The Oscars recapped

Here is another article I wrote to follow up on the Oscars. It's more of a column than an articles actually. This article is actually being edited as we speak to make it sound less columny so you can see the new user friendly version here.

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The Oscars recapped

What were the highlights and low-lifes of this year’s event?

I won’t bore you by telling you who won what or wore what (as far as I’m concerned, it’s one dress, two dress, red dress, blue dress). You can see the list of winners here. But allow me to enlighten you with the highlights and low-lifes of the 77th Academy Awards.

Chris Rock as host was a surprise. Not that I was expecting the occasional “Cheap Pete” schtick, but he certainly brought class to his usual repertoire. I liked his backpedaling on the “I hate the Oscars” comments weeks prior to the event by replacing it with “I love the Oscars…BUT…”

Despite being the host, I think Beyonce had more screen time than Rock by singing three of the five nominated Best Original Songs. She graced us by singing “Look To Your Path (Vois Sur Ton Chemin)” from Les Choristes in French no less, “Learn to Be Lonely” from The Phantom of the Opera, and “Believe” from The Polar Express with Josh Groban. This can perhaps be the only chance Jay-Z has to attend the Oscars. Beyonce, you have a beautiful voice and as usual you look fabulous - but stop Bogarting the stage! Unfortunately, none of those songs took home the gold. The Oscar went to “Al Otro Lado Del Río” from The Motorcycle Diaries.

The Oscars this year seemed to be a rush job with their Beauty Pageant-esque presentation for some of the lesser-hyped awards. Even some were presented in the crowd to save walking time unfortunately that put to risk showing some nominees sleeping as they were called for their category.

And can Sean Penn please be scarier? He opened with a noble act of defending Jude Law’s honour before presenting Best Lead Actress. I can assure you, Law’s not crying himself to sleep by Rock’s comments of him being in every movie this year. You used to have a sense of humour Penn, remember? Fast Times at Ridgemont High? We’re No Angels? Madonna?

Okay, so here are some winners. It was no surprise that Hilary Swank won for Best Lead Actress (Million Dollar Baby). She has a knack for playing less than feminine roles though her acceptance speech lacked punch and failed to tear at the heart strings like Halle Berry (Monster’s Ball - 2002) or Tom Hanks (Philandelphia - 1993). She managed to cover her co-stars, husband (we’ll just sit Chad Lowe beside Jay-Z, shall we?), agents, manager, publicists, fourth grade teacher, the mailman, and me… The now two-time Oscar winner was drowned out by the orchestra and dragged off stage by Sean Penn (you don’t want him mad at you. Did you see him get “all up in his grill” with Rock about Jude Law?)

And of course Jamie Foxx took Oscar home for his portrayal of Ray Charles. No one was more deserving of the statuette than Foxx who became the legendary artist. His speech had a tender moment where he thanked his grandmother who whooped him as a child. Okay, maybe not so tender. We can only assume she started beating him after Booty Call. Regardless, Foxx’s loving and talking to Grandma in his dreams moment made his win all the more sentimental.

Despite not being the epic Hollywood picture like The Aviator, Million Dollar Baby, which was filmed in 37 days, came out on top by clinching Best Supporting Actor (Morgan Freeman), Best Lead Actress (Swank) and of course Clint Eastwood for Best Director and Best Picture. The Aviator visually took it home with cinematography, editing, art direction, costume design, and Best Supporting Actress (well, Cate Blanchett did look stunning.) All bets were on Scorsese to finally win but again, he suffered a huge upset by becoming the Susan Lucci of Best Director. Give the man an Oscar! I know it’s tough to be up against Dirty Harry but it seems like Scorsese is more likely to receive a Lifetime Achievement Award before getting an Oscar.

-- Michelle Villagracia