This season has come to a close, and it was a really great one with a bunch of movies (nominated and not) that I really appreciate and love. Last night's ceremony was a great celebration of this year in film - I had a lot of fun.
There were very few surprises in who won the awards for me. The biggest surprises were Great Gatsby's two wins. Not that I didn't think it was deserving, it just wasn't the movie I expected to win in either category. I thought 12 Years a Slave would get Production Design and American Hustle would get Costumes. Oops.
I was very excited and vocal when a couple of the awards were announced. Specifically Makeup, Original Screenplay, and Documentary Feature. Dallas Buyers Club had to win Makeup. Not only was it an amazing feat on a shoestring budget, but there is no way I could comprehend/condone either Lone Ranger or Bad Grandpa winning an Oscar. I'm fucking ecstatic that Her won an award. I seriously loved that movie and personally would have voted for it for best picture if I were casting a ballot. I haven't seen any of the docs this year, yet I cheered when 20 Feet from Stardom won. The speech was a little much, but I'm glad that one of the least Oscar-bait looking films won, and one that I am actually excited to watch.
Speeches: Jared Leto was great. More gracious than some of the awards shows, giving some respect to his mother's awesome story, and doing a much better job at identifying with the Rayon's of the world and those who relate to her story. Lupita was amazing. So adorable and poignant. "No matter where you're from, your dreams are valid." Beautiful. McConaughey was very him. I thought the sentiment of his future self being his hero was good. Striving for self improvement and making the best version of yourself the rubric by which you judge it. I liked it. Cate Blanchett is a classy as lady and gave a wonderful speech. Little bit of humble-brag with the comment about make-up artists managing to make her look beautiful, but I can forgive her.
Ellen was pretty much spot on as usual. Everything she did was genius. Pizza. Glinda dress. Light mocking of the attendees. Breaking Twitter. Everything.
I was personally very affected by the "In Memoriam" segment. Finishing the slideshow with the the amazing Philip Seymour Hoffman and transitioning to Bette Midler singing "The Wind Beneath My Wings" totally got me and I was teary eyed (is anyone surprised?) She doesn't have the range she used to, but her tone is still wonderful. Plus, she is a consummate entertainer and performed the song beautifully.
I really liked Pink singing "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" for the Wizard of Oz tribute. I do love her. And I can't even imagine the pressure of singing such an iconic song in front of millions and millions of people. Good for her.
Unfortunately, something was off with Idina Menzel last night. I was hurting for her. Even before she started singing I sensed that she was vocally not all there; something about her facial expression/presence was supremely worrying. The song is amazing, and Idina at a B- can still sing many people under the table. Still, it was absolutely painful for me to watch, because I could tell that she knew it wasn't going well. Luckily it's John Travolta's butchering of her name that is the talk of the cyber-town and not the performance. I can't even fathom how he managed to call her Adele Dazeem. Seriously?
Pharrell was super-fun and wins the performances of the night for me for the simple fact that he got Lupita, Meryl, and Amy Adams to dance with him.
2013 Oscars are now done and gone. Time for me to return to the main quest!
Until next time!
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