Monday Morning Quarterbacking of the Oscars 2012 edition
Posted By Kathleen David on February 27, 2012
I watched the Oscars with Caroline and Peter last night. Peter was live blogging it while it was happening. I was making mental notes of things to talk about today and decided to sleep on it to see what would stick and what would vanish as not that important to me.
So here, in no particular order, are my thoughts on the Oscars and the aftermath.
The Muppets introducing Cirque, which is doing a show in that theater right now called Iris, was so my 5 minutes of the Oscars. It was like a Reese Cup of joy for me. Didn’t like the camera work as much since they didn’t know how to film it so we, the TV viewing audience, could see what was going on. That they were doing a show there explain why they could do the trapezes acts over the audience heads. They have already cleared the act for safety.
“Man or Muppet” won. Someone who didn’t get congratulated was Peter Linz. Who is Peter Linz? He is Walter. Jim Parsons wasn’t recognized either but Peter was an integral part of that song. Why was he not mentioned? Old Muppet tradition that the puppeteers are not spoken of but the puppets are. We know who operates what but the illusion of the Muppet reality has been established so puppeteers just don’t exist in a way when it comes to things like this. Still, congratulations to Peter and I hope to see Walter wandering about again soon.
The Artist beat Hugo in most categories they were up against each other. I find it a little funny that two movies that are tributes to the beginning of filmmaking were up against each other. If the Artist hadn’t been released last year, I think Hugo would have gotten a couple more awards. The only caveat I have is that Hugo was considered a “kids film” and that can be a problem in Oscarland even if Scorsese directed it. Out of the 7 films left, I would have put my money on Warhorse or Midnight in Paris. The Decedents was set up for Clooney to win an Oscar.
Octavia Spencer did deserve an Oscar. I am beginning to believe that she can do anything and make it look good. She has had a longer career than I think most people know about. She is a working actress that works hard and brings something to the table every single time. I know if I see her on the screen, big or small, I am in for a treat. I hope this gets her career to the next level and she goes on to many more roles.
Meryl Streep said it best when she said “When they called my name, I had this feeling I could hear half of America going, ‘Oh no! Oh come on, why her? Again?!’” Meryl you were good but you are always good. There were a couple of actresses that did excellent/amazing jobs. I am happy that a fellow YSD got another Oscar yet I would have been fine if you had just continued your streak of nominations. I think people forget that she has been nominated 17 times and now won 3. So we have heard her name a lot but not that many times have we heard her speak.
So Gore Verbinski can win for animation but not for his live action films? I am OK with that. Rango was the most different animated film up this year. I don’t think enough of the Academy saw “A Cat in Paris” to vote for it but I thought it was going to win. Sort of a protest vote for computer animation but I think that protest is down to a bare whimper. Also I love the character designs for Rango.
Best speech of the evening was Christopher Plummer. It was witty and just the right length. Max Von Sydow still has a chance of going for oldest actor to win an Oscar. Both are fine actors and it was nice to see them recognized. Speaking of recognition, nice that Gary Oldman was FINALLY nominated. Next time he should win.
So overall not a bad show. It does show you how long it has been since Billy Crystal has been in a film that the public remembers. Parents were telling their kids “That’s the voice of Mike Wazowski” to give them an idea of who this guy is. Personally I am on the Get Robert Downey Jr and Gwyneth Paltrow to host the Oscars Band Wagon.
I am grateful I had so much fun with my family watching the Oscars.
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