Academy Awards Redux
¦¦ I watched the Oscars tonight with friends, something I haven’t done for so long I can’t remember the last time it happened. I enjoyed watching the awards and exchanging comments along the way. In my predictions, I went 3-8, not a good score. I was thrilled for Adrien Brody, by far the surprise award of the evening. I thought Michael Moore’s acceptance speech started well, and ended poorly, but not because of its content. I support him, appreciate his anger towards the injustice in the world, and wish there were more like him out there willing to speak their minds so freely and with conviction. I realize that his words were in character, and were what we were privately expecting to hear. I wish he’d have expressed himself with more grace and dignity, and with respect for the moment. The rant that Dubya didn’t win the election because he lost the popular vote in 2000 is such old news by now. Regardless, I’m glad he won.
That said, check out his comments in the press room after he won the award. I admire him for standing by his actions, and he makes a convincing case for saying what he did, which is the defense of free speech in a country where free speech is under seige.
I was disappointed that Eminem decided not to appear. This may be the first time in 75 years that a nominated song was not performed at the Oscars, and then won the award.
As for Martin Scorsese, his award, if ever, will wait for another film in another time. That Gangs of New York didn’t receive one award, however, was a bit much – it’s a powerful film that at the very least deserved the award for Art Direction.
