RAY'S Drunken Oscar Memories
Well, the 2008 Oscars are over, and there are more than a few lingering thoughts. - How did Zac Efron end up all over this damned thing?? He's cute and all, but seriously ... does he represent young Hollywood or something? Is it to appeal to freshly-ripened tweenagers? I saw this guy more than Hugh Jackman, for cryin' out loud. - How does a magnificent film that consists of sound effects not win any of the sound awards? WALL-E was an amazing achievement in sound, yet the Academy silenced it in favor of Slumdog Millionaire and The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button. Completely wrong. - What the hell was Tilda Swinton wearing? A potato sack?? - I loved the revamped nature of the show itself. It was much more intimate and playful than in seasons past. The middle, as always, dragged a bit too much, though. - Hugh Jackman was a fine Oscar host, except for that hideous tribute to musicals. As I've stated many times, I'm not a fan of musicals, but that was unbearable ... an embarrassing time-waster. - I've never seen gay Hollywood so "out" before ... the only straight person in the room was Robert DeNiro, and even he was shovelling the shit to Penn. - The big upset was, in my mind, Mickey Rourke's loss to Sean Penn for Best Actor. While I thought Penn's performance was nearly perfect, Rourke actually pasted himself into that role. He WAS Randy the Ram. And that, folks, is what we're awarding here. - Since Rourke didn't win, we were left with a ceremony bereft of huge and hilarious highlights. That weird French equilibrium expert balancing Oscar on his chin will have to satisfy us from this telecast. Well ... that, and David Fincher's reaction to loss. - Nice to see Eddie Murphy swallow his pride and stay for the entire thing despite lacking a nomination for his stellar work in Meet Dave. Classy ... he obviously spent 2.3 seconds practicing his speech, too. -Awkward moment of the night: Jennifer Aniston forced to stand mere feet from Brad and Angelina, who probably conceived another child right in front of her. CATFIGHT. - Why was Halle Berry one of the actresses presenting the award for Best Actress? Because she's alive?? - Beautiful way to close the book on Heath's performance and life. Overall, the show was (again) too long, but fairly interesting. The awards (mostly) went to the right films and people nominated ... unfortunately, some were overlooked. Bruce Springsteen should be polishing his statue right now for The Wrestler, and that film should be the Best Film of the year. But, given the choices, things went mostly right for the Academy tonight. It was great chit-chatting throughout the show with all of you crazy film fans on Obsessed With Film. Hopefully we can do something bigger next year. I just hope we have a better year in 2009.