Screen Spotlight

I will now enumerate the funny moments from the Oscars:

     Ok, now that the list is finished how about we discuss my observations as a Hollywood outsider. Every time Steve Martin or Alec Baldwin made a joke the Oscar nominees did their best to give off a pretentiously snobby look and offered an air of "I am better than you, how dare you make a joke about anything other than yourself!" Ladies and gentlemen, before you contest this try to remember that we watched the same show with the same setting and actors. Video tape does not lie. If looks could kill the hosts would be dead. Who else thinks the presenters could care less and went out there to collect a hundred thousand dollar goodie bag after the show? The Oscars colloquially should be named the "Kiss my ass please love me awards show". Ok, I concede George Clooney and Sandra Bullock some people love you. How about the thousands of other films made in 2009? Do they count? Did they matter? Does a film matter only if the mysterious and inscrutable "Academy" (comprised of whom exactly?) deems is Oscar worthy? Is a film made better simply by winning an Oscar? How many dreadful films are made by the winning actors after winning an Oscar and relying on the laurels of their award? The only thing "crazy" about Jeff Bridges is Jeff Bridges. Please also stop the tradition of kissing your hand and blowing the audience a kiss. I am not interested in being blown.

     Please explain to me why you like Sandra Bullock. To me she is a waifish over the hill actress who looks like she had her nose broken fifteen times. Does she have the pizzazz of Geena Davis? No. Does she possess the grace of Meryl Streep? Not even close. Does she act in important films like Kate Blanchett? Not the last time I checked. Is she funny like Sarah Palin? No. So what exactly does she offer fans other than appearing on film reels? This is the fifty four thousand dollar question and it is unanswerable.

     So Meryl Streep has set a record for nominations without victories. Frankly she should A. Never attend the Oscars again, B. Publicly state they are a joke and the joke is on the celebrity awestruck audience, C. Wear her lack of victories as a badge of honor. I never make any bones about the fact that I do not care for her. Her look turns me off. Having said that, her acting is as good as anyone else’s, and maybe even better. Streep is a master at her craft. I have never seen her turn out a poor performance and she embodies through and through what an actress should be. Her film It's Complicated dazzled me. Much like in Mama Mia she is simply graceful and radiant. Alec Baldwin stole the show but he could never have hoped to have achieved his supreme performance without her. She plays every role so well that the surrounding talent is enhanced. The fact that the Oscar Awards are not about the films we enjoy the most, but are about technicalities and politics is truly sickening. The show should be cancelled. Oh well, always a bride's maid, never a bride. No wonder why the divorce rate is so high! Onto the awards themselves.

     Christopher Waltz despite the film Inglorious Basterds being an aberration deserved the award for best "Supporting Actor". Sandra Bullock won best "Leading Actress". Ok people this is 2010 not 1965. We have a half black president and most athletes and musicians are black. Are we really still a racist society? Yes, because every ethnicity believes they are the best at everything. That is human nature. Otherwise no we are not openly racist and should really stop awarding people simply for making "social statements". Sandra Bullock is so aggravating and painful to watch. She did not deserve this award, not even a fraction. Jeff Bridges took a chance on Crazy Heart and won best "Leading Actor". Do I approve of this award? No. Do I like the movie? No. Is Jeff Bridges talented? As a minor figure in a movie he serves a purpose, as the lead he is usually a disaster. Mo'Nique won best "Supporting Actress" for Precious. Somebody has to say it so why not me? She is six hundred pounds and made faces all night as though she was disgusted by Baldwin and Martin. The movie is meaningless and has no place in an awards show. We do not have to give awards because it feels good. How about giving an award because the movie is entertaining? Are movies not supposed to entertain us? I must have missed that in thirty years of watching.

     I have not watched The Hurt Locker which took home practically everything. Overall I cannot remember a more boring three hours of television. There were no compelling moments. As I stated earlier this was a pat on the back I am wonderful show for the whole world to bow down and kiss the feet of the chosen celebs. I for one have a sore back so I will stand up thanks.