Oscar Reaction

Disappointing. Flat jokes, half the charm/charisma (thanks Anne for trying!), and lousy timing. The structure of the show felt messy and clunky, with getting across that the Oscar's are - "HIP and AWESOME!" With iPhones, Twilight, and other modern gadgets and pop icons, while at the same time trying to unintentionally reminding us that the Oscar's were funny at one point where it felt natural and not stiff. James Franco stood at the center giving nothing but smirks and stoner looks -- the guy had to be on something -- and we got another weird look at his ambiguous sexuality when she donned a drag queen get-up, which went nowhere.  It was a strange night that seems universally un-liked -- an especially by FilmFreaks and Oscar Obsessors.

Leo's speech was just as plastic and transparent as anyone would have thought, and I was really hoping Hailee would be walking up there and having Leo slump back in her seat. "Mine...For ME!?" -- she loved every second of chewing her way to the core of her inflated ego. And she didn't even deserve it. Why the hell wasn't Amy given those prizes? Leo wasn't bad, a nomination's good, but her performance does not qualify for a win. And then she infamously swore for even more attention, and my heart sank.

The only big shock came from Fincher not taking Best Director, and now Hooper will be hated from now on. But is The King's Speech that great? I haven't seen it, but does it really stand out and represent the Best Film of 2010? It seems to glide more on its performances, but I really fairly cannot say. I mean, I may love it but over The Fighter, Black Swan, Toy Story 3, and The Social Network, it seems like a default (i.e. safe) Oscar choice, for a large group of people who are scared to embrace advancement and change in cinema (the syrupy, goodie-goodie Forrest Gump beating the sharp, exhilarating cinema spectacle of Pulp Fiction is one of the worst cases), and it's a shame. But as along as we can still love, cherish, and appreciate those kinds of films that the Academy won't, life will be awesome and cinematically satisfying.