Let's face it, the 81st showing of the Academy Awards last night had no other option but to go with "hope" as the major winner. It was inevitable. Obama is in the White House, and you can't be angry. At least the entertainment industry and those in last night's audience can't be angry. I bet if neo-conservatives filled the seats at the Kodak Theater, it would have been a much different show. But they didn't - so hope was there in full bloom.
For the last several years, the Oscars have been nights filled with sarcasm, anger, politics, and general self-loathing. Recent hosts - such as Whoopi Goldberg, Billy Crystal, Chris Rock, and Jon Stewart - have fulfilled their needs as acerbic commentators on life. Not this year, however; last night's host was not even a comedian. It was Hugh Jackman - actor and musical performer from Australia. Now that I think about it, I guess the Oscars had an appreciation of International things as well. The one negative thing that managed to sneak it's ugly head into the show last night, was the issue of poverty. Alessandra Stanley notes in today's NY Times: The movie industry was in no mood for mockery, and perhaps in no condition for it. Every Oscar ceremony tries to reclaim old Hollywood glamour; this one tried to suit the times by reverting straight to old Depression-era glamour.
For the last several years, the Oscars have been nights filled with sarcasm, anger, politics, and general self-loathing. Recent hosts - such as Whoopi Goldberg, Billy Crystal, Chris Rock, and Jon Stewart - have fulfilled their needs as acerbic commentators on life. Not this year, however; last night's host was not even a comedian. It was Hugh Jackman - actor and musical performer from Australia. Now that I think about it, I guess the Oscars had an appreciation of International things as well. The one negative thing that managed to sneak it's ugly head into the show last night, was the issue of poverty. Alessandra Stanley notes in today's NY Times: The movie industry was in no mood for mockery, and perhaps in no condition for it. Every Oscar ceremony tries to reclaim old Hollywood glamour; this one tried to suit the times by reverting straight to old Depression-era glamour.
Below is the opening number in case you missed it:
The concept of "hope" was quite prevalent in the major award-winning films last night too. Slumdog Millionaire examines a young man's journey in escaping from years of poverty and violence. Milk, although telling the story of the California's first openly gay elected office who is murdered, brings to mind the feeling that - someday - hopefully - gays will be allowed to marry and Proposition 8 will disappear. I guess whether or not "hope" will make a repeat performance at next year's Oscars, depends a lot on how the ratings were.
Just a brief aside - the first Oscar night televised was in 1953. I couldn't locate anything from it, but do have a little snippet from 1954. Enjoy:
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