After the Golden Globes, I was really, REALLY afraid Avatar was going to take the Oscars. Yes, I like the movie. It was an incredible escape, an experience you wish every movie could provide.
But the Globes gave Avatar Best Picture? What were they smoking? I mean, it’s a fantastic technological leap forward in movie re-making for Pocahontas/Fern Gully/Dances with Wolves. That doesn’t deserve Best Picture. That kind of voting usually we leave for the Academy of the Easily Persuaded.
Well, this time, the Academy is also easily persuaded but not by the biggest movie of the year but by the most critically-hyped film which the Globes ignored.
Topsy turvy, my little world of Pop Culture has become. I blame it on the global warming. Or dying bees. Or something.
But anyway. Hooray for The Hurt Locker!
Not sure if it “deserves” the award yet, but having the first female director winning as Oscar totally kicks ass.
It is odd to go into the Oscars and not having seen the Best Pictures films because I didn’t do the AMC marathon this year. 2 Saturdays of 5 movies? I just couldn’t do it. I managed to have seen 4 out of 10–Avatar, Inglorious Basterds, Up, and District 9–which will be 5 out of 10 as soon as I pop The Hurt Locker in to the DVD player. It’s been sitting here by TV for the past 2 weeks. (Sorry, Netflix!)
So I go back to my method of buzz judging. And boy, my buzz meter still works beautifully. As a matter of fact, it works so well that I’m starting to think that my personal judgment is obviously flawed. If you look at my recent years of prediction when I actually saw all Best Picture nominees and a few other, I’ve been horribly wrong.
This year, going in half blind, I only missed 5 out of 24. Back to the 79.17% accuracy of 2007, baby! (2008 was the most disastrous at 50% and 2009 was 58%)
I was on the spot guessing The Cove over Food Inc. for Best Doc–despite my strong feelings for Food Inc.–and Young Victoria over Nine for Costume Design. It usually doesn’t fail to bet on a lavish period pieces for Costume Design. And, of course, the luckiest guess of Music by Prudence for Short Doc.
Foreign-language film, as of recent years, has always been a wild guess. I went with A Prophet. I blame Entertainment Weekly for that one. The sound awards, usually go to the big bang/boom movies so naturally I picked Star Trek (editing) and Transformers (mixing) and missed on both account. I guess there are more bombs in The Hurt Locker than I thought. And of course, a big fan of Wallace & Gromit, I cheered for them and was wrong. The surprise miss was Best Actress. I thought for sure Gabourey would go home with the Oscars.
Oh, and I don’t know who else was offended by the Orchestra’s choice to play “I am woman” when Kathryn Bigelow exited the stage for Best Director. I mean, it is definitely a “You go, girl!” moment, but “I am woman”?!? Really???
However, watching the reaction shot of Jim Cameron after losing both Best Director and Best Picture to his ex-wife is priceless. Heehee…
Final note:
Dear Sam Worthington,
You know I love you. I’m absolutely, hopelessly charmed by your toothy smile which you seem to have forgotten to do when a non-movie camera is pointed at you. You know I adore your accent and your gentle eyes. Did I mention your pretty, pretty mouth…yeah…
However, sweetie, you were up in the stage presenting the Academy Awards chewing gum.
First you stop smiling. And now you can’t stop chewing gum.
My fantasy life with you crumbles to the floor under the weight of reality. What a shame.
Love.
– OakMonster