Oscar Night 2013

I was surprised when I checked in last night not to see a running Oscars thread. Didn't feel like taking the time to start one myself. Oh well.

 

It looks like a lot of the big participants aren't around here much any more, like 21 and IJAG, and some of the others, like myself, have kids of an age now where weekend posting isn't too feasible.

 

So was I.

The highlights, in my opinion:

1.) A lot of the music segments, especially Lady Gaga with the "Sound of Music" medley, and Tim McGraw with Glen Campbell's nominated last song, "I'm Not Gonna Remember You." Lady Gaga looked, well, normal, and was appropriately and, I think, appreciatively, respectful of some great stuff and was truly amazing. She relied on her talent, alone, and the only reaction, probably, was "Wow." And McGraw's performance hit a lot of people in the heart.

2). Julianne Moore with her acceptance speech for "Best Actress in a Leading Role." See comment about McGraw's performance. Such true, heartfelt words.

3). Neil Patrick Harris' opening performance. I had no idea he could be such a "performer," per se, and I thought he did a good job keeping things moving along well all night, too, except for the awkward "best and whitest, eh, brightest" joke early on. I get it, given the some of the run-up to the Oscars about diversity, and it was a little daring, as intended, I guess. But it really wasn't funny and didn't work, in my opinion.

Overall, it was a really good show, though. I didn't think I'd sit and watch the whole thing, but I did, happily.

 

I started a thread for post-show thoughts, but regarding your points, Lady Gaga was excellent, but McGraw didn't do anything for me. And he looked dopey with the hat on, particularly since I saw him on the red carpet just before the show started and he wasn't wearing it. Does he need the hat to sing? Does it hold some supernatural power that allows him to perform? Common and John Legend were incredible, I thought, by far the best of the night.

I liked the whitest/brightest joke, as well as the two zingers to the Academy regarding David Oyelowo not getting nominated for best actor ("Here are two people who ABSOLUTELY deserve to be here" and "Oh sure, NOW you like him").

 

Shit. Sure didn't seem like a year.......no Joan Rivers FWIW.

 

The anger and befuddlement generated from the In Memorium segments on these award shows is very strange.