When I first heard Billy Crystal named as host this year, I thought it was a very good choice. He’s one of very few hosts who can improvise and riff on unexpected moments that occur during the show. But then a friend of mine who went to the rehearsals told me the skits were boring and the banter dull. So I approached the show with somewhat lowered expectations but ended up enjoying it quite a bit, definitely much more than last year’s ceremony.
First, the winners in some of the major categories:
Best Picture: The Artist
Best Actor: Jean Dujardin, The Artist
Best Actress: Meryl Streep, The Iron Lady
Best Supporting Actor: Christopher Plummer, Beginners
Best Supporting Actress: Octavia Spencer, The Help
Best Director: Michel Hazanavicius, The Artist
Best Original Screenplay: Woody Allen, Midnight in Paris
Best Adapted Screenplay: Alexander Payne, Nat Faxon, and Jim Rash, The Descendants
(For a full list, go here.)
Some of the highlights:
Funniest but least helpful focus group: Christopher Guest and Co. as an early focus group, giving feedback on a test screening of The Wizard of Oz. Favorite comments were Catherine O’Hara’s complaint about the use of little people to play munchkins (she thought they were kids): “You hire all these children and little people when there are plenty of capable, full-sized men out in the bread lines still.” Jennifer Coolidge chimed in with “there’s lots of ugly faces in this film, lots of elevator faces, faces that look like they were caught in an elevator, smushed together, hatchet faces, long chins…I’ve never seen so many unattractive people.”
Most inclusive thank-you: The sound editing duo of Philip Stockton and Eugene Gearty, for Hugo, who said, “I’d just like to thank everybody who is here tonight, and everybody who isn’t, and everybody who’s ever been born, or may be born or be born again or reborn. If I’ve forgotten anybody then you probably know who you are.”
Best live special effects: The Cirque du Soleil performance. I’ll take them over lame musical numbers any day.
Funniest reality check: Chris Rock on why “I love animation. You could be anything you want to be. You’re a fat woman, you can play a skinny princess. If you’re a short wimpy guy, you can play a tall gladiator. If you’re a white man, you can play an Arabian prince. And if you’re a black man, you can play a donkey or a zebra.”
Randiest presenter: Melissa McCarthy, doing a take on her Bridesmaids character by coming to Crystal’s dressing room in a robe and asking him, “How about we make this dressing room an undressing room?”
Longest wait for an Oscar: Christopher Plummer’s. The 82-year-old actor started his acceptance speech by addressing the Oscar: “You’re only two years older than me, darling. Where have you been all my life?” He continued, “When I first emerged from my mother’s womb, I was already rehearsing my Academy thank-you speech.”
Best quip after a boring speech: After Academy president Tom Sherak gave his obligatory dull remarks, Crystal said, “Thank you for whipping the crowd into a frenzy.”
Funniest improvised bit from a winner: The Descendants‘ co-writer Jim Rash (who also plays Dean Pelton in Community), striking the same pose as Angelina Jolie when she came out to present his award.
Most exciting moment for a Flight of the Conchords fan: When Bret McKenzie won best song for “Man or Muppets” from The Muppets. Who knew half of that brilliantly goofy duo would one day be an Oscar winner? He said, “I grew up in New Zealand watching The Muppets on TV. Never dreamed I’d get to work with them. I was genuinely starstruck when I finally met Kermit the frog, but once you get to know him, he’s just a normal frog. And like many stars here, he’s a lot shorter in real life.”
Most, ah, interesting way of presenting awards for the short films: Kristen Wiig and Maya Rudolph making double entendres about the shorts, though Rudolph claimed they were talking about movies, not “wieners.” Wiig: “See, I’d rather have a short film with some heft that’s nice to me, rather than a long film that just lies there and makes you do all the work.” Rudolph: “But sometimes a film can be too long.” Wigg: “Not for me, not for me.”
Goofiest running gag: The Scorsese drinking game that the Bridesmaids ladies started at the Golden Globes, in which if someone says the director’s name, they have to drink. The best part was Scorsese’s delighted but completely befuddled reaction, having no idea what was going on.
Presenter who best managed to make scripted bits seem funny and sincere: Colin Firth, who presented the best actress award. When paying tribute to Meryl Streep, he said, “Mamma Mia! We were in Greece, we danced, I was gay, and we were happy.” He also told Michelle Williams she was his mentor on the movie they did together (A Thousand Acres), and that he aspired to be like her “even though you were 12 and I was 35.”
After the show, a friend of mine who was at the Oscars called and sent over a couple of fun photos she took. She said Octavia Spencer decided her clutch was too small so she also carried a giant handbag with her.
My friend also caught Kenneth Branagh photobombing John Corbett and his longtime partner, Bo Derek.
What did you think of the show? Favorite bits? Parts you hated? For my fashion roundup, click here.
Photos: The Artist cast/Ian West/PA; Cirque du Soleil/Kevin Winter/Getty Images; Angelina Jolie-Jim Rash/Entertainment Weekly; Rose Byrne & Melissa McCarthy/Kevin Winter/Getty
4 Comments
EIREGO
February 27, 2012 at 9:08 amI thought it was a decent show. As with any awards show, some stuff worked, some didn’t and, as long as no one took it too serious, everybody had fun.
The bit with Jim Rash making fun of Angelina’s exposed leg pose was just kind of lame for me. I know it’s all over the internet this morning, but, come on, that guy looks like such a little nerd for doing it. Jolie’s leg, unlike the usual too ample cleavage we are normally exposed to in this town, should be applauded, not mocked. And whatever his intentions for trying to take AJ down a peg, he just came off as a bully, instead of a class clown. Hopefully, Brad Pitt “accidently” punched him in the face at one of the after parties and Taylor Swift wrote a song about it.
le0pard13
February 27, 2012 at 9:46 amI was disappointed on the lack of love for ‘The Descendants’ (I was pulling for Clooney for Best Actor, though I can happily live with Dujardin’s selection). Overall, the show was okay, Crystal’s stint was a lift (though my wife’s thoughts about his age weren’t helped by an appearance on high definition television). The usual mix of good and ‘eh’ moments. During the memorial segment I kept wondering who they were going to forget or not do a fair acknowledgment. Is it just me or does Tom Cruise always seem to get the Best Picture presenter slot (speaking of him, did you see that big splashy Scientology commercial during the broadcast?). Perhaps, I’m tiring of the accent schtick of Meryl Streep performances of late — and yeah, I think last night’s Best Actress award was a make-up call for the years she’s come up empty (‘The Iron Lady’, a so-so biopic, seemed to be an obvious vehicle for this). I was pulling for Viola (so both my acting picks tanked).
Classic!
Poncho
February 27, 2012 at 7:49 pmSadly, I couldn’t watch the whole telecast. But what I did see I found quite funny. i think Billy Crystal did a fantastic job (as expected) and the ceremony went smoothly.
As presenters: loved Emma Stone, Downey Jr. & Paltrow, the Bridesmaids girls and Colin Firth. I was half expecting Melissa Leo to joke about her f**** up last year.
As winners: I laughed through all of Christopher Plummer’s speech, loved Meryl Streep honesty, and was thrilled to see (Figwit) Bret McKenzie up there.
I don’t think I have any complaints of the show (other than what I wrote on your nominations post).
Shell Sherree
February 27, 2012 at 7:57 pmColin Firth was pretty much my highlight for the evening, though I was also glad to see Billy Crystal back. There wasn’t enough Uggie for my liking but c’est la vie ~ I was ever so happy Jean Dujardin won Best Actor. He’s delightful, not to mention he knows how to put sausages to good use.