It took me two days to finish up the Academy Awards show, which I recorded, because I can’t stay up that late [wimp]. I absolutely loved the new format, the new stage, the closer-in audience. It was like going to a nightclub, more personal, intimate. I also liked how it was all very light and friendly and there were no political jokes.
Hugh Jackman did a good job, and I really like him, but I have to say that when someone does everything— sing, dance, act— there is usually one area that is a little weaker than the others, and I believe that would be his singing. He's fine, but it's a good thing that acting is his day job.
I can still get bugs in my eyes thinking about the five stars coming out to present the major awards. I was seriously choked up when they did the first one because it was just so beautiful and personal, and I feel like it made it so much more special to everyone nominated, but especially to the ones who didn't win, because it’s normally just: read the names, announce the winner. But, with these famous people talking (mostly) directly to the nominees, it was really, really lovely. And, when Shirley MacClaine talked to Anne Hathaway? Whoa! That was almost better than getting the award! And, she told her she had a great voice— she did, surprised me, too— and to keep singing? How cool was that! Anne Hathaway was probably thinking, "Academy award? Huh? What award?"
I also loved how they did the screenwriting thing, where they showed the scene in the script, the actual words/typing and reading it, and then had the completed movie scene running in the background, so we could see how the scene was written and then how it's carried out. Somebody has tons of imagination.
I got choked up again when Queen Latifah was singing I'll Be Seeing You. I love that song, anyway, but when they showed the people who died this past year with clips from their movies, which was really good for the names that were not as familiar to the general public, yeah, serious bugs in my eyes.
Even the usual bandleader, Bill Conti, was missing. Man, there must have been some PO’d good ol' boys in Hollywood this year. I’ll bet the same group of people have been doing it for YEARS, and they finally got some new guys, probably Mac users, to come in and brainstorm, and it was out with the old and inwith the new.
Even the fashions seemed classier this year. I don’t recall seeing anyone who looked atrocious, and there is usually at least one. I noticed there were a lot of single strap dresses this year, not so many strapless as in previous years. Maybe they get tired of tugging them up all the time, or maybe they don’t want to have to worry about someone stepping on their trains and yanking the whole thing down.
Well, I could just go on and on and on ... I hope they continue with this new format. I don't think they need to feel like they have to "top" it every year, just do the same thing. Hugh Jackman can host it each year, as far as I'm concerned. He was the the all around entertainer and host, a class act.
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