Thoughts on Oscar
-I was so glad Pedro Almodovar won for his “Talk to Her” screenplay. It was challenging, subtle, ambiguous, adult – four things in short supply in Hollywood these days.
-“Chicago” is the perfect Academy movie. If there is a lab where middling, inoffensive, flashy pap is genetically engineered to appeal directly to Academy voters, this movie was its crowning achievement. Not bad, not good, just there.
-Catherine Zeta-Jones was lucky as hell to be in it.
-“Spirited Away” was another pleasant surprise. It took animation to places that Americans don’t normally experience. And, it gave Suzanne Pleshette some voice work.
-Michael Moore is Michael Moore. I think he should have handled himself with more subtlety, but that’s just not who he is. And I love him for it, especially in these “you’re either for us or against us” times.
-The opposite end of that spectrum was the now-apparently-infamous Susan Sarandon, who just held up two fingers in a peace sign as she walked out. Cool.
-“Punch-Drunk Love” was so far and away the best movie of last year, it’s not even funny. Which explains why you didn’t hear it mentioned tonight.
-In a sort of Halle-Berry-ish situation, I think Adam Sandler should have gotten a Best Actor nomination for the above. It was a time and a place and a role, and he was brillant.
-Steve Martin was generally good. I especially liked the Meryl Streep eBay joke – “Don’t you have enough!?”
-Every year they seem to pare it down more, and it’s still three and a half hours long. One thing they could definitely cut – getting all the Oscar winners onstage and laboriously panning through them. Cut this, please.
-Renee Zellweger: eat a hamburger, please, sweetheart. I love you, but you. need. to. eat. If some more tough love is required, I have just two words for you: Callista Flockhart. ‘Nuff said.
I’m wondering if you’ve ever seen The Pianist. I’d really like to read what you think about it.
Callista looked downright chubby next to Renee, but at least Renee has more than one facial expression.
Mercy: I haven’t seen The Pianist, but based on last night and lots of recommendations from friends, I think I will. I’ll be sure to write a review afterward.
I’m curious how you feel about Talk to Her’s Vagina With No Clitoris. (You know, the giant one the guy walked into?)
The missingness of the clitoris actually ruined the entire movie for me. I know that sounds pretty picky, and I guess it is, so be it. But I’m curious what you and other people thought about that.
Please, what was the poem Susan Sarandon presented? It began, ” What do we leave that cannot be destroyed by…”
Another author, of course, wrote it.
Thanks.
Morris M
Birmingham, AL