The cinematic year of 2014 officially came to a close last
night, marked by the 87th Academy Awards. True to form, there was
plenty to cheer and gripe about. Here are the highlights and lowlights:
THE GOOD
-Neil Patrick Harris first time hosting was a roller coaster
of peaks and valleys. His opening number was spectacular and was the best we’ve
seen in several years. The lyrics were catchy and clever, and the renderings of
Harris in the settings of classic movies was very well done…and funny. The
opening number was probably a little too
good, as he never hit that stride again for the rest of the show. Many of his
jokes fell flat, and his interactions out in the audience were lifeless. His
magic-trick near the end of the show was clever, but didn’t have much of an
impact as they seemingly were hoping for.
-Great production values on the graphics package and the
stage. The deep, rich colors worked very well in HDTV.
THE BAD
-Best Actor nominee Michael Keaton chewing gum with his
mouth open. Come on, man.
-The In Memoriam was moving as always, but the graphics/portraits
did not do anyone justice. They are always at their best when showing moving pictures (ahem…the theme of the
opening number), so the decision to use comic-art stills was an odd one. Also,
the exclusion of the late Joan Rivers was in bad form, considering how much of
herself she gave to the Academy and elevated the Red Carpet to where it is
today.
-Sean Penn’s green-card joke pointed at Best Director winner
Alejandro Inarritu seemed in poor taste. The two had worked together before in
the film 21 GRAMS in 2003, so it was clearly an inside joke that the rest of
the universe wasn’t in on.
-Acceptance speeches from the winners of the smaller
categories like Short Film and Short Documentary were amateur-hour terrible. If
you get nominated, please rehearse a goddamn speech so you don’t embarrass
yourself.
THE GLORIOUS
-Acceptance speeches from Eddie Redmayne, Patricia Arquette,
J.K. Simmons, Julianne Moore, John Legend & Common, and screenwriter Graham Moore were full of heart
and had something important to say; a welcome relief from the standard endless
thank-yous.
-This Blogger usually hates the musical numbers, but this
year they were worthwhile. Lada Gaga’s tribute to THE SOUND OF MUSIC was
excellent; not only because she was great but because the Academy often seems
to forget about their rich history every year. Embrace it.
-The audience was visibly moved by the performance of “Glory”
from SELMA. Very well done.
-Director Wes Anderson has developed a style of his own over
the years which is unique and apart from anything else that’s being done. His
film THE GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL won multiple Oscars last night, showing that he
doesn’t need to change his style to be recognized.
-Eddie Redmayne besting fan-favorite Michael Keaton for Best
Actor. Cheers to the Academy for seeing the difference between a sentimental
favorite and a realistic one.
-It all comes down to one thing; what movie is deemed best. Alejandro
Inarritu’s BIRDMAN bested Richard Linklater’s 12-year project BOYHOOD for Best
Picture, and although this Blogger still has THE IMITATION GAME as the best of the
year, this is a good selection by the Academy. BOYHOOD was ambitious and a
monumental feat, but in the end it comes down to what you see on the screen…and
that’s where it came up short. BIRDMAN by far was the more complete film of the two, and
that means the right film won.
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