Thoughts on the 2016 Oscars

   

OSCAR- The Grouch

     The Host/The Scene:
I don't need to say too much about last night's Oscars ceremony because host Chris Rock really left it all up on the stage.  He said a lot about race, politics, and many other controversial issues. We get it, there was a lack of diversity (read: too much "whiteness") in the nominee section this year. It's been said. Let's move on. Did we need a special black history month presentation from Angela Bassett (ironically at the very end of that month) about the work of comedian Jack Black (you thought it was going to be a tribute to the noticeably absent Will Smith, right?) Probably not. Was it amusing? Sure. Also what was Stacy Dash doing there celebrating black history month, after publicly denouncing the event weeks earlier? All in jest, I guess. Also amusing were the appearances of the movies' real life heroes Joy Mangano and Michael Rezendes, and the fake appearance of real-life Straight Outta Compton star,  Suge Knight,  who is currently serving prison time.

Wins and Losses:
     Leonardo DiCaprio finally got an award for best actor for his role in The Revenant (Like Castaway with a bear instead of a volleyball). Congrats to Leo for carrying the story and finally being King of the World, but this movie leaves me very uninterested. I think it's still going to be a pass.  Also a justly deserved win to the one woman show, Room and Best Actress Brie Larsen. She also carried her film as a mother of a young boy trapped in captivity with her son, who has a child by her captor.  For supporting roles, Alicia Vikander was Best Supporting actress for The Dutch Girl, and a total surprise was Best Supporting actor  Mark Ryland for Bridge of Spies. Miss Vikander also exposed a surprise. She was seen kissing, and is apparently is apparently dating Michael Fassbender, who received a smooch from Vikander before she accepted her award.  The most upset-wotrhy event of the night (in my opinion) were all of the technical wins for Mad Max: Fury Road.  Another shocker only three of the songs for best original song were performed. I was told that the other songs were from lesser known movies and short films, so I guess they went with the big numbers and acts (Lady Gaga, The Weekend, and Winner Sam Smith). Also a winner on Sunday was Oprah, who wasn't even there but got a though out on twitter after someone mistakenly tagged a picture of Whoppi Goldberg as the legendary miss o.

     The biggest win of the night was Matt Damon, who lost at the Oscars, but snuck onto the stage of Jimmy Kimmel's after Oscars Special, riding shotgun in Ben Affleck's sweater. Damon is famously bumped for time at the end of each Kimmel episode, and has notable appearances including a show a takeover where he tied Jimmy to a chair and hosted the show.

Fashion: My Loves
Priyanka Chopra - white dress from Zuhair Murad
Margot Robbie - gold dress from Tom Ford 
Jennifer Garner - black dress from Atelier Versace
Alicia Vikander - yellow dress from Louis Vuitton
Brie Larsen - blue dress from Gucci 
Rachel McAdams - green dress from August Getty Atelier
Charlize Theron - red dress from Dior
Tina Fey              -purple dress from ????
I also liked Reese Witherspoon's similar purple dress from Oscar de La Renta, but Tina was just working hers a little better. I think it had a bit more of a form-fitting shape.

A Note About National Unfriend Day

Cut out the friend fat in your life!
- Jimmy Kimmel

I really agree with Jimmy's new declaration of Nov. 17th as National Unfriend Day. Some aspects of social networking- (they made a movie about facebook!) have taken over our way of life, most importantly the idea that we NEED to have all these virtual friends, and invite them to like our band, place of work, or class project. (No thanks kid I went to third grade with and haven't talked to since then).

And the girl he uses in his example is a perfect example of the many people who use facebook as their sole means of communication (I don't care what you had for lunch, that you're sad its raining etc...)

As my friend (real friend) CR once said, "Go read a book ho." Books sound like a good idea. Let's go with that.

A Note About Eclipses, Promotions, and Adorableness

I love Twilight. Now I know what you're thinking, one of those people chasing the stars through the street and grabbing locks of Robert Pattison's gorgeous hair. Hmm, I do love his hair. Now I'm also the first to point out inaccuracies in the movies and corny dialogue etc... but yes, I am a Twilight saga fan.

The big "Eclipse of the Heart" episode of Jimmy Kimmel was on this evening. P.S. -genius marketing strategy for the episode. And the sets designed to look like Forks were oddly unique, but reminiscent of the recent "LOST" themed episode of Jimmy.

There always seems to be some slighted members of interviews. Where were Kellan Lutz and Jackson Rathbone in this "cast interview??? As Edward's brothers, cast members of every movie, and pretty important members of the story, they were mysteriously absent. I love all of the other cast members, and it was interesting to see the "volturi" members included such as Dakota Fanning and the extremely sweet Xavier Samuel.

Why do the townspeople of forks rarely get their due diligence in promotion? Where were the talented actors that play Jessica, Angela, Eric and the perpetually sad Mike Newton. And where was Billy Burke, who plays Bella's father, Chief Charlie Swan?

Marketing aspects aside, I got to see another side of Peter Facinelli on tonight's show. He is so sweet, and a very likable and engaging conversationalist. And he looks so hot, without that horrible blond dye they make him put in his hair as Dr. Cullen. Did anyone else ever realize he could pass for the brother of Mark Feuerstein from Royal Pains?

And surprisingly, there was a lack of awkward conversation between Rob Pattinson and Kristen Stewart in this interview, which was refreshing. Rob, as always, was adorable (gotta love that accent and his somewhat trimmed mussed up locks). And as much as I don't feel any attraction toward Taylor, he seemed really sweet when talking about the promotional tour for the movie.

And to top it off, they had a great "Jersey Shore" spoof of the Twilight movie, complete with Mike "the situation" flashing his sparkling abs and trying to "get his tan on".