My Oscar Reaction... sorta

I can't tell you how much I don't want to review the Oscars right now. I started a new job today. I'm preparing to leave for NY for the weekend on Friday. I've been doing things and going places non-stop since Friday. The last thing I want to do is review a 4hr anything. However, I shall give my opinions on it soon. Before Friday is gonna be my goal... time permitting.

I'll give you my highlights, starting with this introduction:

I think many audiences were dreading the Oscars. I'm not sure why. I, however, have been looking forward to this, well, pretty much since a year before (but especially within the past several months). Y'see, I've been reading movie news covering the Oscars since the buzz began (it usually starts the beginning of fall, but summer has its share of buzz too [remember "Dark Knight" was beginning of summer]). So as it all culminates into this one evening, my fears and apprehensions have already subsided. My expectations, carefully honed and calculated, are fulfilled with gentle ease (yeah, I knew it'd be a big night for "Slumdog" about a month ago). So much *could* go wrong. I was thoroughly pleased with pretty much all of it. And, I must point out, more highlights than the past 3 broadcasts combined. You may whine, but you know I'm right:

Here are my own personal highlights:

Epic Actor Award Presentation. Impossible to beat. The only way it could be bigger is if every living Academy member did a retrospective on each nominee. Really, how could it get any better?

Hugh Jackman's "I'm Wolveriiiine" crescendo. Top 5 funniest moments. Others on that list...

Ben Stiller's uproarious Joaquin Phoenix send-up

The Pineapple Express reprise.

Best speech of the night: Best Animated Short Film. "Domo arigoato, Mr. Robot."

Most entertaining acceptance: Best Documentary ("Man On Wire"). I had been looking forward to this ever since I saw it. The speech has a beautiful metaphor with a simple magic trick by the mischievous Philipe followed by the balancing of the Oscar on his chin. A bold and exhilarating act performed with as much destiny as was shown in the movie.

Slumdog got a lot of recognition. Probably too much. But I'm okay with that. Yeah! Take away from Benjamin Button and (ugh) The Reader! Go Slumdog! Wait... save room for Wall*E... oh, well, nevermind.

I was happy with every single win except one: Best Actor, Sean Penn. Bill Murray gave his career-defining performance in "Lost In Translation." Sean Penn gave yet another Oscar-bait performance and won instead that year with "Mystic River" (albeit a remarkable performance). Mickey Rourke gave his career-defining performance this year (and won every award he'd been nominated for) but lost to.... Sean Penn.

Best Foreign Film: "Waltz With Bashir" was supposed to win. "The Departures" (one of the biggest "Never heard of it" noms in the category) pulls arguably the hugest upset of the evening.

I <3 Tina Fey & Steve Martin. If a movie doesn't happen with them soon, riots will break out soon. I encourage these types of riots. More Tina Fey, please. More!

Heath Ledger's win: Seeing the teary-eyed distraught faces on the usually glittering faces of celebrities was absolutely heart-breaking. The Ledger family's acceptance seemed rehearsed by comparison. Nevertheless, it was a very sombre and touching moment. The terminally unlucky Bill Maher's opening line for the following category was prescient: "Everyone's crying and now I go on."

There are probably more moments I should talk about, but I'll hold off till later in the week. Check again soon!