Finally! They finally made some changes that made the Oscars actually fun to 
watch again. I have to admit, I was not initially sold on Hugh Jackman. I figured at best he’d be a cuter version of Crystal. At worst, he sing and dance his way into Rob Lowe/Snow White territory. I generally appreciate the snarky comedians who make fun of the proceedings while appreciating the beauty of the ladies and joking about how long the show would be. But in the past few weeks I started buying what Jackman was selling: maybe it was possible to actually celebrate movies and not make fun of them. Maybe it would be more accessible to be a cheeseball movie lover than a sarcastic liberal comedian? So I went into last night hopeful that at least it wouldn’t be disastrous. And I’d say it was anything but. I whole-heartedly enjoyed his goofy opening number and liked his good-natured chatting with the stars. He made everyone around him seem nice and open – Anne Hathaway was more charming than I’ve seen her in a while. Frankly, I thought he was great.
In fact, I found the whole show charming and easy to watch. The five different 
actors/actresses presenting the actor awards was a great idea, and mixed oldies with today’s stars very nicely. Yes, the individual nominee intros teetered on the overly pretentious side, but they were fun to listen to and most of the winners seemed genuinely moved to hear their speech. It also made me feel better for people like Viola Davis, Melissa Leo, Richard Jenkins and Frank Langella, who had no hope of winning the award. At least they had a short moment in the sun so the night was not completely anti-climatic for them. It also added a nice dramatic moment when unveiling the five presenters for each…I don’t know if they can get away with this every year, but this year it worked.
I also liked having just 1-2 presenters give out many of the more boring awards, things moved much faster. And even if I didn’t really care for the whole “movie making process” lesson, grouping the awards together into chunks made it seem more palatable.
I’m always a big fan of the movie montage when they are done sensibly and well. Finally this year’s seemed cohesive – it’s about celebrating the year at the movies. That made the love, comedy and action montages all filled with recent and interesting clips that actually went together in a little narrative. I know – it seems like a minor point, but it’s amazing how the Oscars rarely get the montages right! This year, they did.
On the NOT so good side, why have all the musical pieces at once? The score 
section is always boring, there’s nothing you can do about it. Why bring the songs down with it by lumping them all together? Then there’s the Beyonce musical interlude. Baz Luhrmann hasn’t had a great year, K? This was just a boring hodge podge of songs that didn’t make any sense. Throwing Zac and Vanessa and the Mamma Mia’rs without introduction or focus just seemed out of place.
As for the winners? I was sad for Mickey Rourke, Sean Penn will have a million more chances and I’m not sure Mickey will, though he was so amazing. Similarly, was rooting for Marissa Tomei (a second one can’t be a mistake, right?) And not to be crass, but the Heath Ledger mourning period can officially end.
My awards:
Best Dressed: Before awarding, I have to say I was entirely underwhelmed by 
everything on the red carpet. Nude, white, beige...they all blended together into one big boring color palatte. Of all the gowns I only gasped once -- Marissa Tomei. It was white without being boring, the pleating was perfect. It was both classic and eclectic enough for her. Other positives were Natalie Portman (Color! Thank you!) and Miley Cyrus, very ethereal and age appropriate.
Worst Dressed: Amy Adams. Was the piping navy or black? And when the piping is overshadowed by what can only be described as a fabric boob flap, does it matter? (Please note, Jessica Biel is disqualified from consideration – despite her obvious spot on the list – since she has no reason to be at the Oscars, unless it’s to get JT there in a tux.)
Worst Trend: Boring non-colors! Even Taraji P. Henson, who can wear her some 
damn white, muted it with ivory in a slightly nicer version of the tiered look that we’ve seen everywhere since the BCBG pink concoction made it’s way to weddings everywhere in 2004. Penelope Cruz did boring color too– vintage. But vintage boring. See, at the globes it was crisp white and it worked. Toning that down to this cream business just doesn’t work.
Second Worst Trend: Thinking that draping silver sequins all over your killer bod makes a fashion statement. We indulged Emily Blunt in this for the Globes and look where it got us – Anne Hathaway, Jennifer Aniston, etc.
Best Hair: Amanda Seyfried and her Veronica Lake waves.
Worst Hair: Melissa Leo, who decided to celebrate her career pinnacle by using Reba McIntyre’s stylist from the Fancy tour.
Getting Old, Too Fast: Phoebe Cates and Kevin Kline. The Anniversary Party wasn’t that long ago, what happened? It can’t be helped by Phoebe’s kimono style that wouldn’t flatter a much thinner lady.
Worst Part About Starting Pre-Shows at 5 p.m.: The interviews with the documentary producers and Joey Fatone tripping over himself to ask, what it FEELS like. And oh yeah -- Keisha Whittacre is not a celeb.
Best Jewelry: Heidi Klum, I loved the overdone stacked bangles and cool earrings.
Worst Jewelry: Taraji P. Henson. The necklace was just too much. It distracted from her instead of highlighting her.
Cutest Damn Thing: Those kids from Slumdog Millionaire getting Meryl Streep’s autograph.
Worst Presenter: Robert Pattinson. Yes, we get it. You are too cool for everything. Don’t worry, in four more years we won’t invite you anymore.
Best Presenter: Steve Martin, always dry and charming.
Why the Hell Are you Here Presenting?: Tina Fey, now you’ve overdone it. You were charming and actually gorgeous with Steve Martin, but I was just thinking how I was happy not to see your damn face winning multiple (deserved) awards for 30 Rock when you showed up here for no good reason whatsoever.
Best Speech: Sean Penn. What a charmingly self-aware liberally good looking share the wealth kind of guy he came off as. (also, the guy who said “domo origato, mr. roboto”)
Most Annoying Guest: S. J. Puh. Leeze. I’ve officially hit the tipping point with 
Carrie Bradshaw and her faux niceties. That dress is a total redux of a million we’ve seen on her before. And she isn’t 20 anymore. I was thinking about how Robert Downey Jr. was in the audience and they lived together in the 80s!! You have lived a life and don’t need to act like some damn ingénue who just “golly gee, so happy to be here, so happy to get these arms without working out and don’t you just love the way this haute couture dress twirrrrls!”
Best Hooters: Viola Davis. Very nice.
Most Distracting Hooters: I do not care for the Kate Winslet look at all, I thought the color was boring and the cut was dowdy and unflattering. Most of all, I have a total pet peeve of unsymmetrical boobs and hers were as lopsided as can be with different adornments on each – as if they were heading to separate post-awards parties or something. Also, her hair was boring.
Most Back: Beyonce
Most Disappointing: Frida Pinto had done so well that somehow her blue was a disappointment. I liked the neckline a little but thought she could have played up her figure more.
Best Dressed Man: Call me crazy, I thought Rourke brought it.
Worst Tanning Application: Natalie Portman, who’s face and neck were of different ethnicities.
Best Performance: Queen Latifah, I love that song
Best Looking Couple: Sean Penn and Robin Wright Penn,with her legs up to there. 
Why isn’t she in anything anymore? She was chic in the sleek black backless and stood out among all the fluff.
Most Improved: Meryl Streep finally wore a dress. One I’m pretty sure we’ve seen before, but, that’s OK. And Angelina Jolie. I still think she’s a homewrecking sour puss. But at least she smiled a little bit and didn’t show up wearing a sheet. Backwards.
Most Delusional: Miley Cyrus mentioning that she plans to be at the Oscars next year for Hannah Montana because it’s much different than people expect.
Biggest Sign the Future of Our Nation Is in Trouble: The one brain cell shared between Zac and Vanessa that can only seem to blankly repeat“amazing!” over and over.
Best Montage: Love the Love montage!!!
Best Joke: James Franco watching himself make out.
Most Curious Joke: For as liberal as Sean Penn is, he sure makes that “look at how I pretended to be gay!” kind of joke a lot, with an assist from Deniro here.
Most Disturbing Joke: Ben Stiller as Joaquin Phoenix. I thought it was funny (if 
too long) but am starting to feel like maybe it’s not that funny that Joaquin’s clearly on drugs, self destructing on TV and all anyone does about it is say “watch this clip – he’s so weird!” Just two years ago he almost left with an Oscar and now he’s just a punchline. Just seems like if he is not pulling an elaborate joke, the kid’s gonna die soon and we might all feel like douches when we say we wish there would have been some signs. But Ben was funny. And I loved even more that Reese tried to have Joaquin’s back by making fun of Stiller. (That is what happened, right?)
Gone, Already Forgotten: Marianne Cotilliard, so gorgeous. So forgettable.
Oddest Omission of the Standing O: Jerry Lewis. Sure the montage of his comedy was painful, but you stood for Goldie and Whoopie, but not him??
That’s it for me – what did you think?
