"The Oscars" is a title that doesn't say too much, but here we have of course the 2016 Academy Awards. Award season 2017/2018 is approaching now, so lets take a look back here at a previous, fairly recent edition. Director Glenn Weiss has worked on many many award shows in the past of course and he has a great record with the Emmys. This show here was also nominated 3 times. The 3 hours and 37 minutes includes commercials I guess as the version I just saw stayed slightly under the 3-hour mark. The host is Chris Rock and I thought he was truly amazing. I am sure many viewers, especially African-Americans, did not like how he approached the diversity issue from both perspectives. Stuff like "People in the 50s did not care for the Oscars as the had actually important issues to fight for. You don't worry about a Best Cinematography Oscar if your grandma's hanging on a tree." was pretty harsh, but I really loved the political incorrectness on several occasions. Or the Will Smith Wild Wild West 20 million dollar reference. I'm sure Jada didn't like it at all and that makes me love it even more. The cookie part was a bit random, but fine too. The Jack Black reference was hilarious, these Asian kids were awkwardly funny and the interviews near the cinema were really good too. As were the Kevin Hart comments. I had not seen much with Rock before this event, but he was a hugely positive surprise and I wish they'd get him again instead of these liberal "blah blah Trump is bad mkay" sleeping pills Fallon, Kimmel and Colbert of course.
Before I say something about the winners, lets have a word on how glad I am this is all about the awards still. It's painful to see the Grammys and other (mostly music-themed) award shows lose themselves in stuff like constant concert atmosphere to an extent where crucial awards are not even handed out live on stage. So as for the awards: Here's what I liked: Brie Larsen was one of the best wins of the night. Best song going to Sam Smith is highly deserving too. And it's nice to see Leo finally win one and Morricone getting a competitive Oscar was good. Haven't seen Mad Max yet, so I don't know if I approve of all the wins. Spotlight is not my favorite of the year or anywhere near, but it is okay I guess. Same is true for the short film winners, could have been better and could have been worse. Lubezki 2 times in a row is even more special than AGI's 2 consecutive wins. I certainly like Rylance's and Vikander's wins too, probably more than Winslet and Stallone as these 2 categories were pretty close unlike the lead actor/actress categories that were basically locks. Ex Machina's win was a big surprise, but definitely not a bad one. Oh yes and Inside Out is one of my favorites of the year, so glad it did deliver. Amy was pretty good too.
As for the weak moments: The Big Short winning Screenplay over Room is an embarrassment, even if it was expected. The Hungarian film I am not a great fan of, but that era in history always works with the Academy. But the by far weakest moment refers to Lady Gaga. Neither the artist nor the song nor the painful performance did justice to the heavy subject and I am so so glad that she did not win the Oscar for it. Pretense at its most despicable. Kinda disappointed Diane Warren was a part of this mess. Will she ever win? The better and far more deserving song won. Sam Smith's number was maybe the best thing about the pretty mediocre Spectre. And that's not the only way they messed up there. Why only have 3 songs performed live? Have all (my choice) or none, but this is even worse and more disrespectful than when they picked other performers like the year Jorge Drexler won. On a completely different note I wondered what some category winner announcers were doing there. I mean I don't expect Oscar winners en masse, but they sure could do better than Kerry Washington or Sarah Silverman (really cringeworthy) or Margot Robbie. In memoriam sequence did not impress me either. But still despite all the negative, it was still a good watch overall and for award show lovers like myself it is definitely seeing, maybe even more than once. We really should be thankful that the Oscars have not turned into garbage like the Grammys recently. And a final statement: Bring back Chris Rock!!!
Before I say something about the winners, lets have a word on how glad I am this is all about the awards still. It's painful to see the Grammys and other (mostly music-themed) award shows lose themselves in stuff like constant concert atmosphere to an extent where crucial awards are not even handed out live on stage. So as for the awards: Here's what I liked: Brie Larsen was one of the best wins of the night. Best song going to Sam Smith is highly deserving too. And it's nice to see Leo finally win one and Morricone getting a competitive Oscar was good. Haven't seen Mad Max yet, so I don't know if I approve of all the wins. Spotlight is not my favorite of the year or anywhere near, but it is okay I guess. Same is true for the short film winners, could have been better and could have been worse. Lubezki 2 times in a row is even more special than AGI's 2 consecutive wins. I certainly like Rylance's and Vikander's wins too, probably more than Winslet and Stallone as these 2 categories were pretty close unlike the lead actor/actress categories that were basically locks. Ex Machina's win was a big surprise, but definitely not a bad one. Oh yes and Inside Out is one of my favorites of the year, so glad it did deliver. Amy was pretty good too.
As for the weak moments: The Big Short winning Screenplay over Room is an embarrassment, even if it was expected. The Hungarian film I am not a great fan of, but that era in history always works with the Academy. But the by far weakest moment refers to Lady Gaga. Neither the artist nor the song nor the painful performance did justice to the heavy subject and I am so so glad that she did not win the Oscar for it. Pretense at its most despicable. Kinda disappointed Diane Warren was a part of this mess. Will she ever win? The better and far more deserving song won. Sam Smith's number was maybe the best thing about the pretty mediocre Spectre. And that's not the only way they messed up there. Why only have 3 songs performed live? Have all (my choice) or none, but this is even worse and more disrespectful than when they picked other performers like the year Jorge Drexler won. On a completely different note I wondered what some category winner announcers were doing there. I mean I don't expect Oscar winners en masse, but they sure could do better than Kerry Washington or Sarah Silverman (really cringeworthy) or Margot Robbie. In memoriam sequence did not impress me either. But still despite all the negative, it was still a good watch overall and for award show lovers like myself it is definitely seeing, maybe even more than once. We really should be thankful that the Oscars have not turned into garbage like the Grammys recently. And a final statement: Bring back Chris Rock!!!