I want to humbly thank everyone who participated in my poll this weekend. I am so, so grateful to this community. I have an adoration of Slopers that is borderline embarrassing, and the fact I know there is a group of sharp, inventive, and understanding people to whom I can occasionally turn as a resource is a source of profound comfort. Thank you so much.
Since I've been so much wrenching soul-baring lately, I thought I'd turn the dial a bit and just do a quick, fun post. I watched the Oscars last night, and I really enjoyed them. I've always been a big movie fan, although the kinds of movies to which I am drawn don't tend to be the most popular. I tend to like movies that leave me feeling changed, even in a small way, when I leave the theater. I don't want to be entertained; I want to be altered.
In spite of that, I had a passing acquaintance with most of the nominees. Here are a few thoughts on last night:
+ I am grateful to Alec Baldwin who is living proof that, no matter how handsome you are, the curse of the middle age spare tire leaves almost no man untouched.
+ Jeff Bridges' capturing of the Best Actor award is marvelous. I didn't see his movie, but – first off – The Dude Abides. Second, he's a family man, and as a traditional and sentimental sap, that appeals to me. He's been married 33 years and is a dad to three daughters.
+ Although, at the same time, it was kind of a cruel irony that at the moment they mentioned his successful marriage, Robin Williams (divorced twice) was sitting right behind him. You can kind of see Robin Williams wince and bow his head when the thirty-three years is cited. Ouch.
+ I think it's marvelous that Kathryn Bigelow won for Best Director, but for Pete's sake, did they really have to play Helen Reddy's "I Am Woman" as she walked off the stage, just because she's the first female director to be so honored? Give me a break! If Hollywood wants to pat itself on the back for being feminist, then don't make a big stink about the fact she's a female! She's a director! Hypocrites.
+ You probably saw the bit where the celebrities were singing the praises, one by one, of each nominee for best actor and best actress. The most awkward one was when Oprah was assuring Gabourey Sidibe of the many, many wonderful roles that were waiting her in movies to come. Look, I don't mean to be cruel about this at all, but this actress is very, very large. That's perfect for Precious. It doesn't work so well when they're trying to figure out the cast for most new movies.
+ I guess Jim Cameron was surprised to receive neither Best Director nor Best Picture, but at least most of the technical categories were grabbed by Avatar. It's nice to see the nerds win.
+ I am *so* going to watch Logorama now. I never had even heard of it before.
+ When country singer Ryan Bingham was on the screen, my very young daughter immediately got interested and said, "He's cool. I like him." Uh-oh. Men with beards and ponytails might not work for Dad, sweetie.
+ So when did they drop the politically correct, "And the Oscar goes to…….." and revert to the crueler and more honest "The winner is……..". I guess at least they don't say "The losers are…...." and name off all the nominees with one exception.
+ Anna Kendrick is really, really cute. Really.
+ I thought it was awfully cool that Christopher Plummer played Tolstoy and also has General Chang from Star Trek VI on his resume. I pointed this important fact out to my beloved son.
+ Since people seem to be required to say the full, official name of the movie, it was pretty brilliant of the makers of Precious to name the film "Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire", since they had to say all twelve syllables every stinking time they mentioned it. If I make a movie, I'll be sure to call it something like "Slope of Hope – The Greatest Film Every Made in Human History", just so the presenters have to cite the whole thing.
OK, that's enough.
