I now have an awesome Droid app that lets me update my blog!!!! This is awesome. I will try to blog more during my spare time (class). Or in this case, on the bus to Busch. This will be great for a new cooking blog i am aspiring to begin. I will call it: Creations.
For one thing, I no longer wake up in the mornings abhorring life.
I’ve been blogging, only exiled. But for this occasion, I need to follow tradition and get it all in writing - that is the 81st Oscars.
The Oscars was presented in a refreshingly new style, and I liked it a lot. I felt a bit different watching the show this year from this side of the pond. It felt like all of the actors and actresses that I’ve watched growing up are all old now, and this year seemed to play off very well to the theme of change - the beginning of the new generation.
Let’s start with Hugh Jackman, this years sexiest man alive hosting the oscars. I give him an A. He was on top of his game mingling with the stars and performed better than I had ever anticipated. His opening ‘low-budget’ introduction came as an initial shock because I had no idea the man could sing like that. After a while it seemed like a Justin Timberlake act from another show, only Justin’s act was a little better in my opinion. Only, Hugh’s had a more phenomenal ending standing atop the center podium, lights bright behind him, singing “I am Wolverine!”
What struck, though, was that this opening number quickly defined this years ceremony. Lights, music, dancing - just fun - more of a performance than an awards show. Rather, the show this year had an emphasis on content, on going all out and getting the best of the business to show their best. Like Team USA Basketball in the olympics, no longer are they going to get a bunch of all-stars and throw them on the court, there needs to be a plan, there needs to be direction, and the had to do just that to prove why it was the most acclaimed awards show in all of cinema.
Immediately after the opening number was the award for best supporting actress. I was once again amused with the change in style here where they had a montage of past winners followed by a presentation from five selected past winners. Each of this five would describe each of the five nominees and then the winner would be announced to join the group. How beautifully crafted I thought this idea was when I saw it, to see five cinema legends standing aligned, tall, and poised complimenting the nominees among the audience. What a great idea it was and how interesting it was to listen to the peer compliments. A+ on this change.
It seemed that most of the audience, like me, were pro-Slumdog Millionaire. There did not seem to be too many people who were not, i think, because we all kind of want that feel-good movie to win. It was the new generation’s film, none of that majorly artsy stuff. Just a movie that’s touched our hearts.
I generally agree with Peter Gabriel that it was lame for Oscars to cut short the nominated songs into a medley, but this, he missed out. I wish they hadn’t, but I think a medley is better than nothing. And watching the medley fortified my opinion because the way they mixed two separate genre’s of music was incredibly beautiful. It was not disrespectful - it showed that music is music. our universal language. and like ‘Slumdog’, the world is globalizing and the new, modern generation theme is now that we can mesh cultures and produce amazing feats. I give props for getting John Legend to perform.
Speaking of performing, the musical is back! Straight up A++ to this number. It almost seemed like it would be another Jackman medley, but right before I started getting bored, appears the beautiful, talent Beyonce Knowles. For me, the moment she came up from under the stage, all doubts were gone. It was over, no more question about it, this show was amazing. And Beyonce was amazing - nothing less. There was the treat of Efron and Hudgens and the other two from Mama Mia - the whole thing was amazing, but MVP goes to Beyonce. Did you hear her segment of Lady Marmalade?
The other notable performance was the Apatow crew, once again. Franco and Rogen both delivered fantastic performances. MVP: James Franco as his character Saul in P. Express. Like a quality blunt, he his hard and strong. As soon as I heard “intelectually stimulated, or little boys having sex with nazi’s” IT WAS OVER. Yes, I laughed along to the Reader - and having the scene where he watches himself in Milk was a stroke of genius. A++ again.
The last notable bit has got to be Big Will. Hugh Jackman did a great job, but I’ve got to say, if he was outstaged by anyone, it was Will Smith. I would really like to see this guy host an Oscar ceremony in the future.
The true end is after the best picture is announced, and the winner was Slumdog Millionaire, which was received with cheers and ovation. I am glad that they had the whole crew come on stage to end the show. It was truly a remarkable feat.
Great show.
Here we are now, at this legendary eve before battle as I prepare myself mentally for the daunting tasks that lie ahead. It is always such a still and calm night finding acceptance in all that I have done in these past weeks, all that I have not. I stand before the Jersey sky to bid farewell to the life that I leave behind celebrating with myself the beginning of the rest of my life.
There is something special about the last people you see before you go, especially the ones that you know you will see again. As I make my departure, I will have no intention of looking back, and I will take with me all of my possessions that hold no worldy value. Driven by pure ambition, I flee this land with a mission, but this time keeping with me a timeless incentive at the request of peers - just have fun.