for Going Out?) (Comment this)