I’m starting to get used to a solitary
viewing of the Academy Awards each year. This is necessitated by my wife’s
annual absence for warmer climes but hopefully this is the last year I am so unencumbered.
I hope to watch the 2020 Oscars while hearing breaking surf off to my right. I
truly overestimated my capacity for snack inhalation when I was buying same for
the show. This night is one of my cheat nights and I had visions of sweets
going downrange that were completely outside of my capacity. I did try but
admitted defeat in the face of overwhelming odds, it was a true case of conspicuous
consumption.
As an incorrigible movie geek the Oscars
are akin to the Super Bowl for me and I watch it from start to finish, once all
the red carpet silliness finishes. My daughter shares my affliction and hosted
her annual party complete with snacks themed to each of the best picture
nominees. She had her biggest turnout ever and pronounced the event a complete success.
The only blip on her screen was the FBR who was feeling better and decidedly
unhappy about her required bedtime. I caught up with them prior to the festivities
and could see the FBR was hovering in meltdown territory.
This was a hostless Oscar show which
saved time but did lead to some awkward moments but overall I really liked the show.
I correctly predicted 12 categories but still fell short of my daughter’s tally
once again. She’s good. I liked that more popular movies are starting to get
some recognition along with the usual unseen, “artsy” films that Oscar habitually
kowtows to.Black Panther took in some awards
along with Green Book as Best Picture which I thought was a great decision
since I was afraid Roma would get it. Roma definitely falls into the artsy type
I was complaining about. While the craftsmanship was obvious I thought it was a
depressing movie and unworthy (an opinion not shared by my daughter). It's really weird to see one of the gross out comedy Farrelly brothers associated with an Best Picture Oscar.
There were some great Queen moments
and I liked the selection of Rami Malek for his role in Bohemian Rhapsody. He gave
a very nice acceptance speech but the best of the night belonged to surprise winner,
Olivia Colman, who was so good in The Favourite. Everyone, including myself,
expected Glen Close to win as kind of a career recognition award. Colman, was
funny, sincere, and thoroughly entertaining as she won over the whole audience,
including Close.
Another great moment was the duet for
the eventual winning song Shallow, sung by Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper. While Cooper
was obviously fighting well above his weight when matching vocal chords with
Gaga it was still a very nice performance. Lady Gaga has changed my opinion of
her during this awards season. I was always thought she was supremely gifted
and weird to the point of psychosis. She’s changed that impression by coming
out from behind all the bizarre outfits and letting her talent shine without
distraction.
Finally I take this year’s show as a
good sign for the academy. The increase in voting membership obviously had an
effect with popular films finally getting more of their due. I thought the show
moved along nicely without a host and if this continues maybe we’ll look back
in the coming years to feel grateful for Kevin Hart’s homophobic phase.
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RECURRING
CHARACTERS
BRS - Blog Reader the Sequel - second granddaughter; FBR
- First Blog Reader - first granddaughter, ABFA –
Amazing Best Family Athlete = my daughter in law, formerly known both as MEF – Most Excellent Fiancé
& MEG – Most Excellent Girlfriend; Wingman – my son
in law; Keene Friends 1 & 2 – friends since high school
from my home town of Keene, NH; Soxfather - my brother in law; Great
Aunt = my elder sister; Cantankerous Friend – friend since
grade school who likes to argue about everything, poses as radical leftist to
attract women; Pittsburgh College Roommate – high school
friend, also a “Minor Celebrity” in Pittsburgh; Deckzilla
– our backyard deck which
grew to monstrous dimensions once my wife got involved in planning; Maine
and Virginia Musqueteras – two close friends of my wife – her US
sisters, my wife is the 3rdmusquetera (musketeer); Buddy – AKA
the Wonder Pooch – family dog, a black lab – hates squirrels, died
in 2017; Riggins - also known as the Grandpuppy,
son's dog, surrogate grandchild while awaiting arrival of the BRS; PanaGals –
female relatives/friends of my wife from Panama; Panamanian/Latin Mafia –
inevitable group of Latino friends my wife accumulates wherever we have lived
& their spouses; Neighborhood Mafioso - wife's close
friend and Panamanian mafia member, Favorite Panamanian - the wife
(of course); First Friday – celebrations to mark the First Friday
of the Week; Excellent Boss – my former direct boss at
work; Deckzilla Dude – senior
citizen carpenter/contractor; Voices of Inappropriate Worth -
members of public who come to every Worcester public meeting to complain, all
are on public assistance along with demeanor issues
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