OSCAR NIGHT WRAP UP

I have been meaning to write this since the big night...I have always written my preview but never a wrap up.

So, for the record....I got 6 categories wrong!!! Not a bad effort I must say.

I was thrown by Cinematography...I went Tree of Life but said I hoped Hugo to win...it did!

Costume and Make up ended up being The Artist and Iron lady not Hugo or Harry Potter...I still stand by my choices being the better options!!!

Like everyone else I was surprised by The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo winning Editing over The Artist...it really almost always goes to best film...except for this year!

Visual effects went to Hugo...of which I should have had more faith in, though when you compare it to my choice of Harry Potter...well, enough said!

And my beloved Meryl got Best Actress, I had deliberated over her and Viola, going for the later, but thrilled for Meryl.

Overall it was a grand night...it always is, even the lesser ones.

However, it was not the best night, probably Billy Crystal's weakest performance as host.

I believe he is relevant, and definitely better than a lot who have walked before him, but he was not on his game...I'll reluctantly admit that!

But 9 times...that's admirable!!

I enjoyed the beginning, Morgan Freeman's introduction leant the night the majesty it deserves.

And YES, Billy has done beginnings like this before...he always does...that's his thing...and it was great!

I was disappointed there was no band playing It had to be you, it's a great tune, Harry's arrangement lifts it beautifully, and it always suits Billy's entrance.

I always love the mini films they put together for the Oscars, this year was no exception. The great lines, and movie stars and actors talking about their movie experiences etc were great.

There were some odd moments - Jennifer Lopez and Cameron Diaz, sticking their butts out and if you believe the hype nipples too! Angelina's wayward leg took a life of it's own...apparently as the dress was like a bag on her...eat a hamburger Ange!

Then there were some great presenting, Gwyneth Paltrow and Robert Downey Jnr, Emma Stone and Ben Stiller, and Miss Piggy and Kermit.

But the best moment of the night was the Wizard of Oz Focus Group - a great skit starring the wonderful Eugene Levy, Fred Willard, Christopher Guest and co.

Have a look:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eh6mCImeylE

I also enjoyed the myriad of flying/escaping/running Cary Grants in the Cirque De Soleil section, and the beautiful singing of Esperanza Spaulding during the In Memorium.

I was disappointed there was not a special tribute to Elizabeth Taylor, a double Oscar winner and a Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award winner, one the greatest movie stars ever and a fine actress...stars like that should be singled out on Oscar night.

All four actors gave great speeches, lovely to see favs like Werner Herzog and Bret McKenzie winning and also my beloved Woody!

 

And here is a link to The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr Morris Lessmore, which won Best Animated Short Film.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Adzywe9xeIU

Finally there was the fashion, a very same same kind of night, but here are some favs...