And The Oscar Goes To…
The Month of March for The Most Unpredictable Month of the Year
The month of March is mad by it's very nature, according to Psychology Today.
It marks the changing of the seasons from winter to spring with weather that is unpredictable from one day to the next.
Also unpredictable are the Academy Awards. Here’s a juicy recap for your lazy Sunday reading.
Oscars night was Jimmy Kimmel’s fourth time hosting and like always, his jokes were well-timed and truly what a monologue ought to be. Not a hit or miss comedy-bit waiting for audience applause. The reading of Trump’s “truth” as it happened, showcased the skills of this veteran standup always thinking on his feet. If there is a Best Host award, it should go to Jimmy for accepting a job that nobody wants anymore since "the slap".
The quips came without warning and gave very little time for their targets to react. Bradley Cooper’s “dating his mom” joke, Robert Downey Jr.’s “high on drugs” joke, or the joke with Sandra Hüller about complex crime thrillers seen as rom-coms in Germany, were all edgy but palatable.
My point is that no one got up on stage to slap Jimmy on the face, which is a win at the Oscars. We don’t need no drama.
Jimmy’s monologue included a long, dragging, and patronizing message about the writer's strike, the first triumph of humans over AI. Other than that, he set the stage for what turned out to be an amazing night where the stars shone.
The presenters shone too.
John Cena cracked me up with his presentation of the Best Costume Designer category, without a costume or any visible clothing for that matter, just the sealed envelope and his nudity.
Al Pacino has gotten old and forgetful, so we will let his fumble slide because we need to help our legends fall with grace.
The Gotham villains reunion made me nostalgic. The Iceman and Penguin egging on a “why so serious” Bruce Wayne, was fun to watch. This is yet another reminder that Michael Keaton was and is the best Batman of all-time, after Adam West, of course.
As for the winners…
Emma Stone, well, she is hilarious in any situation, even when she is all teared up and emotional, accepting her Oscar for Best Actress award.
Cillian Murphy won the Best Actor award, as expected, and his acceptance speech stood out to me for it was short and crisp, an important message dedicating his Oppenheimer win to peacemakers everywhere. We need more peacemakers in this world to replace the “war-makers” running our world.
The Best Picture and Best Director awards went to, well, not Barbie but Oppenheimer. I know Barbie symbolizes empowerment for a new generation to celebrate individuality, equality, and diversity. For that reason, I don’t deny that it is the biggest social movie of the year. But is it worthy to be awarded the best film of the year? I don’t think so. It was a 2-hour long SNL sketch. Look at it this way: there can’t be social advancement unless there is peace in this world. So, peace out, Barbie.
Finally, the musical.
So what if Barbie did not have a night of wins. The two musical performances of the night were both songs about Barbie.
“I am just Ken” once again proves Ryan Gosling’s many talents. I was impressed at how he held that long note in the end. The surprise factor was GnR’s Slash and his guitar riff.
But the performance of the night goes to “What Was I Made For” by the Oscar-winning duo, the uniquely talented Billie Eilish vocalist with her brother Finneas on the keys. It was an arrangement that sounded better than the original. Truly transcending.
Both performances were honored by standing ovations.
Did you watch the Oscars?
Now you know what moments mattered to me, what about you? Share your thoughts and your critiques in the comments below because as writers, that’s what we are made for.
Thanks for reading.