Academy Awards roundup

I have not always watched award shows. In fact, I've typically shunned them for myriad good reasons. But togetherness with my wife prevailed and I viewed last night the 78th Academy Awards. I have to admit, it has become somewhat enjoyable, seeing the stars in their finest duds, commenting on those duds, and receiving affirmations of my interpretations from my fashionista wife. Apparently, I have an eye for things fashionable - even though I admit to having more than one t-shirt older than Scarlett Johansson.

Of the fashions on display, I enjoyed this dress and its commentary best:

Charlize Theron took out the Best Performance by a Frock in A Dramatic Role in a black Christian Dior haute couture gown with an asymmetric shoulder puff, which gave the impression she had been gift-wrapped.

Jon Stewart, as host, was simply great. As my wife pointed out, his humor is probably too smart for most in Hollywood, who laughed more reticently (while looking at others for their interpretations) than enthusiastically. Here's CNN's take:

Most jabs aimed at film industry

This year's ceremony threatened to be one of the most politically charged in recent memory because of both the themes of the nominated pictures and host Jon Stewart, who made his name mocking politics on Comedy Central's late-night "The Daily Show," pointing out the absurdities of both parties through election campaigns, scandal and simple Washington inefficiency.

But Stewart confined most of his monologue's jabs to the film industry, however: He praised "Capote" for showing Americans that "not all gay people are virile cowboys." And "Capote" and "Good Night, and Good Luck," he said, "are about determined journalists defying obstacles in a relentless pursuit of the truth."

"Needless to say, both are period pieces," he added.

And after a montage of films that highlighted the social issues of their day, from "The Grapes of Wrath" to "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner," Stewart quipped: "And none of those issues was ever a problem again."

Clooney v. Stewart

Indeed, most jabs were aimed at Hollywood itself, which as a whole, takes that self very very seriously. If there's one thing Stewart is seemingly incapable of, it is tolerating those who take themselves too seriously. That last joke practically had us busting a collective gut. It seemed a direct slap back at George Clooney, who had a little rant about being proud to be a member of "out of touch" Hollywood, responsible for bringing AIDS to light and such. Stewart, with a well-written core show beneath him, seemed free to spice things up with ad-lib commentary. When he's in this happy place, he's nearly unstoppable. Clooney, who relies seemingly solely on his good looks and acerbic quick wit, appeared unprepared to offer more than his initial diatribe.

Stewart's comments following the Three 6 Mafia "musical" number were hilarious - not so much for what he said, but the obvious comical overload his mind was going through as the camera scanned his face. There were simply too many jokes to make in a limited time. He later chimed in with "For those of you keeping score, Martin Scorsese: 0 Oscars, Three 6 Mafia: 1".

Of the song itself - its winning an Oscar - my take is probably pointless. I do not like rap music. I appreciate some of the more musical variety with obviously difficult and stacatto delivery, but as a genre, I'm not a reasonable judge. Keep it clean(er) and I'm a lot more inclined to listen. There was some controversy over whether they could clean up the song:

Still, despite toning down the lyrics, Three 6 Mafia was bleeped once during their performance because ABC censors thought they heard the f-word (a network spokeswoman said they couldn't be sure what was said). And they got another bleep during their giddy acceptance speech, for the same reason.

Yeah, that was my take: "Who knows if they were using profanities?" It's yet another liability of a failure to enunciate clearly.

Resse Witherspoon delivered a wonderful acceptance speech for her Best Actress award, with homages to family and hard work. You could see in her that this award was merely the latest notice of her character development, yet not a culmination - a touchstone only. There will be more. She's going to have magnificent kids; you can just tell.

It was interesting to see Rachel Weisz win for Best Supporting Actress, as she just came to my notice the other day, when I posted a commentary on the doings of her boyfriend, Darren Aronofsky, who was seen with her tangentially. One comment to Aronofsky: Dude, if that's your bun in her oven, make an honest woman out of her posthaste!

Of the Best Picture nominees, the only one I'd seen was Crash, which both my wife and I liked a great deal. Brendan Frazier's and Sandra Bullock's characters were utterly annoying, but I think they were intended to be. It is said you never meet yourself - your true character - until under serious pressure. Both Frazier's and Bullock's characters failed their tests miserably. Others faired much better, such as with Matt Dillon's character.

All in all, the Oscars was a surprise. There was little left-wing ranting and more attention to reality than I ever expected. And it was downright funny.

Ironically, the Academy Awards presentation show was far better "date" entertainment than any of the films nominated for best picture.