I’ve already told you how I feel about the winners. Now I’m watching the show and delayed-blogging it.
At 3 hours and 40+ minutes including commercials, this is one of the longest Oscar shows that I can remember. I was waiting for the results to be announced this morning, and to say they *trickled* in is an understatement. At the 3-hour mark, I think they still had 6 to 8 categories to go.
Neil Patrick Harris’ opening number was a great start. Jack Black enlivened it as usual. (He also performed two well-received song-and-act numbers in 2004 and 2007.) Also, the guy he was sitting next to is Lupita Nyong’o’s brother! Whom I still vaguely remember from last year’s Oscars.
Awww, Jared Leto stood and clapped for J.K. Simmons when he won! He isn’t afraid to show his enthusiasm. Even though the people around him weren’t standing. (Inexplicably, because he was AMAZING in Whiplash.) And J.K’s family values reaffirming speech was great. “Call your mum!”
Why does Bradley Cooper look so severely clean-cut and smarmy tonight?
When NPH was doing his seat-filler bit with Steve Carell, did he forget what he was supposed to say? He seemed lost for words.
The “Everything is Awesome” performance was… wait for it… AWESOME! It made the show so much livelier.
One day, I shall watch all these nominated documentary shorts and features. They sound really interesting and important. (Though I’ve said this for lots of shows. My problem is that I keep getting distracted by other things.)
Wow, NPH, you followed up that appeal to talk about suicide with a quip about the balls to wear her dress! Insensitive much?
That Birdman sketch with NPH walking on stage in his briefs was fine, but they really sold it with Miles Teller as the drummer.
Someone on the internet commented (can’t remember from where): “Thank God Margot Robbie is around to remind us how Emma Stone used to look when she was blonde.” (Or something along those lines.) Can’t believe I never noticed the resemblance before!
Great women’s equality speech by Patricia Arquette! Equally great reaction by Meryl Streep!
Out of all the dresses won tonight, I am most perturbed by Zoe Saldana’s choice of a bustier gown that literally looks like lingerie with a skirt.
NPH started off well, but he started faltering as the night progressed. I was reading live-blogs of the ceremony, and internet commentators were really harsh on him. Frankly, he’s doing okay, but several of the jokes didn’t deliver (not his fault, the jokes were written badly in the first place), and it is nerve-wrecking to host in front of such a huge audience — including the ones at home armchair commenting on social media — when they don’t fully respond to your efforts.
Terrence Howard also sounds like he forgot what he was supposed to say, with his long, dramatic, overly emotional pauses. One of the commenters on the live-blog said he was acting out the nominees while introducing them, which I thought was hilarious.
The “what’s in the box” joke is getting tired.
That performance of “Glory” is rousing and tear-inducing. Totally deserves that standing ovation. I must watch Selma now. It’s a pity it earned much less than American Sniper. I’m not begrudging American Sniper the money it earned; I’m upset because I suspect — scratch that, I *know* — a good portion of the audience that boosted American Sniper‘s box office are the type of right-wing bigots that would have been right at home 50 years ago oppressing the blacks, and they will never understand the message of Selma, equality and justice.
“Benedict Cumberbatch is not only the most awesome name in show business, it’s also the sound you get when you ask John Travolta to pronounce ‘Ben Affleck.'” Speaking of which: hey, that’s the first time I’ve seen Ben Affleck in this entire ceremony.
That “Glom Gazingo” bit was great! John Travolta’s excessive face-touching was uncomfortable to watch though.
I’m doubly glad “Glory” won best song, especially after that performance. Common and John Legend’s acceptance speech is so moving.
Aww, looking at the film clips, I have the sudden urge to rewatch The Sound of Music again!
I loved Lady Gaga’s medley, though I wish they could have incorporated “The Lonely Goatherd” into it too. Seeing Julie Andrews come out and give her an extended hug was doubly awesome. :’) She remains as regal as ever. (Also, in a piece of unrelated trivia, she is director Mike Nichol’s widow, who was given the place of honour in the last slot of the “In Memoriam” segment.)
Another great speech by Graham Moore, winner of Best Adapted Screenplay for The Imitation Game. “Stay weird, stay different.”
I still maintain Michael Keaton was robbed. Even though Eddie Redmayne’s speech was endearing in an “OMG I can’t believe my luck!”, first-time nominee kind of way.
The Gone Girl clip they chose for Rosamund Pike reminds me how disturbing the film (and Amy) was all over again. :S
Michael Keaton looked so dejected watching Julianne Moore walk up the stage. 🙁
Nifty trick with NPH’s “predictions”! How did they do it?
Why did they call on Sean Penn to present Best Picture? Just curious. But he happens to be friends with Alejandro González Iñárritu, in case anyone’s wondering why he “insulted” the director when giving him the award.
And that’s a wrap for this year, which was heavy on the meaningful speeches. My favourite parts? The performances of “Everything is Awesome”, “Glory” and The Sound of Music medley. Everything else was fine (except several of the jokes). Poor NPH. The internet loved him when he was hosting the Tonys and the Emmys, but after this round, I don’t think he will want to host the Oscars again.
