I thought it was a great night in, watching all these talented actors and actresses wait for their names to be called. Ellen set the tone by cracking a joke about "aiming low". That she dreamt she'll host the Oscars one day. "That should be a lesson to all you children out there. Aim lower," she joked.
Scorsese and getting the Oscar
To be honest I watched the ENTIRE show just so I can witness the moment when the camera zooms in to Scorsese when they announce 'best director'. It turned out to be an anti-climax though. A let down even when he gave his speech and he didn't sound overcome by emotions (I want tears!!!). Like he knew it was in the bag and that if the Oscar did go to someone else that night, in everyone's mind, Scorsese owned it. And it's so true that the Oscar should have gone to him for 'Raging Bull' or 'Taxi Driver'. I enjoyed 'The Departed' but it's not exactly his best work. Like he said, he can go on now and do his work, now that he's got the statue.
I was more elated when they announced that 'best film' went to The Departed, that way they spoke of Scorsese's co-producer??? whom he met while he was still at NYU Film School. Now that is a story.
Hudson winning Best Supporting Actress
Wow, now THAT was completely unexpected. Everyone thought Cate Blanchett would bag the award for sure. I haven't seen Notes of a Scandal so can't really judge but if there was ever a moment where the stars were aligned for an actress, where the role practically had her name on it, Hudson playing the spurned lover and singer of the Dreamettes was it.
I loved her acceptance speech. What a moment for her. And she thanked her grandmother too (Jamie Foxx did the same thing I think). I am sooo glad she won it. She definitely eclipsed Beyonce in the acting stakes though admittedly, Beyonce's character was supposed to be the weaker one of the two.
But Beyonce must be kicking herself. I don't think you can trust 'quotes' from gossip rags but apparently she said she would have gained the extra 15kg to play the part. I'm not so sure about that. It would have meant cancelling all her other gigs. She did lose weight for the part though and she was perfect as the Diana Ross character anyway. As for the movie being her launching pad, well, they couldn't be more wrong. It was definitely Hudson's movie (okay, Eddie Murphy gets a special mention although I don't think his character was developed well enough in the movie for me to agree that his acting was Oscar material).
Forest Whitaker
I don't know how many people know this but Whitaker produced and directed a romantic movie called 'First Daughter' starring Katie Holmes back in 2004. He also directed 'Hope Floats' and 'Waiting to Exhale'. Added to my 'trivia on Whitaker' is the fact that he nabbed two scholarship training as an operatic tenor. Now I've just checked his bio on www.imdb.com and found his acting talent was recognised way,waaay back in 1988 when he won 'best actor' at the Cannes Festival.
He was so composed when he received the award. Certainly different to Cuba Gooding's acceptance speech (though I liked both equally). I enjoyed watching 'The Last King of Scotland' (because of his portrayal, not so much that of the doctor). So good to see an actor of his pedigree getting the Oscar this year.
I haven't seen 'The Queen' yet though I have seen a few of Helen Mirren's films. I'd hate to ride on the Mirren bandwagon (there were several references to her during the show) but talk about someone who's absolutely gorgeous and natural looking. She's not just aging gracefully. She's all grace and no age. I digress now but my only gripe about the Oscars is that everyone, from Reese Witherspoon to Nicole Kidman, to Penelope Cruz, and the list goes on, looked liked they've lost a lot of weight. I think they'd look better with a few pounds extra. Which is why I liked Hudson all the more because she just looked so healthy compared to the others. I hope she stays that way.
Pan's Labyrinth
Saving the best for last. Apparently director and screen play writer Guillermo del Toro received a 22 minute standing ovation at Cannes for this one. If you haven't seen it, you should. Set in post-Civil War Spain in 1944, it's two stories overlapping each other and centers around a 12-year old girl who loves reading fairy tales. I liked this even more than the other Oscar-nominated films because it reminded me of my life as a young girl living in the province. It was perfectly normal to believe warnings from my aunties/uncles/family friends about not walking past the public school at night because there's a kapre that likes to scare passersby. Or the story about the floating coffin that makes a regular appearance near the fishing port during the wee hours of the night. Then there's the term diri sugad ha atun which translates to not like us. It's not about monsters or evil creatures but rather 'folks' who are just not human. In Butason, my maternal grandfather's land which was four hours drive away from the closest town plus an hour boat ride plus a 15 minute walk (it was so remote even the Japanese soldiers during the War didn't know about it), it was perfectly normal for my brother, my cousins and I to say "Excuse us" or "we're just passing through" whenever we ventured out to play or when we do our mountain walks. I never had any creepy encounter all those years though there were some experiences that came close. Watching 'Pan's Labyrinth' takes me back to my childhood days, which is a good thing.
For my records, I have listed Pan's Labyrinth's awards and nominations.
Awards
Wins
Oscars/Academy AwardsAchievement in Cinematography Achievement in Makeup Achievement in Art Direction
British Academy of Film and Television ArtsBest Foreign Language Film Best Costume Design Makeup and Hair
Goya AwardsBest Cinematography (Mejor Fotografía) Best Editing (Mejor Montaje) Best Make Up & Hairstyles (Mejor Maquillaje y/o Peluquería) Best New Actress (Mejor Actriz Revelación) Ivana Baquero. Best Screenplay - Original (Mejor Guión Original) Best Sound (Mejor Sonido) Best Special Effects (Mejores Efectos Especiales)
Other prizesBest Fantasy Film from the Production Design Awards Best Picture of the Year from the National Society of Film Critics Best Foreign Language Film from San Francisco Film Critics Circle Best Foreign Language Film from Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association Best Foreign Language Film from Southeastern Film Critics Association Best Foreign Language Film and Best Cinematography from Florida Film Critics Circle Best Foreign Language Film and Best Original Screenplay from Online Film Critics Society Best Foreign Language Film and Best Cinematography from Boston Society of Film Critics Best Cinematography from New York Film Critics Circle Best Cinematography from the Independent Spirit Awards Best Cinematography from Camerimage Golden Frog Awards 2006 Best Production Design from Los Angeles Film Critics Association Motion Picture, Animated or Mixed Media from Satellite Awards
Nominations
Golden GlobeNominated for Best Foreign Film
British Academy of Film and Television ArtsBest Original Screenplay Best Cinematography Best Production Design Best Sound Achievement in Special Visual Effects
OscarsBest Foreign Language Film of the Year Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures (Original Score) Original Screenplay
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I'm not sure I want to comment on the outfits. Many, if not all, of them looked gorgeous. Except Kirsten Dunst could have chosen a better look but on the whole, I don't think there were any major disasters this year.
I can't help but compare (though it's not strictly apples-for-apples) the Oscars and say, the Grammys or the Billboards or MTV. Or the Oscars with the BAFTA, the Golden Globe or (ewww), the Logies. I'm just happy to watch an awards night where there were no mention of Lindsay Lohan, Britney Spears or Paris Hilton, where there were no jokes about Brangelina or Bennifer and where people were lauded for their talent, not their looks.
It was also great to see someone say 'she she' (thanks in Chinese?) and Clint Eastwood acting as translator. You've got to admit, we all have to thank the Oscars for shunning the mediocrity that pervades in Hollywood and dedicate an entire event for those who are in constant pursuit of excellence and innovation in the film industry.
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