The Academy Awards: the Oscars!

But, as this previous article makes perfectly clear, I’m not a big fan of the Oscar 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 program – only six minutes of which anyone cares about (i.e. the time it takes to present Oscars for best actor and actress, best supporting actor and actress, best director and best picture). Yet, that’s Hollywood folks!

So, instead of raining on their parade, any further, here are my thoughts about last night’s show:

Alas, there were no surprises. Except for those who thought the “gay mafia” really existed in Hollywood beyond the racist delusions of former agent to the stars, Michael Ovitz; and that, for this reason, Brokeback Mountain was a shoo-in for best picture. Incidentally, apropos my derision about these Hollywood poseurs: What do you make of jet-flying, Ferrari-driving celebrities rolling up to the red carpet in “green cars”- ostensibly to show their support for energy conservation in America; whilst their gas-guzzling Escalade SUVs were revving-up in the back to whisk them off to Oscar parties after the show? That too is Hollywood folks!

Host Jon Stewart proved that Chris Rock’s poor performance last year had nothing to do with the fact that he was playing to a house of mostly white, rich folks who could not relate to a rich black guy pretending like he’s still wallowing in the hood. He sucked. And I’m a big fan of The Daily Show. (In fact, the bit-pieces he lifted from The Daily Show were all that saved his ass last night.) But Stewart had to know he’d lost the crowd when he was standing there waiting for applause; the way President Bush waits for it – like a puppy-dog waiting for his bone – every time he performs the trick of delivering a well-scripted line without stumbling over the words. I say give the hosting gig back to Billy Crystal, permanently!

And the Oscar for best supporting actor goes to: GEORGE CLOONEY for Syrianna. Well deserved! I saw this film and thought the acting (especially by Clooney and Matt Damon) and the cutting-edge, topical script (about the nefarious lengths to which governments and oil companies will go to control the world’s oil supply) were superb. And I even liked Clooney’s defense of Hollywood political activism in his acceptance speech (rhetorically bitch-slapping Stewart for dissing celebrities in his opening remarks, the way Sean Penn bitch-slapped Chris Rock last year for dissing Jude Law…remember that?). But Clooney also had a valid point – as I noted in a previous commentary on how (a few) celebrities are fast becoming the statesmen of our time….

And the Oscar for best supporting actress goes to: RACHEL WEISZ for The Constant Gardener. Even more deserving! I saw this film too and thought that, like Syrianna, it was brilliantly acted and dramatized the all-too-real exploits of corrupt governments and multi-national (pharmaceutical) corporations that routinely entail sacrificing human lives for profit – especially African lives that are regarded so cheaply, universally.

And the Oscar for best actor goes to: PHILIP SEYMOUR HOFFMAN for Capote. I did not see this film. I did not read the Truman Capote bestseller In Cold Blood that figures so prominently in it. But I really like this actor from the character roles he played in The Talented Mr Ripley and Boogie Nights. And, he came across as a truly enlightened actor – more interested in the craft than in celebrity – during his profile on a recent edition of 60 Minutes. Therefore, I thought he was a good choice in this category.

And the Oscar for best actress goes to: REECE WITHERSPOON for Walk the Line. I did not see this film. But it was enough for me to know that Reece perfected this role so well that that’s her voice, not June Carter Cash’s, on the soundtrack to this movie. Now that’s talented! Well done Reece….(Makes that $29 million per picture deal she just signed seem like good value for money…you go girl!)

And the Oscar for best director goes to: ANG LEE for Brokeback Mountain. You all know what it’s about. I had no dog in this fight. Although, I thought this award was just compensation for Lee’s direction in Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.

And the Oscar for best film goes to: CRASH. I saw this film and cannot rave enough about it. And even more than Syrianna and The Constant Gardener, it demonstrates the film’s unique capacity to address social and political issues in ways that are at once provocative, informative and ente
rtaining. In this case, the polarizing issue of racism in America is dramatized with remarkable, insightful and instructive poignancy. If you see only two films this year, go see CRASH and TSOTSI (see below).

Some would have you think that Crash won in an “upset” over Brokeback Mountain. But, with all due respect to my gay friends, I think this film was more worthy not only because the actors did such a terrific job but also because this film dealt with issues of far greater social relevance than sheep-herding cowboys rolling in the hay….

NOTE: Special mention to the winner in the best foreign picture category. And the Oscar goes to: TSOTSI (from South Africa). I’m embarrassed to confess that I have yet to see this film. And the greater is my shame because a dear South African friend recommended it only weeks ago and it’s based on a novel by one of my favorite authors, Athol Fugard. But it ranks up there with Crash as a must see! Incidentally, best acceptance speech of the night: GAVIN HOOD for “Nkosi Sikelel’ iAfrika…Amandla”