So the Oscars happened last night, complete with tears, cheers, and awkwardly hijacked speeches. There were amazing dresses (go Sandra Bullock/Maggie Gyllenhaal/Meryl Streep!) and some horrible ones (for god's sake, Jennifer Lopez, stop going out in public...)
There were some good jokes (Alec Baldwin stares silently, uncomfortably at George Clooney - everyone laughs without really knowing why), and some awful ones (Ben Stiller as Na'vi? Nice idea, but it probably was an idea better left in rehearsal.)
As always, there were some great speeches (once again, Sandra Bullock - Hollywood could learn
a thing or two or twenty from your humility,) and some that I cringe to think about (well excuse me, Ms. Sandy Powell, why don't you go shove one of your other two Oscars up your pretentious ass?)There were a couple cheap and worthless publicity stunts (named Kristen S. and Miley C., respectively.)
There was even a massive slap in the face to DP's across the world - Avatar for best cinematography? You have to be kidding me. I'm surprised the movie wasn't up for "Best Animated Feature."
That being said, there were a few bright spots. Those bright spots were the Best Director and Best Picture categories, which The Hurt Locker swept. And deservedly so. The Hurt Locker, in my mind, is without a doubt the best picture of the year. Don't worry, I'm not going to delve into a lengthy and didactic review, but suffice it to say it was so carefully crafted, so layered and subtle, that I honestly worried it would be overlooked in favor of hype, glitz, and money. It seems to be more rare that the movie that deserves Best Picture actually wins it. So this year I was happy with that outcome.
I was also really happy at the outcome for Best Director - I think Kathryn Bigelow totally deserved it. But when they announced that this was the first Best Director award to go to a woman I just though - wow... it took us to 2010? Not to go all feminist or anything, but there are third world countries who have elected female Prime Ministers for decades, and we JUST NOW have decided that a woman is capable of winning Best Director... that's pretty pathetic, no?
I'd say just keep that in mind next time anyone tries to pretend we live in a gender-blind society. So good for Kathryn and good for the academy for taking a step in a good direction. A baby step, but a step nonetheless.
