First, let me report the few things I regretted. There was no red carpet treatment, for reasons that did not make sense to me. Some awardees barely got a word in edgewise because of time limits, and I felt somewhat ashamed for them. When the host announced the presence of certain special guests, the camera did not show their faces.
But I've been watching Academy Awards shows every year since 1995, and no other has entertained me as *consistently* as this one. As they go, this one was not too long. Only Adrien Brody's speech seemed endless, and that at least was more touching than self-indulgent. News sites had warned me with dismay that the fun would be toned down, but it turned out not to put a crimp in Steve Martin's routine at all. Martin doesn't do smashing openings like Billy Crystal or Whoopi Goldberg, but his jokes thereafter produce better than tired chuckles. I did not think any awards grossly misplaced. Musical performances, albeit not the complete list, had a fine effect. And as a pacifistic Democrat, I took pleasure in Michael Moore's controversial message.
For those who wish that "Gangs of New York" had won at least one of its 10 nominations, I imagine that Martin Scorsese will someday get a Lifetime Achievement Award to make up for his Oscar deficit.
But I've been watching Academy Awards shows every year since 1995, and no other has entertained me as *consistently* as this one. As they go, this one was not too long. Only Adrien Brody's speech seemed endless, and that at least was more touching than self-indulgent. News sites had warned me with dismay that the fun would be toned down, but it turned out not to put a crimp in Steve Martin's routine at all. Martin doesn't do smashing openings like Billy Crystal or Whoopi Goldberg, but his jokes thereafter produce better than tired chuckles. I did not think any awards grossly misplaced. Musical performances, albeit not the complete list, had a fine effect. And as a pacifistic Democrat, I took pleasure in Michael Moore's controversial message.
For those who wish that "Gangs of New York" had won at least one of its 10 nominations, I imagine that Martin Scorsese will someday get a Lifetime Achievement Award to make up for his Oscar deficit.