2011 Oscars

I feel like I was stuck on JFK's runway for the past 10 hours. I'm drained, my hair's a mess, and I just want to crawl into the fetal position. What a dreadful show! I think the audience agreed, given that fact that Billy Crystal, host emeritus, enjoyed a thunderous standing ovation, when he walked onto the stage to pay tribute to Bob Hope. Finally, someone who knew how to relate to an audience.

You can't blame the energetic Anne Hathaway. She did everything she could possibly do, including singing and changing into numerous dresses. But she had no chemistry with her co-host, James Franco, who was his usual aloof self. James, if you were bored, how do you think we felt? Everyone on twitter thought he was stoned, which might be the case, considering he forgot which movie won best picture 5 minutes after it was announced. Ricky Gervais, who was ridiculed for his searing Golden Globes hosting performance, must be laughing his ass off right now.

The opening montage was predictable: Take the host(s) and insert them into clips from the nominated films. Then the hosts came out on stage, and we were off...to...a...very..........slow..........show without humor, wit, or whimsy. Here are some miscellaneous thoughts:

• Halle Berry should not be allowed to stand next to any female. Just not fair. She was absolutely gorgeous in her Marchesa gown.
• I hope I look half as good as Helen Mirren, when I'm her age. Loved her new, shorter haircut.
• If Jennifer Hudson is on the stage, Gwyneth Paltrow should not be singing—although Gwyneth looked terrific in her Calvin Klein gown earlier in the evening. 
• Kirk Douglas, age 94, had more energy and was funnier than most of the presenters.
• ABC, if you want to attract “younger” viewers, stop boring us with retrospectives.
• Robert Downey Jr. was funny and handsome. Yum!
• Very happy Toy Story 3 won Best Animated Film.
• Anne Hathaway was beautiful in her red Valentino gown on the red carpet.
• The Modern Family Oscar's commercial was hilarious!
• I had forgotten both Blake Edwards and Tony Curtis died last year. So sad.
• Glad Aaron Sorkin won Best Adapted Screenplay for The Social Network.
• The King's Speech won Best Picture. It was a good film, but I would have been just as happy if The Social Network had won.

OK, is awards season over? I'm going to bed now. Good night. 

Oscars?

It's the question we're all asking: Who's crazier, Charlie Sheen or Muammar al-Gaddafi?...Nah, we're all wondering what's gonna happen at The 2011 Oscars!

Because it's the most poorly produced and written awards show, it's the most fun to criticize. I don't care who wins this year, since it wasn't a particularly stellar year for movies. But I am ready for some outrageous outfits and acceptance speeches. Will our co-hosts, Anne Hathaway and James Franco, be carried out in an egg, a la Lady Gaga? Will Facebook go down if The Social Network doesn't win? Will Colin Firth stutter?

This got me thinking about past Best Picture winners. Click the following link for a list.
http://www.tif.ro/movies/oscar/lista.htm

Gone With The Wind (1939) is both horrible and fabulous, and it had tough competition with Dark Victory, Wuthering Heights, Ninotchka, and The Wizard of Oz. In retrospect, I would have picked The Wizard of Oz. I love Casablanca (1943), All About Eve (1950), Tom Jones (1963), The Godfather (1972), The Sting (1973), and Amadeus (1984).

Godfather II, one of the best sequels ever, won in 1974. But I've got to admit Chinatown had the better screenplay.

Some misfires IMHO:

• Fargo should have beaten The English Patient in 1996. Whether or not you liked it, Fargo got your attention.
• Pulp Fiction should have beaten Forrest Gump in 1994. What a travesty. Almost every director in Hollywood tried to replicate Pulp Fiction in some form. I'll have a Royale with cheese.  Jungle Boogie!
• Goodfellas, Martin Scorsese's best film, should have beaten Dances With Wolves in 1990. I can still see Ray Liotta running with Gimme Shelter playing in the background.
• Brokeback Mountain should have beaten Crash in 2005. The film was visually beautiful, and Heath Ledger's performance was haunting. 

What do you think?

You know where yours truly will be on Sunday night. 

The Silver Lining Shop

Check out my friend's website:
http://thesilverliningshop.com/

Kristina Tillman, owns The Silver Lining Shop, which is dedicated to unique, handcrafted jewelry, featuring gemstone, sterling silver, pearl, crystal and lampwork glass. Many of her pieces are one-of-a-kind, and all are made by local artists. Every piece reflects the unique personality of the artist who created it.

Feel free to make comments about the jewelry in the comment section below; email Kristina directly at kristina@thesilverliningshop.com; or use the contact page on her website. Enjoy her jewelry!

Are You F*cking Kidding Me!

Thanks for sharing this with me, Jane!  And thanks to Kate Miller-Heidke for this hilarious song.

You'll get a kick out of it, even if you haven't experienced the pleasure of an unwanted ex trying to reconnect with you via social media, as I did about a 1 1/2 years ago.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S7MuwPlOiNQ&feature=player_embedded

I've replayed it several times.

Serious Post

This post will stray from my normal whimsy. It's important that women—and men—pay attention to the sickening women's health debate going on in Washington DC right now. White Republican men never seem to propose health care cuts for men. They always go after women, as the second class citizens they still think we are. Click on the link below.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ecFlHS7GvFA&feature=youtube_gdata

The youtube video is about 9 minutes long.

Favorite Valentine's Movies

Love is in the air. Or at least at the movies. I think Moonstruck is my favorite Valentine's movie. Who could resist that full moon, love, infidelity, Cher slapping Nic Cage, the opera...

Do you love him, Loretta?
Ma, I love him awful.
Oh, God, that's too bad.

Then, of course, there's Like Water for Chocolate, a sensual tale of forbidden love and erotic food. And Casablana, with Rick sacrificing his love for Ilsa, the smoldering Ingrid Bergman. Play it again, Sam, and again, and again. And Amelie, that sweet girl who was determined to bring happiness to everyone by doing anonymous good deeds. I also love Keira Knightly's version of Pride and Prejudice. And I'm still laughing at Whoopi Goldberg's performance in Ghost. I didn't know you could have sex with dead men. Ashton Kutcher, beware!

What are your favorite Valentine's movies?