Tuesday, February 24, 2009

press play to watch

my oscar night wasn't such a wreck after all. flocked by friendsters at the work station, the proceedings were enlivened with enthusiastic vigor. work wasn't a drag. we were the fashion police. yes, if we could afford to wear an elegant gown, we would choose taraji p. henson's or natalie portman's gown.

after an hour's breather, i came back with sean penn being sean penn. surfer dude spicoli was brilliant as harvey milk. but i love comeback stories and that lingering hope was thwarted when michael douglas read the name of the winner. sean penn, just like meryl streep or kate winslet is a perennial oscar nominee, he will get lauded again and again, forging an academy career similar to spencer tracy or jack nicholson. whereas guys like bill murray and mickey rourke are rarely recognized by award giving bodies. the wrestler might have been mickey rourke's only chance in the same way bill murray has not yet matched his lost in translation red carpet forays. other than the best actor category, all the other results reflected the bafta choices and i'm happy.

now the musical, i mean the presentation itself. i had it recorded and i watched the show when i should have been sleeping. i truly adore the pause and forward buttons of my clicker. where was digital tv when i was younger? pressing the forward button for all of will smith's portion was essential for my time management. the masters of ceremonies was foxy. he's not a natural comic like all the previous hosts but then he's hugh jackman, people's current sexiest man alive. i knew he's a trained musical stage actor but i didn't know wolverine possesses a great singing voice and could rotate and spin like gene kelly. i got mixed reviews with the film australia and will pass. but i'm relishing to see the adamantium claws of wolverine.

i'm pondering deep within myself to be more accomodating and forward thinking. but the acting awards being presented by five former winners, who instead of showing clips of their performances, eulogized the nominees with more than generous amount of superlatives. it felt like a spurious attempt to tug the deepest core of affections. they were already extolled by the academy, we know they're great. as a movie fan, it's a thrill to see de niro, hopkins and michael douglas in the same podium. but the hollywood biggies belong in the same circle. it's not only a mutual admiration society, their presence and the words of adulation were part of the script. but i was hoping daniel day lewis was able to present an award. maybe next time.

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