From Planes, Trains and Automobiles:
Oscars 2021. I am hoping for something that is different from the disappointing predictability of Mank winning. I always root for Frances McDormand. Chadwick Boseman did a fine job. I sure hope Sacha Baron Cohen (or his film) wins for something, but will also be pleased with a win by Daniel Kaluuya. Much as I found the movie The White Tiger to be (surprisingly) watchable (and relieved that Priyanka Chopra did not grate), it is nowhere as enjoyable as the book that won the Booker Prize. Something for Tenet would be nice. April 25th it is.
I went 0/2 as the show began. Oh, oh. I didn’t predict that Best Screenplays would go to Promising Young Woman (although secretly I was thinking Carey Mulligan might win over Frances McDormand) and The Father.
Some free-association as the show went on:
Carey Mulligan. An Education. Laura Dern. Wild at Heart. Reese Witherspoon. Legally Blonde. Halle Berry. Executive Decision. Harrison Ford. Raiders of the Lost Ark. Brad Pitt. 12 Monkeys. Daniel Kaluuya. Get Out. Renee Zellweger. Chicago.
Then I warmed up. Visual Effects went to Tenet. Daniel Kaluuya won Best Supporting Actor. I was happy to see Best Supporting Actress went to Yuh-Jung Youn. Her acceptance speech opening flirtation with Brad Pitt (an Executive Producer of Minari, which won both the U.S. Dramatic Grand Jury Prize and U.S. Dramatic Audience Award at Sundance in 2020) was really endearing. Best Director went to Chloe Zhao.
I thought Tyler Perry was wonderful. Harrison Ford, reading the critics reviews of Bladerunner, was a delight. I also thought that In Memorium was better than in previous years, of course mentioning Irrfan Khan, and not surprisingly, closing with Sean Connery and Chadwick Boseman.
Frances McDormand won, as did Nomadland. Yes!
I was completely wrong with the last award of the night: I did not predict Anthony Hopkins as the winner. (I thought it would be Chadwick Boseman.)
Overall, I felt it was a good Oscar show. The setting in the Union Station, and the flow and structure, different form previous years, I felt largely succeeded.
Okay, here is my rating for Fashion Police:
Worst Dressed (Male or Female): Lelsie Odom Jr. Best Dressed (Male): Riz Ahmed.
Leslie Odom Jr. is a CMU alum, and was the commencement speaker in 2019, when I shared the stage with him as I was made University Professor that year.
What I have been seeing recently that I recommend?
The Dig.
C.B Strike.
Sharp Objects.
And, I must admit, although I was skeptical:
Godzilla vs. Kong is actually pretty watchable.
What am I looking forward to in May?
Angelina Jolie!
