Welcome! This is an unapologetic, agenda-free zone. Just commentaries on current events that’ll move you to think, laugh, rage, and even cry.
To be fair, the ratings were not as bad as I expected. But that’s only because everyone tuned in to hear host Jimmy Kimmel’s jokes about that slap. And suspended animation prevailed as most viewers waited with bated breath for them. I waited with bated breath only for winners in the acting categories to be… Listen.
The Academy did not think it appropriate to feature Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky speaking about Ukraine’s fight to defend democracy. Instead it featured a fight between Will Smith and Chris Rock to defend Smith’s “open” marriage. At Sunday night’s Oscar ceremony, Will Smith shocked the room by approaching the stage and slapping presenter Chris Rock… Read more.
I am an abiding, perhaps even a pioneering, critic of acting awards. Because it has always been self-evident to me that who wins has far more to do with public relations than acting talent. No less an actor than Meryl Streep threw this into disillusioning relief when she hailed PR guru Harvey Weinstein as God… Read more.
I have been shunning the Academy Awards telecast for years. Here in part is why: I’m on record stating how much I dislike the annual Academy Awards show (the Oscars). Because I have little regard for preening, pampered poseurs showing off their borrowed frocks and bling-bling as a prelude to a [nearly four-hour] show —… Read more.
Actually, the controversy surrounding Ryan Seacrest nearly upstaged the show. Therefore, I would be remiss not to revisit it – even if only to share this update. In my original commentary, I urged him to do the sensible and honorable thing and bow out of conducting his annual red-carpet interviews. But I readily noted that… Read more.
With all due respect to critics and members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (the Academy), how much a film makes, not whether it wins an Oscar, is the generally recognized measure of its success. Especially considering that winning an Oscar is more the result of crass political campaigning than any assessment of… Read more.
I’m on record stating rather emphatically how much I detest the Annual Academy Awards telecast. Because I have little regard for preening, pampered poseurs showing off their borrowed frocks and bling-bling as a prelude to a three-hour show – only six minutes of which anyone really cares about (i.e., the time it takes to present… Read more.
I say give the hosting gig back to Billy Crystal, permanently! (The Oscars, The iPINIONS Journal, March 6, 2006) As this opening quote indicates, I’ve been arguing for years that producers should give up trying to make the Oscars into a comedy/variety show. And last night’s cringe-worthy offering proved yet again why they should. But one would have thought that,… Read more.
My Picks: Actor in Leading Role: Colin Firth – The King’s Speech Actor in Supporting Role: Christian Bale – The Fighter Actress in Leading Role: Annette Bening – The Kids are All Right Actress in Supporting Role: Hailee Steinfeld – True Grit Best Director: Tom Hooper – The King’s Speech Best Picture: The Kings Speech… Read more.
