TV & Media

Oscar Wrap-Up 2011

~ Mike Bass ~ Leave a comment

From his interview during the pre-show, it looked like James Franco was going to bomb as co-host of the Oscars. The super-laid back guy always looks high. Put him next to the hyper Anne Hathaway and you’re asking for trouble. Indeed, the lovable Franco had a tough night, reading his lines robotically, often looking like he didn’t want to be there, and generally being unfunny. There was even one stretch of twenty minutes where Hathaway went it alone, leading many on Twitter to wonder if he’d been fired. While the opening produced bit was good, there was not a legitimate laugh on stage until Kirk Douglas showed up. He’s 94 years old.

Overall, the awards show contained a few surprises in lesser categories but for the most part went according to prognostications. The King’s Speech and Colin Firth took 3 out of the 4 top awards. Natalie Portman won best actress and won over the entire crowd with her honesty and sweetness. It’s now a toss-up between her and Sandra Bullock for the most beloved starlet in Hollywood. Melissa Leo dropped an F-bomb, Christian Bale seemed to forget his wife’s name, and the makers of Inside Job reminded us that, still, no one in Wall Street has gone to jail for the economic tom-foolery of 2008. The Academy is still struggling with how to present the best songs of the year. This time, they inserted two medleys into the middle of the show. I personally prefer 5 grand performances spread out across the broadcast.

Finally, we have to wonder who Corey Haim must have pissed off to not be included in the 2010 memoriam to deceased personalities. The Lost Boys star made over 40 movies and TV shows and, while he battled with serious drug issues and never was able to clean himself up, he deserved better. The guy dies and he still can’t get a quick headshot in a 5 minute montage. Ouch. Let’s hope James Franco doesn’t end up like that one day.

Thoughts on the Oscars

~ Mike Bass ~ Leave a comment

This was the first year I’ve been on Twitter during the ceremonies and it was a lot of fun. If you’re still unsure about where Twitter fits into your lifestyle, the ability to share an experience like the Oscars is one way Twitter creates tremendous value and enjoyment. Top 10 funniest tweets.

When I think of what an Academy Award-winning best picture is, I think of a film that is either epic, ground-breaking, or both. The yearly best picture award is unavoidably flawed because there are years when no films fit the bill, and other years when wonderful films lose out in stiff competition. 2009 falls into the first category. While The Hurt Locker was a crafty and powerful film, I didn’t see it as a best picture, either in its scope or originality. The votes most likely came down to the fact that no other film could surpass it. Up in the Air was a fine film, with moments that felt genuine and truthful, but I found my mind wandering as its third act slowly ground to a halt. There was not enough of the humor and magnificence of Little Miss Sunshine. Meanwhile, Avatar was, to be sure, ground-breaking and beautiful, but as everyone will tell you, the story has been done a thousand times before.

Overall, this year’s Academy Awards show lacked entertainment. Choosing Steve Martin and Alec Baldwin to emcee seemed like a brilliant choice, but they disappointed. Their opening monologue was a laborious roast of several nominated actors that left me uneasy and hoping for a quick end. Though Martin had a few good lines, the two never seemed to hit it off, and I found myself wondering if Baldwin was feeling well or if he was just refusing to deliver a punchline. The Oscars typically feature musical performances of the pieces nominated for best original song, but this year there were none of these, and it hurt. I found the replacement interpretive dance number entertaining, but judging from comments on Twitter, I was in the minority. Roger Ebert’s fine review of the Oscars hits on some of these points and many others and is an excellent read. A quote:

Director John Hughes was too great a legend to be simply included in the traditional “In Memoriam” tribute. The special clip package of his work stirred desires to see his films again. They seemed good at the time, and in these dreary days, they seem miraculous. As the stars he made — his “children” —strode forward, it became one of the greatest moments in Academy Award history.

Finally, for more information on the strange, Kanye-esque moment during the acceptance speech for short film documentary, check out Salon.com’s article here.