Tuesday, February 24, 2015

Takeaways from the 2015 Oscars

Thoughts on the 2015 Oscars




Oscars 2015


The biggest night in Hollywood was this past Sunday night. The 87th Annual Oscars bring together Hollywood’s biggest stars and honor the years best movies that are usually based on books. Here are some quick, but hard hitting thoughts on the show:

*I couldn’t watch the whole thing live. It starts too late and lasts way too long. It needs to start at 7 and be done by 11. Most people in America have to work on Monday and can’t afford to stay up until midnight to watch the whole thing. Either start the show earlier, shorten the show, or give out the important awards first. 

*I like Neil Patrick Harris, but he wasn’t a great host. The opening number with Anna Kendrick and Jack Black was good, but I’m probably bias because I enjoy anything with Anna Kendrick. After that it was all downhill. NPH was was snarky and honest, but he looked a little uncomfortable with his jokes and a lot of them fell flat. Maybe if Neil was playing Barney Stinson hosting the Oscars things would’ve worked out a little better. And that prediction box gag was brutal. 

*Why have wrap-up music if everyone is going to ignore it? Either don’t bother with it because it sounds really bad when you’re trying to wrap-up someone while they’re thanking a deceased family member or fighting for a cause or just have Mike Tyson walk out when you want someone to finish. It might look like a funny bit at first, but if he’s allowed to punch the person who needs to go away, I think Hollywood will get the message. 

*The In Memoriam segment this year was disappointing. I thought the portraits were well done, but I wanted to see scenes from the actors that made them great. I wanted a good Robin Williams montage, not a quick picture of him. Speaking of, how was Robin not the final imagine and where was Joan Rivers? I realize that Rivers was never nominated for an Oscar and she didn’t have a big movie career, but the Oscars is one of the most fashionable nights of the year and Rivers spent years talking about it. 

*Jennifer Hudson sung “I Can’t Let Go”. Someone introduce her to Idina Menzel. 

*Speaking of Idina, that bit with John Travolta was awkward to watch. Travolta has never been the most normal guy in the world, but he was extra creepy awkward on Sunday. He’s gone from fun loving uncle who you’re excited to see to the creepy uncle who you’re afraid to be alone with. 

Birdman


*Birdman winning Best Picture was predictable, which made it boring. I watched Birdman and I thought it was good, but a bit dull. I guess everyone in Hollywood loved it because it was about Hollywood, but it didn’t do much for me. I would’ve voted for American Sniper because Bradley Cooper deserves to win something for these last three years since he’s never going to win Best Actor or Supporting Actor. And because that was actually a good movie. 

*Award winners have to stop trying to take a stand in their speeches. Patricia Arquette’s “WOMEN DESERVE EQUAL RIGHTS!” and Common and John Legend’s “BLACK PEOPLE ARE STILL SLAVES!” rally cries felt so forced. It’s tough for average people to care about your stances when we’re watching you get verbally blown for four hours. You want to truly change things? Go out and do something. Lead by example and don’t just talk about it. Turn down roles unless you’re getting paid the same as the male lead. Spend your money on a good lawyer for black people if you feel they are innocent. I don’t necessarily disagree with what Arquette, Common, and Legend were saying, but it’s tough to back them when they say these things after receiving a $125,000 gift bag just for showing up to an event. 

*Eminem, Common, and John Legend all have an Oscar. Can they please do a song together and shut the rap game down? A John Legend hook between Eminem and Common verses is a dream of mine. 

*I was really happy that J.K. Simmons won Best Supporting Actor. He’ll always be Schillinger to me. 

*I was pulling for Rosamund Pike in the Best Actress category, but she never stood a chance. As great as she was in Gone Girl, playing a psychotic wife just doesn’t hold up to playing an Alzheimers victim. 

*Why was everyone so shocked that Lady Gaga could sing? When she’s not trying to be over the top and headline grabbing on the red carpet, she’s always been a strong performer and vocalist. 

*”Everything is Awesome” was, indeed, awesome. 


Overall, the 87th Oscars came and went. Awards were given out, people performed songs, there were some good speeches, and most people probably fell asleep. 

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