Oscar Reflections

Okay, let me get the bitterness out of the way first. I can't believe Brokeback Mountain didn't get the Best Picture award. There, I said it. I know I am not alone in this regard, if the collective gasp from the Academy Award audience was any indication. Was Crash a good movie? Yes? Better than Brokeback (and the other contenders)? No. But that's just my opinion. That and a fiver will get you a grande latte' at Starbucks. Obviously, many in the Academy don't agree with me. Fuck 'em. Let them get their own blog.

Having said that, Brokeback did get the other three awards I guessed it would. What's up with Ang, in his acceptance speech, thank the characters of Jack and Ennis but not the actors who brought them to life? Sheesh.

And speaking of actors, Heath, Jake and Michelle got robbed -- as I suspected they would. Heath doesn't have a large enough body of work and Michelle is considered by many to be a television actress. Nevermind that their portrayals were flawless. Heath, in particular, so disappeared beneath the skin of his character as to make the acting seamless.

And then there's young, adorable Jake. Damn, he even managed to make an awkward-looking tux look sexy. The boyish grin he flashed while delivering that inadvertent gag line during his montage intro made me melt. (Yeah, I know it sounds all 16 Magazine. Sue me.)

Michelle looked ravishing. Seriously, she absolutely glowed.

Other thoughts:

George Clooney is such a stud. Warm, funny, spontaneous and sexy as all hell.

I thought Jon Stewart did an admirable job hosting this year. I was afraid he would get too political, but he did a nice job of keeping things light. He didn't seem 100% comfortable, but hey, it's a tough gig.

Can Dolly Parton get any prettier? Granted, all the surgery makes her look completely different than she did in her 9 to 5 days, but she certainly doesn't look, sound or act her age. And that's a good thing. I was surprised her song didn't win the award, but her performance was such a delight in and of itself, I felt like I was the winner by getting to see it.

That's it for now. Jarhead (Jake!) comes out tomorrow, along with Harry Potter. And I have to start counting the days until Brokeback is released on DVD.

Speaking of DVD releases, I've watched RENT three times since I picked it up. I saw the stage version years ago in New York and forgotten how much I loved the story and the music.

I think I'm developing an addiction to sad movies. I mean, tears can be so cathartic and... cleansing. Weird.