The Oscars....
Mar. 1st, 2004 09:30 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
fajrdrakoI never watch the Oscars. Haven't watched in years. For one thing, the movies I most like seldom win and the movies that do win don't usually interest me much. There are exceptions. The last time I got excited about the awards was, I think, when My Fair Lady won. Or maybe it was The Sound of Music.
In any case, I was actually at an Oscar party last night - until I got too tired to last around 11.15 and wandered home. Then I watched the rest of it in bed. I never watch TV in bed. I think this is the first time.
I was just too curious as to what would happen - to see whether The Lord of the Rings would win. Of course I was delighted that it did.
A few impressions:
- Johnny Depp looked gorgeous.
- The women in particular tended to look alike, through similar styles of hair and dress. I like to see variation and individuality. I remember a few years ago everyone wore black; this year, there was a lot of white. Uma Thurman dressed differently, and I liked that. Diane Keaton dressed differently - in her own Charlie Chaplin style - just came across as strange. (Though I suppose there are worse things than being strange and talented at the same time.)
- Besides being delighted that The Lord of the Rings got Best Picture (and all those other well-deserved awards) I was disappointed that Sean Penn won Best Actor, if only because everyone said he would; if my pick, Johny Depp, didn't win (and he should have!) I would have liked a surprise. Mind you, I didn't think Bill Murray deserved it; his performance in Lost in Translation was very good but not brilliant.
- Among the 'best actresses' I didn't really have a favourite, as I've seen none of the movies nominated yet, and the clips they showed from the movies all looked good. I was secretly rooting for Keisha Castle Hughes because I liked her poise and I particularly liked the clips I've seen from Whale Rider. Charlize Theron was the one I least wanted to win because everyone thought she would win, and because I was totally unimpressed with her in the only movie I've seen her in,The Cidar House Rules. Besides, I have the impression (probably totally unjust!) that the only reason people where impressed by her performance was because she is so beautiful, and so convincingly played a role that was far from beautiful. As herself - beautiful, yes, but what did she do do her eyebrows? She did, however, have a good dress - and wore it well.
- I was charmed that, before the awards, the journalist asked Keisha Castle Hughes what celebrity she most wanted to meet. "Johnny Depp." "Why?" "Because he's a stud." Such honesty, at thirteen! Then the journalist took her to meet Johnny Depp, and he was endearingly charming to her, and praised her performance in Whale Rider. Now, that's worth more than any award.
- It was great to see Annie Lennox sing, and to see her happiness when Howard Shore won for best soundtrack, and then again when they all won for <>Into the West. My impression was that Shore's music was so much better than any of the other contenders there was no comparison.
- Besides Johnny Depp, the second most attractive man there was Sting. It isn't that he has the best features, but - what style that man has. What presence.
- I failed to get a lot of Billy Crystal's jokes.
- I thought Scarlett Johannsen looked stunning in Lost in Translation. I thought she looked awful at the Oscars. How did she do that?
- The headline in the Citizen today said "Canadian win" in reference to the award that went to Les invasions barbares . Surely Howard Shore was another Canadian win! (Among all those New Zealanders being thanked....) But I'm a little uncomfortable about the emphasis on nationality, which makes it feel like Olympic sports.
- I was very impressed by Charlize Theron's acceptance speech.
- I was amazed to see Peter Jackson with shoes on.
An interesting quote from
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<br>I never watch the Oscars. Haven't watched in years. For one thing, the movies I most like seldom win and the movies that do win don't usually interest me much. There are exceptions. The last time I got excited about the awards was, I think, when <i>My Fair Lady</i> won. Or maybe it was <i>The Sound of Music</i>.
In any case, I was actually at an Oscar party last night - until I got too tired to last around 11.15 and wandered home. Then I watched the rest of it in bed. I never watch TV in bed. I think this is the first time.
I was just too curious as to what would happen - to see whether <i>The Lord of the Rings</i> would win. Of course I was delighted that it did.
A few impressions:
<ol>
<li> Johnny Depp looked gorgeous.</i>
<li> The women in particular tended to look alike, through similar styles of hair and dress. I like to see variation and individuality. I remember a few years ago everyone wore black; this year, there was a lot of white. Uma Thurman dressed differently, and I liked that. Diane Keaton dressed differently - in her own Charlie Chaplin style - just came across as strange. (Though I suppose there are worse things than being strange and talented at the same time.)</i>
<li> Besides being delighted that <i>The Lord of the Rings</i> got Best Picture (and all those other well-deserved awards) I was disappointed that Sean Penn won Best Actor, if only because everyone said he would; if my pick, Johny Depp, didn't win (and he should have!) I would have liked a surprise. Mind you, I didn't think Bill Murray deserved it; his performance in <i>Lost in Translation</i> was very good but not brilliant.</li>
<li> Among the 'best actresses' I didn't really have a favourite, as I've seen none of the movies nominated yet, and the clips they showed from the movies all looked good. I was secretly rooting for Keisha Castle Hughes because I liked her poise and I particularly liked the clips I've seen from <i>Whale Rider</i>. Charlize Theron was the one I least wanted to win because everyone thought she would win, and because I was totally unimpressed with her in the only movie I've seen her in,<i>The Cidar House Rules</i>. Besides, I have the impression (probably totally unjust!) that the only reason people where impressed by her performance was because she is so beautiful, and so convincingly played a role that was far from beautiful. As herself - beautiful, yes, but what did she do do her eyebrows? She did, however, have a good dress - and wore it well.</li>
<li> I was charmed that, before the awards, the journalist asked Keisha Castle Hughes what celebrity she most wanted to meet. "Johnny Depp." "Why?" "Because he's a stud." Such honesty, at thirteen! Then the journalist took her to meet Johnny Depp, and he was endearingly charming to her, and praised her performance in <i>Whale Rider</i>. Now, that's worth more than any award.</li>
<lj-cut>
<li> It was great to see Annie Lennox sing, and to see her happiness when Howard Shore won for best soundtrack, and then again when they all won for <>Into the West</i>. My impression was that Shore's music was so much better than any of the other contenders there was no comparison.</li>
<li> Besides Johnny Depp, the second most attractive man there was Sting. It isn't that he has the best features, but - what style that man has. What presence.</li>
<li> I failed to get a lot of Billy Crystal's jokes.</li>
<li> I thought Scarlett Johannsen looked stunning in <i>Lost in Translation</i>. I thought she looked awful at the Oscars. How did she do that?</li>
<li> The headline in the <i>Citizen</i> today said "Canadian win" in reference to the award that went to <i>Les invasions barbares</li>. Surely Howard Shore was another Canadian win! (Among all those New Zealanders being thanked....) But I'm a little uncomfortable about the emphasis on nationality, which makes it feel like Olympic sports.</li>
<li> I was very impressed by Charlize Theron's acceptance speech.</li>
<li> I was amazed to see Peter Jackson with shoes on.</li></ol>
An interesting quote from <a href-"http://entertainment.msn.com/netcal/?netcal=832" target="blank">MSN entertainment: </a> <blockquote>While "Return of the King" scooped up technical awards, it was shut out in the acting categories, which the film's Oscar-winning costumer designers lamented backstage.
"It's a sad day they haven't been recognized, but they do know themselves they have done a beautiful performance that people will cherish for generations potentially," said Richard Taylor, who shared the costume-design Oscar with Ngila Dickson.</blockquote> I agree absolutely - I think the problem was that so much of the acting was so good that no one knew who to pick from among them to nominate. Still: I consider it unfortunate that Elijach Wood and Viggo Mortensen were not nominated for awards, to commemmorate performances I thought were extraordinary.
In any case, I was actually at an Oscar party last night - until I got too tired to last around 11.15 and wandered home. Then I watched the rest of it in bed. I never watch TV in bed. I think this is the first time.
I was just too curious as to what would happen - to see whether <i>The Lord of the Rings</i> would win. Of course I was delighted that it did.
A few impressions:
<ol>
<li> Johnny Depp looked gorgeous.</i>
<li> The women in particular tended to look alike, through similar styles of hair and dress. I like to see variation and individuality. I remember a few years ago everyone wore black; this year, there was a lot of white. Uma Thurman dressed differently, and I liked that. Diane Keaton dressed differently - in her own Charlie Chaplin style - just came across as strange. (Though I suppose there are worse things than being strange and talented at the same time.)</i>
<li> Besides being delighted that <i>The Lord of the Rings</i> got Best Picture (and all those other well-deserved awards) I was disappointed that Sean Penn won Best Actor, if only because everyone said he would; if my pick, Johny Depp, didn't win (and he should have!) I would have liked a surprise. Mind you, I didn't think Bill Murray deserved it; his performance in <i>Lost in Translation</i> was very good but not brilliant.</li>
<li> Among the 'best actresses' I didn't really have a favourite, as I've seen none of the movies nominated yet, and the clips they showed from the movies all looked good. I was secretly rooting for Keisha Castle Hughes because I liked her poise and I particularly liked the clips I've seen from <i>Whale Rider</i>. Charlize Theron was the one I least wanted to win because everyone thought she would win, and because I was totally unimpressed with her in the only movie I've seen her in,<i>The Cidar House Rules</i>. Besides, I have the impression (probably totally unjust!) that the only reason people where impressed by her performance was because she is so beautiful, and so convincingly played a role that was far from beautiful. As herself - beautiful, yes, but what did she do do her eyebrows? She did, however, have a good dress - and wore it well.</li>
<li> I was charmed that, before the awards, the journalist asked Keisha Castle Hughes what celebrity she most wanted to meet. "Johnny Depp." "Why?" "Because he's a stud." Such honesty, at thirteen! Then the journalist took her to meet Johnny Depp, and he was endearingly charming to her, and praised her performance in <i>Whale Rider</i>. Now, that's worth more than any award.</li>
<lj-cut>
<li> It was great to see Annie Lennox sing, and to see her happiness when Howard Shore won for best soundtrack, and then again when they all won for <>Into the West</i>. My impression was that Shore's music was so much better than any of the other contenders there was no comparison.</li>
<li> Besides Johnny Depp, the second most attractive man there was Sting. It isn't that he has the best features, but - what style that man has. What presence.</li>
<li> I failed to get a lot of Billy Crystal's jokes.</li>
<li> I thought Scarlett Johannsen looked stunning in <i>Lost in Translation</i>. I thought she looked awful at the Oscars. How did she do that?</li>
<li> The headline in the <i>Citizen</i> today said "Canadian win" in reference to the award that went to <i>Les invasions barbares</li>. Surely Howard Shore was another Canadian win! (Among all those New Zealanders being thanked....) But I'm a little uncomfortable about the emphasis on nationality, which makes it feel like Olympic sports.</li>
<li> I was very impressed by Charlize Theron's acceptance speech.</li>
<li> I was amazed to see Peter Jackson with shoes on.</li></ol>
An interesting quote from <a href-"http://entertainment.msn.com/netcal/?netcal=832" target="blank">MSN entertainment: </a> <blockquote>While "Return of the King" scooped up technical awards, it was shut out in the acting categories, which the film's Oscar-winning costumer designers lamented backstage.
"It's a sad day they haven't been recognized, but they do know themselves they have done a beautiful performance that people will cherish for generations potentially," said Richard Taylor, who shared the costume-design Oscar with Ngila Dickson.</blockquote> I agree absolutely - I think the problem was that so much of the acting was so good that no one knew who to pick from among them to nominate. Still: I consider it unfortunate that Elijach Wood and Viggo Mortensen were not nominated for awards, to commemmorate performances I thought were extraordinary.
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no subject
Date: 2004-03-01 08:13 am (UTC)I was impressed with Johnny Depp's treatment of her. He appeared gallant and kind, and when he took her hand to say something further just before she returned to her seat... Well, words fail me.
As for Keisha Castle Hughes, she is an amazing 13 year old. She maintained her composure, met his eyes, didn't gush.
Just being able to see that encounter made all the endless rattling off of names thanked worthwhile.
I did get most of Billy Crystal's jokes, and that says either I need to get a life, or I'm getting old. :-P
no subject
Date: 2004-03-04 05:27 pm (UTC)I couldn't believe the way some people went on thanking everyone they'd ever met. I'm sure their friends like it but it looks tacky to me - and the more names they say, the less it means.
You got most of the jokes-- ! I am truly impressed.
no subject
Date: 2004-03-01 09:53 am (UTC)I thought the opening montage was fun, but Crystal always does something like that. I don't think I paid much attention to him the rest of the time. I kept scooping shots of Johnny.
no subject
Date: 2004-03-04 07:00 pm (UTC)I wish there had been more shots of Johnny - though he admittedly got more than his share; he isn't the sexiest man on earth for nothing and they were making the most of it!
no subject
Date: 2004-03-04 10:05 pm (UTC)Yes, he deserved those shots, and I wish he'd had more too. ;)