Celebrity Gossip
Oscar hits and misses
“It’s a grand and glorious feeling. But I’ll be wearing the same size hat tomorrow,” said Clark Gable after winning an Oscar back in 1939.
Hmmm, maybe that’s what was missing from the Academy Awards on Sundaynight— A galaxy of r-eal-l-y big stars. Many of the still living and most celebrated were missing— Julia Roberts, George Clooney, Jack Nicholson, Diane Keaton, Annette Benning, Mel Gibson, Denzel Washington, Cher, Bette Midler, Susan Sarandon, Cate Blanchett, Warren Beatty, Gwyneth Paltrow, Tom Cruise, Al Pacino, Sean Connery, Jessica Lange, Helen Mirren, Judi Dench, Emma Thompson, Clint Eastwood— these are just a few of the truly famous off the top of my head. (And, of course, still no Lifetime Achievement for the biggest earner, most underrated film star of the ’50s— Doris Day!)
But I did like having five famous presenters who had won the Oscar do the “best supporting” and “best” awards. That was interesting. And it gave us all something to think about as we tried to remember what role each had won for in the past. (And how they looked, of course.)
It is impossible to resist Hugh Jackman, but his very informal offhand nature may have thrown things off a bit in the beginning. It was a little too silly and awkward. However, I thoroughly enjoyed the white tie and tails number choreographed by Baz Luhrmann starring Jackman and Beyonce.
Also, I think (1) they should begin at 7 p. m. no matter what time it is in California. (2) Technical award people and everybody else should be warned on pain of death not to recite lists of names nobody ever heard of. This is a big moment; can’t you think of something creative and interesting to say? (3) Bring back the full-screen simple presentation when showing us the dear departed. It was terrible all that technical montage stuff that appeared as if they were intent on showing you how small they could make the pictures. At times I couldn’t even identify the person who had gone on to that great movie theater in the sky.
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Many insiders had been wondering if Kate Winslet would include the movie producer extraordinary, Harvey Weinstein, in her thanks when she accepted her Oscar. She didn’t, although Harvey, the Oscar expert, worked tirelessly to help secure her win in his film “The Reader.”
I’m not surprised. On more than one occasion recently, Kate has made it quite clear that she is “not Harvey’s creature!”
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What will happen in the feature sequel to “Sex and the City?” Of course, Carrie and Mr. Big will probably separate and divorce and there might even be children involved. They say Sarah Jessica Parker is already worried that this big successful franchise (the original made almost $400 million worldwide) won’t work in an economic downturn. She told Tim Walker: “There is a lot that we have to think about because times are very different.” All in all, she doesn’t want to be downbeat and feels people may still be in the mood for a romp, even with recession looming.
Screwball comedy anyone?
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